Enterprise Autumn 2015

YOUR GUIDE TO | RESTAURANTS | HOTELS | ATTRACTIONS | SPORT | MUSIC

ENTERPRISE LINKING DUBLIN AND BELFAST

Volume 12:03

U2 The Boys Are Back In Town!

H I T

D U B L I N

&

B E L F A S T

COLIN FARRELL

JOEL TAGGART

DANIELLA MOYLES

A S TA R I S R E B O R N

ON NORTHERN IREL AND’S EURO 2 0 1 6 Q U A L I F I C AT I O N

S TA R S I N C E L E B R I T Y TA B L E

ANNIE MAC

•

MICHAEL PALIN

& T H E W E B S U M M I T ’S PA D D Y C O S G R AV E

In the

heart of the city where the shops

are so pretty

Discover a world of fashion, footwear, cafĂŠs and gift shops at the shopping center of Dublin.

So why not visit the heart of the city today and bring a little home. Just look for the iconic dome.

The Shopping Centre of Dublin

ENTERPRISE – V O L . 1 2 / N O . 0 3 / 2 0 1 5

CONTENTS 1 2

I S S U E

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KATHRIN BAUMBACH

V O L U M E

R E G U L A R S

34 F E A T U R E S

16 U2 BRINGING IT ALL BACK HOME U2 will be bringing their critically acclaimed iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour to Belfast and Dublin later this month. Olaf Tyarensen meets a band whose ambition is as unchecked as ever.

34 TO THE VICTOR, THE MOYLES Spin 1038 presenter and model Daniella Moyles reveals her nightmare interviews to Anne Sexton.

22 BOILING MAD Colin Farrell talks about putting on 40lbs for his new movie 'Lobster'.

20 HITTING THE DECKS Cover photo: Sam Jones

Annie Mac now presents one of the most influential radio slots on the planet. Colm O'Regan talks to her about her meteoric rise.

06 ENTER HERE!

A rundown of what's hot and happening at your next stop.

14 RAIL NEWS

Up-to-the-minute news from Irish Rail and Translink.

36 FOOD AWAKENING STUART CLARK checks out the best donuts in town and a cookbook that will be finding its way into many a Christmas stocking.

3 8 T R AV E L

The ultimate guide to Toronto by Canadian writer DAINA GOLDFINGER.

42 IN VOGUE

ROE McDERMOTT on three upcoming designers who are making waves in the international fashion industry.

45 REVIEWS

Our team reviews the latest books, albums and films.

4 8 AT T R A C T I O N S

All the best places to eat, rest and visit in both Dublin and Belfast.

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ENTERPRISE – EDITOR’S LETTER

CREDITS

The Mountains Of Mourne

EDITOR: Máirín Sheehy COMMISSIONING EDITOR: Roisin Dwyer CONTRIBUTORS: Stuart Clark, Roisin Dwyer, Craig Fitzpatrick, Roe McDermott, Peter McNally, Colm O'Regan, Olaf Tyaransen DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Hot Press 13 Trinity Street, Dublin 2 ART DIRECTION: David Keane DESIGN: David Stanley GROUP ADVERTISING MANAGER: Trish Murphy ADVERTISING MANAGER: Damien Doran PUBLISHER: Niall Stokes ENTERPRISE IS PUBLISHED F O R N I R A I LWAY S A N D IARNRÓD EIREANN BY: Osnovina Ltd 13 Trinity Street, Dublin 2 TELEPHONE: +353 1 2411 500 EMAIL: enterprise@hotpress.ie LETTERS: The Editor, Enterprise Magazine, 13 Trinity St, Dublin 2 PRINTED BY: Boylan’s Print

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 N I Railways and Iarnród Eireann.

All material © Osnovina 2015. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of material without permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited

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T H E

S T A R T

O F

A NEW ERA As you can see from the new look Enterprise, progress is a wonderful thing. But we should always remember the power and the beauty of nature, even as we step boldly into the future.

This is the beginning of a new era. Look around you and you’ll see that the Enterprise has been brilliantly refurbished. There is an attractive new livery, in bright and stimulatingly fresh colours. And the dining car has been kitted out in fine style, ensuring that just about every luxury is now available for customers.

The journey from Belfast to Dublin – and vice versa – was always a hugely pleasurable one. But that is more true now than ever before. You can sit back, relax and read Enterprise Magazine to your heart’s content. If the weather is good, between articles, you can watch the scenery roll by, as the line that links Ireland’s two biggest cities wends its way along the eastern seaboard.

Look east and there is that beautiful moment when you see The Mountains of Mourne in all their splendour, providing a magnificent back-drop to Carlingford, in Co. Louth. The Mournes are, of course, a place of outstanding natural beauty. On a still, warm, foggy autumn evening, there could hardly be a better place to find yourself, anywhere in the world. There are forests and lakes to enthral visitors to the area, as well as the Shimna River, which rises in Ott Mountain, before flowing down to the sea at Newcastle, on Dundrum Bay. Too often, we miss the fascinating things that are to be found on our own doorsteps. A walk along the banks of the Shimna slowly reveals the secrets of the local wildlife. Kingfishers and grey herons can be spotted on the river, the latter waiting with extraordinary quietude and patience for prey on which to pounce. Salmon, meanwhile have their spawning grounds in Tolleymore Park. At the right time of year, from a vantage point on Rootstock Bridge, you can watch the salmon leaping, as they return to the place whence they came.

Close to the mouth of the river, otters – in Irish they are called ‘madra uisce’, meaning water dogs – work in their secretive way at the strange business of being otters. It is in a beautiful, naturally wild place like this that the species thrives. While the population of otters has been declining elsewhere in Europe, Ireland’s has remained stable, making this a real stronghold for what is called the Eurasian otter.

You can leave the train at Newry and start the pilgrimage, travelling first to Rostrevor – and then on into the heart of the Mourne Mountains. It really is a stunningly beautiful place to explore on foot. Not far from Rostrevor is Cloughmore – meaning ‘big stone’ – a 30 tonne granite boulder that sits on the slopes of Slieve Meen. Legend has it that the stone was thrown by a giant from the Cooley Mountains, on the southern side of Carlingford Lough. We think it is probably more likely that it dates back to the last Ice Age, and that it was left behind by retreating glaciers.

It is chastening to think of it. That seismic geological event took place between 10,000 and 12,000 years ago. At the time, homo sapiens was confined to Africa. It was, as they say, all ahead of us. Which only goes to show that we are all pilgrims, just passing through. And so we might as well enjoy ourselves as best we can, while we have the opportunity. So how’s about a fresh pot of tea, by way of refreshment, to be savoured in the lovely new train, in which you are, as the song says, “rolling down the tracks?”

The leaves for that cuppa will have come all the way from East Africa, India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. No matter what way you look at it, it’s is an amazing world, in which human beings have achieved remarkable things...

_MAIRINSHEEHY | EDITOR

EN T E R | HERE

A

R U N D O W N

O F

W H A T ’ S

H O T

&

H A P P E N I N G

by Peter McNally

the boys are BACK IN TOWN! U2 Come Home!

SSE Arena, Belfast, Nov 18 – 19.

3Arena, Dublin, Nov 23-28

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It took under half an hour for U2 to sell out the six dates that make up the Irish leg of their mammoth iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour. This means that approximately 82,000 lucky punters will be fortunate enough to see the show that Hot Press called “heart-stoppingly dramatic, visually stunning, madly imaginative and hugely entertaining.”

The tour will kick off in the SSE Arena, Belfast on November 18 & 19, before rocking up Liffeyside for a massive four hometown dates at the 3Arena on November 23, 24, 27 & 28.

With its controversial release now a distant memory, fans have embraced new album Songs of Innocence, which charts the end of the time of innocence for all four band members and their friends, as teens growing up in Dublin.

OLAF HEINE

U2: kick off their tour in Belfast

ENTER|HERE

Leinster are set to play Ulster in the RDS

RUCKING THE TREND For the past two seasons Leinster have dominated proceedings in the Guinness Pro 12, but the November 27 fixture at the RDS sees them face off in an interprovincial headto-head against an in-form Ulster team who have an unbeaten home record stretching back to May 2014.

However, Ulster are the team that has been hit hardest by the recent World Cup with Tommy Bowe, Iain

Henderson and Jared Payne all doubtful to feature in the clash.

Leinster, on the other hand, will be rejoicing as out-half Johnny Sexton has already returned to training having recovered from the injury that saw him miss Ireland’s fateful quarter-final defeat to Argentina.

This local derby is sure to be an exciting fixture as the build up to February’s Six Nations begins.

PA RT Y O F T H E Y E A R Dublin will be ringing in the New Year in style yet again with a joyous citywide celebration of Ireland’s arts and culture courtesy of The New Year’s Festival Dublin (December 30 – January 1).

A vibrant spectrum of events will take over the city’s streets and venues culminating in the huge Three Countdown Concert on College Green.

Surrounding this, the Music Trail will bring you to some unique locations and some of the city’s best-loved venues, while the dazzling light installations, music and performers of the stunning Procession of Light will illuminate the streets.

Returning attractions include the NYF Food Village and the Spoken Word festival. Once the celebrations die down you can begin the new year on a positive note with Resolution Day on January first, which includes a 5k fun run, an outdoor cinema, and Proclamation; a night of talks in Christ Church Cathedral on the subject of mental health.

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ENTER|HERE Desperately seeking The Lost Brothers

TRAD INTENTIONS Since 2005, The Temple Bar TradFest (January 27–31) has been the capital’s biggest showcase of Irish and international folk and traditional music. This year’s event is sure to build on previous successes with events taking place in some of Dublin’s most historic venues, such as City Hall, Saint Patrick’s Cathedral, The House of Lords and Dublin Castle, which will host the TradFest Folk and Trad Gala concerts. The

CORR BLIMEY! It’s hard to believe that it’s been ten years since Dundalk worldconquerors The Corrs hung up the fiddles and tin whistles to go off on solo careers and start families of their own. Fans of the siblings will be no doubt thrilled that in addition to their two Irish dates this coming January (28 in the 3Arena, Dublin & 29 in the SSE Arena, Belfast) a new album, White Light, has been recorded and is ready for release on November 27. Over the course of their 15-year career, Andrea, Sharon, Caroline and “the one that played guitar” sold an astonishing 30 million albums worldwide; with career highlight In Blue hitting the number one spot in 17 countries.

They announced their comeback in style with a triumphant show in London’s Hyde Park this past September.

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North Cider: The Belfast beer and cider festival returns

BEERS FOR THE MEMORIES

line-up is already packed with the best of Irish talent, including Duke Special, Ciaran Lavery, Luka Bloom, The Stunning, The Lost Brothers, and a special evening celebrating the 40–year career of Foster and Allen.

The festival will also commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the 1916 Rising in song, music and poetry culminating in a performance of a new Requiem for 1916 composed by Odhrán Ó Casaide.

The Corrs: Two new Irish dates added

Boasting the ‘Biggest Bar in Ireland,’ the Belfast Beer & Cider Festival returns to the Ulster Hall this November 19–21 for Northern Ireland’s premier annual celebration of local and international craft breweries.

Visitors will have the chance to sample from a menu of over 100 local and UK cask-conditioned real ales and ciders, many available from the festival’s 70 hand pumps, while sampling local food, engaging in tutored beer tastings and playing some classic pub games. This year patrons will get a true taste of the region as all of the ciders on offer have been sourced locally in Northern Ireland.

There will be music all day and on Thursday the Champion Beer of Belfast will be awarded, last year’s winner was The Titanic Brewery's mouth-watering Cappuccino Stout.

ENTER|HERE

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ENTER|HERE

BLOOM WITH A VIEW Saoirse Ronan attends JDIFF

PICTURE PERFECT Over the past 13 years The Dublin International Film Festival, which takes place on February 18–28, has become Ireland’s premier feature film festival.

The star-studded event regularly hosts the Irish premieres of major international and home–grown features and has been known to attract A-list attendees like, Colin Farrell, Brendan Gleeson, Al Pacino, Julie Andrews, Daniel Day-Lewis and U2. To establish a special focus on Irish cinema, the festival inaugurated The Irish Talent Spotlight in order to profile exceptional new and established talent working in all areas of the Irish Film Industry.

For ten days the festival will take over Dublin’s city centre cinemas, including the IFI, The Lighthouse, Cineworld and the Savoy for a celebration of the silver screen that concludes with the prestigious Volta Awards.

CLIFF NOTES Located on the rural peninsula of Islandmagee, the exhilarating Gobbins cliff path offers visitors the chance to uncover a once hidden gem of the Antrim Coast. This historical attraction was conceived by visionary engineer Berkeley Deane Wise and originally opened in 1902 with caves, steps and tunnels carved into the spectacular rock faces allowing access to breath-taking coastal and sea views, and a diverse range of wildlife.

In recent years the path has been brought up to date with improved footpath access and suspension tubular bridges reimagining this once thriving 1900s hotspot for the 21st Century. Book a tour today and hopefully you will get the chance to see Northern Ireland’s only mainland colony of Puffins. Daily tours cost £8.50 per person or £23 for families and can be booked by calling the visitor centre at +4400 28 9337 2318. For more information, visit thegobbinscliffpath.com.

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Exhilarating: The Antrim Coast

Blooming for four centuries, Antrim Castle Gardens is a beautiful, unique slice of nature in Northern Ireland that has simply never looked better.

That's thanks to a recent £600 million restoration project that has served to reinforce its appeal as a spectacular tourist attraction just a short walk from Antrim Railway Station and ensured a healthy future for generations to come.

Offering a breathtaking walk through the living museum that includes the Large Paterre and stunning features such as Her Ladyship's Pleasure Garden and Yew Tree Pond, it also has a programme of events running year round that includes talks and interactive

workshops, and boasts a Garden Coffee Shop so you can refuel with some culinary delights and delicious treats when you visitor experience is wrapping up. It is located in the refurbished Clotworthy House on the banks of the Sixmilewater River, which is also home to the Garden House Exhibition and light-filled Oriel Gallery.

A magnificent way to spend the day, it's little wonder that Antrim Castle Gardens were the proud winners of the Ulster In Bloom Special Award 2012. Open daily except January 1, July 12, December 25 & 26 and December 31. For more info, phone +44 (0)28 9448 1338 or visit antrimandnewtonabbey.gov.uk

ENTER|HERE

IT’S NICE TO BE ICE

Disney on Ice: high octane fun

It’s sure to be a magical experience for young and old alike this winter when Disney On Ice returns to Ireland with its new Worlds Of Enchantment show at the SSE Arena (November 5–8) and the Citywest Hotel (November 12–15). Visitors will enter the fantastical winter world of Arendelle, home to royal sisters Anna and Elsa from the BAFTA and Academy Award winning Frozen, a film tailor made for Disney’s extravagant ice shows. The event will also feature some high-octane fun at Radiator Springs as life-size animatronic characters from Cars rock the ice with jumps, spins and freewheeling fun. With a whole host of classic characters returning for some double axels, dance lifts and flying camels, Disney On Ice always proves to be a family favourite.

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ENTER|HERE

A DESIGN FOR LIFE The National Crafts and Design Fair 2015 at the RDS (December 2–6) will feature the work of over 500 designers, artists and craftspeople in Ireland’s premier commercial craftwork showcase. This highly anticipated event provides visitors with the opportunity to meet the craftspeople and sample their unique treats and treasures.

Featuring everything from

chocolates to high fashion handmade by Ireland’s most respected craftspeople, the Fair promises a great opportunity to get your entire Christmas shopping done under one roof.

The Christmas Food Emporium will return to keep the energy levels up and showcase the best of the season’s bounty, with over 100 Artisan Food producers on hand to provide some tasty sustenance.

RED ALERT For 142 years the Gaiety Panto has been a holiday season tradition delighting young and old alike.

This year’s irreverent take on a classic European fairy tale comes in the form of Little Red Riding Hood – the story a young girl, her grandmother and the Big Bad Wolf.

Starring Legendary panto dame Joe Conlon, Hayley–Jo Murphy, Shane McDaid and Nicholas Grennell

this production will be anything but traditional with guaranteed laughs for all the family and plenty of opportunities to join in with a few calls of, “He’s behind you!” and “Oh, yes she is!” Running for 6 weeks, from November 29 – January 10, there is plenty of time to join in on the fun and maybe create a new Christmas family tradition.

RUB OF THE GREEN If things get a bit frosty this Christmas shopping season, the iconic glass dome of Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre will provide some welcome shelter.

Conveniently located next to the greenery of Stephen’s Green Park, many of Dublin’s top tourist destinations, and with over a hundred outlets containing the latest high street fashions and boutique and international brands, it’s a one-stop destination for those looking to avoid the busy yuletide streets. A Dublin landmark for the past 26 years, the spectacular Victorian–style greenhouse is packed full of uniquely Irish treasures like Waterford Crystal, Newbridge Silver, art, antiques and jewellery. And, when shopper’s fatigue inevitably sets in, there are ample resting spots from which you can marvel at the historic architecture and bountiful mouthwatering eateries to help recharge the batteries.

Iconic: St Stephen's Green Shopping Centre

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ENTER|HERE Christmas Lights go on in Henry Street, Dublin on November 12

CHRISTMAS IN DUBLIN Christmas is coming and this year the yuletide build-up in Dublin is going to be bigger than ever. The festivities begin on November 12 with the lighting of the Christmas lights on Henry Street, which will be followed on November 15 with a special guest doing the honours on Grafton Street and on November 29 when the Lord Mayor illuminates O’Connell Street. This final ceremony will also feature

an attempt to break the Geansai Nollaig world record! On November 26, there will be an open-air concert in Smithfield coinciding with the lighting of the Smithfield Christmas Tree, and the I Believe Christmas Tree and Village will take over the Custom House Quarter until December 23. It is expected to attract 10,000 visitors per day for Ireland’s first food, drink, craft and horticulture festival.

KATHRIN BAUMBACH

Villagers' Conor O'Brien

LET'S DO LUNCH Back for it’s eleventh outing in 2016 (January 8–31), Belfast’s hugely popular boutique Out To Lunch Arts Festival already has a line-up that guarantees a good start to the New Year. Based in the city’s vibrant and historic Cathedral Quarter, venues like The Black Box and The Mac will host 3 weeks of music, comedy, theatre, spoken word and exhibition. Some of the early bird

shows already announced include music from Mercury Prize nominees Villagers and East India Youth, the incomparable Beardyman and Hot Press Big Break 2015 winner Ciaran Lavery with Emily Barker. There will also be performances of the John Steinbeck classic Of Mice and Men, comedy from Comic’s Choice Award winner Sarah Kendall and Peep Show’s Isy Suttie.

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T R A I N| NEW S

W H A T ’ S

H A P P E N I N G

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T H E

R A I L W A Y S

NEWLY REFURBISHED ENTERPRISE SERVICE RETURNS The first newly refurbished Enterprise train returned to passenger service this month marking a significant milestone in the Translink NI Railways and Irish Rail £12.2 million train upgrade programme. The refurbishment programme has been financed through the European Union’s INTERREG IVA Programme and managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) with support from the Department for Regional Development and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport (DTTAS) in Ireland.

Improved comfort, service and value onboard our newly refurbished trains.

*Conditions apply.

Web day returns from

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Translink Group Chief Executive Chris Conway said: “This is great news for our customers. The service looks and feels like a modern new train with the emphasis on comfort, service and value.

“Customers will first notice the train’s striking new look with a stylish purple, red and grey livery.

Stepping on board, the transformation is incredible from the attractive seating, plush carpets and electronic seat reservation displays to finer details like new lighting, handrails and signage – we’re confident our customers will be pleased with the stylish interiors and improved passenger features.

“Whether travelling for business or leisure, Enterprise is the smart move for hassle free journeys letting you catch-up on work, relax and browse the internet taking advantage of free Wi-Fi

and power sockets now installed in every carriage”.

“Another exciting development is the new Enterprise Menu offering customers an appetising selection of fresh food and drink. Enterprise Class passengers will be able to choose from both a trolley service, or visit the new dining car that now includes ‘sit-in’ table service. There’s also a waiter service for Enterprise Plus customers to enjoy delicious meals from the comfort of their seat – a truly unique dining experience!

“Travelling by Enterprise is not just about reaching your destination, it’s about the unique journey experience. We want to offer our customers a relaxing way to escape to Dublin, avoiding the hassle of traffic congestion and car parking."

A new advertising campaign launching the refurbished service showcases the new interiors of Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Class and the Dining Car as well as the new exterior livery.

Leisure travellers are encouraged to pre-book a web fare from the Translink website from only £10 day return and regular business travellers are being advised to pre-purchase a carnet book of tickets for Enterprise Class and Enterprise Plus with savings of up to 38%.

PHOENIX RISING

TRAIN|NEWS

L E AV E I T O U T ! !

Minister for Transport Paschal Donohoe, along with Anne Graham, Chief Executive of the NTA and David Franks, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann

AU T U M N L E A F FA L L & T R AI N D EL AYS It's that time of year again. Everyone has heard the apologies for delays due to "leaves on the line" - but what does that mean? How can a small thing like leaves affect a big heavy train.

T R AI NS F ROM K IL DA R E TO C O NNO LLY & GR AND C A NA L D O CK TO CO MME NCE N EXT YEA R AS P H OE NI X PAR K TU NNE L LI NE U P G RA D E BE G I NS AS MI NI ST E R DON OH OE L AU N CH ES 1 3 . 7 M I LLI O N E U R O P R O J E CT. Commuters on the Kildare to Dublin Heuston line will have the option of direct trains to Connolly, Tara St, Pearse and Grand Canal Dock Stations from late 2016, and scope for expansion of services, as a €13.7 million project to upgrade the Phoenix Park Tunnel line has commenced.

The works will also improve connections for Belfast Enterprise customers, with direct trains departing Connolly Station to the Kildare commuter line.

Together with ongoing resignalling works between Connolly and Grand Canal Dock, the project will allow regular commuter trains operate through the Phoenix Park Tunnel for the first time by upgrading the tunnel and route, and increasing the number of train services which can operate on the line between Connolly and Grand Canal Dock.

THE PROJECT INCLUDES: · Cutting stabilisation, drainage and vegetation clearance · Tunnel upgrade – cleaning, masonry repairs, lighting, signage, telecoms · Renewal of a section of track, points and crossings and components · Signal relocation · Station works – upgrade works at Drumcondra to include new ticket gates, and upgrade works at Tara St station to include new southbound lift shaft Services on the Kildare commuter line will be a mix of Kildare to Dublin Heuston and Kildare to Grand Canal Dock services, offering new connections to commuters. The new services will commence in Autumn 2016.

Speaking at the launch of the project in Heuston Station, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe TD said: “I very much welcome this innovative new public transport project. For the first time, commuters on the popular Kildare suburban rail line will have frequent services directly into the heart of the south city business district. This will provide an attractive alternative for private motorists who currently commute into the city along the congested N7 corridor. I would like to congratulate NTA and Iarnród Éireann on their successful partnership in planning projects such as this, which seek to promote modal shift to more sustainable public transport options.”

Anne Graham, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority said: “The NTA is delighted that the works are now commencing on the Phoenix Park Tunnel, a project that the Authority promoted and funded. Both the Phoenix Park tunnel and the on-going work on the city centre re-signalling will exploit the full potential of existing rail infrastructure at minimal cost and will offer more rail travel options for public transport customers.”

David Franks, Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive, said: “We look forward to giving improved connections to new and existing customers through the upgrade of the Phoenix Park Tunnel line. They will be of particular benefit for those commuting between the Kildare line and the south city area served

by Pearse and Grand Canal Dock, offering direct connections which are not currently available by public transport.”

The leaf fall in autumn often causes poor rail head conditions and can affect train performance and punctuality in a number of ways.

When leaves fall on to the line, particularly in damp or wet weather, the rolling action of passing wheels compresses them, causing a greasy ‘mulch’ to cover the rail. This mulch is to rails what ice is to roads. It reduces the adhesion between wheel and rail - hence the phrase "low rail adhesion". The leaf mulch can also affect the operation of track circuits.

Therefore, acceleration must be reduced to prevent slipping, and braking distances extended. If you’re a regular customer, you can probably sense the wheel “slipping” on a train if you’re travelling through an area that’s affected. This is why minor delays are more prevalent at this time of year, particularly in the early morning and early evening.

We constantly work to reduce the impact of low rail adhesion through a range of measures: •

•

•

•

•

Vegetation Management: Removing trees from our property, and making sure other vegetation is cut back and managed. Unfortunately, we can't remove trees from bordering properties.

Sandite Machine: We have machinery to address this problem, which operates overnight on key sections of the network, water-jetting and spreading “Sandite” on the line to improve the grip between wheel and rail.

Traction Gel Applicators: Iarnród Éireann has also invested in Traction Gel Applicators – 108 of these units are installed across the network in known areas of low rail adhesion. When a train passes over the unit, it dispenses traction gel which improves the grip between the wheel and rail interface.

Manual Application: Hand held applicators and rail-head scrubbers are also stored in strategic locations to allow line maintenance staff provide a rapid response to other areas of slipping.

On-Board Sanding: Iarnród Éireann has also equipped its passenger trains with on board sanding systems which will dispense sand when wheel slip is detected.

The number of weeks this can continue for varies from year to year, depending on weather conditions. However, we will continue to work throughout the period affected to minimise delays on services, and apologise for the inconvenience caused.

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U 2

U2 BRING it all

BACK HOME THIS NOVEMBER MARKS THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES THAT U2 ARE PLAYING INDOORS ON THEIR HOME TURF. BELFAST AND DUBLIN ARE EAGERLY AWAITING A TOUR THAT HAS BEEN TAKING BOTH EUROPE AND AMERICA BY STORM W O R D S

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T Y A R E N S E N

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he last time Enterprise interviewed U2, in October of last year, the legendary Irish band had just controversially released their long-awaited thirteenth studio album, Songs of Innocence, as a free iTunes download.

The unexpected online backlash – which was ultimately more against the power and dominance of big-tech companies like Apple than the four Dubliners themselves – largely distracted the public from the quality of the album itself. Initially at least, it seemed that most people were too busy shouting about invasion of privacy to actually listen to the songs – though given that more than 40 million iTunes customers have since downloaded SOI, the manoeuvre could hardly be considered a failure.

Thankfully that brouhaha has long since died down. Even at the time, the band were confident that the music would ultimately win out. While Bono, Edge and Adam were justifiably proud of their latest effort, Larry Mullen was particularly enthused. The straight-talking drummer hadn’t been overly fond of their previous album, 2009’s No Line on the Horizon (which he had disparagingly dubbed No Craic on the Horizon).

He had a much more positive take on Songs of Innocence. “I think, in the end, what it’s about is confidence in songs,” he said. “We’ve been banging on about how this is what we wanna do. It is essential. If you want to do this at this level, when you do the interviews, when you go on promotional tours and when you do the gig, these things will sustain you and they define you.

In the end, your songs define you.

“We have great experimentation,” he continued.

“We’ve done it. We’re probably one of the great bands for experimentation. You put U2 in a room

P H O T O

S A M

J O N E S

and we come up with all kinds of shit. When it comes to song-writing, it’s slightly more tricky for us. And when you go to Germany, France, Belgium, when you’re taking to people all over the world, the first thing they wanna know is, ‘How did you do that? What about the songs?

What about the songs?’ We can play this shit up and down, back to front. That’s our calling card.

That’s what’s so great for us.”

Although delayed following Bono’s disastrous cycling accident in New York, their critically acclaimed iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE tour finally kicked off in Vancouver this May, and U2 have been playing their new songs (along with many old ones) up and down, and back to front all over America and Europe ever since.

This tour is the first time U2 have played indoors in over a decade, but while they’ve scaled down the audiences to suit the more intimate feel of the new songs, their ambition remains as unchecked as ever. Previous tours have featured psychedelically painted Trabant cars, 40-foot mechanical lemons, giant crowd-straddling Sci-Fi Claws, live telephonic link-ups with the International Space Station, and other technical marvels. In very stark contrast, iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE opens with the band playing under a single swinging oversized lightbulb.

Later this month they’re bringing it all back home with two consecutive nights in the Belfast SSE on November 18 and 19 before moving down to Dublin’s 3Arena for shows on November 23, 24, 27 and 28.

Some people say that religion and politics have no place in rock ‘n’ roll but, from the very beginning of their lengthy and often controversial career, U2 have always steadfastly played by their own rules and consistently dealt with serious political issues that most of their safer musical

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E NTE R | V IE W DANNY NORTH

“WE’RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE GREAT BANDS FOR EXPERIMENTATION. YOU PUT U2 IN A ROOM AND WE COME UP WITH ALL KINDS OF SHIT”

U2 live in Turin

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contemporaries wouldn’t ever dream of commenting upon – in song or otherwise.

From ‘Sunday Bloody Sunday', ‘Please’and ‘Walk On’ to ‘Miss Sarajevo’, ‘Silver and Gold’ and ‘Mothers of the Disappeared’, the Dublin band have always been one of the most overtly political bands in rock, never afraid to lyrically tackle the most contentious of issues.

Their Irish shows are always something special, for obvious reasons, but one song in particular from Songs of Innocence will have unique resonance.

The dark and edgy ‘Raised By Wolves’ is about the Dublin-Monaghan bombings of May 17, 1974. Although Bono wasn’t personally caught up in the blast, the brother of a close friend was (he later became a heroin addict as a result of the trauma).

Bono sings, “Face down on a broken street/ There’s a man in the corner in a pool of misery/ I’m in a white van as a red sea covers the ground/ Metal crash I can’t tell what it is/ But I take a look and now I’m sorry I did/ 5:50 on a Friday night, 33 good people cut down.”

This writer saw the opening night of iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE in Vancouver.

Just before the song began, the sounds of explosions rang around the arena and the onscreen visuals – put together by artistic director Gavin Friday – played a montage of old RTÉ news reports from that fateful day.

In Vancouver there was a stunned silence at the end of the song, before the show went on.

However, when they play ‘Raised By Wolves’ in Ireland, its emotional impact will undoubtedly be many, many times more powerful.

"We will be taking account of sensitivities, for sure, in the way that we stage the show," The Edge tells me. "That is something we do wherever we are. The show is always presented with a sense of the audience that we are going to be presenting to. Changes get made if things just don’t seem to be right or if we don’t know how things are going to work or play. People understand that the content varies a lot. We haven’t finalised that, so I don’t want to start saying how it will be different. We’re still working on it.

"It’s going to be very interesting, not only playing Belfast, but playing in Dublin because, of course, the album is very personal. It namechecks a lot of people and places in the city. It’s a very different thing to play ‘Cedarwood Road’ to American fans or Italian or Spanish or British fans, but when you’re playing it to people who probably lived there (laughs), or know it well, and know a lot of the references: I wouldn’t want to say it’s daunting, but certainly there will be a lot of care and a sense that these shows are set apart from the rest of the tour."

The Dublin shows are particularly challenging because 3Arena is smaller and more intimate than every other venue the tour has visited.

"I think it’s going to be a very exciting few shows," Edge concludes, "because – the songs, the production, they’re jammed-in there. We’re putting on a production designed for a much bigger house than the 3Arena. I’m sure it’s gonna lift the roof off with the energy and concentration."

Personally, I can't wait...

M Y | C I T Y

M YC I TY BE L FAST

4 DAY S O F L I V I N G S TO R I E S

DAY EVENTS MASER /

Throughout the weekend. An interactive art installation in Smithfield Sq by world-renowned local legend, street artist Maser.

STOKERLAND /

Sunday Oct 25. A Gothic theme park for the whole family to enjoy, with rides, macabre street performers & ghoulish treats

MACNAS /

Monday Oct 26. Giants and Gods, Angels and Demons traverse the darkened city in a spell-binding twilight procession by the spectacular Macnas.

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AND MUCH MORE FOR EVERYONE TO SINK THEIR TEETH INTO

DJ, Downtown Radio •

Favourite Pub? The nightlife in Belfast is so diverse, it would be unfair to choose one bar over another. That’s a toughie!

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What was it like growing up in Belfast?

I was lucky because we lived in the outskirts and had the benefit of closeness to the city and the beautiful countryside of County Down.

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Favourite part of Belfast?

Around the Stranmillis area, at the Lagan and the boathouses where I used to row when I was at school.

4 N I G H T S O F D E A D LY A D V E N T U R E S

Favourite restaurant?

Deanes Meat Locker. It’s simply wonderful,

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Favourite shop?

House of Fraser in Victoria Centre.

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Best thing about Belfast?

Belfast has quite a compact city centre and in no time you can be in the countryside, or at the County Antrim or Down coast.

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Who is the first person you would call for a drink when you’re home?

Ian Beasant - he’s a motoring correspondent and we can talk cars incessantly!

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Worst thing about Belfast?

Bus lanes.

NIGHT EVENTS Saturday Oct 24. An hour and a half of story and song to inspire, alarm and humour, hosted by Dylan Haskins & Lisa Hannigan with special guests in the spectacular St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

NEW BLOOD /

Sunday Oct 25. A cold, sharp bite of contemporary Irish culture in a futuristic vampire haven. At this whopper party, expect national & international live acts & DJs, bespoke cocktails, art installations and surprises in one of Dublin’s coolest art spaces.

TOTAL NIGHTMARE /

Sunday Oct 25. We all have moments we’d rather forget - join Le Cool Dublin in Freemasons’ Hall as their panel of guests relive the worst moments of their lives for your listening pleasure.

YOU’LL HAVE A FANGTASTIC TIME BRAMSTOKERFESTIVAL.COM

Big T hosts Downtown Country on Downtown Radio and Down Country (our digital station) and has been with Downtown Radio from day 1. He is a much loved radio personality

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MIGHTY MAC HAVING FIRST TAKEN TO THE DECKS WHEN A STUDENT AT QUEEN'S IN BELFAST, ANNIE MAC NOW PRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND IMPORTANT RADIO SLOTS ON THE PLANET. THE DANCE DJ DONE GOOD TELLS ENTERPRISE ABOUT TAKING OVER FROM ZANE LOWE...

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ver since her time studying at Queen's University Belfast, where she was at the epicentre of the music action and student nightlife, Annie Mac has been synonymous with dance. The Dublin-born DJ was as shocked as anyone, then, when she was selected as the successor to Zane Lowe in BBC Radio 1's flagship weekday evenings slot.

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A show traditionally seen as the ultimate radio tastemaker – for lovers of all genres – the jury was out, for some, on how eclectic her tastes were.

“It was all completely out of the blue,” Mac says of the offer. “I’d been to see the boss, Ben Cooper, before. I’d said I wanted to do more than just Fridays. Having a show on Sunday nights had been really good, because I got a chance to play more hip-hop, more downbeat stuff, some folk and electronica and so on. I’d been trying to find a way to broaden my musical horizons on the air; the inner rocker was there long before the inner raver!”

“I realised it’s a long-term thing,” she says of winning over the audience. “You can’t change people’s perceptions overnight, but then you don’t need to; the beauty of being on air on a daily basis is that you have time to really infiltrate people’s lives, and they get to know you really well. There was definitely an initial fear, and a feeling of having to prove myself. And then I just calmed down!

“I’ve loved every second of it. It’s the sort of job that I never allowed myself to want, if that makes sense; at Radio 1, jobs don’t come up very often, and especially jobs like this. When someone like Zane Lowe is doing said job, you don’t think he’s ever going to leave!”

The hardest part has been finding the time to absorb so much music. The secret, she reveals, is having a top-notch posse assembled to take some of the pressure off.

“I’m lucky that I have a great team; two guys who’ll sift through a ton of the music we get sent, and pick out what would be relevant to our show. We share the same taste, and when I realised we were all on the same level it was a massive relief; if it had been a situation where I’d have to programme those shows all on my own, then I literally couldn’t do the job. Fridays are completely solo, but during the week it’s a collaborative effort; sitting in a small room for an afternoon, deciding ‘yes’ or ‘no’ together.”

Any early disquiet when she was confirmed as the new presenter in mid February proved utterly misguided; Ms MacManus has proved to be just as knowledgeable on rock and rap as she is on rave; the slot’s reputation for championing new sounds remains as formidable as ever.

“I like to think about broadcasting to someone who’s curious about music,” she says, “and curious enough to listen to a show full of new music. At the end of the day, the music does the talking, and we’re making sure that we’re playing a shitload of indie and rock bands, the sort of thing that’s really the remit of the show.”

So far, so brilliant: it was recently revealed that the show is up 100,000 listeners since she took the helm on March 9. Put that down to the already formidable fanbase Mac brought with her, as well as her clear on-air skills.

"It’s pretty convenient for me!” she laughs.

“But it could be that the next quarter we go down again; I don’t fully trust the accuracy of the system. Zane recently described it as ‘the quarterly rollercoaster of self-confidence’, because you can base your whole career on these random figures that can make you feel really shit or really great.”

Indeed, with wisdom like that from her predecessor, it comes as no shock that Zane was straight on the blower when news filtered through that Annie would be taking over his spot.

“He rang me when he found out,” she reveals.

“He was lovely, and positive, and complimentary, and gave me some really good advice. He told me not to emulate what I’ve heard before, and that being myself is all I can do; I was chosen because of what I do, and should have faith in that. As he said himself, a lot of the time when someone leaves it’s because they’ve been asked to go, whereas he left to do something he was really excited about. It’s all positive in that situation, and I was really glad we could have that chat.”

Annie has made her own indelible mark on the slot. Logically, her influence stretches far beyond the two hours on the air – there’s much to be gained in winning her fader finger’s favour – but that’s never on her mind.

“You can’t think like that, or it becomes far too difficult,” she confesses. “There’s so many other agendas within the industry – all sorts of plots, and release schedules, and so forth – but the easiest way I’ve found to decide what I’ll play is listening to the song. You don’t even consider what’s come before or after, just focus on the song. I try not to feel the pressure.”

Hear Annie Mac on BBC Radio 1 from 7–9pm, Monday to Thursday

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LOBSTER MOVIE C olin Farrell used to be known as a serious party animal, but the Dublin-born actor has been clean and sober for several years now.

Today the fresh-faced 39-year-old says that if he had to choose to be a different animal he’d prefer to be a creature of the feathered variety.

“I’d have to be skyborne, man,” he laughs, sitting with Enterprise in a luxury suite in Dublin’s Intercontinental Hotel. “I’d want to be a seagull or a bald eagle – something that’s an apex predator, just so I’d get a bit more longevity out of it. So, yeah, a creature of flight.”

The character he plays in his new movie has different ideas. The first English-language feature by talented young Greek director Yorgos Lanthimos, The Lobster – an absurdist sci-fi satire about relationships, set in a dystopian near future – is undoubtedly the weirdest and most surreal film to have been released in recent years.

Although the location isn’t central to the story, the movie was shot over eight weeks in Sneem, Co. Kerry, last year. Heading up a cast that includes Rachel Weisz, Jessica Barden, Ben Whishaw and John C. Reilly, Farrell plays David, a somewhat joyless and gone-to-seed architect whose wife has recently dumped him.

According to the societal rules of ‘The City’, all single people are taken to ‘The Hotel’ where they are obliged to find a matching mate within 45 days. If they fail to pair-up with a suitable partner, they are transformed into an animal of their choice and sent off into ‘The Woods’.

David has already decided that should he fail to meet someone suitable within the allocated time, he’d like to be changed into a lobster on the following grounds: lobsters have blue blood, “like aristocrats”, they can live for 100 years, and what’s more, he “genuinely likes the sea”.

The manageress of ‘The Hotel’ (a strikingly severe Olivia Colman) is approving of David’s choice: most people want to be dogs – which is why there’s so many dogs in the world.

She reminds him that his choice will dictate how easily he will find a partner in his next incarnation: “After all, a wolf and a penguin can’t be together, or a camel and a hippo,” she says.

“That would be absurd.”

While the entire concept sounds laughably ludicrous, The Lobster is actually quite brilliant brutal, compelling and thought-provoking.

It’s certainly a strange film for the star to choose. “I think it’s a very strange film for anybody to do,” he observes, “but probably in the anthology of my work it’s not as obvious a creative place for me to find myself.”

Of course, Farrell could do with a cinematic hit.

THE NORMALLY SVELTE COLIN FARRELL PUT ON 40LBS FOR HIS DEADPAN ROLE IN NEW DYSTOPIAN SCI-FI COMEDY THE LOBSTER. THE TRUE DETECTIVE STAR AND LEADING IRISH ACTOR OF HIS GENERATION TALKS ABOUT FATTENING UP AND SLIMMING DOWN WITH US W O R D S

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Despite generally glowing reviews for his role as troubled cop Ray Velcoro in the second season of HBO’s True Detective, his movie career hasn’t exactly been setting the world alight the way it used to. Having originally shot to fame as the handsome young star of such movies as Phone Booth, S.W.A.T. and Minority Report, and won a Golden Globe in 2009 for his role in Martin McDonagh’s dark comedy In Bruges, some of his more recent offerings – A New York’s Winter Tale, Total Recall, Onedine – have been fairly poorly received by critics.

While it’s unlikely to be a box office smash, The Lobster could well change that. “It’s such particular work,” he enthuses. “Those boys are so singular. I mean, if you look at Yorgos’ other films, Dogtooth and Alps, the conventions that both of those stories live within, and how they’re fleshed out, are so unusual and so awkward that I don’t think there are many actors that it would make sense for to appear in a film like this. And yet I was dying to do it.”

He must have been. Farrell famously donned a fat suit and bald wig for Horrible Bosses, but he put on a real 40lb to play the role of David.

How did he manage that? “Just got it into me!” he laughs. “Burgers for breakfast, pizza for lunch, and desserts, and never pass a milkshake shop without stopping in. Just eating as much as possible.”

How long to take it off again?

“Two months in, two months out. Eight weeks each end - a complete reversal. It didn’t feel great. It’s a bit shocking! But, as I said, it was a short-lived thing.”

It was quite some commitment for a lowbudget indie movie...

“I don’t know,” he muses. “I think it behoves you to treat the films that are small indie films with as much seriousness and dedication. At times they ask more of both those things than the bigger, lighter fare that has to reach a more common denominator or a broader ocean of people. I mean this is about as specific a film as I’ve ever been part of.

Losing the weight so quickly proved a challenge, but it had to be done. “I had a thing to do, a very particular photoshoot that I had to be really in shape for, about eight or nine weeks after we wrapped, otherwise I would have taken more time. But it was fine. I’d be disciplined in that way, but there’s a thin line between discipline and madness when it comes to that kind of stuff.”

While it can be viewed on many levels, The Lobster – which won the Jury Prize at this year’s Cannes Film Festival –is primarily a satire about modern relationships. Although the father of two young boys, Farrell has been single for the last few years. He says that wasn’t a deciding factor in why he took on the role.

“Not really, it’s just good work,” he shrugs. “You will, at times, find yourself drawn to things, and even unconsciously, that something begins to reveal itself to you that is a concern even if it’s not something that you’ve been vocal about, or even something that you recognise. For sure, that happens as well. There’s a certain kind of alchemical thing that can go on as well.”

Above all else, The Lobster is very, very funny. Is he more comfortable doing comedy?

“I wouldn’t say so, because this didn’t feel like comedy,” he says. “If I was doing a comedy with Will Ferrell, that would feel like comedy. When I did Horrible Bosses a few years ago, that felt like comedy. That was broad. This didn’t feel like comedy, even though there is humour in it, in the same way that In Bruges didn’t feel like comedy.

“Because there’s very high stakes, there’s a lot of dramatic dynamics going on, there’s characters that are in pain, regardless of how much or how little they know of the pain that they are actually in,” he continues. “Then through that absurdity, through that black hole of experience and the flickering of redemptions on the periphery, comedy comes out. Obviously True Detective was the furthest thing from comedy a person could ever do. I don’t know if there’s a genre I’m more or less comfortable in than any others, but it’s nice to mix it up.”

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MONTY PYTHON STAR AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTARIAN MICHAEL PALIN TELLS ENTERPRISE ABOUT HIS COMEDY GANG’S MASSIVE REUNION SHOWS, SEEING THE WORLD AND HAVING THE LIKES OF PAUL MCCARTNEY AS A FAN.

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ichael Palin is now arguably as well-known for his travel exploits as his involvement in seminal comedy troupe Monty Python. Since Around The World In 80 Days arrived on our screen in 1989, he has brought us to the Sahara, the Himalayas, on an epic pole-to-pole excursion and more.

The third installment of his celebrated diaries, which has just been published - Travelling To Work - spans the decade in which he became our televisual guide to the globe.

“It can be exhilarating, especially when you go to villages in Pakistan or Bolivia or somewhere in the Peruvian Jungle,” he says. “I find places that are completely out of my familiar world most fascinating. It is also very rewarding to realise that even in remote places like that you can connect with the people; that is wonderful.”

His diaries have proved quite the literary sensation, and one of the key things Palin hopes people will take away from the show is how worthwhile the habit actually is.

“It’s really rewarding,” he nods. “I found when one writes a diary, it keeps an account of time passing, so it doesn’t just slip through your fingers. My determination to keep a diary was severely tested because Monty Python’s Flying Circus really began to take off shortly after I started. We were working so hard, how did I find the time to write this stuff down? But I did persevere.”

Can Palin pinpoint the exact time he realised the show was becoming an international sensation?

“I remember hearing that Paul McCartney, one of my enormous heroes, liked this little BBC show called Monty Python’s Flying Circus so much that he would stop recording sessions whenever Python went out,” he laughs. “All the musicians had to watch Python! This probably cost thousands of pounds in musicians’ fees!”

Last year’s Monty Python reunion shows were the catalyst for Palin deciding to do his own tour.

“I really look forward to playing with an audience because they govern the show,” he says. “It is not a one-man show, it is a two-man show. It is you and then there is the audience.

And how they react, and what they like and what they prefer governs what you talk about. It’s two-

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way. I like to keep it loose, so that I can adjust to that.”

The sell-out reunion run not only saw the seminal outfit take to the London stage but they brought along a stellar cast of guests.

“Well, a lot of them were people who just wanted to come and see the show,” he smiles.

“Stephen Fry was great, he is our friend too. Mike Myers really enjoyed it, he is a huge fan, Paul Whitehouse came along, but Harry Enfield didn’t.

He said if it was really good, it would depress him but if it was really bad, it would depress him too.

“The reactions were quite surprising,” he admits. “Mike Myers kept saying, ‘This is terrific!

This is terrific’ I thought he was exaggerating but he meant it! Noel Fielding was brilliant too.”

The reunion shows – which were mooted to repay legal fees and back royalties owed for the musical based on The Holy Grail, Spamalot – marked 34 year since the Pythons last performed on stage together. What was the chemistry like after such an absence?

“Well, we all agreed to do it, so we put aside any difference, about lifestyles or whatever,” he says. “And rehearsals went well. But I think everyone was in their own little world, possibly uncertain about how it was all going to be on the night, and how we were going to play sometimes intimate comedy in front of 15,000 people. I remember the first night, I don’t think any of us really expected quite such warmth from an audience. It was like we had rolled back 45 years, it was just terrific to do it again, and it was a

great shared experience.”

Fellow Python Terry Gilliam has also put pen to paper and will publish his memoirs this month.

“Yes, the book looks great, I have a copy,” he says. “Funny story: I did Radio 5 Live a while ago and someone told me there was a rumour that Terry had died. I said, ‘Oh no, I’m meant to be seeing him on Thursday night!’ Variety in Hollywood had, quite in error, published his obituary. It gave us such a laugh. I asked him what it was like and he said: ‘It is a bit weird! I was in my house on my own that night, and I thought, ‘My God, what’s happening here?!’ It was great publicity for his book!”

Palin is in the midst of his Thirty Years Tour which included two successful pitstops in Dublin and Belfast. The tour was a stage presentation of the three volumes of his diaries that have been published to date. He is also about to embark on a new arts documentary for the BBC. Which begs the question, does he ever rest?

“Ha! I do!” he laughs. “At the moment I am in the middle of five days publicity for the book but I do try to take time off. Over the years I have met so many people I feel I can’t turn my back on all the emails that come in from around the world asking, ‘Do you want to come here? Can you do this?’”

“I mean it is exciting and exhilarating,” continues the 72-year old. “I suppose I have to decide really how I am going to spend the rest of my life, which I think probably will be how I spent my life up until now - trying to make my mind up!”

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ovember 3-5 once again finds the digital world descending on Dublin for the totally sold-out Web Summit 2015.

From those looking to secure finance for their start-ups to CEOs of some of the biggest companies in the world, all forms of techy life are there.

With Brian O'Driscoll, Dan Brown, Edwin Van Der Sar and Pixar founder Ed Catmull among the keynote speakers, it is a fascinating three days in which tens of millions of pounds/euros' worth of business is done in and around the RDS. Sadly, it also signals the end – for the time being anyway – of the Web Summit's tenure in leafy Ballsbridge.

Front-page headlines were made in September when Paddy Cosgrave announced that as from 2016 Lisbon will be hosting the Web Summit, which is worth an estimated €110 million a year to its host city.

Cosgrave blamed the decision on a lack of local and national government support for the initiative - a charge strenuously denied by those in the corridors of power. His subsequent making public of correspondence between him and Enda Kenny's office has further fuelled the fire.

In one of his most revealing ever interviews, Paddy tells Enterprise's Olaf Tyaransen about his formative years, how he got bitten by the tech bug, the Web Summit launch and what's subsequently gone right and wrong for it in Ireland.

OLAF TYARANSEN: You grew up on a farm?

PADDY COSGRAVE: Yeah. One brother, one sister, two parents. I’m the eldest. So I’ve got a younger brother who has coincidently just moved to Lisbon. Independently obviously; he’s his own man. He lived in Berlin for the last three years.

He’s an engineer. I have a little sister who’s seven years younger. She works in Dublin.

What type of farm was it?

It was a dairy farm, so I saw my dad milk cows.

Did you work on it?

I did work on it from time to time, but my dad – aside from milking cows and the daily obligations of farming, which aren’t particularly glamorous – probably never really took a holiday in 25 years. I never went on a holiday abroad with my parents. He was just obsessed with computers, he thought computers were the future. So from the day I was born, we had all of the first Apples. I still have a working Mac SE at home from 1988.

Was he looking at computers from a farming

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DESPITE ALL 30,000 TICKETS BEING SNAPPED UP, THIS IS THE LAST WEB SUMMIT TO BE STAGED IN DUBLIN. HOW IT'S BECOME A GLOBALLY RENOWNED EVENT AND WHY IT'S MOVING TO LISBON ARE BOTH TO THE FORE AS ENTERPRISE MEETS FOUNDER PADDY COSGRAVE

perspective?

No, he just liked to code. Now he’s retired and he contributes to open source projects full-time.

He was determined that his kids were going to learn about computers. The only time we were asked to do anything on the farm was when the cows got out. He just didn’t want us farming.

What age where you when you learned to programme in Basic?

Well, my dad persuaded my secondary school to teach programming in first year, so everybody learned BBC Basic, which was an easier to learn programming language. At the time it was in a number of schools in the UK – it just wasn’t in Ireland. Here, there was usually one computer in a school that was kept in a box under lock and key.

Was it a happy childhood?

I had a great childhood. My parents just let me do what I wanted to do. I went to boarding school when I was 12 years of age.

Glenstall Abbey, wasn’t it?

Yeah, it was a pretty philosophical place. They just let you do your own thing. I wasn’t that interested in school. I remember when I was 11 somebody stayed in our house and left a copy of a book, Towards A New Cold War by Noam Chomsky. I used to just love to read books. You had so much free time in a boarding school. As long as you’re not setting things on fire they just generally left you alone!

You edited the college magazine in Trinity.

You obviously had an interest in media?

I went to college, but I thought the most exciting things were happening outside of the lecture hall. Getting involved in societies and publications was a way of experiencing other things. Everybody had to do the course work and exams, but it was the optional stuff – all of these other things that you could discover – that I liked.

Let’s fast forward to the Web Summit. It’s gone from a minor to major event in just a few short years.

The Web Summit happened pretty much by accident. Paul Campbell, who’s behind Tito, asked me to get involved. I did on the basis that I could get more people to use the software. Until 2012 we were still in a sitting room in Ranelagh. From there I met more big tech conference organisers, and other types of conferences around Europe and the United States. I assumed that as conferences got really big people would use software to make them better.

How do you mean?

When it’s just 200 people it’s quite easy to find the people that you want to meet. You use your eyes, that’s your software. When it gets to 3,000 people what’s the point in an alphabetical attendee list? There’s five Alans. Who’s the right person? You just don’t know. I actually couldn’t believe that all of these large conferences were... bereft, is that the word? There was just no software. And yet you had LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook, who years before had solved the problem of who to recommend that you follow or you friend or you add based on a field of mathematics called graph theory and they built what are called recommender systems. So you go on Twitter and you’re engaging with a certain type of content or engaging with a certain type of person and they’ll say, “Hey, here’s some other people you might want to follow,” out of 200 million people on Twitter. If they can do it in the online world, you can absolutely do it in the offline world.

Give me an example of that…

At the very first Web Summit, when I had to do dinner for 200 people for three nights, and a pub crawl, I hired this event manager and asked them what the best software was to optimally seat people – to assign them tables and assign them pub crawls. So then when my friend Kev Cunningham, who I used to live with – I live with five other people, it’s not a commune, it’s just a shared house – he really built this convenient brute force algorithm to randomly optimise who was sitting at what table at what dinner. Now that’s got a lot more sophisticated. Many of the people downstairs have PhDs in an area of physics called complex systems and so everything that we do has become a lot more... (Holds up smartphone and starts scrolling) This is an example, this is our recommender system. Out of the 30,000 attendees at Web Summit, these are the people it’s telling me that I should connect with. These are the speakers, out of the 600 speakers, that I would be most interested in. All we’re trying to do is engineer the serendipity or the chaos that happens with 30,000 people. A music concert is different. People are there to see Bob Dylan, they’re there to see U2 – it’s not so important who’s around you.

The Web Summit is moving to Lisbon next year. Why did you decide to announce it the way you did?

We’d been giving all of the cities that we’d been working with a hard deadline of the 23rd of September. That was always going to be the date

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that we would announce where the 2016 Web Summit would be. At the scale we’re now operating, it’s not just for attendees, but it’s also for many of the speakers and the partners – they’re busy people and they plan, not years in advance, but definitely almost a year in advance. I just felt that it was the right time to do it, about six weeks before. It also makes Dublin all the more special in that people know that they’re having this unique experience in this city for the very last time.

You’re obviously not impressed with the Irish government’s response?

Saddened about it all, really (shakes head). We’ve been approached for a number of years to move the Web Summit – even after the first event in 2010, we held a meeting with another government, in another country. Over time, obviously as the event has grown beyond what anybody expected, the number of countries approaching us – and the value that they saw in the event for their cities – has increased.

Some of your requests seemed quite unreasonable. For example, surely a hotel is a private business? They can’t have a price limit imposed on them by the government.

There’s already a price limit imposed on them by the government, under section 43

of the relevant act in 2003. It’s just that it’s not necessarily enforced.

What do you mean?

They have to publish their highest rates clearly in those hotels, and then they can’t go above those rates. Which is what happens elsewhere in Europe. So in the case of every single country that approached us, just as the most basic things, they could say, “We work with our hotels regularly to attract events from all over the world." If you think about it Ireland doesn’t have a conference industry, but if you go to Amsterdam or Barcelona it’s like clockwork.

You also requested Garda escorts for VIP guests.

Yeah, well they were offered to us and given to us in the past. That list is a wish list that we were instructed to place in writing, literally if we could have the moon and the stars, what would we ask for? I think people knock the civil service, but the civil service are very smart people. In the past, the State very kindly provided Garda escorts for buses of delegates going out to meet the President in 2011. So the precedent has existed for many, many years.

The public perception was that it was pampered tech billionaires wanting to be being treated like royalty at the

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BUSINESS

Bono speaking at the Web Summit 2014

taxpayer’s expense.

Absolutely, yeah I think so. It’s kind of a question that we have to ask ourselves as a nation. Are we comfortable rolling out the red carpet for other people? Greeting them off a plane with a red carpet?

When maybe we don’t roll out the red carpet for our own people.

For me what is fascinating is that we don’t do trade as a country: we’re not a trading nation. As a consequence, the fact that the British were all over Web Summit whilst the Irish State were not doesn’t seem to have resonated at all.

Why could the event not have been kept in Ireland?

When we announced that it was going to be Lisbon, on the next flight leaving Amsterdam, the Dutch sent somebody on that plane and they arrived on the same day, and they came to the office and met with my co-founder. They spent the rest of the day and the evening trying to understand: we didn’t choose Amsterdam, so how can we do this better as a city in the future? Maybe not for you guys, they said, but more likely for other

people. And so it was a very candid opportunity. The reaction in Ireland by the government was not to talk to us, but to talk to the media as an intermediary to voters. Either that underlines how important it was, because they were worried what voters would think, or it underlines that there’s just a different approach here to this type of thing.

I assume you’ve become very wealthy from the Web Summit?

Well, I have a 14-year-old car (shrugs). My bike was stolen and I haven’t replaced it. I’ve got to meet people who have made spectacular amounts of money, and I’ve become acutely aware that not only does it not make any difference to their happiness and – this might sound crazy – but it’s almost like a curse on their sanity. I always say it – I think people are chasing a place, they think there’s a destination called happiness and they think they have to work really hard to get there.

I don’t think there is a destination. I just think you won’t find happiness when you get there, but you might find it along the way.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 30

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BUSINESS

DO YOU DO BUSINESS

IN BELFAST?

OVER €19M IN NORTH SOUTH COMPETITIVE R&D FUNDING WON IN FIRST YEAR OF H2020 Aidan Gough, Director of Strategy & Policy for InterTradeIreland

North South R&D projects – which include scientific research into stemcell therapy and the treatment of kidney disease – has been funded to the tune of over €19m by the EU’s research programme, H2020, it has emerged. Attendees at the fifth annual all-island InterTradeIreland ‘Collaborate to Innovate’ conference, held in Belfast heard that this represents a 62% increase in funding.

Travelling to Belfast to meet a client? En-route to scope out potential new offices in the north? Either way, you should seriously consider the benefits of starting with a Virtual Office.

It is a handy option that essentially means you rent the address rather than an actual office to use as a trading address and give you a footing into a new area without the massive overheads of new premises. You can also hire reception services to handle your Belfast-numbered calls. And if the idea of starting with just an address is appealing, then you may as well go for the best address in the city!

That’s where Scottish Provident Building excels. Located right next to Belfast City Hall, it is great for presenting an extremely prestigious image. You can even use the meeting rooms while you’re there to show off your fabulous ‘offices’! Prices start from just £55/month for address only.

Visit scottishprovidentbuilding.co.uk for more.

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InterTradeIreland’s Strategic Action Plan for Horizon 2020 has set a competitive North South funding target of €175m between 2014 and 2020.

Speaking at the event, which was attended by more than 140 business and academic representatives, Aidan Gough, Director of Strategy & Policy for InterTradeIreland said, “Our Strategic Action Plan for Horizon 2020 reflects the high priority both jurisdictions place on North South participation in the programme and I am delighted that the latest figures are so positive.”

InterTradeIreland’s analysis shows that the top performing areas for North South collaboration are the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions followed by ICT, health and agri-food. Projects in these areas are designed to demonstrate a positive impact on EU societies and citizens and range from devising solutions to prevent online attacks from hackers, to stem cell therapy to treat diabetic kidney disease.

Industry participation in Horizon 2020 is a key objective for the European Commission, which has set a target participation rate of 20%. Currently over 60% of North South collaboration projects involve Ireland or Northern Ireland companies which are taking full advantage of the opportunity to work together and innovate on a cross-border basis.

The ‘Collaborate to Innovate’ conference is one of InterTradeIreland’s many events and activities to support North South participation in Horizon 2020. For further information go to intertradeireland.com/horizon2020.

GRANGE CASTLE BUSINESS PARK South Dublin County

IRELAND’S IDEAL INVESTMENT LOCATION Grange Castle Business Park is a world class campus with world leading clients. The Park is operated by South Dublin County Council, one of Ireland’s largest local authorities.

Set in South Dublin County within 10km of Dublin city centre and 30 minutes from Dublin Airport and Dublin Port, Grange Castle Business Park is home to a select group of companies with global reputations. Firms such as Pfizer, Takeda, Aryzta, Google, Microsoft and Grifols have chosen Grange Castle Business Park as their base to reach out to the world.

Our clients know that standing still means falling behind.

The best in business always look forward and strive for growth through future proofing and continuous capacity building….and so do we. Thanks to our model of continuous re-investment and planning over the past 20 years, we can say that the campus provides a platform upon which all our clients can, and have grown. Our strategic investment outlook is always long term thus ensuring that land and infrastructural capacity is always in place to meet the immediate and long term vision for our clients.

In the past 10 years, over €3billion has been invested by companies in their facilities at Grange Castle.

WHY GRANGE CASTLE? A CONNECTED LOCATI ON • • • •

Grange Castle Business Park is connected to the resources your business will need in every sense: 30 minutes to Dublin Airport and Dublin Port Seven Third Level institutes within 35 minutes Connected to national motorway network Adjacent public transport options; rail, bus, cycleways

CAPACI TY

• Optimum telecoms connectivity to each site with diverse and resilient capacity options linked to an international fibre optic network • Wastewater pumping station and high capacity water infrastructure • 110kv electrical substation and gas AGI station (planned 220kv upgrade) • Continuous expansion of large scale site options

QU ALI TY OF LI FE

• High quality design and landscaping allied with continuous reinvestment • Multiple amenity options bound the park such as Grange Castle Golf Course, Grand Canal Green Route, and Corkagh and Griffeen Parks • Bus terminus for multiple Dublin Bus services from the park whilst the main national rail line is proximate.

• High quality residential locations with retail and leisure offerings are within easy reach.

RELI ABI LI TY

• Owned by South Dublin County Council, the economic development and Planning Authority for the county of South Dublin • A proven 20 year record in the planning, development and management of our Park and other infrastructural projects • Strong established relationships with other key agencies, including utilities and IDA Ireland • The Park is actively managed, with a full time facility co-ordinator, and 24 hour manned security and CCTV • Grange Castle has a selection of available fully serviced options within its current 200 hectares (500 acre) footprint. All key services are on-site, minimising costs and serving your site with future proofed capacity to expand your business With world class neighbours and sustained interest from international investors, you’ll be in good company at Grange Castle Business Park.

For further information please visit www.grangecastle.ie or contact Frank Nevin, Economic Development Department, South Dublin County Council, County Hall, Town Centre, Tallaght, Dublin 24, D24 YNN5. Tel: 00 353 1 414 9034 Email: econdev@sdublincoco.ie

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SPORT

NORTHERN GOAL TOPPING THEIR QUALIFICATION GROUP IN STYLE, NORTHERN IRELAND ARE BOUND FOR THE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONSHIPS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER. BBC SPORT NI PRESENTER AND LIFELONG NORTHERN IRISH FOOTBALL FAN JOEL TAGGART TELLS THE REMARKABLE TALE.

I

f you were thinking of sampling that famous Northern Irish hospitality and charm at the height of summer next year, you’d better head for France. For that’s where every Ulsterman, woman, child and their granny will likely be, watching their team compete in the 2016 UEFA European Championship.

“It’s going to be a mass exodus,” smiles Joel Taggart, a presenter for BBC Sport NI and a fervent, long-suffering supporter of the Northern Irish football team.

“Everybody you speak to says they’re going.

Whether it’s in caravans, camper vans... Camp sites are being booked out. A lot of them are thinking this could be a once in a lifetime thing – it might never happen again. A little bit of footballing history and everybody wants to be a part of it. In terms of the European Championships, it’s the first time ever.”

It’s also the team’s first appearance in a major competition for 30 years. Taggart faintly

Joel Taggart

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recalls the tail-end of their ‘80s glory days, which saw them compete in the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.

“I have vague memories of 1986, watching the Brazil and Spain games on television. I always remember Josimar’s goal against Pat Jennings. It was in the Brazil game and one of the great World Cup goals. I never, ever thought that I would get to work at a major finals where Northern Ireland would be playing.”

Some 15 years into his career, that dream is coming true. And how. Not only did Northern Ireland navigate a tough group that included Finland, Hungary and 2004 European Championship winners Greece, they did so emphatically, topping the table with 21 points.

Usually with his home side, Taggart is going through a “rollercoaster of emotion” as he commentates on their games. When the latest campaign kicked off in September 2014, however, he says what followed was a totally different story.

“The start was the key thing, because two of the first three games were away wins. Unheard of! Particularly the away win in Hungary, which was the first time any Northern Ireland team had come from behind to win a competitive game away from home. We got Greece at a great time.

At the time I said they were a team playing like they were trying to get [former manager Claudio] Ranieri the sack and they succeeded. Before you knew where you were, you’d won your first three games. Nine points from nine.”

Much of the credit, of course, must go to prodigious manager Michael O’Neill. A two-time League Of Ireland winner at Shamrock Rovers, Northern Ireland was his first international managerial gig. His first two years failed the set the world alight, but keen eyes could detect the seeds of something special.

“While people looked at the results and would have said on the face of it that he hadn’t done much, when you watched the performances, you could see progress. People say the IFA did well to stick with him, but they’d have been mad to get rid of him... Now he’s probably one of the hottest properties around British football in terms of management.”

Given that the names on the team sheet wouldn’t have caused many of the bigger nations sleepless nights, what does he put O’Neill’s success down to?

“Michael found a magic formula and he got himself a goal scorer [in Kyle Lafferty]. To be the top scorers in the group, to lose only one game in the qualifying campaign, and to then go on to top the group? Given the group of players that he has, it’s a magnificent achievement. People look at Wales by way of comparison, but Wales have the most expensive player in the world in

Gareth Bale.”

“A lot of it is down to his meticulous planning,” Taggart continues. “His eye for detail. He leaves nothing to chance and gives the players the very best in terms of what they can provide as an association – staff, travel, and how he sets things up for him. [Belfast boxer and current IBF super bantamweight champion] Carl Frampton was invited down to the team hotel one night before a game to speak to the players. All that stuff.”

He’s also fostered a strong sense of togetherness amongst a group free of any ‘Big Time Charlies’.

“There’s a great bond in the squad, they’re a great bunch, and I think that has been a really big factor in what they’ve managed to achieve.”

Even if there was a strange sense of calm about their campaign, it wasn’t all done and dusted until October 8, when a Northern Ireland side somewhat depleted through suspension and injury – and without key striker Lafferty – took on Greece in Windsor Park. What followed was a fitting 3-1 home victory.

“There was a nervous tension before that game: ‘where are the goals going to come from?’ But they brushed Greece aside with such ease. It was nice that they didn’t fall over the line. They roared over the line. And fitting as well that Steven Davis, the captain, scored two goals and was man of the match that night. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the only game we lost in the campaign, Romania away, was the one game he missed. He has that kind of an influence around the place.”

And then, the celebrations.

“The last 20 minutes of the game, everybody knew that they had qualified. It was one big party; the ground was bouncing. Just absolutely unreal. The laps of the pitch afterwards were quite emotional for older fans who watched the glory days in the ‘80s and probably thought they’d never see the same again.”

Not that the job ends there. O’Neill is determined for his team to put on a show Win France.

“It’s not a case of going and making up the numbers, they want to go and give a good account of themselves.”

For Taggart, it will be a mix of business and pleasure.

“You speak to the likes of George Hamilton and they say working in a major finals is great, but when you have a parochial interest then you know your audience is really into it and it’s extra special. And the other nice thing is that a lot of the older lads in the squad would be of a similar age to myself and they’re pals now, so it’s pleasing to see those guys do well... I’ll be doing radio commentary and then covering it for our television news programmes. We’ll be worked pretty hard but there are worse gigs!”

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SPORT BRIAN LITTLE/PRESSEYE

Northern Ireland's Steven Davis is mobbed by team mates after scoring against Greece

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A D D R E S S \ 2 - 3 D R U R Y S T R E E T, D U B L I N 2 PHONE \ +353 1 679 9009

{ENT 12-03}

supermisssue.com

CELEB \ DANIELLA MOYLES VENUE \ SUPER MISS SUE

CELE B TABLE

CE L E B TA B LE

TO T H E V I C TO R , T H E

M OY L E S DINING OUT IN SUPER MISS SUE’S, SPIN 1038 BREAKFAST SHOW CO-HOST DANIELLA MOYLES TELLS ENTERPRISE ABOUT HER BURGEONING RADIO CAREER, INTERVIEW NIGHTMARES AND WHY MODELLING WAS HARD ON HER SELF-CONFIDENCE. P H O T O S

K A T H R I N

“C

an I have a chip?” ask Daniella Moyles. “I’ve been eyeing them up and your tartare sauce.”

I don’t blame her. Super Miss Sue’s Cervi fries are regarded as some of the best in the city and that’s quite a compliment given the Irish love of the humble chip. The restaurant’s main attraction is its wonderful seafood and Daniella is a big fan of fish. The Spin 1038 radio presenter has gone for the crab bruschetta with avocado, pink grapefruit and fennel; I have chosen an old favourite — battered cod with crushed peas, tartare sauce and fries. To begin we order six of Super Miss Sue’s oysters — two of the Carlingford, two of the Achill Sound Pacific oysters, and two natives, which are the restaurant’s oyster of the week. The oysters are served with lemon, tabasco and Ponzu vinegar, a traditional Japanese sauce.

“I’ve never tried Ponzu before,” says Daniella.

“It’s unreal. Delish! I was down in Galway on the weekend and you can buy oysters fresh from the sea. When they open them up, seawater is pouring out of them. I’m a big fan of oysters and I ate loads of them, trying them with different sauces but my friend was so freaked out by the whole thing.”

Food has long been a large part of Daniella Moyles’ life. Her father is a former chef; Daniella helped design the menu of one of Ireland’s first “clean eating” cafés — The Breakfast Club at Yogism in the George’s Street Arcade; and she enjoys cooking herself.

“I have a certain style of cooking that perhaps my boyfriend doesn’t appreciate!” she laughs. “I don’t use many sauces or creams. He may think

B A U M B A C H

it’s a bit plain, but I like to think it’s healthy.”

Daniella first came to notice as one of Ireland’s most popular models and her rise to breakfast show presenter on Spin 1038, along with co-host Cormac Moore, can justly be described as meteoric.

“I started working on a voluntary radio station, Frq FM. I used to put the mics up and my mouth would go dry – I couldn’t talk. But I slowly got better. When TX was still Phantom I did some interning there. Then a job came up. Myself and Cormac had never met before. We were paired up by the programme director at iRadio where we got our first job offer. We met three days before we went on air. Luckily we really clicked. Cormac is very funny and that made me relax. We were able to have the craic together. We weren’t very good at channelling that into something people would want to listen to, but we were on at night so it didn’t matter as much and it made us grow a lot.”

Daniella and Cormac were on iRadio for six months before moving to Spin 1038.

“We got offered the evening time show on Spin, so we went from doing 9pm until midnight to doing 7 until 9. We did that for six months and then the breakfast show became free in Spin and they asked us if we’d like to do it. I never expected to get a breakfast show so quickly, which is a lot of responsibility. Somebody who I admire a lot and whose show I enjoy is Ray Foley, and to be on at the same time and in the same building, it felt so premature. I felt overwhelmed. I would tell myself, ‘It’s different audiences.’ I had to talk logic into myself.”

The first month on the show was the hardest, she explains.

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S E X T O N

“I was definitely trying too hard. People can sense if you’re nervous and not relaxed and they so perspective so they know if you are being real.

I realised that people will forgive you mistakes if you’re being real. Whereas if you are trying too hard to be cool, or funny, or anything you’re not, people can tell straight away.”

Any disastrous mistakes yet?

“Thankfully not! We’ve had a few bloopers, pushing the wrong button on the desk or a slip of the tongue where the wrong word almost came out, but nothing that has gotten us called into the boss’s office,” she laughs.

“I was doing an interview recently with Rory O’Neill, you know, Panti, who was in to promote his new movie, Queen of Ireland. We were asking him about the possibility of him running for president, which is very topical at the moment because he is such a national treasure. Just as he was giving his answer, which was a real moment in the interview, somebody walked in and ruined it! Stuff like that really kills me.”

Since she has taken over the Spin 1038 breakfast show Daniella hasn’t had much time for modelling.

“When I started in radio I was doing both, but I had different hours. I was working nights in iRadio but I had my whole day free. Now that I am working on the breakfast show in the mornings it is a much bigger commitment and a much bigger show. The hours conflict with modelling because a lot of modelling happens in the morning with early call times. I have a great relationships with the guys in Brown Thomas and I love doing their shows because it is an experience to wear those clothes and walk their runway. I miss it in that I wish I had enjoyed it

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A FOOD AWAKENING The latest dining news from resident foodie Stuart Clark

xxx

Worth shelling out for: above, oysters and, below, crab bruschetta

more when I was doing it” The lack of stability — and unpredictable wages — made Daniella nervous, she explains.

“It’s hard on your self-confidence. Some weeks I wouldn’t be working for five days and you’d see other girls working and wonder ‘What’s wrong with me?’ There’s not enough money in it in Ireland. If you want to make a living you have to go abroad and it is a very different scene to what you’d be used to in Ireland. Here it’s lovely — everyone is like family and really friendly. I’m sure it is not like that in Paris or New York because it is so cut throat with so many models. I never for a second considered leaving Ireland. I love Dublin.

When I was modelling I was always looking for a way out. I wish I had enjoyed it more — but would I go back to it? No way!”

T H E D A M A G E Super Miss Sue’s speciality is fish, but there are options for those who do not delight in our ocean’s abundance. To begin we shared six oysters. The Carlingford oysters are €2 each; the Achill Sound Pacific oysters are €2.80; and the price of the oyster of the week changes depending on what’s on offer.

Daniella ordered the crab bruschetta with avocado, pink grapefruit and fennel (€10) and the lettuce heart (€4). This is a healthy option but one that certainly doesn’t feel like a compromise as the creamy avocado and piquant grapefruit perfectly complemented the crab. I had the battered cod with crushed peas, tartare sauce and Cervi fries (€16).

This is a large portion for lunch and a perfect choice for anyone with a big appetite.

Super Miss Sue has an extensive range of wines to choose from and many options, including prosecco, are available by the glass. Prices start at a very reasonable €6.50.

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(Clockwise from top left) Trish Deseine & Aungier Danger's sold-out sign

HOME SWEET HOME Being firmly of the too many cookbooks is never enough persuasion, we were all sorts of excited when a copy of Trish Deseine’s mouthwatering new tome popped through the Enterprise letterbox.

Belfast-born but Paris-based, she’s managed to extract top secret recipes from the likes of Tankardstown House’s Robbie Krawczyk, Kai’s Jess Murphy, OX’s Stephen Toman, Loam’s Enda McEvoy and Derek Creagh from Harry’s Shack, the Portstewart eatery that serves the best Whitebait with Marie Rose Sauce in the world... ever!

Picking a favourite is impossible so we’ve narrowed it down to four – Mussels in Cider with Apples; Mutton Pot Roast with Onions & Carrots; Guinness Rarebit, and Baked Apples with Porter Cake Crumbs & Whiskey Custard. It’s a large format 346-page monster which will be taking up residence in many a Christmas stocking.

The Home: Recipes From Ireland launch took place in the aforementioned OX who’ve had to get a bigger mantelpiece on which to put all the awards they’ve been winning recently! We’ll be meeting the duo behind the Michelin Star restaurant in our upcoming Food & Drink Special.

A Belfast Royal Academy past pupil, Trish has been a BBC, RTÉ and Good Food Channel regular and is also a high-profile figure in her adopted home country with French Elle and Vogue both singing her praises.

DOING THEIR NUTS Dublin’s most talked about foodie launch this autumn is that of Aungier Danger! (pronounced properly it rhymes) – a gourmet donut shop to be found on Dublin 2’s Aungier Street.

A near neighbour of both the Against The Grain craft beer bar and the nibblesomely good Las Tapas de Lola, they’ve

routinely been selling out within hours of opening at 9am.

“Just how good can a donut be?” we hear you ask. The answer is “very!” with their Banoffee and Strawberry & Cream varieties positively heaven-sent. Their coffee is not half bad either, with more info to be found at aungierdanger.ie Also creating a major social media stir is Taco Taco, a Mexican pop-up that now seems to be permanently residing at 14 Dame Court, Dublin 2. The Maple & Chilli Roast Butternut Squash Tostadas – suddenly we’re feeling hungry!

– top the ‘recommended’ list. Check tacotacodublin.com for opening times.

DONE TO A TEA Ballygally Castle Hotel on the Antrim Coast has been packing ‘em recently with their Game Of Thrones-inspired afternoon tea. The tasty treats on offer include Hodor’s Pulled Pork Brioche; Rustic Ironborn Focaccia with Glenarm Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese and, best of all, Dothraki Trifle with Mini Dragon’s Egg. Everything’s locally sourced and very, very good.

The hotel itself is a wonderful 17th century pile, which can be found online at facebook.com/ ballygallycastlehastingshotels.com.

Meanwhile, plans are gathering apace for Northern Ireland’s Year of Food And Drink 2016 initiative.

Each month will have its own theme with January dedicated to the joys of Breakfast including, doubtless, the legendary Ulster Fry; February – Love Local; March – Heritage & Traditions; April – Brewing & Distilling; May – Landscape & Places; June – Love Dairy; September – Bread & Baking; October – Harvest; November – Legacy and December, naturally, Christmas & Premium Foods.

Needless to say, Enterprise will be in the thick of all that delicious action with regular Year of Food And Drink previews and updates.

COMPETITION

EXPERIENCE ENTERPRISE PLUS TO DUBLIN &

WIN A SHORT BREAK IN THE DYLAN HOTEL! To celebrate the launch of the newly refurbished Enterprise trains, Translink are offering readers the opportunity to win a short break in Dublin in the beautiful five-star boutique Dylan Hotel.

Sit back and relax in the new luxury surroundings of Enterprise Plus with waiter service to your table and let the short break begin! The Dylan Hotel will be featured in NIR Travel’s Dublin Breaks programme for the first time from January.

Nestled in the heart of the city’s most sophisticated quarter, this chic Dublin five-star hotel features a sharp eye for detail and a knack for stylish indulgence.

Located just off Baggot Street in Dublin's south city centre, the Dylan is just minutes away from St. Stephen's Green and Dublin's shopping heartland – Grafton Street. The hotel is also in close proximately to the Aviva Stadium and the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), while the 3Arena and Croke Park are just a short taxi ride away.

The hotel, with its striking contemporary design, is housed in an elegant Victorian building. It has 44 individually designed and furnished bedrooms, each epitomising the Dylan Experience. Arguably the hottest rooms in the city, the rooms are air-conditioned and boast the coolest state-of-the-art entertainment – plasma screens and MP3 players. Coupled with a minibar holding favourite drinks, snacks and the finest

artisan Irish snacks, along with the finest percale cotton linen, plush towels and robes, and exclusively designed 'Seventh Heaven' beds, your room at the Dylan is a real haven of luxurious relaxation.

The multi-award winning Dylan Bar is a must for an elegant cocktail. Not to mention the brilliantly designed informal Tavern Restaurant, Dylan’s bar and restaurant are the perfect place to chill out, unwind, meet friends and soak in the atmosphere. Cocktails, wines, sumptuous food to indulge in, with the same quality ingredients and professionalism found in the bar and restaurant, go into the in-room dining menu.

The decision to dine in the comfortable surroundings of your own room, or in the magnetic vibe of Tavern Restaurant may be the most difficult choice you need to make during your whole stay.

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, just answer the following question: Which historic park is within a few minutes walk of the Dylan Hotel? (a) St Stephen's Green (b) Phoenix Park (c) St Anne's Park Email your answer to enterprise@hotpress.ie

Terms & Conditions: The prizes is valid for one year, and subject to availability. No cash alternatives will be offered. Entrants must be aged 18+. Enterprise may contact competition entrants with details of future special offers. Your details won’t be passed on to any third party. Please specify in your email if you would like to opt out of this.

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TRAVEL

CITY SLICKER STILL VERY MUCH THE JEWEL IN ONTARIO’S CROWN, TORONTO OFFERS CUISINE FROM AROUND THE WORLD, A THRIVING MUSIC SCENE AND STRIKINGLY BEAUTIFUL SCENERY.

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G O L D F I N G E R

O

verlooking Lake Ontario, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with half of the population born outside of Canada. A bustling metropolis, there is something for everyone in this eclectic Canadian gem. From sampling different flavours of food, to hitting up the most anticipated gigs and venues, to getting cultured at the city’s most well-respected museums, or even escaping to the nearby Niagara Falls, this cosmopolitan hub has heaps to offer.

When initially visiting Toronto, it is important to note the difference in currency. In Canada, goods and services can be bought and sold in the country’s dollar ($CAD). Because both the pound and the euro are stronger than the Canadian dollar, you will get great bang for your buck. Take advantage of this and splurge on that five-star gourmet meal, or buy that pair of shoes that would normally be over your budget. Since Toronto is situated in the Northern Hemisphere, it has blistering cold winters – the temperatures can fall to -30 degrees. During this time, there is generally a lot of snow making it much more difficult to get around. To avoid the snow and freezing cold temperatures it is better to visit from April to September. During these months, the weather changes between moderate rainfall and scorching heat and, during July and August, can hit highs of 32 degrees.

It is a fairly easy city to get around. You can hop on the subway, a streetcar or a bus for just €2 one way. Visitors, of course, can always

take a cab, but be careful! The drivers in Toronto are known for taking passengers the long way around. Even as a Toronto native myself, there have been many times when I have had to alert the driver to take another route to avoid paying an unnecessarily expensive fare.

Being Canada’s business capital, Toronto is frequently referred to as a ‘Canadian New York City’. Each area in the urban centre is different, and they attract a mix of both locals and tourists. My personal favourite areas to explore are Queen Street West and Kensington Market. I love strolling along Toronto’s Graffiti Alley, which is located in between Queen Street and Richmond Street. The splashes of colour and creative street art make you ponder the artist’s original inspiration, and is also a beautiful backdrops for photos. In Kensington Market, the inviting atmosphere of the colourful storefronts and murals will entice you to become absorbed in the city’s one-of-a-kind neighbourhood, and to sit down for a beer while you chat with locals.

After perusing around the city’s diverse areas, definitely pay tribute to the iconic CN Tower and visit Canada’s largest museum, the Royal Ontario Museum. If you climb to the top of the CN Tower, you can see a beautiful panoramic view of Toronto. For an amazing and surreal (although quite pricey) date night, make a reservation at the 360 Restaurant in the CN Tower. While you are eating your scrumptious meal, the floor revolves around to give you a full view of the entirety of the city from up above. For dinner options, I personally recommend the parsleyencrusted sea bass – it is simply divine.

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ENTERPRISE

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TRAVEL

Windsor Arms Hotel, Toronto

RECOMMENDED Restaurants: POUTINI’S HOUSE OF POUTINE 1112 Queen Street West Toronto, ON, M6J 1H9 +1(647)342-3732 Sample the Canadian delicacy of poutine, which is comprised of crispy French fries, topped with meaty gravy and mozzarella cheese curds. The restaurant serves a variety of other poutine assortments, including ones with pulled pork, bacon and veggies.

LA CARNITA 501 College Street Toronto, ON, M6G 1A5 +1(416)964-1555

(top to bottom) Niagra Falls, Royal Ontario Museum and Canada's national sport, Ice Hockey

Toronto’s ROM is comprised of a plethora of enlightening and informative exhibits on natural world history. Most recently, featured exhibits have illustrated the volcanic city of Pompeii, in addition to Mexico’s history of clothing and culture. Check out the ROM’s Friday Night Live event if you are looking for a different night out. It begins at 7pm and drinks are served, along with live performances at the museum. Get there early though, as the queues are normally around the corner.

On the other hand, if you are looking for something that is just a little more Canadian, then catch a hockey or a baseball game.

Hockey season is during the winter months and, if you can get tickets, it is a great night out. Impassioned Toronto Maple Leaf fans adorn the stands with their blue and white attire, supporting the city’s team. If you are more interested in travelling during the summer months, however, then a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game would be your best

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bet. Last time I was at a game, the Blue Jays won and sent the crowd into patriotic hysterics. Buy a beer and some popcorn while you are there!

If the busy city life is not to your liking, then take a trip to the beautiful Niagara Falls. Just an hour and a half outside of the city, Niagara Falls straddles the border between Canada and the United States, and was designated as a National Heritage Area in 2008. Use the discount website Groupon to find amazing deals on hotels in the surrounding area. If you plan ahead, you may be able to get a room, dinner and breakfast included at a fantastic price.

As a city, Toronto has a plethora to offer in terms of attractions, restaurants, music and sites of natural beauty. Catch a gig at one of the local concert halls any night of the week, and enjoy the city’s international cuisine. Once you have become immersed in the urban Canadian metropolis, you may never want to return home.

Find some of the best tacos in the city at La Carnita. Relatively inexpensive, this Mexican restaurant offers chicken, beef, veggie and lobster tacos. Get some caramel covered churros after for desert, and your tummy will be left thoroughly satisfied.

soup and salad combo for just €4 or a fully stacked mouth-watering sandwich for a mere €6.25.

Accommodation: WINDSOR ARMS HOTEL 18 St. Thomas Street Toronto, ON, M5S 3E7 +1(416)971-9666 This beautifully opulent five-star hotel is located in one of the most upmarket areas in Toronto in the Bloor / Yorkville neighbourhood.

Its stunning suites will make you feel like royalty and you can also relax at the hotel’s gorgeous pool and spa. Indulge in some delicious pastries during their very popular ‘afternoon tea experience’, or enjoy gourmet cuisine at their in-house restaurant.

Mid Range: ISABELLA HOTEL & SUITES 556 Sherbourne Street Toronto, ON, M4X 1L4 +1(416)922-2203

Budget: BIG FAT BURRITO 285 Augusta Avenue Toronto, ON, M5T 2M1 +1(416)913-7487 Located in Kensington market, these scrumptious burritos are stuffed to the brim with rice, beans, meat and veggies. From €4.85, indulge in the delicious and savoury meal while you walk around the neighbourhood’s creative corners.

BUNA’S KITCHEN 388 Richmond Street West #5B Toronto, ON, M5V 3P1 +1(647)344-8112 This amazing European-style restaurant offers delicious food and is extremely reasonable. Get a

This trendy space is moderately priced and located in the heart of downtown Toronto. With a complimentary breakfast each morning and access to cable television and Internet, the hotel is within walking distance of many of the city’s restaurants and shops.

Budget: CANADIANA BACKPACKERS INN 42 Widmer Street Toronto, ON, M5X 2E9 +1(416)598-8940 The hostel is one of the best and most affordably-priced in Toronto.

Offering free breakfast and activity nights, guests can choose to participate in city pub crawls, dinner nights and various day trips.

E NTE R P R I S E| FAS H I O N

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ENT ER P R I S E|FASHION

THEY'RE IN FASHION WITH CHRISTMAS FAST APPROACHING, IT’S THE PERFECT TIME OF YEAR TO ESCHEW YOUR USUAL HABIT OF KEEPING UP WITH QUICK AND FAST TRENDS, AND INVEST IN SOME STUNNING, TIMELESS PIECES THAT WILL ELEVATE YOUR WARDROBE AND LAST FOREVER. AND IF YOU’RE GOING TO INVEST – WHY NOT INVEST IN INCREDIBLE IRISH DESIGNERS? ROE McDERMOTT HAS SCOUTED SOME OF THE DESIGNERS FROM OUR HOME SHORES WHOSE TALENT IS BECOMING INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED.

(left) A beautiful leather design from Úna Burke's S/S 2016 Collection

ÚNA BURKE We’ve been eagerly following the career of designer Úna Burke for years now, but this year she has completely outdone herself on the 'fabulous' scale. Burke, who is based in London, has received international acclaim and a host of celebrity clients for her stunningly designed leather accessories. Using vegetable tanned bovine leathers and traditional leather-working techniques, Úna has developed and refined her distinct construction identity of leather panelling, joined with brass fittings. With this she creates seasonal fashion collections and sculptural art pieces that have attracted international acclaim – not to mention some seriously famous fans.

Burke’s collections have been used on some high-concept costumes in Hollywood and the music world. Her stunning leather neckpieces and armlets have been featured in 'The Hunger Games', while three of Taylor Swift’s famous squad donned the rock-chic leather pieces in her award-winning ‘Bad Blood’ music video.

Cindy Crawford and Hayley Williams both wore Burke’s Holster Brace in black leather, while Ellen Pompeo wore Burke’s nurse’s cape in raspberry and navy leather. With genuine supermodels, Hollywood darlings and pop princesses wearing her incredible designs, you’d think that Burke’s designs may be inaccessible for the average fashion-lover, but her leather cuffs, neckpieces and accessories are actually so beautiful and versatile that they can act as show-stopping formal statement pieces, or be paired with great jeans and killer heels for a contemporary casual look to die for. Úna Burke’s designs are available online at unaburke.com or in MoMuse in the Powerscourt Townhouse Shopping Centre, Dublin 2.

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E NTE R P R I S E| FAS H I O N

MARGARET O’ROURKE If you’re looking to buy a Christmas present for that special fashionista in your life, you can’t go wrong with some beautiful, Irish-made jewellery.

Margaret O’Rourke is a jewellery designer to watch, as her beautiful work and socially conscious ethos make headlines and garner fans. The founder of MoMuse, O’Rourke is originally from Killarney, but has been living in Dublin for over 20 years. Her interest in design was piqued early, growing up in a household where the art of craft was revered. O’Rourke’s talent was innate, and she was eager to start designing and working as soon as possible, so she eschewed studying design formally and jumped in the deep end of the business – a strategy that paid off handsomely.

The jewellery designer’s passion extends beyond following trends and fashions, and MoMuse has found inspiration in, and contributed to, a number of great charities and causes. O’Rourke designed a little gold-filled ribbon for October Breast Cancer Month a few years ago with all proceeds going to them, and recently worked with mental health charity Pieta House on a beautiful collection featuring the word ‘hope’. O’Rourke’s gorgeous design and admirable commitment to promoting excellent causes has garnered her some famous fans, including Saoirse Ronan and Una Healy, who wore some MoMuse pieces on 'The Voice Of Ireland'. Her Christmas collection is sure to be hugely popular, featuring tiny skull and star pendants with tiny studs in Swarovski crystals.

Margaret O'Rourke has produced inspirational jewellery for well-known causes and charities

O’Rourke’s designs are available online at momuse. ie, and her shop is on the ground floor of the Powerscourt Townhouse in Dublin.

David O'Malley: his A/W 2015 collection is breathtaking

DAVID O’MALLEY One of Enterprise’s favourite designers, this aweinspiring NCAD graduate is back again with yet another breathtaking collection. O’Malley’s A/W 2015 collection is entitled ‘The Golden Dawn’, and is based on the personal life of WB Yeats – just in time to commemorate his 150th anniversary.

As well as being known for his brilliantly original concepts, O’Malley is known for combining textiles in extraordinary ways – past collections have seen him work with leather, suede, pony hair, silks, cashmere, and with geometric perspex neckpieces.

For ‘The Golden Dawn’, O’Malley has again shown his versatility and commitment to using eclectic materials and mastering unusual techniques. His collection uses a mix of tactile and natural fabrics from leathers, snakeskin and fur to more hand embellished one-off pieces. The collection consists of tall hats, long-tailored jackets with twisted seams and leather and feathers, taxidermy oneoff textile artifact handbags. O’Malley is all set for fashion world domination, and he’s already gone international. As well as stocking in Marion Cuddy and Om Diva in Dublin, his work is also being stocked in Belgium, where O’Malley is currently taking an MA in Fashion Design, and designing for a 3D printing company. His work is attracting fashion heavy hitters, and recent patrons include style icon and Irish weather reporter Jean Byrne and musician Gwen Stefani. David’s gorgeous designs are perfect for women who like perfectly structured, eye-catching pieces with a rock-chic edge.

Find out more about David O’Malley’s work on davidomalley.com

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E N T E R | TA I N

R E A D

A L L

A B O U T

I T

Curling up indoors with a good book is one of winter’s great joys. Here are four potential page-turners you could be enjoying this season...

Higgins: She's irreverent and funny as she recounts her adventures in New York

B E AT L E B O N E Kevin Barry [Canongate] Proving his adored, award-winning City Of Bohane debut was no mere one-off, Kevin Barry’s follow-up is a short, surreal and often hilarious sophomore novel. Beatlebone imagines a trip taken by John Lennon to the desolate island he owned in Clew Bay and is packed with Barry’s numerous literary tricks, including that virtuoso ability of his to capture both the Scouse and Mayo vernaculars. He even manages to insert himself at a certain stage in the book and pulls this trick off with aplomb. Superb.

SNAPSHOTS Michael O’Higgins [New Island]

OFF YOU GO Maeve Higgins [Hachette]

A former investigative journalist turned criminal lawyer, Michael O’Higgins wisely follows the old adage of writing about what you know on his debut work of fiction with gritty, gripping results. Set in inner-city Dublin in the early '80s, Snapshots is a crime thriller with IRA hunger strikes and the abortion referendum as the backdrop. As you can imagine, it also has a very authentic feel. Plot-wise, we meet musically talented teenager Wayne Clarke, his criminal father Christy (who is prone to General-like acts of violence), the detective whose mission is to put Christy behind the bars of Mountjoy, and the local curate who is abusing Wayne when he’s not campaigning against abortion.

Skilfully weaving all of these characters’ stories together, O’Higgins has turned in a novel that is a must-read for fans of the genre.

Following her involvement with Naked Camera and rise to being considered one of Ireland’s best known funnywomen, Maeve Higgins packed her bags and went travelling. In Off You Go (which comes with the subtitle of “Away From Home And

Loving It. Sort Of”). Maeve recounts her adventures in New York, but it’s not all glamour and showbiz.

There’s judging the ‘Irish Bachelor of the Year’ in a pub filled with GAA jerseys in Yonkers; passive-aggressive housemates; spiritual cardio; and romances thwarted by food stuck in teeth.

Irreverent and chatty with laugh-out-loud zingers, it might make Maeve Higgins feel like your new BFF.

N A K E D C A M E R A S TA R M A E V E H I G G I N S G O E S O F F O N H E R T R AV E LS AS S H E R E C A L LS H E R ADVENTURES IN NEW YORK

T H I R T E E N WAYS OF LOOKING Colum McCann [Bloomsbury] Having been violently assaulted last year, Colum McCann has made that traumatic experience central to the four stories in this collection. Certainly, it informs the cowardly punch at the heart of the magnificent and beautiful novella

of the title and perhaps the most powerful tale here is the quietly devastating Sh’khol, which perfectly captures a mother’s love. McCann’s lyrical prose sings from the page whether describing an “accordion of elbows” as a reader struggles with a newspaper on a packed commuter train, or the microscopic tragedy of an octogenarian crossing a busy Manhattan intersection.

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E N T E R | TA I N

C O O L

S O U N D S

Our team of reviewers run the rule over intriguing new offerings from big artists looking to get you listening on those cold winter nights...

Newsom: Die-hard fans will swoon over her crazy vocals

Goulding: Her new album has supremely catchy moments

ELLIE GOULDING Delirium [Polydor] Young Hereford singer Ellie Goulding might have suffered something of an early critical backlash following the release of her 2010 debut album Lights but, as her career has proceeded, she has grown increasingly comfortable as a mainstream star – a performer who’d much rather emulate Beyoncé than Björk.

This is a philosophy she exuberantly lives up to on her third studio LP, a beat-laden affair that shoots for the pop stratosphere and, even when it falls a little short, creates an impressive splashdown. Working with proven hit-makers such as Max Martin and Greg Kurstin, the emphasis throughout is on creating highkicking, supremely catchy moments, from the Rihanna-esque ‘Keep On Dancin’ to the Taylor Swift stylings of ‘Army’. The pace rarely slows over Delirium’s 16 tracks, though a whiff of introspection trickles between the edges on the Lorde-flavoured ‘Lost and Found'. Otherwise, it’s pedal to the floor and eyes fixed towards the horizon.

most positive and uplifting lyrics Gahan has authored yet, but it doesn’t really take the listener anywhere memorable and is all a bit overblown and overproduced.

‘You Owe Me’ is much better, gently gliding into a moving power ballad that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Depeche Mode record. Overall, while admirers of Soulsavers and Depeche Mode will want to give this a listen or three, it never manages to meet the high standards set in the past by Gahan’s gorgeously gloomy lot or indeed the collaborations Soulsavers have been involved in themselves this century.

JOANNA NEWSOM Divers [Drag City]

E L L I E G O U L D I N G H A S G R O W N I N C R E A S I N G LY C O M F O R TA B L E AS A M A I N S T R E A M S TA R AND HER NEW OFFERING SHOOTS TO THE S T R AT O S P H E R E

D AV E G A H A N A N D S O U LS AV E R S Angels & Ghosts [Columbia] Releasing fascinating musical collaborations for over a decade now, Soulsavers’ 2003 album with Mark Lanegan, It’s Not How Far You Fall, It’s The Way You Land, was an absolute cracker. Dave Gahan is similar to Lanegan in that he’s generally the kind of singer who could still captivate while singing the phonebook, but Angels & Ghosts doesn’t quite find them clicking quite as effectively with the Depeche Mode man. Album opener ‘Shine’ blends gospel, pop, rock, soul with a twanging country guitar and some of the

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Joanna Newsom has been talking up the commercial potential of her first album in five years, suggesting that this may be the record where she at last wins over the masses. On the evidence of Divers, a meditation on fear of loss and mortality, while die-hard fans will surely swoon over those crazy elf vocals and challenging song structures, those previously alarmed and baffled by her more esoteric leanings are unlikely to be won around by the Californian’s fourth studio effort. It is not the mammoth undertaking that her previous records were, coming in at a mere (for her) 11 tracks, but Divers can feel like a restating of the first principles advocated on 2006’s Ys and 2010’s Have One On Me. It is true that in modest doses, she can cast a bewitching spell. Across an entire long player, however, her chipmunk trillings and plinking harps may strain your tolerance.

If you’re already among the

converted, we have no hesitating recommending Divers. Everyone else, however, may be puzzled more than entranced.

PUGWASH Play This Intimately (As If Among Friends) [Omnivore Recordings] Dublin’s finest guitar-pop quartet are on something of a roll these days, with two US coast-to-coast tours over the last year or so having widened their audience considerably. Their first album to receive an international release, and first released anywhere for four years, Play This Intimately… was recorded at Ray Davies’ legendary Konk studios in London, and finds Thomas Walsh and company at something of a creative peak. It’s certainly their most stylistically diverse album to date, though familiar touchstones abound. ‘Kicking and Screaming’ is instantly recognisable as a Pugwash creation – a fast-paced, guitar-driven thing with an insistent groove and hooks aplenty. Even more irresistible is ‘Lucky In Every Way’, an effervescently jangly love song with sumptuous harmonies.

While it would be an exaggeration to suggest that Walsh has mellowed with middle age, there are more love songs and slow-burners here than on previous outings. One such gem is the mellifluous and achingly gorgeous ‘Just So You Know’. One of Pugwash’s finest tunes to date, with a terrific guitar solo to boot.

‘All The Way From Love’ boasts a Phil Spector-ish drum intro and a Roy Orbison vocal melody from Mr Walsh. Overall, a treat from beginning to end. If there’s any justice, their fanbase will continue to swell at home and abroad.

E N T E R | TA I N

S N O W

R E E L S

Whether you’re looking for a way to keep entertained in the winter months or need some inspiration for Christmas presents, you can never go wrong with a great movie. Roe McDermott has picked something for everyone...

INSIDE OUT [WARNER BROS.]

On November 23, get ready to queue for your copy of this one. It’s not an exaggeration to say that Inside Out is not only Pixar’s best film, but one of the greatest children’s films ever imagined. This stunning story about how our emotions work and affect us is not only a delight to watch, but changes how we think about our feelings. The film’s pseudo-protagonist is Riley, a good-natured 11-year-old who has just moved from Minnesota to San Francisco.

But the real stars are the anthropomorphic Emotions inside her brain. There’s leader Joy (voiced by the ever-chipper Amy Poehler), Fear (Bill Hader), Anger (Lewis Black), Disgust (Mindy Kaling) – and then Sadness (Phyllis Smith), who Joy tries to ignore as much as possible. The move throws Riley’s Emotions into turmoil, and sends Joy on an epic quest through Riley’s brain. Even for Pixar’s intelligent standards, the film is unapologetically complex.

All the while, the rainbowbright visuals communicate the dangers and victories colourfully enough that kids will understand the stakes and the feelings, if not the exact psychology.

A M Y W I N E H O U S E : AS I F K A PA D I A' S D O C U M E N TA RY O N H E R L I F E G O E S O V E R W E L L- T R O D D E N G R O U N D , B U T I T I S N O N E T H E L E S S S A D D E N I N G A N D T H O U G H TPROVOKING AMY [Altitude]

Asif Kapadia (Senna) seems like one of the only directors who could have directed Amy, the documentary about troubled singer Amy Winehouse. Kapadia’s work is sensitive, empathetic and embraces the nuances and complexities of complicated people. He is the perfect choice to avoid contributing to our culture’s voyeuristic obsession with troubled young women – an obsession that plagued Winehouse throughout her career. The film covers well-trodden ground and provides little new information about Winehouse’s life.

However, what it does beautifully manage is to depict the chronology of her troubles, how Winehouse addressed her own fears and feelings through her music, and how fame has a terrifying habit of making people simultaneously revere you while treating you as less than human. A thoughtprovoking and saddening film.

MAGIC MIKE XXL [Warner Bros.]

The perfect movie for a wintery girls’ night in, Magic Mike XXL is released on November 30 and is sure to keep you feeling at least a little warm. Channing Tatum

returns as Mike, a 'male entertainer' whose dreams of conquering the furniture design business have lost steam. When his former stripping buddies suggest one final hurrah at an annual strippers’ convention, new dance moves are polished, the tear-away pants are packed and the boys hit the road. As they travel through Florida, Georgia and South Carolina, their stops can sometimes feel overly long – almost set pieces for more gratuitous bumping and grinding. But the strippers and their routines are great fun to watch, with an infectious camaraderie, an irresistible soundtrack and genuinely brilliant choreography.

TRAINWRECK [Universal]

Early December sees the release of this raucous rom-com, a must for those looking for serious laughs.

The line between being outrageous and beloved is one Amy Schumer has walked throughout her entire comedy career, and her debut turn as a film star and writer is no different. She plays Amy, a journalist and serial drinker/swearer/ non-monogamist, whose fear of intimacy is challenged when she meets good-natured sports doctor Aaron (Bill Hader). So far, so formulaic, but Schumer’s skill lies

in subtly subverting expectations.

Not only does her screenplay flip the typical gender script and show us a female lead enjoying a lifestyle usually only afforded to men onscreen, but Schumer also challenges the problematization of Amy’s behaviour. Director Judd Apatow, always attuned to class and financial issues, nicely handles the tonal shifts, while Schumer is surprisingly emotive during more dramatic scenes.

PAPER TOWNS [20Th Century Fox]

This smart and subtle flick is one for the teams. Paper Towns is yet another adaptation of awardwinning YA author John Green, with Jake Schreier (Robot & Frank) directing this coming-of-age tale.

For tame student Q (Nat Wolff), high school is about to end. He’s never broken the rules, had any misadventures, or gathered the courage to express his love for enigmatic town rebel Margo (Cara Delevingne). When Margo runs away and Q finds a trail of clues leading to her whereabouts, he gathers a posse to track her down, resulting in a pre-prom roadtrip. There’s a poignancy to Paper Towns that unfurls slowly during well-covered high school rituals; parties, drunken escapades, locker confrontations. The message about friendship and enjoying the “good ol’ days” as they’re happening is warm, but Green’s story more effectively tackles the myth of the Manic Pixie Dream Girl and projecting love onto unwilling sources.

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Dublin & Belfast

ATTRACTIONS

A TALE OF TWO CITIES The Gobbins

DUBLIN

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BELFAST

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF IRELAND

THE OLD JAMESON DISTILLERY

THE GOBBINS

ANTRIM CASTLE GARDENS

Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 677 7444, museum.ie

Bow St, Smithfield Village, Dublin 7 Tel: (01) 807 2355 jamesonwhiskey.com/ie

Middle Road Islandmagee Larne BT40 3S Tel: +44 (0)28 9337 2318 thegobbinscliffpath.com

Randalstown Road Antrim BT41 4LH Tel: +44 (0)28 9448 1338 antrimandnewtownabbey.gov.uk

Situated in the historic Collins Barracks, just a stone’s throw from Heuston Station, the Museum of Decorative Arts and History tells the story of Ireland through weaponry, furniture, silver, ceramics, glassware and costumes.

Special collections include Soldier and Chiefs, an exhibition of Irish military history which includes Michael Collins greatcoat; a collection of works by the world famous designer Eileen Gray, one of the most influential designers and architects of the 20th Century; and a retrospective of Irish clothing from the 1760s to the 1960s.

The museum is also home to one of the largest collections of Irish silver in the world.

Bound to be one of the most popular exhibits in the coming year, ‘The Easter Rising: Understanding 1916’ examines the decade of disturbance between 1913 and 1923, from the Dublin Lockout, through the Easter Rising to the end of the Civil War. Opening hours are 10am–pm (Tuesday – Saturday) and 2pm–5pm (Sundays)

Set in the heart of Dublin, a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery is so much more than just a tour – it’s an exciting and engaging experience, guaranteed to enlighten and inspire you. At the distillery, you will relive the story of John Jameson as you drink in the history, the atmosphere and the odd sip of whiskey The tour experience occupies a section of the old distillery, which kept Dublin flowing with the ‘water of life’ from 1780 to 1971. This attraction offers guided tours and whiskey masterclasses, which run every 35 minutes. They start with a short film and then, with the aid of models and exhibitions, explain everything you ever wanted to know about Jameson Irish whiskey from grain to glass.

At the end of the tour, all visitors are rewarded with a complimentary dram of whiskey at the Jameson Bar and partake in a comparison whiskey tasting session, where you will learn how to tell the differences between Scotch, Irish and American whiskey.

Open 7 days a week 9am–6pm.

Tours run 10am–5.15pm

The stunning coastal cliff path walk, located in Islandmagee allows visitors to uncover the once hidden gem of the Antrim coast and indulge in an exhilarating and scenic adventure. Comprising of suspension tubular bridges, caves, steps, and tunnels carved through the spectacular rock face, The Gobbins is a reimagined treasure that has brought what was once a thriving 1900s hotspot into the 21st century.

Along The Gobbins cliff path, you will get up close to a diverse range of wildlife and gain privileged access to Northern Ireland’s only mainland colony of Puffins, alongside various other bird species.

To pre-book a tour of The Gobbins, please call the Visitor centre on 028 9337 2318. Please be aware of all visitor guidelines around accessing the attraction to avoid disappointment. Tours take place daily and cost £8.50 per person and £23 for family tickets.

Just a short walk from Antrim Railway Station, on the Belfast to Derry line, the unique Antrim Castle Gardens have been blooming for 400 years. Following a recent £600m restoration project the gardens are now a spectacular and historic tourist attraction that will blossom for generations to come.

The refurbished Clotworthy House, located on the banks of the Sixmilewater River, now functions as the centre of the visitor experience, housing the Garden Heritage Exhibition, the light filled Oriel Gallery and the Garden Coffee Shop.

Proud winners of the Ulster in Bloom Special Award in 2012, the castle gardens offer a great day out – strolling through the Large Parterre and visiting beautiful features such as Her Ladyship’s Pleasure Garden and Yew Tree Pond. With a year round programme of events and activities including talks, walks, interactive workshops, performances and exhibitions, the Gardens are just waiting to be explored.

Open daily except 1 January, 12 July, 25 & 26 December and 31 December.

Dublin & Belfast

RESTAURANTS

DINING OUT

The SQ Bar & Grill

BELFAST Always fresh ingredients at the Rustic Stone

DUBLIN RUSTIC STONE 17 South George’s Street, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 707 9596 rusticstone.ie Celebrity chef - although he mightn’t like us calling him that! Dylan McGrath is on a real roll at the moment, with this bright, airy restaurant dedicated to flavour, freshness and nutrition. The food’s darn tasty, with the pastas and full or half-portion Bites featuring all manner of innovative ingredient combinations. If you don’t believe us, check out the Duck ‘N’ Beef Sandwiches, which sees boring old bread replaced with herb goats cheese and Dylan’s own mango chutney. The big attraction, though, is the titular hot stones upon which you can cook your meat the way you like it. In another of McGrath’s trademark twists, the Rib Eye of Beef comes with a Prawn Glaze.

LE BON CRUBEEN 81-82 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 704 0126 leboncrubeen.ie Le Bon Crubeen styles itself as the “best pre-theatre early bird restaurant in Dublin” and for once the advertising shtick is accurate – which is why we keep returning.

This French inspired restaurant is close to the Abbey, Peacock and Gate theatres and near the Luas line if you’re heading to 3Arena.

The pre-theatre early bird of €19.95 for two courses or €22.95 for three is fantastic value, as is the set

dinner menu available all night every night for €26. Make sure to try the fabulous Salt Cod, Pickled Cucumber & Toasted Sourdough.

There’s an excellent selection of wines and good value cocktails, a private dining room for up to twenty people, and the Le Jazz Supper Club on Saturday nights is a delightful way to linger over dinner.

SUESEY STREET 26 Fitzwilliam St, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 669 4600 sueseystreet.ie The modern European cuisine in this laid-back luxe newcomer comes courtesy of former l’Ecrivain man Lumir Tousek, who’s big on seasonality and the different textures, colours and flavours it brings. The impressive list of starters include a Clogherhead Lobster Tail, Rabbit Tortellino & Malted Crème Fraîche that encapsulates what makes the cooking here so special. In addition to the main room and its handcrafted walnut wood tables, there’s a beautiful marble countertop bar, a heated terrace for all year round al fresco dining and a private dining area. Before you ask, the name harks back to the 1700s and was what Leeson Street was originally called. We heartily recommend the Seared Duck Breast, Carrot & Elderflower Pureé, Apricots, Roasted Carrot, Duck Croquette, Almond & Hay.

THE SQ BAR & GRILL RAMADA ENCORE HOTEL 20 Talbot Street St Anne’s Square Belfast BT1 2LD Tel. +44 (0)28 9026 1800 sqbarandgrill.co.uk The SQ Bar & Grill restaurant is the beating heart of the Cathedral Quarter, and is not to be missed on your visit to St. Anne’s Square.

With live entertainment, an inviting outside terrace seating area overlooking the square, and a tempting cocktail list created by the in house mixologist, you really will have an experience to remember at SQ Bar & Grill.

Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, there's no such thing as a bad time to indulge in something from the range of tantalising menus. With great offers daily including Wine Wednesdays – Buy 2 large glasses of house wine & get the rest of the bottle free, Thursday Steak Night – Choice of steak, side, sauce & glass of house wine for just £20pp, and Finger Licking Fridays - £4 cocktails with complementary nibbles on your first round of cocktails, a stop to SQ will not break the bank.

OX 1 Oxford Street Belfast BT1 3LA Tel: +44 (0)28 9031 4121 oxbelfast.com Perched overlooking the River Lagan, OX’s beautiful backdrop adds wonderfully to the relaxed atmosphere in the restaurant. The main dining area is an intimate 40-seat room designed by Oscar and Oscar; when you combine the decor with the calibre of food, it’s no wonder OX was just awarded a prestigious Michelin star.

The menu is crafted primarily by what’s in season, an approach made possible by a long-standing relationship with local suppliers.

The menus are balanced and diverse, particularly in the fish selection, with a special mention to the red mullet served with crab, black olive, samphire and broccoli.

Each main course also comes with an optional pairing from the fantastic wine list, or you can pop next door to the recently opened wine bar – a wonderfully warm, intimate room with great cheese and charcuterie plates, and a chocolate fondue for two so sinful that in some countries it might be deemed illegal.

JAMES STREET SOUTH 21 James Street South Belfast BT2 7GA Tel: +44 (0)28 9043 4310 jamesstreetsouth.co.uk Originally opened in 2003 by chef Niall McKenna, this restaurant has been transformed to give a modern, contemporary feel. An extensive pass and bar area run the length of the restaurant, making it the perfect place for that pre-dinner drink.

The menu served up by Head Chef David Gillmore focuses on classic cooking, using the best of locally sourced produce, with signature dishes including Strangford Lough Bouillabaise and Organic Lamb as well as Chilled Portavogie Crab Lasagna and Baronscourt Estate Venison.

Big on seasonality and locally sourced ingredients, James Street South’s spirit of adventure extends to its drinks menu which, along with a superb selection of wines, celebrates the recent explosion in craft beers and cider.

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Dublin & Belfast

A C C O M O D AT I O N

STAYING OVER

Culloden Estate & Spa

DUBLIN BROOKS HOTEL 59 – 63 Drury St Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (1) 670 4000 brookshotel.ie Situated only minutes from Grafton Street in the heart of Dublin city, Brooks Hotel is the perfect place to stay whether for business or pleasure. It houses Francesca’s Restaurant, one of Dublin’s top eateries, where organic and artisan dishes are prepared by award-winning head chef Patrick McLarnon using the finest locally sourced ingredients.

The Jasmine Bar also hosts an award-winning Whiskey Tasting Experience with over 130 whiskey variations in stock.

Brooks’ most impressive feature however, is its state of the art 26 seat screening room, offering the unique opportunity to watch great movies in a luxury surrounding.

With screenings of classic films every Thursday along with the option of cocktails and a threecourse French inspired meal to accompany the showing, it’s sure to be a stay you won’t forget.

DYLAN HOTEL Eastmoreland Place, Dublin 4 Tel: (01) 660 3000 dylan.ie Lovers of culture and nightlife will certainly not be disappointed

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BELFAST with the Dylan, a 19th century townhouse mere steps from Baggot Street, Ballsbridge and Trinity College, and right by the dozens of galleries and museums on Merrion Square and the surrounding area. If atmospheric bars and gourmet restaurants, then you won’t even have to venture outside the door – the Victorian district hotspot houses the impossibly chic award-winning Tavern Restaurant and Dylan Cocktail Bar, popular with Dublin’s glitterati.

HARCOURT HOTEL Harcourt St. Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (1) 478 3677 harcourthotel.ie Set across a number of old Georgian Houses, one of which was a former home of legendary Irish poet George Bernard Shaw, the Harcourt Hotel offers value for money in an excellent location, Just beside the heart of Dublin’s buzzing nightlife, the hotel features Little Caesars Italian restaurant, a sports bar with a busy beer garden and their nightclub (d|two) below. Bar food is served daily with sports shown on the big screen and drinks served well into the night.

CULLODEN ESTATE & SPA Bangor Road, Holywood, Belfast tel: +44 (0)28 9042 1066 hastingshotels.com/culloden-estateand-spa Perched high on the slopes of the Holywood Hills (no, not those Hollywood hills!), Culloden Estate was originally built as an official palace for the Bishops of Down, so you’re guaranteed to get the royal treatment when you pass through its historic doors. This palatial mansion, which overlooks Belfast Lough and the County Antrim coastline, stands on 12 acres of beautiful secluded gardens and woodland, making it perfect for a romantic break. It also has an incredible spa, which is fully equipped to become a sanctuary for both your body and mind. With eight treatment suites, relaxation rooms and a juice bar, you’ll feel like a new person.

TEN SQUARE HOTEL 10 Donegall Square Belfast BT1 5JD Tel: +44 (0)28 902 41001 tensquare.co.uk Located in the heart of Belfast in no less than a Grade 1 listed building, Ten Square is a boutique hotel with a distinctively chic vibe. Just a step out of the door will take you to the historic City Hall, Waterfront Hall,

the business district and the Victoria Square shopping district. Facilities within the hotel include comfy over-sized beds, free Wi-Fi, power showers and in-room entertainment.

If that’s not quite enough for you, you can enjoy excellent dining in the Grill Room Restaurant & Bar – an elegant and vibrant joint that offers fresh Northern Irish beef along with seafood and vegetarian options.

Rates per room begin at £79.

FITZWILLIAM HOTEL Great Victoria Street BT2 7BQ Belfast Tel: +44 (0)28 90 442 080 fitzwilliamhotelbelfast.com With its boutique bedrooms and relaxing décor, The Fitzwilliam Hotel provides a great cocoon of comfort in the middle of the city. It’s also right next to the Grand Opera House in Belfast, so if you’re catching a show it’s the obvious choice to complete a sophisticated getaway.

Within the spacious rooms you’ll find Egyptian bed linens, an LCD TV for your viewing pleasure and that all important mini-bar. The hotel also stays in the fast lane with complimentary high-speed broadband access. There’s a topnotch restaurant menu with the option of private dining, conference rooms and venue hire for business events. Rates per room begin at £110.