Living Link Summer 2012

Linking you to the best of the alternative West

www.livinglink.ie Summer 2012 Issue No. 3 Galway • Mayo • Clare

Positive change • personal growth • holistic health • green and ethical living • local food • local business • local economy

A-Z directory from acupuncture to zen. It’s the new alternative Golden Pages

2 The Living Link

Contents

Read The Living Link Online www.livinglink.ie Welcome Welcome to the third edition of The Living Link Magazine. For those of you who haven't seen us around yet we are a free, quarterly magazine. We are a community-based, independent voice, seeking, finding and sharing news, stories and wisdom from the west of Ireland; we aim to link, enrich, celebrate and inspire. We are passionate about highlighting and applauding those who are committed to sustainable, holistic and ethical living. This may be through trade, services, products or action. This may be local business, local groups or local individuals. They are people who are making a positive difference in our community by what they are doing, whether personally or in business.

Featured This Edition...

4 Editorial 5 Inspire

Summer 2012

Editor's Welcome - And some out and about photos to see if you were caught on camera!

6 Spotlight

Go As the Wind Blows - Let the summer wind take you in a new direction

The Living Link shines the torch on all that is ethical, creative and inspiring -(well on what we could fit in on this page - there is so much out there!)

8 Arts 10 Mind Body Spirit

Who are we

Every String Tells a Story - The tale of instrument maker Paul Doyle

Sean Loewen

Emily Belfrage

Caoimhín Ó Maolallaigh

Emer McDermott

Avril Horan

Reaching Out to Reiki - Helena finds a home with energy healing

page 10

Joshua St.John

14 Social Change

Q&A - Health and Herbs come to the rescue

Shedding Light on Men's Health - because men don't talk face to face, they talk shoulder to shoulder

16 Doing It Yourself

Beauty and the Beast - Our Emer ditches her old vanity case

18 Family

Back to the Future - One man has his eye on the ball when it comes to a new enterprise

Leonie Suckow

Where We print 10,000 copies and distribute them in and around the west. The magazine can be picked up free in health food shops, cafes, restaurants, waiting rooms, libraries, hairdressers and holistic shops.

You can find it in County Clare

We Are Family - Why Street Feast is more than just a picnic in the park

page 18

20 Local Culture

Be Brave - Encouraging Creativity in Children

page 16

Festival Fever - Two fantastic pages to awaken the festival fire in you Innovate and Create - Kieran waves his magic solution wand for jobs and the environment

County Galway

23 Gaeilge 24 Changemakers

Co Mayo

The Galway Gourmet Offensive - Organic. Delicious. People travel for these falafels

If you don’t see it-ask for it! Maybe the shop ran out and needs to re-order.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to have The Living Link magazine in your shop, place or as part of a group you may be in.

If you want to be sure of receiving your very own copy, we can send you one for €4 to cover p&p, or, €12 for all four editions for the year.

If you feel you could write an article for us please do get in contact with Emily. You can get her at: Emily@livinglink.ie. We are particularly interested in hearing from people who are further afield in the west than Galway City.

Get cosy, get comfy and dream off into the treasure trove that is the west of Ireland. We hope you enjoy it as much as we have enjoyed putting it together.

Naomh d’ár linne

Photo by Joshua St. John

page 20

Conserving Galway - The busy bees who help conserve our countryside when most of us are having a lazy Saturday lie-in

25 Planet 26 The Missing Link 28 Rear View 29 Living Links

The Bard Speaks - It will touch your heart

Bob Moonson's festival shenanigans - well its a festival theme you know!

Reviews - Jackie looks at lessons from the dying to teach us how to live Directory of all things healthy and holistic in the west

3

Summer!

Editor’s Welcome

Linking Into

Emily Belfrage

Festival Fire Welcome to the summer edition of The Living Link. This is our third edition and it coincides with that ‘kick-back-do-ittomorrow’ festival time of year! It’s that summertime shine and celebration the West of Ireland does so well.

I would take a bet that no-where in the world has as many festivals, celebrations and general get-togethers per square mile as this piece of Emerald Isle, and The Living Link is here to celebrate it. We have pulled together for your delight a small taster of the feast that can be found this summer at the many varied festivals.

We invite you to get comfy and have a read. You may even be enticed to put

4 The Living Link

on your festival boots and take a hike, out beyond the recession time blues, into the unknown horizons of possibilities!

Or, maybe a festival for you is a chance to leave work early, loosen the tie or the office skirt button, and sit in the evening sun alone, or with someone you love. How precious those moments can be. Either way, I wish you a sweet and sunny summer - even when the sun is not shining! May we all find what we are looking for,

Emily

Out and About: A lot has been happening over the last three months. Here are just some of the highlights caught on camera including the launch of Bridget's Garden, Earth Hour and the Paddy's Day Parade. Photos by Caoimhín Ó Maolallaigh.

Inspire

By Liz Moran As Marianne Williamson says: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves: Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?" Nelson Mandela quoted it in his inaugral speech. We all know this stuff but sometimes it is good to be reminded about! Here, Liz Moran cheerleads us on to be a little daring and reminds us of those things that we can forget in our daily routines.

Feel life and grasp it, stop pushing against doors that won’t open, perhaps they are not meant to.

Maybe it is not in your best interest or highest good to go through those doors. Instead, try to trust. For one day, stop. Stop pushing in the direction you think you should be going and go where you feel.

For one day, trust yourself. Trust your own gut feeling to make the decisions.

It might feel like your hanging precariously on a string, a dangling spider being buffeted by the wind, ungrounded, unfamiliar, or perhaps frightful and fearful, but, you might be surprised by the results. A new door may open to a part of yourself you did not know was there, you might find a new strength, a new talent; it’s a breeding ground for self belief.

Who, on this earth, knows what is best for you?

Whose voice is in your head, whose gut feeling do you follow? If it is not your own, there is something wrong, because, the only person whom truly knows what is best for you, is you. The only heart that beats to your destiny is your own. You are your own best inspiration.

Look back in your life, remember the moments in which you excelled, where you felt fully whole, complete and consumed with joy. A time when you

Don't forget that anyone can upload their business or event FREE on the Living Link website. www.livinglink.ie. Yes! That means you too!

Us Linkers have created a new, super-duper, all-singing-all dancing, tell it to the world, look how much is in it, website, and we would love you to go and see it. We have new articles coming in all the time and we are putting them up there for you to read.

‘remember the moments in which you excelled, where you felt fully whole, complete and consumed with joy’

Go As the Wind Blows were fully present in the moment, felt no lack or unfulfillment. A time where that search, that feeling of missing something, disappeared, was not present.

It is in remembering these moments that you can build a framework, a framework of things and activities which inspire you, like a collection of building blocks you can use to become more self-assured, more self-confident.

This in turn, fuels the inner strength to trust and guide yourself to the doors that are truly meant for you. These doors will nurture you, challenge you, but ultimately, open the world to you and place you on a path which inside you know is right. And because, in your heart you know you’re on the right path, any difficulties and challenges you face will be okay. You will know all will work out.

Peel away all the layers, jump into something that frightens you and see yourself rise.

Feel the courage and stand tall and proud. The greatest thing you can do is trust yourself. Be self assured. Life is too short to doubt yourself.

The Burren According to Shane As my grandfather would say, “things al- Lizziemoran@gmail.com

He leans into limestone slopes as naturally as spreading juniper, Mountain Aven, Maidenhair Spleenwort.

Plants for conception or the opposite, St John’s Wort a cure for marriage and/or depression and Selfheal a potion for all your ails.

Take a rest inside a ring-fort Cathair Dhúin Irghuis generations of stones circled to keep families and stock in or neighbours and wolves out.

Moycullen’s Kevin O’Shea is the winner of the 2012 Cúirt International Festival of Literature New Writing Prize for poetry. Having retreated from the world of technology to timidly confront the world of imagination, his debut collection The Art of Non-Fishing is forthcoming with Doire Press this autumn.

ways work out how they are supposed to”. This was a man who never closed his eyes. He lived his life in abundance. Age or opinions didn’t stop him. He continued to try new things and take up hobbies well into his later life. He bought his last car at 96, had a laptop similar to my own, and made the world’s best and sweetest blackberry jam! No different to my own father, whom, against the advice of many, returned to college in his mid-fifties. He has lived, and is living a life which has had many, many varied and interesting chapters.

A trio of orchids like a Clare set, Fragrant, Lady’s Tresses, O’Kelly’s Spotted.

Weaving downhill to a bronze age Fulacht Fiadh and its horseshoe dump where I scrape out a three thousand year old shard of shell like a fingernail and a thimble of shattered limestone.

Eyebright, Devil’s-bit Scabious, Bloody Cranesbill, Wild Madder with roots for a shade of red dye, precious as threads of saffron, measured carefully in scruples when a scruple still equaled twenty-four grains of corn.

But the girls of Ballyvaughan, fond of their fingernails, no longer dye with Madder-root,

scavenge wood or dry cow turds for fuel or bring lunch to the men on the hills who build walls in their unique style.

The day Egyptian engineers set the square foundations for the pyramids, the day Christopher Columbus set sail into the setting sun, the day George W Bush fell off his bike, our Burren guide, Shane, assured us a Clareman built a stone-wall, like today the day Mick Lally died. The last day of August, blessed we were still to see the creamy petals of the Burnet Rose.

Kevin O’Shea

If you have something to say, chances are we’ll put it on the website for you. Go and take a look at www.livinglink.ie . Write to Sean – he is the techie – on: sean@livinglink.ie

How to contact us: Editor and General Prodder Emily Belfrage emily@livinglink.ie 087 9327279 Deputy Editor, Sub Editor, Writer and DeadlineSorter-Outer Avril Horan, avril@livinglink.ie 087 9082245 Sales Manager, Roving Food Reporter and PickerUpper of Loose Ends Emer MacDermott emer@livinglink.ie 083 3033153 Advertising Manager, Webmaster and All Things Technical That Most of Us Don't Understand Sean Loewen sean@livinglink.ie 085 8506110 All Things Irish Caoimhin O Maolallaigh caoimhin@livinglink.ie 087 1254817 The New Living Link Photographer on the Block (or in the field or in the workshop - actually wherever we send him!)

Josh St.John joshuastjohn@me.com 086 1576009 www.joshuastjohn.com Designer and Calm in the Storm Ciarán Ó Súilleabháin 087 2109238 091 869961 www.grafaici.ie

5

Spotlight Campaign for Galway Civic Food Market A new campaign is underway to provide a permanent market place for local food producers – similar to those in Cork and Limerick. Architect Eleanor Ryan is currently investigating the best options for Galway and has recently visited Limerick’s award-winning Milk Market – which she discovered to be a vibrant urban space. Here, she talks to The Living Link about the initiative.

By Eleanor Ryan We are campaigning for a permanent market place for local food producers to sell their produce in Galway, similar to the famous English Market in Cork. A space like this would help Galway support and sustain the local food economy whilst also enriching city life and developing tourism for food lovers.

In order to gather information on what kind of facility Galway should provide, I visited the awardwinning Milk Market in Limerick. It is a vibrant urban space, where you can buy locally produced food and crafts in a sheltered area that is naturally lit and ventilated. The Milk Market recently added a canopy of tensile fabric, to provide a large ‘umbrella’ over the market stalls.

It is a space that enables social urban interactions. It has a sense of community and history, ensuring that visitors come back time and time again. In 2011, the market won the prestigious ‘Public Choice’ award from the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards.

It is certainly an important model for Galway and many thanks to the Limerick Milk Market Management for their hospitality on our visit. A similar market space in Galway would enhance opportunities for food tourism and benefit the local community and economy.

Please visit our facebook page for updates on our progress: www.facebook.com/pages/GalwayCivic-Food-Market.

Eleanor Ryan is a RIAI registered architect living in Galway. She has worked as an Architect in Dublin Galway and Sligo. She is interested in post occupancy evaluation of buildings, attempting to reduce the environmental impact of buildings over their life cycle whilst optimising occupant comfort. http://www.linkedin.com/pub/eleanorryan/19/334/b42

New Food and Craft Directory launched Whether you are a visitor looking for a unique handmade souvenir, or a resident shopping local, Galway has an incredible variety of top quality authentic local artisan produce to delight all tastes.

A new directory has now been created, listing all of the fantastic food and craft producers Galway has to offer – called simply ‘Made in Galway’.

The initiative, by Galway County Council, is designed to support and encourage local cultural and economic development. Many of the listings contain links to producers own websites and social media, so you can view even more of their great offerings. As such, it brings you right to the doorsteps of world class producers. For any further enquiries please contact Caitriona Scully on 091 476514 or visit www.galway.ie.

6 The Living Link

The

People’s

Park

Terryland Forest Park was instigated in January 2000 and over time became known as Galway’s ’green lungs’. Sadly the project was left in limbo for years. Now, council officials and external groups are once more working together to make the original vision of its founders a reality.

Brendan Smith is heavily involved in its renewal and here he outlines the story of the People’s Park.

By Brendan Smith When it commenced in January 2000, Terryland Forest Park was the largest urban neighbourhood forest project in the history of the Irish state. Initiated as a result of years of campaigning by resident groups, Galway City Council zoned 120 acres for a new woodland and riverine park.

A multi-sectoral steering committee was established to help implement a long-term development plan. Under the auspices of the City Parks’ department, it included a colourful mix of artists, ecologists, state officials, forestry workers, planners and community activists. Much of the land zoned was saved from the threat of development and it was hoped to eventually plant 500,000 native Irish trees.

In the early years there was a surge of inspired activity. There were family picnic days and outdoor theatre; school children were seen bulb planting and the community rallied

for tree planting together, art workshops and nature walks took place that often attracted thousands of participants. Schools used it as an ‘outdoor classroom’.

truly became a ‘green highway’ linking the wetlands of the River Corrib near Terryland Castle to the farmlands of east Galway. It also deserved the official titles of ‘Green Lungs of Proposals were drawn up to develop tree the City’ and ‘People’s Park’. nurseries, arboreal-themed playgrounds, an Sadly the project was left in abeyance for outdoor natural amphitheatre and a forestry years, due to conflict over proposals to build a educational and training facility -where tradi- road through its lands. However, council oftional skills such as hedgerow planting could ficials and external groups are once more be learnt and used in the construction of the working together the make the original vision park’s own natural boundaries. Nature reof its founders a reality. sponded - as a range of wildlife populated a man-made natural habitat haven - located in For more information, or if you would like to close proximity to the city centre. The park get involved, go to brenspeedie.blogspot.com

Bee Green be clean...

We Linkers are always on the lookout for businesses that are doing the same, but different, and we think Bee Green dry cleaning ticks this box. Bee Green is the first environmentally friendly dry cleaners in Ireland using biodegradable detergents, which are non-allergenic, non-irritating and odour free.

Rita and Stephen Langan are the couple behind the business.

Formerly farmers, they decided to plunge in and investigate the concept. Following extensive research into cutting edge dry cleaning systems, they found what they were looking for in Canada. This innovative process of environmentally friendly dry cleaning uses a combination of modern electronic technology, high quality machinery and specially formulated biodegradable cleaning solutions.

“We are very aware that families with children who have respiratory weaknesses or asthma, as

well as skin irritations like eczema and psoriasis, are relieved when they discover we use none of the chemicals which may irritate their conditions,” explains Rita. “The combination of the processes used and biodegradable cleaning

products leave garments fresh, clean and odour free.” Bee Green Dry Cleaners, with their highly trained team and revolutionary approach are leading the way in the future of garment and fabric cleaning. This gets a big round of

applause from us Linkers and an

invitation to go and check them

out at their four branches in: Westport, Belmullet, Castlebar

and Briarhill or for more information go to www.beegreen.ie

Funky Fairtrade Affordable Giftshop Bridge Mills, Galway Open 7 days a week 10am – 6.30

funky fair trade galway

- Bring this advert with you - to be entered into our draw for €60 gift voucher 7

Arts

By Avril Horan Paul Doyle has hand crafted and mended musical instruments for the likes of U2, Christy Moore and the Hothouse Flowers. He met David Bowie in the UK, while US actor Woody Harrelson is the proud owner of one of his most expensive guitars. Paul inherited his love of instrument making from his grandfather, a station master at Westport, Co. Mayo, and continues the family tradition from his workshop on Dominic Street, Galway. Having fought back when a fire wiped out his business in 1996, Paul now faces his toughest challenge yet.

During a period of personal stress and turmoil, Paul fell into an unhealthy lifestyle pattern, which eventually took its toll on his work and well-being. He had many late nights, survived on takeaways and gained a lot of weight. As the pounds piled on, his doctor warned him that his vital organs were being pushed out of place and he had one of the highest cholesterol readings on record. Diagnosed with diabetes type II in 2010, he had another frightening set-back last year when he “got a belt” from his heart. This time, he firmly believed that he was going to die and, as he waited for the ambulance to arrive, he began to get his final affairs in order.

Paul can trace back the roots of his ill-health to 1998: “In 1998, a lovely lady I was with left Galway to live abroad and I was devastated,” explains Paul.

“I was staying out late, eating badly, and had to work twice as hard only to be less effective.

By 2002, I had gained 90 kilos and weighed over 20 stone. I was huge. Most of my weight was on my tummy, hips and chest and I had to buy clothes in size xxxl. I was sleeping late, my business was suffering and I was very unhealthy. I was always hungry and could no longer run up the stairs like I used to.

“I tried lots of diets but I didn’t really understand about nutrition. When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I bought an exercise bike. I was determined to make changes but I didn’t really know how to go about it. I was good at cooking, but found I didn’t have time to cook for myself,” he says.

Paul managed to lose two stone in a bid to control his illness. Yet like many, he was faced with the pressure of keeping his business open as the full bite of the recession took hold. He decided to diversify and set up a very successful school to pass on his craft to others. Students from around the world attend the school to learn the art of instrument making.

Although he re-invented and revived his enterprise, it came at a personal cost. Renowned for his skill and ability, he found he was trying to be in two places at once and soon received “the biggest wake-up call” of his life.

“I experienced a lot of anxiety last year and on June 6th I got a big belt in the old heart,” he explains.

“In those five minutes that I waited for the ambulance, I started tidying up all of my affairs on my computer. I wrote down how to split my belongings. My heart was beating irregularly – one minute it would race and the next it would slow down with a bump and a miss. I spent two days in hospital and the doctor explained to me that I was facing the biggest battle of my life.

“With diabetes, sugar is not converted into energy and it is stored as fat. My body is not able to give me the energy I need, you end up tired and thirsty all of the time. That’s why I have to 8 The Living Link

Photos by Josh St John www.joshuastjohn.com

Every String tells a Story

battle more. I discovered that nearly half my blood vessels had sugar in them at any one time and went on medication to lift out the cholesterol,” he explains.

Paul is using the same determination he found in the aftermath of the ’96 fire which wiped out €200,000 worth of stock. At the time, he faced down the “rumours of my demise” to rebuild his sterling reputation, find a new premises, and create an internationally renowned school.

Now, he has taken on board all of the nutritional advice he has received and has adopted a holistic approach to his health. He uses only organic vegetables and makes juices daily. He has cut out all processed foods and takes a balanced approach to his diet. He says he is eating “all of the right stuff” and has better posture thanks to the help of a chiropractor. He has “lots more energy” and has established a better working routine. Acupuncture helped him to regain his ability to play music following a repetitive strain injury.

For Paul, his work is his passion and he wants to be able to continue to share his talent with others. He makes 14 different instruments and can play many of them also.

“My business is a wonderful thing,” he explains. “For my grandfather, building instruments was a hobby. My uncle made many instruments and my father was an expert at polishing them,” he describes.

“I can now marry and overlap certain rules to get the right sound. I have studied string making and I know how they perform. I can get the right tension and have learned how to use alternative woods,” he explains.

The highlight for Paul is the location of his workshop on Dominic Street. Many musicians pass by his doors daily and he is part of the fabric of the city. And yet, few know that every string, every hand crafted instrument created over the years, has its own story to tell.

A Call ttoo A Awaken waken TThe he Munay窶適i Rites Awakening, A wakening, g, Initiation and Empowerment Empo Be of wisdom and po power wer fr free ee of fear fear.r.

Connect ttoo luminouss beings that help heal you ou in your dream dr time. time.

Engage with your true rue divine path, become your true self, transform tr ansform your consciousnes consciousness sciousness and you will enjoy njoy a new and wonderful w onderful w way ay of experiencing life life..

YYou ou will rreceive eceive 10 rites of initiations, initiations, connect ct with spirit thr through ough shamanicjourneying, g, rreceiving eceiving healing and sacr sacred ed medicine for you personal eevolution. volution. tion. energy how TThis his ener gy is to to bee shared shared with all and you will learn ho w tto o gift these rites so that you can shar share e them with your lo loved ved ones. ones.

Kerina Call K erina on 086-3350153 -3350153 3350153 or Ian on 086-3034593 -3034593 3034593 Visit http://www.lightbodywork.com more V isit http://www w.lightbodyw htbodywork.com for mor re information EEveryone veryone is w welcome! elcome! me!

Date: August D ate: 18th & 19th A u ugust 2012 Cost: 竄ｬ250

Lucy Mc Crann Fahy

is delighted to announce that she is now seeing patients at her lovely new space in Liosban, Galway.

Please phone 086 0623497 to arrange appointments in Galway or Loughrea.

Homeopathy - Kinesiology - Reiki Chakra Balancing - Food Intolerance Testing 99

Reiki

Mind Body Spirit

Reaching out to

As a lonely and admittedly stroppy teenager, Helena Hennigan thought her mother had lost her marbles when she mentioned reiki and energy healing. However, after witnessing her transformation first hand, Helena reached out to reiki in a bid to help her overcome her sense of isolation. She has not looked back and, 11 years on, she has found a home in energy healing. Helena is now a reiki master, a shamanic practitioner and is also qualified in massage and reflexology. Together with Kerina Collins, she has set-up The Bluebell Drop-In Clinic, a haven tucked away behind the bustling Galway Market every Saturday.

By Helena Hennigan Where to start, well at the beginning would be good don’t you think? At aged sixteen, I was spotty, lonely and feeling lost. I was sitting in my family home, when my mum came in and – as I was a teenager - I gave her the usual grumpy greeting. She mentioned she had been to a reiki session and, naturally, I thought she was mad - not to mention other strong words that ran through my mind. She said it was some kind of energy healing. Energy? What energy?! Little did I know.

A few weeks later, after my mum had been for another reiki session, I noticed something different about her. She seemed calmer and

more relaxed. I was impressed. My mum is an active soul and I had not seen her so calm before. To many, I was a quiet, shy and at times grumpy teenager. Inside I felt scared, lonely and depressed most of the time. Sometimes, I would cry for hours and was unable to see any way out of the pain. I thought to myself ‘I’m going to try this energy stuff’.

I made an appointment and didn’t know what to expect. Sometimes, it’s the best way to be. As the session progressed, I thought I wasn’t relaxing enough. But unbeknownst to me, I could feel a warm loving energy wash over. I couldn’t believe it. It was even more of a surprise when, after the session, I calmly and happily walked down the street. Whatever this was, I wanted more.

Pathway Pathw way teaching teachi hing

www.pathwayteaching.com www.p atthwayteaching ing.com

Awak Awaken w en n tthe he Shaman Sham h an n Within Wit h wit hin with th Paul O’Halloran O’Hallo oran All o All our ur w welcome elcome tto o jjoin o in u uss o on n an iintroductory ntroductory eevening v en in g o on n tthe he way off tthe Shamanism onee of tthe oldest wa yo he sshaman. haman. Sh am manism iiss on he ol dest ttraditions radition ns Earth, common all native peoples. helps uss tto connect on E arth, co mmon tto oa ll n a tiv e p eoples. IItt h e lp s u o co nnect to n nature and heal ourselves ass w wee re remember deepest parts ature a nd h eal o u rselv es a member tthe he d eepest p arts ourr be being. aboutt eexperiencing of ou b ing. IItt iiss abou xperiencing the the world world of spirit, spirit, whilst w h ilst living living an an ordinary ordinary life. life. It is not not a religion religion or or philosophy philosophy but but is a connection connecttion that that helps helps us us to to remember rememb ber who who we we really really are. are. Come C om e and and awaken your and experience exp perience the the way way of of the the shaman sham an a nd a w aken y our connection Wheel.

Shamanic connecttion to to the the Medicine Medicine W h eel. S h a m a n ic Practitioners Shamanic Practitioners and and Advanced Advanced S hamanic ttraining rainin available availab ble later later in in 2012.

Paul Paul is is a shaman shaman and and spiritual spiiritual healer healer with w it h many many years years experience experience healing healing land, land, houses houses and a people. people.

IIntroductory ntrroductory evenings ev venings – awakening awak wak g the th shaman with hin: 15 June ne G Galway, alway, shaman within: igo and 16th A August ugust Galway Galway way 9th August Sligo 6.30pm 9.30pm (20E) 6.30p m tto o 9.30p m (20E E) Contact: info@pathwayteaching.com Contact: info@pathwayteaching.com Phone: Phone: 086 8525529 5529

So my journey began: reiki initiations, reflexology courses, shamanic training - I realised that I loved it all. I felt at home with it, not realising until much later in my journey that I had a gift. It was just like an artist picking up a paint brush for the first time or a musician discovering an instrument. It felt like stepping out of the darkness and into a beautiful sun soaked scene. It lifted my spirits and, at that time in my life, gave me a reason to live.

Now 11 years later, I am still learning and loving the energy life. I’ve experienced powerful and wonderful healings. But most importantly, I’ve learned about myself and developed my skills as a healer from gifted teachers. Most recently, I trained as a shamanic practitioner with experienced shaman Paul O’ Halloran.

Shamanism is one of the oldest healing forms on the planet and shamans have been known to heal mental, emotional and physical issues.

It was after this course that a fellow therapist, Kerina Collins, who is a wonderful healer, and I set up the Bluebell Drop-In Centre. It had been a dream of mine to have a centre for healing because, if I know one thing for sure, I didn’t embark on this journey just for myself. I’m here growing, co-operating with the divine plan, which I feel is to help others and be of service for the greater good, no matter how small that may be.

As a wise woman once said ‘if I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. If I can ease one life the aching, or cool one pain, or help one fainting robin unto his nest again, I shall not live in vain.’

The Bluebell Drop-In Clinic is located in the heart of the city, upstairs by the Yoga Centre, in the Galway Market. Drop in any time from 9-6pm Saturdays. For more information, contact Helena on 085 1391828 or Kerina Collins 086 3350153.

10 The Living Link

It was just like an artist picking up a paint brush for the first time or a musician discovering an instrument. It felt like stepping out of the darkness and into a beautiful sun soaked scene.

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Anne Quinn has over care, over 35 yyears ears experience experience in n Health ca re, 20 in conventional conventional medicine, medicine, qualified in 3 nursing nursing disciplines, disciplines, General, Learning General, Psychiatric, Psychiatric, and Lea rning disabilities, disabilitie es, has a p y ology gy and is a Counsellor specializing p g in diploma in Psychology bereavement and loss. loss. bereavement 3 Ivy Mews, Bishop St. Tuam, Co. Galway Phone: +353 (0)93 26698 annequinn@natural-health-centre.org www.natural-health-centre.org

11

Mind Body Spirit

The Living Link Q&A

Food For Thought

By Emer MacDermott

Welcome to our new Q & A section. Here, the Living Linkers will get in touch with those in the know in the west to help you with whatever ails you - mind, body and spirit. In this edition, we have tracked down the team at Health and Herbs in Galway City to bring their knowledge and wisdom to you.

Dear Living Link,

I wonder if any of you know where I can go to because I am worried about my health. I had a pounding headache recently while out shopping and I took my blood pressure on a machine in a pharmacy. It was 160 over 95.

When I checked on the internet, it said that this was considered too high for my age. I am a 53 year old woman.

Is there anyone out there who can help me get back on track without loads of medication?

M.C. (Co. Galway) We knew that the team at Health and Herbs, 9 Sea Road, Galway, had just started a Healthy Heart Programme, run by renowned GP and Medical Herbalist, Dr Dilis Clare, so we took this letter to Aine Delaney to see if she could offer some guidance.

She replied: Dear Reader,

My heart goes out to you as it seems like you are going through a very hard time just now.

You need some help, as you have to take care of your rising blood pressure. Ankle swelling and breathlessness climbing the stairs could indicate that you are not fit, which is putting the heart under pressure.

Action is always better than worrying! So we would invite you to come and get involved in our natural Healthy Heart Programme here in Galway.

This programme has four steps. The first is with myself (SRN and acupuncturist). I will take a medical history, a stress profile and bloods for cholesterol, blood sugar, Vitamin D, liver and kidney tests, blood count and inflammation, and thyroid function.

Many people have a low thyroid which can affect heart function and contribute to low mood and weight gain. Stress can switch on inflammation which can damage blood vessels.

You will also have a B Pro pulse wave analysis test that measures the pressure at 12 The Living Link

Tomoko found that Irish food gave her hives, so she decided to try cutting out ‘animal foods’, in- Photo by Grace Light cluding meat, dairy, eggs and finally even fish stock. She quickly saw the health benefits, losing all of her extra weight, and her hives completely disappeared. She remembered reading an article by George Ohsawa, on the Macrobiotics Diet, and she started looking more closely at the principles behind this way of eating.

The Yin Yang theory of eating foods means that the body is always balanced. There are no big highs or lows, no extremes that make the body constantly crave sugars, or alcohol or carbohydrates, as it tries to balance itself from our over excesses of these foods.

I have been under a lot of stress recently, as my husband ended our marriage and has met someone else. We have three children to finish educating. I feel so angry all the time.

I‘ve been craving sugary food and drinking too much wine at night to try to relax.

Sometimes, I feel panicky and it feels like my pulse is racing, or missing a beat. My ankles are puffy especially in the evenings and I feel breathless going up the stairs. I am in a rut.

When Tomoko Dunbar came to live in Ireland 7 years ago she was 25 kilos overweight. She moved here from Gunma, a small town near Tokyo with her Irish husband and young daughter. She blamed her obesity on an over indulgence in Japanese ‘junk food’ which was full of sugar, fat and salt.

The Japanese diet is considered to be one of the healthiest in the world.

And yet, when Tomoko Dunbar arrived to the west of Ireland from a small town near Tokyo, she was almost 4 stone overweight. To make matters worse, Irish cuisine brought her out in hives. She needed an entirely new approach to food

Aine Delaney

the centre of your heart, which is a more accurate assessment of your blood pressure.

It also measures the elasticity of your arteries with reference to your age. Generally this is a good guideline for your heart’s health and the test only takes ten minutes.

Step Two: Meet with Liz Nolan, nutritional therapist at Health and Herbs.

Liz will check your body mass analysis for percentages of body fat and water, and will advise on how to eat nutritionally. She has specialist training in emotional eating and food cravings. ‘You are what you eat’ is a saying that is particularly true for the cardiovascular system. Spices such as turmeric are anti-inflammatory and cinnamon will help with food cravings.

Step Three: James Tonery, MSc in Exercise Physiology will do an exercise assessment to see how your heart responds to stress and to measure core muscle strength. Your heart is a muscle so it can strengthen with exercise. Working on muscle strength is crucial to improving blood pressure, and exercise really helps bring down stress levels and improve self confidence.

Step Four: Medical consultation with Dr Clare, to look at your test results and your overall health profile, and for an individualised health plan. You may be prescribed herbs to help you relax and sleep better and antispasmodic herbs to relax the tissues allowing the blood pressure to regulate itself again.

Good luck and take care!

For more information call Aine Delaney SRN at 087 7965070 in Health and Herbs Integrated Medical Clinic, 9 Sea Road, Galway

“Food is medicine,” Tomoko explains, “you are what you eat and one should avoid drugs where possible”.

Her medicine for a runny nose, for example, is miso soup with spring onion, to heat the body up.

She treats a cough with cooked apples and her recipe for high cholesterol is “to take less, not more”.

Her family is now completely vegan, including her three little girls, and they are all very happy and healthy. A typical day for Tomoko starts with a breakfast of

Miso Soup

wholemeal bread, banana and sesame paste and for the children, rice with tofu and vegetables. While most lunch boxes consist of a sandwich, fruit and a drink, Tomoko’s children enjoy

rice with peas, sweetcorn and broccoli - or pasta with tomatoe sauce with fruit and dates. For treats, she makes cup cakes using flour, vegetable oil, rice or soy milk and rice syrup.

Ingredients

Stock - dried shitake mushrooms and seaweed (Kombu) Miso paste Potatoes and Spring Onions

Oils - cold press, sesame, vegetable and olive Organic foods that are local and Method in season - where possible Boil the mushrooms and seaweed gently for 15 Rice mins Kombu Take the mushrooms and seaweed out Miso Add potatoes and spring onion and gently boil until cooked. Turn off heat.

Shitake Mushrooms Add a tablespoon (to taste) of Miso paste.

Soy sauce Serve with Sushi rice with vegetables Sesame paste Tofu All the water should be absorbed - so follow the instructions for quantities. Mushrooms can Fresh mushrooms, onions, carrots, tomatoes, be added to the cooking rice, for more flavour. broccoli and fruit Chinese leaves Serve with Steamed broccoli and coleslaw made with shredded Chinese leaves and carrot, Spring onions mixed with a dressing of olive oil, salt and vineGinger, garlic, cinnamon gar.

Rice syrup Maple syrup Serve with Tofu Soba or buckwheat Sprinkle a little salt on Tofu and fry in sesame oil. Then sprinkle with soy sauce.

Rice noodle

Health & Herbs

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After many years experience in a GP practice in London, Dr Clare returned to Ireland to establish Health and Herbs Integrated Health Clinic,

combining the best of pharmacutical and integrated medicine.

Her busy clinic in Galway city offers choice in the treatment of various conditions, and provides a welcomed approach to the practice of medicine.

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improves organ function clears pain All medical conditions, chronic pain conditions, infertility Aine Delaney SRN, LIC. ACUPUNCTURE, IRELAND, CHINA AND USA Health and Herbs, 9 Sea Road,Galway Tel. 087 7965070

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Social Change

By Avril Horan Behind the gates at Sandy Road, Galway, lies a hive of activity. I was given access to a place I have never ventured before – a fully functioning Men’s Shed. Strewn with wood, metal, machines and mechanisms, it is a place which not only demonstrates recycling at its best, but also provides a venue for socialising and creativity.

With the understanding that men don’t talk face to face, they talk to shoulder to shoulder; the Men’s Sheds initiative is a new way of looking at men’s health. The idea began in Australia and has been embraced here – with over 60 sheds established across the country.

I spoke to Michael Tiernan, from Ballindooley, Headford Road, about the local project, which sets out to rediscover our old community values and to move away from Ireland’s recent ‘throw away’ culture. Michael is retired from the Health Service Executive and explains that he was “always active”. He felt as though something was “clicking away” inside of him and found the answer while in conversation at the Community Garden in Ballinfoyle.

He attended his first Men’s Shed meeting over one year ago, found it had “lit a spark” and he came back “full of ideas and enthusiasm”. He soon set up a committee with Chairperson Michael McDonnell and Secretary and PRO, Brendan Smith. He describes himself as “the money man” who has to ensure they can operate on tight budget constraints. With the help of Galway City Council, they located a suitable building, receiving additional support from the VEC and the HSE. Building up their profile of tools, they opened the door to woodturning, tool making, welding, blacksmithing, bicycle and engine maintenance to men of all ages across the county for a membership fee of just €2. Classes take place every week and old materials and wares are given a new lease of life. As new skills are learned, friendships are formed. And while the primary focus is on men’s health, women are welcome to join also.

As Michael describes, “men need friendship and they need other men. The idea of the Men’s Sheds is that it offers a place for practical work and camaraderie. Women are great for talking in groups, but men are different. A man who is depressed will go into himself, but when he is working side-by-side with others, friendships will form.

“The world’s worst thing you could do to a man is to let him hang around at home all day long. If a man is idle he can become bored. A lot of the men who attend the Men’s Shed may be unemployed or retired. It doesn’t matter what age they are. We cater for everyone from 18 to 218! Anyone under 18 is also welcome, but with the permission of their parent or guardian.

“In the Men’s Shed movement, we are focusing in on certain aspects of people’s lives. Men love to see machines work. When you put a man in front of a machine he is a different man. It makes a big difference to a person. And there is a cup of tea in it too. We don’t start quizzing people. We don’t ask them questions,” he explains.

Michael is easy to relate to. He understands there is a growing sense of alienation and frustration amongst those who have been left behind following the Celtic Tiger years. He recognises the confusion that now exists in society as a whole and is trying to help others to rebuild a sense of self worth and esteem that is no longer based on material wealth alone. To do this, he believes we need to go back to the community values once held so strongly in the ‘50s.

“In the ‘50s, we had very little and we were able to survive,” he explains. “Suddenly it was 14 The Living Link

Shedding Light on

Men’s Health

‘’

Michael Tiernan.

Picture Photo by Joshua St. John

all about money and has been for the past 15 years. We have been a ‘throw away’ society for far too long. There is no logic to this. The idea of fixing has gone out the window. For example, I can take a piece of iron and shape it into something useful. We can bring old tools back to life rather than throwing them out,” he says.

For Michael, the Men’s Shed on the Sandy Road has given him a new spark of life also. He is a hand’s on person, who is enjoying the camaraderie and the ability to create new items from old. He has made pokers and “beautiful copper buckets” among others. The group also make beehives, ladles, a pizza oven for the community garden and restore anything they can. They also teach basic bicycle maintenance to young children to bring back the concept of ‘Doing It Yourself’. The shed allows them to “tap into their talents,” as Michael describes, and everyone is welcome.

For Michael, the message is simple: “We need to get back to Mother Nature in order to find a lot of the answers in life. We have to fix the nation and in doing so, make sure that we fix the tools it’s grown on,” he concludes.

Health Education for Life at Milltown Park College, Dublin since 1989 and at Cork City since 2000. We are fully accredited by the Irish Society of Homeopaths, the regulating body of Homeopaths in Ireland. www.irishhomeopathy.ie

Workshops Dublin, Cork and Galway ‘Get Started in Homeopathy’ 1 Day Introduction €50 – dates at website ‘Homeopathy & Nutrition’ Short course commences every spring Evening with Miranda Castro Author of ‘Complete Homeopathic Handbook’ is here at our school 8/9/10 June – see website for details

Four-Year Professional Training Course (held at weekends) Commences at Milltown Park, Dublin 6 - every September Commences at Brú Columbanus, Cork City – September 2012

Clinic at Milltown, Dublin and Bru Columbanus, Cork Available to the public as part of our student training programme, you can attend the student clinic at reduced rates.

Visit website for dates and more details. www.ish.ie

Contact Angie Murphy

01 8682581 info@ish.ie

www.ish.ie

15

Doing It Yourself

Beauty and the Beast Our very own Emer MacDermott has undergone a transformation.

Her conventional household cleaning items are now gathering dust under the sink. She is aiming to become fully vegetarian and has changed to organic produce. Above all, she has packed up her vanity case and has switched her ‘two-for-one’ brand name buying for locally produced natural beauty products. It’s a gradual process, rather than an overnight sensation, and Emer believes that anyone can do it for themselves, in their own time.

In the last year, I have given up fluoride, shower gel, my favourite shampoos and conditioners and my usual cheap, but seemingly effective anti-ageing face creams. I have stopped using bleach, conventional washing powders and all the other household cleaning products that are still packed under my kitchen sink. I now use an ecofriendly range, which is just as effective, and available from my local shop.

I am working on becoming totally vegetarian and have exchanged most of the foods that I eat for their organic equivalents. I am eating more vegetables than ever before and getting most of my protein from pulses, beans and nuts. I still enjoy a glass or two of red wine and am addicted to chocolate. But I have given up jellies – once I realised they were made from pig’s stomachs – ugh!

I am 45-years-old and, up to this point, I was lashing creams all over my face at least twice a day and all over my body at least once a day.

My buying decisions were purely around two-for-one special offers or any other special offer on known brand names. I wouldn't dream of

looking at the ingredients, and I wouldn't understand them if I did. I would just look at the marketing information and buy on the promise of getting rid of my fine lines or combating the signs of ageing. I would blindly fill my shopping trolley with poisons that would kill all known germs in my house, without really considering what else they might be killing.

I also read a good book by Allen Carr, 'the easy way to lose weight' (like there is one). He talked about the benefits of eating real organic food that hasn’t been processed in any way, no dairy products, no alcohol, and no chocolate. Not all that easy really, but I took on his point.

I went to get my hair done and was given a lecture by my stylist about how my skin is my biggest organ and very absorbent, so I really need to consider the consequences of rubbing chemicals all over my body on a daily basis. She went on to describe some of the harmful chemicals that can be found in shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, body lotions, face creams etc.

I even had one of those chemical spray dispensers you wear on your back for killing weeds around my drive! What happened to me was a sort of gradual awakening. I started to open my eyes and take more responsibility for my own health and well being, as well as considering how my actions could affect my environment. I think this is part of some sort of growing up process It was the final wake-up call I that I have being going through needed, so I began investigating, since – well since forever really. and came across a local range of I haven't eaten red meat since natural products from Empress my early twenties, when I decided Cosmetics in Co. Clare. Hand-made that if I couldn't face killing it, I had from 100% natural ingredients, no business eating it. After reading, Empress is the first Irish cosmetic 'Eating Animals' by Jonathan range to have vegan society regisSafran Foer, I decided to aim for tered products. None of the prodpure vegetarianism, a great read, ucts include animal-derived or GM but what an eye opener. The kids ingredients and they have never curse the day I ever picked it up. been tested on animals. Well that

By Séamus Hughes Despite the tiresomely negative economic outlook, I saw an opportunity to set up a new enterprise, securing our future through our past.

Gaelic Games Tours provides an opportunity for visitors to see live county championship club hurling matches. I believe that nothing says ‘we’re Irish’ more than club hurling!

connection to our ancient culture. It is enjoyed nationwide. It is a unique, powerful, exciting, positive statement of Irish sport and I want to harness our national treasure by identifying it as a national resource also.

what we may recently have presented as ‘Irishness’. Gaelic Games Tours provides a genuine, unique, reasonably priced and authentic insight into what makes the Irish tick. Our people are We need to return to a belief in ourselves, to our greatest resource. maximise our potential and our own capabilities Hurling is at least 3,000 years old in Ireland. It on this island. Visitors are far more interested in For more details visit captures the imagination and provides a deep who we really are as Irish people, rather than www.hurlingtours.com 16 The Living Link

all sounds like my kind of skincare company and I had to give them a try. I needed to find a good moisturiser that would keep the wrinkles at bay. I discovered they have a beautiful lavender cleanser and a lavender and geranium face cream, which I now use daily.

And, I fell in love, deeply in love with the ‘zesty spritzer’, which has a summery scent and feel to it. I found myself sneaking the odd spray on my neck and chest in this hot weather. It's quite a sexy product full of essential oils.

These products offer real benefits to my skin, with no harmful parabens or synthetic ingredi-

ents, no SLS, petroleum, no alcohol, colours or artificial preservatives and all are GMO-free.

What a great feeling to be thoughtfully rubbing oils and creams on my ‘largest organ’ that I know are really good for me. All of them worked a treat and I am packing away the chemically enriched alternatives for good.

17

We Are Family Family

By Avril Horan

Galway’s Street Feast is far more than an outdoor picnic. It is a day inspired by family and connection. Coralie Mureau is one of the driving forces behind the local street feast, along with fellow co-ordinator John O’Hare.

The idea is simple; celebrating our street, area or community by coming together and sharing food, music and stories. This year, street feasts take place nationwide on June 17th. And yet, there is even more to the concept than a simple meeting place. The street feast provides a living link to those who want to reach out to their neighbours. It’s about family.

“Eating together and enjoying each other’s company is something that families often do,” explains Coralie, “however not everyone has that opportunity and not everyone has a family.

“It’s fantastic when people get together, eat together and get to know each other. They may be strangers or acquaintances or those we pass by on the street as we go about our

Photos by Aisling Holian

day. For example, at the launch, we had 30 chairs, which were full, and others were standing.

Some stayed for three hours, others came and went, and many made new friends. It’s a chance to get to know your neighbour and to reach out to the wider community. Many did not know each other before

they came to the event,” she which takes place every year. explains.

“It will make a big difference While organising an event is if lots of groups get involved,” daunting for most, Coralie be- says Coralie. lieves that it is easy to do and is “It doesn’t cost anything. Just encouraging everyone to take the initiative and be a part of a bring some food and some street feast. Local groups can non-alcoholic drinks. If you are register online and become in the park you can play games. part of the wider initiative, We organised decorations,

chairs, bunting, balloons and permission from the city council. We advertised mostly through posters and facebook.

People brought everything from homemade bread and quiches to sweets and cakes. I made some cous cous and vegetables. We had a few musicians in the group and I was so

excited when so many people arrived,” she explains.

The Street Feast DIY pack on the website provides ideas and advice, printable posters and flyers to help people host their own local feasts. Simply visit www.streetfeast.ie to get involved.

Be Brave

By Marguerite Tonery Are you pregnant?

Longing to hold your newborn baby in your arms knowing that you had the very best birth possible? I can help Come to the Birth Without Fear Classes and learn how you (yes you) can have a calm, natural, joyful labour and birth at home or in hospital.

Successful and experienced with first time mothers, second,third timers and precious c-sections.

Visit www.birthtide.ie for more information.

Next Class: Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th May

Inspiring and educating parent’s innate ability to give birth in their own unique and precious way

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a companion to couples in parenthood for the last 10 years and editor of a new alternative magazine for the west!

Tel: 087 9327279. Email: embelf@hotmail.com 18 The Living Link

Creativity honours the brave.

Allow your children to be themselves. Let them play and have fun. It is not intelligence or the grades they get in school that determines their future success. Currently, worth is based on academic ability – giving a particular answer to a particular question and no other. We need to remove the fixation on perfection and the fear of taking a risk. If our children are afraid to fail and afraid to make a mistake, then they will never push the boundaries of what is possible.

The school curriculum was not designed to suit all children. Instead, we can work with our children on finding ways to make learning more interesting. By being no longer afraid to fail, your child will be more open to ‘giving something a go’. Greater assimilation of information occurs based on personal experiences, both past and present. The child will push the boundaries of their knowledge and understanding and take a risk.

In finding their unique creative flow, it is imperative that the child moves in the direction that is best suited to them.

When they do this, they are at their most creative and are best placed to succeed. They may become a great mathematician, athlete, designer, or whatever, but they do deserve the chance.

It is through creativity and times when we seize our opportunities, where moments of brilliance take place for us, and when we perform at a completely different level. When an individual is in creative flow, they get out of their own way, and immerse themselves in what they are doing. Personal limitations, such as hindering thoughts, emotions, expectations and judgements are abandoned for focused, all consuming creative exploration.

When you have a deep awareness of who you are, and how you operate in the world, taking risks isn’t so unnerving.

Seizing opportunities is a part of life. Who knows, you and your child’s moment to shine may have just arrived.

Marguerite Tonery BSc., H. Diploma, MSc., MBPsS is the owner of Transflow Proformance - a unique and innovative health and performance business, enabling sports and business people to reach and maintain peak health and performance. For more information, log onto www.transflowpro.com or email Marguerite directly at marguerite@transflowpro.com

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19

Local Culture

We Will Rock You

A low down of just some of the hottest festivals coming your way this summer Compiled By Caoimhín Ó Maolallaigh

Cruinniú na mBád

The Galway Film Fleadh

Tuam Arts Festival

Kinvara, Co. Galway

Galway City

Tuam, Co. Galway

August 17th - 19th

10th - 15th July

10th - 19th August

The Cruinniú is the best known of all of the Galway hooker and traditional boat gatherings that take place almost every weekend over the summer. Recalling past trade routes, traditional sailing boats race from south Connemara and from the Claddagh in Galway city across Galway Bay to Kinvara.

However, it is in Kinvara Bay on Saturday and Sunday that the main sailing races take place.

One of Ireland’s leading film festivals, the Galway Film Fleadh is a six day international film event held every July and welcomes a mad diversity of filmmaking from around the world.

Now celebrating its 10th year, Tuam Arts Festival is firmly established as north Galway’s most vibrant regional arts event.

The festival is produced by award winning Earwig! Arts with a mix of local, national and international street spectacle, theatre, music, comedy, literature, visual arts and family events.

Earwig is a not-for-profit organisation and is dedicated to promoting the Arts in Tuam and its environs and dives deep into the well of Irish mythology to create street theatre of the highest order of craic.

The visual spectacle of these colourful old craft under full sail is a delight. Throughout the weekend there is music and other entertainment all around the village, on an outdoor stage and in the pubs. A traditional singing concert (including sean-nós) takes place in the community centre. This is a great family festival and all outdoor events are free. www. kinvara.com/cruinniu

The Fleadh is very much a film lovers’ festival, and attracts directors, actors, cinematographers and artists of all generations and cultural backgrounds. Founded in 1989, the central goal of the Galway Film Fleadh remains unchanged since: to bring together audiences and filmmakers within an intimate environment, and share a common experience - the wonder of cinema. The Fleadh’s diverse audience is made up of the general cinema going public, film buffs, student filmmakers, industry professionals and invited guests. www.galwayfilmfleadh.com

We were told that any actors, performers, musicians, dancers, chancers, drummers, spoofers, artists, carpenters, painters, puppeteers, costume makers, makers or shakers (over 12 years old) that would like to take part or lend a hand are welcome. Full details will be available closer to the event. www.earwigart.com

Féile Brian Ború

The Body & Soul Festival

Killaloe, Co. Clare / Ballina, Co. Tipperary

Ballinlough Castle Estate, Clonmellon, Co. Westmeath

22nd June - 1st July Now in its 19th year, the annual Féile Brian Ború Festival takes place in the picturesque twin towns of Killaloe and Ballina.

Being the birthplace of Brian Ború, the festival is a fun commemoration of one of Ireland’s greatest high kings. With the busiest programme of events ever, this year’s festival has an impressive line-up of fun and entertainment for all the family.

There is a big variety of activities to be enjoyed including: an art trail, a children’s parade, children’s workshops, a dog show, traditional Irish music/dancing, farmers market, community orchestra and a range of other musical entertainment, children’s art competition, tag rugby, historical guided tours, animal displays, historical re-enactments, boat race and other sporting events, as well as a stunning fireworks display over the mighty river Shannon. www.feilebrianboru.com

June 22nd - 24th Body & Soul is more than just an area within Electric Picnic in early autumn. In midsummer, it is its’ own delightful autonomous self with a festival all of its own. In the beautiful surrounds of Ballinlough Castle Estate you’ll enter a world sprinkled with art pieces and installations, zen gardens, hot tubs and inhabited by acrobats, troubadours, belly dancers and drummers. A highlight this year will be a lavish outdoor Masquerade Ball.

Various music stages cater for all tastes and moods and feature home grown talent, emerging artists and international guests including Spiritualized, Django, Villagers and M83. This year, the summer solstice will be celebrated with a lakeside ceremony. Body & Soul is a magical experience where all manner of wonderfully unexpected and exciting surprises occur. www.bodyandsoul.ie

20 The Living Link

Westport Folk and Bluegrass Festival Westport, Co Mayo June 29th - July 1st More free gigs than you can shake a banjo at, a major headline event and a whole lot ‘a foot stompin’. National and international folk and bluegrass acts will be playing loads of free gigs in venues throughout Westport. The bustling seaside town will be hopping to the sound of banjos and fiddles, hooting to Appalachian harmonies and swaying to soulful folk songs, as the local bars and hotels give themselves over once again to the Westport Folk & Bluegrass Festival.

This year will feature over ten acts from different parts of the world, performing in eight different venues around the town. As the event is all about the music and fun, all the gigs are free, except for the main Saturday-night show (€15), which will feature The Higglers, The Molly Hicks and headliners The Thunderbridge Bluegrass Boys. www.westportfolkandbluegrass.com

Westport Festival of Music and Performing Arts

Galway Arts Festival

The CELT ‘Weekend in the Woods’

Earthsong Camps

Throughout Galway

7th - 15th July & 21st - 29th July

Westport House, Co. Mayo

Bealkelly Oak Woods, Tuamgraney, Co. Clare

Bringing a wide variety of international artists to Galway and showcasing the best of Irish talent since 1978, the Galway Arts Festival is a summer institution. Over 175,000 people attend the festival every year, with hundreds of writers, artists, performers and musicians creating a stunning fortnight of cultural activity and celebration.

June 23rd & 24th This is an exciting brand new festival comprising three stages over two days, which takes place in the stunning grounds of Westport House. The diverse line-up can only be described as epic, with more than 50 international and Irish acts including: The Waterboys, Jools Holland, Seasick Steve, Imelda May, Alison Moyet, The Dubliners, Macy Gray, Damien Dempsey, Duke Special, The Hothouse Flowers, The Undertones, The Chieftains, Horslips, Marc Almond, Beth Orton, Ryan Sheridan, Wallis Bird, The Walls and Katie Kim. The ‘Taste of Westport’ Festival Village will showcase local food and there’s the incredible Pirate Adventure Park for the kids. Children under 12 years are free, once accompanied by a ticket holding adult, limited to two children per adult. Tickets are €75 for one day and €130 for two days.

July 16th - 29th

Musical acts that stand out at this year’s festival include: Christy Moore with Declan Sinnott, The Coronas, James Vincent McMorrow, Lisa Hannigan, Bressie, The Kanyu Tree, Elaine Mai and CHIC (all playing at the Festival Big Top). Other highlights are Druid Murphy - Plays

by Tom Murphy and, of course, the Macnas Parade. See the festival website for updates for the full Galway Arts Festival 2012 Programme www.galwayartsfestival.com

www.westportfestival.com

29th - 30th September Organised by CELT (Centre for Environmental Living and Training, a Clare-based environmental charity) ‘Weekend in the Woods’ is a big traditional and ecological skills training event that is in its tenth year. The weekend offers introductory training for all in a range of traditional skills including: súgán chair making; natural building; herb lore; wood carving; fishing; spinning; weaving and natural dyeing; silversmithing; blacksmithing; coppersmithing; longbow making; dry-stone and lime-mortar walling; knife making; bowl and spoon carving; boat building; musical instrument making; basketry; felt-craft; adventure bushcraft for 814 year olds. Local musicians help with a good sing-along around the campfire on the Saturday night. The on-site cafe provides good locally-produced organic lunches and a clay oven provides delicious pizzas. Camping is free. The weekend costs €130 (concessions available).

Secluded rural location in Co. Tipperary Earthsong is unique. It consists of two 9 day long camps (‘Dance, Drum and Movement Camp’ and the ‘Harvest Camp’) with a rich variety of workshops and events on issues of spirituality and ecology. Everyone camps together but both camps are small and intimate. Camps are also alcohol and drug free and mobile phones and other distracting electronic devices are not permitted on site.

All participants are actively involved in creating the nine day experience. Workshop leaders facilitate drumming, singing, dancing, creative and healing arts, teenage and children’s programs. Campers staff the café, shop, sauna and crèche. Over the 9 days, Earthsong becomes an extraordinary community. It becomes a place where many long lasting friendships are made and is, for many, a genuinely unforgettable experience. www.earthsong.ie

www.celtnet.org

The Festival Survivor’s Guide

By Mary The Festival Fairy (aka Greene) Many of us know what to bring to a festival: a tent, torch, wellies, warm clothes, rucksack, lots of socks, rain wear, sun cream, bog roll, first-aid kit, melons. (I just threw in melons there to see if you are still awake). But there are those who want to bring that magical touch to the experience. They are the brightly coloured sparks who light up the campsite with their creativity and style. They have thrown caution and practicality to the wind in order to embrace the full festival experience. The Living Link has sought out one such festival goer to get the low down on how to do it just that bit differently.

“When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies. And now, when every new baby is born, its’ first laugh becomes a fairy. So there ought to be one fairy for every boy or girl.” Peter Pan All of us, then, girl or boy, woman or man, have a fairy with us and what better way to release that fairy than at a festival.

Read on for a fairy’s guide to festival going...

Tip 1:

Pack boho clothes (raid the vintage, second-hand and charity shops for cheap treasured finds), wands, fairy catchers, fairy wings, jewellery, horns, face paints, dragons, and more dragons. Fantasy freak heaven!

Tip 2: If you’re a mother or father fairy, consider bringing your little fairy or fairies along. They will love the experience and you can start building enchanted memories together.

Tip 3: From the time you arrive until it’s time to go home frolic as much as you can. Note - wings will facilitate this experience, especially when you find yourself getting tired.

Tip 6: Check out all the great cultural events – most festivals now have some sort of cultural/political arena. Check out the cool talks and debates for some cerebral inspiration.

Tip 7: Spread fairy love wherever you go. Note: a wand, some glitter and bubbles will aid this process, but all you really need is your beautiful fairy self.

Tip 8: Tip 4: Spend some time with nature – amidst all the hustle and bustle take some time out to explore the beautiful festival surroundings. Sit under a tree and thank the universe for allowing you to be there for this wonderful experiential Tip 9: endeavour and take time to absorb the splendour.

Refuel your body with grub from the wonderful vegan and vegetarian food stalls. Not only will this give you more energy for your endeavours but it will also be good for the planet.

Dance in circles: Fairies love music and flowers but they especially enjoy dancing in circles. Trust me, try it and you’ll see what it’s all about.

Tip 5: Wake up to morning yoga. No matter how hung-over you are, it’s a really great start to your festival fairy day. Some Tip 10: Make sure and leave nature the way you found it. So pack festivals offer this in the mornings, but if there is no formal up all your belongings and leftovers and start planning the group, get some friends together and stretch, stretch, next fairy festival adventure as soon as you get home. stretch.

21

Local Culture

By Kieran Cunnane When confronted with economic depression or war in the past, people pulled together, adapted and survived through co-operation, innovation and thinking outside the box. For example, many countries stopped making new cars. People opted for public transport and bicycles. Today our economic system has become unsustainable. Yet, we have more knowledge and better tools to assist innovation than ever before.

Instead of remaking the jobs we had in the boom, we need to innovate around the sustainability challenges ahead.

New jobs can be created in the areas of: • Renewable energy: Harnessing Ireland’s wind, solar and wave power.

• Bio-mass (heat): Smart grid controlled heat pumps for home heating and horticulture and new electricity storage technologies.

• Bio-fuel (transport): The direction is now shifting to second generation biofuels from forestry and agriculture waste due to environmental concerns over habitat destruction.

• Food production: Ireland has the potential to replace up to €6 billion in imports.

• Bio-char: Wood charcoal benefits both soil enhancement and continuous carbon capture.

The city of Canberra, Australia, has developed a model example of a ‘Resource Recovery Park’, where all waste in a region is brought to a central location, sorted and reprocessed on site. They export what can’t be re-used and dispose of what little is left, adding value to waste. In fact, the waste from each process supplies another.

What if we broadened this concept to merge food, forestry and energy – a way of resource recovery that can stimulate the local economy? The opportunities are there if we can innovate in order to create. By recovering our resources in a practical manner, we can use new technologies to harness the potential around us. Here are just some ideas for how this could be implemented.

A rural example site is Carrowbrowne, Galway. Located on a breezy bog, this area would be very suitable for new wind turbine technology.

Rather than producing electricity, new wind turbine technologies can produce compressed 22 The Living Link

Innovate and Create air. While some energy is wasted during compressing, this wastage can also be stored as heat. New energy storage technologies use containers conveniently the size of articulated lorry trailers. In this way, energy could be transported to the nearest grid. Any surplus energy the grid won't buy can be used to make heat from

heat pumps. Molten salts can store waste heat energy, which can be transported to industrial and domestic sites for district heating.

trict heating system, which works out much cheaper than oil. Economy of scale means capital costs would be much lower.

This transportable heat also allows the opportunity to set up utility co-ops, where people buy weekly heat on demand.

Residents could buy into a dis-

Another rural opportunity is in the soil rich hinterland around Tuam. Tillage waste (straw), waste grass, cuttings and forestry thinning could

produce second generation biofuel for transport.

could provide expertise on what is achievable.

Forestry waste could be obtained from the Mountbellew area, while animal waste provides a great opportunity for anaerobic digestion, which produces biogas. The Competence Centre for Bio-refining and Bio-energy in NUI Galway

These are just some ways in which we can embrace new technologies in order to progress while also engaging in practical sustainability. We can use 21st century solutions to our economic, social and environmental problems.

The Galway Gourmet Offensive

By Emer MacDermott With a passion for organic food, Flo Wagenmaker has brought 'The Gourmet Offensive' to the streets of Galway. He can be found at the Galway Market every weekend, serving delicious falafel with fresh organic salads.

Flo is a big 'foodie' and wants to bring real food to his customers. As a Dutch man who arrived in Ireland in 1999, Flo believes that - as a society - we have lost contact with the food we eat. He would like to change expectations so that we demand fresh organic food as the norm.

tiful and colourful throws and quilts.

On his return to Ireland, Flo decided to head for Galway and, with some stock from his Guatemalan friends, he set up his first stall selling Mexican textiles.

ads, herbs and vegetables where possible from his permaculture garden.

He studied permaculture, explaining that it is “a system of growing food while working with the earth, using whatever resources are available.

“In those days, the market saw different traders come and go every week. A few of the old timers moved on from the market, opening up the pitches to a new generation of traders, including The Coolfin Organic Bakery, The Gourmet Fish Mongers and the Friendly Farmer stall among others,” he explains.

The idea is to use up what resources and materials you have to hand, for example, cardboard or newspaper, to help keep down weeds and build up

Having started his career in Ireland in a Limerick call centre, Flo also took a part-time job in a café. He had always worked with food - his first chef job was at the age of 14 - so he found cooking an easy and enjoyable way to earn a living. His other passion was travelling and, while in Mexico, he spent time working in a beach bistro on the Caribbean coast.

Flo wanted to bring healthy, fresh food to the market. He had always eaten organic, home-grown food as a child, so he had an inherent knowledge of great produce. With his food and trading license in hand, and with a particularly low start-up budget, he put together his first falafel stall. He set up 'The Gourmet Offensive' with a firm commitment to serve fantastic organic food.

Here, he became friendly with a Guatemalan family, who made beau-

The sourcing of ingredients is all important to Flo and he uses his own sal-

the soil. It's all about bio-diversity - the garden has its own natural immune system”. What Flo cannot produce himself, he buys from local organic farmers and wholesalers.

With such a passion for food, Flo has certainly brought his gourmet offensive from across the water to the west of Ireland.

Gaeilge

Naomh d’ár linne

'I gCéin is i gCóngar' Léirmheasanna Leabhar agus Ceoil le Caoimhín Ó Maolallaigh

Ar bhealaí go leor, bhí Naomh Proinsias thar a bheith nua-aimseartha. Leis an suim a bhí aige i gceartas sóisialta, in éiceolaíocht agus i gcothú na síochána, d’fhéadfá a rá go mbaineann sé níos mó leis an 21ú haois ná na Meánaoiseanna.

Déanann an Bráthair Cathal Duddy cur síos gairid ar shaol an naoimh

Mikey and the Scallywags - Living in the Light Féin-eisithe €77

Seans maith go bhfuil Mikey agus cuid de na Scallywags cloiste agat ag casadh go spleodrach ar shráideanna cúnga na Gaillimhe. Is ar na sráideanna céanna sin a rugadh an banna i 2010 agus tá siad ag dul ó neart go neart ó shin lena gceolchoirmeacha bríomhara ag áiteanna ar nós Electric Picnic agus Body&Soul. Tá fuaim thar a bheith beoga acu: meascán de go leor cineálacha ceoil (ceol tíre, rac, ceol gipseach, hip hop agus bluegrass). Cuirfidh an EP bríomhar seo, a gcéad eisiúint, fonn damhsa ort agus cuirfidh sé meangadh gáire mór ar d'éadan freisin. Beidh fadcheirnín a eisiúint go gairid. Ceapaim go mbeidh tú ag cloisteáil i bhfad níos mó faoin ensemble spraoiúil seo.

Céu - Caravana Sereia Bloom Wrasse Records €115

Ó thuras bóthair a rinne Céu idir Sao Paulo agus oirthuaisceart na Brasaíle a tháinig an ionspioráid do théama agus fuaim an albaim seo. Tá go leor den samba agus bossa nova aoibhinn a chuala muid uaithi go dtí seo fagtha ina diaidh ag an réalt mór Brasaíleach an tam seo. Bailiúchán thar a bheith funcaí agus sícideileach fite fuaite le ska, reigé agus ceol ceantair Thoir Thuaidh na Brasaíle. Is saothar é atá níos trialaí agus uaillmhianaí le hais an chéad dhá albam. Tríd is tríd, is ceirnín thar a bheith taitneamhach, croíúil é agus cé go bhfuil sé ábhairín gearr, bheadh sé foirfe do aimsir shamhraidh.

Liz Nolan - My Goodness Onstream - €117

Rugadh San Proinsias in Assisi na hIodáile i c.1182. Ceannaithe ab ea a mhuintir. Bhí saol rabairneach aige le linn a óige go dtí gur tharla roinnt eachtraí ina measc a pháirt i gcogadh agus tinneas a d'athraigh treo a shaol. Chreid sé go raibh Dia ag glaoch air i dtreo saoil ina mbeadh Íosa Críost agus A Soiscéal mar croílár ann. Insíonn Proinsias dúinn ina Thiomna deiridh gurbh é an tráth cinniúnach é nuair a threoraigh Dia é i measc na lobhar, díbeartaigh shóisialta sna meánaoiseanna. Ina dhiaidh sin, bhí cúram na lobhar mar pháirt dá shaol agus de saolta a leantóirí.

Veigeatóir ó bhí sí 18, chaith údar an leabhair fíor-álainn seo 7 mbliana sa Wholesome Café i Londain ag foghlaim a ceirde ach tá sí anois ag cur fúithi i Maigh Cuilinn agus ag obair mar teiripeoir cothúcháin i nGaillimh. Tá an leabhar deartha go gleoite agus leagtha amach go soiléir, lán le grianghraif iontacha agus faisnéis bheathaithe. Taispeáineann Liz Nolan gur féidir sásamh a bhaint as béilí gan feoil fiú muna veigeatóir tú. Clúdaíonn sí na béilí ar fad den lá le h-oidis simplí, comhábhair folláine agus beatha fholláin atá éasca le réiteach. Níl aon iontas go bhfuil ardmholadh faighte aici ón ngúrú cothaithe Patrick Holford.

Diana Beresford Kroeger - The Global Forest: 40 Ways Trees Can Save Us

Chuaigh an smaoineamh gurbh i stábla a bheartaigh Mac an Dé uilechumhachtaigh teacht ar an saol faoi Nollaig i bhfeidhm chomh mór sin air gur theastaigh uaidh, ar nós ĺosa Críost, a bheith bocht i measc na mbocht.

Penguin Books €111

Thuig Proinsias go dtagann an réaltacht, an dúlra san áireamh, ó fhoinse príomhordúil amháin, is é sin Dia. Dá bharr, chonaic sé gur deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha gach a cruthaíodh, agus ghlaoigh sé deartháireacha agus deirfiúracha ar dhaoine, ainmhithe, feithidí agus bláthanna. Mar shampla, Naomh Proinsias ag tabhairt seanmóra do na héin - fuinneog dhaite sa Mhainistir, Deartháir Grian, Deirfiúr Uisce, Deartháir Sráid Phroinsias Naofa, Gaillimh déanta ag Diane Stanley Cuileog, Deirfiúr Criogar &rl. agus go raibh siad mar chuid den aon chlann Malik-al-Kamil, i 1219 agus d’fhás meas Foclóirín - Vocabulary amháin. idir an bheirt fhear. Ó shin i leith, tá Irish - English comhphlé leis an gcreideamh Moslamach nua-aimseartha - modern Tá aithne freisin ar Naomh Proinsias Asmar chuid de mhisean leantóirí Phroinceartas sóisialta - social justice sisi mar dhuine a throid ar son na sias, na Proinsiasaigh, leis na cianta. rabairneach - extravagant síochána. Insíonn sé dúinn ina Thiomna tráth cinniúnach - decisive moment deiridh gur thug Dia beannacht dó – Do Is bráthair Proinsiasach é Cathal Duddy díbeartaigh shóisialta - social outcasts dtuga an Tiarna síochán duit! Ba í seo an ag An Mhainistir, Sráid Phroinsias Naofa, réaltacht - reality bheannacht a d’úsáideadh sé féin nuair a Gaillimh. Ritheann sé suíomh idirlín faoi bheannaíodh sé do gach duine. Bhí cruin- Naomh Proinsias: http://www.praying- There are full English translations of all of our Irish articles on our website at niú cáiliúil aige le Sabhdán na hÉigipte, nature.com http://www.livinglink.ie/articles/gaeilge

Éireannach atá lonnaithe i gCeanada le fada an lá, cumascann Diana Beresford Kroeger spioradáltacht agus eolaíocht, eagna ársa agus nua-aimseartha, éiceolaíocht agus leigheas sa leabhar neamhghnách seo.

Tá an leabhar leagtha amach i bhfoirm 40 aiste nó caibidil gearr agus léiríonn gach ceann de na haistí gné dhifriúil de chrainnte agus de fhoraoisí. I bprós fileata, cuireann an t-údar síos ar aimpléiseacht agus áilleacht na coille, ár gceangal leis an dúlra chomh maith leis na bagairtí do na foraoisí. Saothar dóchasach, inspioráideach.

Irish - English go spleodrach - exuberantly sícideileach - psychedelic níos trialaí - more experimental faisnéis bheathaithe - nutritional information oidis - recipes eagna ársa - ancient wisdom aimpléiseacht - complexity 23

Changemakers On any given Saturday, a group of volunteers from all walks of life – from teens to retirees - participate in important conservation work across Galway city. These volunteers both protect and enhance the local environment, learning new knowledge and skills along the way. The group instils a sense of community spirit, in each other and for their environment, and all are part of Conservation Volunteers Galway (CVG).

Caitríona Cunningham is Chairperson of the group and explains the important work they undertake on a weekly basis – while most of us are still lazing about in bed contemplating that first cup of tea.

Conservation Volunteers Galway is a group of volunteers who undertake practical conservation projects to protect and enhance natural habitats in Galway City parks and environs.

The group instils a community spirit amongst people, which is very important, especially in recession times. It was established in 2011 with the support of Galway City Council’s Parks and Wildlife Service.

The concept is that, as people take ownership of their own parks and green areas, they will care more for these areas and ensure they stay green. Currently, we have 190 people on the volunteer mailing list, and on any Saturday, between 15 and 20 volunteers from all walks of life take part in the conservation work.

Conserving Galway Call 0861576009

for sample of work and bookings

If you can, leave an area of your lawn uncut during summer months to allow clovers and bird’s foot trefoil to flower.

Garden centres will have information on wildflower seeds and also supply seeds for those wanting to create an area in their garden.

‘’

For example, in April, we planted wildflower meadows in three city locations to attract bees and butterflies - Grattan Terrace, the playground area near the Atlantaquarium and Lough Atalia. Bees and butterflies are declining in Ireland, due mainly to habitat loss, particularly of flower rich grasslands, hay meadows and field margins.

Bees and butterflies are important pollinators of crops and native plants. In Ireland, crops such as apples, strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, plums, cherries, carrots and onions are reliant on bees for pollination. Without bees and butterflies, many of our native plant species would quickly become extinct.

Parks and gardens can play an important role in bee and butterfly conservation. It is vital to plant a range of native species to provide flowers for bees throughout the season from early March to mid-September.

Early summer flowers, which attract bees and butterflies, include bluebell, pussy willow, honeysuckle and thyme. Late summer flowers include heathers, bird’s foot trefoil, common knapweed, field scabious, sunflowers, sweet pea, lavender, buddleia (butterfly plant), red and white clover, thistles, bramble and ivy.

If you can, leave an area of your lawn uncut during summer months to allow clovers and bird’s foot trefoil to flower. Garden centres will have information on wildflower seeds and also supply seeds for those wanting to create an area in their garden.

Since 2011, CVG has undertaken a range of work including the planting of over 1,000 native Irish trees in Barna woods, and the construction of willow fencing along pathways to protect tree saplings. The group has made and installed bat boxes on trees in Barna woods supervised by a bat expert.

In Roscam woods, we cleared invasive cherry laurels and repaired paths. Last November, we planted a host of daffodil and tulip bulbs in Doughiska. The group also conducts regular litter pick-ups in Silver Strand, Barna woods and Roscam woods.

The conservation outings take place twice a month on Saturdays, September to May. Check out the activity calendar on the website www.conservationvolunteers.ie or email cvgalway@gmail.com.

Caitríona Cunningham is Chairperson of Conservation Volunteers Galway and works as an environmental educator with An Taisce’s Green-Schools programme. She undertook a research Masters in Trinity College (20072009) on the impacts of landscape composition on pollinator diversity and pollination services.

24 The Living Link

Planet

‘’

Painting by Chris Kummel

You cannot save what you do not

Your bard has recently returned from the unseasonably chilly fields of Sussex and The Wildheart Gathering, which takes place there every year.

I wave cheerfully to all, but I am there on serious business. I have been asked to talk about self enquiry and to lead the yearly ritual that sees 300 passionate men shouting praise and old shaman songs, while 400 radiant women sing back, to keep the people and the earth happy for a while. All drunk together on the Song of Life.

After that fulsome weekend, I had a rendezvous on an open grassy hill with Reverend Peter Owen Jones (he appeared in the TV show ‘Around the World in 80 Faiths’) and an assortment of other like hearted ones, who gather to weep at the stones piled there. It is a beautiful thing they are attempting and I wanted to help.

This place is called the Life Cairn. It is a memorial cairn, where the stones are placed to honour the species pushed over the brink of extinction by human actions. A place to remember those rubbed out by human desperation, or greed, or its’ many variants. It is a place of grief and new beginnings.

Without those tears of grief I see little hope. You cannot save what you do not love. You can’t save ‘the environment’- you can only save the mournful call of the curlew (now under threat) or the poem of unbelievable majesty that is the little egret.

You cannot save the Indonesian rhino, because the last one was shot a few weeks ago.

Asked “what do you think we should do there?”

I replied; “tell the history of the world to the stones and across the species barrier, I suppose, and get everyone to help” “What will that sound like so we can tell people?”

“Probably like this” Without any giggling, without entertainment, without trying to please anyone but those stones of memory and loss, I pounded this out to them on a key board of ecstatic hope - as I do to you now, without apology: we know - but we don’t feel we know that we are destroying a precious world an incredibly precious world where the great blessing of liquid water is present among billions of light years of star dust, fire and ice and the vastness of darkness and emptiness here on this watered paradise, where rain falls and the sun sparkles on life giving refreshing waters a dream has flourished since the first flowers since the making of new air a breathing ecstasy teeming with life

has been the jewel in the eyes of the gods And these rocks, this soil ground in glaciers, under the sun, gave birth to a thousand ways of feeling of flesh and leaf and even grew conscious of itself in the form of one singing and making beauty loving animal born of earth whose voice is for praise the singer of the universe the aware one marvelling at the miracle that one grew afraid

By The Bard

love

and thought served survival, brought food and life that was good but the fear did not subside this self awareness wanted to live forever majesty was exchanged for comfort and convenience and the song of the world began to die because he killed it in his fever - too awed by the splendour to take his place in it near the end of that time after most of the animals, birds, plants, forests and waters were dead or gasping at the frayed edge of that great self intelligent home some of the people began to weep and from that weeping a new earth was watered and the children of those people no longer went to the old prison schools to learn death but relearnt the story praised the fragile green endurance and made a new world This is my spontaneous song in honour of your invitation and the occasion.

Let no one harm those children, let those who failed place a blessing palm on their heads, let them make a new world, may beings flourish.

windswept eye - “Will you build one in Ireland?”

What do you think folks - shall we?

I would not like to act without taking counsel of your hearts.

With the permission and will of all - I would suggest half way up Croagh Patrick (Cruachan Aigli) between the famine monument at Murrisk and the druid heights where Ireland weeps and prays and was prayed and wept for.

See their facebook page: The Life Cairn or, The Bard’s website: www.spirithorse.co.uk

The Living Link We are still looking for someone who likes to pick up the phone and make contact with all the amazing businesses that are in the West. Could that be you? Contact Sean on 085 8506110

Afterwards the reverend asked one priest to another - the Christian and pagan blurring to the damp and 25

The Missing Link

Good Vibrations

Diary of a New Age Wannabe

Illustration by Cathal Duane www.cargocollective.com/duane

The sacred geometry of our landscapes has long influenced humanity and could unlock the key to paranormal activity. Jackie Quelly is an author of many books on the topic and is currently writing about the Burren Earth Grid – where hidden ‘ley lines’ intersect creating a unique spiritual force. Here, she talks to The Living Link about revisiting a part of ancient civilisation.

Festival shenanigans

By Jackie Quelly Ley lines were probably far wider recognised by our ancient cultures. They are invisible energetic lines of force that cross both within and over the land at varying depths and heights. Attempts have been made to measure these ley lines with instruments that record electro-magnetic frequencies. However, in my experience, the most sacred ley lines are those that cannot be recorded. Such lines are not confined to the normal parameters of time and space, and it is often due to their presence that paranormal activity can take place.

In prehistory, monuments (particularly for the dead) were erected on ley lines for spiritual reasons. In early Christian times, it appears that the art of geomancy had not died. Of particular interest to me is the early group of non-Romanised Christians who roamed Ireland and Britain.

Known as the Culdees, they selected their beehive-shaped meditation sites, and more public prayer sites wisely, situating them on ley lines that carried a strong spiritual vibration. At times, the latter could be a sacred tree or standing stone that lay on a significant ley line.

I write books, including ones on the hidden sacred geometry of the landscapes, and currently am writing one on the Burren earth grid. Grids consist of distinct geometric patterns formed when ley lines intersect. The Burren grid carries a very high frequency, and could be one of the reasons that many people regard it as a spiritual place. The two main mountains in the Burren are Ailwee and Slieve Elva, and they help define a grid that projects across the ocean to a holy mountain in east Norway. In the bay outside of Ballyvaughan lie some tidal outcrops known as the Farthing Rocks. They mark a special point of intersection between the grid that extends to Norway and another grid of higher vibration.

Local places too carry their own vibratory patterns. Kilmacduagh on the eastern edge of the Burren is a complex monastic site with interesting ley patterns that indicate the builders The winner of our Living Link Competition from tapped into a high knowledge of geomancy in last edition is: Maire McGeehan, Reiki and Se- the citing of their eclessiastical buildings. ichem Master/Teacher/Practitioner at Energy It is possible for many people to dowse a ley Alchemy. She put her details into the Free on-line business directory on our Living Link website and line, for humans, like birds and animals, are sengot a year's Free advertising in the magazine. sitive to these forces of energy. For tours that Well Done! We love to give things away free include dowsing ley lines visit www.spiritofburren.com or ring Jackie on 0834117498 when we can!

Competition Winner Congratulations!

26 The Living Link

Bob relives his carefree years by packing his rucksack for a festival weekend. With his trusty tent and camomile tea, his fears that he is too old are quickly put to one side, and he is overcome with the magical mysteries of the gathering.

By Bob Moonson It’s that time of year again when ageing singletons, like myself, are fortunate enough to rekindle our carefree days, rustle out the oul’ backpack, and embark on the festival trail.

The three essentials I never forget to pack are; water, toilet roll and baby wipes. In preparation for the big day, I pack and unpack my tent several times, then put it up in my living room in order to rehearse such important activities as ‘finding my tent in the dark’ and ‘where did I leave my torch’.

This year, I hitched a ride with friends, two of which happen to be the furry kind. No - not hippies - but adorable canines. Adorable and, yet, incredibly smelly. On arrival, I already whiffed as if I had slept in a hedge. I was beginning to get that awful feeling that I am far too old for moshing and rolling around in the mud.

As I gingerly sidestepped a few crushed larger cans, I set my sights on a large yurt, where the hypnotic sound of trance drumming soaked its’ way into the crowds psyche.

I then indulged myself with what the catering side of this particular festival had to offer; paella, cheeky flavoured crepes, busty burgers, and bratwurst hot dogs, and, not forgetting my all time favourite festival nosh, chunky chips.

My companions set off towards one of several stage areas. I took the opportunity to capture the festival atmosphere by taking a few amateur snaps on my digital camera. I snapped all range of characters including two Slavic Vikings and a teenage boy failing miserably in his attempts to impress some girls with a cart-

wheel.

Feeling creatively relieved, I was getting into the rock n’ roll vibe and bravely shuffled my feet to a cool band I did not know. However, I soon retreated to purchase a nice hot cup of hot tea. Nothing says ‘festival’ like a nice hot cup of tea.

The evening was advancing into the hazy setting of the sun and the preparation of lighting fires had begun. The crowd gathered in anticipation for the beginning of this ancient ceremony. I was wowed.

Now feeling euphoric, and having met up with my friends again, we claimed a spot on a slope with a great view of the main fire. I had never felt so relaxed and secure. There was magic in the air that evening Later on, with the flames still gyrating into the night’s sky, I finally drifted across the hill site in search of my tent with my friends in pursuit, who were now deservedly indulging in a few cans of larger.

However, I was sticking to my flask of camomile tea.

I am already planning to return next year, and dare I say it, if I am ever fortunate enough in the future to become a father, I would haul that little one along. It was simply an inspirational festival, and a day that would convert the most conservative mind to just chill out and go with the flow.

Totally cosmic, I end.

Good vibes all.

Do yyou ou w want ant to to feel feel happ happy, y, health y, healthy, y, rradiant, adiant, alive? peaceful peac eful and fully aliv e?

Spirit of Burren Tours of Ireland's Sacred Landscapes and Ley Lines, with focus on The Burren and surrounding areas.

Weekly eekly Yoga Yoga Classes in Clar Claregalway egalway and Tuam Tuam

www.spiritofburren.com

contact Jackie Queally t: 00353 (0) (0)83 83 4117498

Join the pr practice actic tice e of K Kundalini undalini Y Yoga! oga!

AY Yoga oga of true aawareness wareness in integrating tegrating all br branches anches of Yogic Yogic discipline ccombining ombining Kriyas K riyas - exercise exercise poses P Pranayama ranayama - ccontrolled ontrolled br breathing eathing techniques techniques Meditation M editation and Mantra Mantra Reiki/Seichem R eiki/Seichem and Emotional FFreedom reedom Technique Technique in personal sessions aavailable vailable

Mags M ags C Corcoran orcoran - Kirendeep Kirendeep Kaur Kaur Reiki/Seichem R eiki/Seichem Master/Teacher Master/T er/Teacher eacher 087 2778404 www.thehealingroom.ie www.thehealingroom.ie

BIRDYLOCKS BIRDYL YLOCKS Unique Feather Hair Extensions

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Access the power of the past... to transform your future

Autumn Equinox - Healing Journeys Friday 21st ‒ Sunday 23rd September 2012 TCM Workshop Monday 24th - Friday 28th September 2012 Sacred Sites T Tour our Come with us on a T Transformational ransformational Journey to Irish Ancestral Sacred Sites, where with the help of TCM ((Transforming Transforming Cellular Memory) Y ou You will learn to access your Spiritual Ancestry to achieve new po ssibilities in possibilities your life.

Throughout the Workshop and as we visit the various Irish Sacred Sites we will be teaching and practising ways to: • De-stress your Body at a Cellular Level Your Higher Self • Realign with Your • Anchor Light in both the Physical and Subtle Bodies Teachings held in the Land • Uncover Secret Teachings • Realign with Nature/All that Is Transmute Discordant Energies in People, in our Consciousness an d • Transmute and the Earth • Clear Blockages to Health, Wealth, Joy Harmony, Joy,, Confidence, Balance, Harmony, Happiness & Inner Peace Basic Cost of TCM W Workshop orkshop only - €180 Workshop - €300 (optional) Accommodation plus Meals during the Workshop www.healingjourneys.ie or For all other details visit www.healingjourneys.ie

Contact Mary O’Halloran

00353 (0)87 2830950 or maryohalloran@hotmail.com 27

Rear View

Buoys and Gulls: Summer in the City

By Jackie Fletcher sentiment was echoed by nearly every other patient. “I’ve waited all these years to be free and independent and now it’s too late,” said Grace, a woman who had dedicated her whole life to the care of her husband and children.

2. I wish I hadn’t worked so hard: Bronnie found that almost every male patient (the main breadwinners for the older generation) regretted years spent on a mundane job instead of participating in their children’s lives or spending time with their partners.

3. I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings

Book Review: The Top Five Regrets of the Dying: A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing Author: Bronnie Ware

No regrets. It’s what we’d all like to say on our deathbeds as we look back on a happy and fulfilling life. Unfortunately, as Bronnie Ware, author of ‘Top Five Regrets of the Dying’ tells us, this is not always the case.

The book, which started life as an article on Bronnie’s blog ‘Inspiration and Chai’, came about as a result of readers requesting she elaborate on her work with the ‘dearly departing’. A string of unrewarding occupations had lead Bronnie, an Australian, to work in palliative care where she assisted dying patients through their final weeks. As she listened to stories of their lives, loves and regrets, some recurring themes began to emerge. The regrets Bronnie heard repeated over and over were heartrending and almost tragically simple.

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me: These words were spoken with quiet sadness by one of Bronnie’s closest patients, Grace, and its’

Special Announcement: Us Linkers have created a new, superduper, all-singing-all dancing, tell it to the world, look how much is in it, website, and we would love you to go and see it. We have new articles coming in all the time and we are putting them up there for you to read.

If you have something to say, chances are we’ll put it on the website for you. Go and take a look at www.livinglink.ie . Write to Sean – he is the techie – on: sean@livinglink.ie

28 The Living Link

Patients spoke of regret at suppressing their feelings to accommodate others, thereby putting up with mediocrity in their lives. Many patients believed their terminal illnesses were indirectly the result of bottling up a lifetime of unspoken resentments and bitterness.

4. I wish I’ d stayed in touch with my friends Most patients regretted allowing good friendships to dwindle and only at the end of their lives did they realise the importance of companionship. Bronnie found that not once did a patient mourn their lack of money or material goods, but always regretted the lack of

time invested in friendships.

5 I wish I’d let myself be happier It seems obvious but why is it so difficult to do this?k Bronnie found her patients regretted having waited for happiness to arrive unbidden. They simply had not realised they could choose happiness for themselves.

Contrary to what the title suggests, this book is really a memoir of the author’s own change on her journey to a more fulfilling life. But amid the tale of Bronnie’s life are stories of true value, imparting the kind of wisdom and perspective only those who are preparing to leave this life can share.

Far from being a morbid thought to be brushed away, the notion of our own future death should release in us a kind of freedom. “Once we recognize that limited time is remaining, we are less driven by ego or what others think of us,” says Bronnie.

Grace made Bronnie promise that she would live her life as she wished and not let anyone stop her fulfilling her dreams. The book is Bronnie Ware’s testament that she is doing just that. And through Bronnie, the dying have communicated their vital message: don’t waste your life, be true to yourself, be happy.

Pictures: Caoimhín Ó Maolallaigh

Music Matters

By Jackie Fletcher

Spiro: ‘Kaleidophonica’ (Real World Records) Spiro are a tricky band to define.

They've been described as ‘English folk meets Philip Glass’ yet this doesn’t quite convey the mesmerising character of their music.

After the success of their 2009 album 'Lightbox' the Bristol four piece have developed their sound and this time produced, by their own admission, a more 'composed' body of music.

‘Kaleidophonic’ is less about improvisation and more about design.

Violinist Jane Harbour describes their composition process as 'mathematical patternmaking', but despite self-imposed sound that has shifting textures structures, Spiro’s music has a and hypnotic rhythmic patterns. soaring liberated quality.

The folk tunes that do make an This is a folk-soundscape; guitar, appearance, weave in and out of mandolin, violin and accordion the pulsing and ever-changing make up the tonal palette. With wash of 'folk-sound'. There are no this acoustic set-up, Spiro create a lyrics, yet the music has the sug-

28 The Living Link

gestion of a narrative. Spiro describe their musical themes as being like characters in a story going on a journey.

music review, it helps to place a band in a genre, but ‘Kaleidophonic’ seems to be swirling into some magical space between folk and classical minimalism.

Some tracks last only a minute Let this music grab you by the and a half, just long enough to capture a fragment of a tale. In a hand and take you with it.

Living Links Accomodation

Room available in spacious, fully furnished quiet two bedroom first floor apartment in lovely complex on Taylorʼs Hill. Spacious bedroom with double bed, built in wardrobe and mirror. There is a large kitchen and bright open plan living area with an open fire place and gas fired central heating. NTL television and Internet connection available. Free on site car parking.

Large Balcony with views of Galway Bay. The apartment block is in a great location, being within walking distance of both Salthill prom and Galway city.

Available from 28th of June 2012. 400 Euros a month plus deposit. Suit single professional non smoker.

To view and for more details, call Catherine on 086 6035440

Acupuncture

The Early Bird Catches the Worm and Makes us Linkers Happy.

Don't delay because the best deals are early on!

Super-Duper Advertising Offer for the next Edition which we think add up to a good ad deal!

If you jump in before 30th July you get all of this for 250 euro: 1/4 page advertisement in the magazine Directory listing in magazine Banner Ad and Directory Listing on the Living Link website with images and links to your website for three months FREE use of events calendar and NEWSLETTER

ACUPUNCTURE, TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE, CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE, ENERGY THERAPIES Ear seeds, Cupping, Dietary/Lifestyle advice and Moxibustion.

Deirdre Toohey Lic. Ac.T.C.M. RGN MTCMCI trained in Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in Galway and China. Through her extensive use of Acupuncture Deirdre became interested in Energy / Qi and its effects going on to train to Master Level in Reiki, Seichem, Intergrated Energy Therapy and Emotional Freedom Techniques. Member of the Professional Associations AFPA, ACI and ARCHI. A former Nurse and Midwife Deirdre is based in Oranmore. Enquires and appointments phone Deirdre on 0872078113. Web: www.acuhealing.ie VHI, AVIVA approved. Email: deirdretoohey@gmail.com

Contact Sean on: 085 8506110 or, sean@livinglink.ie

Need One Good Reason to Advertise in The Living Link? We Will Give you Four 1. Our Magazine is a FREE, quarterly, full- 3. The promotion you will get from the magazine advertising is multiplied by colour, environmentally-friendly magaour interactive website and email zine, 10,000 copies of which are newsletter. All our supporters who addistributed through over 100 outlets invertise in the magazine can publish their cluding health shops, fitness clubs, spas, stories, videos, and events (such as holistic centres, cafes and restaurants classes, talks, workshops etc.) on our throughout Galway, Clare and Mayo, so website and through our weekly you can get your message out there to newsletters to our rapidly–growing subwhere your potential clients go. scriber base, so you can really get your 2. The magazine is rapidly gaining popularmessage out there, more than ever beity because it is different from anything fore. you’ve seen before. Our aim is to link, enrich, celebrate and inspire through seek- 4. Our rates are highly competitive and very affordable, with advertising rates ing, finding and sharing news, stories starting from 20 per month, so you can and wisdom from the west of Ireland. increase the amount of promotion you The Living Link is informative, entertainare getting while reducing your advertising, and free from doom and gloom. It is ing budget at the same time. aimed at people looking for alternatives in health, food, energy, living, gifts, and more, so you can be part of something that your clients really enjoy and will access regularly.

Sound good? We hope so. Contact Sean for all the info on: 085 8506110 or, sean@livinglink.ie

Aine Delaney, registered nurse, midwife and experienced acupuncturist Acupuncture,Chinese Herbs,Cupping, Laser Therapy (no needle acupuncture), Scenar Therapy for pain and inflammation. Pekana Homeopathic Remedies B Pro Cardiovascular Screening and Holistic Heart Program. Ondamed Therapy (electromagnetic frequency) Find and treat your energy blockages.

Recharge your cells and organs. Clear pain and infection. Revitalise your energy. Conditions Treated; Infertility, Chronic medical conditions, Infections, Chronic Pain Health and Herbs,9 Sea Road, Galway Monday to Friday 087 7965070, Vhi and Quinn Healthcare approved

Better Health Acupuncture Clinic In tranquil Oranmore & Corofin, Tuam Katriona Severs, Lic. Ac. & TCM. Treating: • Gastrointestinal Disorders • Urogenital Disorders • Respiratory Disorders • Disorders of the Bones, Muscles, Joints and Nervous System • Gynecological Disorders Also specializing in backache, sciatica, sports injuries, sinusitis, hay fever, menstrual pain and problems, improving the immune system and supporting people in cancer therapies and much more.

For appointments call Katriona on 085 122 4137 Approved by Aviva, Quinn and VHI Healthcare.

Website: www.betterhealthacupuncture.net

Bio-Energy SINEAD is a fully qualified and experienced practitioner specialising in Bio-Energy. Bio-Energy is a successful treatment that boosts and repairs the immune system; alleviating pain and accelerating physical healing in any part of the body. Call:087 6245685 Sinead@restoringharmony.com www.restoringharmony.com Devon Holistic Health Clinic, 108Lr Salthill

Brain Training Breakthrough Retreat I have been extremely lucky – 20 years ago I was in a very unhappy and angry state myself, then I discovered NLP and Creating your Future techniques. This changed my life and I chose to become a Trainer in these techniques and create Breakthrough Retreat. Working with clients to help them transform their lives has been a privilege. “Live with Intention courses” available 2 days (with homework in the evening) or 5 mornings (residential enjoy a holiday at the same time). Private coaching.

For a free 1 hourʼs consultation in what we can do call 087 141 2026.

Get on Top of Your Brain!

Brainwave Optimization™ - a new holistic way for people of all ages to overcome a various range of cognitive, emotional and physical challenges and enhance overall performance and well-being.

- restoring the brain to its natural high-functioning state through a gentle, safe, non-invasive, highly specialized, extremely quick and effective individualized process of balancing and optimizing the brainwave pattern.

Soren Hildebrandt ∙ 091 581087 www.dynamicbraintech.com Dynamic Brain Technologies

Eco Construction

GreenTec Eco Homes specialise in the building of Eco and Passive Homes certified to the highest standards.

Our company promotes the use of Natural and Recycled Materials, from Timber Frame and Insulation to a Natural Paint Finish.

Our products are sourced nationally where possible and also Internationally to always provide our clients with a high end result.

Services include: Supply & Fit Passive Foundation Systems Passive House Building Design and Build Packages Low carbon and Organic Homes Advanced Air-Tight Breathable Timber Frames Ecological Building Materials Low Air Test Results 0.46 Air Changes @ 50pa GreenTec Ecological Homes Ltd E: niall@greentec.ie W: www.greentec.ie M: 087-2930793

Energy Healing

HEALING TOUCH THERAPY is endorsed by the American Holistic Nurses Association since 1993. Janet Mentgen, RN, founded HT in 1989 in Denver, Colorado as a continuing ed for nurses and other health care professionals. HT is taught worldwide as a safe,supportive and nurturing therapy. Classes soon to be available here.

Flish McCarthy is a Certified Healing Touch Therapist and a Reiki Master/Teacher who has worked in Denver hospitals, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, and private practice. For more information on Flish and CHTI go to www.HealingTouchInternational.org and click on Find Practitioner. Or you can contact Flish directly in Salthill at 087-675-0446.

Angel Meditation Groups with Sharon Fitzmaurice held weekly in Galway City & County, also in Co. Mayo. Take time out to relax and allow your Angels & Spirit to guide you in your life path.

Contact Sharon on 087 4127564 or visit www.angelreikisharonfitzmaurice.com for details of upcoming workshops/training/events.

Email: safitzm@gmail.com

29

Living Links Gardening Moon Lodge Therapy Centre Annaghcross, Ballyglunin.

Carmel and Enda Mooney Plexus Bio Energy Therapists Located in the heart of the country 15 minutes from Tuam, Athenry, Mountbellew and Claregalway.

Easy to access location just off the N63 on the Athenry side R347 road.

Having found Bio Energy has worked for our family over the last 15 years for a wide variety of ailments on ourselves and 3 children we decided in training and now help others in their healing.

Contact: Carmel 086-6048788 Enda 087-355448 Email: ecmoon@eircom.net

Mary O'Halloran/Healing Journeys offers a wide variety of therapies both on a one to one basis, and with groups in Galway, Ennis, Sligo and in the coming months Dublin.

The Therapies include Transforming Cellular Memory/Ancestral Healing, Bio-Energy Therapy, Stress Management, Sacred Scalar Sessions, Avalon Light Therapy, and Guided Walks/Tours to Sacred Sites. Transforming Cellular Memory highlights and repatterns old programmes in the subconscious that conflict with and sabotage what you wish to create and manifest in your life. During a session, Mary's supports people to see and release these old behaviour patterns. For further information contact 087 2830950 or maryohalloran@hotmail.com

Dolores Andrew-Gavin Meridian Energy Therapist (EFT) Quantum Touch and Reiki Practitioner Contact Appointments only Mobile: + 353 86 9967 352 Web site: https://sites.google.com/site/doloresagavin Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dolores.Energy.Pag e Blog: https://holisticmummy.wordpress.com

Breakthrough Retreat If you are experiencing low self esteem, lost your confidence and self worth. Then maybe it's because you have negative emotions to let go of – these may even be stored unconsciously deep inside. Consider learning about Creating your Future™ techniques. These are powerful tools that can change your life. Carol helps you to refocus, start to believe in yourself & be self responsible. To take advantage of our Free One hour Session call Breakthrough Retreat - Carol Passemard 00353 87 141 3026, find carol.passemard@gmail.com on www.facebook.com/breakthroughretreat and my website www.breakthroughretreat.com

Fair Trade Gifts

FUNKY FAIR TRADE - GALWAY ETHICAL GIFTS & TREATS WE WORK WITH OUR CRAFTWORKERS, PAYING FAIR WAGES & INVESTING IN THEIR COMMUNITIES Fun, Funky, Colourful Gifts! Pictures, Ceramics, Crystal& GlassRetro Signs, T-shirts & Jewellery.

Treat yourself, your friends & family - free gift wrapping.

Open 7 days (10ish -6ish) during summer months.

Affordable gifts from around the globe and Galway.

Prices start at 2 euro up to 244 euro.

Eight local craft workers participating as a meithal na mart - (co-op) Location: Bridge Mills (near Mill Street Garda Station) Find us on Facebook

30 The Living Link

Centre for Environmental Living & Training Gleann Glas, Tuamgraney, Co Clare Weekend in the Woods 2-day courses in Traditional & Sustainable Skills, Bealkelly Woods, Tuamgraney, Co Clare 28th & 29th September Basketry, Musical Instrument Making, Bowl & Spoon Carving, Knife making, Blacksmithing, Coppersmithing, Natural Building, Silversmithing, Sugan Chair Making, Herb-lore, Fishing for Beginners (course run by published angling author!), Felt-craft (both 'Wet' Felting and Needle Felting), Rustic Furniture Making, Longbow making, Wood carving, Spinning Weaving & Natural Dyeing, Boat Building, Drystone & Lime mortar Walling & for 8-14 year olds - Adventure Bushcraft Also CELT Native Tree Nursery Specialising in Native Trees from Certified Irish Seed 061-640765 www.celtnet.org info@celtnet.org

Geopathic Stress

Kieran O’Kelly.

Specialist in Geopathic and Personal Stress.

Member of BSD, Bio-Energy Therapist, Kinisiology TFH. Is your environment causing you health concerns?

Kieran promotes the Spiral of Tranquility™ product range providing an excellent solution for protecting your health while in your home, workplace or travelling.

These products, which respond to a changing environment, have been independently scientifically tested per details on website.

The Spiral-30mm/60mm protects everyone within 50 x 50 metres/yards sq from health damaging radiation.

The Pendant is ideal for your personal protection 10 x 10 metres/yards sq in any work environment and counteracts jetlag. Mobile: 0868327232 Email: kieran@lessstress.ie Website: www.lessstress.ie

Green Computing

Green Printing For a Lot Less Galway Cartridge is your answer for printer ink, laser toners and stationery.

We supply original cartridges, compatible cartridges, and offer professional machine refilling.

Everything for your printer, at incredibly low prices! Beat the high street rip-off., shop in Galway Cartridge.

Located in Liosban Estate off the Tuam Road.

Right beside Westdoc and OʼBrienʼs Sandwich Bar. Check this magazine for our voucher, valid for 15% off all our refilling services.

Galway Cartridge . We refill, you save.

Unit 3A, Liosban Business Park, Tuam Road, Galway Tel: 091 763727 Fax: 091 763627 Email: info@galwaycartridge.ie Web: www.galwaycartridge.ie

Health Food

At Irelandʼs Raw Kitchen we are producers, importers, wholesalers and retailers of organic raw foods, super foods and raw food preparation equipment to the Irish Market and beyond.

All our products are ethically sourced, fairly traded & organic where possible. Our aim is to educate and create awareness of raw foods and super foods.

Join us on our Facebook page to keep updated on the many special offers, free draws, courses & events we have planned over the coming year.

Irelandʼs Raw Kitchen Unit 8 & 9

Westside Enterprise Centre Westside Galway Tel 091 394359 M 087 9080126/087 9501465 info@irelandsrawkitchen.ie www.irelandsrawkitchen.ie

Health Food Stores

MTI ANMPT IFPA 0870563411 PRODUCTS Organic Foods Gluten Free/Wheat Free/Dairy Free/Sugar Free Herbal Remedies & Supplements Healthy Treats & Sports Nutrition Salt Crystal Ionisers & Crystals Organic Skin Care, Essential Oils & Gifts Spiddal, Co Galway 091 897699 www.biaiontach.com biaiontach@gmail.com

Herbal Health

Kelly’s of Bushypark We are a community convenience store with a focus on the healthier side of living. We stock a wide range of vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free and organic products.

Local convenience store – The way it should be.

We are dry-cleaning agents for Pressed4Time laundry and drycleaning. We stock the following brands and much more: • Meridian Organic • The Organic Company • Doveʼs Farm • Beechlawn Organic Farm • Bunalun • Biona Organic • Vegan • Organic Trust Certified Products Kellyʼs of Bushypark.

Bushypark Lawns, Circular Road, Galway.

Open Seven Days – ʻtil 9pm daily and ʻtil 10pm Friday and Saturday.

The Health Store, Briarhill Shopping Centre Stocking a wide range of: • Supplements & Remedies • Wholefoods • Wheat & Gluten Free Foods • Babycare Products • Natural Bodycare Products • Environmentally Friendly • Household Products • Giftware GIFT VOUCHERS ALSO AVAILABLE Open 7 days a week Unit 4, Briarhill Shopping Centre Ground Floor (between Petworld & OʼHehirʼs Bakery) Phone: (091) 773 688

Located just off the N17 in the Tesco shopping centre, Honeybee Healthfood store has been open since 2010 in the town of Claremorris, the heart of Mayo. Our passion is to promote a healthy lifestyle and wellbeing and our aim is to help our customer achieve this. We stock a wide range of leading brands in health, beauty and organic food products at affordable and competitive prices. Our friendly trained staff share our ethos in customer care and desire to be healthy and will help assist you in any queries that you have. Member of Irish Association of health stores.

Unit 2b Silverbridge Shopping Centre Claremorris Co.Mayo honeybeehs@eircom.net 0949377382

BIA IONTACH Healthfoods & Natural Therapies Dé Luain: Kinesiology, IET & Debt Counselling with Ann Keenaghan 087 6265613 www.annkeenaghan.com Dé Máirt: Reflexology, Reiki, Aromatherapy Massage & Indian Head Massage with Anne OʼToole Dip Refl. MIRI Dip Massage 087 9760032 Dé Ceadain: Homeopathy & Naturophathy & FCT Detoxification with Niamh OʼNeill Cid Nat Con Dip FCT 087 2177099 Deordain: Ki Massage Justina McElligott MIMTA RELAX, RESTORE, RE-ENERGISE 086 8194248 Dé hAoine: Nutritional Therapy with Fiona Flaherty MNTOI, MARCHTI 085 7893702 Dé Sathairn: Angel & Energy healing, Physical Therapy & Crystal Therapy with Norah Coyne

Solaris Tea is run by two Medical Herbalists and specialises in blending internationally Award winning Organic Whole Leaf Teas. www.solaristea.com, email: info@solarisbotanicals.com Joerg Mueller, Medical Herbalist (BScHons) & Master Tea Blender. Karin Wieland, Medical Herbalist and Massage Therapist (BScHons): Specialises in Herbs to support Pregnancy, Labour & other Woman related and Childhood ailments.Moycullen based. Tel: 0870565532/ 091-555455. e-mail:warinski@hotmail.com VIVIENNE CAMPBELL, HERBALIST Guided Herb Walks in the beautiful Burren.

Herbal remedy and cosmetic-making courses.

As seen on RTE Corrigan Cooks Naturally. www.theherbalhub.com 086 8899168

Holistic Centres Pathfinders Holistic Centre Tavanaghmore,Cummer, Tuam. Group Meetings, Bereavement, Meditation, Confidence Building, Anxiety & Depression, Facilitating these groups is Marian Fahy who is a fully qualified accredited Psychotherapist. You can also contact Marian for one to one Counselling and Psychotherapy Sessions.

Check out our website or contact Marian if there is anything holistic you are looking for.

Contact: Marian 087-987 4300 pathfindershc@gmail.com www.pathfinders1.com

Holistic Health

WHOLISTIC HOUSE OF HEALING WWHOLISTIC HOUSE OF HEALING We offer: • Acupuncture & Facial Acupuncture • Hot Cupping & Massage • Seasonal Cleansing • Spagyric • Gerson Therapy • Fertility Treatment • Tai Chi & Qi Gong • Homeopathy • Weight Management & Nutrition • Conscious Living & Eating The Wholistic Wellness Workshop also has a beautiful bright & airy Yoga Loft available for talks/classes/workshops/massage etc. Call for details.

Contact Us 091 500780 wholistichouseofhealing@gmail.com www.wholistichouseofhealing.com Anne Quinn has a unique combination of conventional and Natural Healing qualifications and experience. Services provided include Counselling (specialist in Bereavement and loss).

Iridology, Live Blood Analysis Rourine B/P and urinalysis. Nutritional advice and Natural Healing techniques Treatments include: Herbal Remedies specifically formulated on site, Colonic Hydrotherapy. Advanced training and practice in Intestinal problems and subfertility. Call Anne 09326698 or email annefquinn3@eircom.net

A Call to Awaken The Munay–Ki Rites Awakening, Initiation and Empowerment Be of wisdom and power free of fear. Connect to luminous beings that help heal you in your dreamtime.

Engage with your true divine path, become your true self, transform your consciousness and you will enjoy a new and wonderful way of experiencing life.

This energy is to be shared with all and you will learn how to gift these rites so that you can share them with your loved ones.

Call Kerina on 086-3350153 or Ian on 0863034593 Visit http://www.lightbodywork.com for more information Everyone is welcome!

Date: 18th & 19th August 2012 Cost: €250

Homeopathy

Lucy Mc Crann Fahy, Liosban, Galway and Loughrea Holistic Health.

Lucy is a registered nurse and Homeopath with more than twenty years experience. She uses a unique blend of Homeopathy, Kinesiology, Reiki, Chakra Balancing, and Food Intolerance Testing to help balance the whole person on a physical, mental, and emotional level. She is very experienced in treating childrenʼs ailments, and enjoys working with adults too. She has a special interest in hormonal imbalance and has achieved good results in enhancing fertility.

Please phone 086 0623497 to arrange appointments in Galway and Loughrea.

Kineseology

Anne Collins is a Kinesiology Consultant and Touch for Health Instructor, who offers a wide range of therapies at her practice at Feely's Pharmacy, Tuam. Over the years Anne has introduced a unique blend of complementary health therapies to enhance all areas of her client's physical and emotional well being including: The "Eat Right for your Blood Type" diet (has amazing results!); Allergy testing; Emotional Stree Realease; Reiki; Chakra Healing; Indian Head Massage; Hand Reflexology; Educational Kinesiology for Children; Courses and Workshops.Please contact her on: 087 1314105 or 093 28524 or annecollinsholistics@hotmail.com website: http://www.annecollins.ie

Des is a highly experienced Kinesiology practitioner and instructor working in Galway city and Loughrea.

Kinesiology uses gentle muscle testing to “read” your body for areas of imbalance: Emotionally, Energetically, Structurally and Biochemically. Kinesiology has sucessfully treated: Back, neck, hip and joint pain, Digestive & skin problems, persistant low energy/exhaustion, stress & emotional issues, sleep problems, headaches and much more. Benefits are often experienced even after just one treatment. To book an appointment, contact Des on 085 272 4026. (Special offer for all living link readers.

All new clients, initial treatment half price!

Quote “livingLink”) Find out how good you can really feel! www.kinesiology-galway.com

Language

Bridge Mills Galway Language Centre is a small, family-run, adult English and foreign language school and teacher training centre, established in 1987. One of the unique features of Galway Language Centre is its location in The Bridge Mills, an 18th century mill situated on the River Corrib in the centre of Galway.

The school began in 1987 wishing to bring academic excellence and a high standard of personal attention to students Galway. Over the past 25 years we have expanded to our present year-round, adult school of 15 teachers and trainers Tel: 091 566468 Email: info@galwaylangauge.com Web: www.galwaylanguage.com.

Address: 1st floor, Bridge Mills ,Bridge Street, Galway

Light Therapy

Bring Light to Your Life!

Avalon Light Therapy - a new holistic way for people of all ages to overcome various physical challenges and enhance overall performance, mood and wellbeing. Proven Helpful for various Conditions: SAD - Seasonal Affective Disorder, Stress reduction, Relaxation, Anti-aging, Skin rejuvenation, Acne, Circulation, Venous dilation/flow, Oxygenation, Detoxification, Lymphatic drainage,Inflammation, Wound healing, Joints, Bone calcification, Tendons, Cartilages, Local swelling, Muscle tension, Mobility.

Soren Hildebrandt ∙ 091 581087, www.dynamedic.net Clinic of Dynamic Medicine

Massage

Feel calm and refreshed as you are wrapped in to Seaweed. Help your body cleanse and detoxify, help to disperse local fatty deposits ensuring soft, fresh and healthy looking skin.

Call Now: 091 864286 Register on our website for a €20 New Client Gift! www.naturalserenity.ie 1 Rockfort House, St. Augustine Street, Galway

Natural Health Centres

Anne Quinn has a unique combination of conventional and Natural Healing qualifications and experience. Services provided include Counselling (specialist in Bereavement and loss). Iridology, Live Blood Analysis Rourine B/P and urinalysis. Nutritional advice and Natural Healing techniques Treatments include: Herbal Remedies specifically formulated on site, Colonic Hydrotherapy. Advanced training and practice in Intestinal problems and subfertility. Call Anne 09326698 or email annefquinn3@eircom.net

Personal Development

Sports Massage - Improve your performance, maintenance massage, pre-event and postevent, aids recovery and improves flexibility.

ITEC Qualified, IMTA registered Sports Therapist, Treatment rooms in Craughwell and Oranmore. Treatments tailored to suit YOUR needs.

On Site massage available for events. Susan McGrady 086-1013622. www.serenityhealing.ie or twitter @healingserenity and www.facebook.com/SerenityHealingMassage

Holistic/Swedish Massage and Reiki, ITEC qualified, IMTA registered. Treatments tailored to suit YOUR needs – relaxing or energising.

Treatment rooms in Craughwell and Oranmore.

On-site/mobile service for people with limited mobility and events. Gift vouchers available.

Susan McGrady 086-1013622. www.serenityhealing.ie or twitter @healingserenity and www.facebook.com/SerenityHealingMassage “Your Guide to a Healing Path...”

Eilish Brady, Certified Holistic Massage Therapist, Certified Sports Injury Therapist. Professionally trained and accredited at The World School of Massage & Healing Arts and the San Francisco School of Massage • Pregnancy: Pre and Post Natal – for a relaxing, rejuvenating experience. • Sports Injury: Pre/Post event - rehabilitate, maintain and support active muscles and joints.

• Deep Tissue: work out and release muscle tension from daily activity.

• Swedish: A therapeutic, calming experience.

• Hot Stones: Using hand-picked river rocks or smooth Basalt stones “Heaven on Earth”. Indigo Centre Tuam and Athenry (087) 6286683

Raynor Massage is a holistic massage therapy incorporating reflexology, acupressure, deep tissue style massage and muscle stretches. Invented by Brendan Raynor in Australia his international select school of massage teaching is intuitive and experiential so that graduates are able to listen to their clientʼs needs in the moment and administer appropriate treatments, always following their breathing pattern. Selecting the most effective techniques from various modalities the massage is profound, facilitating healing on all levels. Jackie taught reflexology for many years and appreciates the integrated approach this massage allows. Jackie Queally Bayly School Reflexology, Dip Raynor Massage, SHEN 083 4117498

Natural Beauty

EMPRESS, Gourmet Natural Cosmetics Hand-made in County Clare from seaweed, shea butter and other natural delicacies. www.empresscosmetics.com 086 8899168 Natural Serenity Holistic Hair & Beauty Salon Permanent Makeup Studio We use hair colour thatʼs up to 99% naturally derived. €20 off when you book your first hair colour appointment. Detox, Relax and Tone your body for just €99! (Normal price €250)

A Personal Approach to Success With 22 years of experience in business and a proven track record of success thereʼs no one like Nollaig Kelly to inspire you to achieve your specific personal or professional results. Helping you to think for yourself, become more creative and reach for the stars.

Phone 087 137 6821 Email: nollaigkelly2001@eircom.net http://www.businesslifecoach.ie LIFE COACHING

Psychics

Hilary Fortunes "Born with the gift of healing and psychic gifts. I work with my guides and angels to give guidance on all aspects of peoples lives in a positive and helpful way."

• Born with Natural Psychic Gift of Healing • Tarot Card Readings - Expectations of love, career, hopes and dreams, luck, relationships and travel • Palm Reading - Gives an in-depth insight into both past present and future • Health Analysis through Auric Field Energy Phone Hilary on 087 902 4776 Or visit her in the Eyre Square Shopping Centre, Ground Floor

Sexuality

CONNECTING BY DESIGN In Connecting by Design we create a laboratory... a temporary space in the now to look inside. Anything that is occurring for you is brought to this place... family, work, body, relationship... and we observe together.

It is an opportunity to connect, to look... and in this observing a space is often created where a certain relaxation can occur.

The tools in the laboratory are various, we offer courses in Helinger Family Constellation, Neo Human Design and Exploring the Couple Relationship. The basis is meditation. Group or individual sessions.“Therapy is basically love and meditation – because without love no healing is possible” www.connectingbydesign.net info@connectingbydesign.net Tel 089 4549156 Tantra Massage with loving touch • Do you long to be accepted for your whole self, just as you are?

• Do you wish to have greater awareness in your experience of your sexual self?

Receive full-body, loving touch…reconnect with your whole self…experience the true beauty and sacredness of your body and sexuality.

One-to-one Guidance Sessions ~ Do you wish to… …fully be who you are without apologizing for yourself or hiding behind social masks? …experience deeper honesty and intimacy in your relationships with others?

Explore practical tools and experiential exercises for self-awareness, self-empowerment and connecting and relating with others. www.heartconnect.net Tel Nicola: 086 848 1884

Shamanism

Pathway teaching www.pathwayteaching.com Shamanism in the West • Shamanic Studies: Introductory, Practitioner and Advanced Levels • House and Land Healing (all around Ireland) • Fairy workshops • Munay Ki rites • Healing days (all around Ireland) • Reiki, Seichim SKHM All Love workshops Paul O'Halloran is a shaman and spiritual healer with many years experience of energy healing of land, houses and people. Paul has been on local and national radio and on television. Paul is supported by Melanie who teaches the Reiki, Seichim SKHM All Love workshops.

For more information please contact us: info@pathwayteaching.com or 086 8525529

Dermot is the founder and Spiritual Director of the Celtic Rainbow School of Shamanism in Wicklow. He has been caring in his role as Healer, Teacher and Shaman for over twenty years. Dermot is a certified Clinical Hypnotherpist working from his practice in Clondalkin, Dublin. He is also registered with the Indigenious Education Institute in the US as their International Advisor. In 2001 Dermot founded the Celtic Rainbow School of Shamanism.

Through the school Dermot introduces people to a place of balance and harmony within themselves. Dermot facilitates clinics, workshops, drum circles, sweat lodges and talks nationwide. For more information visit www.celticshaman.com.

Contact details: Tel (+353) 86 8707 854 Email: dermotohara@yahoo.com Web: www.celticshaman.com

Tours

Spirit of Burren tours go beyond mere sightseeing. Using independent researchers and her spiritual insights, experienced tourguide/dowser Jackie Queally has created tours that interpret the landscape in a unique manner, focussing on earth energies and linking the sites by theme. Visiting sacred spots that are off the beaten track the tours allow you to connect with the essence of the land. You can learn dowsing (divining for earth energies) at sites such as old monasteries and ancient healing wells. Having written tour guides and more in-depth books based on esoteric knowledge Jackie is currently writing a book on the Burren.

083 4117498

Yoga LAUGHTER YOGA LAUGHTER YOGA is a therapy new to Ireland.

It is a blend of yogic breathing, stretching, laughter exercises & relaxation. Research has shown that LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE. For Laughter Parties, Laughter Club, Fun Nights In or Weekly Laughter Therapy Sessions contact Teresa Savage, Certified Laughter Leader @ 087 298100 An Seomra Yoga Galway Cityʼs Premier Yoga Centre DROP IN CLASSES ALL SUMMER LONG Mornings; lunch-time; evenings; weekends Hatha; Vinyasa; Ashtanga; Gentle; Meditation Classes starting at 5euro Full schedule on our website: www.anseomrayoga.com 2/3 Small Crane Square, Sea Road, Galway Phone: 087 759 8101 Email: info@anseomrayoga.com

We reserve the right to refuse, amend or withdraw advertisements submitted to us at our absolute discretion and without explanation. The Living Link can accept no liability for any loss or damage resulting from an error or inaccuracy in an advertisement regardless of how caused. The Living Link cannot take any responsibility for the quality of an advertiserʼs service or advertiserʼs conduct. Intellectual copyright remains with the publishers of The Living Link. All rights reserved.

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Better H B Health l h Acupuncture A Clinic in Corofin, Tuam & Oranmore Katriona Severs Lic. Ac. & TCM.

Treating: - Gastrointestinal Disorders - Urogenital Disorders - Respiratory Disorders - Disorders of the Bones, Muscles, Joints and Nervous System - Gynaecological Disorders Also specialised in: backache, sciatica, sports injuries, sinusitis, hay fever, menstrual pain and problems, improving the immune system and supporting people in cancer therapies and much more

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Great Tours Everyday from Galway

1.

CONNEMARA Glorious scenery of mountains, rivers, lakes & sea. Many stops including Kylemore Abbey, Leenane, Standún Craft Shop. Guided tour.

10am – 5:15pm.

2. CLIFFS OF MOHER

One of the most unique and beautiful landscapes in Ireland. Many stops including Cliffs of Moher, Dunguaire Castle, Doolin, Aillwee Caves, Poulnabrone Dolmen. Guided tour. 10am – 5:15pm.

3. GALWAY CITY TOUR

Open Top Double Decker Guided tour. Hop on – hop off. Tickets are valid for 24 hours. Highlights: Salthill, view over Galway, University, Galway City Museum, Spanish Arch, The Claddagh. Every 90 minutes starting from Galway Tourist Office.

4. ½ DAY CLIFFS OF MOHER

Go directly to the Cliffs of Moher. 2 hours stop at the cliffs.

Beautiful scenery en route including: Kinvara, Doolin, The Burren, Galway Bay. Leaves Galway at 12pm and returns to Galway at 5pm.

5. ARAN ISLANDS

Visit the wonderful Aran Islands with Island Ferries which serves all 3 islands with many sailings all year around. Bus connection also available from Galway City to the port.

info@lallytours.com (091) 562 905

www.lallytours.com

*We can collect you from your accomodation for free before the tour starts – phone us to book.

Discounts available on ! our website