The Limerick Magazine March 2017 #Issue17

free 2017 magazine i s s u e 1 7 march

ISSN - 2009-8650

Be Green, recycle

Featuring: Celia Holman-Lee Maureen Forrest Limerick Fringe Festival Limerick St Patrick's Festival 2017

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Welcome

TO th e lime rick m aga z i ne The Limerick Magazine is a fun and informative monthly free-sheet keeping you up to date with what is happening in Limerick City and County, with reviews, event listings, interviews, men and women’s fashion, lively opinion and interesting articles to get you talking.

Publisher - Fusion Media - 74 O’Connell Street Limerick - 061-597627

Editor in Chief Michelle Costello Email -michelle@fusionmedia.ie Phone - 061-597627 Editor - Kayleigh Ziolo Email - kayleigh@fusionmedia.ie Phone - 061-597627 Photography - Tarmo Tulit Email - tarmo@tarmotulit.com Phone - 061-597627 Graphic Designer - Paul Geaney Email - paul@fusionmedia.ie Phone - 061-597627 Advertising - Fusion Media Email - advertising@fusionmedia.ie Phone - 061-597627

TLM co n tr ibu to r s :

P h o to g r a ph er s :

Ali Molloy

Eoghan Lyons

Amanda Flannery

Tarmo Tulit

Sarah Talty

Sean Curtin

Rebecca Egan

Gerry Davis

Christine Costello

Seth Wright

Mary Kiely

Anna Hurkowska

Shauna Lindsay Rebelle Haze

COVER - Eoghan Lyons

Emma Hayes

This is a free magazine. You are free to give it away (in unmodified form) to whomever you wish. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the publisher.

This magazine is designed to provide information to our readers. It is provided with the understanding that the publisher is not engaged to render any type of legal or any other kind of professional advice. The content of each article is the sole expression and opinion of its author, and not necessarily that of the publisher. No warranties or guarantees are expressed or implied by the publisher’s choice to include any of the content in this volume. Neither the publisher nor the individual author(s) shall be liable for any physical, psychological, emotional, financial, or commercial damages, including, but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential or other damages. Our views and rights are the same: You are responsible for your own choices, actions, and results.

Sarah Lafferty Fernando Sanchez Sandra Honan Sintija Zorge Jane O’Halloran James Slattery Jason Kenny Mark Lloyd Glenn Matthews Brooklyn Bond Margaret Cahill Mark Carey Hazel Ryan Sheehan

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TLM contributors E di t o r ’s N o t e In this issue we are celebrating the roles and achievements of some incredible local women, as we mark both International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day in

the month of March. Celia Holman Lee takes us through the ages as she looks back over an incredible career in fashion, and we speak to Maureen Forrest of

the HOPE Foundation about her amazing work with children who face extreme poverty and adversity. Make sure you also check out She Means Business, an event taking place on IWD 8th March. I’m delighted to be chairing the panel with 8 fascinating Limerick women from 8 different industries. Go forth and #BeBoldForChange!

K a y l ei gh Z i o l o

K ay l e i g h Z i o l o

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Mi c h el l e C o st el l o

TA R MO T UL I T

Mary Kiely

Shauna L i n dsay

H A Z EL RYA N SH EEH A N

Ali Molloy

rebelle h a z e

Eo g h a n Lyo n s

Emma Hayes

Rebecca Ega n

A ma n da F l a n n ery

pA U L g e a n e y

si n tij a z or g e

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5 Thi ng s t o d o St. Pat r ic k s W e e k e n d

As luck would have it, this year's St Patrick's Day celebrations fall on a Friday, granting us a glorious long-weekend of events and activities in Limerick. Here's a list of five things you can do to celebrate this Paddy's Weekend.

Limerick's Patrick's Day Parade As tradition goes, the streets of Limerick will be closed off on Friday 17th for the start of the annual extravaganza that is Limerick's St. Patrick's Day Parade. The theme for

this year's parade is 'Our Stories, this is where we belong’. It aims to bring to life the power and importance of storytelling through Limerick's local arts communities, theatre groups, bands, clubs and many more participants. 80,000 people are expected to attend this year's event with thousands marching. Every year, Limerick city and county council aim to make the parade bigger and better than the previous year and St. Patrick's Day 2017 will be no exception.

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Aslan at the Big Top

Limerick Milk Market

down to the Big Top Saturday night, 18th March

into Limerick's Milk Market. From 10am to 4pm, the

If parades aren't really your thing, then why not pop for one of Limerick's most anticipated gigs of 2017, Aslan. Formed in 1982, Aslan have been a staple in

Irish music for the past 35 years. Hits like 'Crazy

World' and 'This Is' have defined decades and charted worldwide. Led by Christy Dignam, one of Ireland's most respected musicians, Aslan are an unmissable

act with a back catalogue of music long enough to

support a week-long concert. Following two sold out gigs in Dublin's Vicar Street, the band to announced a third date in Limerick due to high demands. The last time Aslan played Limerick was in Thomond

Park Plaza. The band recently featured alongside artists such as U2, Ed Sheeran and Hozier on the 'As

Seen On The Late Late Show' album released late last year in aid of charity.

All-Day Trad Session

As always with Ireland, the weather is a cruel dictator

and can put a dampener on any plan. Not to worry, Dolans have you covered with their welcoming home-

cooked dinners and roaring fireplace. If that doesn't quite satisfy your needs this Paddy's Day, they will also host an all-day trad session in the main bar, open

to all. So if you'd rather nurse a good pint and listen to talented musicians belt out a few reels and jigs for the afternoon, Dolans is the place for you. Sometimes it's the simpler things that really make a good weekend.

Feed your thirst for culture this Paddy's Day and call

Milk Market will be a fun-filled and family orientated

venue with games, live music, activities and, of course, street food. It's the perfect place for any family to stop by after the excitement of the parade. While it may

be host to some of Ireland's best in music at night, it serves as Limerick's culture hub every Saturday

morning and Friday afternoon. You'll find stalls serving food from just about every ethnicity, and

crafts to suit any decor or occasion. If you can manage

a brief listen over the bustle of the crowds, you might catch a listen of some of Limerick's talented buskers playing both inside and outside the tent.

Limerick Band Parade

If you're going to miss the main event, then make

sure you catch Limerick's International Band Parade.

Every year, Limerick welcomes marching bands from

across the globe to play and compete on our streets

for prizes. This is the only competition of its kind in Ireland and this St. Patrick's Weekend will mark

its 47th year running. Over 50,000 spectators are expected to attend the event which will begin at noon

on Sunday, 19th March and an estimate of 1,200 musicians will partake. The parade will be led by the Irish Army Band, the Band of the First Southern Brigade and will start at Pery Square and end in

Arthur’s Quay Park with a free concert for the public.

There will be a selection of prizes awarded from Best

Youth Band to Best Uniform, including a special prize awarded by the mayor of Limerick. The International Band Parade guarantees the weekend's celebrations will go out with a bang!

Article by: Christine Costello

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Music : Steamboat Music Diary Last month was quite busy for the Steamboat stores:

And finally Ed Sheeran has his new album out on 3rd

Hoodman Blind

Rolle (I’ll be uploading his clinic in full to our

on the day. It is definitely going to be the biggest

combined, Niamh, Sean and Finn can only do great

we had a wonderful time with Chic drummer Ralph

YouTube channel very soon!). There will be lots of

planning going on for March, which will be a time of further renovations for us. In the last 6 months we’ve added over 6,000 products to our stores, so we’re busy

March and will be available in store in Thomas Street selling album of 2017 for us. Irish band Beoga with

Limerick native Niamh Dunne feature on a couple of tracks so that really makes it special.

trying to find the best way for us to showcase them

Gig Picks

April based around the International Record Store

Napalm Death

Limerick, watch this space!

providing an insane pre show to their upcoming Siege

all. We also have some major things happening in Day that’ll be just the ticket with all the music fans of

The latest at Steamboat Our new website Steamboat.ie will be launching in the next few weeks, so keep an eye out for that. I'm

really excited about it because for the first time all

our stock will be fully live on the site, so if it’s on the site, it’s in store. Hopefully will be a game changer for purchasing instruments, accessories, music and film media in Ireland.

Hard Rock/Metal promoters, Bad Reputation

of Limerick festival in April with Grindcore legends Napalm Death playing in Dolans. This will be a sell out for sure - Limerick for a long time has had a very

strong support for metal and the Siege festival, which

Individually these 3 are exceptional musicians so

things. Heavily influenced by Nordic folk music, Hoodman Blind’s take on Irish folk makes for an enjoyable night.

Friday 31st March 9.15pm,Shannon Rowing Club Tigwara

On the same night is original modern rock/funk band, Tigwara. They released their new EP last year to rave reviews. I was lucky enough to hear them in Cobblestone Joes at the launch and I’ll certainly be checking them out again.

Friday 31st March 11.45pm Shannon Rowing Club

is completely free, and has gone from strength to

Raging Sons

group who organise it. It’s one of the best supported

a big year for the Limerick natives.

strength since its inception in 2008, a credit to the metal festivals in the country and it’s no surprise considering how many metal fans we meet every day.

Launching their first album at the festival, should be Friday 31st March 9.15pm, Dolans Warehouse

Friday 17th March 8pm, Dolan’s Warehouse

Barry Jay Hughes

I wanted to include a special mention for local

Limerick Fringe Festival

been busy touring his second EP Tried and Treasured,

launched their debut album Live and Interrupted, a

30th for 3 days. Some of the music highlights I’d

customers of mine, Parcel of Rogues who recently fine collection of ballads and folk songs. Best of luck to them with the new CD.

Limerick’s inaugural Fringe Festival starts March suggest checking out are:

From Co. Monaghan, singer songwriter Barry Jay has which has seen him receive plenty of airplay nationally and internationally.

Friday 31st March 9.15pm, Mother Macs Saturday 1st April 9.15pm, Mother Macs Article by: Mark Carey

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musi c : 10 Y e a r s A go I n Limer i c k Mu s i c

Are You Listening - Dolores O'Riordan

Exit Here - Vesta Varro

2007 was one of the many peaks in Irish music history.

Following the Cranberries' temporary hiatus, lead

Vesta Varro, an alternative rock band formed in

in Malahide Castle, Amy Winehouse and The Killers

with this album in May 2007. Filled with catchy rock

promising acts of 2007. Following the release of debut

Aerosmith headlined Marley Park, Arctic Monkeys

at Oxygen, The Police played Croke Park and to top it

all off, the Stones took to the stage Slane, all in a year.

The hit musical Once went global, earning itself two

Grammy nominations, and Snow Patrol dominated the Meteor Music Awards. But what was going on in

Limerick at the time? Here we take a look at four of the top Limerick music releases of 2007.

vocalist Dolores O'Riordan launched her solo career

songs and several powerful ballads, Are You Listening

had all the makings of a successful solo album. It never strayed too far from the tree it fell from as it smoothly

reconnected with The Cranberries' earlier work, but

still stood strong as its own venture. O'Riordan's brooding and somewhat cinematic vocals made a strong return, coupled with a whole new depth of emotional and personal experience through songs on

family, faith and love. The album is quite vast in its style, opening with a pleasant and almost uplifting

track of Ordinary Day before it takes an almost

immediate turn to the gruelling girl power of tracks

like Loser. Despite being a highly credible album, O'Riordan's efforts were not reflected in the charts.

This thankfully did not deter her from releasing another solo album in 2009.

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2004, were without a doubt one of Limerick's most album Exit Here, Vesta Varro gained immediate

global recognition. They were named Best Band at

Indie Week Toronto and NME's One To Watch.

Vesta Varro shared the stage with some of the greats

in music including Editors, Sultans of Ping and Ocean Colour Scene. Exit Here is a combination

of haunting ballads and an epic rock sound not too dissimilar to the early work of Muse. Vesta Varro's

energetic melancholy was a force not to be reckoned with in 2007 and gave band members Keith Forde

and Damien Drea some much-deserved acclaim before they set out on their separate solo careers in later years. In 2014, Vesta Varro returned to the stage in Dolan's Warehouse for a one-off reunion gig.

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Forget Romance, Let's Dance - We Should Be Dead

Boogie Call - Secret Police

2007 also saw the release of Limerick's Indie band

Secret Police were perhaps one of Limerick's best-

Let's Dance was an instant hit, climbing up the charts

90's grunge scene, Secret Police topped the download

We Should Be Dead's debut single. Forget Romance, to number three in Ireland. Following the huge success of their debut album in 2008, the band relocated to

Los Angeles under new management the following

year. Forget Romance is a fun and infectious tune, purebred for radio, proven by its instant success after its first play on BBC Radio One. When it came to hit singles, Forget Romance ticked every single box, as if

reading from a success-formula upon its creation. The Irish Times labelled it as, "Sprightly songs punctuated

by the right degree of cockiness." The debut album

that followed was no exception, earning them a Meteor Award nomination and a place on MySpace's

kept secrets of 2007. With strong influences from the charts for five-weeks in a row with their debut single, Bootie Call. The band were known for their striking charisma and onstage energy, a trait barely contained

by their guitar-heavy recorded works. Despite their

refusal to attain to the musical norms of the time, Secret Police still gathered quite the following in

Limerick and across Ireland. Unfortunately, the band

never did record a full album, but their handful of releases are still available to stream on MySpace.

Article by: Christine Costello

Featured Artists.

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A r t is t Pr o f i l e : Gerry Davis

Gerry Davis is a Limerick-based artist originally hailing from Cahir. With a lifelong passion in creating art, Gerry has been hugely successful winning prestigious awards and having his work exhibited in some of Ireland’s most renowned and respected galleries. His work in documentation painting, encapsulating a moment in a piece of art is fascinating and beautiful to look at.

According to Gerry, his passion began in secondary school. "It was one of the classes I really looked forward to." During these early days, Gerry was more interested in digital

art and using applications like Photoshop to edit and create surreal images, very different from the style of art in which Gerry eventually found his niche. Gerry explains that he fell in love with art because it allowed him to have an escape from everyday life, away from the rest of the world. "… it was a non-essential thing in the world that didn’t bring much responsibility with it." This is something that he still carries with him as an artist today and feels that creativity is a very pure outlet: "you can’t do any harm to the world by making art, and for that reason it is a very free world to explore."

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With this honour, comes a commissioned painting which will make its permanent home in the National

Art Gallery and will open many doors for Gerry’s career in the future.

Gerry has a busy year ahead of him in 2017. As well

as working on his commissioned piece, he is also working on a solo show in The Source Arts Centre in

Thurles, set to open in June. This show will elaborate

on works and ideas exhibited in ‘Studio’. Gerry is also set to be involved in a show in The Hunt Museum in April which is set to explore the relationship between

LSAD and The Hunt Museum. A number of his

works will be shown in this show too. Luckily for Gerry, he is not worried about finding time to unwind

from working. ‘I see painting itself as an enjoyable After school, Gerry went on to start a Software

With the studio paintings, although there was

that it was not the right choice for him, realising the

paint things as they were." Rather than having to focus

he wanted to pursue as a career. After making up

validity of the project, documentation painting allows

course in Limerick College for Further Education.

developing his skills as he does so.

felt like a weight had been lifted," and despite the fact

Since graduating from LSAD, Gerry has become

in the future, he was excited by the prospect of a life

fantastic work in numerous exhibitions over the years.

Development course in LIT but ultimately decided

decision making involved, I essentially only had to

hobby that he loved so much was something that

on the specific subject matter of his paintings and the

his mind to leave college, he enrolled in a portfolio

Gerry to focus more on the process of painting itself,

Gerry says he was "much more at home there and

that there would be unavoidable financial difficulties

an extremely successful artist, being credited for his

of doing what he loves.

His collections have been shown in many galleries

After his portfolio course, Gerry started studying at

of Art. Out of all these exhibitions, Gerry names the

he started that he found painting as an art form to be

at Pallas Projects, a collection called ‘Studio’. ‘This

process of physically making work was something

the first time I felt I was exploring relevant issues

these years, Gerry’s painting style quickly developed

work, however, came when he won the extremely

became something that Gerry settled on. "I see studio

‘Seán’. Winning this prize came as a huge shock to

in some ways an exploration of my own context within

show was very high." Gerry also names this moment

around the country including Limerick City Gallery

Limerick School of Art and Design. It was only when

one he is most proud of as being from last October

of more substance than digitally creating images. The

was the culmination of about a year’s work and

that Gerry found to be far more fulfilling. Over

through painting.’ The ultimate honouring for his

and eventually, the art of documentation painting

prestigious Hennessy Portrait Prize with his portrait

paintings as being kind of autobiographical. They are

Gerry, especially because "the standard of work in the

a wider community." When speaking about what

as being the proudest in his career to-date.

activity so the more of it I can do in a day generally the more relaxed I feel afterward.’

When asked what he would tell a young budding

artist who is interested in pursuing their passion as a career, Gerry says "think hard before you commit

because it does involve a certain degree of risk. But the rewards can be great if you persist at it." Gerry

is living proof that going down the expected or more

practical route may not lead to happiness in the end.

Above all, being happy in your career is the most important and sometimes it is worth taking a chance

and following your passion. And as the old saying goes, ‘If you love your job, you’ll never work a day in your life.’

Article by: Ali Molloy

Photography by: Gerry Davis

interests him so much in documentation as opposed to other styles of painting, Gerry says "…with other

forms of painting, there is more deliberation involved in the subject matter.

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in t e rv ie w : Ce l i a H o l ma n Lee

Arriving on what we can politely call a ‘soft day’, Celia is as fresh and flawless as ever. Although she may be used to altogether grander and more glamorous shoot settings, she is full of praise for our humble 74 O’Connell Street studio’s ‘authentic’ Georgian charm. “I think it’s an awful shame when businesses tenants strip out everything in these building – I love these old floors and features, so many have lost that authenticity.”

It is no surprise that Celia places high importance on authenticity and details. Her entire career is based on her honesty, hard work, and of course her roots. Celia grew up in

Limerick, her childhood beginning on Carey's Road, and has remained here in the city for life. She speaks wistfully and excitedly about the buildings and the hotspots that came and went during her youth – the Go-Go Club, which was “hopping, it was the place to be seen in the 60s”. She also remembers the clothing factories, in particular the Crescent Clothing factory that used to be on Hartstonge Street, providing so much employment to people in the area until its closure in 1984.

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Celia paints an incredible picture of the city in its

I just need a bit of my own life. They have come with

“Then the first recession came, that was when petrol

always thronging with people; it was so full of life.

today – Asta has modelled all over Europe, and Cecile

retail and manufacturing side of the industry suffered,

the place to be. It lost some of that over the decades,

in her pram at all my shows and has been modelling

She speaks with enormous praise at the work that has

done things I would never have on my own - like our

pubs that have breathed new life into the food scene

talks and working with fashion bloggers, which of

heyday. “Everyone lived in the city. The streets were

their own ideas and knowledge of the industry as it is

Boutiques were popping up everywhere; it really was

of course has been at my side her entire life. She was

but I think – I hope – it is starting to come back.”

herself practically since she could walk! They have

been done in the city of late, of the cafes and bars and

focus on looking good at any age, and putting on style

and nightlife. “The thought that has gone into them!

course is now what the industry is all about.”

and designed, you would be proud to walk in and

Celia herself started modelling when she was just 15.

to see.” Of course, with fashion as her existence, she

She smiles. “It was full of optimism – it was not long

have Brown Thomas, we have big high street names,

forward with great hope. I started working in retail,

best brands and quality, we just need a little more

approached by Limerick model agent Ann Moloney.

Celia has previously hinted at difficulties she faced as

support needs to be there for new boutiques – let

Penney’s is now – it was such a beautiful building then.

she was very young due to her mother’s illness. She

up their business, it’s so important to encourage that.

unheard of at the time, so that was when I made my

heart of everything.”

– less opportunities but less competition, now there’s

Not just a lick of paint but completely overhauled bring your friends to all these places, it’s wonderful

What were things like in the fashion industry then?

would like to see more variety on that front. “We

after the Second World War, so we were looking

jewellers and accessory shops where you can buy the

and joined Roches Stores, and that’s when I was

variety, and we [Limerick] will truly be back! The

My first fashion show was for Cannocks, where

them in at reduced rates, give them a year to build

I appeared on front page of the Herald, which was

We have to be supportive of each other; the city is the

‘debut’. In those days the competition was different

Her own business, the Holman Lee Agency, is the

tons of opportunity but tons of competition too.

longest running and one of the most successful

“In my early days in Limerick the people around me

enormously proud to be able to say that. We are still

off on me too. From there it was a matter of one thing

The business is very much a family affair, with

modelling job led on to others. Shannon was a huge

helm of the agency’s decisions and direction. “I am

the area, promoting the heritage and the castle, being

who are around my age, and their families have no

There were so many shows – not like now, you

on the business – I am still there to give my opinion, I

back then it was different, and they were so creative.

modelling agencies in Ireland. “It makes me

had such a great work ethic and that probably rubbed

here and moving forward and the industry changes.”

leading to another: I carried on working in retail, each

daughter Cecile and daughter in law Asta now at the

hub then and I became the official model to promote

extremely lucky. I know many people in the industry

the face of the duty free at airport.

interest at all in it. Asta and Cecile have really taken

wouldn’t have fashion shows every week now but

am front of house and I go to all the events and shows.

I remember the Helena Mode show in Shannon in

particular; it brought in Dublin dancers and was all very progressive for the time.”

was affected so no one could drive anywhere. The but the modelling stayed. I then opened my own

boutique, and also started the Holman Lee Agency, now one of the most famous and respected agencies in the whole country.”

Why has Limerick stayed so close to Celia’s heart?

“I had the opportunity to go to other places, it was offered to me. I’m pleased I stayed. Limerick is my home - I’ve spent my life around here, had my

children here, now they’ve had children here – I have

four wonderful grandchildren, and another on the way, and they are all here together. I never thought I would be able to say that, there’s nothing better.”

a child, having to take on a lot responsibility when believes that has shaped her, but also it is down to the characteristics of Limerick people. “It is a Limerick

thing – we go after what we want. I mean, I look at the country’s most famous rugby players, so many of

them are from Limerick. If we’re passionate enough

we make it work, so that was instilled from the culture of the city. But also yes, I had to look after my mother

from a young age and had to fend for myself. However, I met my husband when we were both young and he

was a massive support, so luck played a big part too.

There were difficult years, that I am not able to talk

about but better years did come, and I am living the best years of my life now. In life we go from crisis to

crisis; the experience from one crisis bodes better for

dealing with the next. If I had a better start: if I went

to finishing school, went abroad, lived on Ennis etc.

I’d be a totally different person. My life experience made me who I am; I am self-taught, and I love my background.”

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With the family working so hard and so closely

“Young girls coming through at 16 who want to

Longevity is rare in fashion world, and with Celia

grandchildren give me great pleasure, I switch off

reputable industry to train them. You have to be

wise to take her advice. As the future of the industry

together, how do they manage downtime?” “My

completely when they are around - I want to be listening and fully present. Playing with them really

calms me. About five years ago we wtarted at our garden - I love seeing what I’ve planted the year before turns into. I never thought I would say it but I find gardening very therapeutic - maybe it’s an age thing!”

Outside of her family, who are the most important

people in Celia’s life? “Michelina Stacpoole, who I’ve done lots of work with, she is someone with great

model need to realise how important it is to pick a an all-rounder, you can’t just start by wanting to do one thing, you need someone to bring you along by

the hand and discover the path that works for you.

It’s also important to have a bit of loyalty. I have to say, I’m finding lately there doesn’t seem to be much of that about. It’s the culture we have now – with social media everyone is a model, and girls want the

overnight success. They look at other girl’s Instagrams

and the like and think they can just copy that – No. You need to give time to develop, get to know yourself

one of the few who has made it work, it would be

changes rapidly before our eyes, what does Celia hope

her life legacy will be? “I hope the girls continue to

carry the name. I also hope that the fashion industry

and creativity will continue to grow here in Limerick, I hope the work we’ve done through the years will ensure that happens.”

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

Photography by: Eoghan Lyons

and those working with you.

Make up: Mary Kiely

agency and a friend for most of life. The old brigade of

"You want to go to the big smoke of London? You

Style assistant: Kristina Byrnes

Newcastle West, all the people at the beginning of

handle that. It’s not about just taking the opportunity

taste. Another is Dorothy Cantrell, a great help to the

fashion stores - the Roche family, Mary of Ela Maria my life who have been such a great influence. There are so many, too many to name - I’m sorry for leaving anyone out! And all my great friends: Catherine

need to build up the experience first to be able to that looks good, you have to ask if the time is right for you.

Murphy who has been in my life over 50 years, the

“Those are all my sentiments but I’m also paraphrasing

friends who are still a big part of my life - they know

and the Naomis - they took their time, they stuck it

late John McNamara my dear, dear friend, so many who they are anyway!”

With so much experience under her belt, how does Celia pass on her knowledge to her models, and what

advice does she have to young women looking to pursue a similar career? “I start from where I started

and give them everything I can give them. They see

the drive, they see what it takes. I’ve trained some of

the best Irish models – Louise Cooney, Laura O’Shea, Shauna Lindsay, Ciara Buckley, and so many more doing big things in Dublin and internationally. They are incredible, all of them.

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the Editor of Vogue, she says all the greats – the Kates

out and didn’t jump from one agency to another. If

you’re going to move it has to be for the right reasons.

Divided loyalties never work, you can’t go to Dublin and say that you’ll still continue to do work with us –

it never works out, it causes bad feeling, the girls get upset and we get upset. It simply doesn’t work. But it’s not just modelling; we have an instant gratification

culture which is happening in media, entertainment, everywhere. People need to appreciate the importance

of forming relationships, getting to know themselves, for a long and successful working life.”

Hair: Anita O’Donnell

Clothing: Caroline Mitchell, Be Fabulous Limerick

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Str i ke 4 R e p e a l A Pro-Choice demonstration is to take place in

“AIMS Ireland support repeal of the 8th amendment

National Strike 4 Repeal Movement.

maternity services, as is the case in almost every other

Limerick City on 8th March in solidarity with

Pro-Choice groups and individuals from across Limerick and neighbouring Clare have come

together to organise a demonstration in Limerick city to coincide with the National Strike 4 Repeal Movement.

Strike 4 Repeal is a campaign based on non-traditional strike actions for human rights. People are being asked

to take the day off work, forgo domestic labour, wear black in solidarity and attend a demonstration in their

area. The Strike 4 Repeal movement is demanding that the Irish Government call a referendum to repeal

the Eighth Amendment by March 8th. If not, Ireland will strike.

The Limerick demonstration will take place on

both in terms of needing abortion access within the

country in the EU, but also as it impacts on the denial

of bodily autonomy in continued pregnancy and birth.

The HSE themselves in their National Consent Policy

note that pregnant women cannot legally be the final

arbiter of consent and refusal over their own bodies, instead citing the High Courts as the appropriate

decision making body. Nobody with full capacity to make the decision should ever be denied the right to

give or refuse consent for any surgery, intervention, medication or treatment, and yet in Ireland in the year 2017 this is the case if you are pregnant. The

8th amendment needs to go to ensure not only that we can access abortion services where we live when

we need to, but also so that we and only we have the

final say on what is done to our bodies in continued pregnancy and in birth."

International Women’s Day, Wednesday, 8th March at

“Every day, 12 people in Ireland have to travel to

with entertainment and food along with speakers

Sarah McCarthy, a Limerick Pro-Choice activist.

2pm on Bedford Row. The event will be child friendly, from Pro-Choice organisations. The organisations

include: AIMS Ireland, Limerick Feminist Network, Limerick Pro-Choice, Abortion Rights Campaign Clare and ROSA.

Commenting on the event Yvonne Murphy, founder of the Limerick Feminist Network says “the Strike

4 Repeal movement is so important because it is

bringing together people from all walks of life who

have one common goal; that all people of Ireland have full reproductive rights and full bodily autonomy. It

is 2017, we shouldn’t have to keep asking for these basic human rights, but momentum is growing and

we won’t stop until we get them.” AIMS Ireland Secretary Sinéad Redmond agrees.

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another country to access basic medical care” says “Many of them will have to take at least the day

off work, many will have to find someone to look

after their children, and all of them face the burden of being exported by a government who prefers to pretend they don’t exist. The Strike 4 Repeal action

highlights the immense contribution those in Ireland

make to a society that still treats them as second-class citizens. Under Irish law, pregnant people are reduced to little more than incubators, with the threat of a 14

year prison sentence for those who refuse to comply.

Today we ask: what would you do without us?" Eilis Murphy from Abortion Rights Campaign Clare

adds: "In 2015, 598 women in Munster were forced to

travel to the UK for an abortion. Many more bought abortion pills online.

We are striking in solidarity with them - and the many

others who could not afford access to an abortion.

Abortion Rights Campaign Clare demands free, safe and legal abortion so that women in Munster

have access to reproductive health services as is their human right. We call on the Government to set a date for a referendum to Repeal the 8th Amendment."

"It has been nearly five years since Savita Halapanavar

died,” says Aprille Scully from ROSA Today.

“The same situation could occur because the 8th

amendment has still not been repealed. We cannot

and will not allow the government to continue to ignore our calls for a referendum and allow women's

lives and health to be compromised. That is why radical, militant action is necessary."

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T he l im e r ick m aga z i n e Home & Lifestyle Mother's Day Gift Guide If anyone in the world who deserves to be treated, it’s your mother.

It is natural to feel overwhelmed about what to buy because of your budget or you’re just simply fresh out of ideas. We’ve chosen

ten presents to suit any budget and any mammy. Give your mother something she’ll treasure forever!

Article by: Ali Molloy

Under €20

Newbridge Silverware Notebook

This gorgeous notebook is great for daily to-do lists or even just to jot down every day thoughts.

Treat your mother to one of these beautiful journals that are each filled with inspirational

quotes and designs all put together by the Newbridge Silverware design team. Available from any Newbridge Silverware store and Brown Thomas from €18.

Guilt Free Gourmet Cookbook

If, like so many of us, your mother is on a health-kick this year or even if she just loves baking and is interested in trying something new, this is the gift for her. The brother and sister duo

of Jordan and Jessica Bourke are a chef and nutritional therapist respectively and have put together this cookbook of indulgent treats free from sugar, wheat and dairy. Available from Amazon and most bookshops for around €20.

Colm O’Regan’s Irish Mammy Range

This hilarious range of homeware and prints are the perfect Mother’s Day gift for all those typical Irish mammies out there! Designed by Irish comedian, Colm O’Regan, this range of

merchandise follows the best-selling book ‘Isn’t it Well for Ye, The Book of Irish Mammies’ and is sure to put a smile on your own Mammy’s face this Mother’s Day. The range is available from the online store and from Arnotts.

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Under €50

Under €100

€100 and above

Neom Skincare Candles

Ugg Slippers

Revas Spa Experience

candle range takes things to the next level! These are

the cosy, soft sheep’s wool. Although they may seem

their amazing, Revas Spa. Revas offers a range of

Neom candles are ultra-luxurious as it is but this

made from top quality ingredients that have all been chosen to treat and soothe your skin. Just light the

candle, let the wax melt (it has a low melting point so

that it is safe to use on your skin straight away), and massage it in. Range available from Brown Thomas

Gift your mum the feeling of sinking her feet in to a bit on the pricier side for a pair of slippers but the quality and longevity of the products themselves is

totally worth it in the end. Available from most shoe stores, online and from Brown Thomas for €90.

The Woodlands House Hotel is well-known for treatments, each as luxurious as the next or treat her to the full spa experience of a day of luxury. Vouchers

are available online and from the Woodlands Hotel for around €145.

for around €45.

Wedgwood 4 Piece Plate Set

Next Teal Cotton Bed Set

Sky Dive

and patterns for her cupboard this Mother’s Day with

sheets and Next’s well-made bed sets are just that.

secured to a tandem master & will drop from the plane

this gorgeous teal one, you’re sure to find a pattern or

seconds but the speeds reached during the freefall are

all Next stores starting from €46.

you have ever known! Based in Edenderry, Co Offaly,

Treat your mother to some gorgeous pops of colour this beautiful 4-piece plate set. This particular set has all the look of luxury but without a huge designer price tag so you really can’t go wrong! Available from Brown Thomas for €44.

Nothing screams comfort like fresh, high quality bed

The Tandem Skydive is a thrill seekers dream! You are

Available in a range of colours and patterns just like

from up to 13000 feet. The freefall lasts for about 30

colour to suit your own mother’s taste. Available from

up to 120mph. An exhilarating experience lie nothing

Ireland. This is an experience your mum will never forget. €280.00

Satin Wrap Dressing Gown

Moet & Chandon Rose 75cl in Gift Box

Miranda Kerr 3 Piece Tea Set

for any mum that loves a bit of glamour in their

makes a great gift for your mother. This Limited Edition

mothers who like to break out the good china when

know how much you care and appreciate them, from the

luxurious gold trimming is the ultimate girls girl’s tea

comes in a beautifully branded gift box. €64.95

for €175.

This gorgeous oriental-feel satin wrap is perfect life. A dressing gown is perfect for so many things; doing your makeup in the morning, relaxing in the evening or having a chill day at home. Available from Debenhams for €30-€35.

This limited edition Pink Moet Chandon champagne

This gorgeous tea set is the perfect gift for those

pack comes in a smart looking gift box. Let your mum

her friends call round! The dainty floral pattern with

makers of the finest champagne in the world. The bottle

set dream come true. Available from Brown Thomas

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T he l im e r ick m aga z i n e Home Browsers Furniture We have a brand called Neptune on our first floor, which I brought in because their ethos really fit with our business, they focus on quality and they are also a

very progressive brand and have lots of new launches

all the time so it keeps our stock/displays fresh! Then on the top floor I started our Bespoke by Browsers design studio, for the client who wants a look tailor

made to their needs or specifications. This has given

us a lot more freedom when we design a room, and no two spaces we design are the same.

What does a 'day in the life of ' look like for you?

When I get in the door here I am very focused. I want the most out of everyday because I have to clock off on time to collect my 2-year old son. It starts with

coffee, chatting to my colleagues about what we want to achieve today. We like to chat and look for input

from each other, it is great working with people who A respected design institution throughout Ireland, Browsers on Upper Street, Limerick has clients flocking from all over the country to explore their expertise in interior design. To get to know this business, we sit down with managing and creative director Geri O'Toole Glynn to find out more.

Tell us about the history of the family business?

My parents set up the company over 20 years ago. My father is a fine art and antiques dealer, and my mother who passed many years ago was an interior designer. My mother’s family were in retail, while my grandfather was also

in the trading of antiques. When my father bought the building on Upper William Street it was a shell, I believe it was a car garage many years before he came to acquire it.

How did you develop Browsers as it is today?

I started with the business 6 years ago and I studied interior architecture and design. I have always had an interest

in interiors so it was a natural fit. When I started it was very much all brown furniture and a very traditional style.

I firmly believe you have to have passion in what you are selling, so slowly I have changed it to being a lot more along my lines of taste.

are as passionate about interiors as you are. Between

all of this I can have follow up presentations with clients, or call outs to new potential clients. And we

are a retail showroom so all of this work is done with

customers floating about the store and making new enquiries. I love it because we are very much part of what is going on in store everyday. When I get home

its phone off and family time, I like to try and separate the two and have balance as much as possible.

Tell us about the design room and studio, what sets them apart from the typical showroom?

I think it is a great amalgamation of the two. I have

designed all of the rooms up here to show clients what a room can potentially look like. Customers floating

around the store can get a flavour for what we do; it makes interior design more interactive.

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I think the beauty of it really is for couples or time

What are some of your favourite trends/styles in

What has been one of your favourite projects so far?

their kids at the weekend. They come to us and we

I have a real lust for bold colour at the moment, I

client; it was the most incredible house on the water. I

poor people who don't have time to trawl shops with do all the work, and we give them a great design focused on what they want to achieve. I have travelled

the world to get the best possible suppliers out there, and I have this bank of information so I can source anything the client needs.

What do people say is the best aspect of your service?

We make it as easy as possible. It is a one stop shop really; we call to the client, come back and prepare

their designs, then we present them the ideas. Each client takes away a pack containing all details so they

interior design right now?

think if you get colour into your walls its easy change

and we are all a little tired of grey. What I believe will last always are natural products, marble is a huge

trend again, but it never really lost its beauty. Also

solid wood is always a winner. When we work with clients we always try to guide them towards certain

design staples that will last forever. There are things

you can scrimp on and certain things you just can't.

Upholstery is one of those - on all of my upholstery designs for clients they have a timeless nature.

can go away with the visuals and have a clear plan as

What suppliers and materials do you work with,

who want everything done immediately and also the

ethos?

to what to do to achieve the look. We have clients

longer term plan client. We keep a file on each client so if you have your kitchen/dining/living designed with us and only do one room for now, you can press

go on other parts of the designs when time/budget allows.

how do you go about choosing products that fit your I work with lots of artisan suppliers from around

Europe, also my upholsterer is excellent, as is my curtain maker, as is my woodworker. I will not scrimp on quality. Maybe its the fact I have grown

up around good furniture with my father handling good antiques. I can tell poor craftsmanship from a distance - so I steer well clear!

One of my favourite by far was with an overseas made a bespoke dining table with the best of English

oak that was 5 metres long (all solid), it took 8 men to

position and we has a white bleached oak effect on it.

That was one of the most beautiful pieces in the house

I handled. We also curated artworks for the property and made a lot of bespoke specially sized items. It was really a dream job.

Describe your perfect home environment - what features are most important to you?

Cosiness. It doesn’t matter if it is not planned to

perfection, also if it is not overly planned it creates a more interesting environment (with the caveat

the the unplanned look can take a little skill also to create), I love idiosyncrasies in a property it makes a house a home, I live in a renovated cottage but we have decorated it sort of classic contemporary - my

key need is soft lighting, lamps, candles, different textures and lots of plants.

Article by: Michelle Costello

Interior Photography by: Tarmo Tulit

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Th e l im e r ick maga z i n e Make up Catwalk Glitter

Glitter is all over the SS catwalks. Going back a while we would never have seen glitter trends as popular but now it seems to be one of the most biggest trends this season with it seen on eyes, lips, cheeks and nails.

As dramatic as it might sound it can actually be a very simple look. Alongside other SS trends such as just washed hair, fresh skin and soft-smudged smokey eyes, this can be a very low maintenance look, but can easily make a statement.

Big brands like Marc Jacobs, Rodarte and Giama made the catwalk look like it was raining glitter but the most talked about glitter trend looks were of course the one and only

Pat MC Grath looks created at the Fendi and DKNY shows. The looks were clean, simple and fresh skin, no contour or heavy make up, so once the glitter is applied it stands out more, it can't look overly done so having too much other makeup on would take away from the effect of the glitter.

Article by: Mary Kiely

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T he l i m e r ick maga z i n e Beauty

H&M and ZARA seem to be the chosen favourites of everyone over here. Block colours, ruffles and prints are

with Shauna Lindsay

Shauna’s Style Diary

all very much in. Check out some of my favourite picks below.

H&M Flounced Denim Jacket €49.99

I'm loving the frilly trend but if you're not a fan, stay on trend a little more discretely with this jacket - you can't go wrong with denim.

Pink ruffled blouse €44.99

Wear this casual as seen above or dress it up with black.

Slim metallic-strip jeans €44.99

I've always been one who likes to make a statement and it would be very hard not to in these!

Mesh dress €22.99 This month I visited Barcelona for the first time ever and it's safe to say, I'm in love. Firstly, I'm a sucker for

This is one of my favourites. It's not much to look at on its own but paired under or over a top and bam, you are instantly on fleek.

architecture and this place is absolutely stunning. Every building is unique and just amazing to look at, it's the perfect getaway.

Zara

Along with the architecture, the restaurants/bars and

Cropped leather jacket €199.00

elegant club scene and 'Moog' if you like the underground

catching and it's such amazing quality.

nightlife are amazing. Hit up 'Sutton' if you like the more

I spotted this jacket over here in Barcelona and immediately had to purchase. So eye

house/techno scene.

As well as the amazing architecture, restaurants and bars, the style here is second to none. Every time I visit a new

Stripe jumper €25.95

I think this is a really cool casual piece with Gigi Hadid for Tommy Hilfiger vibes.

city I make it a priority to hit the high street and not only

see what's on the shelves, but also what locals are wearing.

Distressed denim flares €39.95

I wouldn't normally be a fan of flares but because these are short or 'mini' flares I'm diggin' them!

Article by: Shauna Lindsay

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Expo s e #E M B R A CE Campaign Photography Project

Photgrapher Anna Hurkowska and Vintage Fashion

The response was overwhelming and women were

Justyna Cwojdzińska, a Limerick business woman

a beautiful and inspiring project which documents

about a deeper conversation about body image issues.

in Limerick also took part in this project. She says

Artist Avia Gurman have come together to a create women's journey towards self-love and towards the

decision to embrace their bodies. Anna and Avia have

decided to create this project as a campaign leading to the screening of the ground breaking film Embrace, a

social impact documentary that explores the issue of body image, created by the body image activist Taryn Brumfitt from Australia.

Embrace is told from the point of view of Taryn as she traverses the globe talking to experts, women in the street and well-known personalities about the alarming rates of body image issues that are

seen in people of all body types. In her affable and

effervescent style, Taryn bares all, literally, to explore the factors contributing to this problem and seeks

very touched by this opportunity and it brought They met with women of different nationalities in

Limerick and Clare; women of different sizes, shapes and ages, and documented this very sensitive, gentle

and at times difficult journey of embracing one's body. Women are exposing their bodies and with that

exposing their inner lives, their dreams and hurts and

bravely sharing with the world who they really are.

Avia Gurman, the owner of Lady Lilith Vintage, a

body positive vintage clothing label says: 'Being a

woman consists of moments of pain and challenge,

mainly connected to the way we perceive our bodies.

For me, it became more challenging after I became a mother and experienced all the changes that occurred to my body from pregnancy to post birth.

and the artistic director of the Polish Art Festival

“Every woman in the world has a problem accepting her body the way it is, love it for what it is in all its

aspects and forms, with every single curve or lack of it. After childbirth, surgeries, accidents, with the time passing our bodies change irreversibly and the world around us promotes their own standards of young and

attractive bodies. We always hear ‘you must do this or that’, we say to ourselves ‘I must lose some weight’, ‘I must do something about it’ - it’s always ‘I must... I must...I should.’ We have a genuine problem loving

our bodies, embracing it and being kind to it. The process of accepting the body is a lengthy one and for

me this whole project is an amazing and important journey into the depths of my own self.”

to find solutions. The movie will be screened in a

“Like many other women, I've struggled with body

Anna and Avia envision a bigger project which will

Women's Day in Odeon Cinema in Limerick on

mainstream fashion industry. I've felt guilty and

but also men and young adults in Ireland and will

special event around the celebrations of International Sunday 12th March.

After watching the Dublin screening of Embrace

in January. Anna and Avia have decided to do this project and expose the subject of body image in women in Ireland. With the strong belief and vision

that women in Ireland need to inspire and empower themselves, and make a positive change in how they

perceive their bodies. Two weeks ago an open call was

published Facebook, asking women from all walks of life to be photographed nude and take part in this project.

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image and with the beauty standards set by the disempowered with who I was and found myself

trying to please others and fulfil their expectations of me. This led me down a path of negativity which brought me nowhere. It was then I made a firm

choice and said enough to all this negativity. But more importantly. I say that my body is ENOUGH and it

is beautiful the way it is. Exposing it in this way is not easy, but I feel very strongly that its needed and it’s

important for me as a private person and as member of the wider community!”

continue to inspire and educate not only women, bring the idea of self-love and acceptance into in our consciousness.

Article by: Kayleigh Zoilo

Photography by: Anna Hurkowska

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The I r is h i n D u b a i

A primary teacher by trade, who flew out of the grand

I never day drank until I came here but by God, did

The elite clubs and bars here request a table fee. You

College, I jetted off to the sunny lands of the Arabian

you leave the venue at 4 in the afternoon raving to

your friends. It comes with a bar tab or a few bottles

wake up with three wristbands, an empty wallet and a

afford this. The one time I did this, it was the most ill

I get a baptism of fire. It’s all well and good until

have to pay a considerable amount to sit at a table with

continue the party and then before you realise it, you

of spirits but generally, I am too much of a peasant to

tongue as dry as the desert seen through your window!

thought out decision; it was after a brunch and the

foot outside due to the humidity.

Conversely, another strange thing about alcohol

be questionable.

The UAE is a mystical place, it has amazing

accepted my Dad’s jokes of not being able to buy

Generally, on a Tuesday, (which sucks as a teacher,

and there isn’t even a drink section… There are

nights), free drink is literally just handed out, mostly

halls of ‘the I’, aka Limerick's Mary Immaculate Gulf last August. I came young, naïve, solo and eager.

Little did I know how unbearable the 50° C heat

would be for the first few weeks! I am paler than milk

and a specs wearer, which fogged up anytime I put a

achievements and aspirations but the way in which life

plays out is very different to home. The Dubai socialculture isn’t designed for the Irish. Our definition

of ‘brunch’ is quickly eradicated and revised. Here, brunch equates to paying an entrance for a wristband where you have unlimited access to buffet food and alcohol for 3-4 hours.

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here is the general inaccessibility of it. I hadn’t quite

decision to go with the drunk girl-flow was bound to

drink out here until I went to the shops for groceries

but can be found in different locations on other

special shops, magical shops that do sell alcohol. That

unlimited.

feeling of joy over-swept me the first time I went to a Spinneys alcohol shop- although it was even greater

when I first fell across a pork shop, it was like being a child in a sweet shop again!

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Dubai is one of seven emirates in the UAE. They

The greatest difficulty lies with the working day being

equivalent of states. Dubai certainly is the most flashy

afforded me experiences parallel to no other, being

would be our equivalent of counties and America’s

with Abu Dhabi in closest competition. The eagerness to be the best, to have the tallest, the largest, the wealthiest of representations is very obvious from the get go. To make the most of it you can be thrifty and

live the voucher life. Groupon and a local app, ‘the

Entertainer’, are saving graces. There are countless

outdoor things to do between garden exhibitions,

glow gardens, markets in parks, paddle boating, cycling, beaching, marathons, cycling races, a new

canal walkway, boardwalks with outdoor gyms… you name it!

The most wonderful thing about the heat wonce I

had adjusted to it was swimming in a warm ocean.

You don’t get that off Ballyb or Galway bay! Sport is very big here, with lots of different cultural sports clubs to join. There is netball for the Brits, two GAA clubs for us, rugby, soccer and cricket. In August, I

did something very uncharacteristic and joined the pre-season GAA boot-camp. However, I don’t advise intensive outdoor workouts in 40°C heat, it is not a

pleasant experience, particularly when you’re as fit as a stringless fiddle!

I soon went hunting for cultural things to do. There

is a wonderful Irish Drama group called Danu Dubai, founded five years ago. They have held up to five

productions each year, are incredibly proactive and have fostered much interest and talent within the

locals and the local community. I am lucky to be getting involved in their upcoming production. There are galleries and workshops and everything we have at

home, but there certainly is the feeling that you have

to go well out of your way to make that initial contact.

very, very long and incredibly draining. While it has part of a founding team for a massive company site has been challenging. I reached out to Irish people I met

both by chance or through Facebook communities for advice regarding my position and for guidance

on various issues I was facing. My faith in humanity

has been completely restored and fulfilled by the Irish

here. I have literally had strangers open their doors, and allowed me open my heart. The warmth, kindness

and hospitality shown to me by multiple strangers here

from many corners of our wee island has made me very proud to be Irish. Our nature and immense level

of common sense are wonderfully astounding. Having

lived in America for a brief stint, I got a flavour before of how it is to live abroad. Dubai is a huge melting

pot and a very tiered society. Living and working with so many nationalities certainly has reinstated my love and admiration for our approach to life, and

equivocally, our lack of bullshit. Connecting with so many different cultures affords such opportunity for

Being Irish in Dubai provides a delightful discovery

truer than true when you’re living it! We’re a long way

you’re planning your Paddy’s Day or maybe recovering

learning and growth, which sounds obvious but feels

and opportunity for self and cultural identity. When

from home Toto… but we’re on the right track!

from it you can think of me and the other Irish who

Dubai is a place of opportunity, it is fast moving and

Coronas, Gavin James, Craig Gallagher and The

sets around 6pm (one of the worst things here, but

the flag high!

working contracts normally cover some big expenses,

Article by: Rebecca Egan

ever changing. The roads are crazy and the sun always

they can’t really fix that). The cost of living is high but you just have to be careful not to fall into the spending

will spend the day bopping to Walking on Cars, The Classic Beatles. We’ll fly the flag high lads, we will fly

Photography by: Rebecca Egan & Seth Wright

culture- it is a trap! There is a never-ending string

of celebrities/music artists coming for festivals and shows on the beaches and at the beach clubs. Dubai is located in a fantastically accessible part of the globe for travelling.

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T he l im e r ick m aga z i n e Travel 5 Historic & Heritage Staycations We are blessed to live on a truly

remarkable Island, steeped in history and natural beauty, just waiting to be

explored. There are many reasons why

taking a staycation is a good idea. Not only will you get that much needed break

with less stress than planning a vacation, you will also discover a lot about this little

island you probably didn’t know, while

supporting your local economy. Here are five historic places that are definitely worth taking a trip to this spring.

Ashford Castle

Set in 350 acres on the picturesque shores of Lough Corrib, County Mayo, Ashford Castle has both beauty and history.

Voted No.1 Resort and inn in Great Britain and Ireland by Travel & Leisure readers in World’s Best Awards 2016, the castle dates back to 1228, when it was founded by the Anglo-Norman de Burgo family, following their defeat of the native O’Connors of Connaught. There were many changes of ownership over the centuries, including 1852 when Sir Benjamin

Lee Guinness purchased Ashford and extended the estate to 26,000 acres, adding two Victorian style extensions. Now, Ashford Castle has been restored fully to its former glory and is the perfect staycation, whether you want to relax in the

spa or dive in to the many activities available including golf, tennis, falconry, kayaking, zip-lining and traditional boat trips.

Ballymaloe House

Located in beautiful East Cork, Ballymaloe House is a historic Irish country house in every way. The Guesthouse and

Restaurant is winner of many awards, with Condé Nast Traveller Magazine acknowledging the house on their Gold List.

It was the only Irish venue on this renowned list of the World’s top 100 hotels in 2015. The Ballymaloe House restaurant

also continues to receive international recognition as home to the best modern Irish cuisine. Bought by the Allen family

in 1948, Myrtle and Ivan Allen spent the first sixteen years farming and bringing up their children, producing milk, butter, cream, eggs, home raised pork and veal, as well as fruit and vegetables. In 1964 Myrtle decided to open Ballymaloe as

a restaurant, using their own produce; local beef and lamb, fresh catch from Ballycotton every day and surplus produce from local farmer’s wives. Both food and accommodation at this stunning house are true to its history, with fresh, organic

produce still used in the kitchen and simple, elegant rooms complete with fresh flowers brought in from the garden every day.

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The Bushmills Inn

The beautiful scenes of Northern Ireland are something you must witness at least once in your life, and Antrim is a good county to start in. Attractions such as the Giant’s

Causeway, Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge, Dunluce Castle, Old Bushmills Distillery and Royal Portrush Golf Club await those who visit, and situated just a stone’s throw from

them is The Bushmills Inn, one of Ireland’s most well known four star hotels. Not only is this hotel in a great location, history is in its foundation, with parts of the building dating back to 1608, when ‘Old Bushmills’ was granted the world’s first ever license to distil whiskey. The main hotel was built in the 1820’s and quickly became a haven for

saddle-sore visitors on their way to the Giant’s Causeway, stopping off here to sample the whiskey that made this village internationally famous. In the late 1890’s the hotel

declined due to the arrival of a tram link to the Causeway, but has been redeveloped to its former glory over the past 22 years, now consisting of 41 bedrooms and luxury suites, courtyard garden, state of the art conference facilities, cinema and garden room extension to the restaurant.

Ardtara Country House

The charming 19th Century Ardtara Country House, located in the village of Upperlands in South Londonderry is a house rich in history. Built as a family home by Harry Jackson Clark, a family from Upperlands involved with the production of linen since 1736, the house now accommodates visitors in the style and comfort of a bygone era. 170

years after William Clark & Sons Linen started to harness the power of the water of the nearby Sperrin Mountains, the company built the first four dams to power a beetling mill, constructing what was described as the best developed small hydro scheme in the world in 1929. Today, the man-made lakes are stocked with fish for the anglers and surrounded by scenic walks, with William Clark & Sons still operating in Upperlands today. Delicious food and big comfy beds await with the restored nine bedrooms having high ceilings, large windows and working fireplaces.

Kinnity Castle

The foothills of the Slieve Bloom Mountains in County Offaly are where you will find Kinnity Castle, a gothic revival castle with a long and stormy history. Destroyed in 1209, the castle was rebuilt by the Normans in 1213, which were later driven out by the Gaelic Clan, the O’Carrolls of Ely. Disaster struck the castle again in 1922 when it was burned

by Republican forces. It was once again rebuilt in 1928 by the Bernard family, who lived there until 1946 when it was sold to Lord Decies, who in turn sold it to the state in 1951. It has since been transformed into a luxury 37 bedroom hotel that visitors from all over can enjoy today. Some of the castles magnificent features include a library bar that is home to a unique collection of antique books and journals, the Louis XV style Drawing Room and a Georgian style restaurant. Each of the 37 bedrooms is styled differently while keeping with the period of the property. High ceilings, spaciousness, opulent fabrics and period furniture highlight the heritage of the castle.

Article By: Amanda Flannery

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T he l im e r ick m aga z i n e Food & Drink RECIPE for Baked Donuts Baked donuts are a cinch to make; pans are easy to come by, (having noticed them in one or two of the bigger supermarkets baking accessories aisles) and with a multitude of flavour concoctions out there to satisfy whatever tickles your fancy, they really are baking no brainer!

Pans: 2x 6 cavity donut pans, 1x 12 cavity or 1 cupcake tin Time: 1 hour

Serves: 12 single servings

Ingredients:

• 525g self-raising flour • 150g sugar • 1 tsp baking powder

• 1 ½ tsp of vanilla • 55g butter (melted) • 55ml vegetable oil

• 2 large eggs • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg • 250ml buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 180C/350F or Gas Mark 4. Liberally grease two 6-cavity donut pans with cooking spray and set to one side. Or one 12… or a cupcake tin… whatever you have. (If you do use the cupcake tin, they will take a little longer… closer to 16 minutes depending on your oven).

2. In a large bowl whisk together the flours, sugar, baking powder and nutmeg together until combined.

3. Whisk the eggs in a medium bowl until frothy, and then stir in the vanilla. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and begin stirring to combine.

4. Add the melted butter and the oil and fold through until just incorporated. Now add the buttermilk and mix through until smooth. The batter is runny so it's easier to...

5. Scrape the batter into a piping bag and snip open the tip. Pipe the donut batter into whatever pan you are using, until they are about 2/3 full.

6. Gently tap the pan on the counter to dislodge any bubbles.

7. Bake for approximately 9-11 minutes. Allow the donuts to sit in the pan for about 5 minutes before gently removing. Turn the pan upside down and gently shake it until they pop out. Allow to cool fully before dipping.

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Make the Vanilla Glaze: • 50ml milk

• 250g icing sugar

• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract • sprinkles, for topping

1. In a medium sized pot, over a medium heat, whisk together the milk, icing sugar, and vanilla extract until smooth and heated slightly.

2. Dip the top of each donut into the bowl of glaze, and sprinkle with coloured sprinkles immediately after glazing.

3. Let glaze set for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Make them Chocolate flavour: • Add 80g of good quality coco powder in with your dry ingredients and top with a chocolate glaze.

Chocolate Glaze: • 90g chocolate chips • 250g icing sugar

• 4 tablespoons double cream • rainbow sprinkles

1. Put the chocolate chips, icing sugar and cream in a medium bowl.

2. Melt in 20 second increments in the microwave, stirring after each time, until completely melted and smooth.

3. Dip the tops of the donuts into the chocolate glaze and then cover with sprinkles.

Recipe by: Hazel Ryan Sheehan, Procrastibake Photography by: Tarmo Tulit

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T he l im e r ick m aga z i n e Food & Drink In Season - Rooting Around!

We’re digging up the last of the winter produce, the soil-dwelling root vegetables, ready to make way from the fresh greens of Spring‌ Beetroot

Pickled or boiled, these bold purple bulbous delights are packed with vitamins and minerals such as potassium and copper magnesium, phosphorus, vitamin C, iron and vitamin

B6. Make sure you make use of the leaves too, they are delicious boiled/steamed or fresh in a salad. With the beets themselves, whip them up into borscht - warming yet vibrant, perfect for these still-chilly yet brighter early days of the new season.

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Polish Borscht recipe from curiouscuisiniere.com Ingredients: 1 tbsp butter

1 small onion, diced

4 garlic cloves, minced

4 medium beets, peeled and cut into 2” chunks 2 carrots, cut into rounds 1 celery stalk, diced

2 allspice berries, whole

1 bay leaf 4 c beef stock

Swede/Turnip

2 tbsp apple cider vinegar

The humble swede became a source of confusion for

1 tsp sugar

this non-native in Ireland, as the Irish refer to them

½ tsp black pepper

exclusively as turnips. For a while I questioned whether

Pinch of salt

everything I ever knew was a lie. Here they are turnips,

Sour cream and dill to serve

while what are simply known as turnips in England

Method:

Radishes

and cook until the onion is soft (5 min). Add beets,

anthocyanins, which have been found by numerous

Melt butter in a large soup pot. Add onion and garlic

Peppery and refreshing, radishes are high in

carrots, celery, allspice, and bay leaf. Stir to coat with

medical studies to have a positive effect on

butter. Add stock and bring to a boil. Cook until the

cardiovascular health. Radishes are also great for

the heat. Stir in vinegar, sugar, pepper, and salt. Serve

levels and diuretic qualities. As we are seeing winter

desired.

greens starting to come into season, what better than

vegetables are tender (10 min). Remove the pot from

digestion and excretory systems due to high roughage

with a dollop of sour cream and a sprinkling of dill if

produce give way to spring with many leaves and

to chop up a few radishes with a leafy salad – they are

are differentiated as white turnips. Swedes are also

known as rutabaga in other parts of the world. The Scottish refer to swedes as neeps, as they were once

commonly known as new turnips - although the other

turnips may have been called new turnips too. Phew, got that? Anyway, swedes/turnips are an age old staple, but don’t write them off as boring: go beyond the boil and roast with parmesan or honey chilli and cumin.

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

also very filling so can help you on the way to cutting down on less healthy snacks. Don’t forget about the radish leaves themselves too! They are best when young and tender and contain as many nutrients as their colourful root.

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i n terview : M aur een Fo r rest Ho p e F ou n dat io n

Maureen Forrest, is founder of the HOPE Foundation, is a true inspiration. Learning about her fantastic work and aid in some of the world’s most impoverished and harrowing

places, it cannot be denied that she has touched the lives and hearts of so many, both at home in Ireland and in the places that benefit from her hard work in countries across

the globe. Maureen’s selflessness and determination has allowed thousands of children a chance at a future where they otherwise wouldn’t have had the option. Maureen takes her role as organisation director under a completely voluntary basis, receiving no salary for her hard work, getting satisfaction only from the impact of the HOPE Foundation’s aid on the lives of so many. We talk to Maureen about how the HOPE Foundation came to be.

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Tell us about your early life. What long term plans

did you have back then and how do they differ from what you ended up doing?

I was working with Aer Lingus in Shannon. Having lived in Limerick before I met my husband, we settled

in Mogeely in West Cork where we raised our family.

I had been interested in development work since my childhood; I remember the Medical Missionary

of Mary coming to talk to us at school about their

work overseas and their stories stayed with me but I don’t think that I could have predicted the outcome that would unfold following my visit to the poverty

stricken countries of Swaziland and Mozambique in 1980. My own humanitarian journey began after I

had an opportunity to volunteer and I witnessed the horrific suffering of the victims during the civil war in

Mozambique. I first volunteered in war torn Somalia, volunteering in a centre for 2000 children.

During the early 90s I also traveled to Rwanda and volunteered in a centre flooded with refugees from

Today, there are more organisations and NGOs

In addition, the thousands of volunteers, students

mass graves. It was harrowing, I felt compelled to do

is progress. The children we started with in 1999 are

Kolkata with HOPE have encountered life changing

and we have a choice on how we use them, I chose

society. Still today we find children abandoned - like

differences that their combined fundraising efforts

the children with whom we work. As Ralph Emerson

under a seat on a train hours from death. Riya is now

the genocide, and prayed alongside the grim sight of

helping the poor, there are improvements and there

and young people who have been inspired to travel to

something to help. All of us have been given talents

now fully sustainable and able to take their place in

experiences by witnessing first-hand the positive

this life and I have never regretted my commitment to

Riya, a severely disabled girl who was found in a bag

have helped bring to fruition.

put it “to know that even one life has breathed easier

in the full-time care of HOPE.

What are the values of the HOPE foundation and

What made you decide to set up a foundation?

The mission of the HOPE Foundation is to help

it then compared to now?

experience that would inspire a huge change in my

child. We work towards this goal every day. Since

Kolkata the first time I visited - the open sewers

exploitation of street children there. There and then I

children the 2.2 million individuals now have access

shocking thing was the gangs of street children trying

The initial goal was to run a home for 25 children and

in 35 slum communities.

who were hiding razor blades under their tongues;

runs over 60 projects including 12 protection homes

because you have lived, this is to have succeeded.”

what does it aim to achieve?

What was your first visit to Kolkata like? How was

In Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) I had a life-altering

create a world where it should never hurt to be a

Nothing could ever prepare me for the horror of

life. I was deeply moved by the hopelessness and

our beginnings in 1999 working with the street

and the numbers of children on the streets. The most

decided to make a lifelong commitment to the poor.

to healthcare services through HOPE interventions

to protect each other at night. I came across children

raise €25,000 a year to run. Today the foundation

they were living in constant fear.

and a hospital.

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65,183 children have received educational support,

Did you face any difficulties in first setting up the

children have been protected from abuse and neglect

Yes of course, It is always difficult to start an

in HOPE’s skill enhancement and empowerment

pounds at the time which I thought was achievable,

as a charity but as an organisation that invests in the

talk about HOPE and I started to realise the amazing

necessary skills and an opportunity to become self

grew. It was the people of Ireland who dictated the

many of which are first generation learners. 6,673

HOPE foundation ?

and 6,167 youth and young women have engaged

organisation, I had plans to fund one home for 25,000

programme. I never regard the HOPE Foundation

then as awareness was created through the media to

sustainability of human life, affording people with

generosity of the people of Ireland the foundation just

sufficient

growth of the organisation and how many children

Slums are something that is very hard to imagine

we could help by identifying with their plight.

unless you have seen them first hand. What is the

Is there any moment that stands out for you when

The reality is that every day is a struggle, an

There have been so many positive and amazing stories

really haunts me about their lives are the images of

brought me on an extraordinary life journey and I

into prostitution, knowing that they have never known

of the most wonderful people in the world along

wonder about their pain and anguish at night-time,

helped moving on through education and having

hug. I remember meeting a little girl in our hospital

the same that was a special moment for me. Children

building to escape. When she arrived to us her body

the trainer of our life skills programme tailoring unit

reality of slum-life in countries such as Kolkata?

you knew your hard work was making a difference?

incomprehensible struggle to merely survive. What

of change over the years. My role with HOPE has

children involved in child labour and child trafficking

have been blessed to have crossed paths with some

love and missed out on their childhoods. I often

the way. When I saw some of the first children we

not even having someone to give them a comforting

opportunities and then in turn helping others to do

who was being tortured and had to jump out of a

like Parveen, who grew up with HOPE and is now

was totally broken and battered. It is difficult in these

and helps others out of poverty through education.

We work to aid this rehabilitation with counselling,

Is there anything in particular that inspires you to

process. The positive side of our work is that we are

My visits to Kolkata every year reinvigorate my spirit

horrors and giving them a pathway out of poverty

that slum and go back to my comfortable home but

of these children have gone on to colleges and

have that choice, they live in abject poverty.

cases to restore their lives to a semblance of normality. nurturing and protection but it is a long and slow

keep going in your work when things may get tough?

now helping many more children escape from these

to continue with the work because I know I can leave

and towards a brighter and sustainable future. Some

the people and children with whom we work do not

universities.

What was one of your toughest moments so far?

One of the stories that will always stay with me was

when I was in Somalia and a little baby died in my arms for no other reason than us not having access

to a bottle to feed it. In Rwanda I also bore witness

to the burial of thousands of innocent people in mass graves during the horrific genocide. The hopelessness

in the early years of working in Kolkata will always stay with me, with so many living on the streets and being abused – sexually and physically - and robbed of their childhoods.

What would you say to a young person looking to do their bit and help out the HOPE Foundation?

My advice to young people would be to make your

passion your purpose and your purpose your passion.

Never give up and always believe that you can

affect great change for good in this world. Make a

commitment to your purpose and remember that the

journey in life is just as important as the destination.

There are many opportunities and ways to support the work of HOPE. There are fundraising trips where

people raise money for the HOPE projects and they then travel out to visit them. The best thing to do

is to contact the office and look up our website for information on the opportunities.

As we know, International Women's Day is coming up this month, are there any plans in place for this year?

There is a wonderful event happening at The Savoy on 3rd March, the annual International Women’s Day lunch. This year we are delighted to welcome RTE presenter Ruth Scott as our MC and Limerick author

Moira Geary as a special guest. The luncheon is

organised every year by an amazing Limerick woman and HOPE volunteer Loretto Kennedy.

It is a fantastic day out raising funds and awareness for.

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Your whole core is being used during squats so

Health & Wellbeing Women’s FITNESS: with Sintija Zorge

runners, I really hope you are doing this strength

exercise. Even if you just started training for the first 5k run or you are advanced/regular runner or just a

once a week runner, add squats to your workout no matter what!

Joint health and circulation

By simply doing body-weight squat you will improve

your joint health. Doing squats increases blood flow

The importance of squats

to hips and knees, this keeps your joints healthy and so, doing them regularly will reduce the risk of getting arthritis in your hips or knees. Squats also increases

the blood flow in your thighs helping fight against

The squat is a super exercise will work your whole

cellulite. Cellulite appears due to poor circulation and

body and particularly focus on those lushes thighs and

build-up of fat, but doing squats can reverse it.

bum. My advice is, squat regularly! There are many

Here is a little workout you should add twice a week

types of squats that will tone your butt and legs but

to improve your health and fitness while also working

don’t worry too much about which ones you should

on your appearance!

do. Start with the regular air squat - open your feet

5×5 Super Set Squat workout!

shoulder width chest proud, back straight, imagine

Exercise

you are sitting in a low chair behind you, bending

your knees and pushing hips back go as low as your hip and knee joints let you. We all have a unique

bone structure, so it’s a matter of finding the most

comfortable way where you are able to squat all the

important for any exercise and performance, running and simply doing daily tasks. A strong core will help you to avoid injuries and improve posture. Squats

done properly with good form and engaged tummy will improve your core strength and balance more than sit-ups or other abs exercise. An engaged tummy

means you will be tightening your stomach muscles, pulling all deep tissue muscles in, including pelvic floor, while breathing properly. Doing squats regularly will benefit your posture and no-one will ever tell you again to "sit up straight".

Do 5 reps go into next squat position

Wide squat

5

No

Follow through

Close squat

5

No

Finish superset take 45sec rest

repetitions one after other, then take 45 seconds rest and continued for 5 rounds.

Posture

giving you killer abs. The centre of your core is very

No

wide and close. Each exercise is completed with 5

so yes we’re talking "ass to grass”!

booty and legs but it also works your upper body

5

Body or weight squats done in 3 positions – regular,

down" makes your muscles work harder and longer,

body exercise - its main focus is to build amazing

Regular squat

Workout explained

way down with a proper form. Squatting "all the way

It’s important to remember that the squat is a full

Reps Rest Comments

A stronger core improves how you walk, stand and

Regular squat- feet shoulder width

balance. Squats will adapt your muscle memory to

Wide squats- feet very wide apart

tummy and keep your chest proud bringing the whole

Close squats- feet super close together

activities.

No matter if you are just a beginner at exercises or a

Strength

this mini squat workout can be done anywhere at any

squats is the way to go, reducing stress and anxiety,

body weight and progress on to weighted squats with

sit during day, and it also provides you with better

stand up tall, bring your shoulders back, suck in your body in ideal postural position during day to day

regular gym goer or you prefer working out at home,

Being confident in you is very important and doing

fitness and strength level. You can start with your own

and improving overall health. If you haven’t started

kettlebells or go straight for a barbell.

also reduce the risk of injuries because it works such a

Article by: Sintija Zorge

squatting yet then don’t wait any longer. Squats will

wide range of muscles not just in lower body but also upper body.

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Health & Wellbeing Mind Your Mind: Mental health issues in women

According to the World Health Association women

Symptoms of mental health problems differ for men

Depression

mental health problem such as depression, bi-polar

until their illness is severe, while women are taught

in their lives and this figure is double the amount of

are two times more likely than men to develop a

disorder and eating disorders. Women are also two to

three times more likely to attempt suicide, however, shockingly four times more men die from suicide than women.

and women. Men are still often reluctant to seek help

to be more tuned into their emotions and recognise their feeling of unhappiness and can better explain

their illness. Nevertheless, all women are at risk from developing mental health issues.

Depression strikes 10%-15% of women at some point

men that will develop depression. There are many

reasons why women are more at risk of developing depression, as women go through many biological changes throughout their lifetimes. Hormones play

havoc on a woman’s body and some women suffer with postpartum depression.

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All these things impact a woman’s life and unless

Post-traumatic stress disorder

Mind your mind - If your relationship with food or

a draining illness. Women (in some cases) bear the

single illness, is a collection of issues that include

out and seek support from someone you trust. With

depression is handled and handled well it can become

brunt of the housework, the children’s care and managing the family’s busy schedule.

Women often earn less than men and can struggle to make ends meet financially if they are estranged from

a partner. Women suffering from depression report

feeling tired, having a lack of motivation and a total disinterest in social gatherings.

Mind your mind - Go to see your doctor, talk honestly

to your family and friends about your depression.

Keep active as exercising can be as powerful as

Post-traumatic stress disorder, rather than been one anxiety disorder, panic disorder, separation anxiety

disorders and phobias. It is thought that women are

twice more likely than men to suffer from PTSD as

weight loss is becoming disordered or obsessive, reach

help, work through the underlying issues that may have led to eating disorder.

sadly they are more likely to face traumatic experiences

Alzheimer’s and Dementia

or rape. Women who have experienced such traumas

Alzheimer’s are indeed women, and a lot of research

in their lives. The trauma can include abuse, assault

tend to self-blame and believe that their mistakes or incompetence.

Mind your mind - Avoid alcohol or drugs as they can elevate your symptoms greatly

It is estimated that 70% of people suffering from is being done into why this is affecting women more

than men. Women tend to live longer than men and age is of course the biggest risk factor in regards to developing Alzheimer’s. Dementia is a range of

symptoms which affect the brain including memory

loss, changes in personality, change in mood or

medication, releasing good mood hormones into your

Eating disorders

options available.

disorder is predominantly associated with women

The symptoms don’t usually come altogether; rather

more in modern society as they are constantly faced

be assessed by a doctor. Dementia is a gradual disease

body. Learn about depression and the best treatment

Anxiety

Women are twice more likely than men to develop an anxiety disorder and the symptoms range from

an increased sense of worry, fear and an inability to

sleep or relax. Men often will push away their sense of fears and worry whereas women tend to let them internalise them and it may overwhelm their sense of clear thinking.

Mind you mind - Find a good therapist who can help you move forward and join a group to meet people with the same issues to get some advice on what works for others suffering with anxiety problems.

While eating disorders do afflict some men, an eating

both young and old. Women have faced this issue

with perfection and obviously strive to be the woman on the magazine cover or on the poster, though it is a problem that is increasing in men. The media

promotes a certain standard rather than presenting diversity. As a result, women’s eating habits are

affected and are at risk of becoming disordered, with

potentially life threatening consequences. Anorexia

behaviour and an impaired sense of judgement.

one or two will arise, at which point a person needs to and for most part people who suffer from it can lead healthy and relatively independent lives for a certain

amount of time. Once you hit 65 years old you are doubly at risk of developing dementia, however it isn’t

just an ageing disease and people can develop early onset dementia as young as 40 years old.

Nervosa is a psychological and illness defined by an

Mind your mind - Regular exercise can reduce your

A person suffering with Anorexia will become fixated

later life. Don’t smoke, eat a well-balanced diet and

extremely low body weight for the person’s stature.

with people who are skinny and with bad eating

habits, choosing to restrict or stop the amount of

food they eat to stay slim. Bulimia is an illness more common in younger people usually between the ages

of 14 and 25, but it can affect anyone at any age.

People with bulimia tend to binge eat in one go and

chances of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia in

try to avoid stress as much as possible. Visit your doctor if you notice any memory loss, changes in your behaviour or sudden confusion.

Article by: Emma Hayes

then feel guilty for their splurge after and therefore go about getting rid of the food straight away. Some

sufferers will make themselves vomit whereas others will use laxatives to rid their body of the food.

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Par e nt i ng Tandem Feeding

When I had my first boy I never imagined I would

Weight Loss

Contraception

and a half years. Now here I am feeding the latest

which can certainly assist in losing a proportion of the

for stimulating lactation are also the same hormones

manage to feed him for even a week, let alone two

addition to the family and the toddler simultaneously, for the last four months. It has not been easy. There were many times where I felt I would not last another

day. Where I was so exhausted. So sleep deprived.

Running on empty. I developed painful blocked

ducts, chapped nipples and milk blisters. I know I am

conveying a slightly less than ideal picture. However, the experience did improve and I am now reasonably

Tandem nursing utilises upwards of a thousand calories, pregnancy weight gain. Breastfeeding two children is also definitely an acceptable reason for ingesting copious amounts of whatever food you can manage to

get your hands on. Unfortunately this has not helped

my grocery bill whatsoever, and I frequently find

myself questioning whether or not five tins of Roses a week is excessive.

Interestingly the hormones which are responsible which suppress ovulation. As long as you are

*exclusively* breastfeeding you can be fairly sure the

chances of becoming pregnant are quite low. This is

known as the lactational amenorrhoea method and is approximately 98% effective in preventing ovulation

and pregnancy. However if you’re absolutely adamant you won’t be adding to your brood anytime soon, it

is best to shore up with other contraceptive methods

pleased that I managed to navigate the madness of

Multi-Tasking

it. So enough with the negativity! Here are some of

Believe me. Recently at my grandmother’s funeral I

Justification for Just About Anything

while simultaneously doing a reading. My ability to

excuse to get out of any type of situation. For example

the first 6 weeks and am thankfully over the worst of the benefits of tandem breastfeeding: Bonding

Darling son number one was of course fairly

traumatised after being usurped by the latest arrival.

This only lasted a couple of weeks, thankfully. He is now completely enthralled by little brother and dotes on him (for now, we’ll see how long it lasts). This

new found love and acceptance of the baby is due to

the fact that there is no rivalry with tandem feeding.

My firstborn is included and does not feel left out.

It has created a bond between them, which is quite interesting to observe. I am sure the usual sibling adversity will prevail but for now it is fascinating to see them entertaining each other.

If you can feed two children you can do anything. breastfed my then 3-week old in a sling on the altar, do this was definitely supported by the fact that my

multi-tasking abilities have significantly improved since joining the world of tandem feeding.

In

addition, I can also feed two children lying down whilst scrolling through Facebook for hours on end.

just in case!

Breastfeeding two children can be used as a great when I am stuck to the couch watching the soaps, with two children latched on I can command my

husband to do the majority of the cooking, cleaning

and general household chores. Without an ounce of guilt I can enjoy some vanilla slices whilst enjoying

the latest goings on in Carrickstown and Red Rock.

Furthermore if you do not fancy attending any number of mundane events, breastfeeding two children is the perfect explanation for your absence in other people’s lives.

Article by Jane O’ Halloran

Par ent ing Dad’s Eye View: Parenting Hacks

Getting them off to sleep, getting them to eat their

Jason Kenny: Remember to rest when they are

Everything else

beings – bringing up children is an ongoing challenge,

so and you will have no rest at all. Prepare everything

Distraction will be your greatest ally for the rest of

veg, and generally shaping them into socialised human

and it helps to have a few parenting hacks up your

sleeve to make things a little easier. Unfortunately, these hacks will only come out of trial and error – but

here are some suggestions from our expert panel of

sleeping. We have a tendency to just keep going. Do

the night before have, clothes ready and bags packed, bottles washed. Staying ahead actually means a little more rest in the end.

dads to try out on your little ones.

Eating

Sleeping

can be a nightmare but i disguise them with a little bit

James Slattery: Sleep time has been a rocky thing in our house, early on there wasn’t much of it luckily that

has changed. It all comes from routine - we do them

same routine every night and all four kids sleep in the same room, this has helped as even if one wakes they don’t normally wake the other as they are all used to each other in the room.

Glenn Matthews: I always sang to the kids to get them

to sleep, even if they only pretended to sleep to make me stop. Writing a lullaby for my kids was a pretty good point. "Molly the naughty sheep" (copyright pending) got them off to sleep so many times.

Mark Lloyd: To get our boys to sleep involved long

walks in the buggy or drives in the car, followed by the careful transfer of the snoozing cargo to their cot.

Mark: For the older boys getting them to eat their veg of creativity. Smiley faces are awesome but if you want

to be extra creative make some sweet potato brownies or butternut squash muffins: add little bit of chocolate on top and they think it's all chocolate.

Jason: To get our boys to eat veggies … well we didn’t really try too hard there! We tested a few of

the milder-tasting varieties and stuck with what they

seemed to tolerate: carrots, peas and, when they were a little older, broccoli. I think the greatest lesson I learned was that if you stress about it, so will they – and stress is not solution’s friend.

Jason: The biggest trick is to use distraction. your life, it can diffuse any situation before it even begins. If you need them to stop crying or need them

let go of your precious Rolex you just left on your bedside locker show them something else that is a

little less valuable and they are happy to exchange it once its bright colourful, and if it makes noise it's an added bonus. This works for older kids too especially if they are fighting with each other.

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Par e nt i ng PONCHO BABY Carolina strongly believes that we need to support and

The poncho also has inbuilt boning to provide

working, she found that there simply weren’t enough

see your baby as it feeds. Carolina reemphasises how

encourage breastfeeding for all women. When she was practical products available to make breastfeeding

easy. I’ve always been on the go as a mother, travelling to different countries for work and to visit family – I don’t believe you should feel restricted from doing all

of those things because you have a baby or children.

I felt there was a lack of products on the market that allowed this to be done easily – everything appeared

to be either cumbersome, flimsy and ineffective, not

attractive to wear or simply did not provide the cover and privacy many of us want when breastfeeding and

pumping on the go! As my background is in tech and product development I am naturally experienced in

creating a solution to a problem so I started thinking about what I could make.”

Her focus began on breastfeeding and nursing covers/

baby carriers. She began sketching product designs, Poncho Baby is an awarded baby brand founded in

California by Carolina Toro-Gerstein, a Colombian

mother and a global tech leader who has worked in

companies including Oracle, Yahoo, and Citibank, gaining extensive experience in online advertising, finance, marketing

and

product

development.

Becoming a mother and having her baby in her hands

for the first time gave her an incredible feeling of love and connection, however like many mothers out

there she struggled with breastfeeding. It took time and a lot of support from lactation consultants and

nurses to get there, and it became one of the most rewarding experiences in her life, creating an amazing

bond with her daughters, which continues to grow.

important it is to encourage mothers to continue to breastfeed, and make it as comfortable and practical as possible. There have been many high profile campaigns to challenge ignorance and stigma aimed

at mother’s breastfeeding in public. Many of these

feature uncovered women, which has been necessary

to normalise breastfeeding. However, Carolina says

we must remember that is not always an accurate presentation of the realities of breastfeeding. We

should support all women however they want to breastfeed, and if they are more comfortable being fully covered there should be products available for

that, and they should be celebrated and supported

as much as someone who doesn’t need or want to be covered. Women breastfeeding their children is the important part.”

talking to other moms and breastfeeding advocates.

Poncho baby is already in different cities all over

roots. In the Colombian Andes Mountains, ponchos

on the market in Ireland and the rest of Europe.

Ultimately, she drew inspiration from her cultural

have been used for centuries as versatile garments to protect against the cold and were used by adults and kids.

"Since our families are distributed across in the East Coast and Colombia, we have been traveling with our

girls since they were very little. Due to the lack of easy to use products for families and babies on-the-go, I

focused our Poncho Baby product line on designing

products that were high quality, stylish, eco-friendly, multifunctional and compact. The poncho is special

in that it has full back coverage, is made from muslin material to be gentle against baby’s face and skin, and comes in an array of fashionable and contemporary

prints and colours to make you feel stylish when wearing and using them.”

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adequate support for baby’s head, allowing you to

America and Philippines and they are now focusing Products are available to order online, with a special

discount available to Irish consumers on product and shipping. To find out more and browse the range visit www.ponchobaby.com

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Busin e s s OP I N I O N We need to change the way we talk about women in business

However, looking at the aforementioned terms

Like much of the discourse around mothers in media,

women - male readers: have you ever been described

that idea of not really being taken seriously, that you

and the manner in which they are applied only to as a career man? - it seems to hark back to a time

when ambitious, competing, working women were the exception in our society, a time that we haven’t

seen for generations now. There’s still much work

to be done in terms of working equality but no one can say we are not visible and present in business in

our society. No one should still be labelling working women like they are some kind of novelty.

No matter the progress we make, ambition is the

default position for men, who are assumed to pursue career and success in whatever industry Working mother. Mumpreneur. Career woman.

Female ambition. Is there something still amiss in the

way we discuss women in business? Perhaps it is just

a personal aversion, but I cringe a little any time I

see any of the above terms. Why exactly is male and female ambition and why are they considered separate things? What’s wrong with the word ‘entrepreneur’?

It’s not that we shouldn’t place a spotlight on women succeeding in business. It is necessary to highlight

that a woman is succeeding and leading in a particular industry or area, simply because we are still a way away from equality in so many areas. It is continually

necessary to champion those who are succeeding, and

and method they choose, whereas if women shows

similar aspirations there is more surprise, questions,

it is extremely patronising - mumpreneur feeds into can’t be consider a real entrepreneur and founder because you have children and work from home.

It may seem like a minor irritation when there are ‘real’ battles to be fought, but language used is important as

our words speak volumes about underlying attitudes.

Language can hold us back where real progress is

still struggling to be put into action, putting people into boxes and maintaining divides where they should no longer exist. So how about we just stick

to entrepreneur, driven, and talented? They are preexisting gender neutral terms after all. Do we really

need to create whole new categories for women to be defined by and pitted against one another?

wonderment at how she juggles it all. Men can be

It is important for all of us check our language and

colleagues, while women more likely to be deemed

should no longer simply accept such language as

driven and firm but also deemed nice and amiable by bitchy or cold if showing drive for success. And as a woman, if you choose to be an advocate for women

in business to aid progress and highlight work that needs to be done for equality, you can add militant and other disparaging terms to your list of labels.

if we come across it, correct it and call it out. We unintentional slights or a hangover from another era; we are well and truly into the new era now so it’s time to talk the talk.

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

And should you also happen to be a woman, a parent

and a founder you also run the risk of being dubbed the most baffling term of all, mumpreneur.

to look at areas where women still face barriers to career progression.

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S tar t up S p o tl i gh t Martina Skelly, YellowSchedule

How far do you think YellowSchedule can go?

Online scheduling is only getting started. A recent Intuit report indicates that over 80% of US based patients would book their appointments online if it was available. Currently only 11% can. Accenture estimates that by 2019 66% of patients will be

self-scheduling their own medical appointments online. So, in the same way that we rarely make a

travel booking over the phone or in person these

days, the same will happen to online scheduling for services such as the seeing the dentist, servicing our

cars, getting our pets groomed, booking medical appointments, seeing mortgage advisors etc.

Tell us a little about the team: who are they and how did they come on board with YellowSchedule?

My brother Michael had over a decade of IT

development experience, including banking, security

and SMS integration. I knew that he’d be perfect to build this company with me and that our skills

complemented each other. Our executive team we met along the way as we grew. We targeted our

chairman Howard Beggs specifically due to his How did you get the idea for YellowSchedule, and

I was finding it harder to grow my digital marketing

When I missed a long-awaited hospital appointment

of marketing and hunkering down in survival mode.

how did you get it started?

for my eldest daughter it sparked an interest in

looking at potential solutions around streamlining and improving the scheduling process. I had recently led a project to build a live booking engine for a network of

300 Farmhouse B&Bs throughout Ireland. It struck me that, in the accommodation sector, online booking

had filtered down to the smallest provider, but that everyday services and medical appointments lagged

behind. I conducted a feasibility study to look at the market, the competition and the opportunity before

deciding that this was something I should do. My

decision coincided with the downturn in the economy.

46

consultancy as companies were moving budgets out I asked my brother to partner with me and set it up together as a business.

What is your background?

I worked in the multimedia team in Dorling Kindersley/Penguin Publishing in London and was

responsible for digitising their Eyewitness Travel Guide series of books. I then worked in digital marketing in Dublin and when I moved to Limerick

12 years ago, eventually setting up my own digital marketing consultancy Activate Marketing.

impressive background growing Helix Health, the largest health IT company in Ireland.

What is the biggest challenge you've faced so far and how did you overcome it?

Building a product takes time before you have anything

that has the potential to generate revenue, yet most people with families have financial commitments. We

had to work full time consulting and use our evenings

and weekends to get YellowSchedule off the ground.

A lot of great ideas die at this stage; it’s very hard to sustain the level of energy required to double job.

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

EVENT: She Means Business

How has the local startup community helped you on your journey?

The Limerick startup community is friendly, vibrant and growing. People are very helpful in promoting

and making connections for local startups. There

For International Women’s Day, 8th March, The Limerick Lady in collaboration with Chez

throughout Ireland and further afield. People here will

stand-out women succeeding in their respective industries.

to people they know and really keep their eyes open

She Means Business is a panel discussion chaired by Kayleigh Ziolo of The Limerick Magazine

is a strong network that extends from Limerick

make introductions for me, recommend my product

le Fab presents She Means Business, a very special event celebrating some of Limerick city's

for opportunities that they can pass my way.

in celebration of International Women's Day 2017. The theme of this year's International

Who are your business role models?

Limerick's luminaries from a broad array of industries, from music to software design, to talk

sleeves and build their companies. They’re not always

today.

I look up to people whose companies have survived

Event coordinator and founder of the Limerick Lady, Emma Langford, says “The aim of this

have never sacrificed their morals to build their

aspiring artists alike - the potential to thrive in every industry, regardless of gender. This is a

I admire the people who ‘lean-in’ quietly, roll up their in the public eye, and they don’t always court publicity.

Women's Day is Be Bold for Change. She Means Business will be bringing together some of about the bold steps they took in their professional lives that brought them to where they are

over a long period. My role models are people who

event is to highlight to all members of our community - students, budding entrepreneurs and

business.

chance for our community to come together, to get to know each other, and strengthen our

What does success look like to you?

Limerick to see women succeeding in a range of careers; for this reason we are extending the

connections - but also an invaluable opportunity for young people, particularly young girls, in

Success to me means enjoying my work and feeling

invitation to students in the senior cycle from nearby schools to join us on the evening too!”

our customers. It means having a good work life

“International Women’s Day is a fantastic chance to bring women together, to celebrate each

friends, while not having to worry about bills. The

space for budding and established artists and entrepreneurs” adds Lesley-Anne Liddane,

company that can succeed without you. If you can put

owner-operated, and a supporter of the arts.

walk away and someone else could run it, it’s a bit like

The panel discussion will be followed by a question and answers session with the audience, with

self-sufficient!

Means Business takes place with thanks to the event’s sponsor, Steamboat Music, and in aid of

that what I’m doing is having a positive impact for balance with enough time to spend with family and

other. We’re so delighted to host this event, and offer the café as a social and creative meeting

ultimate success in terms of a business is building a

cofounder and owner of Chez le Fab, a community-conscious city centre cafe, independently

the structure and processes in place that you could raising a child – you need to give them ability to be

the night closing on a sensational cabaret showcase featuring live music and burlesque. She

ADAPT whose work in Limerick involves supporting women in situations of domestic abuse.

What advice would you give to someone starting out?

It’s always going to take longer and be harder then you

expect. You need to be extremely resilient. If you have

a family, you’ll need to have them fully supportive and on board before you start.

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

Photography by: Sean Curtin

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Build i ng B RA N D s Looking back to move forward Over the coming issues The Pudding, Limerick, is going to talk all things branding and take you on a journey of brand discovery.

First Stop…

Identity

this is by conducting a brand audit. This will establish

themselves why they choose their name and logo and

Get under the skin of your brand. The best way to do how healthy your brand is, what you are doing well

and what elements you need to change to optimise your brand. It should be carried out as the brand

evolves and not just at the beginning of the brand

building process. Central to your audit will be the question ‘Why?’. And yes, audits can take time but we promise you by taking the time to have a proper

look at your brand, it will not only save you time and money but you see the financial results.

Strategy

If your brand has changed over the last few years, elements of your brand strategy will need to be revised.

When reviewing your strategy always ask why. Your mission must capture the essence of your brand. You must be crystal clear on who you are, what you do and

why you do it. Your vision captures what your goals

are for your brand. Your brand values are fundamental

to living your brand. When auditing your brand, ask yourself if you live and breathe those values. For

Look at your brand identity. Brands should ask what does it say about their brand as it exists today.

Does your brand’s personality shine through in your

logo, brand assets, website and social media? What

does your current look and feel say about you? What is overall brand message saying? Is your messaging consistent throughout the brand?

Implementation

As part of your audit consider how your brand is implemented. What about the brand experience?

Do you offer the same brand experience offline and online? Does it engage people? Do you stand out from the crowd? Why? Review your competitors. Do

you have a strong brand culture? Your people are your

brand. Your brand culture should reflect your values.

A 360 Degree view

Take a holistic approach and carry out this brand audit internally and externally. Team members and

stakeholders should take part in the brand audit. This will give you a true reflection of your brand from the

ground up and will give you a real insight into how healthy your brand is.

While a brand audit may seem like a daunting

prospect, it will put you on the right path to establish

a brand that is truly reflective of whom you really are.

The outcomes of the brand audit will determine your

next step but don’t just take our word for it. The Proof is in The Pudding.

Article by: Sandra Honan, Communication Strategist at The Pudding

Does your team live those values? Every organisation needs to build a culture that will attract and retain the

right people. Do people want to come and work with you? Always ask why!

example, if transparency is one of your brand values is it central to every aspect of your brand, internally and

externally from the services you provide to the people you employ?

www.ThePuddingBrand.com

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A lt e r nat iv e Th i n k i n g 4 ways to ignite your creative flow

I think it’s fair to say that we all think creativity is a positive trait to have. Many of us want it, but it can feel hard to unlock when we want it most. We simply don’t know where to start, and science doesn’t exactly know how to train us to be more creative, either. That’s where “flow states” come in.

Flow is defined as an “optimal state of consciousness where we feel our best and perform our best,” and when we are in flow, “every action, every decision, arises seamlessly from the last.” We become fully present in the moment, so honed in on the task at hand that everything else seems to fade into the background, and our very sense of self ultimately vanishes for a time. Time seems different too, moving either insanely fast or incredibly slow, and our performance excels.

But how do you ignite the flow-state creativity? Here are four science-backed ways to get you started:

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Zone out to zone in.

When you step into nature, you have the opportunity

mind will ignite laser-sharp focus, but research

sense of vitality and well-being, thereby allowing for

It may seem strange to think that a wandering has found that daydreaming can spark the creative

thinking processes, and provoke those ‘aha’ moments.

Daydreaming is a type of consciousness that’s unrestricted. Our thoughts float freely from one thing to another. Have you ever tried to brainstorm a

connection from one thing to another, but that “other” seems entirely lost? Daydreaming creates connections between ideas you may never normally associate.

Try transcendental meditation.

Transcendental meditation is a technique for

detaching oneself from anxiety and promoting

harmony and self-realization through meditation, repetition of a mantra, and other yogic practices.

Research has found that meditation techniques like

to leave behind conscious thought to boost your a clearer path to your core creativity. Research has found the benefits of getting lost in the woods for

cognitive function and creative thinking processes, revealing that time spent with real earth under the feet can boost creativity by up to 50%.

Try a social media detox.

They say it takes 21 days to create a habit, and kicking the need to mindlessly scroll through Facebook and

Instagram, check people’s every move on Snapchat, and document your own, can have incredible benefits

for not only your productivity, but your creativity as well. A mind free of clutter leaves room for inspiration and breakthroughs.

TM ignite a heightened awareness of one’s thought

Bottom of Form

creativity. Committing yourself to this practice

a service designed to fragment my attention is as

processes and are therefore the most beneficial for

regularly prior to tapping into your creative time can serve as a positive ritual and a tool to tell your brain it’s time to shut off the noise and enter the flow.

Wander through nature.

"The idea of purposefully introducing into my life scary to me as the idea of smoking would be to an

endurance athlete, and it should be to you if you’re

serious about creating things that matter,” explains productivity expert Cal Newport.

There are a lot of barriers between most of us and the

All in all, you can get into your flow-state and

and our homes, but rarely amongst grass and trees and

back to centre, back to you. That is where all your

natural world. We spend time in our cars, our offices, stones. The distractions of the man-made world can

become overwhelming, and prove a huge blockage keeping you from igniting your creativity.

creativity with some simple methods that bring you creativity and purpose lies. Have fun!

Article by: Alexa Erikson

www.collective-evolution.com

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OPINION: D e a ling Wit h B u l l ie s a s a n A d u lt

There is something we are told when we are younger,

I even spent a very sad few occasions eating lunch in a

Ask yourself, "How is this impacting my life?”

off to the real world. It is that bullies are part of those

in public — alone — it would be like painting a target

or take action, you should consider how it is affecting

that we hang on to with hope as we pack ourselves

years alone, and that once we graduate the spheres of primary and secondary school, even college, everyone will just…grow up. The truth is that Mean Girls

sometimes become mean women, and every last one

of us has the capacity to take out our own small, evilspirited, little demons on others in an attempt to feel better about ourselves.

I was one of those wide-eyed naive individuals who took off for the “real world” thinking my days of being

made to feel small for stupid reasons was behind me.

You see I spent the first 20 something years of my existence being targeted by mean girls.

large, rarely used bathroom, afraid that if I actually ate on my forehead. A scene that David Attenborough could narrate - as the wide eyed, fat, spotty, specky

girl, sits in a wide open space, the hunters watch in amusement at her stupidity.

Bullying is supposed to be a kid thing, but everyone knows it doesn't always end when childhood does. I

have some tips for dealing with bullies, mean girls, and mean guys who are long past their school yard days.

When determining whether to shrug something off you. If someone's sniping is an irritation, let it be.

Chalk it down to them being a fool and acknowledge

it for what it is. If, however, you're losing sleep, you

hate going to work, or you're feeling depressed or

unworthy because of how someone is treating you, then you need to do something about it. Personally I'm not a big fan of the old school 'ignore it and it'll go away' school of thought.

I think ignoring it reinforces a sense of powerlessness.

You sit in silence while your tormentor carries on with no repercussion or acknowledgement of their wrong

doing. So if someone's belittling, humiliating, or

insulting you at work or in your friend group, and it is making you upset, it's time to address it.

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This can be a face to face conversation, whereby you

If you are going to complain about someone who

In many cases, bullying is sustained by the silence

your feelings. For most this will be enough to stop

helping you out, just make sure that you realise that

change occurs in small ways. When one woman

give name and weight to the behaviours and explain the behaviour and give the assailant an opportunity to

explain their side. Perhaps they were unaware and just needed it to be brought to their attention.

Write it down.

Document EVERYTHING. Even a simple journal entry works. If you are being cyber-bullied, print

is bullying you or that your boss or workplace isn't

what it put out there on the internet is there forever.

Don't trash your co-workers or your boss because you never know who will see it. The same goes for putting your negative thoughts into an email. Once

you hit the Send button, your private thoughts are now basically in the public domain.

out all correspondence and keep it in a file. Screen

If you do confront the bully, be assertive, not

the interactions and email them onto yourself so that

It's tricky to confront an aggressive person, because

shot messages and send them to yourself. Write up

you have a digital record with date and time stamps.

Documenting what's happening is key. Keep track of

when, where and how it happens, along with who is present. This is important so that you can present an objective, coherent case either directly to the bully, or to an authority figure. It is difficult but try to keep your feelings out of it. Be as objective, descriptive and

evidence based as possible. By that I mean qualify all

of your statements. If you make a statement like "she was angry with me" explain how you know. Include her

actions, did she roll her eyes, did she pass a comment, did she slam things? Write down all of the things to show how you knew what was going on, so that it can not be interpreted as you being oversensitive.

Seek help if necessary.

aggressive.

they're already insecure. If you approach them emotionally, or with a big group of people (one person

for moral support should be fine), things can go badly.

So it's wise to prepare ahead of time — even rehearse

in the mirror. When it's time to talk, choose a neutral,

of those who witness it but say nothing. Cultural refuses to gossip as a way to connect with another

woman, or when another changes the subject when

a group begins trashing someone not in the room, norms get redefined. But it's bloody hard to do it —

especially when you want your colleagues to like you or invite you out for drinks, and when it might be

really fun and juicy to talk about someone else.I'm

no saint I have engaged in bitching bonding talks on more than one occasion. But being more vigilant about conversation patterns can be very helpful. If

your social or professional circle spends a significant

amount of its time talking about other women, it's worth asking what your relationship as a group is built on in the first place.

private place — not your office or your apartment, but

Get out of the situation

with a few positive things about the person. Then talk

first response, but if bullying persists despite all your

a conference room or coffee shop. Consider starting facts, not feelings. This is where that documentation

comes in. Discuss the behaviour you've observed from the bully, and then give him or her a chance to

This isn't always possible, and it shouldn't be your

attempts to stop it, sometimes removing yourself from the situation is the best option.

respond. From there, have an open-ended respectful

The one positive thing about dealing with bullying

cowed, but don't get carried away with emotions

choice to get yourself out of the situation. If that

conversation. Don't back down or let yourself be either.

as an adult as opposed to a kid, is that you have the

means getting a new job, moving to a new apartment or even a new city, adults have the benefit of removing

Once you've decided to do something about a

If you're a bystander, step in.

inclination to handle the situation yourself. If so, you

the climate — with adults and children. In bullying

Remember it's not about you.

situations stop when a bystander gets involved. More

biggest question is, 'why is this happening to me?'

bully, ask yourself whether you have the skills and can confront the bully personally. If not, or if you just

feel that someone else's help would be beneficial, you

have a number of options. If you're being bullied at work, talk to a HR person or a line manager. If the bully is someone in your personal life have an ally on

hand to stand by your side. Talk to your partner, your best friend, your sister, your therapist.

Often sharing your problems and speaking them out loud helps you put things into perspective. Plus

it's always good to get input from others. There are also online resources available to people experiencing

The bystander definitely has the power to help change

cases with children, almost half of all bullying than half the time, bullying stops within 10 seconds of a bystander stepping in to help.

Helping doesn't mean taking a stand or getting into the bully's face. Sometimes just the simple act of not giving the bully an audience or just taking the side of the victim is enough to get your point across.

themselves from the toxic situation.

Quite often when someone experiences bullying, the But, most bullying comes from a bully's issues, not

from any characteristics of the victim. This isn't about you in particular, and you shouldn't feel embarrassed or ashamed. Bullying can hurt, but remember —

whether you're in the lunchroom, the nursing home, or anywhere in between, the bully's the one with the problem, not you.

Article by: Rebelle Haze

workplace bullying: check out The Workplace Bullying Institute or Bully Free At Work.

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Lime r i c k F r i n g e Festiva l 20 1 7

This month will see the first ever fringe festival take place in Limerick. The city has long been a spiritual home for local, national and international artists alike, the first thing we thought when we heard of this was: why hasn’t it happened much sooner?

Founders Simon Thompson and partner Eva Birdthistle said more or less the same thing during a casual conversation after the European Capital of Culture 2020 results were

announced last year. “After Limerick2020 lost out to Galway, I’m sure there were people in kitchens and bars all over town having similar conversations at that time, talking

about what Limerick needs and what it can do better. We did say it was strange that Limerick has never had a fringe, as I think we are probably more fringe than any other city in Ireland!

We have a huge and diverse arts community and the city itself is that gritty underdog-outsider that would lend itself very well to a fringe, and more than that we felt Limerick needed and deserved a similar festival. So the idea took hold that night and we said, right let’s go beyond the talk and do it!”

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Simon had recently spent 2 years of touring European

“Once we started receiving applications from

Over three days, five venues, seven stages and more

marketing, plus the contacts they had in the local arts

especially when we got our first application from a

experience something completely new in Limerick.

fringe festivals, and with Eva’s experience of events and international fringe communities, they concluded

this was actually achievable with the appropriate skills and a small amount of funding. The pair set about finding the right combination of people to be part

performers the excitement went through the roof, global artist, I nearly died! With every application

we said to each other, this is it, we have a fringe. ..Limerick has a fringe!”

of the committee. “We reached out to creative and

Limerick Fringe Festival is set to be a ‘performing arts

yes. The Limerick Fringe Festival committee consists

Theatre, Dance, Music and Comedy. The programme

artistic people and thankfully everyone we asked said of RG Allen with his Technicial knowledge, Rosanne Hayes Graphic Designer, Shane Vaughan with his experience of running Stanza’s and Fiona Marie Booth as a graduate of the MA Festive Arts course in UL. “

As a team they are extremely passionate and excited

pick n mix with something for everybody’, including

that would be a relatively narrow pool, we wanted

to reach out to the whole community here as well as international fringe community for support, and

they offered it in droves. A number of local businesses got on board early as they could see the benefit to Limerick having a successful event such as Limerick

Fringe and without their support this event would not be possible.”

The vision for Limerick Fringe is to be an internationally

acclaimed

fringe

event

and

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

programme to enjoy. Venues will include Dolans, No. 1 Pery Square, The Loft, Shannon Rowing Club and Mother Macs.

put together with every kind of audience member in

input. We wanted to go beyond our own contacts as

and be part of the first ever Limerick Fringe.

scene artists. There is also a dedicated Family Fringe

and with the right skills in place you don’t need a

good sense of the logistics; we just needed the artistic

the weekend so get in touch to do something daring

previous Fringe Festival winners and new to the Fringe

“The lineup is so exciting. ‘Something for everyone’ is

huge amount of funding to get it done. We had a

Limerick Fringe are also looking for volunteers for

comprises of national and international performers,

about the potential of the festival. “It was important to

us from the very first go that we wouldn’t overspend,

than 60 performances, this is an opportunity to

a term that is bandied about a lot but it really has been mind, there are traditional shows, and performances

that really push the boundaries and make you think.

No. 1 Pery Square will be hosting the more traditional drama performances, upstairs at Dolans will play host

to the off-the-wall boundary pushing kind of pieces, Mother Macs has the comedy and music laid back

vibe going on, to have a few drinks and hear great

bands and have a good laugh, and the family Fringe is over at Shannon Rowing Club. The weekend ends

with a Burlesque cabaret in Dolans, which will also be the wrap party for us and artists too as they will

all have finished performing, so that’s going to be an incredible atmosphere that night!”

professional resource, that stimulates, educates and develops audiences and artistic communities.

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THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Literature: Book Interview Dr Melissa Hidalgo, author of Mozlandia Morrissey is probably one of the most intriguing, if not

of the outsider. Bu it’s not just about him, it’s about

Hidalgo’s book examines the US-Mexico borderland

Manchester and elsewhere.”

It is the first book to investigate in detail the fan sub-

What prompted Dr Hidalgo to write the book?

and beyond. In mapping the world of Morrissey

community; I was getting tired of hearing the same

Borderlands, Mozlandia adds significantly to how

be portrayed as somewhat fanatical and when it is

As Dr Hidalgo points out to TLM, “Morrisey’s

many fans would consider themselves or be deemed

culture that has been subject to documentaries and

and looking inwards - many are artists in their own

us the same questions: ‘Why is Morrissey so popular

that’s another misconception I hope to challenge in

polarising, figures within popular culture. Dr. Melissa

fandom focused on the Manchester born music icon.

the music too; it resonates here just like it does in

cultures associated with Morrissey in Los Angeles

“I wanted to challenge the perceptions of the

and his fans from the US Midlands to the Mexican

old questions and tropes. Sometimes the fan base can

we understand the phenomenon of ‘Moz Angeles.’

covered you only get to see the extremes. And while

popularity in these areas is well established, and a

outsiders that doesn’t mean they are obsessive, or sad

articles long before now, yet journalists are still asking

right creating and sharing things with the world, so

there? Why do these fandoms exist?’ I wanted to

the book.”

stereotypes that were starting to emerge from the lack

How did you go about telling the stories of the

move the conversation on and break some of the of understanding.”

fans? “Obviously I’m a fan myself and from LA so

UL’s Popular Music and Popular Culture Research

Moz Angeles, for those who know it, makes perfect

of individuals but also offer some perspective and

Morrissey’s fans. Mozlandia: Morrissey Fans in the

the US in 1990s when he essentially launched his

doesn’t mean you can’t criticise as well. What can we

expressions of fandom, and their contributions to

Johnny Carson Show, and he also lived and recorded

to individuals or a particular aspect of the fan base,

the subculture of Morrissey and Smiths fandom as

of his most fervent fan bases lie! And particularly

Morrissey songs in a Spanish/Latino style, there’s a

the reader to many of the fans and cultural figures

Irish immigrants, and his alienation from British fans

and many more interviews with fans and some of my

more at home here and said he wanted to be Mexican.

I have been told - it’s an easy accessible read, but one

home but not fully accepted where you live, plus as an

your perceptions and what you think you know.”

Dr Melissa Hidalgo, a visiting Fulbright Scholar with

I’ve been part of these communities. I tell the stories

Cluster, has just published a major new book about

sense, says Hidalgo. “Morrissey’s popularity rose in

analysis of him as a cultural figure, because being a fan

Borderlands is a book about his fans, their creative

solo career after The Smiths. He toured and did the

expect from the book? “There are chapters dedicated

Morrissey’s worldwide popularity. The book examines

there for nine years, so it’s natural LA is where some

for example there is a chapter on Mexrissey, who play

a US-Mexican borderland phenomenon, introducing

when you consider his own family background of

Morrisey karaoke event, the Morrissey theatre festival

who make up the fan base in LA.

after The Smiths spilt, you can see why he came to feel

own personal stories and anecdotes. I hope – in fact

He could relate to the feeling of being separated from

that does make you think and question and challenge

individual and with The Smiths he was always voice

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Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Poe t ry fr om s tanz a s TĂŠarnamh

By Brooklyn Bond

Brooklyn Bond

Brooklyn Bond is a 17 year old leaving cert student from

Clonlara. They love poetry and are inspired by E.E. Cummings, John Steinbeck, Wilfred Owen, Emily Bronte and Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Brooklyn also has a deep love for film and theatre and hopes to be a theatrical makeup artist in the future.

Brooklyn's poem "TĂŠarnamh" is open to interpretation but was inspired by the great impact just one person can have on another's mental wellness.

Stanzas takes place monthly in Hook & Ladder Sarsfield Street. Stanzas aims to encourage and develop new and

emerging writers. The March event takes place on Friday

the 24th, from 19:00 on, and is themed 'snakes'. To see your work in print email your poetry, prose or images based on the

theme to stanzas.limerick@gmail.com by March 17th. Please note: Images must be High Contrast Black and White, Prose must be under 600 words in length.

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THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Literature Book Reviews 10 books to read this month

The Zookeeper’s Wife by Diane Ackerman

Read this book before the story hits cinemas in April! It is based on real life

Warsaw Zookeeper couple Antonina and Dr. Jan in 1939 Poland, when Nazis

invade the country. The couple secretly begin working with the Resistance, trying to save lives the of people living in what has become the Warsaw Ghetto, putting themselves at great risk.

There’s nothing worse than hearing everyone talking about the plot of a book

How To Be a Bawse by Lily Singh

ruined for you. Here at TLM we don’t want you to feel out of the loop so we

conquering life’. Lily is as funny as ever, discussing relationships, career choices,

you’ve never read, first of all you feel left out and second of all the story is put together a reading list of books that we think are going to be huge talking points.

Actress, comedian and YouTube sensation Lily Singh writes a ‘guide to everyday annoyances and candid stories about how she made it to the top.

Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor

Dangerous Games by Danielle Steel

Since he was a child he’s been obsessed with the mythic lost city of Weep. But

reporting on important news. But her latest assignment involves investigating

Lazlo Strange, war orphan and junior librarian has always feared his dream. he didn’t have the courage to go out and look for it himself. When a band of

legendary warriors present him with the opportunity to go in search of Weep, Lazlo will have to face his fear and realise what it truly means to follow his dreams.

58

TV news correspondent Alix Phillips, doesn’t hesitate to risk her life when damning allegations involving the Vice President of the USA, Tony Clark.

When Alix digs deeper into the case, federal agents pick up the trail and the threats start.

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Wonder by R.J Palacio

Fast Forward by Judi Curtin

born with a facial defect that stopped him from going to mainstream school, until

from Judi’s last book Time after Time, forgo their quiet classmate Heather’s party

will leave its readers with a deeper understanding of the importance of kindness

Heather needs friendship and kindness more than they thought, will they be able

A movie adaption of this book is due to hit theatres in April! August Pullman was

The award winning children’s author strikes again. Beth and Molly, characters

he decided he’d had enough of being different and joins 5th grade. It’s a book that

to go on a time travelling adventure. But once on the journey they discover that

and friendship.

to fix things in time for Heather’s party?

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

student, relives the same day over and over again after a nasty car crash, forcing

grandparents and cousin in Kansas. Lane never knew much about her mother's

Another book coming to our screens in April! Samantha, popular high school her to look at people differently. Samantha realises that one girl on the outside of

the school’s social circles may be in trouble. But can she act quickly enough to save her? A modern reflection on bullying and mental heath in teenagers.

After her mother's suicide, 15 year-old Lane Roanoke went to live with her

mysterious family but when she discovered the dark secret they worked to keep hidden, she ran away to LA. 11 years later, she returns to Kansas to help search for

her missing cousin, where she’s forced to confront the devastating family secret that made her run in the first place.

Orange Blossom Days by Patricia Scanlan

The Circle by Dave Eggers

deAndalucía. Its new owners, although very different, regard the complex as a

starring Emma Watson. We live in a world obsessed with social media and staying

In beautiful southern Spain lies a brand new apartment complex, La Joya haven, although the holiday feeling can only last so long. The five owners range from a fiery Texan mother trying to escape after her husband cheated on her

and a haughty Madrileño striving to become El Presidente of the complex’s management committee, but it won’t be as easy as he thinks.

Read this book before you go to see the widely anticipated movie in April, connected, but at what price? This is the question Mae Holland begins to ask

herself when she starts working at a powerful technology company called The Circle, which draws parallels to Apple.

Article by: Sarah Talty

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THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Literature Stories from Limerick Writers Centre

I sleep with the lights on all the time now. But no radio anymore. I need to be able to hear. I changed the locks last week and got the alarm company in. They said there was nothing wrong with it. The technician

tested the downstairs window as well as the doors and it worked perfectly fine. That means he must have gotten the alarm code somehow. I made the technician go into the front room as I punched in a

new code. This time, I am the only one with the code and the keys to the house.

“But what if there’s an emergency?” my mother pleaded, when I wouldn’t give her a spare key. “What if…if you get sick?”

I don’t trust her, though I don’t really blame her for what happened. I told her that she and Dad needed to be extra careful, that he must be watching them and

had probably been in their house too. She gave me

At first I thought it was a coincidence when the guy I had seen in the supermarket turned up on my

train in the mornings, getting on and off at my stops.

When he appeared on the street outside one night, that’s when I got scared. Sometimes, I’d go to pull the curtains and he’d be standing in the middle of the road staring up at me. I rang the guards the first few

times but he was always gone by the time they came.

They said none of the neighbours had seen him but I bet they never even asked. They stopped coming so I stopped ringing.

I know he’s been in the house. The signs were subtle at first but then things were moved about, like the vase of flowers from the hall table to the kitchen. One

time, he ate a whole packet of Toffypops I had in the press. There were crumbs all over the counter and the empty wrapper was on the floor when I got home.

this strange look but she has no explanation for how

I wouldn’t mind a few Toffypops now. I finished the

setting off the alarm. She has no idea just how cunning

just the plain bread left. I’m going to have to ration

he got into my house without signs of forced entry or

he is. The guards say they can’t do anything unless he physically assaults me. He’s probably outside now. It’ll serve the lot of them right if I’m found bludgeoned to death in my own bed.

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last of the chocolate spread earlier and now there’s

it, along with the water. There’s no way in or out of my bedroom now with Granny Murray’s ancient wardrobe pulled across the door and the window boarded up.

My mobile phone vibrates up at the end of the bed.

I switched it to silent so I could hear if he’s coming.

It’s him, I know it’s him. He’s never had my number before. The doorbell rings and makes me jump. Oh

God, he’s here. He rings it again and again before

he then starts banging on the front door. My phone starts vibrating again. I grab it from the bottom of my bed. It’s my mother this time.

There’s a huge crash from downstairs and the sound of splintering wood. The alarm goes off. Its piercing

siren fills my head. I answer the phone and have to shout to be heard.

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“Mam, Mam, he’s here. He’s in the house. Help…”

“Yes, Sandra. We’re both here. You’re safe now. You

I can hear voices outside on the stairs. He’s not alone.

“Now you believe me! I told you, didn’t I?”

can come on out.”

“Sandra, calm down, you’re alright, I…”

“Yes love, you did. Come on out now.”

“Mam?”

I drag the wardrobe back slowly inch by inch until

I can hear her in the hall and on the phone but I’m

hand on the key. What if it’s a trick?

confused. How could she have gotten here so quickly?

The alarm makes it so hard to hear, to think. The door rattles as someone tries to open it.

“Sandra, love. Let me in.”

I run to the door.

I can open the door. I pause for a moment with my

“Mam?” “Yes, love.”

Author Bio

“Do you promise he’s gone?”

Margaret Cahill grew up in Offaly and now lives in

“I promise. No one’s going to hurt you. Come on out

featured in The Incub

Limerick. Her short stories and flash fiction have

now and we’ll look after you.”

ator Journal, Crannog Magazine, The Galway Review,

She doesn’t speak for a minute.

I turn the key in the lock and slowly open the door.

Wings. Her competition listings include Over the

“Yes, love. We saw him.”

starts crying. I start crying. Dad puts his arms around

Allingham Arts Flash Fiction (2015), Headstuff.org’s

believe him. The deafening shrillness of the pulsating

(2015). She is a member of the Limerick Writers'

“Mam, he was here. At the door. On my phone…”

“What happened? Where is he?”

Silence again.

“The guard are outside. They’ve got him in the squad

Wordlegs, Boyne Berries, Revival and The Linnet’s

Mam grabs my hand and pulls me towards her. She

Edge New Writer of the Year (2013, 2014 and 2015),

us and says “Come on, it’ll be alright.” But I don’t

Lacomic Cup (2015) and UCC’s Carried on Waves

alarm is trying to tell me something but I don’t

Centre fiction writing group.

understand it. Yet.

The Limerick Writers' Centre is a non-profit

car and are taking him to the station.”

organisation established to nurture and support

“Dad?”

Their 'On the Nail' Literary Gathering takes place

writers, through readings, workshops and publishing. the first Tuesday of every month. Details www. limerickwriterscentre.com

61

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

FI L M And it was all yellow: The story of giallo

What makes a giallo

The word itself means 'yellow' in Italian. The genre

took its name from a series of cheap paperback

books called 'Il giallo Mondadori,'which featured a distinctive yellow cover. Mondadori was (and still is) Italy's biggest publishing house. Some years earlier, it

had begun publishing an imprint focused on romance

novels, which sported bright blue covers. Giallo was, at the time, a mere continuation of this color coding for popular literature.

Early on, these books were translations of British and American authors like Agatha Christie and Edward

Wallace. Giallo paperpacks caught on, due to their cheap price, popular content, and accessibility. Many

Italian publishers were soon issuing their own giallo, including the trademark yellow cover. Giallo became synonym with 'mystery', and just as one would look

for a particular Agatha Christie title in the 'Mystery'

section of a bookstore, the Italian equivalent would be 'giallo.'

Though it started in print form, giallo soon caught the attention of Italian filmmakers. Big names like

Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, and Dario Argento began There is no haunted houses, and hardly any ghosts, but there is plenty weird stuff going on in giallo (plural, gialli) films.

Giallo as we know it came into existence in Italy around the 1960s. At times considered as 'trash,' 'bad,' or 'exploitative', giallo is more a heady amalgamation of genres, including thriller, horror, slasher, all peppered with a

healthy (or unhealthy, depending on your point of view) dose of blood, sex, and mystery a la Italian. While the taste and nature of some of the stuff on show enters the realms of questionability, giallo never disappoints, in a queer sort of way. To put it simply, you cannot be indifferent.

There are common tropes specific to the genre. Beautiful, sophisticated (and, um, sexually liberated) women, for sure. Environments are usually luxurious, or at least affluent. Masked killers with a deep dislike of said women

feature heavily. Knives, which are commonly shown piercing victims' bodies in glorious technicolor. And (lots of ) nudity, mostly gratuitous, certainly voyeuristic.

Yet, giallo is not all about gross-out moments. One defining feature that remains constant throughout all films of the genre is the mystery aspect to the plot. From that perspective, gialli can be compared to classical, plot-driven British whodunnit films, which enjoyed their heyday between the 1920s and 1950s.

their careers as giallo directors.

It is generally accepted that the first giallo film was

The Girl who Knew too Much (Mario Bava, 1963).

Though somewhat tame by the genre's later standards, The Girl... established giallo's constants of mystery, women in peril, and a copious amount of well crafted suspense.

Changing attitudes in audiences loosened the filmmakers' restraints when it came to showing

sexually charged scenes and very explicit murder

scenes. Mario Bava's Blood and Black Lace (1964), for instance, featured a particularly savage masked killer.

Considered to be a watershed moment in gialli, Blood... established the genre's classic 'stalk and kill'

sequences, later imitated in countless other titles.

More importantly, the film would greatly influence

the upcoming slasher genre in the United States.

Blood... predates the seminal -and far more popularHalloween by nine years.

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THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Their cinema industry was, and to a great extent still

The decline of giallo

Italy's cultural significance as a whole. Italian

70s and 80s. The heyday of giallo coincided with this

is, a very small one when one takes into consideration cinematographers have always worked within the

constraints of tight budgets, and have to make the best of it.

The typical giallo killer would be a shadowy, masked, Bava's piece set the standard for giallo films of the

era. Soon, other directors were racing to outdo each other in terms of more gore, higher body count, and more explicit sexuality. Gialli were produced relatively cheaply and quickly, and the same storyline was told

over and over, in a slightly different setting. During its heyday, almost 200 giallo and horror films were being produced a year.

But Italian cinema standards were at times a little

too extreme for audiences elsewhere. Though

Italian directors often made the point of shooting in English (even though actors commonly did not speak the language, and regularly delivered their lines

phonetically), the films' content was borderline -and often, way, way, over the line - offensive for American audiences.

To overcome this issue, there are usually different versions of the same movie, depending on the market for which they were destined to. Swedish audiences

enjoy sexual content, for instance, but balk at gore and

violence. American audiences, the other way around.

So Italian editors would slice and splice different cuts

of the film, to adapt them to European or overseas markets. This often led to confusion though, and it partly explains why the same film can often be known by a different name, depending where you watch it.

The giallo killer: A faceless, relentless killing machine

Due to their low budgets and derivativeness, giallo

films were sometimes referred to as spaghetti slashers, though this is simplistic and wholly missed the point

of the genre. Italian cinema was never known for its big, blockbuster-like, bottomless budget films.

gloved individual who would use knives, bladed

weapons, ropes, and many other devices to bump its

victims off. Interestingly, guns were never part of a giallo killer's arsenal of death.

The killer's motivations differ from movie to movie,

The Red Brigades operated in Italy throughout the era of fear and uncertainty, and many have drawn parallelisms between the two. Some film historians

and social commentators have said that giallo merely reflected and extrapolated the fears and anguish collectively felt by Italians at the time. The Red

Brigades carried out kidnappings, acts of sabotage, and assassinations. Viewed in that context (and cinema must always be seen in the historical context when it's produced), giallo exteriorized a deep-rooted dread among the common people.

but they always centre around a similar idea. Victims

By the early 1980s, sociological shifts meant that

common thread. Usually, this hatred is rooted in a

wane. Giallo movies had dropped the mystery part

are invariably women; a deep hatred of women is a betrayal experienced by the killer (or killers).

I postulated above about the voyeuristic nature of gialli. The camera recreates exquisitely in portraying

the victim's fear and anguish as she first realizes she is in mortal danger. Then, the stalking, the chase. And

finally, the killer catches up to his or her quarry, and the death process begins. This is usually a long and drawn-out piece that culminates in a memorable demise.

Gialli are well known for the routine fetishization of murder and death. This is as much about titillating

the audience as it is pure indulgence on the director's

interest for the murder mystery genre began to altogether, and focussed almost exclusively in death scenes, which gave rise to the slasher genre. By the

1990s, the genre had almost vanished, with only a handful of 'giallo-like' films being produced.

The exploitative nature of giallo is undisputed, just as its graphic and sometimes distasteful nature.

The Italian murder mystery machine has produced a

lot of sub-par movies, for sure, but has also generated a few gems. Deep Red was one of them. The Bird

With the Crystal Plumage (1971) is another. And

Don't Torture a Duckling (1972) certainly is another.

part. Let's take Dario Argento's masterpiece Deep

Over time, gialli have faded from people's minds

features a long string of nasty, but masterfully crafted

cinematographic genres, it outlived its time. However,

Red (1975) as an example. This giallo tour de force death scenes, shown in rigorous detail.

It can be postulated that the violence is gratuitous and

unnecessarily

graphic. Others

argue

the

stylized mechanisms of death add to the value and

and fallen out of the audiences' grace. As with most giallo most certainly became the precursor of the hugely popular slasher genre, starting in the late 70s.

Article by: Fernando Sanchez

the idiosyncrasies of the genre. Giallo is a violent, unforgiving world.

Deep Red is also notable because it includes supernatural elements, something that 'traditional'

gialli normally steer clear off. Argento's later work, like Suspiria (1977) and Inferno (1980) would dwell further into supernatural realms.

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THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Th e l i m e r ick maga z i n e TV: March 2017

Lethal Weapon

Midnight Sun

Quantico

treatment and this incarnation stars Damon Wayans

crime series continues with Midnight Sun, a

season two of the crime thriller. Season one was a

The beloved movie series is getting the television and Clayne Crawford in the roles of Murtaugh and

Riggs, whose epic bromance has lived on in the hearts

of generations. This show takes the comedic spirit

and banter of the movies and works it in into a weekly procedural as Riggs rebuilds his life following the

loss of his wife while Murtaugh battles health issues.

The producers assure us that they are not looking to recreate the films but to reinvent the story and the

characters with a few small homages to the movies.

Season one will air on ITV with a guarantee for fun,

Scandinavia's current run of churning out exceptional Swedish-French co-production, which focuses on the

brutal murder of a French citizen which sees a French homicide detective travel to Sweden to work alongside

her Swedish counterpart. The crime threatens to tear the local community apart as investigators suspect a

link to an indigenous ritual. Coming from the writers behind the acclaimed show, "The Bridge", this gritty

and compelling drama is likely to become everyone's

new obsession when it airs this month on Sky Atlantic.

Quantico returns to Alibi on 2nd March for rollercoaster, ending with Alex Parrish (Priyanka

Chopra) being fired by the FBI and suddenly being given the opportunity to work with the CIA. This time around we will see her at the mysterious training

facility, The Farm, where she will be challenged both physically and mentally while her relationship with Ryan reaches further turning points. There will be

more major character deaths and we'll finally have an

explanation as to why Owen is imprisoned. The future

of Quantico is currently unsure, which is a shame, so be sure to tune in for this season.

laughs and a subtle nod to nostalgia.

Carters Get Rich

Wild Things

Marvel's Iron Fist

technical wunderkind who creates an app that teaches

in The Lord of the Rings and Lost but the thespian

this new Netflix show, premiering on 17th March.

This British comedy follows the story of 11 year old geeky boys how to talk to girls. The app is bought

by American billionaire Trent Zebrisky ( James Van Der Beek) and the six-part series looks at how the family deals with the sudden transition from rags to

riches. The patriarch of the family (Rhashan Stone) is

a proud working-class man and struggles to reign in the excitement of his wife and kids, while trying to

ensure that his son doesn't become a self-entitled rich boy. Airing on Sky 1 this month, this has the potential to be a very funny, very heartwarming sitcom.

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Dominic Monaghan may be best known for his roles is also an avid fan of the outdoors and all things

nature. Season three, showing on Sky 1 this month, sees him enviably travelling to exotic locations around

the globe encountering scary, beautiful animals and

exploring new cultures. As well as host, Monaghan is also creator and producer, meaning that his passion

for wildlife is very real and has no fear of getting up

close and personal with animals that most of us would run from. Luckily, he believes that love of animals shouldn't be confined to just the cute and the cuddly and his encounters will surely convince you.

Marvel continue their small screen domination with Marvel's Iron Fist follows Danny Rand, a billionaire with martial arts expertise, on his return to New York after being missing for fifteen years. As he tries to reclaim his family company, he realises he must choose

between his family legacy and his responsibilities as

the Iron Fist. Starring Finn Jones (Games of Thrones) in the titular role, the showrunner has previously

worked on Dexter and "Six Feet Under" so complex

characters and compelling storylines are a guarantee for this new entry into the superhero genre.

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Ne w Mu si c Releas es Local

National

International

Nile St. James – Fire Rains Down

Áine Cahill – Plastic

London Grammar – Big Picture

name for themselves in Ireland recently and rightly

taken the music world by storm in the past year or so

tend to either love them or not be able to stand

This Limerick collective has really started to make a so. With the beautiful vocals of Niall O’Halloran fronting the ensemble, it’s very hard not to be instantly

soothed by their chill, bluesy vibes. Their new song, Fire Rains Down, which was debuted at Dolan’s

Warehouse early this year is just as silky and easy on the ear as you’d expect. Niall says it was inspired by

‘the wonderful fallen artists… Etta James… who has inspired me to write many a song’. The soulful track is the kind of song to give you goose bumps with equal parts of haunting vocal harmonies and funky backing

track it truly is a treat for the ears and one to add to your March playlist for sure!

Homegrown singer-songwriter Áine Cahill has really

with some absolutely fantastic songs. With a sound and vibe that is hard not to compare to her to Adele but that doesn’t mean that Áine’s music is gorgeously

original. In her new single, ‘Plastic’ which dropped at the start of the year, she calls out an ex that did her

wrong in a sultry and cool ensemble of strings with a funky, soulful bass line. This is just the beginning

for Áine and she is bound to soar to some amazing heights over the next year or two. Check out the

music video for Plastic or listen to all of her music together on Spotify. Stunning.

London Grammar are quite a niche band and people them. However, if you’re one of the lucky ones who

have fallen in love with their music, their new single ‘Big Picture’ will be really exciting for you. Stepping

into an unusual new territory that isn’t the norm for London Grammar, Big Picture is no less beautiful

than the rest of their music. The haunting vocals and poignant lyrics build as the song goes, allowing it to

resonate long after the song is over. This song serves as the perfect comeback for London Grammar as they have not released any new music since 2014. Have a listen and see if you agree!

Slow Riot – Pink December

Orchid Collective – Waited on the Sun

Gabrielle Aplin – Miss You

released their new single, really solidifying the sound

come out of Ireland in recent years comes in the form

produced strong, relatable love songs ever since her

Another great Limerick band, Slow Riot have just and vibe they’ve been building with their previous

releases. The post-punk sound they have created is

almost hypnotic in its tone and is really quite unique.

Pink December is a fantastic song and transitions

from verses with a toned down more laid back vibe to full on choruses and bridges that really allow the song

to take off. The last three singles released by the band

have allowed listeners a taste for what is to come on their highly anticipated new album, the debut album of the trio. Check out all their singles so far on Spotify and have a listen for yourself.

Possibly some of the best alternative folk rock to of Orchid Collective. Although hints of other folk

rock singers such as The Villagers and James Vincent

McMorrow might peek through every now and then, there’s no denying that the music produced by the

ensemble is unique and fresh. Waited on the Sun is, quite easily, their best single to date and gives you

that chill-down-your-spine feeling that you get when a song is just perfect in all the right ways. The exciting

feeling to the song makes it the perfect song to keep on repeat all day long and will still impress you every

time. Be sure to check out the rest of their work on Spotify and stick them on you March playlist!

English singer-songwriter, Gabrielle Aplin has

debut with her charming voice and catchy lyrics. Her music has helped many a 20-something through

heartbreak and new love. However, her new release, Miss You has a decidedly dance-y vibe that has

propelled her music right into modernity. As Aplin herself has said, this new track is optimistic and about rediscovering yourself after maybe losing them along

the way and the music and lyrics certainly reflect that.

You’re sure to hear this tune over the next couple of months, especially coming up to Summertime.

Article by: Ali Molloy

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THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE EVENT GUIDE KEEP RUNNING

SOCIAL LIMERICK

PAT SHORTT HOW’S TINGS?!

7pm

4 Quinlan Street, Limerick

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick,

Wednesday 1st March - Wednesday 19th April @ Castletroy, Co. Limerick INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS WORKSHOP Thursday 2nd March @ 9am - 4.30pm

Limerick Strand Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick City Centre

Friday 3rd March @ 5.30pm

CHELTENHAM PREVIEW NIGHT IN AID

Friday 3rd March @ 8pm Limerick

OF NURTURE AFRICA

BALLYHOURA ACTIVE DUATHLON

Whelan's Bar, Maiden Street, Newcastle West, Co.

Ballyhoura

Friday 3rd March @ 7.30pm Limerick

Saturday 4th March @ 9am Co.Limerick

Mountain

Bike

Park,

Ardpatrick

WORD'S OUT: ANGER IS ENERGY

BOOTLEG BEACH BOYS

EXCLUSIVE WEDDING OPEN DAY

Limerick City Gallery of Art, Carnegie Building,

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick,

Limerick Strand Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick City

Thursday 2nd March @ 6pm Pery Square, Limerick

Friday 3rd March @ 8pm Castletroy, Limerick

Saturday 4th March @ 11am - 4pm Centre

CAROL DRINKWATER AT LIMERICK CITY

JANIS SKANIS & SAMANTHA TINA

STORYTIME WITH ROISÍN MEANEY

Thursday 2nd March @ 8pm

Dolans Pub and Restaurant, 3/4 Dock Rd., Limerick

Limerick City Library, The Granary, Michael Street,

LIBRARY

Limerick City Library, The Granary, Michael Street,

Friday 3rd March @ 8pm

Limerick

PSYCHIC & AURA SHOW WITH TV

INSPECTOR DRAKE & THE PERFEKT

Friday 3rd March @ 8pm

CRIME

Thursday 2nd - Sunday 5th & Thursday 9th - Sunday 12th March @ 8pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick THE WIZ

Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd March @ 8pm

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

LIMERICK CHORAL FESTIVAL Friday 3rd - Sunday 5th March 2017 Limerick City

Limerick

MEDIUM JOE POWER

AN EVENING WITH JOHNNY MCEVOY

Pery's Hotel, Glentworth Street, Limerick

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick,

STEELING DAN - A TRIBUTE TO STEELY

Saturday 4th March @ 8pm Castletroy, Limerick

DAN

THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN - THE

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

Saturday 4th March @ 2.30pm

Friday 3rd March @ 8pm

THE SEATTLE GRUNGE EXPERIENCE Friday 3rd March @ 8pm

Kasbah Social Club, 3 - 4 Dock Road, Limerick WEST LIMERICK DRAMA FESTIVAL 2017

Friday 3rd, Saturday 4th & Thursday 9th - Saturday

SECRET OF THE UNICORN

Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street, Limerick FOIL, ARMS AND HOG Saturday 4th March @ 8pm

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

11th March @ 8pm

SUNDAY NIGHT DANCING - DEREK RYAN

Limerick

Fitzgerald's Woodlands House Hotel, Knockanes,

Knockaderry Resource Centre, Knockaderry, Co.

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Saturday 4th March @ 11.30am

Sunday 5th March @ 8.30pm Adare, Co. Limerick

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

F o l lo w u s on li n e for more e ve nt l istings www.the l ime rickm aga z ine .c o m

IRELAND’S YOUNG FILMMAKER OF THE

CASTLECONNELL 10KM RACE | 5KM FUN-

GLEN BALLAD SESSION

Tuesday 7th March @ 10am – 1:30pm

Sunday 12th March @ 1:30pm

1-2 Lower Glentworth St, Limerick

YEAR

Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street, Limerick

RUN/WALK

Castleconnell, Co. Limerick

ST. PATRICK'S WEEKEND AT THE LOCKE

THE LIMERICK LADY PRESENTS: SHE

PRETTY WOMAN

Weds 8th March @ 6pm-11pm

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick,

MEANS BUSINESS

Chez le Fab, Arthur’s Quay, Limerick JUDY

O'CONNOR

WOMENS DAY SUPPER CLUB Wednesday 8th March @ 7pm

Dolans Pub and Restaurant, 3/4 Dock Rd., Limerick INTERNATIONAL

WOMEN'S

BAR

Monday 13th March @ 7:30pm Limerick

INTERNATIONAL

DAY

LIMERICK CITY GALLERY OF ART

AT

Wednesday 8th March @ 12:15pm

Limerick City Gallery of Art, Carnegie Building, Pery Square, Limerick

25

YEARS

ARCHIVE

OF THE

Thursday 16th March @ 9.30pm

LIMERICK

FILM

Tuesday 14th March @ 8pm

Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th March @ Various Times The Locke Bar, 3 Georges Quay, Limerick DJ COLM K AT MICKEY MARTINS Thursday 16th March @ 10pm Augustinian Lane, Limerick

LIT Millennium Theatre, Moylish Park, Limerick

ST PATRICK'S DAY UNLOCKED

JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN & BENJAMIN

Limerick Milk Market, Cornmarket Row, Limerick

LAZER DAVIS PRESENTED BY SEODA

Friday 17th March @ 10am-4pm

SHOWS

ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

O’Connell Street, Limerick City

Tuesday 14th March @ 9pm

Friday 17th March @ 12pm

THE WOLF & PETER

EDUCATING RITA

ST. PATRICK'S DAY BOAT TOUR WITH

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

Friday 17th - Sunday 19th March From 10am

Thursday 9th March @ 7pm

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

15th March, 16th March @ 8pm Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

LEONARD & TINNEY

VENICE TO VEGAS

Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street, Limerick

Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street, Limerick

Thursday 9th March @ 8pm

Thursday 16th March @ 8pm

PAY IT FORWARD KINDNESS FESTIVAL

IRELAND IN POSTERS

Saturday 11th - Friday 17th March

Only

2017

THE THREE TENORS – HERE COMES THE

Thursday 16th - Monday 20th by Appointments The Creative Place, 26 Wolfe Tone Street, Limerick

MAGIC

PADDY’S WEEKEND AT TED’S BAR &

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

Thursday 16th - Sunday 19th March

Saturday 11th March @ 8pm

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

THE STRYPES - NEVER MIND THE MOCKS Saturday 11th March @ 8pm

Kasbah Social Club, 3 - 4 Dock Road, Limerick

VENUE

102 O'Connell Street, Limerick

NEVSAIL

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street, Limerick City

TRADITIONAL

FLANNERY'S BAR

MUSIC

SESSION

AT

Friday 17th March @ 2.30pm - 5.30pm Upper Denmark Street, Limerick THE

NATIONAL

VINTAGE FAIR

ANTIQUES

ART

&

Saturday 18th March 10am - 4pm & Sunday 19th March 11am - 6pm

The South Court Hotel, Raheen, Limerick ANUNA IN CONCERT 18th March @ 8pm

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Limerick

67

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

F o l low u s on li n e for more e ve nt l istings www.the l ime ric k m aga z ine .c o m

KILFENORA CEILI BAND

PUPA

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street, Limerick

Saturday 18th March @ 8pm

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

SCISSORS CUT PAPER WRAP STONE

ASLAN LIVE AT THE BIG TOP

Friday 24th March - Saturday 27th May

Saturday 18th March @ 7pm

Ormston House, 9-10 Patrick Street, Limerick

Cornmarket Row, Limerick

THE RIPTIDE MOVEMENT

LIVE MUSIC AT THE OLD QUARTER

Friday 24th March @ 8pm

Saturday 18th March @ 10.30pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

Little Ellen Street Limerick LIMERICK

INTERNATIONAL

CHAMPIONSHIP

23rd March – 25th March @ 6pm & 8pm

BAND

YOGA HIKE AT BALLYHOURA MOUNTAINS Saturday 25th March @ 8am

NOTHING LIKE YOUR PROFILE PICTURE 30th March @ 9:15pm

Dolans Upstairs, Dock Road, Limerick COCOONED IN KAZAN 30th March @ 8pm

Dolans Upstairs, Dock Road, Limerick DERMOT BYRNE, STEVE COONEY & BRID HARPER

Thursday 30th March @ 8pm

Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street, Limerick

Church of Ireland, Kilfinane, Co Limerick

PHOENIX THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS

O’Connell Street, Limerick City

LITTLE HOURS

Thursday 30th March @ 10.30pm

EUROPEAN EARLY MUSIC DAY AT KING

Kasbah Social Club, 3 - 4 Dock Road, Limerick

Sunday 19th March @12pm

JOHN’S CASTLE

Tuesday 21st March @ 4pm - 7pm

FRESH FILM FESTIVAL 2017

King John's Castle, King’s Island, Limerick IRISH

CHAMBER

REFORMATION

ORCHESTRA

Saturday 25th March @ 8pm

Monday 27th March - Saturday 1st April 2017 -

Odeon Cinema, Castletroy and Belltable, 69 O'Connell Street

Tuesday 21st March @ 8pm

SING STREET - FILM SCREENING

Castletroy, Limerick

ODEON Cinema, Castletroy Shopping Centre,

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick,

THE YOUNG OFFENDERS Wednesday 22nd March @ 8pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick GODSPELL

Tuesday 28th March @ 11am - 1pm

PHONE WHORE: A ONE ACT PLAY WITH FREQUENT INTERRUPTIONS Friday 31st March @ 10:30pm

Dolans Upstairs, Dock Road, Limerick NSFW

Friday 31st March @ 11:45pm

Dolans Upstairs, Dock Road, Limerick WOMEN IN WINE

LIMERICK FRINGE FESTIVAL

No 1. Pery Square Limerick City Centre

30th March – 1st April

Various venues, Limerick City NERDFUCKER: A SOLO PLAY WITH BAD

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

30th March @ 10:30pm

68

No 1. Pery Square Limerick City Centre

Castletroy, Limerick

22nd – 25th March @ 8pm

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

'JOHN IN HEELS'

BOUNDARIES

Dolans Upstairs, Dock Road, Limerick

Friday 31st March @ 8pm - 9.30pm

ERICK

THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO LIM

N? T’S O WHkA ’s Event Highlights

March 2017

Limeric

Fri 3rd - Sat 4th Thurs 9th - Sat 11th

Sat 11th - Fri 17th

PAY IT FORWARD KINDNESS FESTIVAL 2017

WEST LIMERICK DRAMA FESTIVAL Knockaderry Resource Centre Sat 18th

Fri 17th

Sat 18th

LIMERICK ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

ANÚNA

Throughout Limerick Sat 18th

30TH ANNIVERSARY CONCERT University Concert Hall

Limerick City

Sun 19th

Mon 27th - Sat 1st

ASLAN

LIVE AT THE BIG TOP

KILFENORA CÉILÍ BAND

Lime Tree Theatre

The Milk Market

47TH LIMERICK INTERNATIONAL BAND CHAMPIONSHIP

FRESH FILM FESTIVAL

Limerick City

Belltable & Odeon Cinema

Follow us on

FOR FULL EVENT LISTINGS VISIT THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO LIMERICK

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Closing Time 1 0 Minute s Wi t h‌M a d onna L u ci a Name: Madonna Lucia

Occupation: Artist/Performer Fun fact about you:

Many moons ago a lovely older lady shared a joint

with me onstage in the Olympia theatre in Dublin.

It was at the end of a weird show where the audience

Are you superstitious/do you have any personal

Tell us about your upcoming show...

Ask the last bitch who came for me. I am not the one!

It's like the Parental Advisory sticker they used to

rituals for good luck?

How would you sum up your life in 6 words?

I feel amazing. Deal with it!

got on stage to dance with the actors. I found out

Describe your ideal weekend in Limerick?

Faithfull, it was a moment!

into town for the afternoon for coffee and to catch

later that I happened to be dancing with Marianne

What motivates you in the morning?

Only the dull are brilliant over breakfast darling!

What one thing do you never leave the house

Mogul Emperor on a Friday, lie in on a Saturday, up on the latest. Avoid the Crescent completely

then a few pints in town followed by a gig or club

in Dolans, come up smiling on Sunday and get out to Curraghchase with the dogs and to clear the head.

without?

Favourite place to grab a bite?

Any hidden or lesser known talents?

Best drink in town?

As a child what did you want to be growing up?

Favourite people?

My vape pen.

I am an extremely capable masseur.

A fighter pilot.

What is your favourite word?

Gowl. It's wonderfully specific to Limerick, try using

it in a sentence today it really helps especially in shops.

Favourite quote of all time?

However vast the darkness, we must supply our own light. (Stanley Kubrick)

What is the most recent book you have read?

The Complete Ballad of Halo Jones by Alan Moore and Ian Gibson.

70

Mr.Noodle on Thomas Street.

The one in my hand.

My husband, friends and family come first but I talk

to anyone, and Limerick people are great at this thing we do by making a stranger feel welcome with small talk in any setting.

Happiness is...

...a state of mind.

It's called 'NSFW' which means 'not safe for work'. put on music but now we put it on anything on the internet that could cause offence. The show will be

me looking at some of these issues in a fun way. I'll

be talking about the Irish experience of sexuality so in that sense it will be semi-autobiographical. I will

be talking about sex, shifting at school, sexting and

looking at how the performative aspects of porn affects how we have sex, especially what we say during! The

show is open to all so expect adult content with some musical interludes and a laugh.

Article by: Michelle Costello

Photography by: Madonna Lucia

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

72