Go Rail - Spring 2014

MARCH - MAY 2014 VOL:04 ISSUE:01

WORTH HIS WEIGHT IN GOLD

OSCAR-WINNER JARED LETO A SPACEMAN CAME TRAVELLING

CHRIS HADFIELD ONE HELL OF A DO

THE STAG’S HUGH O’CONOR BURNING UP THE CHARTS

ELLIE GOULDING MY FAVOURITE TRAIN JOURNEY

KEITH BARRY

WAR HORSE

D SM THE WEST EN

OMES ASH C

TO DUBLIN!

ANDREW MAXWELL • MICHELLE DOHERTY • OVER-50S SPECIAL

Destination:

Shopping

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24/02/2014 15:26

CONTENTS GO

MARCH - MAY 2014

VOLUME: 04 ISSUE: 01

M I K E T Y S O N P42 6 GO FOR IT A rundown of what’s hot and happening throughout the country.

18 TRAIN NEWS All your up-to-date train news from Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail.

22 HORSE PLAY As the award-winning WAR HORSE comes to Dublin, we meet the cast and crew to find out what it's like being at the centre of a worldwide theatrical phenomenon.

26 OSCAR WILD Having just scooped the biggest accolade in cinema, actor-turned-musician JARED LETO discusses the incredible role that persuaded him to return to the big screen.

28 HAPPY AS BARRY Mentalist KEITH BARRY shares his favourite train journey – his memories of travelling from Waterford to Dublin as a teen.

30 GOOD AS GOULDING Chart-conquering superstar ELLIE GOULDING on rebooting her image, newfound confidence and the media's obsession with her.

32 THE FINAL FRONTIER Former Canadian astronaut CHRIS HADFIELD recalls his time aboard the International Space Station, gazing at Ireland from orbit, and ponders whether there really could be life out there.

36 MAXWELL'S HOUSE One of the country's best stand-ups, ANDREW MAXWELL talks about his new show, the Irish mentality, Chris O'Dowd and the time he led a dance invasion of Area 51.

38 GO BUSINESS Founder and MD of the Teeling Whisky Company JACK TEELING on the effort and ambition in establishing a Dublin city distillery.

41 SHADES OF HUGH At home behind and in front of the camera, star of The Stag HUGH O'CONOR discusses finding

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fame at an early age and his friendship with Sherlock's Andrew Scott.

42 KING OF THE RING A boxing figure as controversial as he is compelling, former heavyweight champion of the world MIKE TYSON opens up to Go Rail.

46 GO EAT Xposé presenter MICHELLE DOHERTY joins ANNE SEXTON for a bite to eat in Dublin's Zaragoza.

52 FIFTY SENSE Over 50 and looking forward to new challenges and adventures? We have you covered...

58 GO FASHION Flirty feminity is to the fore this spring.

62 GO REVIEW Our team of reviewers cast their eye over the latest albums, books and DVDs.

CREDITS MAR - MAY 2014 VOLUME: 04 ISSUE: 01 MANAGING EDITOR

Máirín Sheehy

COMMISSIONING EDITOR

Roisin Dwyer

CONTRIBUTORS

Stuart Clark Craig Fitzpatrick Dave Hanratty Roe McDermott Colm O'Hare Anne Sexton Robert Higgins Ed Power Eamon Sweeney James O'Brien

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PUBLISHER

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GO RAIL IS PUBLISHED FOR IARNRÓD ÉIREANN BY: Osnovina Ltd 13 Trinity Street Dublin 2

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LETTERS

The Editor, Go Rail Magazine, 13 Trinity St

The West Waterford Food Festival

Dublin 2

A SPRING IN OUR STEP

While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, the publishers cannot accept any responsibilities for errors. The views contained in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of Iarnród Eireann.

All material © Osnovina 2013. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of material without permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited.

A

fter what seemed like a never-ending winter, the new issue of Go Rail celebrates the fact that spring is finally with us, and summer tantalisingly around the corner.

The Southeast will hopefully be at its sunniest from April 10 – 13 as the West Waterford Festival of Food returns to Dungarvan, an epicentre of the culinary revolution Ireland has been undergoing these past few years.

As has been regularly celebrated in our Go Eat column – pickled herrings, corn tortillas, white puddings and clementine & rosemary ale are on menu this time round! – the country is populated by an ever-increasing number of artisan food and drink producers who pride themselves on using local, seasonal ingredients.

Whether it’s the marvellous beers produced in Cork by the Franciscan Well; Peter and Anita Thomas’ award-winning Bellingham Blue cheese from Louth;

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Dublin pork butcher Ed Hicks’ remarkable Bacon Jam or Tomás Póil’s melt in the mouth Man Of Arran Fudge, we can all be mightily proud of the fare bearing the ‘Made In Ireland’ stamp.

Joining the throng is the Teeling Whiskey Company whose MD Jack Teeling tells us in Go Business about their setting up of the capital’s first new distillery in over 125 years.

Of course, spring and summer are also times to revel the great outdoors. To get you started on your travels, we’ve a special look at the places and people that make Wexford so special.

The key message is that wherever you live, or may roam, in Ireland, make sure to appreciate your surroundings and savour its unique charms and flavours!

GO FOR IT

A R U N D O W N O F W H AT ’ S H O T & H A P P E N I N G

BY CHARLES FISHER

CAPTAIN

CIRQUE

Fusing the 3000-year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. In Dralion, the four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form. Thus embodied, each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. Dragons have incredible clashes with lions, cultures blend, man and nature are one and balance is achieved. Cirque Du Soleil are always visual stunning and death-defying, and on the grand stage of The O2 Dublin on May 28, Dralion will be an experience you won’t forget.

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ROARING

INTO BELFAST Katy Perry stormed back into the charts with her single ‘Roar’ and album Prism last year. Arguably the reigning princess of pop, Katy has an extensive catalogue of catchy hits: ‘I Kissed A Girl’ ’T.G.I.F.’ ‘Firework’ and many more. Her shows have grown bigger and better over time; this tour promises to be the most ambitious of the bunch. There will be elaborate stage sets, moments of grandeur, and unrestrained vocal pyrotechnics. The Odyssey Arena, Belfast, is the perfect place to catch the latest and greatest from Ms Perry, May 7-8.

Ray Davies: The Kinks legend appears at Dublin Writers Festival

THE WRITE STUFF

PUNCHE-ING ABOVE ITS WEIGHT

The Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival has long been one of the highlights of the Irish sporting and social calendar. The combination of thrilling race-course action, live entertainment, delicious food and drink, family fun and dazzling glamour is beyond compare. The festival is considered the grande finale of the jump season with top class horses, trainers and jockeys from both sides of the Irish Sea converging on Kildare. With 11 Grade One contests, Punchestown is the home of Irish National Hunt Racing and host to the famous La Touche Cup. For those simply looking for a good time, there’s plenty of food, music and entertainment to be had too. From Tuesday April 29 to Saturday May 3.

The long-established Dublin Writers Festival returns for an extended nine days, Saturday May 17 until Sunday May 25 of May. Although the full list of writers, workshops and events won’t be released until April, the organisers have been drip-feeding names on their website (dublinwritersfestival.com). Confirmed so far: Emma Donoghue, Anita Shreve, and Ray Davies of The Kinks in conversation with author Joseph O’Connor.

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GOFOR IT

PRESENT TENSE Following two sold-out, critically acclaimed nationwide tours in 2010 and 2012, arch impersonator Mario Rosenstock is set to unveil his brand new stage show for 2014. Featuring the wide and wacky cast of characters developed on Today FM’s The Ian Dempsey Breakfast Show and RTE Two’s The Mario Rosenstock Show, Gift Grub Live 3 will premiere at Dublin’s Olympia Theatre on April 24 before embarking on a major nationwide tour. Expect to see Francis Brennan, Marty Morrissey and Miriam ‘Genuinely’ O’Callaghan – not to mention old favourites such as Roy Keane and Vincent Browne – as you’ve never seen them before.

CITY OF THE SCRIBES Established in 1986 (Mancunian punk poet John Cooper Clarke was the star attraction), the Cúirt International Festival of Literature is Ireland’s premier writers’ festival. Every April the best Irish and international authors gather in Galway for a week-long event. Cúirt, located in the most westerly city in Europe, has hosted writers, poets, playwrights, songwriters and facilitates readings, workshops, discussions, debates and lectures in all aspects of the written word. Cúirt is a relaxed and friendly festival where the writers and public meet in a convivial atmosphere to talk and interact against a background of energy and excitement of one of Ireland’s most multicultural cities.

Amongst those appearing April 8-13 are Roddy Doyle, Adrian Crowley, Dave Lordan and Scottish Poet Laureate Liz Lochhead.

Roddy Doyle: see him in Galway

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SHAKE

AND BREAK(DANCE) Bringing art and culture to the masses for nine years now, Shakefest returns to Tullamore’s neo-gothic Charleville Castle over June Bank Holiday Weekend (May 31 -June 1).

Combining an idyllic location with a vibrant, artistic spirit, Shakefest attracts visitors and participants of all ages from across the country and, indeed, the globe. Highlights include art and dance workshops for all ages, a samba parade with MaSamba, sassy sketching sessions with Dr. Sketchy’s Dublin branch, a communal drum workshop with Fuinneamh Drum, bellydance, breakdance and Bollywood demonstrations and performances by international guest instructor Maria Aya from Greece to name a few.

Revellers are invited to camp under the stars on the castle grounds as part of a weekend pass. Day admission is also available. Shakefest.net for more.

4 April – 4 May 2014. Admission Free

FACES OF LIMERICK

BY CORMAC BYRNE.

This exhibition is a photographic collection of personalities each with a connection to Limerick.

The Hunt Museum /The Custom House / Rutland Street / Limerick Tel:+353 (0)61 312 833 / Email:info@huntmuseum.com Kíla

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GOFOR IT

READY, STEADY SLOW KNOCKIN’ ON DUBLIN’S DOOR

What else is there to say about the master of song craft they call Bob Dylan? Called everything from a genius to a poet, Dylan has always been on the cutting edge of culture, and is widely regarded as the finest wordsmith of the modern age. On a ‘Never-ending’ tour worldwide, and having released his album Tempest to critical acclaim in 2012, Dylan has booked a Dublin date with The O2 for June 17. You can never predict what he will do, or the songs he will perform – or even what band he will bring – but each number is worth hearing and each moment is worth experiencing.

Fancy a fantastic gourmet weekend in one of the most beautiful parts of Ireland? Based in the Pavilion Theatre Complex in Lisdoonvarna (the town made famous in the classic Christy Moore song), the Burren Slow Food Festival is a three-day event (May 23-25) showcasing the best of food culture in Clare, featuring produce from local growers, producers and traders supplying local high quality foods. The festival aims to provide a true taste of Clare culture in the beautiful Burren setting. The programme is designed to be affordable, fun and informative so it, like the local food, caters for all tastes and budgets. What are you waiting for? Slow to the Burren!

THE MOORE,

THE MERRIER

Named Ireland’s ‘Greatest Living Musician’ in RTÉ’s People of the Year Awards in 2007, legendary folk singer Christy Moore is a bona fide national treasure. A founding member of Planxty and Moving Hearts, he’s been performing all over the globe for more than half a century. Although never especially prolific – by his own account, he has only written about 100 songs since he began recording in 1969 – he’s responsible for some serious classics (from ‘Don’t Forget Your Shovel’ and ‘Ride On’ to the ever evolving ‘Lisdoonvarna’). He’s certainly got enough memorable tunes in his arsenal to blow the roof off Galway’s Leisureland on May 16.

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Andrew Maxwell

GO

BANANAS

Double Edinburgh Comedy Award nominee Andrew Maxwell is back touring Ireland this spring, as he rolls his brand new show Banana Kingdom out in venues across the country. You can catch him in Galway's Roisin Dubh on Saturday March 15.

From there, Maxwell plays Dolans Warehouse, Limerick (22) Ashbourne House Hotel, Meath (23) and Mandela Hall, Belfast (27) before wrapping things up in Dublin's Vicar Street on March 28.

A familiar face on our TV screens, his new show is jampacked with fearlessly intelligent topical observations, delivered in his typically animated and inclusive style. A stand-up at his comedic peak.

April 10th to 13th

The National Cathedral of Saint Patrick Dublin

Great Food, Great Fun Dungarvan, Co Waterford

Festival of Food Fun, food & something for everyone

From Demos, to Dining, Discussions to Hands On & a great Sunday Market Whether Food Tours & Trails or Entertainment is your thing!

Check out our packed programme on www.WestWaterfordFestivalofFood.com Great Accommodation Deals available also!

www.westwaterfordfestivaloffood.com

Free, Ticketed & Fringe Events Open Daily For Visitors phone: 01 4539472 | web: stpatrickscathedral.ie

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GOFOR IT

REIGN ON THE PARADE For those who like their music firmly on the traditional side, the second Kilkenny TradFest takes place March 14-17 with dozens of events taking place in the historic city. Thousands of people will descend on Kilkenny over St. Patrick’s weekend to indulge live traditional music, song and dance led by some of Ireland’s best known musicians. These include Kíla, Dervish, Donal Lunny, Beginish, Andy Irvine, The Voice Squad and many more. There will also be the annual Kilkenny St. Patrick’s Day Parade and, afterwards, for those of you who love variety, there will be a host of family entertainment and activities on the Festival Stage.

Truly something for everyone.

Gary Barlow

FATHER’S DAY

GREATEST DAY

For the uninitiated, Ross O’Carroll-Kelly is a satirical fictional Irish character, a wealthy Dublin 4 rugby union jock created by journalist Paul Howard. First appearing in the now defunct Sunday Tribune in 1988 and currently disgracing the pages of the Irish Times, the ROCK series of books have all been No 1 bestsellers. Scheduled to run at the Gaiety from April 25 to May 17, Breaking Dad is the third ROCK stage-play. The year is 2022 and Ireland is in the midst of an unexpected economic boom. All of the lessons of the Celtic Tiger have been forgotten: houses are trading at five times their worth and Bertie Ahern is set to become Taoiseach again at the age of 71.

Our hero is entering his middle years without a care in the world.

Life couldn’t be better. Until his teenage daughter arrives home from Wesley one night with the captain of the Blackrock College rugby team – and ROCK is forced to face up to the lesson that you must reap what you have sown.

Though famous for his early Take That career, – and possibly even more so for their recent revival and his stint as a judge on the UK’s X Factor – Gary Barlow has always proven he is a versatile and dedicated songwriter, penning hits for the likes of the Sugababes and his old pal Robbie Williams.

Now he is set to return to less familiar territory with his own solo show.

In support of his album Since I Saw You Last, Barlow will be bringing a large and talented assortment of musicians to stomp and pluck their way through his latest creations. Of course, being the consummate performer he is, also expect a few classic numbers to be thrown in for a massive singalong. Catch him in The Odyssey Arena, Belfast on March 29 and The O2, Dublin on March 31

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A MILEY

MINUTE There has been no stopping the rise and rise of the former Disney stalwart. Since the bygone days of her innocent ‘Hannah Montana’ phase, Miley Cyrus has had a drastic image change, some crazy music videos/performances, and some of her best performing singles around the world. As such, she has constructed an extravagant, overt, and controversial show. For Miley’s Bangerz tour stop-off in Dublin’s O2 (May 20) expect over the top dance sequences, flying hotdogs (yes), finely crafted dance pop numbers (look no further than ‘Wrecking Ball’ and ‘We Can’t Stop’) and a few surprises along the way. This starlet is guaranteed to provide a unique and unforgettable experience.

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GOFOR IT

MERSEY

STREET Soccer is a sport that’s regularly depicted on screen, but rarely on stage. From April 2-13, Royal Court Liverpool will be bringing their soccer-themed smash hit to Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre. Written by Nick Allt (who has previously enjoyed massive success with his plays One Night In Istanbul and Brick Up The Mersey Tunnels), YNWA – The Official History Of Liverpool Football Club tells the story of one of the world’s most famous football clubs and its glories on the fields of Anfield. With complete access to the LFC archive and the full backing of the club itself, Allt has brought together every major incident in the club’s 119-year history and created a show that will make you laugh, cry and cheer out loud.

Rachael Allen: on her way to Dungarvan

FOOD FOR

THE SOUL A mecca for food lovers held in the harbour town of Dungarvan, the West Waterford Festival Of Food 2014 will take place April 10-13. Enjoy food trails around the region as you visit local producers and sample their goods, forage on the shores, cook with your children, or simply watch the professionals who do it best. You can go from a dining experience with a Michelin-starred chef to baking at a primary school, and of course one must enjoy the grub itself – whether it be in established restaurants, cafés, or the Sunday Farmer's Market. It’s a family friendly festival with something for everyone. Participation is very much encouraged, with competitions running throughout the entire weekend, though it's mostly about turning up and enjoying the sights, smells and tastes on offer. Go to waterfordfestivaloffood.com for more.

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FOOD FOR THOUGHT Last year’s Ballymaloe LitFest attracted over 40 renowned food writers, chefs and wine specialists and over 8,000 food enthusiasts to the world famous Ballymaloe Cookery School and Ballymaloe House in East Cork. Ballymaloe LitFest 2014 expects to break last year’s record as the biggest gathering of its kind ever held in Ireland.

Cookery demonstrations, tastings, talks, readings, debates, literary lunches, dinners and afternoon teas will all feature in an astonishingly diverse programme – a melting pot of cookery writers and chefs, food bloggers and food broadcasters, restaurateurs and raconteurs, wine writers and winemakers. Confirmed guests for the May 16-18 run include Réne Redzepi, Yotam Ottolenghi and Maggie Beer.

Clodagh McKenna

PICK UP

A PENGUIN

Funnyman Sean Hughes is a veteran face of comedy on stage and television. Depending on where you were at a certain time, you may recognise him from Never Mind The Buzzcocks, Coronation Street, and even Miss Marple. He is taking his highly successful Edinburgh show Penguins on the road in 2014. In it, Hughes takes us back to his upbringing and the, at times, utter awkwardness of teenage life, with which he’s still struggling to come to terms. In the relatively intimate venue of Liberty Hall Theatre, Dublin, on April 10, for a guaranteed night of laughter, there's nowhere else you'd want to be.

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ATTRACTIONS

Japanese Gardens

St. Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre

THINGS TO SEE

And Do There are many fascinating attractions around the country, each steeped in historical and cultural heritage. Here, Go Rail takes a look at several exciting diversions guaranteed to brighten your spring and summer!

FIELD OF DREAMS Munster fans from all over the world (they hail from as far afield as New Zealand and South Africa), as well as anyone with a passing interest in rugby, should do their utmost to squeeze in a visit to the majestic Thomond Park during any trip to Limerick, where a stadium tour takes the visitor to places usually only accessible to players and officials.

From a seat in the home dressing-room to a walk down the tunnel, the tour gives visitors a unique opportunity to experience how the Munster players feel on big match days. The Full Stadium Tour consists of a museum visit and film, plus a pitch-side visit and look at the Munster dugout, as well as the home and away dressing rooms and post-match interview areas.

The interactive museum showcases the proud heritage of Munster Rugby and features an impressive range of memorabilia. A specially commissioned film, We Are Munster, portrays the tradition and history of the club, and the unique bond it shares with its loyal supporters, whose motto ‘To The Brave and The Faithful, Nothing is Impossible’ has become the stuff of legend.

You can even enhance your spectator experience by taking in a visit to The Munster

Interactive Museum on match days. The museum opens its doors two-and-a-half hours before kick-off, until just 30 minutes before it all gets underway. There, you can relive all of Munster’s past successes, practice your lineout skills in an interactive section and see memorabilia from Munster’s famous history. Just remember that there is no access to the pitch or dressing-rooms on match days, for obvious reasons!

Both walk-in and bookings are welcome, but booking is recommended in advance in order to avoid disappointment. Ticket prices start at €8.

Quote GO RAIL when booking to avail of a 20% discount.

Opening hours: Monday-Friday, 10am - 5pm Tel: +353 (0)61 421 109 Email: museum@thomondpark.ie Web: thomondpark.ie ON THE GREEN A shopping stalwart that doubles as a historical and architectural marvel, Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre gives the impression that it has stood proudly on its city centre site forever. But in fact, it was only completed in 1988 – making it 25 this year!

Prior to that, the site was the home of the

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Dandelion Market, another famed Dublin hangout in its day. Back then, an archway on the Georgian west side of the Green led people along an alley of shops, eventually leading out onto an open courtyard, housing more stall holders. In the late ‘70s, a makeshift stage was created towards the back of the enclosure for up-and-coming bands to perform on, including a then little-known outfit called U2.

It’s fitting that when a new venture was being planned in the ‘80s, developers decided to create a haven for shoppers. Boasting thousands of panes of glass and a pitched glass roof, the current building’s distinctive design is based on the features of a Victorian greenhouse.

Decorative ironwork is displayed throughout the Centre, along the elegant staircases and first floor, where semi-circular balconies protrude over the ground-floor. The interior is made all the more striking by the impressive dome and huge glass centrepiece clock (thought to be the largest in Dublin, the clock is an essential inclusion for any time-conscious shopper!)

For every Dubliner and many a visitor, the Centre has created its own impression and memories. Many a love match has begun with a tentative initial suggestion to meet up at Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, while the Kylemore cafe offers spectacular views of the park; the many Dubliners who start their day with an early breakfast there can also enjoy the privilege of watching the city come to life.

Opening hours: Monday - Wednesday, 9am 7pm, Thursday, 9am - 9pm, Friday and Saturday, 9am - 7pm, Sunday, 11am - 6pm Tel: +353 (0)1 478 0888 Email: info@stephensgreen.com Web: stephensgreen.com PARK LIFE Opened in 1983 by then-President of Ireland, Dr. Patrick Hillery, Fota Wildlife Park is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. Located in a 75-acre site on Fota Island near Carrigtwohill, Co. Cork, the park is a joint project between the Zoological Society of Ireland and University College Cork.

Conservation, education and research are the core objectives of the park, which is home to nearly 30 mammal and 50 bird species including giraffe, zebra, ostrich, bison, emu and several types of primate.

Faces Of Limerick exhibition at The Hunt Museum

Malahide Castle

One of the park’s newest features is Ireland’s first Cheetah Run. The cheetahs – who by nature will not work for food if they don’t have to – are fed via a ten-foot wire that travels at 65kmh. The result is a spectacular live feeding show that runs daily at 3pm, and should not be missed.

Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm, Sunday, 10.30am – 4.30pm Phone: (021) 481 2678 Email: info@fotawildlife.ie Web: fotawildlife.ie TREASURE HUNT The Hunt Museum is home to one of Ireland’s greatest collections of art and antiquities, housed in the elegant 18th-century Palladian-style Custom House overlooking the majestic River Shannon. This diverse collection was acquired by John and Gertrude Hunt over their lifetimes, and dates from the Stone Age to modern times. Enjoy the ambience of the elegant Captains’ Room surrounded by breathtaking Irish art, deftware and Chinese porcelain. The purpose-built Exhibition Gallery showcases a diverse range of important exhibitions. As part of Limerick City of Culture 2014, the museum is displaying an exhibition of photographs by noted Limerick photographer Cormac Byrne from April 4 until May 4, featuring many of the city’s best-known and best-loved faces.

Opens Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sundays 2-5pm.

Admission free. Tel 061 312833 www. huntmuseum.com COAST AND CASTLE: The Coast and Castle tour brings you the splendour of Malahide Castle, one of Ireland’s oldest castles, and the scenic beauty of Howth.

For just €24, your tour includes a visit inside Malahide Castle where tour guides will take you on a journey through the history of the Talbot family and the fascinating legacy they left behind.

The castle itself dates back to the 12th century and is set amidst 250 acres of expansive parkland and gardens. It also plays host to the delectable delicacies of Avoca Café and food hall, where you can enjoy a cake and coffee after browsing the fashion from Ireland’s top designers at the on-site Avoca Store. Then you will be whisked away to the magnificent fishing village of Howth. This

Howth Marina

working harbour is a hub of activity, with plenty to see and do from shopping in the beautiful local boutiques to people-watching from the quaint cafés and tea rooms. Whether you want to stroll along the pier, spot the seals lazing in the crystal waters or simply indulge in fish and chips while sitting on the harbour wall, Howth has it all. The Coast and Castle tour departs Friday and Saturday during winter season at 11am from Dublin Bus Head Office, 59 Upper O’Connell Street. From April 14, the tour will operate daily.

COAST AND GARDENS: The Coast and Gardens tour boasts the beauty and history of Powerscourt Gardens and estate, with stunning scenery to be seen along the way.

For just €24, this tour will inspire even the most cynical native. Leaving Dublin’s fair city behind, you’ll be whisked through charming coastline villages and witness breathtaking views. After a quick stop at Bray Promenade, on you climb into Wicklow’s mountains and on to Powerscourt House and Gardens. The estate is nestled in a verdant valley replete with Renaissance grandeur, secret gardens and a pet cemetery.

After Powerscourt, we sweep back to Dublin city by breezing through Wicklow’s mountains and

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scenery. If that wasn’t enough, a new edition will be added to the tour for the summer season.

From April 14, the Coast and Gardens tour will include a fabulous stop in the heritage town of Dalkey, a quaint town bursting with charm and character. The Coast and Gardens tour departs Friday and Saturday during winter season at 10.30am from Dublin Bus Head Office, 59 Upper O’Connell Street. From April 14, the tour will operate daily.

COAST TO COAST Do you know where the Talbot family lived? Or where you might find the largest Pet Cemetery in Ireland? If not - or even if you do - it might be time to refresh your knowledge of Irish history by taking one of Dublin Sightseeing’s half-day coastal tours. Whether you want to roam around the Italian gardens at Powerscourt or stroll along the promenade in Howth, Dublin Sightseeing has you covered. With two tours to choose from, you’ll be amazed at all you have on Dublin’s doorstep.

For any of the above Dublin Sightseeing Tours call 01 7033028 to book, or simply log on www. dublinsightseeing.ie

GONEWS

WILD WINTER – BUT IARNRÓD EIREANN RISES TO OCCASION Waterford under water

Waterford rockfall

Cork

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t’s been a winter which will be remembered for a series of extreme storms from midDecember onwards. Iarnród Éireann hasn’t escaped unscathed, with a series of significant impacts from the weather experienced.

On December 18th, strong winds snapped the canopy supports over platforms 1 and 2 at Kent station in Cork, causing the roof to collapse. Three customers were injured with one requiring an overnight stay in hospital, but fortunately none of the injuries were serious.

Staff responded quickly to clear the station and to ensure that medical attention was arranged for the customers. A number of cars were damaged by falling debris also. The station was closed for the remainder of the day, but services resumed the following day, with platforms 1 and 2 out of use. Funding has been provided by the Government to repair the damage caused.

Two days after Christmas, December 27th saw high winds affecting a number of routes. This included two incidents of trampolines being blown onto lines – one damaging overhead lines

Ballycar

between Blackrock and Dun Laoghaire, and a second being blown onto the railway line in Co Kilkenny.

In the Dublin area, dislodged panels in the roof at Pearse station resulted in the station being closed whilst emergency repairs were undertaken. The station was closed for a number of hours, but trains operated through without stopping. In the short term, remedial repairs will be undertaken, but a more significant renewal of the roof will be required in the coming years.

New Year’s Eve saw an early morning service from Waterford run into an earth-slip near Kilkenny, trapping the train. Eight passengers were on board, but none were injured. This incident was followed later in the day by a serious rock fall at Waterford, closing the station and damaging signalling equipment. Again, station staff quickly evacuated the station to ensure the safety of customers and staff alike. A total of 7000 tonnes of rock had to be removed to allow the station to be re-opened under temporary signalling arrangements. The cause of this slip remains under investigation.

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Plunkett Station in Waterford has also repeatedly experienced flooding in recent weeks.

Ballycar on the Limerick-to-Ennis line has had, over many years, a series of flooding incidents which have caused extended disruption to rail services. A “karst” landscape, the area drains extremely slowly, and the recent deluges led to the line being closed between Limerick and Ennis on February 2nd. At the time of writing, the line is unlikely to reopen before late March or early April, with alternative bus services operating.

Wednesday February 12th saw perhaps the worst storm not only of this winter but in many years sweep across the country. Dozens upon dozens of trees and other debris fell on railway lines. Major disruption resulted on all Cork, Kerry and Limerick services; on Rosslare and Waterford lines; and on the southside DART. All of these incidents were met with an excellent response from staff in all areas of the company, Infrastructure, Train Operations and Customer centres. Hopefully, a period of calmer weather will follow soon!

T

here may be a vast difference in the age profile and musical tastes of the average Garth Brooks and One Direction fan. But they have one thing in common: they will need a place to stay or a way of getting home from this summer’s concerts in Dublin.

The price of hotel rooms in Dublin is expected to rocket on concert nights so Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail is offering late night services after the shows to get fans home to Cork, Limerick and Galway.

One Direction will perform three sold out concerts in Croke Park from the 23rd to the 25th May. Garth Brooks will be in Croke Park for five nights from 25th to 29th July.

Late night trains will operate after all One Direction and Garth Brooks concerts each night for fans travelling home.

The extra services are as follows; •00:30hrs Dublin Heuston to Galway serving Tullamore, Athlone, Ballinasloe, Athenry, Oranmore and Galway •00:40hrs Dublin Heuston to Cork/ Limerick serving Limerick Jct. (with connection to Limerick), Charleville, Mallow and Cork There is limited availability on these services so don't miss out and be sure to book early at www. irishrail.ie. Child tickets for under 16s are priced at €25 return and the adult fare is €50 return.

The fare also includes the Luas to the city centre.

TAKE THE TRAIN TO GARTH BROOKS AND ONE DIRECTION THIS SUMMER! One Direction

FREIGHT : MOVING FORWARD

R

ail freight volumes by rail grew by 4% in 2013 – and the outlook for further growth is strong.

Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail Freight services transport containers, mineral ore and pulpwood across the country, with almost 600,000 tonnes carried and 100 million tonne kilometres covered in 2013.

Container customers are seeing the environmental as well as the economic benefits of using rail freight. IWT operate between Ballina and Dublin Port, and their 1,000th train will operate in the coming weeks. Their CO2 Emission savings have reached over 3.6 million kgs since their first train in 2009.

DFDS also operate Ballina to Waterford, and since a new schedule commenced in March

2013, their CO2 emission savings have reached almost 420,000 kgs. The train timetable is optimised to meet the DFDS sailing schedules from Waterford Port to Rotterdam, which allows for onward delivery into Europe.

Customers can now load in the west of Ireland on Tuesday morning and deliver in Holland on Thursday pm/Friday am. Rotterdam also provides access to DFDS sailings to Norway, and rail connections to Italy, allowing for a railsea-rail connection from Ballina to Milan.

Iarnród Éireann continues to work to develop new opportunities for rail freight, liaising with ports, exporters and industry to collectively identify areas where rail freight can meet the needs of business. We will be working to turn those opportunities into new freight business during the year ahead.

37.1 MILLION WELCOMES! O

ver 37.1 million passenger journeys were made by rail in 2013, representing a return to growth after the economic

crisis.

More customers than ever before were availing of great value offers, including: - Online sales: fares from €9.99 on routes to and from Dublin; the addition of Limerick to Galway services to irishrail.ie (with €5.99 each way fares) brought more and more people online to our busiest ticket office!

- Taxsaver: if your employer isn’t already

getting you savings of up to 52% on your monthly or annual commuter ticket, make sure to let them know about taxsaver.ie – it also saves your employer, and gives you one of the lowest commuting costs in Western Europe.

- Leapcard: savings over cash fares for customers using Leapcard are now as high as 23%, and more and more customers are making the switch.

- Family fares: on Intercity, DART and Commuter, we offer a range of family fares for 2 adults and up to 4 children, making that day out or home holiday much more affordable.

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xxxxx

GONEWS

NEW FERRY SERVICE FROM ROSSLARE TO FRANCE AND SPAIN D

id you know that Iarnród Éireann is also the port authority for Rosslare Europort?

more unitised freight than all other seaports in the State, excluding Dublin, put together.

Unitised freight is important, because all the high added-value exports on which Ireland’s economic recovery depends are exported as unitised freight.

Joining existing operators Stena Line, Irish Ferries, and Celtic Link, a new passenger and freight ferry service between Rosslare Europort in Ireland, the western French coastal port of St.Nazaire and the Northern Spanish port of Gijón was successfully launched during

the first week of January 2014 by LD Lines.

For the tourist and freight markets bypassing the UK landbridge, the link to Gijón makes destinations in Spain and Portugal easier than ever to drive to and generally provides quicker access to and from the Continental mainland.

The service will also be calling at St.Nazaire which is ideally located for popular French holiday locations such as Brittany, La Baule, La Rochelle and Bordeaux. St.Nazaire also provides easy accessibility for freight traffic between mainland Europe and Ireland.

WE'RE LISTENING TO YOU

E-CIGARETTES ARE NOT PERMITTED ON IARNRÓD ÉIREANN IRISH RAIL SERVICES

It is a key connection from Ireland to South Wales and to France, for both freight and passengers.

Rosslare Europort is the second-busiest port in terms of ship visits and gross tonnage of shipping handled, and Rosslare handles more unitised freight than any other Irish seaport except Dublin – in fact, Rosslare handles

MEETING DEMAND FOR RAIL SERVICES

e-Cigarettes

I

n recent months, Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail has been changing train sizes on many services – some increasing in size and some reducing.

With Exchequer funding for rail services having been reduced dramatically – down €72 million or 38% since 2007 – we have to ensure that while meeting demand from our customers, we continue to operate as efficiently as possible.

The changes we have made will generate €3.2 million in savings in a full year. They have primarily been: - Changes to off-peak DART services: most off-peak services will now be operated by 2-carriage DARTs. At peak times, we will continue to operate a mix of 4-carriage, 6-carriage and 8-carriage DARTs. - Changes to Intercity railcar train sets.

Previously, we operated with 3-carriage or 6-carriage train sets. We have altered this to 3-carriage, 4-carriage and 5-carriage sets.

Combined together, these give greater flexibility in train size, with all options available from 3-carriage to 9-carriage. We have increased some train sizes and reduced others, to meet the demand levels for each individual service.

While we were implementing these changes, we monitored demand and listened to your feedback. As a result of this, we have changed the final train size, with a number of trains increased in size. We will continue to keep all train sizes under review, and if demand grows, we will respond.

In short, when travelling with us, you should expect: - DART and Commuter: At peak times, full loading is the norm, with seating and standing space used. We will work to ensure however that all customers are accommodated on the first train they arrive for. If customers are not being accommodated, we will increase train size in response.

- Intercity: We work to ensure customers on longer distance Intercity services have a seat at all times. Where an Intercity train also serves Commuter customers (e.g Dublin to Maynooth on Dublin/Sligo services, Dublin to Newbridge/Kildare on Intercity services to and from Heuston) there may be standing during that section of the journey. If we consistently experience a situation where customers are standing for longer than this, we will review train size in response.

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I

arnród Éireann Irish Rail has taken the decision to ban ecigarettes from all services and from covered areas within stations.

The decision has been reached following feedback from our customers and staff. It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between a real cigarette and an ecigarette and it may lead to some customers thinking that it is permitted to smoke traditional cigarettes on our services and at our stations.

We at Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail promote a smoke free environment for the health of all our customers and our staff.

MINISTER KELLY LAUNCHES IARNRÓD ÉIREANN’S NEW RESPONSIVE WEBSITE

M

inister for Public and Commuter Transport, Alan Kelly TD, officially launched Iarnród Éireann’s new responsive website at Heuston Station on Thursday February 13th.

In September 2013, Iarnród Éireann embarked on the process of developing a new website to meet the growing demand from customers accessing the website via tablet devices and smart phones. Smart phones now account for 35% of all traffic to the site.

The new site has been developed to allow the information and sales channel to perform better on all devices, small (smartphones), medium (tablets) and large (desktop/ laptops). Customer feedback consistently requested a site that made it easier to view information and featured the capability to book tickets on mobile devices. The new website delivers both.

A responsive design technique was applied, creating a site that reacts to the size of a user’s screen. Responsive design optimises a user’s browsing experience by creating a flexible and responsive web page, optimised for the device that is accessing it. All online content is available on all devices and features improvements to: journey planner, booking platform, real time information and maps.

The new responsive website is a precursor to Customer First, which is a strategic revenue generation programme for Iarnród Éireann which represents a vision to transform the quality of

engagement and services provided to customers by transforming the way in which customer relationships and transactions are managed.

Speaking at the launch, Minster Kelly said: “This is yet another improvement in the online offering of public transport.

One of my priorities since coming into office has been to significantly improve the online capability of Irish Rail. Today's launch is just one more step towards creating a fully customer-focused IT infrastructure for rail customers in Ireland. The increase in the use of smartphones and tablets means that people are accessing information more and more on the move. I am delighted that Iarnród Éireann’s new website is now easily accessed on all I.T. devices.

The new look irishrail.ie offers even greater information and flexibility for rail customers. Since coming into Government I have launched initiatives such as the Leap Card, Real Time Information, and other apps which are consumer-friendly initiatives which make using public transport more attractive.

The online offering of public transport is now as important as the transport itself as consumers are moving much more into the online space."

Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, David Franks, said: “The customer is at the centre of everything we do both on our trains and at our stations. Our new website will greatly improve customer experience for those wishing to avail of our great value online fares, or to check real time information.”

Minister Alan Kelly

HALF A MILLION CUSTOMERS A MONTH NOW ACCESSING IARNRÓD ÉIREANN IRISH RAIL’S FREE WI-FI

5

00,000 customers a month are now accessing Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail’s Free Wi-Fi. Wi-Fi was first introduced onto the Cork route in October 2011 and has been rolled out on the full fleet throughout 2011 and 2012.

Wi-Fi has proven a huge hit with Intercity, Commuter and DART customers. Upon its introduction, there were some technical difficulties, but these have since been rectified.

The availability of free Wi-Fi has been an added bonus for customers, who can now work on their laptops, tablets and smartphones whilst on their journey.

A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann pointed out that “one of the great benefits of rail travel is that you can use your travelling time productively, for work or leisure, and giving our customers free Wi-Fi enables them to surf the web and send and receive emails” Iarnród Éireann is the first train company in Europe to have free Wi-Fi on all its services.

The installation of Wi-Fi across the Iarnród Éireann network is funded by the National Transport Authority.

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GOFEATURE

22

A HORSE

OF A DIFFERENT

COLOUR

The award-winning War Horse is coming to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin this March and April.

Roe McDermott talks to the cast and crew to discover what makes this World War I show so special – and why audiences worldwide are falling in love with a puppet horse.

I

t’s finally here. One of the most successful and critically lauded shows to hit the stage recently, the stunning War Horse is coming to Dublin for a month. Based on the children’s book by Michael Marpurgo, it tells the story of Albert and his beloved horse Joey, requisitioned by the British Army in World War I. Caught in enemy crossfire, Joey ends up serving both sides before landing in No Man’s Land.

Albert, not old enough to enlist, embarks on a treacherous mission to find his noble nag and bring him home. A tale of courage, loyalty and friendship, War Horse features ground-breaking work by South Africa’s Handspring Puppet Company, which brings breathing, galloping horses to life on stage. continued over»

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ALL PHOTOS ELLIE KURTTZ

GOFEATURE

(clockwise from top) a scene from the play; Lee Armstrong in action; star Matthew Forbes & Armstrong with the horse

War Horse has been seen by over four million people since premiering at the UK’s National Theatre in 2007, followed by a run at the New London Theatre in the West End. A major tour of North America continues through 2014. Luckily, you won’t have to travel that far, as it is coming to the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre in Dublin for a month this spring.

Matthew Forbes joined War Horse at the very beginning, and over the years has progressed from puppeteer for ‘Baby Joey’ to become part of the creative and promotional team.

“I’ve officially been involved longer than World War I was actually on!”, he laughs. Forbes is understandably proud of the production, which takes on a new resonance this year, the centenary of the outbreak of the Great War. “The response from audiences worldwide is incredible,” says Forbes. “In London, we had some guys from the army come, very headstrong, manly, tough guys. Not many had been to the theatre, and were understandably wary when told they had to watch a play about the war – with puppets! They watched and were enthralled, had a very emotional response. And that happens worldwide.

“The beauty of Joey is that he doesn’t need translation – getting to know this horse and understanding his emotions and pain and love is a visual experience. So while the show has words and we have German versions etc, the puppets are the heart of the narrative and they need no translation – just like love.”

Lee Armstrong, the 25-year-old actor who won the lead role of Albert, is also very aware of War Horse’s emotional and cultural impact.

“The play changed a bit from when it went to the West End, and again when it went from the West End to Broadway,” says Armstrong,

“An American audience would like things that a British audience wouldn’t, and there are certain things that wouldn’t fly over there that would over here. So the script is constantly changing and evolving and improving because we’re so respectful of cultural differences. We went to Germany. They don’t teach a lot of their history concerning World War I, so there’s been this great loss. They’ve lost all their folk songs. The script had to change totally, new songs written, to make it more neutral. By the time the script came to us, it had been developed again and we had a new cast and it was a new production – quite fortunate for me! It can be very intimidating slipping into an old production with experienced cast members. When we all came to this, it felt like we were starting a new play as a company. And that constant sense of evolution and sensitivity and freshness improves it, I think.”

Playing Albert, the innocent and loving owner of Joey, Armstrong has a closer relationship than most with the show’s incredible puppets – and so can vouch for just how realistic and evocative the wooden creations are.

“The puppeteers are incredible, to the point where I forget about them!” laughs Armstrong.

“I’m always surprised when they are mentioned in reviews or get awards, because in my head, they’re not puppeteers anymore. It’s just a horse!”

He explains that the show brings the audience on a journey of emotion and imagination, making it a truly unique experience.

“There’s a tender, playful scene at the start where my character is trying to get Joey to trust him. It’s almost like a love scene, because you get to see the boy and horse fall in love and grow up together. You can feel the audience drawn in, because it’s both getting the viewers used to the

24

puppets and letting their imaginations begin to see it as a real horse, cementing their faith in this beautiful relationship.”

Forbes agrees. “One of the original directors, Marianne Elliot, described the show as ‘Poor Man’s Theatre’. We don’t have fancy sets or glitzy costumes. We instead invite the audience to take a journey with us, to believe a man holding a stick is actually a wall, that this big amalgamation of wood and elastic is a horse.

And investing that amount of imagination and emotion in the story means it’s a far more moving experience than a film. It’s not just CGI or stunts, it’s a character you’ve brought to life. You care so deeply about what happens.”

“I think War Horse has really put puppetry on the map,” Forbes continues, “and has done so much for the reputation of that artform. I think before this show, most people would have dismissed puppetry, thinking ‘Eugh, like Punch and Judy?!’ It’s really brought it into modern culture. And what we do with the horse puppets is so unique and specialized and quite beautiful.

It really redefines for most audience members what puppetry is and can be.”

Armstrong is also eager to convert anyone put off by Steven Spielberg’s bland adaptation from 2011. The play, Armstrong asserts, is more emotional.

“I think there’s something so beautiful and committed in the relationship the audience has with the puppets. The puppets are beautiful and move perfectly. However, it’s the audience’s imagination that really brings this horse to life.”

War Horse is running in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Dublin from March 26 – April 26 2014.

See bordgaisenergytheatre.ie or ticketmaster.ie for details.

GOFEATURE

(clockwise from left) These three prove Phil's still got it. Philomena's trip down memory lane. The books in all their glory. Phil giving us the eye. Brian Downey looking up to his former singer.

B E C O M E A PA R T O F

Thin Lizzy History Go to pledgemusic.com to discover how you can help make the book Philip Lynott: Still In Love With You happen!

I

f the last few years have proved anything, it is that the spirit of Philip Lynott is still very much alive and well. The acclaimed exhibition, titled Still In Love With You: The Philip Lynott Exhibition, has been a key factor in keeping the flame of the late Thin Lizzy frontman burning in Ireland and abroad.

Running for an incredible eight months in the Creative Space at the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre in Philo's beloved Dublin, it featured rare and precious items from Lynott's life – from childhood through to those heady rock star days – all gathered lovingly together to tell the story of Philip Lynott and the band he founded, Thin Lizzy. Add to that, cutting edge multimedia exhibits and interviews from many musical heavyweights and you had a wonderful multisensory experience – and a fitting tribute to one of the greats of Irish and UK music.

The exhibition also ran successfully at the O2 in London. It was widely praised as magnificent, with Today FM’s Tony Fenton hailing it as “the greatest rock exhibition ever”; Philip’s daughter Cathleen saying: “I found out things I didn’t know, some things I had forgotten – and enjoyed the experience profoundly!”; Damien Dempsey enthused: “It’s savage. Brilliant. You really get an insight into how hard Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy worked, which is a revelation.”

And Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy observed: "Comprehensive, informative and pure rock 'n’ roll, this is the definitive Phil Lynott story."

Now that story is to be told in book form. And Philip’s mother, Philomena Lynott, in association with Hot Press, has launched a special Pledge Campaign to make the book a reality, allowing fans to become a part of the Philip Lynott story themselves.

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The book will be published in both a Luxury A4 Hardback and a Deluxe Large-Format A2 Hardback.

Both editions will feature a veritable treasure trove of Philo memorabilia – with many items that have never been seen before – and offer a powerful insight into the life and work of an extraordinary artist. From lyric books and guitars to stage clothes and Philip's personal diary, it will all come together to create a fascinating picture of Ireland's first bona fide rock star.

Pledgers who have photos of themselves attending either the Dublin or London exhibition can submit them for inclusion while, as an added bonus, fans ordering the Deluxe edition will have their names listed as a member of the Executive Producer team.

Find out more at pledgemusic.com/projects/ philiplynottstillinlovewithyou

GOFEATURE

26

Leto

S U P E R S TA R Oscar winner Jared Leto can only be pleased with his return to the big screen, as critical acclaim continues to flood his way. He tells Roe McDermott about his decision to star in Dallas Buyers Club and the emotional experience of method acting.

A

teen heart-throb turned musician, it seemed Jared Leto had turned his back on cinema for good. In February, however, he ascended the steps to the stage of the Dolby Theatre, Hollywood, to accept his Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

“It was the role of a lifetime,” says Leto of his winning portrayal of Rayon in Dallas Buyers Club.

“I knew immediately I had to do it. I hadn’t made a film for six years. I read the script and understood it would be an incredible way to return to the screen. There wasn’t much doubt in my mind. And I had spent years with only doubts.”

Indeed, Leto had fallen out of love with acting, after passion projects like Oliver Stone’s Alexander and smaller productions such as Mr. Nobody and Chapter 27 met with either critical ridicule – or simply no audience at all. There’s also the fact that he was a tad busy.

“I was pursuing other dreams. I was touring the world with 30 Seconds to Mars, writing music, fighting $30 million dollar lawsuits with our record label, making a film about those lawsuits called Artifact. It’s been a wild few years.”

Leto adds that time away from the screen was good for him emotionally.

“I needed a break,” he admits. “I think it gave me experience and the ability to go back and play this role.”

His performance, at once funny, warm and

heartbreaking, may surprise those less familiar with Leto’s work. Best-known for years as Jordan Catalano from the mid-90s television show My So-Called Life, in his ‘20s he blanched at being typecast as TV’s beautiful bad boy. Then, at the peak of his acting career, Leto formed 30 Seconds to Mars. Musicians had dabbled in rock previously, usually with toe-curling results.

However, 30 Seconds to Mars became the rare exception, an actor-fronted rock band worth listening to. Sixteen years on, they have sold over 10 million albums worldwide.

If he disappears inside his roles so completely, one would imagine that his on-stage presence must likewise be a persona of sorts. Not so, apparently. For Leto, music is where he is at his rawest and most honest.

“It’s the polar opposite of acting,” he says.

“When I’m on stage with 30 Seconds for Mars, that’s me. Film is about building a character.

Music is about revealing who you are.”

Dallas Buyers Club was a more immersive experience. As Rayon, Leto underwent a physical transformation, losing 40 pounds, waxing his body, and staying in character every day on set.

“I didn’t meet Matthew McConaughey or the director on set at all,” he says. “Rayon met them.

It wasn’t until after the film they met me. It was a pretty radical change – very transformative. I learned a lot, and started at the every beginning by talking to transgender people, studying,

27

listening and building this character – a character that was a real, living person, not a stereotype or a cliché. She was someone who was searching for identity and having issues with gender, and portraying that was a very immersive part.”

As part of his process, Leto frequently went out in public in character.

“The reason to do it is to have experiences and learn from then – learn what it’s really like,” says Leto. “And people did, instantly, treat me differently. I got a pretty specific perspective from being in that place. People stare, people judge, people condemn. Sometimes people approve. Either way you learn a lot.”

Though the shoot took only 29 days, Leto’s immersion in the tragic role left him isolated and emotionally exhausted – an experience common to all his films. Leaving Rayon behind for good, meanwhile, was a mourning process all its own.

“It can be emotionally draining, and it takes a while to recover – it’s not something you can jump out of. You have to shed this new skin that you’ve grown. That’s part of what I enjoy about acting, it’s transforming. You’re transported to another place and time and by learning about people, you grow so much.”

Having raked in over 30 awards already, including a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild award, the Oscar could be seen as the pinnacle achievement of his career to date. And Leto has been lapping up every second of it.

“I love it. Not just the awards, but being part of a film that shines a light on this incredibly brave group of people, I’m so proud. And that’s what great about the award: it pays tribute to all the Rayons of the world, all the people who have suffered at the hands of this disease and lost their lives. And the people still living with AIDS. It’s all a tribute to them, really, to their bravery.”

Dallas Buyers Club is out now.

GO DESTINATION: DUBLIN

BRAIN TRAIN

With his mind-melting nationwide Brain Hacker tour bound for The Olympia in April, the country’s arch-mentalist Keith Barry tells Charles Fisher about his memories of travelling up to Dublin as a youngster.

N

ow something of an international man of mystery, Keith Barry spent his formative years in the sunny south-east. As a teenager, a trip to the capital was something to savour.

“The train from Waterford didn’t have a huge number of destinations to be honest!” Barry laughs today. “So Dublin would easily be my favourite. When you were 15 or 16, unless you were going with parents, you had to use the bus or train to get around. I have very fond memories of getting on there and going for day trips to Dublin.

We would meet new friends at a place called Delphi Adventure Centre in County Mayo and we'd arrange a day for us all to take the train in to meet up in Dublin. We'd hang out, mess around and get back on the train and go home.”

What did Keith do in Dublin?

“Being teenagers at the time, we always did a little bit of shopping. I used to go in the magic shop (Fun Place on King’s Street) near St. Stephen's Green to see what kind of props they had. Also, the cinema in Waterford wasn’t great at the time, so we used to go to the Savoy quite a bit. Our meeting point was Anna Livia, aka ‘the floozy in the jacuzzi’!”

It would also appear trains will feature quite heavily in the early memories of the next Barry generation.

“My son, who is two, loves trains. I found an old

train in Waterford (The Waterford & Suir Valley Heritage Railway), which I recently brought him out on. It was this little old train, with open windows, going along a really old track just a couple of miles long. It was going through the Waterford countryside on a short little journey about 20 minutes each way. It was fantastic and my son loved it.”

Someone who likes to be in control of his grey matter, Barry enjoys the meditative qualities of that form of transportation.

“The nice thing about train journeys is you get to admire the countryside. Very often we are driving on motorways and just flying around on planes, whereas on the train you can look out and admire the scenery. I would always look out for lakes and rivers on the way, as I’ve always loved fishing. I remember when Pink played down in Killarney (at Fitzgerald Stadium) and the wife and I went. We found it great, we had a bottle of wine on the way down and it brought ourselves back to our childhood in a way.”

How does Keith spend the time between destinations?

“I read a lot on the train, I don’t nap. I didn’t get much free time in college so I would use the time on the train to look over college notes and do work. Even now if I get the chance, I will whip out the laptop or a book and just learn something.

A lot of people don’t realise a lot of my job is research.”

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Do passengers sometimes get an unexpected show?

“The last few years I’ve been on trains, people do tend to recognise me, so I invariably end up doing some magic, it’s loads of fun.”

“I find that I don’t have to go over to practise, if I bring out unusual looking props like a pendulum, they very often comment or ask me to do something. Which I’m more than happy to do.”

Brain Hacker, his latest stage show, is adapted from the successful TV series of the same name.

“Rehearsals are going well, it’s one thing writing it in the confines of my own office, it’s a whole other thing getting the props and actually rehearsing. There is no way to really rehearse the type of thing that I do except in front of an audience. Everything changes on day one.”

What’s the biggest challenge bringing a TV show to the stage?

“Always the greatest challenge is coming up with with brand new material, this is about my tenth live theatre tour so that’s 18 hours of material in the past that I can’t repeat.”

“I purposefully put in a couple of routines from the TV show to prove that they can be done live, but I’m conscious about always coming up with material people have never seen before.”

Keith Barry’s Brain Hacker begins on March 14 at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone. Touring Nationwide.

GOFEATURE

B U R N

B

U

R

N

The quintessential good girl gone bad – and we mean that as a compliment – British pop star Ellie Goulding has swapped mumsy clothes and an unassuming air for a sizzling new image. Speaking to Go Rail, she opens up about her painful childhood and life in the tabloid glare.

WO R DS

29

E D

P OW ER

GOFEATURE

E

llie Goulding has grown up. She was once the quintessential English Rose songwriter, rarely seen on stage without an acoustic guitar and a thoughtful expression. It was in this incarnation that she played the British Royal Wedding in 2011, performing Elton John's 'Your Song' while Kate and Wills had their first dance.

However, the 27-year-old has, over the past 18 months, completely rebooted her image and sound and is now a pop princess of the first order.

She had a huge 2012 hit with 'I Need Your Love' (a collaboration with DJ Calvin Harris) and last year enjoyed her first solo number one with the single 'Burn'.

“I’m coming out of my teenage phase – the angst, the shyness, the insecurity," is how she puts it. "If you perform for as long as I have, you inevitably gain confidence. My belief in myself has gone up loads.”

There is a price, she acknowledges. Now, paparazzi flock to her like mayflies. A few days ago, Goulding went for a drink with Ed Sheeran – they’re just friends, for the record – and pictures

30

of the two exiting a bar were soon pasted all over the internet. A similar drama unfolded last year when she crossed paths with One Direction while touring the US: straight away, the Twittersphere was burning up with rumours of a romance with Niall Horan (again, strictly a friend zone thing).

“I’m very good at shrugging it off,” she says of her reputation as a man eater. “I laugh – even if it’s an embarrassing story." It's said with a smile.

"Me and my friends will see the funny side. In the papers, I’ve never got stuff printed that was bad to the point where I’ve been upset. Usually it’s not true anyway – so there’s no point in worrying.”

Yes, but does she ever wonder – why me?

She isn’t the only pop star with nice hair and a flat tum. And yet the media seems far more interested in what she gets up to after hours than Rihanna, Beyoncé and Gaga put together. The way the gossip press reports on her romantic entanglements, you'd imagine them public property.

“I makes no sense at all,” she laughs. “Honestly, I’m quite boring. This is a source of constant confusion. I suppose people are fed celeb stuff all the time and are conditioned to believe that the people they read about live amazing lives. It’s not true (laughs). I live a really mundane life.”

She admits that she didn’t see the apparent obsession with her love life in the UK media coming at all. Granted, Halcyon is essentially a break-up album, chronicling the end of her longterm relationship with DJ Greg James (a parting deemed so significant to the hoi-polloi it made the front page of the Daily Mail). But plenty of artists have released breakup records. She’s the one who's been singled out for special attention.

“It’s a source of entertainment, isn’t it?” she muses. “It distracts us from what really matters in our lives. That, fundamentally, is why people are interested in me as a tabloid case-study. You just have to have a good sense of humour and get on with it.”

Born in 1986, Goulding grew up on a council estate in Hereford, near England’s border with Wales. She has described herself as the product of a broken home – her father walked out on the family when she was five and they remain estranged to this day. Early in her career she talked freely about her difficult upbringing – recounting that her mother would blame herself for raising a son and three daughters in a single parent household, and speaking of the pain she felt, knowing she and her dad would never have a normal father-child relationship.

Nowadays, she is more circumspect. She recognises that she was naive starting out, and that placing her personal life in the spotlight hurt her family. At the same time, she wouldn’t change anything. She had her reasons for saying what she said: Goulding needed to get it out there before anyone else had the opportunity. She was determined to own her sadness. It was her story, not the media’s.

“I wanted people to know my background,” she explains. “My mum understood that. I was mistaken all the time for a student of [Amy Winehouse/Adele alma mater] the Brit school.

Which I absolutely am not. Also, I was mistaken for coming from a privileged background, which, again, is absolutely not the case. I came from a council estate. At a young age, I decided I wanted to speak well. For that reason people have judged me differently.”

If you want to know what she thinks today about her father, she says, listen to her music.

She put all her feelings into the song ‘I Know You Care’, a fan favourite from Halcyon. The title is ironic – in truth, she doesn’t think her father cares that much at all. Goulding wrote the ballad for herself, presuming it would be an obscure album track that not many people would focus on. Then Halcyon became a surprise international smash and, as a result, she finds herself singing it, night

ANNA KERSLAKE

“IT’S HARD TO STAY INTROVERTED IF YOU’RE HANGING AROUND WITH A MASSIVE SUPERSTAR.

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I S G O I N G T O G R O W. ” after night, to ever vaster crowds. No wonder her relationship with the tune has changed fundamentally: it doesn’t feel that ‘I Know You Care’ or its sentiments quite belong to her any more.

“It was very cathartic when I wrote it,” she proffers. “Today, I don’t have any bitterness or anger. I’m a really peaceful person. To me, that song is now a performance. There’s a little bit of the original emotion in it, of course. However, it’s not all there. Otherwise, to do it every night would be quite exhausting, I think.

"At the start, I thought: 'nobody is going to hear this'," she muses. "Lately everyone has talked about it more and more. It’s out there in a big way. I’m glad about that.”

She’s always been open about being a driven personality. Talking to me in 2010, in what was her first Irish interview – it took place the day after she was named winner of the ‘Sound Of’ award – the picture she painted was of someone who had decided, at a young age, to transcend her modest origins and make something of her life.

“I continuously did my own thing and always have done from when I was very young," she explained. "I studied for my GCSEs and A-levels and my degree and my music all by myself. I guess I was on my own journey. That’s how it’s always been – and that’s how it’s been up to the present day.”

Having spoken to Goulding on several occasions, I can vouch for her charm. The only time things got a bit terse was at the tail end of 2011, when it seemed she had a shot at the

UK No. 1, with her John Lewis-approved tilt at Elton John’s ‘Your Song’. As it transpired, she was shoved aside by the anti-X Factor Rage Against the Machine campaign, but with the prize still in sight she did a round of interviews.

Before the tete-a-tete, I was told that under no circumstances would Goulding discuss the Royal Wedding. “I had no right to talk about it,” she says today. “I was just performing, it wasn’t my wedding. It’s their life. I didn’t have permission to go around yapping about it. I will say it was a beautiful night and that they are wonderful people. It was definitely surreal – it was a strange situation to find yourself in.”

She has, meanwhile, chosen her musical cohorts carefully. Two years ago she toured with Katy Perry (they recently reunited for a duet of ‘Strong’ at a charity show in LA); and in 2013, she returned to the US with Bruno Mars. Clearly she has no problem with the word 'pop'.

“It’s hard to stay introverted if you’re hanging around with a massive superstar,” she told me last year, reflecting on her friendship with Mars.

“Your self-belief is going to grow. You pick stuff up from watching people. Bruno is such an amazing showman. You think, ‘Hey, I should do some of that’. You learn from those around you.

I have definitely got more confident. On the other hand, if it’s a small audience, I still come down with nerves. I did this gig recently where it was me and my guitar and I was terrified. It was like going back to an open mic night.”

She looks back on those early days, when she materialised at the centre of a fair-sized cloud of hype, with an air of wariness. With the BBC ‘Sound Of’ prize in her back pocket, the

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expectation was that she would be the perfect synthesis of edgy artist and commercial star.

Quicker than you could say ‘inevitable backlash’, the UK media had the daggers drawn. Her debut album Lights was not especially kindly reviewed, and at the time Goulding’s confidence took a wobble.

Four years on, it’s fair to say that sniping by critics is no longer a concern. A global pop star, there is little need for her to be bothered with such trivialities. Following her chin-wag with Go Rail this morning, she has three photo-shoots to attend. After that, it’s off to Germany for a private performance (she won’t say who is hosting it, so we’re going to assume it’s an EDM-themed birthday party for Angela Merkel); a few days later, she’ll be in America promoting ‘Burn’, which is getting a big push there having shot to No.1 in Ireland and Britain last autumn. All of that, mind, is a mere preamble for her upcoming arena tour which begins on the Continent and swings through Dublin next month.

Goulding is looking forward to what will undoubtedly prove the busiest year of her career so far. By the same token, she’s experienced enough to know that what time off she has is to be savoured. As soon as she’s finished with her media obligations today, the plan is to switch off her mobile, decouple from the Twitter machine and kick back in front of her favourite TV show, Geordie Shore.

“It’s the equivalent of junk food,” she giggles.

“It’s nice to have it as a treat every now and then.

I mean, sure I watch films, read books. However, there are times you want to do something that’s absolutely not productive by any means. I like Geordie Shore and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding in particular because they give me a glimpse into lives that are quite different from mine. I don’t go clubbing – in a way, I’m quite jealous of those who get to live normal lives. So I like looking at other people’ s situations – to get a glimpse into a world that’s completely different from the one I inhabit.”

Ellie Goulding plays Marlay Park, Dublin on July 10. Her album Halcyon is on Polydor.

GOFEATURE

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ACROSS ACROSS ACROSS

THE UNIVERSE Dr. Chris Hadfield became an internet sensation with his Twitter dispatches from the far reaches of outer space. Here, he talks about his love for his adopted country Ireland, and ponders whether or not other life forms exist beyond the confines of Planet Earth.

INTERVIEW:

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hris Hadfield is not your everyday astronaut. During his time on the International Space Station he brought his experiences to millions in a way no astronaut had done before, achieving worldwide recognition as a result. He became a viral video star, with a Twitter following of over one million.

Through the power of social media, Hadfield gave everyone with an internet connection a chance to sample daily life in space in real time. It was one small step for man, one giant leap for the Twitterverse. In the process, Hadfield got people excited about space exploration again, while also humanising it.

Chris is no stranger to Ireland, of course. His snaps of this island from space captured the imagination of the public. Now back on terra firma, he has graciously accepted a role as cultural ambassador for Ireland. His book An Astronaut’s Guide to Life on Earth, telling the story of his incredible journey to becoming an astronaut and of his space missions thus far, has become a bestseller...

Up there in outer space, out of all the countries in the world, you took a particular interest in Ireland. Why? It caught my eye because it’s sort of like the moon. Our solar system is full of moons: if you count the asteroid belt, there are countless rocks out there orbiting the sun or orbiting other planets. The first beautiful one you come to – that catches your eye in the foreground – is our moon. So of course you pay attention to it. When you’re going around the world in a spaceship every 90 minutes, you cross the ocean most of the time because the world is almost threequarters ocean: you spend a lot of time over water, so that makes landfall more significant.

And because of the way the space station orbits – it sort of arcs across the north – landfall into Europe almost always initially starts with Ireland.

So, because of its geography, it’s the first thing you see after you cross the Atlantic, several times every day. Then when you look more closely, it’s also inherently lovely because of the moderate climate.

The Irish climate is inherently lovely?? In what way?

JAMES O’BRIEN

What I meant was, it’s visibly green from space.

Most of the world isn’t. In fact, most of the green places are covered in cloud perpetually – like the Amazon, because there are rain forests – whereas Ireland is green just because of the gulf stream effect and the actual rain. That green shines up all the way up to the space station and into your eyes – so that’s why it originally caught my eye.

But I guess what caught my heart, then, was the reaction of the Irish people! To put up a picture of Ireland and then have this great swell of warm reaction – of people delighted that someone else could see them from that point of view – and then to share in the conversation. I began looking forward to when our orbit was going over Ireland so I could continue to have that friendship blossom.

And you got lovely pictures of Dublin which sparked massive interest…

Luckily, there were days when it was perfectly clear over the entire island, so I got a great opportunity to take a lot of pictures of Ireland right from tip to tip, to capture Ireland visually in a way it had seldom been captured before.

You tweeted from space in the Irish language: were you aware of the significance of that?

I’ve always had an interest in Ireland. As a teen I decided I wanted to do the standard late teen North American thing – to go hitchhiking and take trains around Europe. At the time I didn’t get to Ireland: I landed in Prestwick, Scotland.

I had very little money, maybe 6 dollars a day, and we went down, across to the continent and all around Europe. There were places I never got to and one of them was Ireland so for that last 40 years, I’ve been wanting to go see Ireland. For me, it was a part of the world that was unrequited. It piqued my interest; I always wanted to go there. Because I’ve played in bands, I have the type of mind that remembers lyrics. I know a thousand songs by heart. I played a lot of Canadian music, and a lot of it is based on Irish music. Even the lilt of the voices is very obviously derived from Irish roots. The warmth of the place, its people, its history, its culture, is brought to life through music.

Is there something in common between Canada and Ireland?

There is a shared feeling. Canada is a very

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proud and individual nation, one which I absolutely love and feel lucky to be born into.

Canada is next to a slightly different and very powerful neighbour in the US – and there’s that in Ireland as well, of course, with the UK. That sense of great national pride, next to a very powerful and well-established neighbour, leads to a sort of a shared understanding between us. But I really enjoyed the reaction my wife, my daughter and I had when we were driving over the northern half of Ireland a couple of weeks ago up to Inishowen, to the edge of Donegal and Derry. We drove up the wild Atlantic way there and it was in the late afternoon. Of course the winter sun sits close to the horizon for so long: the spray was pounding into the rock. It would break your heart, the natural beauty of it. The spray was getting up and colouring and softening the natural sunlight, so the whole place just glowed. It was a dreamlike thing – a place I had thought about, taken pictures of from above; and then, all the people I met who were so true to that perception.

You played hurling here.

(Laughs) I played – but not very well. Hurling is a great game to watch. My daughter was in Trinity when I came to visit for the first time, and she took me to Croke Park to one of the national hurling matches – so I’d seen it already. I know it has an ancient history to it, and there is a resemblance to other sports, like hockey and lacrosse: the speed at which the ball goes around, the propensity to think threedimensionally and to pass. What I really loved is how ingrained it is in Irish culture. Even if you know nothing about it, it’s a fine game to watch.

I believe you took part in an Irish music session in Donegal.

When I first arrived at the hotel in Inishowen, there was a local band who play weekly: they were playing in the lobby when we got there and I just couldn’t resist. I sat down with them and played a bunch of jigs and reels and songs with them. A couple of nights later, we had a special designated music night in pubs right the way up on the other edge north of Inishowen. They had some really good local talent. I’ave seen a lot of pubs around North America, Scotland, England – but to be able to play that pub on that night, to local people who are there for the right reasons,

GOFEATURE was really memorable. Music is different from any language: it’s subconscious. It’s intrinsic to humanity somehow.

When you finally returned to Earth, what effect did that have on you? Did it change you?

There’s the straight physiological effect, which is pretty brutal: it’s like recovering from an illness. There is an arduous period of physical re-adjustment to get your body back to normal.

There is also a period needed for psychological re-adaptation: even though you’re incredibly busy as an astronaut on the space station – it’s unlimited work, it’s relentless and it’s seven days a week – there is also a serenity and a peacefulness to it, being with a small group of

or ‘the enemy’ or ‘the other guy’ or ‘those people’ to me. My sense of ‘us and them’ has almost completely just become a sense of ‘us’. You start to appreciate the commonality of our shared existence. I think that’s fundamentally derived from going around the world 2,500 times and seeing it directly from above. I think a lot of musicians have tried to say that – John Lennon saying ‘Imagine there’s no countries’. We’re all just trying to find a little grace, laughter, some meaning in life – and then, maybe, a better life for our children. That’s common to all of us.

Are you religious?

Not particularly, no. People in the States have all different religions. I have great respect for

“IT IS ALMOST INEVITABLE THAT THERE IS LIFE IN OTHER PLACES. THERE MAY EVEN BE LIFE ON MARS” people in a very distant place, with a view out the window which is unimaginably beautiful and compelling. So to come back to the regular, disorganised tumults and random noise of the heavily populated earth, takes some time to get used to.

It gave me a more global view: a more pervasive sense of comfortable familiarity with the world. Hardly anybody now feels like ‘them’

those people who find strength in personal belief. I think you have to have a set of personal beliefs that give you confidence and strength to deal with the realities of life. But I think we do ourselves damage by becoming so wrapped up in our own particular understanding that we become critical of other people’s understanding.

Is there life out there in space?

The number of planets around other stars that

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we can directly and indirectly see is staggering.

Within our own little galaxy, there are 20 billion Earth-like planets. 20 billion! And there are billions of galaxies! So in terms of probability, it is almost inevitable that there is life in other places.

There may even be life on Mars, which will answer the question. I doubt there are extra-terrestrial species with green heads outside the earth taking sneaky snapshots of us and just hovering and leaving, and never actually making contact. None of that makes any sense to me. But I think we’re not alone.

You had to spend a long time away from your family. How did you deal with isolation?

Isolation is almost always psychological: there are a lot of couples who live together in the same house and are pretty isolated. And there are couples who spend a lot of time apart that don’t feel isolated from each other – so a lot of it is just about your relationship or your treatment of each other. I think part of it comes from a fundamental agreement of what the two of you are trying to be together. Where are you headed?

What are your overall goals? We are a chef and an astronaut, working towards the things we want to achieve: joy and laughter and comfort and success; a good set of opportunities for our children; and an old age that we can both count on and enjoy. We have to allow each other to pursue other things. If you don’t, you’re actually doing your relationship inevitable harm because the other person is going to subconsciously at least blame their lack of opportunity and their inability to do things on the relationship and on the other person. There are times I have to apologise to my wife for getting all wrapped up in my own particular world. We’ve been together 38 years and we both have the ability to criticise and counsel each other, in the process of supporting and loving each other and that has worked pretty well. Even though we were physically separated for years, we never really felt mentally or emotionally separated.

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GOFEATURE

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erhaps most familiar to Irish audiences thanks to his appearances on the late topical discussion show The Panel, Andrew Maxwell is currently undertaking his most extensive tour of the country yet. Titled Banana Kingdom, the six-week trek will visit every corner of the nation, and allow the comic to give full reign to his opinionated views on politics, culture and society, whilst also boasting a sizeable portion of good-humoured interaction with the audience.

“There’s a couple of reasons for calling the show Banana Kingdom,” says the affable Maxwell, sitting in a quiet corner of the Shelbourne. “I love bananas – I’ve been touring as a comedian since I was 17, eating them every day, so it’s a brief shout-out to the yellow fruit. And obviously it’s a play on words, with the banana republic reference. Originally, the show was performed in Edinburgh, so it was an allusion to the fanciful dreams of Alex Salmond, the Scottish nationalist leader.

“A banana republic is defined as a small country that survives on one basic crop. It stemmed from Guatemala, but in the case of Scotland what they’d be depending on is ever-dwindling oil reserves. So the title was referring to that, but it works in Ireland too.”

The eclectic performance will also feature plenty of banter with the crowd, which is an area of performance Maxwell clearly enjoys.

“The first half of the show is what you might call ‘in the room’ comedy,” he notes. “I work the crowd and see what’s going on in that town. You never know what will come up. There’s weird stuff – like, Boyle in Roscommon is Ireland’s UFO hotspot.”

One wonders if the town’s most famous comedic son, Chris O’Dowd, is aware of that.

“I’ve actually talked to Chris about it,” nods Maxwell. “He’s fully aware of it. As for other discoveries, the people in Wexford town have a weird northern Irish tone. Every third sentence or so, you’re going, ‘Is that a Northern accent?’ It’s not a strong Belfast sound, but you might wonder

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if someone was originally from up north. But yeah, the first-half of the show is almost like a meet and greet, where I just chat to the audience. It goes for a bare minimum of 40 minutes – although if the craic is in-house it’ll be an hour – and then the second-half is where I’ll tell stories and lay out opinions.

“But that’s the second part of the show. I always guarantee that before I give an audience my opinion of something, I make sure they’ve had fun first! I’m an entertainer before anything else.

I’ve lots of opinions about things, but I know that they’ve not come for the opinion show.”

Maxwell has certainly been keeping busy. In addition to his stand-up and the aforementioned radio and TV projects, he also found time to front a BBC Three series entitled Conspiracy Road Trip, which saw him meet with conspiracy theorists of all stripes. In the series’ most memorable moment, he led one such group of individuals – all of whom were fixated on the possibility of alien life on earth – in a dance invasion of the notorious Area 51 base in Nevada.

“We were all so giddy with the whole daftness of it,” Maxwell recalls. “The base is vast, something like 50 to 100 miles squared in the desert. So I told the group there was no way we were going to actually meet the aliens – they think it’s a global alien prison – but we could possibly communicate with them through the universal language of dance. They went for it because they were good craic. I mean, they still believed it, but they had a sense of fun about it.

So, we created all these geodesic shapes, which scientists believe will facilitate communication with aliens.

“Have you seen the end of Blazing Saddles, where they try and slow the bad guys down by having a toll booth in the middle of nowhere?

That’s what the base is like, it’s so remote. My idea was that we’d do all these silly shapes, and then someone would come out of the guardhouse and tell us to sling it. That way, I would have had something funny for the show and it would have reinforced their opinions that it was on the QT.”

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Unfortunately, the airforce personnel on duty refused to take Maxwell’s editorial requirements into account – and duly detained him and his motley crew of conspiracy theorists at gunpoint until the local sheriff arrived.

“The sheriff was a really nice guy,” Maxwell says fondly. “He was a Mormon, and Mormons are very sweet. It took a long time before he showed up – we were detained for eight or nine hours.

The sun set and we were made to sit on the desert floor, covered in bin bags, and were held at machine gun point for a long period of time. They confiscated all our footage and it cost the BBC a fortune. When the sheriff finally showed up I took control of the situation, and told him it was all my fault, that I was a comedian with the BBC and this was my programme. He goes, ‘I know. You have no idea how high this has gone – somebody in Washington rang me in my office, and they’d just had a call from London.’

“Eventually, we were all fined and given citations, so we weren’t arrested or charged with anything – if I had been, it would have been curtains for my American career."

Though based in London, Maxwell clearly retains a deep interest in Irish culture and society. As someone who’s fascinated by politics and never short of an opinion, I wonder if the comic has been surprised by the relative calm in the country during the painful economic contortions of the past few years.

“The weird thing about Ireland is how much we venerate rebels,” he muses. “We do that because rebels lie in such opposition to the vast majority of Irish society, which is characterised by deep passivity. If you just vote for a political party because your granddad did, then you get what you deserve, mate.”

Andrew Maxwell’s Banana Kingdom tour visits Langton’s, Kilkenny (March 9); Roisin Dubh, Galway (15); Opera House, Cork (16); Queen’s Mandela Hall, Belfast (27); and Vicar St., Dublin (28). For a full list of dates see andrewmaxwellcomedian.com

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Jack Teeling, the founder and Managing Director of the Teeling Whiskey Company, talks to Colm O’Hare about the challenges in setting up a brand new distillery in the heart of Dublin.

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ublin is known and respected worldwide for its proud distilling heritage – at one point there were 37 separate functioning distilleries operational in the city. But, surprising as it may seem, there hasn’t been a new distillery established in the capital for over 125 years, while the last distillery in the city closed in 1976. That’s all set to change however, following the announcement by The Teeling Whiskey Company (TWC) of their plans for a new whiskey distillery and visitor centre to be located in Dublin’s Newmarket Square in the heart of The Liberties in Dublin 8. The facility is expected to be up and running any minute now, with production beginning in the last quarter of 2014 while the visitor centre will open its doors to the public in early 2015. Teeling are investing €10 million in the project, creating at least 30 full-time jobs, with a further 50 jobs generated during the construction phase.

“Our biggest challenge was in getting planning permission for the operation,” explains Jack Teeling, MD of TWC. “In fact, there has never

been a distillery that has been through a planning application in Dublin prior to ours.

So we had to educate everyone in what the process was all about. We got our full planning go-ahead only in January of this year so we’re rushing to catch up. But everything takes time in this industry, let alone maturing the whiskey, so you’re in it for the long-term.”

The proposed new “pot still” distillery will have the capacity to produce 500,000 litres of whiskey on an annual basis and will consist of three traditional copper pot stills, reviving the traditional style of the old Dublin distilleries.

Teeling Whiskey is already on sale in Ireland and in over 18 export markets and, according to Jack Teeling, the construction of the new distillery will guarantee future supply for the brand.

“What we’re finding in Ireland now is that there’s a whole new group of consumers in their early ‘20s who are discovering Irish whiskey in a different way than say, their parents might have done, having it as a chaser with a couple of pints or as an ingredient in cocktails or with ginger ale. There are also trends in the US, which are

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filtering back to us as well. We find that these people are much more interested in the craft and how it’s made and the people behind it. That makes it easier for the smaller producers like ourselves.”

Teeling previously held the role of Managing Director with Cooley Distillery which was set up by his father John, and which was sold to Beam in 2012. He is joined in the new venture by his brother Stephen, who is Sales and Marketing Director.

“What makes us different is how we go about making the whiskey,” he resumes. “We have select grain and malt casks where we focus more on the quality rather than the usual formulaic approach. We blend them together and let them marry for six months in rum barrels. What the rum barrels do is to lay on extra molasses and add an oak character to the whiskey, bringing all the flavours of the grain and malt together.”

Their whiskey is also bottled at 46% proof, which is a higher alcohol content than would normally be found in a standard Irish whiskey.

“That allows us to announce the flavour profile

GOBUSINESS

Jack Teeling (chief executive), Stephen Teeling (sales and marketing director) with Sarah Morrissey

of the whiskey. Secondly, it allows us not to have to do a process called ‘chill-filtration’. If you bottle at below 46% you have to chill-filter, which takes out some of the essences. By not doing that, it allows us to capture all of the flavours and the natural compounds. It gives it a lovely mouth feel, which is velvety and smooth.

These are steps that no other Irish whiskey does and which give us a unique signature taste.”

In terms of getting Teeling Whiskey out to the consumer via the usual channels of pubs, hotels and off-licenses, he explains that they face the same challenges that craft beers have.

“What we’re finding is, there is a polarisation happening in the market between those who stock general brands and places that take pride in what they stock behind the bar or in the shop and who want to have a differentiated product. We don’t have the budget for TV ads or big print campaigns so we’re focusing on customers that want to have that kind of choice, rather than forcing it on everyone. It’s of no interest to me to have a product on a shelf, gathering dust. What we find is that people who are interested in premium spirits, particularly the younger demographic, are always interested in discovering something new.”

He says the visitor centre will form a vital part

of the new venture and is expected to become a tourism beacon for Irish and international whiskey connoisseurs and enthusiasts, welcoming an anticipated 40,000-50,000 guests through the doors in year one.

“Our global marketing budget is going more into that than anywhere else. It’s our brand home and it’s a showcase for what we’re all about. What we want to do is give people a real experience, where they can come and touch, smell, feel and to interact with people who make a real product. That’s what people want and you’ll only really learn by seeing something at first hand, rather than say watching it on a flat-screen TV” Irish whiskey is, he says, still very much underdeveloped in global terms.

“It hasn’t impacted on the world as much as say Scottish whisky or American whiskey. But people are discovering that they like the taste of Irish whiskey – it’s smooth, it’s sweet, it’s approachable and that’s what modern palettes like.

“And,” he concludes, “Irish whiskey will always survive globalisation – it’s never going to be made in China or anywhere else for that matter.

It has to use Irish cereals, Irish grains, Irish water and it has to be matured on the island of Ireland.”

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JACK TEELING FACT FILE

LIVES: Clontarf, Dublin EDUCATION: St Paul’s College (Raheny), an MSc in International Business (TCD), a MBS in Finance (Smurfit Business School) and a Bachelors Degree in Commerce from UCD. CAR: BMW 320 FAVOURITE FILM: Jerry Maguire MUSIC: Pixies SPORT: Rugby

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Having starred alongside Liam Neeson and Daniel Day Lewis as a child, today Hugh O’Conor prefers being behind the camera. As he tells Roe McDermott, however, he couldn’t resist The Stag…

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didn’t have a choice!” Hugh O’Conor laughs when asked how he came to be involved with John Butler’s lovely comedy The Stag. “They’re my friends, they blackmailed me! I went over to visit John Butler in Budapest the summer before last, and I knew he was writing something with Peter McDonald, and they just kept laughing at me! They kept taunting me: ‘We’re going to write this thing for you, going to make you do this!’ Which was mildly terrifying.”

Today, the 38-year-old Dubliner is thankful of the friendly cajoling. The Stag has been hailed by some as the best Irish comedy in year.Though billed as the Irish Hangover, Butler’s film is a sweeter, more emotional affair.

“We liked the idea of exploring male relationships and insecurity about friendship, because there’s something innately strange about a forced gathering in exclusively male company. Because men, particularly Irish men, are amazing at talking to each other but never actually saying anything. We do that very well.

“So it’s a lot of fun. There are also moments where you see our characters unwillingly open up. I think the writers took little moments and

experiences from all of our lives – for example, Peter has been attacked by a dog, which turns up! But we’ve also all had messed-up relationships, and we address the recession, and there’s a huge part of the film about fear and insecurity and the ridiculous excuses we use to get out of relationships.”

Aside from filming gorgeous music videos for I Draw Slow, The Hot Sprockets and Heathers to name but a few, the multi-talented Dubliner is developing an animated feature and two TV shows.

His future might lie behind the lens, but O’Conor certainly got off to a great start in front of it. He was just 10 when he starred in Lamb, opposite Liam Neeson, and only fourteen when he played a young Christy Brown in My Left Foot, starring Daniel Day Lewis. The Stag also stars Andrew Scott, who’s experiencing an unprecedented level of fame after playing Moriarty in BBC’s series Sherlock. The two actors were in school together and Scott has joked in interviews that he was always jealous of O’Conor’s early success.

“Even with My Left Foot, the lads in school didn’t give a damn! The only thing they cared about was when I was on The Late Late Show,

41

so they cornered me in the yard and said: ‘You better say ‘hi’ to us!’ There’s a clip of me on the show, nervously saying to Gay Byrne ‘I want to say hello to all my friends in school’ just so I wouldn’t get beaten up!”

The actor, who is extremely self-deprecating and very dismissive of the notion of fame, is using his work to further good causes. He starred in Domhnall Gleeson’s hilarious sketch series Immaturity for charity and has directed ads for Parkinson’s Ireland.

He also starred in a commercial promoting marriage equality in Ireland, which is going viral again in light of the recent public discourse about homophobia and equality. It shows O’Conor asking random Irish people for permission to marry a woman called Sinéad, ending with the tagline: ‘How would you feel if you had to ask four million people for permission to get married?’ It’s a beautiful and smart way of addressing discrimination.

“It’s pretty amazing. It’s a version of an American ad that we shot about five years ago, and it went viral then, too. So Panti Bliss tweeted it the other day, which is really nice that it’s being used in this really important public conversation.”

GOFEATURE

42

T h e L I FE

OF

M I KE

He was on top of the world and then he threw it all away.

But today former champion boxer Mike Tyson is at peace with himself and is telling his extraordinary life-story in an acclaimed one-man show... interview

I

t would be fair to say Mike Tyson didn’t have the most advantageous of starts in life. The champion boxer was born into grinding poverty in the NYC ghetto of Bedford-Stuyvesant to an alcoholic mother and an absentee father. Bullied as a kid and widely known as ‘Little Sissy Boy’ owing to a pronounced lisp, he was carrying firearms by the age of nine.

Tyson also very rapidly became the toughest kid on the block, en route to discovering temporary salvation through boxing. By age 20, he'd become the youngest world heavyweight champion, but he was far more than that. Briefly but brilliantly, the young Tyson was the single most ferociously destructive force the sport had ever seen, a status unlikely to ever be equalled.

The fairytale didn’t last: Tyson’s personal demons rendered any sort of happy ending an impossibility. He remains a man of contradictions: an attested communist who can ‘bling it’ with the best of them, a peace advocate who has bitten cand severed another man’s ear.

He is also, without question, the most quotable, compelling and intriguing sportsperson of his era. He's received acclaim recently for his oneman show Undisputed Truth, in which he speaks candidly about his personal and professional life.

PD: The show is funny, surprisingly so at times. What was the secret of the writing process?

MT: Well my wife wrote the dialogue – but every night was a different show because we ad-libbed, we worked off the dialogue and we extended more lexicon to it more or less (laughter). And so yeah, it continues to go on.

I saw Chazz Palminteri – he did A Bronx Tale on stage in Las Vegas – I watched it and I was explaining to my wife, "I believe I can do this, because when I do my meet and greet thing in Europe or Asia, I’m on stage telling people about my life and the only difference is that I’m taking questions from the crowds." I decided if I was going to do the one man show, I would do it without taking questions from the crowd.

Doing The Hangover it seems introduced you to a whole new group of fans. Are you planning to do more acting?

Yeah, I am. As you were saying, there’s a whole different generation of fans out there, younger

Patricia Danaher

kids that never saw me fight. Periodically, you hear a young child say: "Hey mom, there goes Mike Tyson the actor", and then their parents, who are older of course, have to explain to them: "He’s a fighter, he did this, he’s been in some movies but he’s really a fighter". But I’m just really happy to be in the particular situation that I’m in now. I love to act and I love the stage more than anything. And I’m looking forward to seeing what’s next.

During your heyday, you were known as the biggest, baddest man on the planet. What do you miss from that time?

Nothing. It’s a different life. I had to be a different person to be that particular individual, and to be this individual; that guy doesn’t exist in this world.

What do you think about how boxing is portrayed in popular movies?

It’s really interesting. When an actor is portraying a boxer, very rarely is he going to get the fundamentals of the fighting down. You’re not going to learn this overnight: either you have boxed before and you’ve got the fundamentals down, or it’s just going to be disastrous as far as the boxing scenes are concerned, which you see in many boxing movies. But it’s more about touching the essence of the fighter.

And that’s why certain movies like Rocky are so successful, because they are horrible fight scenes, but the insight of what a boxer goes through, and his determination and his perseverance, even under the most depressing and most decimating of times, and degrading times, he has to be knocked out, once, maybe twice in a row, but he still doesn’t give up, he still fights as if he knocked the guy out, when they fought. And that’s just what it is.

But if you can capture the essence of a fighter, that’s when the movie is really successful, is when you have got his essence more than his fighting skills, because all it takes is spirit to be a successful fighter. Without the spirit, I don’t care how successful, how beautiful you look as a fighter, but you have to have that wanting, that desire, that winning spirit.

Through your extraordinary life, your image has changed a lot. Is the reaction to you different now?

People just want a picture – and they say they really enjoy my acting. I don’t get too many comments about my boxing, but they talk a lot about what I'm doing now, and what I'm doing in

43

the movie, on stage, my HBO show, and they ask me when’s the next movie.

In terms of acting, you seem to be a natural.

There’s nothing natural: anything I have comes through a lot of hard work, even through experiences. Nothing comes natural to me. I have to work pretty hard for it in order to do it.

What did you learn from Don King about promoting?

I learned to make sure these guys get their money, all their money. That’s what I make sure (laughter). I love entertaining, I was born to entertain people and be on camera and stuff.

Even at my lowest moment in life, it’s just a reality show. So this is what I was born to do.

My father was a showman, my father was in church and always singing in church, and doing this little pimping stuff and all that stuff, and that’s a form of showmanship, the control and all the attention is on you – so I guess that’s where it comes from.

You tell a hilarious story about your ex-wife Robin Givens and Brad Pitt. Did you really think he was a woman when you saw him at your house with her?

Well, that’s a true story. It was from a distance.

And he was really good looking and he had long hair, and I couldn’t see that far and I thought it was a woman, and then when I got close, I realised it wasn’t. And he wasn’t scared, he wasn’t scared at all, but I just said that in the show because you would expect him to be – but if he was scared, this was his first good true appearance of being a method actor, because he didn’t show any appearance of being afraid. He just said "hi" and I said "hi" back.

How cathartic was it for you to write this book and to do the stage show?

Well, none of it brought any calmness to me.

I didn’t really get no therapeutic release. But doing the book was really difficult, because of my childhood and stuff. I had never read the book, but my wife went over it with my ghostwriter and asked questions and explained the book and we went over it and made sure that everything was done appropriate. That was really difficult to do. But to be on stage was awesome, because it was fun. There were people there that had good energy, from the crowd, so I could really be objective. Unlike the book where it’s in my face constantly, the questions, reliving what happened, it was kind of difficult.

I’m interested in how you came to your Islamic

GOFEATURE

faith?

I know that I am Muslim and I am black, but I deal with Muslims on a humanitarian perspective. I don’t look at a Muslim, he is black – he’s just a Muslim and we all have our own salvation with Allah, but I am not politically inclined with Islamic religion and stuff like that. I am a Muslim, which I am grateful to be a Muslim, and Allah doesn’t need me, I need Allah, so my own salvation is with Allah. I have no relationship with anybody but Allah. I have no political relationship with any Muslims, any Christians, any Jews, anybody. My own religion, my relationship is with my salvation with Allah.

In the show, you talk about your spiritual journey and how you ended up embracing Islam in prison.

You know, that’s just who I am. I want to love all of God’s creations, I want to be humble. I’m not saying that I am – in fact, there’s no way I am humble: for me to even use the word humble shows you that I am not humble. But I would like to be that way. I want to be a Muslim, I am going to be a Muslim, this is who I want to be in life, this is what I chose in life. Being a Muslim is not blowing up people and killing people and being a terrorist. That’s just somebody that’s jealous of how we live our life over here. But you could be a Muslim and be a terrorist – but you are just a Muslim who is a terrorist. And it’s not about the teachings that Allah taught Muslims, it’s about being selfish and wanting power for yourself.

And I don’t want that: I want to be a servant of Allah and that’s what I am striving to be, just his servant. And many times I am going to fail on my course, but I keep getting up, and keep trying, and that’s just my relationship with Islam.

My own personal salvation.

Were you inspired by great boxers like Muhammad Ali? I love and admire Muhammad Ali, but it’s not because he’s a Muslim. I admire him for his stand against the Vietnam War, or his great, gruelling fights, which he persevered and overcame, and as I was saying, again, as far as being a Muslim, it’s my own salvation with Allah. I will have to deal with him eventually, but on my own and

regardless of what anyone says about my religion, it’s him who I have to answer to.

You’ve been very rich and successful from boxing and you’ve also been declared bankrupt.

What’s your attitude to money these days?

My wife handles most of the stuff with my money, because if it’s up to me to handle money, it's going to be disastrous. It’s just never good. If you gave me ten thousand dollars and you said, "Mike, this is what you need to pay your bills", and you give it to me and I have to pay my bills at that moment, fine. But next month, I’m not going to pay my bills. That will be till the day I die. If I have a nickel, I'm going to spend that nickel. That’s why my wife handles that stuff and we don’t have those problems anymore. If someone wants to give me money, it all goes to the IRS anyway.

In the show, you talk a lot about your mother.

When she passed away, you were very poor and you could only afford this little grave for her, and when you got money, you changed it.

How much has your relationship with your mom shaped you?

I picked up a lot of bad habits from my mother.

I'm very vulgar sometimes, and that’s something that I'm working on. But it’s just what it was.

She’s my mother, and my mother didn’t like me, because when I went to Cus (D’Amato, legendary trainer), I never had an ego before, so I went to Cus and Cus told me all these great things.

And so I came back to see my mother and told her how great I was and this was going to be the way it is, and I am the greatest fighter in the world and nobody better dare even think of beating me, you watch. And she couldn’t understand that. And that’s all I knew, because Cus brainwashed me to believe this stuff, and she didn’t think I was humble enough. But that’s okay, that’s alright, that’s my mother.

I love my mother – she didn’t have good life skills, I didn’t have good life skills, and so all the trouble I got into, I was fortunate enough to have, and learn better life skills than herself. And my father. And it doesn’t mean I’m better than them, just that I had better opportunities than

44

they had. And I love my mother. That’s all I have to say.

Is there anything you are afraid of?

Hey listen, I don’t want to fail on being a good father, being a good husband, I don’t want to destroy my marriage or my relationship with my kids. I’ve already done that in my other marriage, my other relationships, and I’m pretty much on a good path of developing respect with my children.

I can say we are friends now. ‘Cause when I was heavyweight champion, I caused a lot of wreckage and I made a lot of amends and I’m just happy we have a relationship that when we talk to each other, we have an opportunity to talk and be friends.

What are you most proud of? And have you regrets?

I'm most proud of being sober for 100 days, and not getting high or using drugs again.

And I don’t know if I have any regrets, because anything that I experience in life allowed me to be the person that I am today. Without those experiences, I probably would have never been who I am today and I never would have been able to overcome my adversity and my quagmires and be here talking with you tonight.

And so all those adversities and them horrible times that could have been regrets, pretty much informed me to be the person that I am now.

With fighters, there’s a lot of sad stories out there. You have another life…

That’s not because I’m better than them or smarter than them by no means. I was just fortunate enough to have a better support system.

Do you remember the first time you got in a fight?

Yeah, I was living with my pigeon. This guy killed my pigeon, so I had a fight with him. I didn’t kick his ass that bad, but I hit him more than he hit me, and so I kind of won.

What gets you angry today?

No one gets me mad but my wife. No one can get me angry: the only person who can get me angry is her. She’s the only person that could push my buttons.

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GOEAT

Enterprise

46

FOOD

GLORIOUS FOOD Over tapas and apple crumble in new Dublin eaterie Zaragoza, new TV3 Xposé presenter Michelle Doherty chats to Anne Sexton about juggling life in Dublin and London, the pressures at the frontline of celebrity TV and how lucky genes have given her licence to eat as she fancies...

P H OTOS

RUTH

“I

’m starving!” exclaims the former model and DJ Michelle Doherty as she sits down. We’re at Zaragoza on South William Street, Dublin’s newest tapas bar, so hunger shouldn’t remain a problem for long. Zaragoza’s menu is extensive with plenty of options for flesh, fish, fowl and veggies. We decide to have a bit of everything and order the evening platter, which comes with a selection of six tapas each.

MEDJBER

and you kind of go, ‘Yeah’ but oh my God — I did not realise!”

Hard work it may be, but there are some bonuses that no fashionista would sniff at.

“There’s a girly side to me and I love my fashion so I'm enjoying that part of it. Warehouse have been sponsoring my clothes and it’s really nice to wear something new everyday. When I moved to London it was really tough. When you have a job it’s fine. If you’re not earning you can’t spend money and I hadn’t bought clothes for a year. So this is lovely!”

Michelle had moved to London when she was offered the job with TV3 and since then has spent the last few months commuting.

Best known for her musical sensibilities after years on our radio waves, Michelle has been enjoying the challenge of live television since joining TV3’s popular showbiz round-up show Xposé, covering for Aisling O’Loughlin who is on maternity leave (we didn't know it at the time, but Doherty herself was eating for two and subsequently announced she was expecting her first child).

“I’ve done TV before," she reflects. "You’re pretty much in charge of every package that goes back to the office. You’re in charge of the form and content and making sure everything has been taken care of. On top of that, you have to edit it so it's been a massive learning curve for me.

“It’s been amazing, though. I’m loving every minute and enjoying how frantic it can be. I have lots of drive, I like throwing myself in there and you do feel quite chuffed when you see your package on screen. I’m not saying I’m that brilliant yet. But I’m getting there!”

Presenting is far harder work than you may suppose, Michelle explains.

“I have so much respect for the girls. People think you turn up and do a bit of presenting and that’s your job done for the day. It’s not. You go back, you have to ingest all the footage, edit it all down, put music underneath, visuals on top. I’ve always heard that the girls worked hard

“They do say that when you move away, that’s when you’ll be offered

47

EAT

Michelle Doherty and Zaragoza's Daragh Monahan

Chef Nourdine

a job in Ireland! I’m here Monday to Friday and then back on Friday evenings. It’s crazy, but only for six months. The travelling is quite tough but if something else comes up in Ireland I wouldn’t knock that.

“I'm very lucky because I didn’t burn my bridges here. So many people do that. And after months and months of going to casting calls and auditions it's really great to be working again. I think I needed that time off though to recharge my batteries.”

Given that she's on television, should she be watching what she eats? Michelle rolls her eyes in mock indignation and laughs.

“Not a chance!" she laughs. "I probably should be. Thank God my mother has very high metabolism and passed it on to me. I get away with murder! By rights I shouldn't be able to fit through the front door.

“I love my food. I don’t generally go for tapas because there's never enough food. There's nothing worse than leaving a restaurant hungry.

This is great, though. I’ve been concentrating

on my meatballs. They’re lovely. The sauce is delicious!”

The meatballs are indeed delicious. My favourite has got to be the prawns. Prawns can be bland and rubbery. These are full of flavour and flaky rather like Dublin Bay prawns instead of shrimp.

Michelle misses music — particularly gigs — and her “radio husband” Richie McCormack with whom she used to co-present the breakfast show on Dublin rock station. Phantom 105.2. She felt the time had come to try something new and headed to the UK with an acting career in mind, having played Liv in a well-received Irish film, What Richard Did. “I love music but you don’t want to get pigeonholed. That’s not all I know — I’m not a one-trick pony. The last gig I went to was Electric Picnic.

That’s shocking! I don’t miss the early morning starts. I’m not a morning person. I did it for a year. I’d have to be in bed by nine and it kills your social life. My sister would phone me and ask what I was doing and I’d be in my pyjamas at six o’clock and she’d say that her kids were still up!

The only thing that got me through was Breaking Bad — I’d watch three or four episodes and go to sleep.”

Besides working regular hours, Xposé offers a change to interview a wide range of different kinds of people.

“I had to do the cast of Anchorman — the four of them together — and it doesn’t get bigger than that. They had their own in-jokes — interviewing someone one-on-one is fine, but four people together is hard anyway and when they have their own in-jokes it’s a bit, ‘Arg, I’m a little bit lost! What’s going on?’ That was challenging.”

Has she ever said or done anything on air that she's embarrassed about?

“Oh, all the time!” she laughs. “I’m not perfect.

I make mistakes or I say something stupid but I just laugh at myself when that happens.”

What has Michelle planned for when she wraps up her stint on Xposé?

“I don’t really make plans!” she laughs. “It’s been working for me so far.”

THE DAMAGE The evening platter is €16.50 and is a selection of six tapas. On the night we were there, these were tiger prawns with garlic and chilli; honey-glazed spinach and goats cheese filo triangle with apple compote; patatas bravas; Iberico ham and manchego cheese; spiced veal and pork meatballs in a tomato and garlic sauce; and a portion of marinated green olives.

For dessert, Michelle had the warm apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and I had the banoffi jar. All desserts are €5.50 To drink we had a super-premium cava, the Segura Viudas Brut Reserva ‘Heredad’ NV Cava. This costs €9.50 per glass or €56.95 for the bottle.

48

A MATTER OF TASTE STUA RT C LA R K BRINGS YOU TH E LATE ST FO ODI E NEWS

(Clockwise from top): Franciscan Well Brewery tour, De Mad Food Co. pudding range, Silver Darlings herring, The Cliff Townhouse Roast & Dillinger's

DIDN’T THEY DO WELL!

Go Eat! was in Cork last week for the very first Franciscan Well Brewery Tour & Tasting. There was some genuflecting as we walked past the oak whiskey barrels used to produce their award-winning 7.8% ABV Jameson Cask Stout, which is issued in strictly limited 2,000 bottle batches each June and Christmas.

“We’re hoping to become a top destination for beer buffs and tourists alike and we’d love to think that we’re playing our part in bringing Cork back to its brewing heritage,” says Franciscan Well founder Shane Long as he guided through their North Mall HQ, which rather wonderfully includes a 1930s bottle capping machine and other last century gizmos that are still being used because, as he puts it, “they’ve yet to be bettered.”

The Brewery Tours & Tastings take place Monday to Friday at 6.30pm, cost just €10 per person and can be advance booked at (021) 439 3434 or franciscanwellbrewery@gmail.com.

THE DERRY BEST

We’ll never be able to show our faces in Clonakilty again, but after much research Go Eat! can confirm the Derry Clarke Apple & Honey White and Apricot Black Puddings as the finest in the country. As well as enjoying them as part of a traditional fry, we’ve taken to crumbling them up in stews and throwing 'em into stir-fries.

If you come up with any other uses – don’t be rude now! – let us know.

A doff of our chef’s hat also goes to Killeigh, County Offaly’s De Mad Food Co. whose “puddings with attitude” include fabulous Thai Sweet Chilli, Mexican Fajita, Spanish Chorizo and Rosemary Roast Lamb varieties. Another twist is that you get two different flavoured puds in the one funky looking package.

TALES OF HERRING DO

Sticking with artisan start-ups, and Go Eat! can’t

get enough of Silver Darlings who specialise in Irish herring marinated Nordic-style by Kirsti O’Kelly, a former Milano restaurant manager, who learned her trade in Finland and is based in Limerick’s always tasty Milk Market.

One for the future is Blanco Nino, a Dublin company that wants to collaborate with Irish farmers on the setting-up of Europe’s first corn tortilla factory. A noble cause, which you can help bankroll at crowdcube.com/investment/ blanco-nino-14836

ROAST OF THE TOWN

Finally, one of our fave Dublin eateries, The Cliff Townhouse on Stephen’s Green, is now letting you ‘Host Your Own Roast’. For just €35 per person, groups of between 10 and 40 get to sample a fabulous range of starters – the French onion soup with gruyere rocks! – and a choice of roasts including a pork shoulder with caramelised apple that will have you shedding tears of joy. www.theclifftownhouse.com has all the details.

DILLINGER'S

If it’s cocktails, great counter-dining and a vibey atmosphere you’re after, look no further than Dillinger’s which can be found lurking with considerable intent at 47 Ranelagh, Dublin 6 (Tel. 01 497 8010. dillingers.ie). Maybe it’s the Urban Fox (Miller’s gin, elderflower liquor, grapefruit & egg white in case you’re wondering), the Rare Breed Pork Schnitzel with Spicy Tomato Sauce, Mozzarella & Sweet Potato Crisps or perhaps the enticing mix of people, but Go Eat! keeps on finding itself crossing their threshold.

Dillinger’s also do a mean brunch with Spicy Kenmare Crab Cakes, Poached Eggs, Aioli & Green Salad among the must-tries, and a Footlong Hot Dog with a Whiskey Sour special on Fridays from 5pm - 7pm for just €15. Their sister 777 and The Butcher Grill establishments are also worthy of your immediate attention.

49

GOPLACES

Wex

MARKS THE SPOT With spring filling the air and the sun (hopefully!) high in the sky, now is the perfect time to plan a short break in Ireland. And where better than Wexford? Just a short train journey away, packed with things to do and renowned for its beauty, the south-east county is one of the country’s favourite holiday spots for myriad reasons.

50

S

pared the wrath of our harsh weather gods, snuggled as it is along the sunny south-east coastline, you could make a case for Wexford being the closest thing to an Irish Riviera. With a relaxed atmosphere, gorgeous coastal views and a number of towns that boast great amenities, eateries and accommodation, it is one of the jewels in our collective crown. Little wonder it’s a popular destination, perfect for a day trip or weekend break and offering plenty to keep you occupied for a longer stay. In fact, the only problem you’ll face is deciding how best to spend your time.

That’s where we come in…

Let’s kick things off with Wexford town itself.

Connected to the national rail network, it is both easy to reach and charmingly secluded.

A harbour town founded by the Vikings over a millennium ago, it is close to numerous sandy beaches and impressive landscapes, with an abundance of cafés, pubs, restaurants and bookshops in its picturesque centre, and an active cultural scene that runs the gamut from rock to opera, art exhibitions to belly dancing.

The Wexford Opera House regularly plays

WEXFORD

(Clockwise from top): Hook Head Lighthouse, Wexford Town at night, The Salteens and Curracloe Beach. (Opposite page) Dunbrody Famine Ship

host to some of the world’s biggest artists – not just opera! – while the Wexford Arts Centre has a year-round programme of contemporary exhibitions, workshops and events in the fields of music, comedy, theatre and more.

In terms of getting your vittles, D’Lush at the Wexford Arts Centre is a great spot for a bite, with manager, artist and raconteur Eamonn Doran bringing a flamboyant flourish that adds to the tempting menu provided by Linda Larkin. Larkin holds a Degree in Culinary Arts and uses local organic produce where possible.

Elsewhere, The Stable Diet café at the Talbot Hotel end of Main Street is one of the most popular coffee and chat places in the county. At the other end of Main Street is La Dolce Vita, which has garnered rave reviews from all and sundry, so lunch customers are well advised to get there early. Meanwhile, fans of Indian food should proceed to Spice in Monck Street close to Trapattoni’s chip shop. No, you won’t go hungry in Wexford!

When it comes to accommodation, you can’t go wrong with Whites Of Wexford, a historic and integral part of the place. Immersed in heritage, in 2006 the all-new hotel opened and today it is a modern, luxurious place to stay, offering four star quality on Abbey Street. Whites has over 150 rooms, state-of-the-art leisure facilities – 20m swimming pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi – and is the first hotel in Britain and Ireland to offer a Cryotherapy clinic for muscle and arthritis treatment. The Talbot Hotel is another central four star, dating back to 1905 with a sublime view of the marina. Just outside town, the Stanville Lodge Hotel is a family-run three star establishment notable for its chilled atmosphere and great food.

Of course, there’s more to Wexford than its county town, with a lot to explore in the Model County.

If you can tear yourself away from the white sand and pristine waters of Curracloe Beach, you could take yourself off to the Dunbrody Famine

Ship on the docks in New Ross. It opens daily from 9am to 6pm, providing a unique insight into a period of history that shaped Ireland and America, bringing the gripping story of emigrants to life in a dramatic and memorable setting. This multi-award winning visitor attraction takes visitors on a virtual journey allowing an insight into the lives of Famine emigrants who when faced with starvation and poverty set sail for a better life overseas.

The striking exhibition with audio soundtrack recreating the sounds and smells of the voyage, the tour of the Dunbrody Famine Ship and the highly praised costumed performers all combine to plunge visitors into the heart of the emigration story in this unique setting.

With the Hall of Fame restaurant and café, it’s the perfect stop for brunch, lunch or a snack whilst taking in the panoramic views of the River Barrow, overlooking the Dunbrody Famine Ship. The story continues to unfold on the Emigrant Trail, which celebrates the legacy of the Kennedy family. The Kennedy Homestead in Dunganstown, birthplace of President John F. Kennedy’s great-grandfather Patrick Kennedy, celebrates the story of five generations of the Kennedy dynasty and is still farmed by his descendants. A unique cultural museum dedicated to “the Kennedys who went away and the Kennedys who stayed behind”, its visitor centre stands on the ancestral site and houses an exhibition that recounts the achievements of this iconic family including the journey from famine emigrant to President of the United States. The exhibition features audio clips, video footage and a unique collection of Kennedy family memorabilia that add a personal connection.

The facilities also include a quaint café in the courtyard, picnic area, souvenir shop, ample free parking and wheelchair access.

The Emigrant Trail continues with a visit to the JFK Memorial Park & Arboretum, a park of 623 acres dedicated to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. The plant collection

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of international standing contains 4,500 types of trees and shrubs from all temperate regions of the world, planted in botanical sequence. The lake is a popular feature of the Arboretum and is a haven for waterfowl. The visitor centres houses an exhibition documenting President Kennedy’s time in the White House and includes a replica space capsule commemorating the US space race. The viewing point at the summit of Slieve Coillte stands at 271m and delivers breath-taking views of the surrounding countryside. Go to dunbrody.com for more.

The Hook Peninsula, oft described internationally as one of the top attractions in the country, is another must-see if in Wexford.

The Lighthouse is the key focus, a 13th Century Norman construction built by the then-Earl Of Leinster and offering a breath-taking view. One of the oldest operational lighthouses on earth, it provides guided tours and spectacular views – keep an eye out for seals, dolphins and even whales.

Staying with the natural beauty trend, the Irish National Heritage Park is 35 splendid acres that’s most definitely worth a visit. Located at Ferrgcarrig, it does an incredible job of encapsulating the entire island – historically, geographically and aesthetically. A remarkable heritage trail, with crannogs, Viking homes and more, the Heritage Park offers you the chance to take a 9,000-year adventure in an afternoon.

Wexford is also home to some terrific towns.

Visiting Dunbrody? New Ross has everything you could possibly want for a short break on the island – lovely walks, great food and good accommodation. Enniscorthy is also a superb spot, with the recently renovated castle being of particular interest to history buffs and its accessible roof giving you some of the finest views in Ireland.All in all, Wexford is the right choice if you want to holiday at home. With so much going for it, the decision is easy. The hard part is how to best spend your time. For help with all of that, go to visitwexford.ie.

GOPLACES

Active Retirement Ireland Trade & Tourism Show 2014 Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa Galway Tuesday 8th April 10am-6pm

Explore Wicklow, Experience Dublin

Young at Heart Breaks From €109.00 per person sharing to include: Afternoon Tea for two on arrival (scone, sandwich, pastry, tea/coffee) Two night’s accommodation with full Irish breakfast Two course dinner on one evening of your choice Bottle of House Wine with Dinner Complimentary morning newspaper Full use of The Merrill Leisure Club facilities Concessions for Royal Bingo (one evening)

Arts & Crafts, Cookery Demonstrations, Competitions, Workshops and More

Sample the best Ireland has to offer.

Call 01-8733836 or email info@activeirl.ie for more details.

Room Only Rates from €59.00 Best Rate Guaranteed visit www.royalhotel.ie All Rates are subject to availability. Terms and Conditions apply.

www.activeirl.ie

The Royal Hotel & Merrill Leisure Club, Main Street, Bray. Co. Wicklow 00-353-1-2862935 www.royalhotel.ie reservations@royalhotel.ie

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SHADES OF

GREAT IT’S TRUE WHAT THEY SAY – THESE DAYS, LIFE REALLY DOES BEGIN AT 50! WITH LESS RESPONSIBILITIES AND A BIT MORE FINANCIAL SECURITY, YOU ALSO NATURALLY WANT IT TO BE AN EXCITING LIFE. THAT’S WHERE WE COME IN...

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GOPLACES

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sk just about anybody nearing retirement what they plan to do, and almost inevitably they will list travelling more frequently as one of their aims. When you are working your time is limited, and if you have a family your options are further restricted by school timetables. Retirement presents a golden opportunity to travel particularly because you can go where you like without having to compromise to keep adults, teenagers and small children happy.

A number of tour operators and hotels actively court the “grey euro” and offer excellent packages for older people. A great place to get ideas is the Active Retirement Ireland Trade and Tourism Show, which returns this year and is to be held at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Galway on Tuesday 8 April. Over eighty varied exhibitors will be taking part, giving you the chance to find the best travel deals and packages which have been tailored to the needs of older people. Health advice, information and options will also be provided to all intrepid travellers so that age or health considerations don’t have to slow you down.

Of course, you don’t need to be travelling to far-flung places when there is plenty to do on your doorstep. What’s more, many fine hotels offer great packages for older people too. We have rounded up some of our favourites...

Starting on the east coast, The Royal Hotel & Merrill Leisure Club in Bray offers the perfect base to explore the cultural and urban delights of Dublin and the gorgeous landscape of Wicklow. If physical exertion is not for you, this is a perfect choice as well because you can enjoy Bray’s beach and have dinner in the hotel. The Heritage Restaurant specialises in dishes using locally sourced produce and Quinn’s bar has an extensive bar menu as well as live music most weekends. The Merrill Leisure Club includes a 14m swimming pool, sauna, jacuzzi, steam room and a gymnasium, while beauty and massage treatments are available in the Merrill Beauty Rooms.

Another option close to the capital is Finnstown Country House Hotel, which is about half an hour away from Dublin and yet set in 45 acres of stunning mature grounds. The Peacock Restaurant offers fine dining while the Woodquay Bar is perfect for casual or family dining. Afternoon tea in the peaceful lounge is not to be missed. This is popular with day visitors and it easy to see why as you tuck into your selection of fresh scones, sandwiches, pastries and cakes admiring the views of the gorgeous gardens. Look out for special offers for older folks — these are often available and are great value for money.

Perhaps the most popular pilgrimage in Ireland is the Knock Shrine in County Mayo. It is here that the Virgin Mary, Saint Joseph and Saint John the

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OVER 55s

The Five Star

GLENLO ABBEY HOTEL GALWAY CITY

Set in 140 acres of estate grounds and commanding stunning views of Lough Corrib yet only 2 miles from Galway City Centre, the elegant 5* Glenlo Abbey Hotel is where old world charm meets contemporary elegance.

YOUNG AT HEART OFFERS

Enjoy 2 nights, bed and full Irish Breakfast, Dinner on a night of your choice, complimentary admission to Kylemore Abbey and Gardens and a complimentary round of Golf on our 9 hole double green championship Golf Course •€139pps Midweek

• €169pps Weekends

Subject to suitable availability at the time of booking” Call:+353(0) 91 519600

BRIDGING THE BEST OF IRELAND’S WEST

Email: info@glenloabbey.ie Web: www.glenloabbeyhotel.com

KNOCK HOUSE HOTEL A warm welcome always awaits you at Knock House Hotel, we treat all our guests as friends and our attention to your every need will ensure you will have a really relaxing and enjoyable break. Knock House Hotel is superbly located in the tranquil village of Knock, Co Mayo, just minutes from Knock Shrine, this Hotel is in the heart of the unspoilt countryside, beside 100 acres of picturesque Shrine grounds.

OVER 55’S MARCH SPECIAL OFFER • 2 Nights Accommodation • Full Irish Breakfast each morning • 2 Four Course Evening Meals in our Four Seasons Restaurant

ALL FOR € 116. (Offer only available in March 2014)

OVER 55’S APRIL SPECIAL OFFER • 2 Nights Accommodation • Full Irish Breakfast each morning • 2 Four Course Evening Meals in our Four Seasons Restaurant

CLARE-KERRY THE EASY WAY!

ALL FOR €159. (Offer only available in April 2014) Call Karen on 094 9388088 to avail of these special offers.

BOOK ON

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LINE

A: Killimer, Kilrush, Co. Clare.

T: +353 65 9053124 E: enquiries@shannonferries.com

KNOCK HOUSE HOTEL, KNOCK, CO MAYO Email: info@knockhousehotel.ie / Web: www.knockhousehotel.ie Telephone : 00353 (0)94 9388088

Discoun% t

FOR CHEA P FARES ER

www.shannonferries.com

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GOPLACES

(clockwise from top) Having a ball, Knock House Hotel, Glenlo Abbey, Raheen Hotel and a bedroom at Finnstown House

HAPPINESS IS JUST A FERRRY RIDE AWAY

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rance has long been a popular destination for Irish travellers, particularly wine lovers.

The most convenient way to shop for fabulous French wine is with Celtic Link Ferries, who have a special offer for wine lovers – travel with a car or van and have a cabin both ways as well as up to six days on shore for only ¤200 return. That’ll give you plenty of time to explore the wine region, hunt for bargains and have a proper holiday.

Celtic Link Ferries sail Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Rosslare to Cherbourg and return Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. You can watch a film in their onboard cinema; have a drink or something to eat in the restaurant; take a nap or shower in your cabin; and as long as you have a pet passport, your furry friend can travel with you free. For more information see www.celticlinkferries.com.

Talking of ferries, one the highlights between Kerry and Clare is taking the ferry across the Shannon Estuary and admiring the view. If you’re lucky you may even see bottle nose dolphins which sometimes swim up the river.

Shannon Ferries run two roll-on, roll-off car ferries between Killimer in Clare and Talbert in Kerry. The journey takes twenty minutes and saves you a 137 kilometre trip from

Shannon Ferries

terminal to terminal. Tickets for a car, including passengers, are just ¤18, or ¤15.30 if you buy online. Find details at shannonferries.com.

Summer is our favourite time to head west. Kerry and Clare both have beautiful landscapes, historical buildings, blue flag beaches, great food and golf courses. Dingle has been called “the most beautiful place on earth” and this May, the Bealtaine Festival which celebrates creativity in older people takes place in Tralee.

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Evangelist are said to have appeared in 1879.

While the shrine itself is of great significance for believers, the surrounding countryside is equally popular with nature lovers.

Our favourite spot to stay in the area is the Knock House Hotel. Just minutes from the shrine, and set in unspoilt countryside, this is a friendly three star hotel with 68 bedrooms, six of which have been designed for wheelchair users. Many of the rooms offer superb views of the countryside. The Four Season Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and a la carte and table d’hote menus until 9pm, and snacks are available until 10pm. Most importantly, the staff are renowned for the warm welcome they give all their guests.

Heading down the coast, the Raheen House Hotel is located in the famous fields of Athenry and close to Galway City. Athenry is a must for history buffs as it is the best-preserved medieval town in Ireland. Raheen House is a contemporary hotel with a spa and leisure centre — perfect for relaxing after a long day. The beautifully designed Clarin Bistro showcases the best of local and seasonal produce and McHale’s Bar & Lounge is a great place to unwind over a drink and a snack.

Given its location, this is a popular place to stay during Galway’s many festivals and events, so book early to avoid disappointment. Have a look out for their “Young at Heart” packages for special offers on two, three and four night getaways.

For a Galway city break, the Harbour Hotel could not be better situated, nestling on the waterfront and just a three minute stroll from Eyre Square and the city centre. The Harbour Seafood Bar and Grill offers exciting local produce with an emphasis on fresh fish. The bar leads out onto the hotel’s docks is popular with locals and tourists alike, with the dock being the perfect place to have a cocktail on a summer evening. The Golden Years package offers great rates and fantastic extras such as freshly baked scones on arrival; three course evening meal on two nights; and day tours to Connemara and Kylemore Abbey, which gives you the chance to experience the bustle of the city and the tranquility, beauty and history of the surrounding countryside.

For a special treat, Glenlo Abbey can hardly be rivalled. This five star hotel is located between the wild beauty of Connemara and cultural attractions of Galway city. Luckily you can have luxury at lemonade prices as the hotel has a three night Golden Years midweek break at excellent rates. Winner of the 2010 Good Eating Guide for the ‘Best Restaurant in Connaught’, Glenlo offers several dining options — the River Room Restaurant, the Oak Cellar Bar, and the Pullman Restaurant which re-opens this spring. As the name suggests, the restaurant is situated in two original Pullman carriages, which were originally part of the world famous Orient Express and served along the Paris – Istanbul – St. Petersburg route. The hotel is part of a 138 acre lake side estate and outdoor activities include golf, archery and fishing. Horse riding, boating, water sports, tennis and falconry can be found nearby and the hotel will arrange these for you.

These are just some of our favourite hotels around Ireland, but as everybody knows, Ireland offers some of the most majestic countryside in Europe, making it a haven for outdoor activities. Whether you enjoy golf, fishing, hill walking, boating or just strolling through one of our many national parks or historic estate gardens, Ireland has much to offer older travellers.

OVER 55s

Revolutionising Homecare in Ireland

An Expert Team Delivering an Exceptional Service Contact our expert team on 0818 227 052 or info@bluebirdcare.ie Small Plastic Wars

GET CREATIVE!

All across Ireland, May means Bealtaine festival, which is all about celebrating creativity as we age. Coordinated by Age and Opportunity, the national organisation that inspires everyone to reach their full creative potential as they age, this year’s theme is ‘And catch the heart off guard’, a phrase from Seamus Heaney’s ‘Postscript’.

As part of the self-organised events, there will be a Bealtaine Film Tour which will bring two films – Quartet and High Society – to Irish audiences nationally. The tour, presented by access>CINEMA in partnership with the Irish Film Institute, launches May 7. Also announced is the national tour of Small Plastic Wars, visiting theatres nationwide throughout May. Based on a true story, this one-man-show is a comedic account of how someone turned to an unfulfilled dream of building and playing with miniature models to bridge the void of recent unemployment and recession.

With Bealtaine showcasing the talents and creativity of both first-time and professional older artists, it is a great festival with a fantastic purpose, so get involved! bealtaine.com has more.

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bluebirdcare.ie Contact us for your FREE Irish Pensioners Handbook

GOFASHION

Spring INTO action

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From sportswear to short wear, candyfloss hues to cowgirl prints, spring is all about bringing some flirty femininity into this season’s latest trends. Roe McDermott shows you how.

GAME ON Sports-luxe fashion is set to be huge in spring and summer ‘14, and it’s no wonder, given the sheer versatility of this trend. Whether your tastes run to vintage tomboy, subtly sexy sporty girl, or the crisp aesthetics of modern athleticism, there’s a myriad of ways to evoke sportswear’s sense of casual chic, without even breaking a sweat.

The most easily accessible aspect of sportswear is the vintage trend, which combines slouchy graphic tees and sports-inspired accessories for that effortlessly cool, California collegiate vibe.

Elevate gym gear into evening wear by combining it with a blazer and boldly coloured stilettos, or pair simple sweaters with beautifully flowing silk maxi skirts for a relaxed but striking evening look.

PRETTY IN PINK This season, the catwalks are teeming with pretty pastels, but there was one colour to rule them all: pink. Whether cherry, fuchsia,

candy floss, rose, dusty, salmon, shocking, Persian or puce; the flirty and ultra-feminine shade is dominating. After a winter fuelled by monochromes, it’s nice to add a subtle splash of colour with a hint of pink. Classic white tuxedo jackets can be paired with pretty playsuits and party dresses, while sharp white pencil skirts can be given a whimsical air with scattered floral highlights. Black can also be used to make a graphic statement on dusty pink frocks, with dark lace highlights and polka dots providing a nice base. Candy colours have never been so sweet.

BOLD BLOOMS Florals this season are all about loud and proud graphics, often with a hint of tropical flourish for daywear, and darker hues for evening. Look for bright, oversized prints – but leave the clashing and contrasting to other trends, because this year’s florals are all about commitment. Look for matching two-piece outfits for

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an unapologetically strong look.

If you prefer some black to keep your flowery look grounded, black highlights can lend a sexy clubwear feel for floral print body con dresses, while flirty skirts and playsuits can always be dressed up with a short, sharp black tuxedo jacket.

GETTING SHORT Now that spring is here, we know the temptation. The weather’s only chilly instead of freezing, people are already planning holidays and the magazines are bursting with bikinis and beachwear. So, of course, you start gravitating towards those higher hemlines – but let’s get real. In Ireland, you need to be smart about picking minis and shorts, to ensure they work not just on those three days of sun, but the rest of the time too.

Look for basic colours that you can easily mix and match into your wardrobe, like black shorts with lace trims or white minis. During the day, dress them down with a

band t-shirt and tights, while in the evening you can go all out with cute jackets, accessories and of course some killer gladiator heels to lengthen your legs.

GOING GINGHAM While winter’s check and houndstooth prints made us all rediscover our inner Lady of the Manor, this spring is all about releasing your inner country girl, as the light and breezy weaves of gingham are returning to the catwalk. This cowgirl check oozes frivolity, but the naivete can be carefully offset to elevate it into high fashion. If keeping to this season’s candy pastels, look for bigger prints, and team lightly shaded garments with black gladiator heels or boots to keep it from being a touch too Pollyanna.

Or look for monochrome shades and boyfriend fit gingham shirts, which look effortlessly cool when teamed with wetlook skinny jeans and high heels. So saddle up and get shopping!

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GOFASHION

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STOCKISTS Main Pic #1 Pink jacquard printed shift dress €195 Linea, White shirt €80 Mary Portas, Coral bag €290 Vivienne Westwood, All House of Fraser.

Main Pic #2 Embroidered grey sweater McQ, Floral prom dress €150 Untold, Bird print scarf €39 Dickins & Jones, All House of Fraser 1. Sumiko Long Sleeve Collar Dress In Baby Pink €35.03, Missguided 2. Pattie Neon Floral Lace Detail Playsuit €42.03, Missguided 3. Burnout California T-Shirt €24, River Island 4. Hetera Long Sleeve Belted Peplum Top In Dusky Pink €21.01, Missguided 5. Silver leather duffel bag €65, River Island 6. Lace Trim Shorts €13, Penneys

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GO

REVIEW A L B U M S .

M O V I E S .

B O O K S

Don Jon: smart and entertaining

DON JON

PG 6 4

GOLISTEN. SPRING IS IN THE AIR, AND WITH INTRIGUING NEW RELEASES FROM BURLESQUE SOUL DIVA PALOMA FAITH, MANCUNIAN VETERANS ELBOW AND ARTY MANHATTAN-BASED SINGER-SONGWRITER ST. VINCENT ON OFFER, GO RAIL! DELIVERS ITS DEFINITIVE VERDICT...

GOWATCH. ROE McDERMOTT GIVES US CHAPTER AND VERSE ON JOSEPH GORDONLEVITT'S DIRECTORIAL DEBUT DON JON, THE CHARMINGLY DISNEY-FIED SAVING MR. BANKS, AND ALEXANDER PAYNE'S POETIC, CONTEMPLATIVE FATHER-SON TALE NEBRASKA, AMONG MANY OTHERS...

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GOREAD. WHY HUGO HAMILTON'S NINTH NOVEL EVERY SINGLE MINUTE IS A MUST-READ FOR ANYONE WITH A LOVE OF IRISH LITERATURE. ALSO REVIEWED AND RATED THIS ISSUE: HELEN DUNMORE'S ADDITION TO THE EVER-INCREASING CANON OF FIRST WORLD WAR WRITING, THE LIE.

GOLISTEN. SOUND AFFECTS

A TRIO OF SPRING RELEASES AS THE GO RAIL TEAM ROAD-TESTS THE RETURN OF TWO OF POP MUSIC’S MOST INTERESTING LADIES AND THE LATEST RECORD FROM THE BEERIEST BIG BAND AROUND, ELBOW.

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pring is well and truly in the air and, right on time, we have established international artists preparing to make their bids for Album Of 2014. With the quality returning as the Christmas cash-ins fade away, this issue we’re presented with mid-life crises, attempts to find a unique voice and a bold creative strut forward.

But which albums will figure in those critics' polls of the end of the year and, more importantly, which are deserving of your hard-earned cash?

We’ll turn first to the return of Hackney soul singer Paloma Faith. A former burlesque dancer, Faith arrived in 2009 with quirky style in abundance and a refreshingly opinionated demeanour. There was musical promise too, as her debut Do You Want The Truth Or Something Beautiful? went double platinum in her native UK with a fair share of critical respect to go with it.

If there was the feeling that she wasn’t quite the sum of her soul diva and pop R&B influences, far more middle-of-the-road than her freewheeling persona would suggest, it was assumed to be your standard debut critique. She’d shake off the references, lose her safety net and find a musical voice as unique as her interview one in time.

Another album down, those initial concerns haven’t gone away. So is it third time lucky for A Perfect Contradiction? She’s enlisted Pharrell Williams to produce album opener and lead single ‘I Can’t Rely On You’. Considering his golden touch, it’s a shame that it kicks off in facsimile style. Coming over like ‘Blurred Lines’ tied to the electro-fied riff of Franz Ferdinand’s ‘Take Me Out’, it can’t muster up any of the magic of those two pop titans. As for Faith, her voice is as technically impressive as ever, but the melody isn’t worth over-emoting about.

From there it feels a bit like name that tune, era or artist. ‘Mouth To Mouth’ is serviceably

light, ‘80s R&B – a pre-Purple Rain Prince but oddly more dated. Lyrically, it’s ‘he left me and love sucks’ with no further insight or imagination.

‘The Bigger You Love’ swoops and swishes in velvety ways and the Diane Warren-penned ‘Only Love Can Hurt Like This’ is a stand-out, but sadly A Perfect Contradiction is constantly reminding you of better things.

Conversely, St. Vincent is an artist that draws you into her own world time and again. The Manhattan-based Annie Clark delivers her most open, unfussy lyrics to date on her self-titled fourth LP. So ‘Rattlesnake’ literally deals with the time our heroine was chased by said serpent.

Those lines aside, there’s the feeling that Vincent is on more assured ground than ever before, dealing expertly with the darkness – with a light, accessible touch. In ways, St. Vincent shares a sonic aesthetic with Kanye West’s Yeezus – shards of processed guitar recall the frosty early days of post-punk, occasionally obnoxious synths puncture many of the songs, and the bass rumbles so forcefully that your speakers will crackle and a million audiophiles will weep.

But where Yeezus was self-consciously confrontational, St. Vincent is unencumbered by neuroses. It’s enlivened by grit and daring. The synthetic strings of ‘I Prefer Your Love’ elevate an ode Sinéad or Kate would be proud of; the choral backing of ‘Prince Johnny’ dresses it in sad grandeur. We have catchy, Numanesque workouts, tracks based on Stankonia-era horns and opulent chamber pop. St Vincent has recently talked about trying to live “at the intersection of accessible and lunatic.” On this triumphant collection, she manages that feat with great grace and skill.

Finally, we have Elbow. Their sixth studio album, The Take Off And Landing Of Everything

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is a midlife break-up record and as much of a downer as you would expect – but in the best possible way. Elbow do cloud-scraping bombast as well as any of their peers. Along with the uplift, however, the Mancunians have a tendency to brood. They remain best known for the hopeful ‘One Day Like This’ but, on their self-proclaimed ‘mid-life crisis record’, things get bleak.

How much of the moodiness is down to the fact that Guy Garvey recently separated from his long-term partner is hard to be definitive about, of course (several of the tracks are by happily married band-mates). Still, it’s tempting to see the break-up as responsible for the heavier mood and the edgy air Garvey brings to the several ballads that concern escape and renewal.

The single ‘New York Morning’, for example, is a valentine to Manhattan but, really, it’s about trying to flee the person you've become and briefly convincing yourself that you've succeeded. There are no obvious big singles here but it is powerfully delivered. It’s about crashing earthwards, straining to recall a time when you were able to soar.

Elbow: powerfully delivered

GOWATCH. MAGIC AND MAYHEM

A HIGHLY APPETISING CINEMATIC MENU ON OFFER FOR YOU THIS SEASON, ENCOMPASSING EVERYTHING FROM MARY POPPINS TO ANIMATED PENGUINS AND FORGETFUL SEPTAGENARIANS. HAPPY VIEWING!

Saving Mr Banks: factbending, but charming

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or couples who like their romance without a side of schmaltz, look no further than Drinking Buddies. There’s a refreshing, toast-worthy simplicity to mumblecore guru Joe Swanberg’s largely improvised, observational dramedy about two intersecting relationships. The striking Olivia Wilde and New Girl’s irresistibly unkempt Jake Johnson play Kate and Luke, best friends who, over time, have built a magnetic, wildly flirtatious chemistry, layered with innately understood shorthand, duet-like riffs and a palpable attraction. Swanberg’s brilliance lies in understanding the real emotional complexities that exist in life but don’t necessarily look strong on paper, or in film pitches.

Though Luke and Kate seem perfect for each other, it’s because they’re identical, stuck in childish banter, partying, drinking and adventure. Meanwhile, Luke’s relationship with his quieter, vulnerable fiancée Jill (Anna Kendrick, charming as ever) holds a subtler beauty; one that brings out a softness and maturity, the potential for marriage, fatherhood and growth.

Johnson navigates the two relationships beautifully, and as well as being hilarious and personable, his dramatic scenes with Wilde brilliantly explore the anger, betrayal and jealousy that aren’t officially allowed in friendships, but are sometimes inevitable.

From films for couples to films for the whole family, look no further than Saving Mr. Banks, the Disneyfied tale about Mary Poppins author

PL Travers, her relationship with her troubled father, and the rocky road to adapting her cherished novel for the big screen.

A fact-bending but charming exercise in retro Disney sentimentality, John Lee Hancock’s two-strand narrative stars Emma Thompson as the bristly, often vicious author, who has a tigress-like protective instinct when it comes to her writing. Flown to LA by the charismatic but canny mogul Walt Disney (played with shrewd, smooth-talking showmanship by Tom Hanks), a wonderfully witty backstage story unfolds, as Travers’ stiff upper lip and deep personal conflict clashes with the warm, pun-loving energy of Disney’s songwriters.

Thompson proves wonderful, as her abject hatred of animated penguins and frivolous words reveals a deep vulnerability and fear of enduring any more loss – even if it is “just” her characters. The film subtly plays with complex themes, such as the nature of ownership in writing, and the control and catharsis to be gained by reconstructing trauma through storytelling. Though Hancock often gracelessly yanks rather than tugs at heartstrings, there’s enough sharp humour and sour life lessons to help all that sugar go down.

Now, one definitely not for the kids: Joseph Gordon-Levitt comes over all R-rated in his directorial debut Don Jon, a slickly-produced exploration of modern relationships that’s smart, funny, fresh and fairly oozes cinematic style and swagger. Levitt confidently plays the titular Jon, a status-obsessed guido who

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enjoys rating women in clubs – though he rates pornography as more satisfying than actual sex. Without ever coming across as didactic or preachy, Levitt humorously explores the myriad of ways intimacy is eroded by objectification, consumerism and control, in all its guises. Though he consistently describes the vivacious, gum-cracking Barbara (Scarlett Johansson) as “the most beautiful ‘thing’ I’ve ever seen”, she too sees him as a status symbol; one who’s needed to fulfil her money and rom-com influenced checklist, and be controlled by sexual manipulation.

Though repeated jokes can prove dull, Levitt has succeeded in starting a smart, hugely entertaining conversation about media, objectification and forging real relationships. I suspect this is the beginning of a lengthy, fun and challenging dialogue with his audience.

From the young and sexy to the aging and fragile, Alexander Payne’s poetic, contemplative Nebraska is a gorgeous fatherson tale, shot in deliberately drab black and white to leave a strikingly unadorned and timeless portrait of familial relationships.

Bruce Dern gives a stunning performance as dementia-stricken septaugenarian Woody, whose bouts of dizziness and forgetfulness are offset by determined obsessions – this time, with a piece of sweepstakes junk mail declaring him the winner of a million dollars. To humour him, his son David (SNL’s Will Forte, beautifully understated) agrees to drive him to Nebraska to claim his “prize.”

Travelling through bland scenery in ugly cars, the men’s groundless odyssey becomes a journey through Woody’s life, as detours lead him back to his hometown. As endless long roads and pit-stops symbolise the small, seemingly aimless journeys that ultimately make up a life, Payne explores time, memory, truth and family – all with endless pathos and humour.

Moments of madcap comedy and seemingly cartoonish characters are balanced by Payne’s deep, humanist affection for real people and their flaws. The cast of Midwesterners is made up of wonderfully real-looking people; their faces lined, their humour crass, and their ordinary lives extraordinarily moving.

Other rent-worthy items are The Hunger Games: Catching Fire and the brilliant Netflix series box-set Orange is the New Black, but be sure to avoid the horribly corny biopic Diana and confusing thriller The Counsellor.

Otherwise, happy viewing!

GOREAD. IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE

ILLNESS, WAR AND DESTRUCTION — CHEERFUL TOPICS WE'RE SURE YOU’LL AGREE! THE NOVELS WE’VE CHOSEN TO FEATURE THIS MONTH DEAL WITH SERIOUS ISSUES, BUT DON’T LET THAT DISSUADE YOU — ALL THREE ARE ACCOMPLISHED LITERARY FEATS.

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e’ll begin with Dublin writer Hugo Hamilton’s ninth novel, Every Single Minute. Úna is an Irish writer dying of cancer taking a final trip to Berlin with her friend Liam. Úna is the daughter of a well-known journalist and her own fame is largely based on her memoirs, much of which are critical as she blames her parents for the death of her brother.

Every Single Minute is a fictionalised account of a trip Hamilton took to Berlin with Nuala O’Faolain weeks before she died of cancer, which makes it a must-read for anyone interested in Ireland’s literary establishment.

While the factual basis for the novel certainly adds a level of interest for Irish readers, Every Single Minute does not require familiarity with O’Faolain or her work. Thematically the novel deals with friendships, family, personal history, forgiveness, and compassion. For some unfathomable reason, Hamilton has yet to parlay his critical acclaim into popular success. His prose is understated and restrained, which given the subject matter of the novel, is all the more affecting. Every Single Minute is a beautifully written novel, and Hamilton richly deserves to be more widely read.

This July will mark the centenary of the beginning of World War I, and in the previous few

months, a number of new histories and analyses of the Great War have been published.

To say that World War One has become popular ground for novelists in recent years would be a colossal understatement, but it's probably a reflection of the reality that interest in this period has rarely been higher. At any rate, the timing could not have been better for Helen Dunmore’s The Lie, which deals with the aftermath of the war and the personal and social toll it has taken.

The year is 1920. Daniel has returned to Cornwall, but all he has known from before has gone. His mother is dead, as is his best friend, whose death in the trenches haunts him.

Daniel is homeless and moves into a rough shelter on a smallholding owned by Mary, an old friend of his mother who is sick and can no longer tend her own land. While caring for Mary, Daniel makes her a promise, but one he hides from the rest of the village.

Like the war itself, our actions and best intentions can have unforeseen repercussions.

The Lie deals with the aftermath of World War I and the social upheavals it has engendered, and explores the interior landscape of those who returned and the inability of wider society to deal with the emotional and psychological

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consequences of the violence.

Kate Atkinson’s Life After Life opens in November 1930. Twenty-year-old Ursula Todd walks into a café in Berlin and makes her way over to a table, where a charismatic man is holding court. His name is Adolf Hitler and she has come to kill him, because she knows exactly who he is. She knows because she has lived through World War II, but Ursula has been given a second chance at life.

Since her birth — and death — in February 1910, Ursula has had a number of chances to live her live again and again; and as she attempts to correct the mistakes of the past, Ursula is faced with unintended consequences. Life After Life is of course a metafictional book about writing, highlighting the control the author has over a character’s destiny.

You might think that laying bare the literary scaffold would make the characters less engaging, but Atkinson’s great skill is that each of Ursula’s lives becomes important to the reader.

Life After Life is an absolute delight of a book.

Atkinson’s prose glitters with wit and verve, her characters jump off the page and demand your attention, and the plot, which could have been gimmicky in the hands of a less talented writer, is a triumph of inventive twists and turns.

G O

W I N

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