Northwest Express November 2013

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Charities forced to cut services and staff Markree Castle hosts Masquerade Ball for NUIG Medical Students

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Sam Kenyon, Sinéad Gormley, Pádraig Synott, Sarah Cormican, Niamh O'Halloran pictured at the Masquerade Ball. Over 200 young medical students and doctors turned up to the magical Markree Castle in Sligo, for a great night of mystique and dignified debauchery. A four-course meal followed a champagne reception and the crowd was kept on their feet all night to the musical stylings of Queen Bee Sligo and Michele Feeney. The NUI Galway Medical Society, who was voted “most improved society in Ireland and Northern Ireland” at the 2013 annual BICS awards, hosted the night. Over €3,000 was raised in aid of Voluntary Services Abroad. VSA is a charity run by NUIG medical students, who raise money to deliver medical aid to the developing world. All money raised goes towards buying medical equipment and medicines for hospitals in need. Cont’d on Page 2

P

EOPLE were shocked this week to learn that many charities have been forced to cut services and let staff go because of plummeting public donations and cuts in government funding.

A report says that one is only managing to pay interest on its mortgage, others have warned they have "virtually exhausted" their cash reserves and salaries and pension payments have been reduced; while some groups have been forced to stop providing essential services.

It revealed that staff were taking unpaid leave to keep costs down, while services in one children's charity – Barnardos – were suspended twice, in 2012 and this year, to save money.The financial situation in Inclusion Ireland, which works with the disabled, has become so acute that it is currently only making interest payments on its mortgage.

Special Olympics Ireland has seen government funding fall by 59pc since 2008, said there was an "ever-increasing gap" between income and outgoings. This would inevitably result in a reduction in the number of athletes taking part in the Ireland games in Limerick next year, a spokesperson said.

Umbrella group The Wheel, which has 930 members in the sector, found that despite some 230 charities experiencing a sharp rise in demand for services, two-thirds had been hit with falling revenues this year.

One in three has been forced to cut back or suspend services since the beginning of the year, chief executive Deirdre Garvey said.

"What we're seeing is state funding being cut in the order of 30pc or 40pc. Voluntary sector cuts tend to go straight through to service cuts.

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New Composting Demonstration Site Opens in Ballina

The art of Composting - Stop Food Waste's composting expert Craig Benton with Ballina Town Mayor Johnnie O'Malley, Mayo Co Council's Environment Awareness Officer Sharon Cameron, Mayo North East's Gerry Mulherin, Rural Social Scheme's Des Ruttledge and Karen Burmese gardener Tyi Shwee all contribute to the "worm bin" at the official opening of Ballina's new Composting Demonstration Site in the town's Bishop's Garden. Picture Henry Wills

A

new composting demonstration site for Ballina was opened recently by Mayor Councillor Johnny O’Malley.

The new composting site, which is located in the Karen/GIY Community Garden adjacent to St. Muredach’s college, will be a place for communities, schools and householders to visit and learn about composting and prevention of food waste. The official opening was attended by representatives of the Karen community, GIY, Mayo North East, local schools, Rural Social Scheme, local council, tidy towns committees and community representatives.

The composting demonstration site was developed by ‘Mayo North East’ and co-funded

by Mayo County Council . Community composting demonstration sites are an initiative of the EPA ‘Master Composter’ programme which aims to educate community volunteers in the skills of composting. In 2012, Mayo County Council co-ordinated the Master Composter Training programme and 30

volunteers were trained in the skills of composting and the first demonstration site was built in Claremorris with the support of Clar IRD. One of these Master Composter Volunteers - Gerry Mulherin went on to spearhead the Ballina project.

Speaking at the opening on behalf of ‘North East Mayo’, Gerry Mulherin said, “The composting demonstration site is a welcome addition to our successful Karen/GIY community garden . The garden is a focal point for the Karen community and is now used as a training facility for the Ballina Eat Wise community food initiative to combat food poverty. A special thanks is due to Bishop John Fleming for his on-going support and for allowing a large portion of his own garden to be used for this community project. This project could not have been completed without the hard work of Des Ruthledge and his RSS team. I would also like to thank Chris Slack and all the Karen and GIY volunteers who

helped establish the site. Any groups who would like to visit the site can contact me to arrange a demonstration.”

The composting site displays a variety of composting methods including a unit for composting leaves, a wormery for food waste and a 3-bay system for turning garden waste into compost. On the day of the opening Craig Benton, composting expert with the EPA Stop Food Waste Master Composter programme gave a display on the use of worms for composting. There was much delight among the many children attending the opening when Craig showed them the composting worms!

The composting demonstration site plays an important role in Mayo County Council’s environment awareness plans; Sharon Cameron, Environment Awareness Officer with Mayo County Council welcomes the initiative.”I am delighted with the new composting demonstration site in Ballina; people learn through various methods and sometimes it is much easier to explain a process such as composting through practical demonstration. This site is an excellent resource for the community in Ballina and surrounding villages to learn how to compost in their own estates, homes and schools. The Master Composter programme has being a tremendous success with many of the volunteers who participated in the training playing an important role in compost education in their own communities’ Cllr. Johnnie O’ Malley, Mayor of Ballina carried out the official opening and reminded those in attendance that the skills of recycling and composting were not new but that many of the traditional skills were being lost. He welcomed the new composting demonstration project in Ballina for the role it will play in educating future generations and extended his congratulations to all involved in the project.

The new composting site is open for visitors.

Those wishing to learn more about composting or to visit the site can contact Sharon Cameron in Mayo County Council, 094 9024444, environment@mayococo.ie or Gerry Mulherin in Mayo North East, 094 9256745 gerrymulherin@mayonortheast.com Full information on composting and prevention of food waste can be viewed on www.stopfoodwaste.ie

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HALLOWEEN CAN BE a busy night for A&E departments around the country.

Fireworks, sparklers, bonfires, apple bobbing. Wait, apple bobbing? Yes, apple bobbing.

Our Lady’s Hospital for Sick Children is warning against the traditional Halloween game where children dunk their heads into a bucket of water full of apple and try to pull one out with their teeth.

According to Dr Kathyrn McCreer, eye surgeon at the hospital, injuries that can occur “as a result of the child attempting to bite the apple at force when dunking their head.”

She says that possible dangers include scratches on the surface of the eye as well as infections from dirty water and water communally used by a number of children.

The hospital says that although they “are not asking people to avoid fun on this family occasion”, apple bobbing is “best avoided”.

McCreery says that she sees a variety

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of eye injuries happening to children at Halloween, most of which are completely avoidable: The most common accidents I see include corneal abrasions and bleeding in the eye, caused by children being struck in the eye with sharp Halloween accessories such as swords, knives or wands and eye injuries as a result of poor supervision of fireworks and around bonfires.

“Parents need to make sure accessories such as swords and other objects are soft and flexible, and have dulled edges”, she adds.

Other eye injuries that eye doctors in A&E’s departments have to deal with on a busy Halloween night include cigarette burns to the cornea, foreign objects that get under the eye lids, bruising of the eyes and infections as a result of poor removal of children wearing make-up.

“Old make-up is a breeding ground for bacteria,” according to McCreery.

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Charities forced to cut services and staff Continued from front page

"Voluntary organisations tend to be the safety net for a lot of individuals. These cuts are disproportionate. The Wheel understands the gap in the public finances needs to be closed but there are choices in every Budget in how to close the gap. The information reveals that while some chief executives of charities in Ireland still earn substantial salaries, these have been reduced in many cases and staff across the board have experienced a drop in pay.

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Markree Castle hosts Masquerade Ball for NUIG Medical Students Continued from front page

The students also volunteer their own skills and experience by working in these hospitals during the summer months. Ball organiser and NUIG Medical Society auditor, Simon Neary would like to extend a massive thank-you to all who supported, donated and made the night such a huge success. "We are especially grateful to all our generous sponsors in Sligo, without whom we could not have raised so much for VSA. Well done also Eveline Matthews, Sarah Chiu and Susan Morrison for organising the event and to all MedSoc and VSA committee members. Here's hoping to seeing you all at Markree again in 2014 for an even bigger and better night" See this months Sligo Now for more photos.

Northwest Express November, 2013

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Do You Have any news or views for us? email us: info@theexpress.ie

El Salvador business connection to benefit Sligo

T

hanks to the efforts of a distributor in El Salvador, products that are manufactured in Collooney, Sligo, may achieve a 20-fold increase in sales in Central America and the Caribbean.

The San Salvador subsidiary of B Braun, a large German medical and pharmaceutical

company, sells bandages and other products used to treat wounds.

According to the national press, the Salvadorian B Braun records sales of €11 million across all divisions of healthcare products produced by the German healthcare giant, but aims to increase this to €25m in 2015. The company buys €300,000 worth of products made in Sligo, distributed through Germany, but it will look to grow this to €5 million by selling into other markets in the region.

“We are increasing good relations and we believe that we will grow 20 times in five years the size of the Irish business in the whole region,” said Rafael Amaya, the managing director of the Salvadoran company.

“We know we can replicate this model in every single country of Central America and the Caribbean.”

Minister of State for Trade and Development Joe Costello, a native of Sligo, visited the company during President Michael D Higgins’s Latin American tour of Mexico, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

At the company on Saturday, Mr Costello said exports played a key role in Ireland’s economic recovery and exploring and opening up new markets in Latin America were important.

On the 12-day tour of Central America, the junior minister has been promoting Ireland as a “stepping stone” for Latin American companies looking to sell into Europe while also trying to establish links for Irish products to be exported into Latin America.

Describing B Braun’s Salvadoran distribution centre as a “gateway for Irish products” into Central America and the Caribbean, he said that the business is “enormously valuable” for the Sligo operation.

“It is a feather in the cap for Ireland . . . there are 1,200 Irish employees in Sligo producing this product, which is a world-class product,” he said.

The Sligo company was established as Hospicare in 1984 before being acquired 10 years later by B Braun, which has annual sales of about $5 billion (€3.7 billion) and 49,000 employees in 72 countries.

TD raises concerns about exploitation of graduate teachers FIANNA Fáil Education Spokesperson Charlie McConalogue has raised concerns about the exploitation of newly qualified teachers through the JobBridge scheme.

Deputy McConalogue has called on the Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton to immediately clarify if it is government policy to allow fully qualified teachers to essentially work for free through the State internship scheme.

“If this is as widespread as reported, it’s a sinister development in the treatment of our graduates.

Essentially what we are seeing is graduate teachers being forced to work for next to nothing, while the State gets away with not paying them the salary they are entitled to as fully trained teachers,” said Deputy McConalogue.

“The JobBridge scheme was not set up to give the State a way of avoiding having to pay full salaries for qualified public servants who have already done their full training and their work placements. We have already seen the Government cut pay for graduate nurses and teachers. Is it now Government policy to take this a step further by expecting graduate teachers to work for just €50 on top of social welfare payments?

“The Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn must immediately clarify to what extent this is happening within the school system, and what his Department’s policy is on the filling of teaching posts through JobBridge. He must also clarify what communication, if any, his Department has had with schools on the use of JobBridge to fill gaps in staffing levels.

“There is no doubt that schools right across the country are under pressure with cuts to resources and expanding pupil numbers. But using JobBridge to boost staffing levels is not the answer – all it does is allow the Department of Education to avoid paying those teachers the salaries they are entitled to.”

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ligo has really staked its claim as the place to be for the October Bank Holiday weekend. Sligo Live Festival celebrated the area’s dynamic musical heritage with an avalanche of music, with live performances under what seemed like every roof in the Town.Tens of thousands of music fans descended on the town to enjoy almost over 100 performances by almost 400

musicians. Full concerts and full hotels marked Sligo Live, a festival which has grown considerably over the last 9 years and is now a firm fixture on the national calendar.

Restaurants, pubs and hoteliers were packed doing huge business as the Festival and the buzz for Sligo Rovers who are in their fourth FAI cup final in five years.

Northwest Express November, 2013

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Mayo / US writer cracks a Shakespeare Code in new novel!

Mayo County Council to hold special meeting as anger over Eirgrid plans grow

A review of The Cross at Pig Hill by Reggie Walsh.

I

T may have taken 450 years, but a Mayoman could have cracked it.As entertainment goes, there is nothing like a good read, a good yarn to while away a few hours in a world of makebelief, or belief in a world that makes everything seem possible. Even Mayo winning an All-Ireland.

These are the thoughts which spring to mind when reading a recent novel by Mayo writer and former reporter for The Western People, Reggie Walsh. It provides an abundance of good laughs and bullet shots to cut a swath through a winter’s evening.

A writer – and long-time denizen of the Bronx now residing in Ohio, who can tie in Shakespeare and Hamlet to Mayo in even a vague way - deserves a read and the idea of cracking a Shakespeare Code seems surreal when leading academics say the Bard was too bright to ever fall back on one.

In his novel, The Cross at Pig Hill, Walsh – as all good writers who make fiction believable, makes a convincing case, and then some. Flann O’Brien might even shuffle a bar-stool in Walsh’s direction for the sheer fascination of being told how he did it. The play on words is awesome. Is it a code or is it not? If not, Walsh has a way with words that is so uncanny to border on the incredible, the ingenious even. If a code, he is the first to uncover any code of Shakespeare in 450 years. And he cracks the Code with Irish words! The play is King Lear and the code is cracked by use of the words, gan and ang. That will shake a few cobwebs from the clutter of papers through the trove of Irish tomes in the groves of Academe.

Not so nice is the reference to the Mayo GAA debacle of 60 odd years where the main protagonist points his finger at the Mayo crest being the cause of all their ills. A curious thought that. He is not the only one thinking of the key to a bright future for the Green and Red. The Cross at Pig Hill is set in 1972 around Westport and a small island community in Clew Bay. There is a lot of dialogue or ‘chat’ like Puig in The Kiss of

the Spider Woman and it is Walsh’s forte.

It reads like a play.

Can you imagine an ICA meeting giving rise to a burst or two of howling laughter? A religious meeting that ends in a carnal, carnival of dancing? A little bit of grocery shopping that ends in a killing?

And everywhere there are the seals like politicians (and Walsh has them too) and really the novel fills the void of a bit of shameless politicking which reminds one of Louis McNeice: “The seals heads bobbing in the tide flow, they cannot depose logically what they want.”

And a retort of one of Walsh’s fascinating characters: “Politicians, they promise you all the birds in the sky, only trouble is you have to catch ‘em yershrelf.”

All in all, The Cross at Pig Hill is a

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good read – crass language is at a minimum, and well worth the price of 174 pages of a memorable story.

Reggie Walsh (though born in Kildare) spent most of his early life in Swinford, Co. Mayo. As a journalist with the Western People newspaper in the ‘70s and early ‘80s people from Swinford and Ballina, in particular, would remember him for his enigmatic style and his contribution to sport and other social fields, before he emigrated to the U.S. in the early ‘80s. He attended Ruskin College, Oxford, and City College, New York. The Cross at Pig Hill is his first novel and he will publish two books of historical fiction on the life and times of Frank P. Walsh in the coming months.

Google the ‘Shakespeare Code Reggie Walsh’ for the story behind the code.

The book is available from Kindle or Amazon.

S

UCH has been the level of anger over Eirgrid’s preferred route through North Mayo that Mayo Councy Council has decided to hold a special meeting on the issue on the morning of Monday, November 4th.

There had been widespread opposition, particularly from residents in Moygownagh, Ardagh and Knockmore, to the proposed route of the €240 million 440KV high capacity overhead power line for the west of Ireland, since it was announced a number of weeks a go.

Knockmore-based Fine Gael councillor Seamus Weir, at last week’s reconvened October meeting of Mayo County Council, said: “With what has been done to the people of Knockmore with this decision, they won’t stand for it. It should be sent back to page one again and start all over’’, he said.

The councillor had raised the issue at last week’s Environmental Strategic Policy Committee of the council and the county development plan meeting the previous week.

Councillor Gerry Murray had also proposed at the development plan meeting that all 440KV lines in the county should be put underground as part of the development plan for the county when it is finalised.

Hundreds of people has turned out at a public meeting in Knockmore the previous week where locals voiced strong opinions and major concerns about the project to a number of local politicians. A local committee was also set up to instigate a plan of action against the Eirgrid plan. Protests have also benn heard at Eirgrid open days in other locations in the country.

Northwest Express November, 2013

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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Do You Have any news or views for us? email us: info@theexpress.ie

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Swinford court to be amalgamated with Ballina

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aoirse Films Ltd is proud to present THE O'BRIENS, Ireland’s first independently funded romcom, and the directorial debut of Richard Waters.

The O’Briens revolves around an Irish father, Pat (Tommy O'Neill) who, two years after the death of his wife, has summoned his daughter, Una (Slaine Kelly) and two sons Fionn (Liam McMahon) and Gareth (Emmett Hughes) back to their homestead in Galway. The tensions are high as each family member’s secrets are revealed, and they are put to the test as a family as their lives are thrown in to upheaval.

The O'Briens is a feel-good comedy, which brings a fresh outlook to the modern Irish family and can be compared to The Family Stone or ABC's Modern Family, facing personal issue with comedic, light and realistic undertones, in an inherently Irish manner. The eclectic family are supplemented by the colourful characters of their hometown, sure to bring the chuckles to everyone.

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countryside, a homespun comedy, and charming romantic entanglements will love The O’Briens.

Filmed digitally in Headford, Co. Galway over an intense 22 day shoot in 2012, The O'Briens was independently financed and the first feature production by Saoirse Films Ltd, with cofunding by Star Djs, Lansmere Films and Mist Media. Even with its modest budget, the massive variety of the characters to the scope of the locations makes the film a unique viewing experience.

Written by actor/producers Slaine Kelly (Comedown/The Tudors) and Emmett Hughes, the film marks the first endeavour by the duo and, drawing from personal experience, they completed the script in six months. The O'Briens is the feature directorial debut of Wicklow-based award-winning short film maker Richard Waters. Rounding out the team of young, energetic and gung ho producers are Fionn O'Brien, Ciara Byrne, Richard Kearney and Alison Scarff.

The film boasts an impressive cast of veteran and rising acting talent from Ireland, including Liam McMahon (Hunger, Titanic: Blood and Steel), Kelly Blaise (The Borgias, The Inside), Amber Jean Rowan (Ripper Street, Vikings), Lochlainn O’Mearain (Ros Na Rún, Bord Bia), Paddy C. Courtney (Shameless, Paddywhackery), Tommy O’Neill (The Belfast Story, Fair City) and Caroline Rothwell (Fair City).

The soundtrack features everpopular artist Paddy Casey, as well as the talented Roisin O. Their home-grown sound marries perfectly to the picturesque landscape of Galway, accomplishing the traditional sounds of Ireland but with a modern fresh feel.

The film debuted at the Newport Beach Film Festival as the Irish spotlight in April 2013 to a sold out crowd and coming home with the award Outstanding Achievement in Filmmaking.

Since then, the film has received rave reviews and is set to hit Tesco nationwide on the 8th of November 2013.

ReproMed banish common fertility myths and misconceptions once and for all!

We’ve all heard the rumours and myths about fertility! For example, men who wear tight underwear or frequently ride bikes are more likely to suffer from fertility problems. If this was the case, skinny jeans and cycling would be banned for all married men!

Declan Keane, Senior Embryologist and Director of ReproMed says; ‘You should avoid listening to the hype.

Like with many medical issues, there is a lot of inaccurate information about fertility out there. Seeking advice is always the best option as each individual case is different.’

Top fertility myths: 1.Infertility Runs in the Family: A family history of good fertility in your parents, brothers and sisters has no bearing on your individual fertility potential, so don’t use that as an indicator for your own fertility.

2. Sexual Position: Unfortunately, mixing it up in the bedroom doesn’t increase your chances of conceiving!

Nor does it influence the sex of the baby.

3. Having a Monthly Period means you’re Fertile: Problems in the uterus or fallopian tubes in many cases

only come to light when you are having trouble conceiving and receive fertility diagnostics.

4. Age: Unfortunately, as time moves on, so do our bodies. Women are particularly vulnerable when it comes to age and fertility as their egg count will deplete the older they get and eventually they will experience menopause. Men, however, can remain fertile long after their 40s.

5. Having Intercourse when Ovulating: Although women are at their most fertile during ovulation, rushing home from work to

have sex on certain days turns it into a chore. Timing to a specific date or day in your cycle can actually decrease pregnancy rates because latent stress is induced which can actually stop ovulation.

6. Caffeine : Caffeine doesn’t directly affect fertility rates, however a balanced, nutritional diet can definitely boost fertility.

Keane continues; ‘Dr Google and chat rooms are the main source of these myths and should be avoided. People these days are too quick to self-diagnose which can prolong the process if they are not seeking the right advice.’

The future of Ballina District Court Office is now secure, it seems, following the announcement by the Courts Service that it is to amalgamate Swinford District Court with Ballina District Couirt. The move, has been welcomed by Mayo Fine Gael TD Michelle Mulherin.

In July, Deputy Mulherin, a solicitor herself, challenged the closure of courthouses at Swinford and Ballyhaunis and asked the Courts Service to review their consequent decision that the business of both courts would then take place at Castlebar Courthouse instead of Ballina Courthouse, which administers Swinford Court at the moment.

Deputy Mulherin said: “The Courts Service decision would have involved the removal of this work from Ballina District Court Office to Castlebar. The Courts Service agreed to the review following my appeal and has now confirmed that Swinford District Court will be amalgamated with Ballina. In effect, this means that the business and administration of Swinford District Court will in future take place at Ballina courthouse and not Castlebar.

“And while I am extremely disappointed at the closure of Swinford District Court, this is very good news for the future viability of the very efficient Ballina District Court Office and staff working there.

Such a change of mind by the Court Services is rare but a compelling case was made, and I am delighted with the outcome.”

Deputy Mulherin consulted with stakeholders in the District Court Office, the local Gardaí, solicitors and community representatives in Ballina and Swinford, before seeking the review by the Courts Service.

“From the point of view of these stakeholders, the overturning of this decision by the Courts Service is only commonsense,” Deputy Mulherin added.

In her appeal to the Courts Service, Deputy Mulherin set out in detail the reasons why Swinford District Court should be transferred to Ballina.

She also stressed the difficulties the closure of courthouses in rural counties brings in light of the scarcity of public transport services for someone without a car who has to travel a distance to court.

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OUT THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH

Northwest Express November, 2013

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TRAMORE

Helping you plan for tomorrow while enjoying today Mature Living Magazine is pleased to announce that the Mature Living Ultimate Lifestyle Show will be held on Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd of November at The Brreaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

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H

aving fun, sharing time with people you enjoy, surrounding yourself with things you like, are just some of the fundamentals of the exhibition. As a visitor to the Mature Living Exhibition, it will encompass all of these highlights and feature many more.

Register online before 20th November to receive free entry

Visitors will be treated to a full array of shopping opportunities, interactive exhibits, main stage entertainment, informative presentations and a fun inexpensive day out with family and friends. This show promotes the richness of celebrating life as a mature person and is a combination of Lifestyle Shows, Health & Wellness Expos, Seniors Fairs and more...all under one roof! There will be exhibitors of all kinds on the days offering the mature generation the

perfect chance to discover all the latest products and services targeted directly to their age group.

This years show will also have a Mature Living Bake off between various active retirement groups and also non members.

Each person will be given 8 key ingredients needed to bake an irish soda bread and a certain amount of time will be allowed to prepare and bake live in front of an audience. Each person is also allowed two secret ingredients of their own to make their cake unique. Places are limited so early booking is a must.

Telephone Seamus on 0852498067 Such a large event is of course sure to attract a host of exhibitors with more than 70 display stands and various seminars. See a wide variety of fun, exciting, interesting and informative displays, representing all facets of today's 50 Plus lifestyles. For the first time in history, you, the Baby Boomer and Senior are changing the definition of retirement.

Each show differs from the others from year to year, but they all have some things in common - plenty of opportunities to take part in activities (for example dancing, yoga, t'ai chi, bowls, pilates etc); shows and demonstrations including live cookery, ballroom dancing, make-overs and beauty tips and the spectacular fashion shows; seminars (including financial information, tales of real-life adventure, relationship advice and our popular 'gardening question time'; and lots of exhibitors from travel companies, holidays and hotel getaways, health care providers,

financial advice, energy-saving companies, insurance companies etc. As you can probably tell, every show is a fun-filled day out.

The Mature Living Ultimate Lifestyle Show gives Boomers & Seniors the opportunity to get their questions answered, to connect with companies, demonstrate and experience new products and services, come face-to-face with exhibitors who will inform, seminars that will educate and entertainment that will be fun and exciting.

Register online before November 20th to receive free entry Visit www.maturelivingexpo.ie for the latest details

Who Should Attend: • • • • • • •

Baby Boomers Seniors Empty Nesters Children of Senior Parents Retirees or Semi-Retirees Caregivers Grandchildren who want to spend a quality day with their grandparent(s) • Those interested in a fun day out

Mature Living Ultimate Lifestyle Show Friday 22nd & Saturday 23rd of November at The Brreaffy House Hotel in Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Find out more at www.maturelivingexpo.ie

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Northwest Express November, 2013

11 Est 1978

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W O H S E L Y T S E F I L E T A M I T L U E H T

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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Do You Have any news / views for us? email us: info@theexpress.ie

Minister Varadkar praises Mayo Gathering

&

Lawrence Hennigan (Manchester Mayo Tourism & Business Director), Ireland’s Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar TD, Kevin Fitzpatrick (Co Chair of Manchester Irish Festival),Vanessa Markey (Head of GB operation for Tourism Ireland) and Judith Cassidy (Projects Executive for Tourism Ireland) and Tourism Ireland’s CEO, Niall Gibbons.

I

reland’s Tourism Minister Leo Varadkar TD, paid a special tribute to this year’s Manchester Mayo Gathering, when he visited the Irish Embassy in London recently.

The minister in his speech to Tourism chiefs and Gathering enablers in the UK said “The Gathering in Ireland has been a fantastic success story for boosting tourism numbers in Ireland. I would like to pay a special tribute to the Manchester Mayo Gathering which was the biggest Gathering in Ireland organised by any UK group.”

The Gathering has been short listed for Ireland's Excellence in Local Government Awards, under the new category – The

Gathering Ireland 2013 Gathering of the Year by the organisers, Chambers Ireland. The winners of the award are to be announced on the 13th November.

Lawrence Hennigan one of the directors of the Manchester Mayo Tourism and Business group and Kevin Fitzpatrick the co-chair of the Manchester Irish Festival were invited to attend the meeting at the Embassy. They are pictured here with the Minister Leo Varadkar TD, Tourism Ireland’s CEO, Niall Gibbons, Vanessa Markey (Head of GB operation for Tourism Ireland) and Judith Cassidy (Projects Executive for Tourism Ireland). When asked about how he felt about receiving the

“Boil Water” Notice after outbreak in South Roscommon

acknowledgment from the Minister and being short listed for an international award, Mr Hennigan replied “We are over the moon about the nomination and being invited to the Embassy to receive such a tribute from the minister on behalf of all the people from Manchester and Mayo who contributed to the festival. Kevin and I are just two members of a tremendous group of people who came together to make this event happen, it just shows what can be achieved when people work together. ” The Manchester Mayo Gathering was a 9 day festival in August which attracted an estimated 100,000 visitors and just over a 1 million in Euros was generated for the local tourism economy. A thirteen month Press and Marketing campaign by the group saw articles printed all over the globe which generated a further million generated from press editorial. The Festival was a unique partnership between Manchester and Mayo which formed links in Manchester with the Manchester Mayo Tourism and Business Group, the Keegan Academy of Irish Dance, St Lawrence’s GAA, St Kent’s Irish Golf Society, the Mayo association, the Manchester Irish Festival and the Levenshulme Festival. In Mayo it formed partnerships with the North Mayo Tourism Group, Ballina Chamber, Attymass Gathering, Atlantic Rhythm Production Company, the Fr Peyton Centre, Addergoole Titanic Society, Bonniconlon Agricultural Show, Ballina Golf Club, Best Western Ballina Manor Hotel, Ice House Hotel, Moy Valley Resources, Downhill Hotel, Bonniconlon GAA, and the Swinford Straide Street Festival. The festival involved 9 different hubs in North Mayo and created a Gathering with over 100 events.

It was sponsored by Stena Line UK, Tourism Ireland, the Manchester Mayo Tourism and Business Group, Mayo.ie and the North Mayo Tourism Group.

For more information log onto www.manchesteririshfestival.co.uk

Donegal woman is INDI Research Dietitian of the year 2013

SINEAD Duggan, who hails from Meenaleck, Co , has been awarded the Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute Research Dietitian of the

Year 2013.

“I was very honoured to be nominated for this research award and was delighted to win. I'd like to thank my Research Supervisors from Trinity College Dublin as well as The Clinical Nutrition and Surgery Departments of Tallaght Hospital. My PhD focused on patients with acute and chronic pancreatitis, and I'd like to acknowledge and thank the patients who participated in the studies” commented Sinead at the INDI Gala Dinner which was celebrating 55 years of Nutrition and Dietetics in Ireland.

Sinead graduated with a first class honours degree in Dietetics & Nutrition from the Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street and the University of Dublin, Trinity College in 2002.

She completed a Post-graduate Diploma in Medical Statistics with Trinity College Dublin in 2005.

Sinead worked for 8 years as a Clinical Dietitian in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin, 4 years of which were spent working in pancreatic disease. During this time, Sinead also commenced clinical research and secured a grant from the Meath Foundation which allowed her to commence a half-time

research post. Following this, Sinead won a prestigious Health Research Board (HRB) fellowship grant which funded her research for three years and facilitated her PhD which was submitted in July 2013. Since then Sinead has won a further Meath Foundation grant which allows her to commence post-doctoral research.

Sinead has authored 9 peerreviewed articles and was a co-author on the recent PENG ‘Pancreatic Disease’ Chapter.

Sinead has presented at IrSPEN, BAPEN, ESPEN, ASPEN, The Freyer Surgical Meeting, as well as the PSGBI, Digestive Diseases Federation (DDF), The Association of Upper GI Surgeons (AUGIS) and the European-African HepatoPancreatico-Biliary Association meeting (EAHPBA). Since 2009 Sinead has been giving lectures to TCD medical students on nutrition and is currently a Non-Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Dublin, Trinity College.

Sinead was one of the founder members of the Research Interest Group of the INDI, and she is also a former Secretary. Sinead was instrumental in organising the first ever INDI Research Symposium the

purpose being to encourage Dietitians to measure and assess their work, to enhance dietetic practice, and to gain confidence in basic research skills allowing them to attend conferences to represent their respective institutions and INDI.

THEE was some concern last week and an incident response team has been put in place after an outbreak of Cryptosporidiosis was identified in south Roscommon. The County Council said the infectious organism was recently located in a water supply.

Cryptosporidiosis is a gut infection caused by a parasite that causes diarrhoeal illness. Most healthy people get over the illness quickly but severe illness can occur in people with poor immune systems.

A number of areas have been affected and a full list is available on the county councils website.

A 'Boil Water' notice was issued on the advice of the Health Service Executive West and Roscommon County Council and an Incident Response Team has been established to investigate the incident.

The local authority said it is essential that people in the affected areas boil any water for drinking or food preparation.

The council said the 'Boil Water Notice' will be lifted when the water supply is considered to be safe and Roscommon County Council and HSE West say they will continue to work together to manage the incident.

Three SF candidates for Ballinamore Three SF candidates were selected for the local area of Ballinamore at a recent convention.

Cllr Martin Kenny and Maureen Martin, who contested the last local election, will be joined on the ticket by Brendan Barry from Drumshanbo.

The new Ballinamore area now includes Aughachasel, Drumcong, Drumshanbo and Ballinaglera in a six seat constituency. The packed convention was held in Ballinamore Community Centre and was attended by members and supporters from across the area. Eamon Nolan on behalf of the Election Dept pointed out that the new Ballinamore area has the largest Sinn Fein membership per head of population in the 26 counties and in previous electoral contests has consistently secured at least 10% above Sinn Féin’s national average.

Proceedings were chaired by Michael Colreavy TD. Cllr Kenny was formally proposed by Sean Connelly, Carrigallen and Owen Carron, Ballinamore, Maureen Martin was proposed by Sean O’Suilleabháin, Ballinamore and Maura Mulvey, Aughnasheelin; Brendan Barry was proposed by Hugh James Gallagher, Drumshanbo and Dermot Keaney, Keshcarrigan. Sinn Féin’s EU candidate, Monaghan Cllr Matt Carthy, also attended and addressed the convention; he called the present MEP’s “Yes people, too eagerly dancing to the tune of German policy makers.”

All three local candidates spoke about the harsh budget, emigration and the absence of employment opportunities. Austerity, the refusal of medical cards to those most in need and the setting up of Irish Water were all discussed. The candidates stated their commitment to winning a seat in the election next May. Deputy Colreavy told the gathering that the three candidates will certainly shake up this local election and the system if they all get elected.

FLORISTRY SCHOOL offering the following floristry courses

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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w rldnews

Do You Have any news or views for us? email us: info@theexpress.ie

Clone your dog: Scientists offer Britons chance to create £63,000 pet replica A

Woman arrested after squirting boyfriend with water gun

re you a dog lover who couldn’t live without your favourite pet?

Does the idea of having your canine by your side for the rest of your life sound like a dream come true?

Scientists from South Korea are giving one ‘lucky’ Briton the chance to create a clone of ‘man’s best friend’ for free.

Insung Hwang, director of the UK Dog Cloning Competition, said: ‘We can clone any breed, size or shape of canine and are coming to the UK to offer this process to the owner of one very special dog.

‘We welcome entries from any UK-based dog owner who wants to benefit from this exciting new advance in biotechnology.’

Experts will take one microscopic skin cell to recreate an exact replica of your canine in just two months using cutting edge technology.

A biopsy is taken from a living dog which is then replicated to create a man-made embryo. The cells can also be banked at a facility to be activated at a later date.

The team from Sooam Biotech claim to have successfully cloned at least 400 canines around the world, with each process usually costing around £63,000.

“Rat infested” “hazardous” ghost ship disappears in Irish Sea A 4,000 ton, rat-infested cruise ship that was lost somewhere off the coast of Ireland, is still reportedly floating on the high seas.

The ghost ship, named Lyubov Orlova, left Canada last January bound for the Dominican Republic where it was to be used for scrap.

But it broke away from tow ships three times off the coast of Canada earlier this year and then sailed off on its final unmanned voyage.

The Irish Coast Guard told the press this week that the ship could now be floating anywhere between Ireland and the Faroe Islands off the coast of Scotland.

The remaining oil on board is not thought to be hazardous because of its limited quantity. However, the number of suspected rats on board could prove to be a serious biohazard, the coast guard told the press.

Chris Reynolds, the Coast Guard director told the Independent: 'There's still a bit of lubricant oil and

fuel on board but it's not huge because the ship would have been emptied because it was going to scrap.

'The ship was alongside the harbour in Newfoundland so we assume there are rats on board, and that's a biohazard. But it's not a major issue.

'We don't want rats from foreign ships coming onto Irish soil. If it came and broke up on shore, I'm sure local people wouldn't be very happy about it.

'If it is afloat, it's blacked out; there's no power and it's a hazard to shipping. The main hazard would be if it hit something at sea. The hope is that it's gone, that it's sunk, and we're hoping that the second alarm that went off was to say it had sunk.'

According to the Independent the Irish Coast Guard picked up a midAtlantic distress signal from one of the ship's alarms last February, but the satellite found no trace of the

ship. A second alarm was picked up two weeks later.

The Irish Coast Guard believes the first signal came from a lifeboat that was tipped overboard, but it believes the second alarm came from the actual ship. The alarms activate when they come into contact with water. 'We'd never be able to prove that it sank,' Reynolds told the press. The Irish Coast Guard then expressed their frustration with Canadian authorities, who were slow to alert them to the lost ves-

sel. 'It was over ten days from when it went missing to when we were told about it. It has no heat, it has no light, it's basically a black ship in darkness.

'We would have been much happier if they told us much earlier. We could have sank it or towed it in for salvage.'

The Lyubov Orlova, named after a Russian screen goddess from the 1930's, was built in 1976 and chartered for expeditions to polar waters.

Most of us have squirted someone with a water gun before. But few have suffered the same fate as one woman who was apparently arrested for battery and domestic violence after shooting some of the clear substance at her boyfriend.

At the time Giovanna Borge, from Florida, and her other half were not getting along, which perhaps explains why he didn’t just laugh it off when he got sprayed.

She was alleged to have wetted her boyfriend with the toy gun in order to ‘to antagonize and agitate him against his wishes,’ a Port St. Lucie police affidavit allegedly obtained by TCPalm.com said.

The 19-year-old had apparently become annoyed when her boyfriend said something she did not agree with and decided to get her own back.

But Ms Borges claimed the act was in retaliation to a pillow attack she had suffered from her unnamed lover.

Luckily (and unsurprisingly) no one was injured in the exchange but the incident may cause some of us to be wary the next time we take aim at someone with a water gun.

Sitting pretty: Climber installs lounge seat 350ft up cliff face

How did the chicken cross the road? – It wore a high-vis jacket It won’t answer the age-old question of why the chicken crossed the road, but it might help explain how.

A new ’High-Vis Chicken Jacket’, as first mentioned in Metro’s tablet edition, has been developed by a company called Omlet and is designed to relieve the worry chicken owners face during these dark winter evenings.

The vest comes at a price though, and at £12 a pop – owners may only be able to afford to protect their favourite birds.

656

How did the chicken cross the road? - It wore a high-vis jacket The high visibilty jacket for chickens (Picture: http://www.omlet.co.uk) It won’t answer the age-old question of why the chicken crossed the road, but it might help explain how.

A new ’High-Vis Chicken Jacket’, as first mentioned in Metro’s tablet edition, has been developed by a company called Omlet and is designed to relieve the worry chicken owners face during these dark winter evenings.

The vest comes at a price though, and at £12 a pop – owners may only be able to afford to protect their favourite birds.

Omlet director Johannes Paul said of the bizarre item: ‘We had people inquiring about this kind of thing so decided to look into it. ‘Most people who have chickens as pets will have them out and about and we do hear about chickens who do cross the road.’

The florescent bibs are already proving to be a hit after the company shifted 200 in ten days, with the pink version twice as popular as the yellow.

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Wood Flooring Superstore Now Open

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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Chem-Dry© Sligo, successfully cleaning carpets and upholstery in County Sligo since 1989

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We also clean and seal "les and grou"ng (walls and floors of bathrooms, halls, kitchens, shower rooms and pa"os) Call 071­9143519 for advice, consulta"on and quota"on

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hem-Dry© Sligo, successfully cleaning carpets and upholstery in County Sligo since 1989, and with many thousands of happy customers, the main thrust of its business is to exceed your expectations and keep you as a valued customer. Our customers have helped Chem Dry Sligo to become possibly one of the largest carpet

cleaning services in County Sligo over the years. If you doubt that your carpet can be cleaned, please call us today for free, no pressure, advice, consultation and quotation.

Looking forward to hearing from you in the new future, and remember, it is not too early to book us for your Christmas and New Year cleaning.

Northwest Express November, 2013

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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The home improvement Tax Incentive, Budget 2014

M

inister Noonan announced in Budget 2014 that there will be a tax credit based incentive for home-owners wishing to carry out renovation/retrofit works to their home. The scheme will be rolled out in 2014 and is widely welcomed by industry and home owners alike. The main points noted are: • The scheme will include works carried out from 1st January 2014 until 31st December 2015 • Home-owner rebate will be rewarded in the form of Tax Credits • Tax Credits will be paid over the following 2 years (if work is carried out in 2014, the rebate will apply for 2015 & 2016 tax years) • Some measures covered by the scheme include Extensions, Plastering, Window fitting and plumbing • The credit will be calculated at a rate of 13.5% on all qualifying expenditure over €5,000 up to a maximum of €30,000

contractors. For a number of years, the rogue traders had the upper hand by having significantly lower overheads; insurance was not paid and tax returns were not adhered to. The Home Renovation Tax Incentive will help build a tax compliant industry through a registered payment scheme governed by Revenue Commissioners.

The Home Renovation Tax Incentive is a sensible incentive to stimulate small building works below the value of €30,000.

Home owners can now claim the vat back on home improvement works, which will leave legitimate contractors at a much

more competitive standing and hopefully discourage illegal trading in the renovation & retrofit markets. Hopefully in 2015 we will see the introduction of the BEF, and the recently announced Home Renovation Tax Incentive is excellent preparation for this. Consumers will become familiar with the benefits of energy efficient home improvements not just with grant aid, but using tax & finance incentives to achieve energy efficient upgrades. This will help society as a whole, by continuously combatting the issue of carbon emissions and lowering household energy bills

Northwest Express welcomes this new incentive. Reputable companies will now be more competitive against the ‘shadow economy’. To avail of the scheme, home owners must engage with tax compliant

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Northwest Express November, 2013

19

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Want a total room makeover with bespoke fabrics for a really individual look? Easily done. iLiv is all about expressing your individual style. As well as readymade items you can also pick from our carefully coordinated range of quality fabrics to create bespoke curtains, blinds and more that really make your space your own. Just tell us what you need and we’ll take care of everything.

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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Dont’s when furnishing our home Decorating mistakes to avoid

A

ll home interior magazines give ideas and advise for the different styles of home decoration, but there are some things which you should always have in mind when designing and decorating your first apartment. If you keep in mind the possible errors, then it is easier to avoid them afterwards. We offer you some tips that will make you aware of the most common decorating mistakes.

One of the most common decorating mistakes – choosing the colour of the walls first.

The market offers incredibly big variety of colours. Picking up the wall colour first will significantly narrow your options for furniture and accessories. It will be much more difficult to find a sofa that matches the colour of your walls than finding the right furniture for you and then pick a matching

not a good idea. Leave enough room for easy access and movement in the room.

Do not clutter your shelves Various old things are lovely memories and a personal element in the interior but you should not overdo it. You better avoid the accumulation of many small items in one place. Not every surface should be covered. Try organising your collections in smaller groups.

colour. Interior decorating mistakes often happen when neglecting this simple rule.

Do not underestimate the natural focal point in a room If an item or a piece of furniture is a natural focal point, for example a fire place or a large

window, take advantage of that and design the whole interior around that point and emphasize this accent with a beautiful decoration.

Do not put all furniture to the walls Do not place any furniture, especially if you have tight enough free space on the walls, or the living room to the kitchen is open. You’d better group the furniture and bring it to the center of the room. This would create a warm and cozy atmosphere for conversations. A console table behind the sofa is a beautiful way to divide the areas.

Do not use colours and items that “fight” with each other Contrast is a beautiful thing and the eclectic style is actually a great way to decorate a room, but some colours and objects of different styles just do not fit well together.

Do not put obstacles on the paths Organize your space so that you can move around the room freely and without obstacles. Thus the room will look clean and wellorganized. We believe that a chair in front of the door or a table in an area with a lot of movement is

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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Northwest Express November, 2013

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Insulate your home D

id you know that there are different ways to insulate the exterior walls of your home? The first step is to see how the building was built: Are the walls made with cavity blocks, or is there two walls built side by side with a cavity between them.

The latter is referred to as cavity wall.

Cavity Block Structure If your home has cavity block structure then there are two main options for insulating your walls.

The first is Internal Warmboard Insulation. Certified Tradesmen fix an insulating board to the inside of the external walls of the building. An example of this would be a house built in the 50′s, with no external wall insulation. To meet current ‘Part L’ Building Regulations, you would need to add 92.5mm of Internal Wall Insulation. If there was 50mm of insulation already on the wall, you would only need to add 42.5mm top-up. By choosing contractors registered with SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland), home owners can avail of the Better Energy Home Scheme, which provides substantial grants towards the cost of works. One major advantage of warmboard insulation is that you are no longer heating the walls of the property. There are various types of internal warmboard, such as Kingspan Kooltherm and EasyBoard. The

thin or worn layer of insulation it would be beneficial to replace it or improve its performance by adding another layer.

second method of insulating Cavity Block Structures is External Wall Insulation, also known as an External Wrap. In this case, the contractor fixes dense insulation panels to the exterior of a building using a bonding agent and mechanical fixings. On top of this there is a reinforcing mortar layer with glass fibre mesh and a primer layer and a decorative render finish that is available in many different colours.

Cavity Wall Structure If a building’s walls are constructed using an outer leaf solid block, a cavity (normally 100mm) and an inner leaf solid block, then it is known as a Cavity Wall Structure. There is an additional retrofit insulation method in this case known as Cavity Wall Pumped Insulation. A series of small holes are drilled in the structure and a bonded bead is pumped into the wall. The advantages of this method is that there is minimal disruption to the interior/exterior of the building.

Roof Insulation An un-insulated or poorly insulated roof costs you money and harms the environment.

There is now grant aid available through the SEAI Better Energy Homes scheme to help you improve your home using roof insulation.

Up to 30% of the heat produced in

Case Study Mary has a four bedroom detached house 150 m in size. She has an annual heating bill of €1,600.

Mary previously had 100mm of fibreglass insulation in her attic but decided to upgrade the insulation in her attic to the recommended 300mm following advice from SEAI and the various contractors she rang. As well as resulting in more comfortable living conditions, this simple low cost measure now

U Value - a measure of materials insulation ability your home may be escaping if your roof is uninsulated. Ceiling level roof insulation is generally the most cost effective of any energy efficiency upgrade made to a house and often does not come with a large price tag when the potential savings are considered.

Even if you already have insulation in your roof, you may still be losing heat if it is damaged, less than is necessary or incorrectly installed. For example if you have a

saves Mary over €250 every year on her home heating bill. Mary was also able to secure grant aid from the Better Energy Homes scheme to help her with the cost of this. Typical costs for this type of upgrade are approx. €700 €1,000 (excluding grant).

The Benefits of Roof Insulation • Reduction in heating bills • Increased comfort levels • Low capital cost • Short payback periods • Reduction in Greenhouse Gas emissions

Northwest Express November, 2013

23 to be used, it is important to ensure that the quilt is installed in two layers and in two directions in order to ensure the maximum benefit is achieved. There are many other products that can insulate effectively at ceiling level.

Where your contractor suggests that one of these products is the best for you, have him explain in detail the benefits and standards associated with the product. If you are considering using a “multifoil� insulation in conjunction with another insulation material, it is important to check any installation requirements with the supplier.

Effectiveness of Insulation The effectiveness of an insulating material is measured using a 'Uvalue'. A U-value is a measure of how much heat is conducted through a material. Insulation installed correctly will have a low U-value as it will allow only small amounts of heat to pass through, thereby keeping your home warm.

Homeowners availing of attic insulation grants under the Better Energy Homes scheme should aim to achieve a U-value of 0.13 W/m2K or better (i.e. lower). It is vital

that you ask the installer that the price quoted for will achieve the required U-value, or the best Uvalue that can be achieved in your circumstances.

Key Roof Insulation Facts and Tips If you have a pitched roof with an attic space, one of the simplest ceiling insulation methods is to lay a quilt (Mineral Fibre, Glass Fibre, Hemp, Sheepswool materials are all capable of satisfying the performance requirements of the scheme). If this type of material is

Attic Storage Compression can cause an insulating material to lose some of its insulating properties. It is therefore important, where possible, to minimise the amount of items stored in the attic which may compact or compress the insulating material. Where storage is required, laying a second roll of insulation (above the joists) is impractical and in this situation, try to make certain that the storage area set aside is located over an area of the house which has a lower heating requirement, e.g. over bathrooms as opposed to the living/sitting room. Alternative arrangements like raised storage areas above the level of the insulation could also be discussed with your Contractor.

Ventilation Pipe Insulation Insulation Integrity Installing insulation properly is

very important. Where insulation is installed between joists, it is important that it is cut tight and is installed with no gaps. Gaps between the insulation will cause it to become less effective as heat loss will occur in these areas.

Ventilation Adequate ventilation is important in an attic to help prevent damp or mould from occurring. It is therefore important to ensure ventilation openings at the eaves of the house are left unblocked after installation of your insulation Water Storage Tanks and Pipes When an attic is insulated at ceiling level, its temperature is reduced, as most of the heat previously lost from the house through the attic is now being kept within the house. Therefore, it is necessary to insulate the water tank and pipes to ensure that they will not freeze during

cold weather. This will also help to minimise heating costs associated with heating water.

Walkway Adequate ventilation is important in an attic to help prevent damp or mould from occurring. It is therefore important to ensure ventilation openings at the eaves of the house are left unblocked after installation of your insulation Your insulation contractor should install a permanent walkway in your attic to ensure you have easy access to cold water tanks or other fitted appliances.

Flat Roof In many cases, it is easier and more cost effective to insulate a flat roof internally using an insulated plasterboard. This means lowering the height of the ceiling but may be a better option than insulating externally.

Northwest Express November, 2013 Northwest Express November, 2013

24

Beginner’s Guide to Renovation F

orewarned is forearmed, especially when it comes to renovating.

Prepare yourself with lessons learned, expert advice and our best money-saving tips - before you pick up the sledgehammer!

1. Getting started Avoid: Starting the renovation before getting a feel for the house Solutions: Live in a house through as many seasons as possible before you start any major changes - unless the building is about to collapse! Rather than attempting to design your own

blueprint, the priorities in the early stages should be a schedule of your needs and wishes, a master plan of how to achieve them and a budget,. A big-picture vision can prevent extra costs on electrical and structural work. Design and decorative elements are equally important. Slowly gather inspiration for your mood board - a batch of pages from magazines, fabric swatches, design postcards and furniture brochures - to convey your visual passions.

2. Assembling a team Avoid: Hiring a team without compar-

ing prices and personalities Solutions: Cheapest isn't always best when putting together the team - a person's workmanship, commitment, management experience, communication skills and availability should be the major priorities.

You'll save in the long-term with someone who can take educated shortcuts, work faster and who will make less errors. A building designer or draftsperson can keep costs down for a simple house extension, but for a new build or an extensive reno, an architect is the ticket. They can advise you on everything from design, planning and managing the budget to designing the interior, landscaping and even checking the builder's invoices. An architect's fees are around 10-15 per cent of the project value. To find a local architect, visit the Institute of Architects' website at www.architecture.ie.

They're also experienced in dealing with local councils. Many architects will recommend their regular builders; talk to at least three to compare packages and check references.

Rather than just relying on the builder's references, talk to the owners themselves. Prospective trades people need to show home warranty insurance and public liability insurance. Be sure that your trades people are covered for workers' compensation by their employer.

3. Controlling the budget Avoid: Being unprepared for an unexpected budget blow-out Solutions:While an architect can estimate upcoming costs, a quantity sur-

veyor will supply a more detailed price expectation. The break down the building into elements, such as floors and walls, and amend the cost depending on the materials.

Keep a log of all products and materials used and changes made - each decision to upgrade adds up and could blow your budget.

To help minimise risks, a contingency plan of 10-15 per cent extra budget is imperative. All sorts of things can go wrong - latent conditions get discovered and they usually cost money..

During a major renovation, be prepared for a raft of specialists battering on your front door. These include engineers and building surveyors, and the ever-increasing list of consultants required by local councils, such as sustainability experts. Visit your local council for a full list.

Consider the cost of rental fees if you move out during the renovation.

Moving out could save you money and sanity. When the owners move out, the house can be fully gutted and will run on minimal electricity and no hot water. Renting also saves time and money because tradesmen don't have to pack up each day.

4. Getting the timing right Avoid: Thinking that the renovation will run on time and to schedule Solutions: Timing is crucial. "If you haven't ordered a kitchen before November, it probably won't be installed until February. You can be guaranteed that the factory will shut down over

Christmas, making the kitchen at least a month late. Builders and architects take time off for holidays throughout the year. Ask them to confirm their vacation plans early on. Another slow down can be the winter season.

Builders are entitled to extensions for winter weather during the early stages of the construction. Aim to complete construction before January: The team can keep working on the interiors throughout the bad weather 5. Starting the demolition Avoid: Failing to show the construction plans to your neighbours before lodging the development application Solutions: Consider showing site plans, elevations and shadow diagrams to directly affected neighbours before applying to the council. Loss of privacy and overshadowing are common complaints, so consider the im-

pact your design may have early to speed up the planning approval process.

After this hurdle, you, your architect or building designer can lodge the development application with the council before building commences.

Patience is a virtue, since councils are notoriously slow, and if complaints are lodged, you may have to attend council meetings. Most councils require a construction certificate for building work to start. Once done, the blissful sounds of jackhammers can begin.

6. Keeping costs down Avoid: Project managing a full renovation yourself - it can cost more Solutions: An architect can be commissioned for different stages, starting with the plans (preliminary sketches, briefing a structural engineer and a quantity surveyor), the design development stage (preparation of the final design and documentation required for council submissions) and contract administration (tendering, signing of building contracts, site inspections and monitoring the builder's progress).

For a reasonably simple renovation, it may be possible to project manage the final stage yourself. As a back-up, hire an architect on an hourly rate; they understand the specifications, can solve difficult issues with the builder and spot flaws a layperson would never notice.

Source fittings, lighting and decorative elements yourself.

Time and research is key to achieving a high-end look for a fraction of the cost.

You can often save money by negotiating all the furniture from one place, or offering to pay cash in exchange for a discount.

7. Adopting an eco attitude Avoid: Assuming eco-sensitive options are more expensive Solutions: Incorporating green solutions into a design in the early stages may have an initial added cost, but they will more than pay for themselves in the long run. By installing solar panels, you can generate your own electricity, saving money in the long term as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Design your renovation to work with the seasons to regulate temperature, humidity and air flow. Site orientation is critical to take advantage of solar power and cross-ventilation. Insulate and use materials with good thermal mass (those which absorb and release heat slowly, cutting down the need for heating and airconditioning). Work with non-toxic products and avoid over-consumption.

Use renewable resources where possible for energy, along with energy-efficient appliances. Collect and store rain water for daily use.

25 coffee. By designating those spaces and putting something there that people can use, the whole space becomes more inviting."

9 The wow factor Avoid: Splurging on eye-catching pieces that don't work well together Solutions: A well-executed job is where many elements just ‘settle' not every piece needs to have the ‘wow factor'. "A piece may not be noticed on its own but it can be intrinsic to the overall design.

Every decision has an impact when renovating. "If you go with a particular type of tap, the hand rails and showerhead have to work with that.

That's where many renovators come unstuck - they like this and they like that but when they see it all together, they realise it doesn't work.

An interior designer takes a practical and cost-effective approach. They have access to all the latest materials, finishes and furniture designs,

They are able to think outside of the box. Finalise hard surface finishes, wall and floor colours, and fittings and fixtures in the planning stages, but consider soft furnishings, furniture and decorative elements towards the end, keeping the big picture in mind.

Consider it the fun part after all the hard work!

10 the final stages Avoid: Reaching completion date with trades people still hard at work Solutions: The completion date needs to be finalised when setting up the building contract. It is important to clients that the have a fixed completion date as well as a fixed price.

The client is entitled to damages if the builder runs over. There is then a greater incentive for a builder to finish on time."

Home warranty insurance is mandatory in some way, but only applies to building projects where the value of the work is above a specified amount.

This type of insurance protects the home owner from defective or faulty work where the builder becomes insolvent, dies or disappears.

Once work has been completed, an architect or design professional needs to check for defects. If there are faults - if walls are cracking, for example, because of bad workmanship the builder should rectify any damage. If the builder refuses, you'll need to lodge a complaint. Good builders rely on their reputation, and will be prepared to come back to make any repairs.

8 Stepping Outside Avoid: Failing to budget for landscaping Solutions: Consider the outdoor area from the start and budget accordingly.

The first flush of enthusiasm about prospective renovations is all about the interior. Garden landscaping is often forgotten until the renovation is nearly complete, when there are no funds left. Consider the backyard during those first conversations with an architect - it might even be worth hiring a landscape designer. Designate areas in your garden for children and for relaxing or entertaining. Build spaces within the garden that flow to areas that have a destination , it might be a reading area, a place for outdoor dining, or a spot to have a

NEW RENOVATED SHOWROOM IN CASTLEBAR Unit 10, N5 Business Park, Moneen Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo • Tel: 094-9043040 • www.cherrymore.ie

Northwest Express November, 2013 Northwest Express November, 2013

24

Beginner’s Guide to Renovation F

orewarned is forearmed, especially when it comes to renovating.

Prepare yourself with lessons learned, expert advice and our best money-saving tips - before you pick up the sledgehammer!

1. Getting started Avoid: Starting the renovation before getting a feel for the house Solutions: Live in a house through as many seasons as possible before you start any major changes - unless the building is about to collapse! Rather than attempting to design your own

blueprint, the priorities in the early stages should be a schedule of your needs and wishes, a master plan of how to achieve them and a budget,. A big-picture vision can prevent extra costs on electrical and structural work. Design and decorative elements are equally important. Slowly gather inspiration for your mood board - a batch of pages from magazines, fabric swatches, design postcards and furniture brochures - to convey your visual passions.

2. Assembling a team Avoid: Hiring a team without compar-

ing prices and personalities Solutions: Cheapest isn't always best when putting together the team - a person's workmanship, commitment, management experience, communication skills and availability should be the major priorities.

You'll save in the long-term with someone who can take educated shortcuts, work faster and who will make less errors. A building designer or draftsperson can keep costs down for a simple house extension, but for a new build or an extensive reno, an architect is the ticket. They can advise you on everything from design, planning and managing the budget to designing the interior, landscaping and even checking the builder's invoices. An architect's fees are around 10-15 per cent of the project value. To find a local architect, visit the Institute of Architects' website at www.architecture.ie.

They're also experienced in dealing with local councils. Many architects will recommend their regular builders; talk to at least three to compare packages and check references.

Rather than just relying on the builder's references, talk to the owners themselves. Prospective trades people need to show home warranty insurance and public liability insurance. Be sure that your trades people are covered for workers' compensation by their employer.

3. Controlling the budget Avoid: Being unprepared for an unexpected budget blow-out Solutions:While an architect can estimate upcoming costs, a quantity sur-

veyor will supply a more detailed price expectation. The break down the building into elements, such as floors and walls, and amend the cost depending on the materials.

Keep a log of all products and materials used and changes made - each decision to upgrade adds up and could blow your budget.

To help minimise risks, a contingency plan of 10-15 per cent extra budget is imperative. All sorts of things can go wrong - latent conditions get discovered and they usually cost money..

During a major renovation, be prepared for a raft of specialists battering on your front door. These include engineers and building surveyors, and the ever-increasing list of consultants required by local councils, such as sustainability experts. Visit your local council for a full list.

Consider the cost of rental fees if you move out during the renovation.

Moving out could save you money and sanity. When the owners move out, the house can be fully gutted and will run on minimal electricity and no hot water. Renting also saves time and money because tradesmen don't have to pack up each day.

4. Getting the timing right Avoid: Thinking that the renovation will run on time and to schedule Solutions: Timing is crucial. "If you haven't ordered a kitchen before November, it probably won't be installed until February. You can be guaranteed that the factory will shut down over

Christmas, making the kitchen at least a month late. Builders and architects take time off for holidays throughout the year. Ask them to confirm their vacation plans early on. Another slow down can be the winter season.

Builders are entitled to extensions for winter weather during the early stages of the construction. Aim to complete construction before January: The team can keep working on the interiors throughout the bad weather 5. Starting the demolition Avoid: Failing to show the construction plans to your neighbours before lodging the development application Solutions: Consider showing site plans, elevations and shadow diagrams to directly affected neighbours before applying to the council. Loss of privacy and overshadowing are common complaints, so consider the im-

pact your design may have early to speed up the planning approval process.

After this hurdle, you, your architect or building designer can lodge the development application with the council before building commences.

Patience is a virtue, since councils are notoriously slow, and if complaints are lodged, you may have to attend council meetings. Most councils require a construction certificate for building work to start. Once done, the blissful sounds of jackhammers can begin.

6. Keeping costs down Avoid: Project managing a full renovation yourself - it can cost more Solutions: An architect can be commissioned for different stages, starting with the plans (preliminary sketches, briefing a structural engineer and a quantity surveyor), the design development stage (preparation of the final design and documentation required for council submissions) and contract administration (tendering, signing of building contracts, site inspections and monitoring the builder's progress).

For a reasonably simple renovation, it may be possible to project manage the final stage yourself. As a back-up, hire an architect on an hourly rate; they understand the specifications, can solve difficult issues with the builder and spot flaws a layperson would never notice.

Source fittings, lighting and decorative elements yourself.

Time and research is key to achieving a high-end look for a fraction of the cost.

You can often save money by negotiating all the furniture from one place, or offering to pay cash in exchange for a discount.

7. Adopting an eco attitude Avoid: Assuming eco-sensitive options are more expensive Solutions: Incorporating green solutions into a design in the early stages may have an initial added cost, but they will more than pay for themselves in the long run. By installing solar panels, you can generate your own electricity, saving money in the long term as well as reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Design your renovation to work with the seasons to regulate temperature, humidity and air flow. Site orientation is critical to take advantage of solar power and cross-ventilation. Insulate and use materials with good thermal mass (those which absorb and release heat slowly, cutting down the need for heating and airconditioning). Work with non-toxic products and avoid over-consumption.

Use renewable resources where possible for energy, along with energy-efficient appliances. Collect and store rain water for daily use.

25 coffee. By designating those spaces and putting something there that people can use, the whole space becomes more inviting."

9 The wow factor Avoid: Splurging on eye-catching pieces that don't work well together Solutions: A well-executed job is where many elements just ‘settle' not every piece needs to have the ‘wow factor'. "A piece may not be noticed on its own but it can be intrinsic to the overall design.

Every decision has an impact when renovating. "If you go with a particular type of tap, the hand rails and showerhead have to work with that.

That's where many renovators come unstuck - they like this and they like that but when they see it all together, they realise it doesn't work.

An interior designer takes a practical and cost-effective approach. They have access to all the latest materials, finishes and furniture designs,

They are able to think outside of the box. Finalise hard surface finishes, wall and floor colours, and fittings and fixtures in the planning stages, but consider soft furnishings, furniture and decorative elements towards the end, keeping the big picture in mind.

Consider it the fun part after all the hard work!

10 the final stages Avoid: Reaching completion date with trades people still hard at work Solutions: The completion date needs to be finalised when setting up the building contract. It is important to clients that the have a fixed completion date as well as a fixed price.

The client is entitled to damages if the builder runs over. There is then a greater incentive for a builder to finish on time."

Home warranty insurance is mandatory in some way, but only applies to building projects where the value of the work is above a specified amount.

This type of insurance protects the home owner from defective or faulty work where the builder becomes insolvent, dies or disappears.

Once work has been completed, an architect or design professional needs to check for defects. If there are faults - if walls are cracking, for example, because of bad workmanship the builder should rectify any damage. If the builder refuses, you'll need to lodge a complaint. Good builders rely on their reputation, and will be prepared to come back to make any repairs.

8 Stepping Outside Avoid: Failing to budget for landscaping Solutions: Consider the outdoor area from the start and budget accordingly.

The first flush of enthusiasm about prospective renovations is all about the interior. Garden landscaping is often forgotten until the renovation is nearly complete, when there are no funds left. Consider the backyard during those first conversations with an architect - it might even be worth hiring a landscape designer. Designate areas in your garden for children and for relaxing or entertaining. Build spaces within the garden that flow to areas that have a destination , it might be a reading area, a place for outdoor dining, or a spot to have a

NEW RENOVATED SHOWROOM IN CASTLEBAR Unit 10, N5 Business Park, Moneen Road, Castlebar, Co. Mayo • Tel: 094-9043040 • www.cherrymore.ie

Northwest Express November, 2013

26

Christmas Shop Opens at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre

N

ow established as an eagerly awaited annual event, the Grand Opening of the Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre Christmas Shop takes place this weekend, Saturday and Sunday, 2nd & 3rd November, and promises to be the best yet!

New Styles As always the range of decorations and lights in the Christmas Shop changes every year, chosen from the best and latest styles from international collections. These are timeless decorations you will treasure for many years and bring back cherished family memories every Christmas.

To showcase the newest fashions, the Christmas Shop is beautifully colour themed and full of inspiration for decorating your own home. This year themes include Sparkling White, combining golds, white and silver and Ancient Pastels encompassing soft feminine shades of pearly white, rose pink, and warm lilac.

Other themes include Christmas

Chic offering a range of classic shades of silver, traditional red and glistening alpine white. Classic Home is even more opulent with rich burgundy, deep purple and greens.

Children will love the Santa’s Memories collection which has decorations reminiscent of yesteryear, Santa figurines and cute baby reindeer.

Tree Trend One of the big trends of recent years is investing in an artificial Christmas tree. The quality and life-like appearance of the trees at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre is testament to their popularity and you can choose up to 20 different styles in a range of sizes to suit all rooms and budgets. All the trees are hinged, which means they are easy to assemble and take down - not to mention that you will always have your ideal tree every year, just the day you need it!

Latest Lights Christmas lights have also changed significantly in recent years, with

the bright and energy efficient LEDs now firmly established as the favourite for decorating trees, garlands and other places around your home and garden.

Battery lights for illuminating small features, containers or plants have also become very popular and are ideal for garlands.

Look out for a new range of illuminated animals such as polar bears and deers with integral battery powered LED lights and these features can be placed anywhere for a bit of fun and sparkle.

A Family Occasion The opening of the Ardcarne Christmas Shop has always been a family and community occasion. As

Christmas Gifts for Everyone There are plenty of Christmas gift ideas for all the family at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre, whether they are green fingered or not!

This year look our for a selection of great value books and games from House of Marbles, Local interest cards and calendars from Willow Design, a range of Heritage Irish apple trees, wind chimes, colourful planted pots, elegant Orchids and of course the ever popular Gift Tokens.

part of the celebrations at the Opening of the Christmas Shop you can enjoy a glass of mulled wine and tasty nibbles on both days, with any donations going to the very worthy Roscommon Mayo Hospice.

The Ardcarne Garden Café at our Boyle branch, will also be offering Free Coffee and Tea during the weekend. As usual there will be a delicious selection of light lunches, a speciality hot dish of the day, homemade soup and breads and a range of scrumptious pastries and cakes.

Adding to the relaxing ambience of the Ardcarne Garden Café will be FREE Musical Entertainment (2 4pm on Saturday and Sunday 2nd & 3rd November at Ardcarne Plantsplus, Boyle) when you can sit back and be entertained.

Be inspired by beautiful themed displays at the Ardcarne Garden Centre Christmas Shop

So make sure you get along to Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre at Boyle and also Roscommon Town, this weekend 2nd & 3rd November and experience the best in all things Christmas.

Ardcarne Plantsplus Christmas Shop Peanuts 2.5kg

Were 9.99

Now €5.99 SAVE €4.00

Grand Opening of the

Christmas Shop

Best Value Christmas Tree

7 ½ ft. Hinged branches for easy assembly Was €139.00

Only €99

Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre, Boyle and Roscommon Town

Saturday & Sunday 2nd & 3rd November Come along and support your local Roscommon Mayo Hospice while enjoying a glass of hot mulled wine

Terracotta Viola Bowl Was €8.99

Half Price Now

€4.50

10% Off Artificial Christmas Trees during the weekend – choose from over 20 different styles ENJOY Free Musical entertainment in the Ardcarne Garden Café 2-4pm both days (Boyle)

Primrose 6 Packs Were €5.99, Now

Only €3.99 Save 33%

Visit our website: www.ardcarneplantsplus.ie

Northwest Express November, 2013

27

Feely Stone Boyle over 230 years in the stone business

Quay Rd, Killala, Co. Mayo

T We manufacture & Sell Directly To The Public a range of 3 Piece Suites, Couches, Queen Anne Chairs, Tub Chairs, Headboards, etc - Handmade to suit the customer’s needs We carry out all kinds of recovery work. Suites, Chairs, Recliners, Footstools, etc. We sell all upholstery requirements, fabric, foam, webbing, etc.

Call us NOW at 096 32472, email: killalaupholstery@gmail.com Open Mon-Fri 9am to 6pm Sat 9am to 12 noon

hey are a long established and family run business employing local stoneworkers with lifetime experience of working with stone at their factory in Boyle.

They are currently reorganising their showrooms which will be ready for viewing in early November.

This will enable customers to view a selection of countertops and study the various range of profile edges available first hand, sink-drainer detail, splashbacks, risers and windowboards etc.

You will also have the opportunity to select from a range of natural granites and Silestone quartz colours.

Although they carry a selection of these in stock, they can also access slabs in a wide range of colours from cream to lime green and black to cerise pink if that’s what’s required for your little girls’ bedroom vanity unit!

They also have an experienced team that can help solve your countertop issues. As they produce these counter tops at their works in Boyle from big slabs, they have many solutions for the current trend of breakfast bars and island units. When the kitchen is fitted they take measurements with a computerised profile machine on site to procure exact sizes for execution of work at their factory in Boyle on modern CNC machinery . All of these electronic measurements insures precise fitting on site when the counter is completed by an experienced team of fitters.

Feelystone are also suppliers of building stone, cills and lintels for houses, paving and stone for gardens and exterior work in limestone, granite and sandstone. In fact, for any of your stonework requirements just give them a call.

See there advert on page 33

THOMAS KEANE KITCHENS

Call Kieran on 087­834­3755 Email: homesinsula"on@yahoo.ie

Main St, Coolaney, Co. Sligo Tel: 071-9167005

We use eZero • Powerwall External Insula"on The new genera"on Contractor ­ Grants up to €3600.00 of Insula"on • Cavity Wall / A$c Insula"on BER Grants up to €500.00 • Extensions, New Buildings, Roof, A$c Conversions, etc

‘Don’t delay, LAST chance to avail of grants’

• Face Frame and in-Framed kitchens · Fitted Bedroom Furniture • Kitchen DVD available www.tommykeanekitchens.homestead.com

Northwest Express November, 2013

28

Choosing the Right Kitchen Cabinet for Your home T

here are considerations, such as price and finding help, to take into consideration when selecting your kitchen cabinets.

Below are information that should help you: Units for Corner Spaces More options exist for corners than for any other kitchen cabinet

space. Units designed specifically for corners make the best use of available space. The simplest corner pieces butt one cabinet up against another, which cuts off easy access to the corner.

A better choice would be diagonal units with a larger door, or double-door units which provide full access to the space. You might

also want to add carousel or other slide-out accessories so items that were previously hard-to-reach are now easily at hand.

Quality Check Determine the quality of your cabinetry by examining the drawers - they are subject to the most wear and tear of any part of

the unit. Compare the drawers of several different makes, and you'll likely see that joinery and quality differences are apparent.

If drawer guides and cabinet hinges are not adjustable - you should be able to fine-tune them

with the cabinets in place - then you will likely run into problems later.

With some frameless units, adjustable mounting hardware lets you re-level the cabinets even after you've installed them.

Northwest Express November, 2013 Check that drawer glides allow full extension of drawers, and that doors and drawers are properly aligned.

Service Help Simply deciding on the look and layout of your kitchen cabinets is not enough. Part of the cost of some of these items includes service and installation help.

A kitchen designer can help you figure out how to make best use of your space. Some retailers will ask you to fill out a survey so that they can zero in on the improvements you need for your kitchen - you might need a specialty area for cooking, or an extra-large dining area for entertaining guests. As well, you may need extra space in the form of pantries for storing bulk food purchases. All these needs should be taken into consideration to help weigh your options.

Go to a showroom which displays many lines of cabinets you'll get a more complete picture of what is out there, and what you want. Find a designer whose tastes coincide with your own, then together you can choose a look and search for the items that fit nicely into your concept of an ideal kitchen. The designer can also help you find reasonably priced units with high-quality craftsmanship. If you're serious about buying, make arrangements to meet a designer or a cabinetmaker in a showroom.

Some places will also carry the other kitchen components you may need, such as counters, sinks, appliances, and fixtures.

Some designers may have contracts to promote a particular

cabinet product line, so don't rely on one opinion alone. See a few different people, and ask if they are truly independent contractors.

Bring a copy of your base plan map as well as the floor plan you devised for cabinet placement. If budget is a big concern, try shopping in places where design

29 services aren't necessarily tacked onto the price of the cabinets.

But remember that with a less expensive price tag comes more personal responsibility - you'll have to be extra keen about the accuracy of each step, and not rely as heavily on an expert's advice.

Pricing Units The wide range of prices and styles can make buying cabinets a little tricky.

But as long as you have your floor plan sketched out, personal style chosen, and budget considerations in mind, you should have no trouble getting a base

price for appropriate standard cabinets. These prices are determined by the style of the doors and drawers, as well as the materials used in the construction of the basic carcass. But remember that each option and add-on will alter the original quoted price.

13.5% TAX

REBATE

ON ALL KITCHENS

Acorn Designs Ltd

Order Now for Pre-Christmas fitting and avail of our 20% Discount on selected ranges 10 YEAR WARRANTY ON ALL UNITS

We will beat any price on a like-for-like basis Barcastle Retail Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo T: 094-9026100 E: info@symphonykitchens.ie www.symphonykitchens.ie

Priced Between â‚Ź5000 - â‚Ź30000

Northwest Express November, 2013

30

Sleepless to Sleep heaven in ten easy steps T

here's no secret to a great night’s sleep. Just follow these simple steps and say goodbye to sleep problems.

Is your bed up to the job? Even the best bed in the world won’t last forever. Chances are if it's ten years old, or less if it's a cheap bed, it's probably past its best and isn't giving you the support you need. Old mattresses are often the biggest cause of sleep problems.

Get your room right: Make your room your sleep sanctuary and not a storeroom or home office. A room dedicated to sleep will help to eliminate sleep problems. It's that simple.

So create a calming, restful space and de-clutter your bedroom.

De-stress before bed: Everyone needs time to wind down before bed, so make time for it. Take a bath, listen to soothing music or try a bit of yoga. We all have our own way of relaxing, so find yours.

Good housekeeping: Unwelcome bedroom guests like dust mites cause allergens that can affect your breathing and are a common cause of sleep problems. Simple things like using a mattress protector and keeping your room well ventilated will make a big difference.

Take more exercise: 20 to 30 min-

utes exercise a day goes a long way to reduce common sleep problems.

So go for a walk, bike ride or swim, it helps relieve the stresses and strains of the day and is one of the best ways to make sure you get a refreshing night's sleep.

Don't over indulge: Tea and coffee may be great in the morning to get you going, but the last thing you need when you want to go to sleep.

So avoid sleep problems, cut out the stimulants and go for relaxing hot milky drinks or herbal teas instead.

Can't sleep – don't count sheep, get up: Don't lie there thinking about why you can't get to sleep. Get up, do something relaxing and go back to bed when you feel sleepy again.

Firm support base bed advice: Solid or platform top divans, have a rigid, non spring top panel, often used with orthopaedic mattresses, these bases will typically give the whole bed a firmer feel.

Sprung slatted base bed advice: The sprung slatted base is the most common way to support the mattress on many of today’s bedsteads.

Two rows of curved wooden slats, usually beech, run across the width of the bed and their bowed shape provides a mattress with extra spring support.

Drawer base bed advice: The base of your bed can do so much more that provide a little extra support.

Thanks to the number of options now available with one, two, three or four handy drawers to full size ottomans, it can help you de-clutter your room too.

Buying a mattress: Mattresses may look pretty much the same from the outside, but underneath there are huge differences. To help you buy a mattress that's right for you, here's the insiders guide to the ins and outs of our mattresses. When you buy a mattress the cover is the first thing you'll see. And whilst attractive designs are a plus, remember it will spend all of its life covered up.

When you buy a mattress go for the best quality covering you can. Woven or knitted high quality viscose or cotton yarns will be comfortable, tough and tear resistant.

Quilting or tufting: Most mattresses are finished by either quilting or tufting. Quilting is where the outer fabric is stitched to the surface fillings to create a comfortable sleeping surface surface. Tufting is where tapes are passed through the mattress at regular intervals and secured at each side by tags or washers, to prevent movement of the upholstery within the mattress.

Open coil: Probably the most com-

mon type of mattress, springs are arranged in rows and connected to one another, top and bottom, by a spiral helical wire. The thickness, or gauge, of the steel will determine how hard or soft the mattress feels.

tensions. Higher quality mattresses are often hand side stitched to increase their life expectancy. Pocket sprung mattresses are generally more expensive, and are used mainly in higher quality products.

Pocket spring: Individual springs are contained within their own cloth pocket and positioned in rows. This design allows each spring to work independently, supporting the body exactly where it needs it and prevents the age old problem of roll-together.

Spring counts vary from 600 to up to 3 or even 4,000, and like other types of mattresses are made in a range of

Memory foam: If you're looking to buy a mattress, go for the ultimate in sleep comfort. Our exclusive NASA developed Sensaform memory foam uses your body heat and weight to mould itself to your exact shape.

This all-over, perfectly balanced support reduces stress on pressure points, improves circulation and can even help alleviate back pain.

Northwest Express November, 2013

31

Browse through Alderford's exclusive collection

Y

ou can now browse online through Aldeford Furniture's exclusive collection of furniture and accessories to complement your home.

To Alderford, furniture will never be a commodity, it is much more important than that. Furniture is the vital ingredient that makes your house a home, a real expression of your style and personality. It is also a major investment and it is their job to ensure your hard earned money stretches further. We are always sourcing new products world wide to provide the latest on trend styles and designs.

At Alderford Interiors they believe it is important to show a massive selection of dining&bedroom furniture, leather/fabric sofas and carpets to suit every taste from traditional to contemporary styles.

This is what you will find in store at Alderford Interiors, pride in quality, passion for design, a vast selection, and our commitment to you the customer.

Sit, recline and relax ....

Only the finest materials are used to ensure every sofa is built to last. Most of Alderford's sofas have a 10 year structural guarantee meaning you can enjoy your furniture with complete piece of mind.

They pay great attention to comfort, specifying premium fillings.

Some models include a 10 year cold cure foam seat cushion guarantee which ensures comfort and durability that lasts.

Their selection of fabrics are sourced from the finest mills throughout the world, they choose fabric for their softness and then test them for performance beyond industry standards.

Come dine....

At Alderford interiors they're confident we've got dining covered. We offer everything you could want to fill your perfect dining room, we stock a great selection of dining chairs, tables and sideboards. With top brands and every style you can image, plus some great combination offers, there's no dining room we can't furnish.

Bedtime....

Whether you're changing the whole room or just looking to change your mattress and pillows, at Alderford interiors you can't go wrong. We've got top brands like Kingkoil, Odearest and Respa so you're sure to get a good night's sleep. A mattress is the major difference between a poor and good night sleep. Alderford's mattresses will fit on any standard size bed frames, and come in a variety of styles from standard spring mattresses to memory foam. They also stock a fantastic collection of bedroom furniture to suit all tastes. From ornate and intricate through to simple and sleek.

Finishing touches....

Alderford interiors are thrilled to show an exciting collection with something for everyone. Be inspired by their passion for interiors with a diverse selection of mirrors, clocks, lightning, curtains etc. to complement a range of lifestyles. They have the most comprehensive display of contemporary and traditional styles, with the latest trends in design led accessories and lighting. Their aim is to inspire the customer and offer a fresh and sophisticated approach to design.

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Northwest Express November, 2013

32

Choosing the right Flooring for your home Carpet Carpets were probably first made by nomadic peoples to cover the earthen floor in their tents. It is not certain however, if the Egyptians, the Chinese, or even the Mayas first invented carpet making. It is quite possible that many peoples, none of whom were in contact with each other, began to make carpets at about the same time.

We can be certain however, that by the fifth century BC carpet making had reached a high artistic level. This was proven by the Russian archaeologists Rudenko and Griaznov, who in 1949 discovered the oldest known “knotted” carpet in the Pazyryk valley, about 5000 feet up on the Altai Mountains in Siberia.

Today, Carpet weaving is by far the

most widespread handicraft in Iran; it is also the best-known one abroad.

Persian carpets are renowned for their richness of colour, variety of patterns and quality of design.

Wooden Flooring Wooden flooring made its appearance in the Middle Ages, with some of those 800-year old floors still in use today. The upper levels were the most common placement, with the most expensive wooden floors being stained colors, laid in patterns, parquets and even marquetry. Less costly floors were decorated with painted patterns and designs starting in the early 1600’s, with the genesis probably being painted oilcloths which are still popular today.

Colonial times brought smooth

pine wooden flooring boards, and the 18th century saw painting to simulate stone and simple checked patterns combined with floor cloths in elaborate wood floor designs and marbelized diamond patterns being very common.

These were used primarily in hallways, dining rooms and parlors. Finer cuts of wood flooring and inlayed designs were limited to the formal and nicer rooms.

The 19th century was characterized by unfinished pine wooden flooring that evolved to being stained and finished by mid-century. Pine soon became subflooring as parquet got popular, with prefabricated parquet patterns being sold to install on cloth yielding “wood carpet.” Herringbone oak parquet patterns abounded with the emergence of custom borders featured in dining rooms, libraries, and drawing rooms.

The 20th century visited lighter wooden flooring in the 20’s and 30’s, with strip oak the standard in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s.

Peaking in 1956, wood flooring was overwhelmed by carpet following the FHA’s acceptance for new home construction. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s hardwood flooring was a specialty surface utilized very selectively until the appearance, durability, health and maintenance benefits returned it to favor again in the 80’s and 90’s.

Vinyl Flooring Vinyl Flooring first came into being as a light-weight and durable building material during World War II. As more and more use of this product began being discovered, vinyl entered into the commercial market with a vengeance. Today, one very important usage of this chemical is in the flooring industry in the form of vinyl floor tiles.

Depending on the composition of the material, vinyl tiles tend to have variance in characteristics, leading to choices in terms of whether a given tile is more or less suitable to be installed in a bathroom, doorway, or basement. In the VCT, for example, manufacturers add a printed design layer created through a rotogravure printing process. This design layer is what gives the vinyl floor tiles those beautiful designs and colors and sparkle, making them attractive. It is in VCT again that manufacturers

sheath a high-performance “wear” layer on top, in order to withstand heavy duty traffic. It is not for nothing that these tiles are called “Resilience tiles”. They tend to bounce back from whatever impact and pressure they are subjected to, whether through footfalls or static load. A few other notable characteristics of this product are as follows: Diversity of designs Thanks to technology, vinyl flooring tiles can imitate the look and feel of wood or ceramic floors, but at considerably less cost than these more expensive counterparts. It is very easy to cut the tiles and give them any shape; so the floor can be turned into a mosaic of designs and art.

Company logos can be planted on the floor through vinyl floor tiles. Direction signs can be impregnated on the floor using this product… the list is as endless as your imagination.

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Northwest Express November, 2013

Boyle, Co. Roscommon

Feelystone are delighted to announce that we are OPENING NEWLY RENOVATED SHOWROOMS in November, call and see the extensive range of materials we have to offer.

The Feelystone kitchen selec"on provides the very best natural stone and Quartz material for your kitchen work surface.

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Northwest Express November, 2013

34

Sligo Store:

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Northwest Express November, 2013

35

“Worlds of Music” at the Linenhall

Hit Play Alone It Stands comes to Hawk’s Well for 3 nights

process led by well-known percussionist Robbie Harris working with service users from Western Care and members of the general public.

Members of the award-winning Soundscape music program for people with intellectual disabilities from Galway will also perform a unique and colourful version of the ancient epic Hindu tale 'The Ramayana' with live accompaniment of music and sound effects performed on the instruments from the Indonesian gamelan and wayang tradition. The second half of this show will feature community music making group Gamelan na Gaillimhe playing a repertoire of classical and contemporary Javanese music played on a stunning collection of 20 bronze percussion gamelan instruments from Java.

"The expanse of the Soundscape project run by Brothers of Charity Services Galway for the past 10 years, is incredibly impressive" - Sunday Independent "Robbie Harris… transformed the bodhrán from leaden pace-maker to a timecapsule of infinite possibilities" - The Irish Times

T

he Hawk’s Well Theatre is delighted to present the hit play Alone It Stands, written and directed by John Breen and produced by Gyre and Gimble Productions & Verdant Productions for three nights from Thursday 31st of October to Saturday 2nd of November at 8pm.

Tickets are €20/€18 concession.

This now legendary story set on 31st October in 1978 when Munster Rugby played the mighty All Blacks – in a David v Goliath scenario played out in Thomond Park – Munster Rugby served up one of the sporting stories of the century when they played like their lives depended on it and beat the

All Blacks 12-0.

With mesmeric ensemble playing – 6 actors recreate 62 roles in re-telling this story that inspires and perspires in the same evening! The match was never televised so you will have to take our word for what happened and come along and see for yourself what happens when Munster, the Kiwis, the crowd, the ball, the dog and the pregnant woman all push and shove to create one momentous day.

Tickets for Alone It Stands are available from the Box Office on 071 916 1518 or www.hawkswell.com at €20/18conc.

“Worlds of Music” is an innovative and engaging performance by a range of musical communities at the Linenhall Arts Centre in Castlebar on Friday 8th November at 8.00pm.

Celebrating music from around the world, “Worlds of Music” features performances involving groups including people with disabilities, who have worked in collaboration with professional artists. The first half features a percussion piece created specifically for the event through a workshop and rehearsal

“Worlds of Music” takes place at the Linenhall Arts Centre on Friday 8th November at 8.00pm.

Booking advised. Tel: 094 9023733 and online booking at www.thelinenhall.com This performance is supported by UPSTART. UPSTART is an initiative of Mayo County Council Arts Office and Worlds of Music acknowledges the support received under the scheme this year. The Linenhall Arts Centre acknowledges the financial support of the Arts Council in making this performance possible.

Tommy Flemming

Derek Ryan in Concert

I

rish Country Music's New Sensation Derek Ryan 14th November 2013 BEST WESTERN Sligo Southern Hotel & Leisure Centre BOX Office + 353 (0)71 91 62101 Tickets €20.00 Sensational Special Overnight Accommodation Offers Thursday 14th November Concert + 1 night B&B for two people only €110.00 Wed & Thurs 13th & 14th Nov Concert + 2 night B&B and an Evening Meal for two people Only €199.00 BEST WESTERN Sligo Southern Hotel & Leisure Centre Sligo Town Centre 071 91 62101 Tickets €20.00

Tommy Fleming is now recognised throughout his homeland of Ireland and across the world as one of the finest singers of his generation. Appealing to all ages, musical tastes and cultures, audiences have now recognised Tommy Fleming as a truly unique talent. But the fact remains that Tommy Fleming is his own man, delivering song after song – each more haunting than the next.

Be it a cover version or his own original material, Tommy Fleming’s velvet-toned voice makes each one his own. After 20 years honing his craft, Tommy is now taking his place at the forefront of popular music across the globe. The mere mention of a Tommy Fleming concert has ‘sold out’ signs being displayed at venues from Dublin to Sydney within the space of minutes. Born in Aclare, Co Sligo in Ireland in 1971, Tommy was always destined for a career in music having started singing while still at school. While fronting his own local band, it was a chance meeting with Phil Coulter – renowned composer and pianist - which gave Tommy his first big break when Phil asked him to guest on his tour of America. This led to Tommy establishing himself as a solo singer in his own right.

Friday 15 November, 8:00pm at the Hawkswell Theatre, Sligo Tel: 071 9161518

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OUT THE FIRST FRIDAY OF EACH MONTH Donal Maguire

Northwest Express November, 2013

36

Raising awareness N

issan's Drive to Fight Breast Cancer campaign has been launched nationwide. This is an important initiative to help raise funds for the charity Breast Cancer Ireland, supporting its pioneering research programmes in Ireland.

Nissan is pledging to make a €50 donation to Breast Cancer Ireland for anyone that pops into their local dealer and takes a test drive in a Nissan car of choice during October.

Aisling Hurley, Director of De-

velopment, Breast Cancer Ireland, said: "We are delighted to be part of Nissan's Drive to Fight Breast Cancer campaign. It's a very generous and creative way of raising funds.

"Everyone knows someone who has been affected and this campaign costs the consumer nothing, but time, yet it will help significantly in our Race for a Cure."

Members of the public who prefer to book a test drive in advance can do so by logging onto

www.nissan.ie.

Nissan dealers and the general public around the country really supported this initiative last year and raised €80,000 for Breast Cancer Ireland, so hopes are high again in 2013 that the initiative will capture the public's imagination and will be a resounding success.

Breast Cancer Ireland (www.breastcancerireland.com) is a charity established to raise vital funding to support research into breast cancer.

Under the direction of leading breast surgeon, Professor Arnold K Hill, the goal at Breast Cancer Ireland is to seek, through research, to transform breast cancer from often being a fatal disease, with on average 650 deaths annually, to a chronic illness, that can be maintained long term through treatment.

In Ireland today, one in 10 women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. That's why investment in research is vital and it's where the funds raised from Nissan's Drive to Fight Breast Cancer can really help.

Jeanne McGann, Head of Marketing and Communications, Nissan Ireland, said: "The Drive to Fight Breast Cancer is one that Nissan is delighted to sponsor.

"It's an important cause and one that affects so many people in this country both directly and indirectly.

"We are encouraging everyone in their good deed for the day to take a Nissan test drive and we'll contribute €50 to Breast Cancer Ireland on their behalf. There's few easier ways to make a charitable donation that really counts."

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Northwest Express November, 2013

37

Ford reveal Auto parking technology 4x4’s BREAKING FOR SALE

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AUTO ELECTRICIAN F

ord Motor Company has revealed technology developed to enable drivers to park at the touch of a button from inside or outside their car.

Ford has also unveiled a prototype system that uses automatic steering and braking to avoid collisions with vehicles or pedestrians.

Experts from Ford's Research and Advanced Engineering organisation have harnessed advances made in existing Ford technologies Active Park Assist and Ford Powershift to deliver a Ford Focus test car equipped with the prototype Fully Assisted Parking Aid system.

The next-generation parking

technology controls steering, gear selection and forward and reverse motion to facilitate pushbutton parking that can even be operated by remote control.

Ford's Obstacle Avoidance technology has been developed as part of a Ford-led and European-funded research project.

Ford's Obstacle Avoidanceequipped Focus test vehicle issues warnings first if it detects slow-moving objects, stationary obstacles or pedestrians in the same lane ahead.

If the driver fails to steer or brake following those warnings the system will then automatically steer and brake to avoid a collision.

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Both technologies were demonstrated for the first time at Ford's test facilities in Lommel, Belgium.

"The future for Ford means developing innovative products and technologies - including Fully Assisted Parking Aid and Obstacle Avoidance - that help deliver a safer, more convenient, more desirable, more personalised and greener driving and ownership experience," said Barb Samardzich, Vice President Product Development, Ford of Europe.

"Ford is focussed on making sure the vehicles, technologies and features we develop better meet changing customer expectations and values."

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New Firm Star!ng in South Donegal requires an Auto Electrician Contact PJ on 086-2395093 for more details

38

farmingServices

Report Published on Consumer Acceptance of Novel Food Technologies

H

ow do consumers balance the scales between promised benefits and potential risks from novel food technologies? This was one of the research questions examined by a team of Irish researchers investigating consumer and industry acceptance of novel food technologies (NFTs).

Investment by the Irish government as well as the EU in novel food technologies is essential as such technologies will help in delivering solutions to long-term challenges in society such as climate change and a growing world population.

However lessons learned from GM means that consumer acceptance of such technologies cannot be taken for granted, and needs to be managed through effective engagement. This requires greater understanding of consumers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviour.

A new report on the research undertaken by Teagasc, UCC and the Dublin Institute of Technology was launched at a Teagasc Food Innovation Gateways event in Ashtown, Dublin, today, Tuesday, 22 October. The report identifies the complexities in how consumers form attitudes to novel food technologies. This complexity is demonstrated by the fact that consumers who accept one technology may not necessarily accept another technology, and even acceptance of one application of a technology does not imply acceptance of another application of the

novel technologies (such as nanotechnology) is limited and the majority of people are not particularly motivated to assess the pros and cons and thus make evaluation on gut feelings and instinct.

Many consumers turn to regulatory authorities, such as the Food Safety Authority of Ireland, and trust that such agencies can ensure that products available on the market are safe.

Acceptance of foods produced using these technologies was also found to be influenced by many additional interrelated factors. The application of the technology was important with consumers displaying a “hierarchy of approval”. Speaking in Dublin today, Dr Maeve Henchion, Project Coordinator said:” Demographic factors, such as family status, and subjective values such as perceived naturalness and personal control, attitude to nature and technological progress and trust in stakeholders, framed consumers’ overall attitudes towards the specific technology.”

Clearly there are significant challenges for policy makers, regulatory authorities, researchers, and indeed industry, in effectively engaging with consumers to balance the challenge of using technologies to provide food that is acceptable to consumers, that contributes to solving societal/global issues and provides returns to taxpayers for their investments in research and development.

same technology.

Consumers do not accept novel food technology applications on the basis of promised benefits alone. Thus this research identified how consumers’ traded-off benefits (including lower price) for potential perceived risks associated with such technologies. In general consumers were more accepting of novel technology if they perceived the associated personal and societal benefits to outweigh potential risks. However awareness and understanding of many

Farmers Managing Riparian Zones for a Fish Friendly Habitat A new Teagasc and Inland Fisheries Ireland joint initiative to establish best practice in the Management of Watercourses was launched at the National Ploughing Championships by Teagasc Director Prof Gerry Boyle.

Teagasc will organise nationally a series of events, which will include classroom and onsite training, to equip farmers with the knowledge to support fish friendly management of the riparian zone.

The keys topics covered in the training include:

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Inland Fisheries Ireland are pleased to be involved in the delivery of this training programme and IFI CEO Dr Ciaran Byrne commented that ‘this joint initiative is the way forward to ensure that there is a consistent and best practice approach to preserving watercourses for the benefit of farming and fisheries alike’.

Restricting Livestock Access Fencing of the Riparian Zone Fish friendly management of trees and plants River bank protection Development of Buffer Strips between tilled fields and watercourses Invasive species management Preventing barriers to fish movement River crossings by box culvert Teagasc in County Louth are hosting an event today, October 16th at their offices in Dundalk.

Niall O’Lamhna, Teagasc Adviser said that the issues covered will include best practice when maintaining previously drained watercourses, preventing barriers to fish movement and dealing with invasive species.

Tom O’Connell Teagasc, Agricultural Catchments Programme, discussed results from monitoring of the Dunleer catchment.

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According to Catherine Keena, Teagasc Countryside Management Specialist further events are planned in November: Tuesday 5th, Wexford 053 9171350; Tuesday 12th, Sligo 071 9183369 and Tipperary 0504 21777; Thursday 14th, Cork 028 21888 and Kilkenny 056 7721153; Friday 15th Monaghan 049 4338300; Monday 18th Mayo 094 9371360; Galway – date to be confirmed 093 28123.

All farmers are welcome. These courses qualify as a second optional course for farmers in REPS 4.

Castlerea Livestock Mart Ltd THURSDAY WEEKLY:

BULLOCK, HEIFERS, COWS, CALVES AND WEANLINGS. ALL SALES COMMENCE AT 11 A.M. 3 RINGS IN OPERATION • ALL STOCK PRE-BOOKED. SCANNING SERVICE AVAILABLE BETWEEN 12 NOON - 1 P.M. EVERY THURSDAY. FOR ENQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT MART OFFICE.

TELEPHONE: 0949620300 E-MAIL:castlereamart@eircom.net web: www.castlerealivestockmart.com

Northwest Express November, 2013

Michael O’ Connell Tractors Sales And Service Caraun, Claregalway, Co. Galway

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Northwest Express November, 2013

39

farmingServices K&C MULVANEY Ltd.

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(Prizes for best pair of Angus Bulls & Angus Heifer Weanlings)

TUESDAY 5TH NOVEMBER Usual Sale of Cattle and Sheep

Tel: 049-4338331 or 086-8551932 / 086-3827008

MONDAY 11TH NOVEMBER Usual Sale of Wealings REP’S APPROVED QUALITY

Removes All Infection And Bacteria From Slatted Sheds

DRIVEWAYS • HOUSES • OUTHOUSES

• Tractor And Trailer For Hire • Mini Digger With Driver For Hire For All Types Of Household Or Farm Work

• Upgrading Septic Tanks New Percolation Systems Installed

Phone Martin Now For A Quote 086-173 0135 • Covering The North West

Underground Bore Holes upto 75mm Save money and time on Council Levies, Traffic lights and digging up the road

Underground Road Crossing

Call David For Details: 087-2347424

FARM FENCING

Domonic Frizzell for all your farm and reps fencing.

Barbed sheep and electric wire Digging and Hedging Services available 16 Years Experience

087-6806781 / 071-9186927

Irish Shamrock Trees Whitethorn & Beech Hedging Trees and more

• Aeos & REPS Specialists • All trees and tree plants • Refridgerated trees • Trees from €2.00 • All year round planting • Best Value Trees in Ireland.

Tel: 087-2743914 24 HR www.irishshamrocktrees.com

TUESDAY 12TH NOVEMBER Special Sale of Cull Cows with usual Sale of Cattle and Sheep email: ballina@auctionmarts.com web: www.mayosligomart.com Crossmolina Road, Ballina, Co. Mayo

Pre Booking: 096-22555

MORANS

FOR SALE: • Ford 5000 4x2 Good • Ford 6600 4x2 Good • Ford 6610 4x2 Good • Ford 7810 4x2 Good • Ford TW15 off farm • MF 290 4x2 Good • Zetor 8011 4x2 Off farm • Fiat 1180H 4x2 off farm • Sumitomo SH300 Good • Cab to suit MF 265 etc.

• Cab glass and parts • To suit MF and Ford • Buckets to suit case 580 • Wheels to suit MF&Ford • Pick up hitch to suit • MF and Ford • Quick hitch to suit

Hitachi120 and 150.

• Tipping gear to suit Volvo FH12 WANTED: Tractors • Ford 4000 up to 8210 • 5640 up to 7840 2 and 4x4 • TM series (classics) • MF 165 up to 390 • All Belarus tractors •Fiat 4x4 tractors 90 series

Sumitomo and kobelco Trucks • Volvo FM12 and Fh12 from 1999 up • Scania 124 1998 up

Excavators Hitachi 60-1 up to 400-1 Zaxis /Zx 100 up to 450 Komatsu dash 6 and 7

Ballina, Co. Mayo • Tel: 087-413-9687

TULSK-MACHINERY

Dead Animal Collection Ardkeenagh, Tulsk, Co.Roscommon

BALLISODARE Tel: 071-9133417 or 087-6530767 PROMPT CALL-OUT Your Local Collector For Sligo Rams and Ewe’s Scrapie Tested

Maloney & Matthews LTD

DEAD AND WORN OUT ANIMAL COLLECTION Contact: JIM MATTHEWS - Tubbercurry

TEL: 071-9121928 / 087-7988064 TULLY FORGE LTD

STAND ALONE GATE Gates can be made to order to suit the size you need

3 in 1 Calving Gate Nationwide delivery available

Castlerea, Co. Roscommon • Call Thomas 086-806-2760 • www.tullyforge.ie

Tel: 086-7919095 • PZ 185 drum mower 6! cut • Galvanized grass harrows 8!/14!

• Lely lotus 4 rotor tedder • Potatoes li!er • Pz haybob complete recon.

• Cheap pz haybob • Slurry tanker comp galv 1600 gal • Slurry injectors • Galvanized yard scraper 8!

• Malone transport box 6 !

• New nugent transport box 5!

• Spring teed harrows • Heavy grubbers • Mole plough • Clean kverneland 3 furrow plough • 6 ! topper • 8 ! fully of side topper • 7 ! disc harrow Your

Plant & Agri Machinery Sales Castlebar Road, Westport, Co. Mayo Telephone: (098) 29122 / (087) 2411120

full line dealer

Full range of Kubota lawncare, tractors and utility vehicles in stock.

Kubota tractors from 14130hp.M6040 & LA1153 loader, M8540, M9540, M108S & LA1403 loader and M130X and LA2253 in stock.

New Kubota GR1600 lawnmower New Kubota GR2120 New Kubota G23 high tip mower in stock with 48” shaft driven deck SH Kubota STV 32 with 60” deck. Very clean machine 10 Kubota M130X 09 Kubota M9540 07 Kubota M125X 07 Hurlimann XT110

06 Kubota ME9000 with Quicke Q720 loader 04 Zetor 6340 03 Renault Temis 610 & Stoll loader 03 Reanult Temis 630 93 Deutz DX6.06 92 MF390 with MF80 loader Selection of 35s, 135s Complete range of tractor and ATV attachments in stock from Nugent, Malone, Quad X, Belmac, Woods, Einbock, Wydale, Quicke, McHale etc. The West’s largest stock of machinery SH Kubota GR1600 choice of 2 SH Kubota G21LD SH Westwood lawnmower

Introducing the NEW Kubota RTV400. The 2 seater alternative to the ATV!! Now in stock, call to see.

FARM DIRECT WANTED ALL TYPES OF TRACTORS & TRACK MACHINES

Drenches for Sheep and Cattle Sheep Dip Farm Sprays eg. Crop Sprays Dairy Hygiene Products High Quality Animal Licks for maximum performance Grass Seed Electric Fencing Equipment

Tractors 2/4WD in any condition for resale-export & breaking Wanted Massey Ferguson's; MF165-168-175-178-185-188-565575-590-675-690-699-265-275-290.

Fords-Fiats-John Deere-Zetor-Belarus-Universal Ect. All tractors considered in any condition, non runners also.

Wanted all Plant Machinery; Hitachi-Komatsu-Jcb/ JS-Kobelco-Sumitomo-Cat-Mitsubishi Ect. Engines /gearboxs ,also wanted in any condition.

Tel: 087-680-6540 • e: buyplant10@gmail.com

Northwest Express November, 2013

40

naturalhealth

The information provided to you on this page is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice and it is important that you do not make medical decisions without first consulting your doctor or other healthcare professional.

Red State, Blue State: 10 Tips for Feuding Families

other person to react differently too.

Take a time-out If you're starting to feel angry or threatened, it's a good idea to take a time-out to collect your thoughts.

"Ideally we give our kids time-outs so they learn to manage their feelings; we need to do the same for ourselves," Glovin says. "Remind yourself that you are an adult and your thoughts are valid."

Avoid labels A person and their politics are not the same thing. "You have to recognize that people are more than their political beliefs," Jennifer says.

"They are deserving of respect....It's not that they're Darth Vader, it's just a different perspective."

Don't get caught up in thinking, "they're stubborn or they're racist or they're sexist or they're homophobic or they're so righty or they're so lefty," Rego says. "They get put in a box, so if you're in a different one, you only see difference."

Control your reaction Much as we would like to, we can't control how other people behave—but we can control how we react.

"Family relationships fall back on old habits, so someone might try to goad you by saying, ‘You're too sensitive,'" Glovin says. "Take a moment. Is it true? Do you agree?" If not, recognize that—and that it might be the other person's issue.

By reacting differently than you might have in the past, she says, you're changing the family dynamic—and maybe pushing the

Don't drink too much Jennifer S. (not her real name), an editor and mom from New Jersey, learned this lesson the hard way when her liberal family teamed up on her beloved—but conservative— stepdad during a boozy post-9/11 argument that ended with him leaving the house.

She didn't witness the scene, but knew it took a while for the family to heal or even dare to get together.

But a recent vacation was a great success, she says, largely because they avoided getting into touchy subjects after having a few drinks.

JB’s DENTURE CLINIC Garden/Tone St, Ballina.

0212

Tel: 096-72189 087-6389500 Mon-Thu 9.30 - 6pm / Fri 9.30 - 5pm

Homes, Hospital, Nursing Homes.

Appointments by arrangement

Recognize your triggers As you prepare for your next family gathering, think about what's happened in the past, and also about what others do that triggers you to react, says Julie Glovin, a clinical social worker from Worcester, Mass.

"What feelings come up when you get triggered?" Glovin says. "Do you have a history of not being validated in your thoughts? Not heard? What happens to you physically and behaviorally? Does your stomach hurt?

Do you want to cry?

Do you reach for another glass of wine?"

Something special coming up - Safe Herbal Programme. Paddy and Mena MrDermott looking after your weight for over 14 years. Call: 04866327490 - Herbalife Distributors

Identifying your triggers can help you control your anger.

It's OK to disengage and say, "I don't think this is a good conversation to have—I'm getting too worked up."

It's normal to disagree It may help to know that arguments aren't necessarily a sign that your family is dysfunctional. "If you are willing to get into any depth of a relationship with anyone and be genuine, you will eventually run into areas in which the two of you don't see eye to eye," says Simon Rego, PsyD, director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center, in the Bronx, N.Y. The same is true, of course, in family relationships, he says.Although there usually is less conflict in superficial relationships, Rego says, "You don't get the richness of human connection."

ARE YOU OVER WEIGHT?

Agree to disagree Take a look at the dinner-table debate and know that trying to change someone else's mind is pretty much always a lost cause, Glovin says.

"Are people trying to share information to help each other be better informed, or are we trying to change belief systems?" she says.

"The latter is futile—and ultimately people are looking for their own beliefs to be validated. Agreeing to disagree can be a way to validate and defuse the situation."

S.T.O.P. is a registered charity, which was set up to assist and support individuals who feel suicidal, are in distress, or those who have been bereaved by suicide.

Contact: Michelle Fox, Beepark Resource Centre, Newline, Manorhamilton, Co.Leitrim

North West Counselling

Counselling for people with addictions eg. Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling • ALSO COVERS GENERAL COUNSELLING Counsellors are professionally trained • Relapse Programme and are fully accredited or working • One-to-one Counselling towards accreditation.

• Referral system for private clients to White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre For appointments ring: 087-2879707 OR 074-9723822 • Addiction and General counselling available Afternoon, evening and weekend Email: tabourhouse2004@eircom.net Tabor House, Drimark, Donegal Town appointments available

Helping people to recover

FREEPHONE: 1890-211-877

Mobile: 086 7772009 • info@stopsuicide.ie

www.stopsuicide.ie

Westport Foot Clinic St. John’s Place, Westport, Co. Mayo

Chiropodist: Martin Mc Nally Tel: 087 222 6260

Northwest Express June 20th, 2013

36

COMMERCIALS

FARM LIVESTOCK

2005 TRANSIT SWB, 2 Litre Diesel, Good COndition, DOE 12/13,Average milage, €2400 Tel: 087-1922872

HEREFORD HEFIER Suck claves 3/6 weeks old, very good quality, suit bucket feeding or suckling male excellent suckler replacements.

Tel: 087-7127052 Ballina area

BEDFORD DIESEL MOBILE LIBRARY 1990 import from UK. Fully serviced, automatic doors.

All alloy body 18’ x 10’ high x 8’ width. Very small mileage, makes it ideal to camper or a site office.

Price: €2,300 Tel: 085-7653336 03’ FORD TRANSIT White colour, 90'000 miles on the clock. Just had 1 owner from new. MOT, just expired, But will pass test.

Van is ideal for a removals van, or conversion to camper van. Genuine reason for sale. Sligo area.

Price: €1,300 ono.

Tel: 086-0866592 VW CADDY DIESEL 02, DOE test 12 Months, 4 new tyres and timing belt and water pump done. €2,300. Tel: 086-8943676 FARM EQUIPMENT

1998 TRANSIT TIPPER 52,000 miles.

Tel: 087-6075089 2004 HITACHI 1.6 TON 1800 hours, complete buckets and pipe for rock breaker. €9000 Tel: 087-6075089 PZ HAYBOB In good condition, new tyres and springs , good gates, crop divider and drive shaft - grab yourself a bargain! €940 No Provate numbers please.

Tel: 087-2042396

10 BLACK EWE LAMBS €80 each, 10 heifers, born in may to top quality pure bred limousin and top quality lambs - suffolk abd cross bred. €70 each Tel: 087-9484052 NABIAN X ALPINE and Nabian x Saneen male 1 gear old goats, of good quality and from a good farm, also Rhode Island red cockerals hacthed June 2012 Tel: 096-45929 SHORTHORN HEIFER WEANLINGS Born spring 2012. Very good quality, weaned, make excellent breeding replacements, out wintered stock.

Mayo area. Call for price.

Tel: 087-2853594 SUCK CALVES For Sale, Heifer Salves mixed breeds 4-6 weeks old all good quality,Tel: 0872853594 Ballina, Co. Mayo RED/ WHITE HEREFORD HEIFER Suck calves suitable to bucket feed or for suckling, make excellent suckler replacements. 087-2853594 4 YOUNG HENS Rhode island red & light Sussex cross. Over stocked.

Price: €50 Tel: 087-2706123 GOOD SUFFOLK SHEEP 7 Suffolk Ewes, all with full mouth of teeth. All suitable for breeding. All have previously raised twin lambs. All

from good breeding flock.

Ages 3 to 5 years. All in good condition. Regular dosing. Easy to handle.West Mayo area.

Price: €75 each.

Tel: 087-6184154 MINITURE HOUSE FOR SALE Any offers Tel: 071-9620165 or 087-7089051

FEATURED

7.5 TONNE LOADS OF FIREWOOD and Turf. Tel: 087-1413238 HOME TUTOR REQUIRED in the north mayo area for 3 year old non-verbal boy must be qualified primary school teacher and have teaching council number.

Please email CV to shazstuart@yahoo.co.uk VIDEO CASSETTES TO GIVE AWAY Second hand and new, any charity organisation can avail of them. Tel: 0719189197

BUSINESS INVESTMENT Invest in a small business starting up with a guaranteed return. It's a recession beating contact.

Tel: Padraig 087-9982216 REAL AUTHENTIC JEWELLERY 2 x Women's Rings. 1 x 25carrot. Also Diamond embraced Broach available.

Sligo Town area. Please call 087-7128857 If there is no answer, please txt details, & I will call back.

PRICE NEGOTIABLE WOULD ANY READER HAVE AN OLD FASHIONED BLUE MONKSHOOD PLANT? I would like a crown if its no imposition. Call Michael on 071-9648280 MISCELLANEOUS

LEADING IRISH CHARITY REQUIRES Street fundrasiers, in Co. Sligo and Mayo areas.

Comission paid.

Tel: 087-9982216

BLACK HOPPER TURF Trailer loads, various sizes, also bags, can deliver. Tel: 086-0670754 4 BERTH MERCEDES GEIST PHANTOM 2007, 14565 miles, right hand drive, fixed double bed, satellite dish, TV aerial, walken TV, Domestic aircon, large sunroof, solar panel, Tow bar and lots more. €48,000 Tel: 087-3969673

HOUSEHOLD

TABLE WITH 4 CHAIRS small second hand will also chest of drawers and 2 bedside cabinets.

Tel: .86-07279123

working, less than 1 year old, genuine reason for selling. North Sligo area.€300 Call after 2pm 0872940044 SALE OF VARIOUS ITEMS Modern leather couch, 3 seater chair vgc, solid brass long fine irons €25 vgc, Spider leg occasional table, lawn mower, electric briggs and stratton vgc €65 4 carved oak chairs (dining) need upholstery €165 also new adult trampoline.

Tel: 085-8293211 MOTORS

2006 PLY LINED RENAULT TRAFFIC VAN 100DCi, 160,000km, Taxed and DOE’d 4.14. In order, VG Condition, No TIme wasters please. Tel: 0872469608 2002 TRANSIT MWB Diesel, Great condition inside and outside.

140,000 miles, serviced, DOE 12/13 €1800. New tyres.

Tel: 086-8981773 2005 MITSUBISHI CARISMA 1.3 Petrol, 90,000 km, classic, abs, power steering, electric windows, full leather, central console front and rear arm rests, rear head rests, 4 speakers, alloy wheels, spare tyre never used. 475mpg. €4000 Tel: 083-3716963 Metallic Silver

KARATE SUIT FOR SALE To Suit 12-15 year old, 2 karate bags, shin pads, and gloves. Call: 087-1617782

DOUBLE BED FOR SALE Good clean condition. €65 Tel: 087-6198217

2002 RENAULT LAGUNA 1.8 Petrol, NCT Jan ‘14,Very clean, fully serviced, €800 ono Tel: 086-2102214

7 & 1/2 LOADS TON LOADS Black screened hopper turf.

Tel: 087-1173288

BEKO ELECTRIC COOKER white, with double oven and ceramic hob in perfect condition, can be seen

03 CITROËN XSARA HDi, Diesel, Clean Car inside and out, alloys, mechanically perfect, electronic problem, won’t

FREE PRIVATE CLASSIFIED

start. €650.

Tel: 087-4151430 1998 BMW 525D Low milage, prestige condition, all electronics, hi spec mode, failed NCT on front anti roll bar bushings only.

Serviced. New tyres.€850 Tel: 087-4151430 2008 DAIHATSU TERIOS 1.5 grey metallic, only 27,000 miles, ABS brakes, light on fuel, alloy wheels, electric windows, roof rails, tinted / privacy glass, petrol engine, beautiful condition,

NCT April 2014, well looked after and serviced.

Spare wheel never used.

Tel: 087-9429954 MOTORS

LOVELY CATS AND KITTENS LOOKING FOR KIND HOMES! They will be spayed, neutered and wormed.

Please contact Joan's Arc Animal Sanctuary: Tel: (071) 9643307

Irish Shamrock Trees Whitethorn & Beech Hedging Trees and more • Aeos & REPS Specialists • All trees and tree plants • Trees from €2.00 • All year round planting • Best Value Trees in Ireland.

We pride ourselves on our truly friendly and efficient service.

Tel: 087-2743914 24 HR www.irishshamrocktrees.com

CONCRETING All types of concreting

Floors, Footpaths, Streets, Kerbs, Brick Paving, Tarmacadam, etc Call Seamus: 086-8617606

WRITE YOUR ADVERT HERE:

NO. OF ISSUES TO APPEAR IN (MAX 3) : HEADING TO APPEAR UNDER: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: THE FOLLOWING DETAILS ARE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY AND WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. These details MUST be completed for all adverts NAME: ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE NUMBER: EMAIL: Please tick if you do not wish to avail of offers and information Northwest Express may offer from time to time

(MAX 30 WORDS) Post the completed form to FREE CLASSIFIEDS, Northwest Express, Office 3, Unit 7, North West Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo STRICTLY PRIVATE ADVERTISERS ONLY - BUSINESSES CAN CALL 071-9154538 AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY SALES REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT OUR EXCELLENT RATES.

Northwest Express November, 2013

42 PARTS WANTED FOR 2006 OPEL ZAFIRA Tel: 087-2460774

BUILDING

Remodels CHIMNEY REPAIRS IRELAND Extensions year guarantee • 25 years experience Maintenance •• 20Relining and rebuilding

ROYAL DOULTON 30 PIECE DINNER SET Style: Sandon (New) Tel: 071-9302700 LARGE QUANTITY OF FIRST CLASS TURF AND WOOD For Sale. Shed Stored, delivered. Tel: 087-7462440 SUCK CALVES Red / White Hereford heifers 3/6 weeks old, very good quality, make excellent suckler replacements. Suitable for bucket rearing or suckling.

Tel: 087-7120752

C2 Reg • Insured • 30 years experience COLLIE FEMALE 7 Months old, started to work sheep, needs training, from good working background, smooth coat, black and white, wiht nice markings €160. May part exchange for pup, creeper type.Tel: 086-4513553 West Sligo BUILDING

LLEYN RAM LAMBS Pure bred, excellent quality lleyn hogget ewes 3/4 bred, ideal replacements, for more details and appointment to view flock.

Tel: 086-0396536 / 0864513553 West Sligo

Building Contractors Tom 0876786275

NO JOB TOO BIG OR TOO SMALL

• No Job too Big or Small • Free Quotations Tel David: 087-1219658

T MASON FOR ALL YOUR BRICK, BLOCK AND STONEWORK NEEDS

Plastering & Building Contractor

• Extensions • Renovations • Dry Lining • C2 Reg & Insured Phone for a FREE QUOTE

087-2218487 Philips Building

Stone

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Telephone: 087-2496005 • Sandstone & Limestone for house walls and fireplaces • Gravel & Sand • Colour Chips in Ton Bags for Flowerbeds or Driveways • Natural Stone & Paving Slabs

Tel : Office 1800 283067 / 087-7997671

www.chimneyrepairs.ie

D.G. Blocklaying & Sub-Contractor

Tom Cawley

• Smoke and soot problems solved • Free estimates • Free assistance with insurance claims

Specialising in Founda"ons, Extensions & Boundary Walls

Blocks from 60c each, Stone from €50 per sq.m Covering the Northwest region C2 Registered and Fully Insured

North West Windows Prop. Kevin Burns Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh

Abrodella

Concrete Concrete Pumped, Placed and Finished

Domestic & Industrial Floors / Rafts / Tanks Laser creeding

Tel/Fax: 093-31595 Nationwide: 087-2414012

Rathedmond Road, Finisklin, Sligo 071-919 2011

Suppliers & Installers of uPVC Windows & Doors White, Wood Grain and Light Oak Finish All Windows Internally Glazed Tel: 087-2443903 After 6pm Tel: 048-66386525

General Hardware, Sliding Door Gear, uPvc Door & Window Fittings, Kitchen & Bedroom accessories Fitting Service Available

Keenest Rates and quality work guaranteed

BUY ONLINE @

Call for a FREE QUOTATION: 086­2149496 Find the same cheaper and we will beat it!!

HOUSE SERVICES & SEPTIC TANKS

• Drainage • Footpaths • Brick Paving & Kerbing • Ra! Founda"ons • Plant Hire

3 Ton Dumper / Digger & Roller For Hire

JOHN HASTINGS: 087-2416533

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Modern Chimney Cleaning Stoves, Ranges, Open Fires Chimney Fire Repair, Rebuild, Reline Camera Inspection Fully Insured 25 Year Guarantee All Counties Covered North and South Contact John: 087-6257243

email: doortec2@hotmail.com - Mobile: 087-2725297

Northwest Express November, 2013

43 BUILDING

McKelvey Asbestos Removal Ltd

Specialists in Asbestos Removal,Surveys and Reinstatement

Tom Vesey Precast Concrete IRISH AGRÉMENT BOARD

Works approved by Education Boards, Health Trusts, Commercial and Private Clients

Free Estimates Provided Tel: (028) 81670586.

0910

Fully licensed, insured and trained operatives

Tom Browne 0044 7748 638997

BUILDING PRODUCT CERTIFICATION

CERTIFICATE No. 96/0072 SR6 1991

• Twin Chamber Septic Tanks • Septic Tanks • Water Harvesting Tanks • Bio Treatment Tanks • Chimney Caps & Kerbs • Paving slabs & Ballustrades • Readymix Concrete available for collection • Off standard items made to order

• • • • • • • •

Grinder Pumps Waste Water Pumps Flower Pots Georgian Columns Fencing & Gate Posts Lintens & Sills Flue Starters Cattle Grids

For Quality And Keenest Prices in Connaught, deliveries to all areas!

Graffymore, Newport Road, Castlebar, Co Mayo

Tel: 094-90 236 39 •FAX: 094-90 264 66 email: veseyconcrete@eircom.net www.tomveseyconcrete.com

Glass Splashback Centre

Visit www.dg-upvcwindows.com

TO WINDOWS, DOORS & PATIO DOORS

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Far Finisklin Road, Sligo "pride in our work"

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• Heat Resistant Tempered glass • Hygenic & Easy to clean • Painted Colour of your choice • Easily fitted over existing tiles

Tel: 071-91 61924

www.classagu#ering.co.uk

MACE MIDDLE, CLAREMORRIS.

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sales@sligoglass.com • www.sligoglass.com

Email: mike@pmlwindows.com

MAKERS, SUPPLIERS & FITTERS

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Glenview Decorative Stone TM

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For a professional service in planning applications for: Private houses, extensions (any size), small scale commercial, also cottage renovations etc. Timber frame and low energy dwellings a special interest.

Contact Martin McGloin Bunduff, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo casarcser@hotmail.com

Tel/Fax: 071-9166277 Mob: 087-2817620

Filtration Silica Sands:

Also providing: uPVC gu#ering, fascias and soffits, Seamless aluminium gu#ering, Cast iron / cast aluminium gu#ering, uPVC wall and ceiling panelling, Roof repairs and maintenance to flat and pitched roofs and Sandblas%ng

Tel: 048­8954­1493 Mob: 0044 (0)7904­019­484

Email: info@classagu#ering.co.uk Ummer, Tempo, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh

To EPA Specification for Sand Polishing Filters SEWAGE TREATMENT AND WATER FILERTATION CE Accredited Children's Playsand Dried Silica Sands • Flood Defence & De-icing Salt All grades of lime free crushed stone available including lime free drainage chippings, 804, crusher run, etc., Available at all Hardware, DIY Garden Centres and Paving outlets.

For further information on your nearest stockists please contact us: 071 – 9646017 or by e-mail at enquiries@glenviewworld.com Glenview TM is a product of Hillstreet Quarries Ltd.

Aluminium Soffit & Fascia Covering Mayo & West Sligo

Tel 096-45423 or 087-2858333

Northwest Express November, 2013

44 BUILDING

Glass Ltd Septic Tank Emptying Gilroy Hazelwood Rd, Sligo & Desludging We also fit Tanks, Percolation Areas, Polishing filters, Pumps etc

Waste Permit Holder Frank Gallagher Construction

Tel: 087-2311754 LG GLASS

& GLAZING

Westport Road, Castlebar

Tel: 094-9022000 www.lg-glass.ie

info@timoneywindows.net www.timoneywindowsandconservatories.com

• Manufacturers of double glazed units to trade and retail

• Replace your existing double glazed units with energy efficient units •Complete glazing service • Stockists of all types of glass • Glass cut while you wait

Tel: 071-9145400 Fax: 071-9140132 Mobile: 087-2341 985

CHIMNEYS Rapid Repair Service Decorative Mirrors Glass Shower Units Coloured Glass Internal Doors Glass Stairs & Balustrade

CHIMNEY PROBLEMS FREEFONE: 1800 200 510

Relining, Repairing, Rebuilding Normally no opening of walls , Free Insurance Quotes, National Guild of Master Craftsman

Your Advert Here!

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Declan 087-9974893

Stonemason

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External Walls & Pillars All Work Is Fully Guarnteed • Call on 086 341 4213 A new quick and easy fibreglass roofing solution for flat Roofs and Balconies A weatherproof system that outperforms asphalt, bitumen, felt and rubber in strength, durability and length of service.

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Clarke Roofing & Suspended Ceilings 33 Ferney View, Ballinamallard, Co. Fermamagh T: 048-66388663 - Mob: 0044 7714232794 www.clarkeroofing.co.uk

RELINE • REBUILD • REPAIR

Loftus Guttering Services Facia Soffit Supplied and Fitted uPVC / Aluminium / Seamless Gutters Choice of Colours White, Cream, Black, Red, Blue, Brown and Green Woodgrain Boards in Light Oak, Mahogany, Cedar Wood and Black Ash C2 Reg. Killasser, Swinford, Co, Mayo

Covering County Mayo, Sligo & Roscommon

Tel: 087-2387338

Re-lining Re-building Stove Installation Twin wall flue specialists insurance claims processed

Tel: 087-6196013 / 085-1248560 Email: info@ballinachimneys.ie Fully Insured and Free Quotes

CALL PAT: 087 250 0636 091 789 836 CALL GABRIEL: 087 226 6236 093 287 75 info.damchimney@gmail.com

• All Work Certified • Minimum Disruption • 30 Years Experience • Nationwide Service

Damaged Chimney Repair Contractors

NO - MESS - NO - FUSS

Cashel Chimney Repairs Ltd Reline & Rebuild - Years of Experience Free Quotes and Surveys No height restrictions - Nationwide - Suppliers and fitters of Stoves - Attic Insulation Tel: 091-770775 / Pat 087-2458126

E-mail: cashelchimneyrepairsltd@gmail.com

0911

CHIMNEY CLEANING

Services second to none

• Competitive rates • Group discounts • Brush and Vac • Pensioner discounts •Oil Burners cleaned and serviced • Fireplaces and stoves fitted So call the one and only number for your home

086-8687306 NO ONE COMPARES TO OUR FIRM

Northwest Express November, 2013

45 GARDENING AND SHEDS

EAST BROTHERS GARDEN MACHINERY Doon Boyle, Co. Roscommon Tel: 071-9662710, www.eastmachinery.ie

Doon Boyle, Co. Roscommon Tel: 071-9662710 www.eastbrothersmachinery.ie

• Red Fungus Treated & Cleaned

• Moss Removed From: Roofs and Tarmac Driveways • Soffits & Windows Cleaned • Spray Painting • Garden Maintenance

Your Advert Here!

C2 Registered & Fully Insured Contact: 071-9171576 087-2224844 Email: mckenna30@eircom.net www.pjcleaningservices.net

Your Advert Here!

POWER WASHING

Contact our Friendly Sales team on 071-9154538 for details of our excellent advertising deals

Chainsaws, Tillers, Outboard Motors, Power Washers, Generators, Electric Fences, Farm Machinery Spares

WHEELIE BIN SERVICE SKIP HIRE (All Sizes)

MULTIPURPOSE GARDEN SHEDS & GARAGES

All the main supports of our garages are constructed of heavy duty box section steel for strength and durability and are hot dipped galvanised for longer Life.

Our Units are built to withstand the harshest weather conditions.The sheeting is hot dipped galvanised and pvc coated to the colour of your choice.

“You tell us the size you want and we will price on that exact size” Sheds delivered & Erected Nationwide For no extra cost

SPECIAL OFFERS

3M X 3M (10’ X 10’)...............................................€850 2M X 2M (7’ X 7’)...................................................€750 2.5M X 1.8M (8’ X 6’)...................................€450 6M X 9M (20’ X 30’).............................................€3900 CALL US TODAY FOR MORE SPECIALS!

Contact: Ray Lynch Corlis, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon Clare Office - Contact Eugene at the Indoor Market - 085-2188506 Phone: 086-8943034 or 094-9621938 AGENTS REQUIRED

Sheds Workshops Farm Buildings

We offer the best quality steel buildings at unbeatable prices We produce our buildings with high tensile, extremely durable steel. Frame work fully galvanised.

We don’t do cheap box section!

• No maintenace required ever • Non drip lining applied to the roof • GDS Roller Door • Supply and Installation throughout Ireland 5mx3m €3,300 / 6m x 4m €3,500 / 6mx5m €3,750 7mx5m €3,950 / 9mx5m €4,900 Contact Adrian for a FREE QUOTATION 087-4158927

ULTIMATE

096-32500 www.loftusrecycling.com

INSULATION PRODUCTS

Insulation Services

Pay €500 Less for Cavity & Attic Insulation Pay up to €3850 less for External Insulation

Just pay for the cost of the insulation job less the SEAI grant amount!

www.superiorinsulations.ie

Superior Insulations, Charlestown, Co. Mayo

Lo Call: 1890 253 221

Termon Road, Boyle, Co. Roscommon Alan: 086-8037462 Kevin: 086-3108703 Email: alansimon1@hotmail.com • Approved Installers of Korefill injected bonded bead cavity wall insulation, suitable for New Buildings and exisitng homes.

• We can save you up to 60% on your heating costs a year.

• Specialists in cavity wall, attic and dormer insulations & stud partions

Northwest Express November, 2013

46 INTERIOR AND UPHOLSTERY

PLUMBING AND HEATING

Brick RIGHT PRICE FIREPLACES & STOVES Fireplace

Construction

€200 SCRAPPAGE

Bar, Hotels Private Houses All Upholstery undertaken Huge Selection of fabrics Contact: 086-8361070 or 071-9622700

Drumany Beirne, Ballinamore, Co. Leitrim

SCHEME

Furniture recovering and restoration including covering of chairs, 3 piece suites, headboards, car seats and boat seats. Hotel and Bar seating, Office furniture and other Contract / Commercial furniture. Repair of sails, tents and other outdoor gear for sports and leisure.

We provide a service of Colour consultancy and Interior advice.

We retail upholstery fabrics and essentials.

Collection and delivery can be arranged at a small fee, depending on distance.

Boradruma, Snugboro, Castlebar • Tel: 094 9023532 / 086 8350608 Open Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm Visit us online at www.boradrumaupholstery.ie

Specialising in Brick Fireplaces and Decorative Brickwork.

OUR PRICES WILL NOT BE BEATEN! Effrinagh Village, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co. Leitrim Tel: 071-9623345 / 086-6073181

We Can Build all types of Arches, Bullseyes, Herringbones, etc Visit our website @ www.brickfireplaces.ie Email: info@brickfireplaces.ie Phone: 087-9390504 0510

PLUMBING AND HEATING

GERARD The Biggest & Best Value Fireplace Showrooms in Ireland

Save €€€s by calling to us Fireplaces • Stoves • Gas • Oil• Solid Fuel • Electric • Granite Worktop Specialists Sligo Road, Enniskillen. Phone: 048 66 326 327

DEVANEY The complete plumbing & heating Service.

Tel: 071 9168046 Mob: 087 2903690

• • • • • •

New shop opening in Liosban Estate, Tuam Road, Galway City.

Granite hearths Room Heaters, Insert Stoves Boiler Stoves, Fitting Service Solid Fuel, Timber Logs New Age Stone Surrounds We have added Hunter, Charnwood Nestor Martin, Invictia, Stovax Full Call Out Service Full Plumbing & Heating Service

Kiltimagh, Co.Mayo

(Stove Body)

Tel: 091 771 716 • 087 7833 545 www.stovemangalwayltd.com stoveman@ymail.com • look us up on facebook

TERRYS STOVES www.terrysstoves.com

• Free Survey available • Solid Fuel Stoves • Gas Fires

• Heating Control Upgrades • Boiler Service & Installation • Solar Panels

Full Plumbing & Heating Services Available National Guild Of Master Craftsmen

Mobile: 086-2380126 Phone: 094 9382459 info@ecoheating.ie www.ecoheating.ie

SCRAP METAL

PETS AND ACCESSORIES

RADIO FENCE

THERE IS ONLY ONE RADIO FENCE NOTHING ELSE COMPARES

FENCE YOUR DOG • Takes the worry out of owning a dog • Keep your dog SAFE and HAPPY • Money back Guarantee • Simple to install

The most effective way to fence your dog We also stock Bark Controls and Sport Dog Trainers

Your Advert Here!

086 731 2801

Contact our Friendly Sales team on 071-9154538 for details of our excellent advertising deals

people with energy

When buying a stove you need good information on the wide range that is available I will help you get the product that best suits your needs.

Buy Once! Buy Right!

Phone: 087‐2066910 or 071‐9197925

C OAL D ELIVERIES

40kg Polish Coal..............€15.50 40kg Doubles..................€12.50 40kg Singles....................€11.50 40kg Rough Slack...............€8.50 40kg Smokeless Fuel.........€16.50 Briquettes...€4.00 each Paper Briquettes...60c

Call 087-2972586

Tel: 071-9143183

Your Advert Here!

Contact our Friendly Sales team on 071-9154538 for details of our excellent advertising deals For a FREE BROCHURE Ring Mon - Sat 1850 70 60 50 Email: info@petsafe.ie • www.petsafe.ie

SCRAP METALS

WANTED Mohill Road, Carrigallen • WFP­LM­10­001­02

For all your scrap Metal Needs • Copper • Brass • Lead • Batteries • Alloys • Cars (ATF) • White Goods • Farm Machinery... etc Collection Service Available Top Prices Paid Contact Mark: 083-150-1833

Northwest Express November, 2013

47 WATER TREATMENT AND SEWAGE SYSTEMS

No.1in the No.2 Business...

• Domestic Drain Cleaning • Emergency Service Call Out • Commercial Drain Cleaning • Man Hole Covers Replaced • Odours Investigated • High Velocity Water Jetting • Annual Maintenance Contracts • CCTV Drain Inspection

• Septic Tank Cleaning

Bonniconlon Road, Ballina Sep!c Tank Upgrading

• Pre Cast Sep!c Tanks / Supplied & Fi"ed • Wastewater Treatment Systems • Ter!ary Treatment for Enhanced Treatment Levels EN Cer!fied • Pump Sta!ons for Domes!c & Commercial use • Over 20 Years Experience • Service and Repairs to most models of Treatment System • All Groundwork Services / Machine Hire • Agent for Bord Na Móna / Anua Environmentals • Covering the North West

email: wimsey@eircom.net

Contact Damien: 087 297 4842 or 071 916 8086

M.D.S

24 Hr Emergency Service 365 Days

Maintenance & Drainage • Sewer Pipe, Drain & Gully Cleaning • Septic Tanks & Grease Traps Cleaned • Toilets, Baths, Sinks - Odours Investigated • CCTV Pipe Surveying - Pipe Laying & Repair • Manhole Covers Replaced FREE ESTIMATES - C2 REG - FULLY INSURED

• Water Analysis • Water Filtration • Water Softening • Well Drilling • Pump Supplied and Fitted • Rain Water Collection & Purification • Sewage Treatment Systems IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

For fast efficient service call your local engineer on:

Contact Michael 087-276-7003 / 096-70224 Email: Michaelegan1@eircom.net

SLIGO / LEITRIM 086-8106029 MAYO / GALWAY 086-8177634 ROSCOMMON / ATHLONE 086-3946395 Office: 096-29986 / Fax: 096-45223

Email: waterteck@eircom.net Website: www.waterteck.com Phone: 086-8072249 071-9658976

Dating Classifieds WIDOWER, 65 seeks lady for friendship, companionship and maybe romance, N/S, S/D. Enjoys nature, seaside, cinema, food, coversation, line dancing and travel.

Replies to Box number 1025 at the usual address

SEEKING LADY 18-40 FOR NSA Fun and frolics or real relationship. Home owner and car owner, can travel or accomodate for o/nigh and weekends of fun.

Call: 087-6773979

WIDOWER OVER 60 Would like to meet lady in similar position for friendship and maybe a little romance. Enjoys nights out, cinema and all sports.

Replies to Box 1024 at the usual address.

EAST MAYO MALE Wants to meet others males for friendship. Own Place. Call: 086-2550981

MALE 40 SEEKS Female. I am single, fit outdoors guy. Call or text 0876467174 MALE EARLY 40’S Seeking female for friendship . Call or text: 0872781436

OUTGOING SLIGO LADY (61) Likes dancing, swimming, hillwalking, travel, reading, S/D, N/S, interested in meeting honest caring male, similar age and interests for friendship maybe leading to a relationship. Replies to box number 1016 at the usual address.

GENT (NORTH MAYO) Enjoys swimming, keep fit, walks, conversation, eating in and out, loking for a honest and caring aldy 50-65 ish as a friend and companion. Replies to Box number 1028 at the usual adress.

SHY SLIGO LADY lakes cinema, concerts and DVDS, Music etc. Would like to hear from a Gent 60+ with similar interests for a friendship maybe leading to a relationship Replies with a box number 998 at the usual address.

YOUNG GENTLEMAN 51 years, kind, gentle and sincere. Loving Person, appearance very slim and good looking. Looking for kind and nice lady for lots of love, romance. Non Irish

FREE DATING CLASSIFIED *

also welcome. LEading to relationship. Replies to box number 1015 at the usual address.

MAYO MAN Would like to meet a nice lady any age, so I can put a lovely smile on your face, discreet and nice time.

Would you like?

Tel: 087-6372540 ROSCOMMON LADY Early 60's, W.T.M. Widower 60 -65. N.S. for friendship, leading to a relationship.

Replies to box number 968 at the usual address.

TALL, DARK AND HANDSOME MALE Seeks Female for discrete fun, discretion assured. Can Travel. Call: 085-1924230 GENUINE SINGLE MAN Late 40 's, 6ft tall, GSOH, N\S, looking for a Lady 45

WANT A MATE?

JOIN DEE DATE

TEL: 087 240 1158 MON - FRI 10 - 5PM - 55. For fun, & romance.

Likes eating out, keeping fit, cinema, music. S/D Call or text: 086-0368137

WRITE YOUR ADVERT HERE:

NO. OF ISSUES TO APPEAR IN (MAX 2) : HEADING TO APPEAR UNDER: SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: THE FOLLOWING DETAILS ARE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY AND WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. These details MUST be completed for all adverts NAME: ADDRESS:

TELEPHONE NUMBER: EMAIL: Please tick if you do not wish to avail of offers and information Northwest Express may offer from time to time

(MAX 30 WORDS) Post the completed form to FREE CLASSIFIEDS, Northwest Express, Office 3, Unit 7, North West Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo

48

Northwest Express November, 2013