Like magazine, May 2015

May 2015

SUMMER IS CALLING:

M A G A Z I N E

Fashion, beauty and homes for a season in the sun

GREENER PASTURES:

Actress Sarah Greene talks exclusively to Like about what lies ahead

WHAT’S THE OCCASION? Show-stopping style for summer events

Cork's FREE lifestyle monthly

Style / Beauty / Celebrity / Health / Food / Home

Our Results Speak For Themselves!

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Declan Leonard lost 15 stone and is maintaining for over 1 year.

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Aisling after

Aisling before Aisling Byrne lost 2 stone

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Lucy Kenneally lost 10 stone

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GRAND PARADE & LITTLE ISLAND 1800 22 44 88 BALLINCOLLIG 021 4874580

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Clinics Nationwide

CONTENTS How to be a goddess.

Our pick of summer’s best beachwear.

Swimsuit and sun hat from New Look

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To Goop or not to Goop.

Why do celebrities think they can tell us how to eat, shop and live our lives?

07...................... Like it? Love it!

11 �������������������������������������������������Style 22 ����������������������������������������� Beauty 39 �����������������������������������������Homes 50 ���������������������������������������������� Food 52 �������������������������������������������Family 59 �����������������������������������������Culture 60 �������������������������������������������Books 62 ��������������������������������������������Travel 66 ������������������������������������������� Social

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Set for stardom. Cork’s Sarah Greene talks exclusively to Like about her latest role, her love of the theatre, and enjoying the trappings of fame.

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From supermodel to model baker. Pastry chef Samuel Homan shares some perfect recipes for a summer get together.

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Thank you for sharing? Like talks to psychologist Colman Noctor about setting social media boundaries for you and for your kids.

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EDITOR’S LETTER EDITOR: Carolyn Moore

Just say yes M ay is a month with so much promise.

The promise of impromptu drinks after work on a Tuesday just because the sun is shining; of holidays, booked and anticipated; and of an endless stream of summer events. My sister gets married in June, so I have occasionwear on the brain, and as our fashion shoot this month shows, Cork’s independent boutiques should be your first stop in the search for jaw-dropping style.

And after May 22nd we may find our social calendars filling up with additional excuses to get dressed up and share in the warmth and excitement of even more special days. The marriage equality referendum is a huge step for this country, and it’s a massive responsibility to be asked to decide for so many people what kind of future they can expect. It’s a privilege I don’t take lightly, and yet, as the referendum approaches I realise I’ve given it almost no thought at all. I haven’t had to.

Gay people have been my equals since I was a teenager, and long before I knew anyone who was openly gay, they were my equals in primary school and when we played together as kids. We weren’t registered with different birth certificates or issued different passports. We didn’t sit different exams or receive different awards from our colleges. So why should the law draw a line under this one issue and say “No, not you, you’re different”?

I agree so wholeheartedly with Aisling, who writes this month that when we tell our kids they can be anything, we have to mean it. A yes vote tells every child “Whoever you are, whatever your situation, it’s ok. We love you. We accept you.” It’s the catharsis we need after decades of revelations that shook our faith in an institution that sought to define difference, lock it away, shame it and abuse it. It’s time to say no to that, and yes, on May 22nd, to a more inclusive Ireland.

And so I’m excited about May and all its possibilities, and I can’t wait to go to the polls and say yes. Yes to equality, yes to love, yes to all those people – people I love dearly, or strangers I pass in the street – “Yes! Yes you! You’re the same.” ❤

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SAY HELLO f www.facebook.com/likemagazinecork Cover: Model: Jess Hayes, Lockdown Models www.lockdown.ie Styled by Carolyn Moore Photographed by Miki Barlok www.barlokphoto.com Makeup by Sarah Cummins for INGLOT Ph: 086 3392787 www.inglot.ie www.sarahcumminsmakeup.com Hair by Audrey Delaney for Artisan Hair Studio, Okleigh House, Douglas.

Ph: 021 4897221 www.artisanhair.ie Jess wears earrings, €15, omdivaboutique.com, and embellished dress by Virgo’s Lounge, €189, The Dress Bar, Penrose Quay Ph: 021 451 8505 www.thedressbar.ie

Special thanks to the Maryborough Hotel www.maryborough.com Creative contributors: Miki Barlok – Photographer Sarah Cummins – Makeup artist Audrey Delaney – Hair stylist Editorial contributors: Aisling Ozdemir Andrea Toohey Samuel Homan Like Magazine Team: Editor: Carolyn Moore editor@likemagazine.ie Deputy Editor: Maria Tracey maria@likemagazine.ie Graphic Design: Bob O’Connor

T @likemagazine_ie Advertising Manager Niamh Keane niamh@likemagazine.ie Ph 087-6839589 Advertising Account Manager: Anne O’Sullivan anne@likemagazine.ie Ph 087-1787993 Circulation/Distibution: Media Distribution Solutions Like Magazine is published by Like Magazines Ltd., 4 Carey’s Lane, Cork, Tel: 021 4252256 www.likemagazine.ie.

Company Registration number 550302.

The entire contents of the magazine are copyright © LIKE Magazines Ltd. and may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publishers.

Like Magazine circulates 20,000* copies. *Publisher’s Statement.

An X YOU’LL BE HAPPY TO SEE. PRICES FROM €19,950.

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Tel: 021 432 0266

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1) ICONIC BAGS: We’re loving that Mulberry, Stella McCartney, Michael Kors and others have re–imagined their signature bags. The result? Classics with 2015 attitude. Stella’s Falabella gets a vibrant update in hot pink! €750, Brown Thomas 2) LOCO FOR COCO: Brand new and exclusive to Keanes jewellers is the Coco 88 collection, inspired by all the elements of nature. These stackable beaded bangles are a Like favourite at just €29.

3) LOVING YOUR SKIN: Like model Roz Purcell, who ditched her make–up for Thérapie Clinic’s #LoveIrishSkin campaign.

Looking just as gorgeous au naturel, she’s encouraging everybody to embrace their “natural beauty”.

4) FLEUR DE FIGUIER: If we can’t spend the summer lazing under a fig tree with the grass between our toes, we’ll just spritz on

the delicious debut eau de parfum from Roger & Gallet and make believe. €49 from pharmacies.

5) SUMMER HAIR: We’re eternal fans of the sexy, windswept style that Jennifer Aniston does so well. Get the look by picking up Bumble & Bumble Surf Spray at Sobe Brown on Morrison’s Quay for €30… shaka sign optional.

6) HE’S ALL THAT: Proud wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar revealed her husband, She’s All That star Freddie Prinze Jr, is releasing a cookbook - Back to the Kitchen. It’s the news that makes us all yearn for a partner that can cook!

7) NEW KICKS: Oasis + Keds = high street heaven for our feet. Cool stripes, bold tropicals, or a dash of animal magic… there’s a Keds by Oasis print to suit your style. The floral lace ups are floating our boat. €56, Oasis.

8) FABLED SKINCARE: Cult brand AESOP has landed in Cork, and the Jet Set kit is on our holiday lust list. Gorgeous travel sized essentials with the best botanical ingredients in those legendarily cool apothecary bottles. €33, exclusive to Samui.

9) PITCH PERFECT 2: The Pitch is back, and if you haven’t seen the original you missed the most fun you can have sitting in the dark for two hours. The Elizabeth Banks directed sequel can’t come soon enough! In cinemas May 15th.

10) SUMMER IS HERE: But winter is always coming. Game of Thrones is back with the usual drama and intrigue, and actor Liam Cunningham teasing a more shocking climax than the Red Wedding. Get your fix Mondays, on Sky Atlantic.

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uestions with…

Lisa Fitzpatrick 6) What’s your favourite thing about Cork?

The accent. I come home saying ‘yeahhhh’ I love Cork. When my husband Paul had the Silver Springs Hotel we went down every second weekend so I have lots of good friends in Cork. We have the craic, boy!

7) What’s your happiest memory?

Our wedding day was amazing, but thankfully we have lots of really good memories over the years – watching our kids growing up and getting so independent is a great feeling.

Photo: Barry McCall

1) What do you do?

I’m a mum, a wife, a cleaner, a taxi driver for my kids, and a fashion stylist.

2) Where are you now?

At home in Dublin, making dinner for the family. I had an early start with Ireland AM, then filmed Xposé; collected kids, make up off, cooking now.

3) If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?

Back to our honeymoon spot, Turks & Caicos. Paradise!

4) If you could have a drink with anyone, who would it be?

Oprah.

5) Who or what always makes you laugh?

My husband, Paul, our kids, Sophie & Dalton, and we have great friends that make me belly ache laugh!

8) What’s your favourite film?

Dream Girls 9) What’s the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever owned?

I’ve had lots of crazy looks that seemed ok at the time, but fast forward to now… looking back they were really just awful.

10) What would you save if your house was on fire?

After my kids, Snowy our dog and Nemo the longest living goldfish ever!

11) Did you cry on your first day of school?

No! Rocked in, no problem! My daughter Sophie did, Dalton didn’t.

12) Did you cry on your last day of school?

No, I smiled with happiness!

13) What was the last thing that made you cry?

I cry watching YouTube videos.

14) Dinner or dessert?

Dinner. I’m not a big fan of dessert, but I love a cheese board.

15) Tea or coffee?

Coffee.

16) Halloween or Christmas?

Christmas. Love it!

17) Chocolate or wine?

Wine.

18) Ryan Gosling or Ryan Reynolds?

Both 19) Football or rugby?

I played football growing up, I was a sweeper. I can do tricks! But I love going to rugby matches, it’s a great day out.

20) Can I ask you one more question?

Anything!

21) What’s the best thing ever?

Realising I’m a good person and I’m happy with myself. I’m not interested if people love me, like me, dislike me, I’m happy I’m me. I’m 43 in July and I feel good. I have a job I absolutely love and I’m very grateful.

Lisa Fitzpatrick is a stylist and TV personality. Her workshop roadshow, Lisa Fitzpatrick’s Fashion Fix, comes to the Kingsley Hotel in Cork on May 10th, offering style, beauty and nutritional advice from Ireland’s top experts, including former Miss World Rosanna Davison. Tickets priced €99 from fitzpatrickstyle.com, include lunch, a bellini, and a goody bag worth €50.

Follow: T @lisafitzpatrick

Wishing and hoping Mum of five, Laurane Foley is hoping her and her family’s lives will change forever on July 9th, when her little boy, Alex is due to undergo surgery in St. Louis. The procedure, called SDR, will help him walk and live an independent life, after brain damage incurred at birth left him suffering from a debilitating form of Cerebral Palsy.

A stay-at-home mum to Alex, his twin brother Jacob, and their three siblings, Laurane has worked tirelessly to raise the €80,000 needed to fund the surgery and the extensive after care Alex will need, but as she points out “There is nothing more a mum wants than for her kids to be happy,

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healthy and pain free, so I’m not super-mum, I’m just doing what anyone in my position would do.”

The final fundraising event for Alex’s Wish to Walk takes place this month at the Mardyke Athletic Tracks, where Alex, his friend Abbey – who had her SDR operation last November – along with Hassan and Hussein Benhaffaf, will lead a Charity Wheelabout, which promises to be a great family day out that could change the life of one little boy.

The Charity Wheelabout takes place Sunday, May 10th, at the UCC Mardyke Athletic Tracks from 10.30 to 12.30. To donate or for more information see alexswishtowalk.com.

Looking

for that something different?

Look no further than

Blush Boutique Unit 13 Douglas Village Shopping Centre, Douglas, Cork Ph 021-4368630 | Mon-Sat 10am-6pm Sun 1pm-5pm

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Exciting new brand now available at

93-95 Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork T: 021 4271256

www.keanes.ie

STYLE

Inner Beauty For Cork-born jewellery designer Gemma O’Leary, the launch of her own label, Inner Island, is the realisation of a dream she has been working towards since she began to learn her craft, and all the skills she honed along the way are apparent in her debut collections – Boketto, inspired by the clean, architectural lines of Eileen Grey, and Yugen.

A Japanese word meaning “subtle and profound”, Yugen encapsulates an aesthetic that’s at once feminine and strong, and the stunning simplicity of the designs makes them affordable investment pieces that will stand the test of time. With freshwater pearls on sterling silver, and a choice of rhodium or 18kt gold plating, the collection would make an elegant choice for brides

with a modern sensibility.

Main pic: Rhodium plated sterling silver Yugen rings and earrings, from €99.

18kt gold plated Yugen bangle, €149, from innerisland.ie

Inner Island Yugen collection

Sweat it out Summer is here, but some days it doesn’t feel that way. Until it’s officially t-shirt weather, sweatshirts are our go-to basic. Go for bold prints or quirky embellishments, or keep it simple with a block colour, adding a statement necklace and rolled up boyfriend jeans for instant, everyday chic. Edith and Ella Funny Fish sweatshirt, €119, Paper Dolls, Drawbridge St.; Basics sweatshirt in aqua, €12.95, and Geometrics Plate necklace, €25.95, Zara.

Wandering Stars Ever stopped to wonder who makes your clothes? For Cork designer Bronwyn Connolly, being able to answer this question is of the utmost importance, and when it comes to her ethical clothing label, Wear We Wander, she operates a “No sweat, just sparkle” policy. Hand made in Bali, the exotic location – one of many Bronwyn has visited on her travels - also informs the designs, and the result is a festival fabulous blend of bohemian summer styles with a gypsy soul. Printed tie back dress, €79, wearwewander. com

WIN

To win a pair of Ara pumps in your colour of choice, email info@likemagazine.ie and tell us which Sex and the City character was obsessed with shoes.

Follow the pack Popularised by the trendsetting Olsen twins, backpacks are enjoying a moment in the sun. If you don’t fancy splashing out $19,000 for their label, The Row’s alligator version, but you do like the idea of a hands-free handbag, the high street is here to help. Don’t look like a Spanish student, and do stick to designs with a clean, nineties-inspired look. Metallic backpack, €24.99, New Look.

Pump it up The ballerina pump is one of those wardrobe essentials that makes us wonder how we ever lived without them.

In soft, brightly coloured suedes with metallic leather accents, Ara Shoes’ take on this classic style combines fashion and comfort with the best craftsmanship to ensure these are an investment that will see you through springs and summers to come. Ara pumps, €85. See arashoesireland.com for stockists in Cork.

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STYLE Smocked strapless beach cover-up, €34, Marks and Spencer

Wide brimmed straw hat, €5, Penneys

Aztec woven beach bag, €10, Penneys

Low-V black swimsuit, €24.99, and striped floppy straw hat, €14.99, New Look

Drawstring kaftan with crochet trim, €19.99, New Look

Bikini top with mesh insert, €42, and matching highwaisted bottoms, €33,

by J by Jasper Conran at Debenhams “Chromatic” bandeau swimsuit

by Jets, €175, Brown Thomas

Halter bikini top, €44, and matching bottoms with roll down waistband, €27, by Gorgeous at Debenhams

Snakeskin print silk scarf, €125, susannaghgrogan.com and Brown Thomas

Beaded T-bar sandal, €22.99, New Look

Rouched bodice halter swimsuit, €44, littlewoodsireland.ie

Gold multi-strap sandal, €49, Office

Beach Babe

Forget being a beach bum this summer and go glam with this season’s luxe hippy style. Mix and match aztec prints with candy coloured accents and dare to bare with sheer panels and plunging necklines. Think Kate Moss in Ibiza with a twist of Rivera chic for a summer look that’s playfully sexy, luxuriously laid back, and fiercely feminine.

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hot summer style new ColleCtions now instore treat yourself and enjoy a Free Consultation with our Personal stylist.

For special offers and upcoming events log on to www.operalane.com Opera Lane logo white.pdf

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CM

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multicentre Gift Cards accepted in all stores.

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CMY

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05/03/2015

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Calling all BRIDES Come and enjoy a High Tea Evening in The Deane-Woodward Suite in The Kingsley on Thursday, 28th May – 7 to 9pm Your dress, your hair and your perfect day; let us help you plan your ideal wedding.

Treat yourself and two others to an evening of high tea while previewing dresses from local bridal boutiques. From cocktail specialists to wedding accessories, enjoy the company of local trusted vendors to help refine your details.

To reserve your place and have any enquiries, contact the Events Team by email events@thekingsley.ie or phone 021 480 0500.

HOTEL SPA HEALTH CLUB RESIDENCE The Kingsley, Victoria Cross, Cork, Ireland. www.thekingsley.ie

Find us on

STYLE

Picture Perfect With strong, simple shapes and candy coloured palettes, you don’t need fuss to be feminine.

With a femme fatale feel, the season’s most vibrant looks are perfect for any occasion.

Tomato red two-piece

by Genness, €289, Fran and Jane, Oliver Plunkett St. Gold tone fragment necklace with blue stones by eShe, €30, Kilkenny. Ankle strap stiletto heels, €20, Dunnes.

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STYLE Yellow studded dress with pleated panels

by Sfizio, €221, Blush, Douglas. Coloured conical stud necklace, €32, omdivaboutique.com.

STYLE Hot pink ruffle hem jacket

by Aideen Bodkin, €329.95, and yellow bubble bracelet by eShe, €40, Kilkenny.

Fitted capri pants by Sfizio, €185, Blush boutique, Douglas Village shopping centre. Acid yellow stiletto heels, €22.99, New Look.

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STYLE

Blue dress with oversized bow by Moskada, €299, Sheena’s boutique, Oliver Plunkett St. Pastel beaded neck collar by Azure, €75, Azure, Carey’s Lane.

Crystal and diamanté earrings, €9.99, and matching cuff, €9.99, H&M. Vintage gold striped vase, €16, Mustard, Academy St.

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style

Pink fitted tie-back dress by Closet, €99, Cherish boutique, Charleville. Clustered crystal, ribbon and chain Wow neck collar by Nour London, €149, Kilkenny. Pink stiletto heels, €29.95, Zara.

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STYLE Monochrome polka dot dress by Tahari, €189, The Dressing Room, Emmett Place.

Sunglasses by Enrico Coveri, €170, Egans Opticians, Lavitt’s Quay. Double ball earrings, €15, omdivaboutique.com. Ceramic giraffe, €25, Mustard, Academy St.

Photographer: Miki Barlok barlokphoto.com Stylist: Carolyn Moore Model: Jess Hayes at Lockdown lockdown.ie Hair: Audrey Delaney for Artisan Hair Studio, Okleigh House, Douglas.

Phone 021 4897221 artisanhair.ie Makeup: Sarah Cummins for INGLOT, Mahon Point.

Phone INGLOT: 021 4614002 inglot.ie Phone Sarah: 086 3392787 sarahcumminsmakeup.com Photographed on location at the Maryborough Hotel and Spa, Maryborough Hill, Douglas.

For bookings call 021 436 5555 maryborough.com

B FE O AO UD TY

Beauty Brief Whatever the occasion this summer, you’ll need a beauty look with staying power. Get your look picture perfect with these tips from our experts.

MAKEUP “This season’s looks have a major retro feeling to them,” says our makeup artist Sarah Cummins. “But no more heavily powdered skin, sweaty skin is in. Then there’s a huge focus on a vibrant pops of colour on the lids or the lips.”

Face Blush No. 29, €16

AMC Face and Body Illuminator, €20

To give Jess a retro look with a very modern twist, Sarah ensured her skin was radiant and glowing by mixing a drop of INGLOT AMC Face and Body Illuminator in with her HD foundation.

Looking to the hottest lip colours of the season, orange and magenta, she created a sensational summer lip with INGLOT’s new Colour Play lipliner, #315, and lipstick, #140. For an intense eye colour with a vibrant effect, INGLOT’s new Pure Pigment collection keeps that 60s vibe alive, while those pin-up girl brows were perfected with INGLOT’s Gel Liner, creating a perfect frame to a picture perfect face.

All products available from INGLOT, Mahon Point.

Colour Play Lipliner, €15

HAIR Hair stylist Audrey Delaney from Artisan Hair Studio in Douglas knew that our colourful take on the season’s occasion wear required a suitably glamourous yet understated style that would last all day for a wedding or summer event. Channelling the timeless elegance of Old Hollywood, she created a set wave that was easier, looser and more modern, first washing the hair with Nioxin shampoo No. 6 for ultimate volume.

After protecting against heat damage and frizz with Nioxin’s New Definition Crème, she then tonged the hair into large, frizz free bouncy curls. The look was brushed through and finished with Nioxin’s Niospray – a completely brushable hairspray with unbeatable hold, that will hold the curls and maintain the softness of the look all day.

Nioxin products are available from Artisan Hair Studio, Donnybrook, Dougals.

WIN

A pair of Ray Ban Wayfarer Sunglasses

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AMC Pure Pigment Eyeshadow, €15

Lipstick No. 140, €14

Nioxin shampoo, €20.50

Nioxin New Definition Crème, €19.90

Nioxin Niospray, €19.90

COMPETITION Summer is officially upon us and to make it as glorious as possible, Like Magazine have teamed up with Egans Opticians to offer one lucky reader a pair of Ran Ban Wayfarer sunglasses.

TO WIN:

Answer the question below and email your entry to info@likemagazine.ie Q: Where are Egans Opticians located?

Located at 5/6 Lavitts Quay, Egans Opticians have been serving customers since the early 1920s, when the store was established by the late Tom Egan. First opening on Winthrop St, the growing business later required a larger premises and so moved to Lavitts Quay. However, their vision has remained steadfast, to use their expertise and professionalism to provide the best eye care for their customers. Egans also offer a wide range of designer sunglasses, perfect for every sun god and goddess.

A. Cork B. Limerick C. Dublin Closing date Tuesday 26th of May. No cash alternative. Terms and conditions apply.

The

FOTA Collection Hotel luxury in Cork

Your private ISLAND Fota Island Resort is just a ten minute drive from Cork City. www.fotaisland.ie Located in the heart of a 780-acre estate, it has been included in the “Inventory of Outstanding Landscapes in Ireland” and was the proud host of the Irish Open in 2001, 2002 and 2014.

The splendid woodlands are woven into three challenging championship courses: The Deerpark, The Barryscourt and The Belvelly.

www.fotaisland.ie www.fotaisland.ie

www.thekingsley.ie www.thekingsley.ie

Stay in THE CITY Polished and sophisticated, Cork’s newest hotel, Thewww.thekingsley.ie Kingsley, is www.thekingsley.ie www.fotaisland.ie home to 131 elegant rooms with contemporary décor, many of which have uninterrupted views of the River Lee. The hotel is home to an extensive Health Club and a luxurious Spa with a fabulous Thermal Suite. On the south side of Cork’s iconic River Lee, The Kingsley is just minutes’ walk from the centre of this busy, bustling city, filled with culture and great things to see and do.

Enquiries, reservations or GIFT VOUCHERS for either hotel, call 021 4883700 ONLINE GIFT VOUCHERS available on www.fotaisland.ie Find us on

Fota Island, Cork, Ireland. www.fotacollection.ie T +353 (0)21 488 3700 F +353 (0)21 488 3871 E info@fotacollection.ie

F E AT U R E

Lifestyles of the rich and famous Celebrities! They’re just like us!

Only richer, taller, and ten times more fabulous! Carolyn Moore on the celebrity lifestyle brands that are out of touch, out of our reach, and becoming very big business in Hollywood.

A

h celebrities. They just love telling us regular folk what to do.

Whether it’s Sheryl Crow imploring us to use a single sheet of toilet paper to help save the planet (what if I use as much toilet paper as I need and you stop getting 50,000 people to hop in their cars and drive to your concerts?); Gisele Bundchen advising against sunblock use (we weren’t all blessed with your genetics, dear); or Jenny McCarthy helping bring measles back from the dead (#Facts, #TeamScience), it was only a matter of time before some bright spark realised there was money to be made imparting such invaluable gems of wisdom to the masses.

In 2008, when Gwyneth Paltrow launched a weekly lifestyle newsletter called GOOP, nobody predicted that “Professional Advice Giver” was about to become Hollywood’s hottest sideline.

Promising to “nourish the inner aspect”, this cryptic mission statement forewarned the kind of pretentious, unattainable, and largely impractical “advice” that was to come (infrared vagina steam clean, anyone? Not unless you want a very expensive yeast infection, say doctors).

But despite imparting lifestyle advice that makes us want to consciously uncouple our brains from our skulls, GOOP has gone from strength to strength, evolving into a complete lifestyle platform. Where else could you learn hard scientific facts (don’t insult your drinking water, it makes the molecules sad), source convenient lunch recipes that will make your kids the envy of their classmates (homemade vegetable sushi – quick AND delicious), and purchase a gold plated juicer – a steal at $4,700 – all in one place?

Some would say it’s absurd, but this is Gwyneth’s reality. As she says herself “I am who I am. I can’t pretend to be somebody who makes $25,000 a year.” And with an attitude like that she was setting herself up to fail when she undertook a charity challenge last month to feed herself on $29 a week. While her shopping basket did not include cheap, filling foods like potatoes, it did include seven limes, because as any poor person will tell you, having a gold plated juicer is a waste of $4,700 if you don’t have anything to juice.

While self-awareness may not be her strong suit, she has self-assurance in spades. When the Grande Dame of Celebrity Lifestyle Blondes, Martha Stewart, dismissed her last year as a movie star who “just needs to be quiet”, she added “if she were confident in her acting, she wouldn’t be trying to be Martha Stewart.” Gwyneth’s retort (delivered from the podium at Fortune magazine’s Most Powerful Women Summit – touché) was that she was “psyched that Martha sees us as competition.”

In their subsequent battle, the weapon of choice has somewhat

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F E AT U R E

Eating like a poor person. Gwyneth tries, and fails.

fittingly been food, and Paltrow saw Stewart’s “Consciously Coupled” chocolate pie and raised her an anemic looking “Jailbird Cake” – a dig at the five months she spent in prison for insider trading. And when GOOP went on to hire a former CEO of Martha Stewart Living, it was a shot across the bows to let Martha know she wasn’t bowing out of the lifestyle arena anytime soon.

But as someone who has achieved fame and success off the back of her lifestyle brand, rather than the other way around, Martha has the upper hand. As the Queen of the Lifestyle Blondes, she now reigns over a kingdom of wannabes, all of whom are aiming to be the next GOOP, but none of whom would have the audacity to challenge Martha so directly.

Jessica Alba’s Honest brand has the mummy market cornered, while Lauren Conrad caters to the Millennials. We wait with baited breath to see what self-confessed design expert Ellen DeGeneres has in store with her E.D brand; and if Reese Witherspoon’s soon to launch Draper James project isn’t dripping with Southern Belle charm, we’ll eat our Kentucky Derby hats.

Celebrity lifestyle gurus are crawling out of the woodwork in Hollywood, and the newest blonde on the block will have you know that that woodwork was handcrafted from a 6,000-yearold Sequoia tree by an artisanal carpenter in Brooklyn. Because despite the competition, there’s only one woman truly rising to the challenge of going head to head with GOOP, and that’s Blake Lively.

Just as tall, just as blonde, and just as removed from reality, Lively announced last week that she rubs truffles on her nipples before breastfeeding to give her baby “a balanced palate from a young age, so she doesn’t only eat beige food” - and Gwyneth wept that she hadn’t thought of that first.

When she teased in 2013 that she was working on something that was “without a genre”, Lively told reporters “There’s nothing like it out there.” But when she launched her website, Preserve, it didn’t take a computer science degree to notice it very much had a genre – it was an online store, and in addition to its over-priced wares (personally “curated” by Blake, naturally), Preserve’s side order of quasi-spiritualistic lifestyle advice made it almost exactly like something else out there, and that something was GOOP, put through an Instagram filter.

“I’m no editor, no artisan, no expert,” Blake confessed in her editor’s letter, “And certainly no arbiter of what you should buy, wear, or eat.” And yet here is the website where she tells us what to buy, wear and eat, just like Paltrow, assuming we will pay hard earned cash to indulge her vanity.

Because ultimately that’s what celebrity lifestyle brands are - a perfect outlet for the narcissism of celebrities who think they’re just like us… only better.

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BEAUTY

Think Pink It’s all about pink this season… but not the baby pink of yester–spring. Just like the weather, summer’s take on pink is hotter, brighter and all we can think about. For maximum impact take your lead from Jessica Biel and play down the rest of your look so your pink really pops.

You’re not bossy, you’re the boss. The brand new SOSU nail polish range from uberblogger Suzanne Jackson features a strong, glossy gel finish without those harmful UV rays, and you’ll stand out from the crowd in the shocking pink Boss Bitch. €7.99 from leading pharmacies and Penneys.

Lancôme’s new Shine Lover is more than just a lipstick, it also moisturises, nourishes and beautifies lips all day long. Actress Lily Collins’ favourite shade is 340, French Sourire.

Oh là là! €26, Brown Thomas.

This hot pink fuchsia shade can be purchased as part of Inglot’s Freedom System, which allows the customer to create customised palettes with the colours and products they want. €6, Inglot, Mahon Point.

Love her or hate her, there’s no denying the gorgeousness of Miley Cyrus’ MAC Viva Glam Lipglass, with its supersexy hot pink hue and added feel-good factor - proceeds go to help the fight against HIV/ AIDS. €18.50, Brown Thomas.

Flushed with passion, or in love with YSL? Their Blush Volupte Rose Gold in Loulou gives a burst of cerise on the apples of the cheeks to mimic the natural blush of the first throes of love! €40, Boots.

Chanel and class go hand–in–hand, so it’s no surprise to see just how gorgeous the Chanel Ombre Essentielle Eyeshadow is in the raspberry pink shade of Exaltation. €28, Boots.

One of the prettiest pinks we’ve seen is Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Vintage lipstick in Fuchsia Pink. With SPF 15 — just turn the page to see how important that is — and a moisturising formula that saturates lips with intense colour for up to 6 hours, we’re sold. €33, Brown Thomas.

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BEAUTY

Protect the skin you’re in Summer is here, the time of year when protecting our skin from the sun’s harmful rays becomes even more important. Layering on sunscreen in the morning is ideal but not always practical, so consider these beauty buys with built–in SPF.

BB CREAM For a perfect beauty balm, Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream primes, perfects, hydrates, controls oils… and also has SPF 35. €34, Boots.

EYE CREAM Brighten, renew, and protect the delicate eye area with Murad’s Essential-C Eye Cream Broad Spectrum SPF CONCEALER 15, available from Tackle those under dark under– Therapie Clinic on eye circles with a concealing Opera Lane for €69. fixer like bareMinerals SPF 20 Correcting Concealer. €24, Brown Thomas.

FOUNDATION Cross a serum with foundation and you get the fabulous Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation. Offering key anti–ageing benefits, it covers up imperfections, and with SPF 40 — yes SPF 40! — it helps prevent future damage too. €49.50, Brown Thomas.

CC CREAM MAC Prep + Prime CC SPF 33 evens skin tone, increases luminosity and inhibits oily shine while protecting from harmful UVA/UVB rays. This moisturising primer also keeps skin fresh and hydrated throughout the day. What’s not to love? €31, Brown Thomas.

LIPSTICK Your lips need protecting too, and Clinique High Impact Lip Colour has SPF 15, and continually smooths and softens. We love this Red-y To Wear colour. €19.50, Boots.

DAY SCREEN The answer to all our prayers is Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Day Screen Multi-Protection SPF 50, must–have multi– protection for city living. Ultralight on the skin, it can be used after daily skincare and before make-up. €38, O’Sullivan’s Pharmacies, Wilton Shopping Centre and Grange.

Sunscreen jargon explained When it comes to sorting your SPF from your UPF, and the UVAs from UVBs, it doesn’t have to be confusing. SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, and the Irish Cancer Society recommends 15 or higher, every day. Sunscreens should have a UVA protection rating of high or very high. In terms of UV radiation, the sunlight

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that reaches us consist of two types: ultraviolet A (long–wave) and ultraviolet B (medium–wave) rays. The UVA rays play a major part in premature skin ageing while UVB rays cause sunburn.

Wide brimmed sun hats and sunglasses add an extra element of protection.

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F E AT U R E

the world at her feet As Cork-born actress Sarah Greene sits at the precipice of stardom, she talks to Carolyn Moore about her upcoming role in Penny Dreadful, being dressed by Anna Wintour, and the sacrifices she’s made to follow her dreams. hen Sarah Greene walks into the room, the first thing I notice is a huge “YES” badge pinned to the front of her Marc Jacobs handbag, and I instantly know I like her. Having found success through an admirable combination of talent, hard work and sheer determination, by all accounts she remains refreshingly down to earth in the midst of Tony Award nominations, Met Gala invitations and constant buzz about how she’s “the next big thing”. This month, she moves one step closer to what feels like inevitable stardom when she hits our screens playing Hecate Poole in season two of Penny Dreadful.

Aside from a few bit parts here and there, Penny Dreadful marks her first foray into television, and it’s a formidable starting point. Joining a prestige production with an all-star cast, Sarah plays the daughter of spiritualist Evelyn Poole - played with zeal by the legendary Helen McCrory, with whom Sarah shares both a theatrical background and a strong physical resemblance. “We’re really alike, yeah!” she laughs, explaining that when series creator John Logan told her she would be playing Helen McCrory’s daughter, “I said ‘Yes please! I will do that!’

I’m obsessed with Helen, she’s one of the most incredible actresses I’ve ever worked with.”

This perfect casting came about after John saw Sarah playing Helen McCormick on Broadway during her acclaimed run opposite Daniel Radcliffe in the Cripple of Inishmaan.

“He’s part of the same theatre company, so he’d seen me playing Helen, who’s this bold, brash little Irish girl, but he also wrote Gladiator and some of the Bond movies, so I was well aware of his work before that,” she says of the award winning screen writer.

“He writes incredible parts for women.

The two main characters in season two, representing this great battle between good and evil, are both female, so it was very empowering being on set.”

And for those not yet initiated into the

30

intricately drawn underworld of Penny Dreadful, season two sees Vanessa Ives (played by Eva Green) go head to head with Evelyn, who is described by McCrory as “vicious, aggressive, and highly sexually motivated.” And as Sarah tells it, the apple has not fallen far from the tree.

“Hecate was born into evil, she knows nothing else. In season one, we watched the central characters come together and form a kind of family relationship, and their common thread was that they were all struggling with their inner demons and fighting to be the best version of themselves, especially Vanessa.

“In season two you get to watch Evelyn and Hecate embracing that dark, evil within.

Hecate is blood thirsty, she enjoys the hunt.”

And it seems Sarah enjoyed being Hecate, although she acknowledges it was challenging. “I did go into kind of a dark place when I was doing it. I’m not method in any way, but I definitely think characters get into your psyche. You take on their energy.

“But with these characters, as massively fantastical and supernatural as the show is, they’re all real people. Hecate is very much of the supernatural world, but you see moments of humanity in her.”

As a denizen of the supernatural world, Hecate takes both a human form and a witch form – the costume for which brought its own challenges, particularly when it came to the physicality of the role. “When I’m in witch form I’m fully naked – well, not fully naked, I have fake silicone breasts and a silicone vagina” she laughs, “and I’ve got these green contacts in.

“I hit my back off the camera one day because I had the contact lenses in, and I didn’t realise it, I didn’t feel anything until I came home and saw I had a massive bruise going down the side of my back. You don’t feel it, because your adrenaline is pumping and that kind of takes over.

“It’s very like theatre. They say that being on stage is like being in a car crash, the rush of adrenaline you feel.”

The future is bright for Sarah Greene, the Cork born actress who stars in season two of Penny Dreadful.

Photo: Barry Cronin

F E AT U R E

Born into evil: In character as the bloodthirsty Hecate Poole in Sky’s Penny Dreadful.

That adrenaline is also addictive, so it’s no wonder she’s itching to tread the boards again. While we’ll see her next in the upcoming movie Adam Jones, with another all-star ensemble cast, Sarah admits she misses the theatre.

“Working on TV and film is fantastic, but it’s a very different medium,” she says. “Theatre has that instant high, that adrenaline and that immediateness with the audience. I miss it. It’s all I know really.”

It’s also all she’s ever wanted. “I went to see a pantomime in the Cork Opera House,” she recalls, “and I just said ‘Oh! That’s what I want to!’

“I was so lucky, my parents were always supportive. They felt they were lucky that I knew what I wanted to do, and that I was so focused. When my friends went off on summer holidays I worked.

This was my dream and they stood behind me. And hopefully I can look after them now.”

Being away from home is one of the drawbacks to the career she’s so passionately pursued, but having the opportunity film Penny Dreadful in Ireland meant she could see her parents and her sister regularly. Though following her dream to Broadway earned her a Tony Award nomination and “opened a lot of doors”, it also meant missing multiple weddings of family and friends. “You sacrifice a lot, I mean you cannot leave. You’re there, you’re doing eight shows a week, and you’ve only one day off.”

“I love my job but that is the hard bit about it. You’re away and you’re on your own a lot, but that’s the choice you’ve made.”

It’s a choice that, luckily, her boyfriend of four years, Aidan Turner, can relate

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to. The Irish actor is winning legions of new fans in his role as Poldark in the BBC drama, but Sarah just laughs when I ask if this is a cause for concern.

“Aidan’s fans are really loyal, they have been with him since the get go. I’m just delighted for him, and the second season is going ahead, so it’s very exciting.”

While her Penny Dreadful co-star, Josh

You sacrifice a lot, I mean you cannot leave. You’re there, you’re doing eight shows a week, and you’ve only one day off.

Hartnett, has been opening up about his struggle to come to terms with the “intensity of his sudden fame” when his star was ascending in the early 2000s, Sarah seems pragmatic about facing the pressures that fame could bring. “You have to just take it in your stride and take every day as it comes,” she reasons. “It gets a bit overwhelming and I do get quite scared of it. I’ve seen people lose themselves.

“But I’m a bit older. I think if it happens when you’re younger and you haven’t found yourself, and you don’t know who you are, it’s harder to see it for what it is. Working in film and TV, they’ll tell you everything you want to hear. ‘Protect the talent’ is something you hear a lot, no one says no to you. But I come from the theatre where you’ve to muck in.

“What’s scary to me is that people

No pain, no gain: Dressed by Anna Wintour, Sarah wears Thakoon to the Met Gala.

write whatever they want about you, people just make up stories.”

Citing the fact that “no one recognises me ever” as one of the benefits of being on the cusp of fame, she has nonetheless caught the eye of one very influential tastemaker. “Vogue are really kind to me, Anna especially,” she reveals, almost shyly, when I ask her about attending last year’s Met Gala, one of the most prestigious events on the fashion calendar.

“I was really well looked after,” she continues, “I was on my own and no one knew me, so I could kind of people watch, and the people watching there is pretty incredible!”

She’s typically unaffected when I compliment her on making Vogue’s Best Dressed list, telling me with a shrug “Well, Anna dressed me, so you’d hope!”

Ms. Wintour chose an elegant Thakoon gown, with diamonds borrowed for her

by Edmund O’Sullivan, a Kerryman who represents Harry Winston, among others. “He came up to the apartment with these earrings and I asked ‘How much are these?’ ‘You don’t want to know’ he said!” Collected by a security guard at 7am the next morning, she tells me she didn’t worry about losing them.

“They were so sore, I felt them all night long!”

Well, everyone has to suffer for fashion, I say, and Anna would have been proud!

“Exactly!” she replies. “No pain, no gain!” Parting words that I suspect could be this girl’s personal motto. Sarah Greene seems unstoppable.

Season 2 of Penny Dreadful begins on Sky Atlantic on Tuesday 5th of May. Catch up on season 1 now with Sky Box Sets.

SPECIAL

C OREPORT MPANY PROFILE

You’re never fully dressed without a smile...

“All my life I’ve wanted to smile.

Photographs over the years have told my story, a grin with my lips firmly pressed together, or a laugh with my hand covering my mouth. The reason for my perpetual embarrassment and lack of confidence? A gaping — and very visible — hole where one of my teeth used to be. It was the result of being unwittingly introduced to a friend’s fast–moving badminton racket at full force in my late teens, and the subsequent blemish left me hiding my teeth when I smiled, and being self-conscious at every conversation.

At least that was the case until I discovered Smile Store in Togher, which has helped me bring my smile, and my life, back on track. Introduced to the dental surgery through a friend who had amazing results from orthodontic treatment to straighten her teeth, I made the decision to quash any anxiety I had of sitting in a dental chair and contact Smile Store for an appointment. And I was left so reassured by the consultation with Dr Bence Kádár, and how he would use an implant to fix my smile. My other concern, the price, was also addressed, and the implant would cost just €749, compared to over €1,600 or so I was quoted from other dental surgeries. I knew at that stage Smile Store, with its professionalism and friendliness, were the right dentists for me.

with a local anaesthetic (Smile Store also offers sedation dentistry for nervous patients) by the oral surgeon specialist, and I didn’t feel a thing. Meanwhile, I was fitted with a temporary crown, while my permanent crown was being made, matched to the shade of my other teeth.

Soon after, my very natural looking metal-free crown — durable, easy to wear and long lasting — was put in place and that was the day my life changed. I’m just amazed by the transformation.

My new bright and even pearly whites are not just a physical change, but have also boosted my confidence, as I can speak, eat, laugh and smile without embarrassment.

Also, I now never miss a Facebook photo op with my husband and kids! My family and friends are amazed by the results, and even my 76–year–old father is thinking about getting his slipping dentures anchored in place with implants!

It might seem dramatic, but I can honestly say Smile Store has changed my life — giving me back the beautiful smile I once had.”

A dental implant, which is just a tiny titanium post, was gently inserted into my jaw to act as a tooth root replacement. I was assured beforehand that the jawbone and gums would all be thoroughly numbed

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H E A LT H

Oh, sugar The not–so–sweet truth about our food is the tasty white crystals it may contain. Maria Tracey explores “hidden” sugar, and talks to nutritionist Elsa Jones on how to say “goodbye” to sugar once and for all.

H

ow much sugar are you consuming?

It may seem like a straightforward question but in truth, must of us don’t know. Even those of us who shun Mars bars, or skip the sneaky teaspoon in a cup of Barry’s, could still be unknowingly consuming an extraordinary amount of sugar, since many of our favourite savoury foods, from cereals to pasta sauces; bread to soups are packed with the white stuff.

For example, one tablespoon of ketchup contains around one teaspoon of sugar, while a can of baked beans has two teaspoons.

A Yoplait strawberry yogurt has just under four teaspoons of sugar, while a 500ml bottle of Lucozade has eight, and even a Nutri-Grain Apple and Cinnamon cereal bar has two and a half.

To put this into perspective, new World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines recommend reducing our daily intake of free sugars to less than 10% of

our total energy intake. And a further reduction to below 5% - roughly 25 grams, or six teaspoons — per day would provide additional health benefits. A reduction, outlined Dr Francesco Branca, director of WHO’s Department of Nutrition for Health and Development, would reduce the risk of overweight, obesity and tooth decay.

However, with the food industry adding more and more sugar to food, making us unknowing sugar addicts, is a low sugar diet even feasible? According to nutritionist and author Elsa Jones, the answer is an emphatic ‘yes’, and her revolutionary new book, Goodbye Sugar, tackles both physical and emotional dependency on sugar. “The thing about sugar is the more you eat it, the more you crave it,” she says. “The less you eat, the less you crave.

“Nowadays sugar is really in everything, which keeps us physically hooked in many ways.”

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H E A LT H

A ‘diet yogurt’ will often contain significantly more sugar than natural full fat yogurt. Don’t be fooled into thinking ‘diet foods’ are always the healthy choice.

Elsa explains that even seemingly healthy low–fat and diet options can be laden with sugar. “When fat is removed from a food, it generally has to be replaced with something else in order to retain flavour,” she says.

“More often than not, fat is replaced by sugar and/or artificial sweeteners. So for example, a ‘diet yogurt’ will often contain significantly more sugar than natural full fat yogurt. Don’t be fooled into thinking ‘diet foods’ are always the healthy choice.”

The answer to tackling the hidden sugar in foods, says Elsa, is to simply stick to foods in their natural form as much as possible and be mindful of portion sizes.

However, she adds that for many wanting to quit the addictive substance, it’s not always so straightforward. She explains that sugar addiction isn’t just physical, it’s emotional, as the sugar rush picks us up when we feel we need it most, but the crash then wreaks havoc on our health. By adding Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) skills to her nutritional armoury, Elsa has developed a programme to help people understand the thoughts and feelings influencing how they eat. In Goodbye Sugar: Hello Weight Loss, Great Skin, More Energy and Improved Mood, she combines a nutritional plan and the psychological tools to beat sugar addiction — the missing ingredient lacking in other diet plans.

“From my experience dealing with people, sugar tends to be the most addictive, and it’s addictive in two ways — physically and emotionally,” explains Elsa. “We use it to comfort, and when we are feeling tired, stressed or down.

We use it as a reward after a tough day or week, or to celebrate with. Bottom line, we need to break that attachment.”

There is a need, she says, to go “cold

36

turkey” at the start to break any physical dependency, before introducing a more sustainable low–sugar lifestyle (Elsa admits she’s a self-confessed foodie, and is not into a deprivation approach to eating, just one that’s moderate and balanced). A 10–day sugar detox recalibrates the system, balancing out blood sugars, and helping reset taste buds. Then it’s on to a maintenance plan — a perfectly balanced eating programme which is really an eating guide for life, and for a low–sugar lifestyle.

Addressing the psychological side to sugar addiction, she states that a great starting point is to grab a notebook and a pen, and keep a food mood journal. “That’s how you can identify your personal triggers,” she explains.

“Every time you eat an unhealthy food

— let’s say biscuits or chocolate — or have a craving, think back to what may have triggered the urge for you. You can usually identify a specific event or thought that may have kicked–off that emotional eating cycle.

“Write it down and over a week, you begin to see patterns emerge.

Knowledge is power — having that awareness of what your triggers are. For some people it’s stress, for others it’s certain places like the cinema; or certain days of the week.

“For others, it’s simply lack of planning and not having the right things around them. Once you know what your weak points are, then you’re in a position to put a plan in place. It’s simple, but revelational stuff. I’ve had so many people tell me it was their ‘eureka moment’.”

Once the triggers are known then it’s about finding alternative coping mechanisms that don’t involve food.

“So you are not relying on food to change the way you feel or make you feel better,” states Elsa. “If a person’s goal is to actually break the habit altogether, they could replace that biscuit with a bath, or going for a walk.

It’s about finding what works for you, and mixing and matching. There is no one size fits all.”

Elsa adds that the benefits of cutting back on sugar aren’t just limited to weight loss, but skin and sleep patterns will also improve, while energy levels, concentration, and mood are boosted. “The effects can actually be far reaching, and once you actually go through it and feel the benefits, then it’s a kind of a no–brainer,” she smiles.

Goodbye Sugar by Elsa Jones is out now, published

by Gill & McMillan.

According to Elsa it is virtually impossible to find a tasty granola that is genuinely sugar free. Most brands you’ll find on supermarket shelves contain the equivalent of 3 teaspoons of sugar per serving, which is a lot. Even a lot of seemingly ‘healthy’ granola recipes contain lots of sugar in the form of dried fruit, honey or sugar substitutes. The protein, fibre and essential fats in Elsa’s granola recipe will stave off sugar cravings and supercharge your energy levels at any time of the day. It works really well paired with natural yoghurt and fresh berries for breakfast or as a comforting snack to help ward off an afternoon slump.

Ingredients

Makes approx. 12 servings ¼ cup coconut oil 1 cup oats 1 cup sunflower seeds 1 cup pumpkin seeds 1 cup chopped almonds (you can chop them in a food processor or use a knife) ½ cup ground flaxseed 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla extract (I use both) pinch of sea salt

Method

1 Preheat the oven to 190°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper or grease lightly with coconut oil.

2 Melt the coconut oil in a small saucepan and set aside.

3 Place all of the remaining ingredients in a large bowl and mix together. Make a well in the middle and add the melted coconut oil. Mix thoroughly until everything is lightly coated with the oil.

4 Divide the granola evenly between the two trays and spread out in a thin layer. Bake in the oven for about 15 minutes, until lightly toasted and golden.

Stir halfway through to avoid burning.

5 Allow to cool, then store in an airtight container for up to 1 month.

6 Serve with milk or natural yoghurt. It’s also delicious served with fresh berries, grated apple or sliced pear.

tip Take care not to overcook as these ingredients burn easily and will taste bitter if cooked too long.

I find the baking tray that’s placed on the lower shelf of the oven cooks a little quicker than the one on the upper shelf, so I take it out a couple of minutes earlier. You might need to do the same.

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In vi

Genuinely SugarFree Granola

sa si lig nc n e Ce 20 rt 06 ifie d

H E A LT H

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homes

In the spotlight Once reserved for the home office and the kids’ study area, the humble but practical spotlight has been getting a style overhaul of late, making it worthy of anywhere from an elegant bedside table to a stylish reading nook.

Wherever you need to shine a light, there’s a beautifully and cleverly designed spotlight that will work with the aesthetic of your room and leave those old-fashioned desk lamps in the shade.

See the Light

Hybrid Task in wood and frosted glass, €109, Marks and Spencer

Curved brass and ceramic Jazz lamp, €205, Boulevard Interiors, Douglas.

Minimalist “Z” table lamp, €29.95, Harvey Norman.

At Lightplan we have an unrivalled expertise in lighting design for home and commericial projects.

We offer a complimentary design consultation, arrange yours today.

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38

To West Cork

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Copper and brass Strand lamp designed by architect Andrew Clancy, €450, cadesign.ie

HFOOM OEDS 2. WAaf Lamp in oak and aluminium, €199, miramira.ie

Celebrating

30 YEARS IN BUSINESS

Black wood and copper angled table lamp, €105, aprilandthebear. com

Charleston copper adjustable table lamp, €161.50, Lightplan, Kinsale Rd. Industrial Estate

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Arki contemporary anglepoise table lamp, €139, Light Complete Lighting Solutions, Douglas.

Merle Scandinavian inspired lamp with adjustable shade slats, €115, Caseys, Oliver Plunkett St.

South City Link, Cork Tel: 021-4310000 • Fax: 021-4310003 Email: info@obcork.ie • www.obcork.ie 39

HOMES

Flip sofa bed, €389, DFS, Mahon Point

Green ceramic owl oil-burner, €13.50, Mustard, Academy St.

Angle pouf in apple green fabric, €79.95, Meadows and Byrne

That 70s Home Round gathered button cushion, €25, Marks and Spencer

When Mad Men first hit our screens, the cult show about a stylish set of New York advertising executives was set in 1960, and its keen attention to the design details of the period was responsible for a revival of interest in vintage and mid-century furnishings.

As the final episodes air over the coming weeks, we find Don Draper and Co. in 1970, and it’s no coincidence that interior style is now looking to that decade for inspiration. If that calls up memories of garish colour schemes and shag pile carpets, rest assured that it’s possible to revisit the era in a thoroughly tasteful way.

Bloom wood and tinted ploycarbonate chair by Calligaris, from a selection at Kube Kitchens, Kinsale Rd.

Buttoned leather Global easy chair with polished chrome frame, €1135, Caseys, Oliver Plunkett St.

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Contrast cool chrome and warm wood tones – Curve walnut coffee table, €597, from Caseys Furniture

HOMES

Sheesham laminate and wood table, €130, Style 25 Interiors, Douglas. style25interiors.com

Tempered glass and solid beech Tokyo dining table

by Calligaris, €993, Caseys, Oliver Plunkett St.

A modern classic - Orla Kiely classic Stem print looks to the 70s for inspiration. Pillow cases €37.95, duvet covers from €94.95, Kilkenny stores

Chrome Arc floor light with thermoplastic shade, €244.80, Lightplan, Kinsale Rd. Industrial Estate Harlequin Bubble rug

by Asiatic, from €51, rugs.ie, St. Patrick’s Woolen Mills, Douglas

A contemporary look with a retro feel – The Baxter range from Casey’s Furniture mixes curved lines and playful angles in an oiled oak finish.

The three section sideboard is €829

Geometric felt coasters by Alljoy Design, €8 for set of four, jamartprints.com

Sputnik polished teak and aluminium wall clock, €95, Marks and Spencer

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HOMES

Fine and Dandy Charming and colourful, the home of Pete Duggan and Sara Taylor perfectly reflects their personalities. Maria Tracey explores their intriguing St Lukes abode and discovers an eclectic and quirky treasure trove.

Photographs by Miki Barlok

Pete Duggan and Sara Taylor have perfectly treaded that fine line between clutter and clarity in their St Lukes home.

I

t was love at first sight when Pete Duggan and Sara Taylor found their end–of–terrace home in St Lukes, with impressive views of the towering R&H Hall and iconic red–bricked Odlums Mill. “It suited our style,” explains Pete. “We lived in London for years so when we saw this, we both thought ‘yeah, this is like a London house’ — small and quirky.”

This quirkiness is intrinsic in the couple’s vision, with Pete and Sara being the creative minds behind the eclectic Dandy & Libertine at the Cork Vintage Quarter on Henry Street. Just like their store, their home is bursting with unique gems, from Child of Prague statues to taxidermy; from Babycham

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to Lou Shabner. Their imaginative style — influenced by time spent in Camden; artists Vladimir Tretchikoff and JH Lynch; and the music of the 50s, 60s and 70s — is reflected in their assorted mix of pieces, as the couple perfectly tread that fine line between clutter and clarity.

The acute eye for detail comes from Pete, who is also the creative director behind Dandy & Libertine Design, a bespoke design consultancy service.

“I’m the same with a design job, if it’s not sitting right with me, I have to completely redo it,” he says. “The different styles have to be grouped together or else it just looks like a jumble.” This means that dotted

throughout the house are little galleryesque moments, with one dining room alcove dedicated to “kitsch” pictures, and rows of quirky collectibles, from miniature Snoopys to leprechauns; deer figurines to poodles.

Progress through the open–plan living and dining room, and the considered vision and attention–to–detail continues, with one section of the wall proudly featuring the sultry prints of Lou Shabner, while opposite, the late Russian émigré Vladimir Tretchikoff takes pride of place, with a signed print of his striking Lady From Orient.

The hallway offers space for artwork featuring legends such as Elvis Presley, AC/DC, and Rod Stewart — complete

HOMES

The hallway hails legends such as Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, and Rod Stewart — and comes complete with a disco mirror ball.

A cosy outdoor nook is adorned with twinkling fairy lights.

Religious iconography dominates the landing space.

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HOMES with a disco mirror ball — which is juxtaposed by the upstairs landing, where a shrine to religious iconography dominates the space, with floor–to– ceiling framed pictures and a small altar of statues of the Sacred Heart and Virgin Mary.

This treasure trove of fabulous finds is big, bold and brave, and is so cleverly put together it creates a truly functioning family home for the couple; their children Ciara (15), Callum (14), Saoirse (8), Peadair (6) and Kitty-May

(4); and their rescue dog, Lulu. “The kids are well use to it now, eating breakfast with a stag or gazelle’s head in the middle of the table,” laughs Pete. “You do sometimes forget that when they bring their friends over, other homes might not be quite the same as ours, so perhaps a taxidermy dog looking glamorous in a fur is a bit different!”

Pete and Sara’s passion for sourcing such unique objects began in the epicentre of London’s alternative scene,

Camden Market. The couple — Cork native Pete moved to England at the age of 12, while Sara is originally from the UK — met in the iconic The Good Mixer, and subsequently set up a stall selling “everything”, before Pete started working with the big design agencies in London. Fast forward a number of years, and a permanent move to Cork, they decided that with their ever– accumulating diverse haul, they needed to open a shop. “We only buy what we like,” enthuses Sara. “Anything we

Artwork is a strong feature throughout the family home.

The dining room houses rows of quirky collectibles, like these deer figurines.

Various styles and mediums of artwork are strategically mixed throughout the home.

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HOMES bring though the door is something I really want to keep… but I can’t keep everything.”

However, Sara does admit that when it comes to holy statues, she has a tendency to bring them home. In their 140–year–old house, statues can be found in the cosy outdoor nook, which is also adorned with twinkling fairy lights; and in the landing, sitting atop the aforementioned altar that once belonged to the owner of the Central Furniture Store on Cornmarket Street.

“Can we stress that we are not Christian fundamentalists,” laughs Pete, explaining that items like Scared Heart statues and Virgin Mary pictures are hugely collectable in the UK. “We searched in London for years for a Mary statue and no luck,” says Sara, “but when we moved to Cork, we found so many. We always say, ‘whatever you believe in, the statues didn’t do anything’.

“Apparently a lot of attics in Cork have lots of statues. We get big burly builders coming in, asking if we want them, as they don’t want to throw them away.”

Although very similar in their style, there is one interior design element the couple do not wholly agree upon — the kitsch section. “That space is actually my doing,” smiles Sara. “Pete is not a

lover. I adore the faces on the pictures, and two of them are actually from my nan and grandad’s house, so they have happy memories. My daughter thought she was getting them in her bedroom, so was a bit disappointed when they went up in the dining room. I do have more for her, as I can’t put up any more here. I got away with what I did put up… I’m not going to get away with any more!”

Sara pauses, her eyes sweeping across the elaborately adorned walls. “If only everything could talk,” she muses, before adding with a smile. “Although I might look a bit mad talking to pictures.”

Shop Dandy and Libertine at the Cork Vintage Quarter on Henry Street or enquire about their bespoke design services at dandyandlibertine.com

Rescue dog, Lulu relaxes on the day bed, with a signed print of Vladimir Tretchikoff’s Lady From Orient in the backdrop.

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HOMES

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Whether yours is a green haven or a small urban sanctuary, you can make the most of sunny days and balmy evenings by transforming your garden into the perfect “extra room” for dining, socialising and relaxing.

Treat yourself and your guests to the same level of comfort and style you’d enjoy in your home, keep it cosy with a fire and some rugs, and you’ll never want to go indoors.

Birdsong enamel and stainless steel camping sets, €28 per set, from Kinsale-based darlingviolets.com Antique floral drinks dispenser, €24, Marks & Spencer

Set of three solar powered lanterns, €22, Next

La Hacienda Moda Enamel firepit in orange, €122, littlewoodsireland.ie

Foxford mohair check throw, €99.95, Kilkenny stores

Texas dining set, €999, Ballyseedy Home & Garden, Fota Retail Park

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FOOD

N

ot content with being really, really, ridiculously good looking, top Irish model Samuel Homan – whose handsome face has graced billboards from New York to Seoul, countless magazine spreads, and hundreds of windows of McDonalds – is fast becoming one to watch in cooking circles too.

While he put his culinary

training on hold to take full advantage of the opportunites that have come his way, Samuel never lost his love for creating delectible dishes.

These decadent desserts taste like summer on a spoon, and are ideal to bring to or serve at a summer gathering.

Find lots more recipes from Samuel at samuelhoman5.wordpress.com

Photos: Evan Doherty

Lemon Mixed Berry Pie Ingredients Pastry: • 1 ½ cups of flour • 2 tbsp sugar • ½ tsp salt • ½ cup of butter • ¼ cup of cold water Filling: • 3 lemons (juiced) • 1 zest of lemon • 1 can of condensed milk • 3 eggs

Method

1 Mix the flour, sugar, salt and butter together.

2. Add in the cold water and combine to make a ball of dough that comes away from the sides of the bowl.

3. Wrap the ball of dough in cling film and place in the fridge for half an hour.

4. Once chilled, remove from

50

the fridge and turn out onto a floured surface.

5. Roll the dough into the shape you desire to fit the greased dish.

6. Place the dough into the greased dish, ensuring you cover the base and sides.

Poke a few holes in the bottom with a fork.

7. Place a piece of grease proof paper on top of the pastry, covering the base and sides, and pour baking beads, dried beans or rice in on top of the paper to keep the dough from rising in the oven.

8. Place in a warm oven at 1800C for 15- 20 minutes, until the crust is hardened.

9. Remove the weighted grease proof paper and place back into the oven for a further 5 minutes to ensure the base is cooked.

10. Once cooked, remove from oven and allow to cool.

White Chocolate Cardamom Mousse

This is a versatile base that can be used for a variety of different tarts, pies, and desserts, but to make the lemon and mixed berry pie:

Ingredients • 2 cups of double cream • 10 pods of cardamom (crushed) • 1 cup of white chocolate

1. Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mixing well until thickened.

2. Pour the mixture into the cooled pie crust and place in a warm oven at 1800C for 20 -30 minutes, until firm but soft.

3. Remove from the oven and allow to cool. Once cooled, place in the fridge for 4 hours minimum, but ideally overnight.

4. Before serving chop strawberries and mix them with a selection of berries of your choice to cover the top of the pie.

1 Add the cream and crushed cardamom to a sauce pan and bring to a boil, then take off the heat and allow to infuse for 15 minutes.

2 Melt the white chocolate using a Bain Marie.

3. Sift the infused cream into a mixing bowl and beat to thicken.

4 Once thickened stir in the melted chocolate.

5. Pour into individual glasses and allow to cool completely.

6 Once completely cooled, place in the fridge for 4 hours to set.

7 Grated white chocolate and lavender makes a great optional garnish.

FOOD

An Al Fresco Affair There’s no denying that April’s spring sunshine has whetted our appetite for more. Now with May upon us it’s time to take advantage of relaxed al fresco dining options in Cork.

U

ndoubtedly, when you think of outdoor dining Leeside, perhaps indulging in something delectable like a full dozen of oysters, then Greenes Restaurant (48 MacCurtain Street), with its outdoor space designed around the courtyard waterfall, immediately springs to mind.

Moving inwards, one of the city’s newest outdoor dining joints is The Courtyard on Sober Lane at The Flying Enterprise Complex, with a large veranda, and delights such as Cajun chicken and chorizo stone–baked pizzas. Other city locations offering great on–street options for the perfect place to people watch while sipping a glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc include The Cornstore and Bodega on Cornmarket Street, while the Huguenot Quarter is bustling with

quaint outdoor spaces such as CoqBull, Huguenot French Bistro, Pana at The Pav, Restaurant 14A, and Amicus.

If you fancy turning your urban streetscape to an Atlantic view, pop down to Myrtleville–based Bunnyconnellan — affectionately known as Bunny’s — which boasts stunning views of Cork Harbour and offers a birds–eye view of Roche’s Point, but book ahead to avoid disappointment. Travel west, and the Blue Haven has its outdoor sun trap patio, while Glandore is home to Hayes’ Bar, with unrivalled and spectacular views overlooking the harbour.

With Cork renowned as the culinary capital of Ireland, we can be rightly smug that when the sun shines on our waterfront eateries and bustling street patios, there truly is no better place to dine.

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F A M I LY Stories from the front line:

by Aisling Ozdemir

Won’t Somebody Think of the Children

I

’ve always loved referendums.

Elections can be confusing and, let’s face it, a little boring. Referendums tend to get people animated, and heated debates can be overheard in the workplace, the home and the pub. May 22nd is no exception. We’re being asked to vote on marriage equality, and as the date approaches things are heating up. It feels to me like a fight between the insular Ireland of old and a modern Ireland, open to different beliefs and lifestyles.

The No side have tried to blur what should be a clear cut decision about marriage equality, and in making their argument about children they’ve gone for the human jugular. If it wasn’t such a serious matter their posters would be funny in a “down with this sort of thing” kind of way. With their slogans, “Children deserve a mother and a father” and “Surrogacy? She needs her mother for life”, they have managed to alienate a vast number of people outside the LGBT community - single and widowed parents, their families, and others.

I’m doing my best to raise my kids to be as open-minded as they can be. I want them to grow up in a world where they are accepted and loved. They have each had a shaky start. My 7-year-old has Asperger’s. He struggles socially and I worry for his future relationships. I have never worried about the sex of his future partners, to me that is irrelevant. My only concern is that someone will find him as amazing and hilarious as I do.

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My middle boy has a heart condition, and I worry for his future health. I don’t worry about his love life. He will be loved wholly and completely, two minutes in his company and anyone would fall for him.

My baby boy had major surgery at age two for craniosynostosis. He was born with a metopic ridge down the centre of his forehead that gave him an unusual look. Faced with the difficult decision to proceed with major cranial surgery for what were primarily cosmetic reasons, we did it for him, because life can be hard and cruel and we wanted him to feel acceptance and not to be judged by his appearance.

Your life changes forever when you have kids. You become almost primal in your desire to protect these little beings.

To flourish, they need someone batting for them, and to feel pure love. There are many parents out there doing this alone and I take my hat off to them.

With two parents you have support, some time to yourself, and all the good bits a relationship brings.

The sex of that other person has no bearing whatsoever. Someone to teach them ball? My husband doesn’t play sports and the boys aren’t interested anyway. Would two men raising a daughter have difficulty preparing her for periods? My mum didn’t have a notion about biology and my Dad explained it to me, factually and without awkwardness.

Raising boys I’m careful to keep the lines of communication open. I have a

worry book I use each night with Conall, in which we draw and discuss anything making him anxious. At bedtime I lie beside each one of them and tell them to feel free to tell me anything. I would be heartbroken if they felt they had to hide some part of themselves from me - after all, statistically young men are more prone to suffering from mental health issues that end tragically, and I worry about that too.

Boys are taught to be self-contained and can become emotionally stunted as they get older. They need to know they can disclose anything and we won’t love them any less. Well almost anything - I could accept them telling me they’re gay, bi, transgender, anything but a priest. That I might struggle with.

We are told by the no side to “think of the children”, and indeed we must.

We must think of our own kids and the kind of world we want to raise them in.

We must think of the children growing up in Ireland right now, and realising they might be gay. What will a no vote say to them? That they are less than their straight peers? We always tell our children they can be anything they want to be*. Do we want to put a small disclaimer at the bottom of that lovely sentiment? (*As long as you’re not gay and wanting equal rights.)

So, I urge you, DO think of the children and vote YES; yes to equality, yes to love and yes to being anything you want to be!

Aisling blogs at fazedandconfused.com

F E AT U R E

Social Welfare As RTÉ’s Prime Time revealed in December that thousands of photos of Irish teenage girls were finding their way onto hard core pornography sites, it’s becoming increasingly clear that our children are more vulnerable online than anywhere else. Carolyn Moore talks to Colman Noctor about teaching kids the Cop On required to survive and thrive in the digital age.

I

t’s 5pm. Do you know where your kids are? A quick glance up from these pages might answer that question. Your kids are sitting at the kitchen table, one’s on the laptop, the other’s playing with the tablet. But your kids are online, and so I ask again, it’s 5pm, do you know where your kids are?

There’s almost no decision a parent can make these days that isn’t the subject of heated debate. From attachment parenting to vaccinations; co-sleeping to sleep training, how other people choose to raise their children is frequently a hot topic, and so it is with kids and technology. Screen time. Internet access. Social media - a phenomenon so new that even as adults we’re struggling to get our heads around what it is, what its implications are, and for all the time we spend on it, what it’s actually contributing to our lives.

For many people, social media comes down to connection, and the idea that we’re more connected to each other than ever before because of it. And it’s true that for people living apart from their families and friends, it’s never been easier to maintain that connection to home. They needn’t miss out on a niece or nephew growing up because they can see their photos on Facebook every day, and a comment here or a

54

casual Messenger chat there keeps the lines of communication open, instantly and in real time.

But with the Internet, those open channels of communication run both ways. We can reach out to people with greater ease than ever, but equally people can reach us – and our children – with just as little effort. While it

We wouldn’t let our children loose in a large city unaided by maps, directions or support, so why do we feel it’s ok to allow them to ramble unsupervised in a virtual city? can seem that children are growing up more sheltered and protected than ever, with supervised play-dates and lifts to and from the school gate, child psychotherapist Colman Noctor cautions that “It’s naïve to feel that just because a child is within the four walls of your house they are safe. There are many threats that online access can pose, and often this technology permits intruders virtually into our homes.

“Our physical communities have never been smaller but our virtual communities have never been larger.

F E AT U R E This means,” he says, “that children are now ‘hanging out’ online. This is mostly a completely unsupervised space and that’s often problematic.”

And not only do we allow them the freedom to explore this online world themselves, often we create the first digital footprints of that journey for them by sharing elements of their lives online. And therein lies the cause for debate. With technology like social media still in its infancy, can we trust our kids with it? Or, more to the point, can we trust it with our kids?

This is one of many questions relating to children and technology that Colman Noctor seeks to address in his new book, Cop On. Describing this quintessentially Irish trait as “the ability to be rational, resilient and sensible, with the grit and good judgment to cope with life’s challenges”, Colman worries that our children may be ill-equipped to deal with the technological advances that are constantly redefining their worlds.

“Young people display a great digital savvy when it comes to technical competence, but an obvious digital naivety when it comes to emotional intelligence,” he explains. And we’ve all seen the three-year-old who swipes on their mother’s phone, enters the passcode, and adeptly navigates their way to the app they want to use, but just because they can doesn’t mean they should.

“The internet is a portal to an outside world that is like any city,” says Colman. “There are wonderful aspects of it in terms of museums and safe play areas, but there are also seedy red light districts that are dangerous.

“We wouldn’t let our children loose in a large city unaided by maps, directions or support, so why do we feel it’s ok to

Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist Colman Noctor believes that it is essential that we foster cop on in our children.

The Internet is about gathering information about all of us and this is now becoming more personal.

Facebook used to ask ‘where are you?’ but now it asks ‘how are you feeling? allow them to ramble unsupervised in a virtual city?” he wonders.

But when it comes to guiding them through this digital landscape, where do we even start? “Adults too are only finding their feet when it comes to technology,” he acknowledges, adding that our own forays into the social media arena are still at a very experimental stage.

Profiling, information harvesting, and targeted advertising - these are all practices we know that social media sites engage in, and yet we feel comfortable sharing our lives on

sites that profit from our personal information, and offering up our children’s information to be archived in a digital footprint that can never be erased.

“We need to be incredibly mindful of what we post online, about ourselves and others,” says Colman. “All of the information we post, no matter how innocuous, can be used against us for other means.

“The Internet is about gathering information about all of us and this is now becoming more personal.

Facebook used to ask ‘where are you?’ but now it asks ‘how are you feeling?’. This progression is about making the interaction more revealing and interesting, but it’s also more intrusive.”

Because the more these sites know about us, the more valuable we become to them, and they seek to overcome any natural reticence on our part by engaging with us on an emotional level. It’s a tactic that even some adults find hard to resist, so it’s no wonder we have increasing concerns about our children’s ability to establish safe boundaries in their social media use.

“Over sharing has become a societal phenomenon,” Colman explains. “It seems that people are more interested now in capturing an experience than experiencing it.

And this is true for adults and children alike. “You can observe it at a music concert where concert goers watch the performance through a 5 inch screen,” says Colman, “and sharing the fact that they’re there seems more important than actually being there.”

Which can also be true of how we engage with our children, with the comedian Louis CK noting wryly that

To share or not to share? ““We need to be incredibly mindful of what we post online.”

55

F E AT U R E if parents took a moment to stop documenting their children’s lives on their mobile phones, taking in every milestone via that little screen, they’d be amazed by the resolution of their actual child - “It’s totally H.D!” It’s an area where Colman feels we need to be leading by example.

“Cop on is a twofold dynamic, and as parents we need to show a degree of cop on when it comes to these things if we are expecting the same from our children.

“We need to not be answering emails over breakfast or tweeting while we push our child on a swing,” he cautions.

“This behavior does not encourage a sensible relationship with technology for our children.”

“I would advise all families to have ‘sacred spaces’, like meal times, after 10pm and during family movie nights,” he continues. “These become house rules, but must apply to ALL family members.”

So when it comes to that divisive issue of “screen time”, which many parents have come to rely on for an occasional reprieve, and others find unconscionable, the answer seems to be a sensible combination of ‘everything in moderation’ and ‘teach by example.’

“Develop a media management culture at home akin to the way you manage treats and ‘junk food’,” Colman advises.

Screen time - just because they can doesn’t mean they should.

“Structure the screen time the way you structure the use of treats.

“Consider screen time the ‘junk food’ of communication - fine in moderation but only as a compliment to face-toface communication and never as a supplement to it. Once a staple diet of face-to-face communication has occurred, then short periods of screen time can be had.

And once you’ve established these ground rules, it’s vital to watch for signs your child is safely navigating that digital universe.

“Parents need to begin with tight supervision over their children’s digital worlds, with a gradual weaning as they see the child display sensible decision making and cop on.

“Mediate the amount of screen time in relation to the child’s ‘relationship’ with technology,” he continues. “The child who displays pseudo addictive

traits when the device is removed or shows a dependency on the technology may need a closer eye on their tech time.”

Ultimately, just as it is true in the real world, your child’s safety in the virtual world will depend on their ability to cope with the issues that come their way and make smart decisions, because as Colman notes, “when your child gets an opportunity to do something online that they shouldn’t, chances are you won’t be there.

“Cop on is not new, and the strategies to develop it are not new either. Time, structure, relationships and open conversations are crucial to develop and learn how to value important things and not get caught up in the superficial distractions of modern day life.

“The online world is all our children know. But they’ve arrived in the middle of a conversation and it is up to us as adults and parents to inform them as to what has gone before.”

That may mean developing a healthy dose of cop on ourselves, which, all things considered, might not be such a bad idea.

Cop On is published by Gill & McMillan and is available now from bookshops nationwide and amazon.com

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C U LT U R E

What’s the

FUNNY GIRL If you love Moone Boy, then you’ll love what’s coming up at City Limits Comedy Club. Comedian Deirdre O’Kane, who stars in the hit TV show, is going back to her stand–up roots Leeside on Saturday, May 23rd, after totting up a number of recent noteworthy TV and film roles.

She starred as children’s rights activist Christina Noble in Noble, and will soon be performing in a new comedy based on the Garth Brooks’ Croke Park fiasco.

Doors are at 9pm and admission is €18.

plan?

Fancy a night out? Stuck on ideas?

Here’s your guide of what’s going on...

HAIL THE KING Mercury nominee, King Creosote is one folk singer that has to be experienced. The Scottish artist has more than 40 albums, including the Mercury–nominated Diamond Mine with Jon Hopkins. The latest project by King Creosote (aka Kenny Anderson) is the beautifully crafted From Scotland With Love, created in collaboration with director Virginia Heath as an audioaccompaniment to a documentary film of the same name.

Experience King Creosote at the Half Moon Theatre on Monday, May 18th with doors at 8.30pm. Tickets are €15, see corkoperahouse.ie.

THE OUTDOORS INDOORS Riding a mountain bike on a deathdefying ridge; journeying through the world’s largest sand desert with just a steel cart filled with supplies; and paragliding over the most visually spectacular areas in Europe. Such exhilarating adventures may seem out of reach for many of us, but with the Banff Mountain Film Festival, the public can be transported through the big screen to follow the expeditions of some of today’s most incredible adventurers. The Festival is at The Everyman on Sunday, May 24th at 7pm and tickets are €14.

Elbert Hubbard & BJ Palmer

by J.B Hostetler courtesy of the Davenport Public Library

LUSITANIA REMEMBERED One hundred years ago this month, the Lusitania was torpedoed by a German U-boat off Cork. Over a thousand people died on May 7th, 1915, and some of those names now appear in an exhibition at the Sirius Arts Centre, Cobh. Included is writer Elbert Hubbard and his wife, American feminist Alice Hubbard, along with Cork–born Sir Hugh Lane, director of the National Gallery of Ireland. The exhibition is a text-based installation by Sheila Mannix, sound installation by Danny McCarthy and borrowed works from the Crawford Art Gallery.

MAY Films FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD Based on the Thomas Hardy classic, this beautifully shot period drama stars Carey Mulligan as the independent, beautiful and headstrong Bathsheba Everdene. Finding herself pursued by three very different suitors - a sheep farmer, a reckless army Sergeant, and a prosperous but mature bachelor – the film tells the timeless tale of Bathsheba’s choices and passions, exploring the nature of love and the ability to overcome hardship through resilience and perseverance.

Opens May 1st, 20th Century Fox.

A ROYAL NIGHT OUT On V.E. Day in 1945, as peace was celebrated across Europe, the now Queen Elizabeth and her sister Margaret were allowed out to join the celebrations. A fictionalised account of their adventure among their subjects, the film imagines a night of excitement, danger and some flutters of romance between Elizabeth and a soldier played by Irish actor Jack Raynor. With Sarah Gadon as Elizabeth, this one is for fans of frivolous fun and gorgeous vintage style. Opens May 15th, Lionsgate.

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BFOOOOKDS

Access All Areas

here is something magical about the stage — the enthralling sets, spirited choreography, and elaborate costumes that allow the audience to flee briefly from reality.

However, those two hours of escapism come without any knowledge of what happens backstage — that bustling, chaotic, intense and emotional space that is its own performance in a sense.

This intimate and rarely seen world has now been unveiled through a new hardback by Cork photographer Miki Barlok, aptly titled Backstage Pass. He explains how he has always been drawn to the “life behind the curtain”, the creation of something from scratch, the raw energy that goes hand–in–hand with the backstage space, and the duality between the real and the unreal.

“People never see the three months of work that goes into getting a show to the stage,” he explains. “There’s the building of the set, making the costumes, rehearsals and so much more. So much work goes into two hours of performance and I wanted to capture that.

“I wanted to show what goes into a show, that there are so many things happening that you don’t see. I could have got all the shots in one show but I

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Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes of a show? With exclusive access to the Cork Opera House, photographer Miki Barlok has put together a collection of portraits in his new book Backstage Pass.

wanted to become invisible, part of the wall.”

With an access–all–areas pass from the Cork Opera House, over the course of a year Miki photographed the before, during and aftermath of four large–scale shows produced by the venue — Grease, Aladdin, Hairspray and Sleeping Beauty, capturing forever both the seen and unseen. “I observed raw duality, and the contrast between stage and backstage,” he outlines. “I began to feel like an audience member seeing it all through the looking glass, a story playing out in front of me, and a spectacle that everyone became part of.” This “story” is translated in Backstage Pass, as rather than separating the four productions up, the chapters glide in sequence from the first days on set to the actors’ metamorphosis; from the almost ‘foster family’ vibe to the eerie calm before showtime. The actual performances themselves, seen from behind the curtain, also feature along with the quietness of the end, when everyone and everything disbands.

“What is interesting about theatre, is its double life,” says Miki. “There is something happening on–stage, and off–stage; and the actor and their character exist at the same time. It’s very surreal thing but that’s what I like.

“I started the project with a vision and it wasn’t random pictures I was taking.

I wanted to capture the essence of backstage so when I was taking pictures, I was looking at how to capture that, and say something with every frame.”

Flicking through the 196–pages of the elegant coffee table book, every sheet reveals a powerful gem. Shot entirely in black and white, the photographs range from the humorous with the transformation of Game of Thrones’ Ciaran Bermingham into the larger– than–life Edna Turnblad in Hairspray; to the poignant, with acclaimed musical director Bryan Flynn, who passed away last May, featuring in the book. There are also shots of backstage high jinks, unguarded intimate moments, nervous anticipation, and emotional ends.

Miki admits it was a “privilege” being granted the freedom to capture backstage life in one of the country’s premier entertainment venues, which celebrates its 160th anniversary this year. “Cork Opera House gave me freedom to make this happen, the time and trust to become part of the world behind the venue,” he says.

Backstage Pass is out now, priced €25, and available from the box office at the Cork Opera House.

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T R AV E L

Golden San Francisco

There’s something undeniably special about San Francisco. Having just moved there, Like reader Andrea Toohey is discovering a gem of a city filled with culture, breathtaking views, parks, cocktail bars, and restaurants - the ultimate destination for some grown–up adventures.

T

here’s something seductive about San Francisco. The charming city by the bay is so alluring, intriguing, and colourful, that for most visitors the lyrics of Tony Bennett ring true, “I left my heart in San Francisco”.

The city announced itself almost overnight, as the Gold Rush transformed a small settlement of about 200 residents in 1846 to a boomtown of 36,000 six years later. Its resilient people then rebuilt it after the devastating 1906 earthquake,

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a can-do San Franciscan attitude that’s perhaps most evident in the city’s main landmark, the glorious Golden Gate Bridge. Once labelled “the bridge that couldn’t be built”, it was opened in 1937.

From its famed bridge, to its cable cars; its gay liberation movement to flower power; its fog to its 43 hills, San Francisco is justifiably cherished by those who call it home, and for tourists it’s a carousel ride of sheer delights, emotions and unique experiences.

TFRO AO VD EL

WHAT TO DO A breathtaking bike ride from the Bay Area across the architectural marvel that is the 1.7 mile–long Golden Gate Bridge is a must — preferably on a day when it’s not swathed in fog. Bikes can be rented at Fisherman’s Wharf, with good rates from companies like Blazing Saddles Bike Rentals (blazingsaddles. com). The vigorous cycle – with stops to take in the views — will work up your appetite for brunch in Sausalito, the affluent and picturesque waterfront

town just north of the bridge. Fred’s Coffee Shop (1917 Bridgeway Blvd) offers a delicious breakfast of eggs with the renowned Millionaire’s Bacon. If you can’t take the eight and a half mile return journey, a ferry will deposit you back at Fisherman’s Wharf with considerably less exertion.

A ferry is also your ticket to the infamous island of Alcatraz, again leaving from Fisherman’s Wharf.

One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions, Alcatraz has housed

notorious convicts such as Al Capone, and is now home to a large colony of Western Gulls. Alcatraz Cruises (alcatrazcruises.com) is the official ferry provider, with departures from 9.30am.

Advanced booking is recommended, as during peak season tickets can sell out up to three weeks in advance.

For wine lovers, the next stop has to be Napa valley. A short trip inland (you can rent a car from $60 per day), head for Luna vineyard (lunavineyards.com), a boutique vineyard with scenic views of

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T FRO AO VE DL

the historic Silverado Trail and a must– try Arnold Palmer Pinot Grigio. The nearby Senza Hotel (senzahotel.com) is a relaxing base from which to explore the region.

Also recommended is a trip up Telegraph Hill – and its 400 steps — to Coit Tower, with 360-degree view of the city, along with a ride in a cable car, a visit to the national parks, and a quick photograph of old Victorian architecture at Alamo Square’s famed “postcard row”.

WHERE TO EAT The Mission District is a trendy hipster hangout bustling with vintage clothes stores, divine restaurants and numerous book shops (you might even walk in on local authors reciting their latest novel).

There’s a wide range of eateries catering to all tastes, from delectable tapas in Loló (974 Valencia); Mexican comfort food at Taquerias El Farolito (2779 Mission St); and the mouthwatering south Indian vegetarian cuisine at

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Udupi Palace (1007 Valencia Street). The savoury uthappams are a must try!

An alternative to the delicious coffee shops in the district is Dandelion, a bean–to–bar chocolate factory. They roast, crack, sort, grind, and temper small batches of beans and then mould and package each bar by hand. They also offer free 30–minute tours… a chocoholic’s dream! The signature hot chocolate and s’mores are highly recommended.

Away from the Mission District, Boudin Bakery & Cafe (160 Jefferson St) is another culinary delight, with their famous clam chowder served in a freshly baked sourdough bread bowl.

For a quick bite, you can’t beat eating at a food truck, a quintessential San Fran experience. See offthegridsf.com for a list of local gourmet vendors, and where they’re located any given day.

WHERE TO STAY Top rated on TripAdvisor is Hotel Drisco (2901 Pacific Avenue — from $525 a

night), which is tucked away in one of the exclusive parts of Pacific Heights.

Some rooms (especially the City View suites) offer sweeping views of San Francisco. For a B&B option, there’s The Parker Guest House (520 Church Street — rates start at $169), with two 1909 Edwardian mini-mansions located in the vibrant Castro District.

LOCAL INFO While taxis are available, the mobileapp, Uber is taking over in this tech savvy hub. Simply set up your credit card, use the map to pinpoint your location and the nearest Uber cab will be there in minutes. There’s clear pricing, and it’s safe, cashless and convenient.

Shandon Travel (021 427 7094, travel247.ie); Trailfinders (021 464 8800, trailfinders.ie); Insight Vacations (01 7753838, insightvacations.com), American Holidays (021 236 4636, americanholidays.com), and Tour America (021 2429222, touramerica.ie) offer packages to San Francisco.

The family-owned & operated 4 Dromhall Hotel offers you exceptional food, first-class service and a beautiful Banqueting Suite

We’d love to show you around “How to describe the wedding meal! In one word ‘outstanding’.

People are still talking about our wedding meal. It was top class.

The attention to detail to every aspect of our meal was second to none.”

Oonagh & Frank Oct 2014

Mention this ad to receive a complimentary drinks reception + our Chef’s home-made canapés. Applies to new bookings only.

Contact Sue on 064 6639300 sue@randleshotels.com www.dromhall.com Dromhall Hotel, Muckross Road, Killarney, Co Kerry

SOCIAL Pictured at ‘Miss Universe Cork 2015’ at the Rochestown Park Hotel:

Roz Purzell, Miss Universe Cork 2015 Cailín Áine Ní Toibín, Lisa Madden and Vivienne McCarthy

Yasmin, Tara and Jade Szuch

Photos: Dermot Fitzgerald

Nicole Quinlan, Sineád Hayes, Janet O’Regan and Simone Kelly

Caley Monks and Kayleigh O’Sullivan

Pictured at the launch of the 7th Corona Fastnet Short Film Festival:

Tamasin McCarthy and Colin Patrick Kelleher

Chris O’Neill and Charlene Curtin

Pictured at the annual L’Arche Ladies Dinner in Jacobs on the Mall:

Tanya Murphy, Imelda O’Connell and June Horgan.

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Orla McCarthy, Fiona Vaughan and Fionn O’Connor

Ryan Dineen and Katie O’Donoghue

Photos: Gerard McCarthy

Darren O’Mahony and Sarah Bowles Photos: Gerard McCarthy

Amy Murphy, Meg Burke and Lucy Walsh

Menus from €10 per person Complimentary parking Special bedroom rates available from €45p.p.s.

DJ’S/Bands/Themes – All catered for

For bookings please contact our Events Department on 021 4549800 or email sstewart@corkinternationalhotel.com

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