Fusion Magazine - June 2015

June. 2015

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l i m e r i c k ’ s

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m o n t h l y

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m a g a z i n e

Marion Murphy Cooney

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contents

6 Contributors 8 Opinion 10 People Profile 14 Staycation 16 Visual Artist 18 Gardening 20 Well Being 22 Ashlea Rondozai 25 Fitness & Health 26 Cover Story 30 Beauty 31 Make Up 32 Fashion 34 Shauna Lindsay Style Guide 35 Mens Fashion 44 Travel 46 Business 48 Fo od & Drink 50 Val’s Kitchen 56 Home 58 Charity 59 Limerick Life 60 Online & Technology 62 Kaithle en Turner 64 DJ Profile 66 Film 68 Arts & Culture 70 Events Guide 74 Make a Move Festival FUSION MAGAZINE | 4

Cover - Marion Murphy Cooney Photographer - Tarmo Tulit - www.tarmotulit.com MUA - Mary Kiely

Fusion Magazine 74 O’Connell Street Limerick www.fusionmagazine.ie +353 (0)61-597627

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Editor Michelle Costello michelle@fusionmedia.ie

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Photography Tarmo Tulit www.tarmotulit.com info@tarmotulit.com +353 (0)87-6837250 Proofreading Kayleigh Ziolo Graphic Design Jason Yu

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Stories & All Other Queries hello@fusionmedia.ie Twitter @fusionlimerick Instagram @fusionmagazinelimerick Facebook /thefusionmagazine

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Credit: “My Significant Otter” Helena Grimes Artist/Illustrator - www.helenagrimes.com FUSION MAGAZINE | 8

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people profile James Greenslade Acting Head of Limerick School of Art and Design, LIT I am lucky to catch James Greenslade, Acting Head of Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD) not long before he is to leave to attend the 2015 Venice Biennale International Art Exhibition.

“Limerick and LSAD is representing Ireland at the Olympics of the arts world, it’s incredible to realise that and I simply could not miss the opportunity to attend the official opening” he says. The Irish entry to this Biennale is very much a Limerick affair, with the Commissioner, Curator and Artist all being Limerick based. Commissioner Mike Fitzpatrick is Director for Limerick’s European Capital of Culture bid and is on secondment as Head of LSAD, the Curator is Woodrow Kernohan, Director of EVA International, and Ireland’s Biennial and the chosen artist to represent Ireland is rising art star Sean Lynch who is a graduate of LSAD. To top off the Limerick presence in the longest running Biennale in the world the Rubberbandits performed at the Irish party, and it was said to be one of the best informal events of the opening days. The Venice Biennale runs from May to November and will receive over 450,000 visitors from all over the world.

As James and I embark on a whirlwind tour of the LSAD’s Clare Street campus, the energy emitting from the school’s many design and fine art studios is palatable. The studios are awash with colour, lines, fabric, and the movement of paintbrushes and enormous sheets of paper. The stunning visual barrage of artwork almost overwhelms the senses and is contrasted with the silent concentration of the students as they focus on the all important tasks at hand. James explains that the students are all close to finishing their end of year projects “so the countdown has well and truly begun!”

In addition to the student grind, there is also a flurry of activity behind the scenes.

LSAD is growing rapidly with almost a thousand students in the centre of Limerick City, and James tells me that they are finalising plans for the remodelling of yet another new building in George’s Quay area to accommodate the increasing

number of students and the new courses on offer. LSAD has also spread its wings to incorporate a suite of cutting edge Creative Digital Media programmes in Clonmel following the incorporation of the former Tipperary Institute into Limerick Institute of Technology.

It’s clear walking around and seeing James talk to the students and tutors that he is very hands on. “Our role is to try to give students space to grow and to be able to realise their full potential. We wouldn’t be able to deliver on this unless we were open to the needs of the highly dedicated, talented and hardworking

“LSAD’s vision is to make Limerick a creative hothouse for all aspects of fine art and design” staff and students. At the same time, we are also listening to people in the creative industries about what is going on, and what emerging students will need to be armed with in order to succeed in the wider world. Once he has all that information, it is then part of James’s job to make it all happen. “There’s a lot of logistics involved – it’s not just a matter of understanding the creative needs of the school, but being able to bring about the response, planning each step and seeing it through.”

James has 15 years of managerial experience in addition to his study and lecturing years in Graphic Design and Computer-Aided Design (CAD), so his current role marries the two major aspects of his background. “I was extremely honoured to have be chosen to lead such a prestigious institution, which has been to the forefront of Art and Design Education, since its inception in 1852.

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I’ve been Acting Head of School of LSAD for just over a year and was previously Head of the Department of Design. Mike Fitzpatrick of course was whisked away as he became CEO of Limerick City of Culture 2014, and continues to lead the European City of Culture 2020. Now we are doing everything we can to promote the amazing talent and hard work of our students in Limerick and beyond.”

It must be incredibly inspiring to be surrounded by such creativity?

“Absolutely. And nothing thrills me more than seeing that translate into success beyond our doors.” A recent example of that is former LSAD graduate Conor Harrington, who recently sold a piece, for more than €100,000. “It is one of the biggest amounts paid for a single piece by a living Irish artist.” Conor is so in demand and his art has been purchased by the likes of Damien Hirst and A-List celebrities. Likewise successful Fashion LSAD graduates such as Una Burke would count Lady Gaga, Rihanna and the Hunger Games among her many celebrity clients, while Visual Communication graduate Tom Foley, in his role as font designer with Dalton Maag, worked on the award winning first proprietary font for Intel. David Gleeson, who is currently Senior Exhibitions Designer at the Smithsonian Institution, Washington D.C. is another example from a long list of LSAD graduates who have found success right around the globe and are fantastic ambassadors for Limerick and LSAD. “That’s the thing we most want people to realise: That there are 1000 talented students exploring their own creativity, right in the heart of Limerick city. They all love Limerick. They are only too happy to contribute their talent to the fabric of the city. We want not just to go out into the city, but also invite people to us too.” And on 6th June, that’s exactly what LSAD will be doing, as it opens the doors of their Degree Show, entitled “ON”, the student’s annual and wonderful exhibition of their work.

It is a great chance to see the work of up and coming artists and designers that have been nurtured and shaped by the uniqueness of Limerick city. “We would like to extend an open invitation to the general public to visit the Clare Street campus of LSAD and join us in celebrating the wonderful creations of our graduating class of 2015.“ It’s not just the incredible talent on display that inspires James. “Every day, there’s a real sense that students really always want to be here. You can arrive at 8am and find them waiting outside the door to go in. There a strong work ethic, and a love for the school and what they do.”

Another major development that James, as a member of the LIT Executive management team is overseeing, is the finalisation of plans to launch the Irish Fashion Incubator Limerick. “The incubator will provide supports for designers in residence and career development for all students, both past and present. It will be a place to collaborate. Our vision is to make Limerick a creative hothouse, not just for fashion, which we are very well known for, but all aspects of design and fine art.” There’s no doubt that James lives and breathes LSAD and Limerick culture, but what about the man himself – what brought him here?

James hails from Waterford, but having been here since the early 1990s and a husband of a Limerick woman, he considers himself a local man. How would he sum up what Limerick people are about? “What are Limerick people about....for me creativity, determination, with a strong sense of community, and of course a wicked sense of humour. People here certainly have a sense of fun across all aspects of life.”

His ideal weekend in Limerick? “Saturday morning I’d head down to buy some local produce at the Milk Market, spend the afternoon in garden or going to kids various activities, a good dinner at home. On Sunday, a morning walk in Cratloe Woods with flask of tea. It’s not very rock and roll I’m afraid, my stage diving years are over now! It’s rare that I do get out these days but if I do you might find me in Dolans, or grabbing a bite at La Cuccina or Aroi.”

James is very much a family man, speaking proudly of his three girls aged seven, five, and six months. “They are involved

in everything. Kids are very well looked after in Limerick – there’s a fantastic infrastructure to support their extracurricular activities, in particular the Limerick Athletics Club and the Front Line Theatre School, both of which they attend.” He and his wife also foster a creative environment at home, encouraging them with drawing and musical instruments. His own instrument of choice is guitar, “though I certainly don’t play it anywhere but behind closed doors!” he says bashfully.

Of course, we couldn’t go without talking about Limerick City of Culture 2014 and LSAD’s role in it. “It brought about a sea change not just in the way Limerick people see art and design, but also how they see themselves. It touched everyone in some way - all areas came together. It was quite simply magical to see everyone work with a common ambition, and realise what they could contribute to the identity of the city.”

James is keen to maintain that momentum from 2014. “We’ve already had over 20 exhibitions in the city this year, outside of City of Culture projects. We are continuing to project a positive image of a city that embraces creativity, allowing people to see that there are wonderful things that are continuing to happen here.”

The school and LIT is also playing a big part in shaping policies to capitalise on creativity, growth and development in the city.

The city would certainly be a very poorer place without LSAD and its students.

James agrees. “Someone not from here once said to me that when they think of Limerick, they think of Munster Rugby and LSAD. Our role is to increase the level of awareness of the massive culture wealth of the city including our passion for sport and LSAD students are great ambassadors for telling that story.”

The LSAD Gradate show 2015 is open to the public from Sunday 7th June to Sunday 14th June from 9.30am to 4.30 each day.

Article by: Kayleigh Ziolo Twitter: @Kayleigh_Ziolo Images by: Tarmo Tulit - www.tarmotulit.com

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T H E S T A Y C A T IO N The notion of a staycation is one that has become increasingly popular in recent years; in fact it’s so mainstream that the Oxford Dictionary now includes the word and defines it as “A holiday spent in one’s home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions”.

During the boom years, we packed our bags and headed for our summer abodes in the South of France and were no sooner home before we were jetting off to the Austrian slopes for a winter skiing trip. A Christmas shopping trip or an outing to the January sales were a few days spent in London or New York. Not to mention all the Stag parties and Hen parties, most often entailing hopping on board another plane bound for Magaluf or Ibiza! Now don’t get me wrong, I am a firm believer in the motto; Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer.

However, I still think that the economic nosedive brought a few upsides. With it came the phenomenon of the ‘staycation’, which really means that we have the opportunity to experience the beauty and wonder that is right on our doorsteps. It’s important to see the splendour of Ireland through the eyes of a tourist, because to take care of our natural amenities, we must first appreciate them. What’s more, it’s a little awkward when someone from overseas would like to chat about their visits to The Giants Causeway, The Cliffs of Moher, The Skelligs Rock, The Blarney Stone or Newgrange and you haven’t been to any of them!

Okay, so at times the weather is questionable but we must admit there has been an improvement over the last few summers. Sometimes all it takes is realising that we don’t melt in the rain.

Whatever happened to the childhood urge to splash in every visible puddle, or

a good old swim in the rain because that somehow makes it warmer! Long queues at airports, delays and lengthy flight times can be a nightmare for families with young children. Packing and getting passports in order, along with all of the other relevant paper work can be stressful for anyone unless your organisational skills are top notch. Even those who go on a holiday abroad every year without fail (like my family) may have to sit one year out for whatever reason. I remember a year that we didn’t go on a holiday abroad as our new house was being built, we went to the west of Ireland and I had one of the best holidays ever! The weather was beautiful and I recall my Dad saying “Sure, isn’t this better than any Spain?” as we cycled around the island of Inis Mean.

A staycation can take whatever form or shape you want. Some choose to book into a hotel or guesthouse somewhere in Ireland and use it as their base while checking out what the new County has to offer, while others take some time off work, sleep in their own beds at night and head off on a road trip to somewhere new each day. It’s well worth having a look at things to do in the vicinity, whether you are a Limerick local or here on a visit.

One is never far from the top Limerick attractions, such as our iconic landmark King John’s Castle, recently revamped for visitors to get the full historical experience. There are plenty of places for all the family to enjoy, with a behind

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the scenes tour of Thomond Park Stadium or a fascinating trip to the Foynes Flying Boat and Maritime Museum. Why not visit one of Limerick’s Pet Farms or take a stroll around the Milk Market and pick up some great local produce.

There is an endless list for grownupsonly too: Limerick’s nightlife is not to be missed, with stylish bars serving some of Ireland’s best cocktails. Experience the true Irish pub atmosphere with a whole host of inviting public houses. After last orders, there’s no need to go home: the nightclubs are only a stone-throw away, it would be rude not to - try to catch a gig at Smyths bar or The Library while you’re here too.

The food scene in Limerick is the hottest around, so try the dinner delights of The Treasury in O’Connell Street or a big and beautiful brunch at the multi-award winning Bobby Byrnes Bar & Restaurant.

After all that, what better way to wind down and relax than spending some time in one of the award-winning spas that Limerick hotels have to offer - especially No.1 Pery Square.

So whether the weather be fine or whether the weather be not, get out and enjoy the summer! Try something new at home or abroad, and wherever you go don’t forget to wear suncream!

Article: Gemma Musgrave Images by: Tarmo Tulit www.tarmotulit.com

VISUAL ARTIST Eoin Barry Social Printmaker and Activist (Artist) Tell us about yourself...

I’m from Adare and went to LSAD where I majored in print making. Then, I went straight back to do a Masters in Social Practice and the Creative Environment, which I loved, and it is in that my work is mainly based. From there I’ve got involved in urban art projects. I started Cathair Grá, or ‘City Love’ as a community art initiative. It is an urban art project devised to combat the dominance of commercial language in urban space.

It also promotes the Irish language, even if it is broken! I wouldn’t be fluent as Gaeilge myself but I love bringing it into my work and even using it in a basic way that other non-Gaeilgóirs will understand.

Cathair Grá is a basic translation that I’m sure true Irish advocates don’t approve of it but I love that it is relatable and identifiable to the passer-by. Using Irish that way makes it accessible to the wider masses, though I’d love to improve my own Irish… someday!

Tell us more about Cathair Grá?

Well it started off as measurable community project, where I collaborated with other artists. We were supported by Limerick City Council, the City Gallery of Art, LSAD and the ESB to remodel and design the ESB power units around the city. So in the past few years, since 2012, we have painted 45 of the electricity boxes around the main streets in the city and brightened the place up a bit I guess. It has grown a lot since then with full wall murals and various random pieces about. I like using the cityscape as a place to create art that will make people think. I may not have an answer but my work can pose questions, like a Wi-Fi symbol may make people think how can the city get more widespread free Wi-Fi access? I actually went about with my measuring tape to see how much artwork Cathair Grá has created within the city and it is currently at 356 metre squared (and growing!) of art, which is pretty amazing. It’s a changeable and undefined group of people involved sometimes it is funded, sometimes it’s not but the philosophy behind Cathair Grá and its aims are essentially to brighten the city, improve and reflect the local community, and pose questions.

How exactly do you go about a project?

For example, this spring we’ve collaborated with Team Limerick CleanUp, which was a cool project to work on

out in South Hill. I liaise with both the people organising it and the people in the community. I discuss ideas with each party and draw up some mocks, then collaboratively the decision is made with me as a mediator, in a sense. Everything I do has a message or a story behind it - the ideas stem from the community and I think that’s important because they’re the ones that have to look at it every day, not me.

and then we produce our own productcanvas bags- using a silk screening bed the class must assemble. It’s essentially a small enterprise project in an assembly line process. At the end of the day the students price the bags and sell them in the school/ locality. When they sell the class must make a democratic decision; will the class keep the money or donate it to charity? So that’s one I’m thrilled to put into practice.

Where would you like to be in 5 years’ time?

Who can tell? I’d love to be in the Gaeltacht, immersed in our mother tongue and working with local communities on art projects. I love challenging myself so I don’t see struggles in what I do, and I go into projects with an open mind so, yeah, I’d like to see what I could do in the west somewhere.

How did you initially get involved with Make a Move Festival?

I didn’t always have a major role, the festival is evolving a lot which is great because it keeps things fresh. When I first got involved I just submitted my name for a wall to paint, got accepted and was given a wall in the city. I initially painted in the first Make a Move and from there got involved in the educational side of the festival by carrying out urban art workshops in the hub of the city gallery.

I was the head of the Graffiti Society in college so I had lots of experience and contacts built up, and that has definitely helped me along my way.

What’s the most random artsy thing you have done?

Haha, I guess maybe my Uisce Campaign. I made 2000 prints and sent 235 hand written letters with a print to random addresses worldwide. I was in second year in college and it was my first time trying to reach out to the world, and my first real endeavour out of the studio.

I posted some to high profile places and got official responses from Buckingham Palace and Áras an Uachtarán, but the most rewarding replies were like one I got from a secretary of a business who said she and her children loved my print and it really gave them a buzz. That was a pretty random act I guess!

Have you anything exciting in the mix at the minute?

Well I have a few projects up my sleeve, such as working with Make a Move, and then some of my own endeavours too.

I’ve been working on an educational project for the last couple of months that I’m delighted has come to fruition now. The idea is that I go into a school to work with the students on a cross curricular project. The focus is obviously art but it brings in CSPE (human rights), LCVP (mini business), Maths/ Business (budget and sales/ marketing prices), and Home Economics too I guess! I would show the students some of my own work and tell them about what I do, then a short documentary ‘Behind the Swoosh’ showing child labour in the third world countries. We discuss it

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And what is your role this year then?

I’m contributing to the urban art element essentially. It’s class because I get to work with some great people like Paul Tarpey and Shane Mac Curtain, and plenty more too! This year we plan on running an Urban Trail across the city.

We’ll be redesigning and bringing to life the sports pillars dotted all around the city, which have largely been forgotten since we were City of Sport in 2004. It’s an open and lucid project, it will have an educational element and we will really just be facilitators because it is the community that generates the work. It’s a great informal and community building project. It’s fantastic to negotiate and navigate through the entire process, from deciding what to do with what is available, the various people that get on board and of course then completing the works and implementing our plans. I can’t wait for the Make a Move weekend!

If you want to work with or join Eoin on any works or on the Urban Trail at this years’ Make a Move Festival in July, you can nab him on Twitter @Eoinbarry061 Interview with: Rebecca Egan Image by: Tarmo Tulit www.tarmotulit.com

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T h e K i tch e n G A R D E N June is here, which sees the brightest mornings and longest evenings… and the kitchen garden gives us plenty of reasons to make the most of the long days. We are smack bang in the middle of the growing year and with temperatures rising, it is a joy to be out seeing what nature is providing us with in our own back yard. Growing your own fresh produce really is a wonderful thing to do and when we are blessed with a bit of sunshine and heat, the kitchen garden is the place to be. And don’t worry if you haven’t grown anything yet, it’s not too late to start.

Must do jobs: • Water crops regularly in dry spells • Liquid feed glasshouse and container crops • Keep on top of weeding • Use shading in glasshouse as the sun becomes stronger, white wash the roof of the glasshouse; this protects young plants and seedlings from being scorched.

• Put net over strawberry plants to protect them from the birds • “Thin out” seedlings * Sow outside: Sweetcorn, spinach, rocket, salad leaves (mixed), radishes, spring onions, pak choi, baby leeks, carrots, kale, beetroot, peas and beans.

Plant indoors: Aubergines, chilli and sweet peppers Plant outside: Outdoor tomatoes, butternut squash, pumpkin, Florence fennel, outdoor cucumbers, courgettes, celery, celeriac, leeks, cauliflower (winter headed), cabbages, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and runner beans.

Harvest: Spinach, rocket, salad leaves (mixed), radishes, spring onions, asparagus, early potatoes, second early potatoes, mangetout peas, over winter onions, autumn planted garlic, baby leeks, courgettes, early carrots, broad beans, beets, turnips, pak choi, strawberries, rhubarb, red currants, gooseberries and raspberries (late June). *Thinning out The term ‘thinning out’ refers to spacing out a line of young seedlings that have grown from small seeds that have been sown a few weeks earlier. This is normally the case for salad

veg, carrots, parsnips etc… veg that have been sown direct into prepared beds or containers. As soon as the seedlings appear, the process can begin - nipping out the weaker plants and leaving the bigger ones, this will gradually reduce the line of seedlings down to their final spacing’s.

Even if you haven’t had time or space to prepare beds this year, salad veg can be grown all summer long in containers such as window boxes, patio tubs, old buckets etc. Use multi-purpose compost in them and sow your favourite type of salad veg. you will only have to wait a few weeks before you can harvest what you have sown and it is a great way to get the kids involved and interested in vegetables. Just make sure to water containers regularly even during wet weather as they can dry out quickly..

Grow your own herbs: Growing your own herbs couldn’t be easier: they can be grown inside or out, in small pots, window boxes, containers, or in small beds using multi-purpose compost. A packet of seeds that cost around €2 can keep you in fresh herbs for up to 5 years, which makes growing your own very worthwhile! Alternatively you can buy pre-grown plants in garden centres and even in supermarkets, just transplant them from their pots to their new homes with some extra multi-purpose compost.

The addition of herbs to everyday cooking boosts not only the flavour, but also the nutrition and health benefits:, herbs (and spices) are packet full of anti-oxidants, nutrients and vitamins.

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My top 7 herbs: 1. Basil: Add chopped stalks to cooking and the leaves at the last minute of cooking, it is great in salads and as a garnish.

Basil flavours really well with Mediterranean vegetables. It also pairs well with cheese, courgettes, eggs, garlic, lemon, olives, peas, pine nuts, pizza, potatoes, raspberries, rice, sweetcorn and tomatoes.

Basil has anti-inflammatory properties, it is it is also packed full of antioxidants, and aids your defences against asthma and arthritis.

2. Bay Leaf: Add into soups, stews and sauces. Also use for marinades, pickles and roasting dishes (always remove before serving, not for eating). Pairs well with citrus, fish, game, lentils, meat, onions, poultry, root vegetables and tomatoes.

Bay can balance blood sugar levels and it retards weight gain. It can also reduce high blood pressure.

3. Mint: Used in sweet and savoury dishes, and also in drinks, for flavour and garnishing. Pairs well with carrots, chocolate, cucumber, curries, duck, eggs, lamb, lime, potatoes, tomatoes and yoghurt.

Mint aids with digestion, heartburn and IBS. It eases and unblocks respiratory passageways and can relieve the effects of colds and nasal allergies. It also has calming properties and is a good blood cleanser.

4. Parsley: Use flat leaf parsley for garnishing and add it chopped to sauces. Curley leaf parsley can be used for soups and stews, stalks and all. Pairs well with chicken, eggs, fish, garlic, lemons, lentils, onions, rice, seafood and tomatoes.

Parsley is a good source of antioxidants and ‘healthy heart’ nutrients. It also contains vitamins A & C. 5. Rosemary: Can be eaten finely chopped in soups, stews, casseroles and in meat. As well as poultry and roast vegetable dishes and used in marinades. Put a whole sprig in for flavouring roast dishes. The woody sprigs when stripped of their leaves can be used as flavoursome skewers for kebabs. Pairs well with beef, cabbage, chillies, courgettes, eggs, fish, all game, lamb, lemons, lentils, onions, peppers, pork, poultry, potatoes and squashes.

Rosemary contains antioxidants that stop gene mutation that leads to cancer and it may help damage to blood vessels to reduce heart attack risk.

6. Sage: Quite a strong herb so use sparingly to avoid over-powering.

Great along with roast dishes and used in stuffing’s and marinades. Pairs well with apple, beans, bay leaf, celery, chicken, duck, game, garlic, liver, onions, pork and tomatoes.

Sage aids digestion of oily and fatty foods. It also contains antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties and is known to improve brain function.

7. Thyme: Use in stews, casseroles, marinades and terrines, it is great in roast dishesd like chicken, beef, game and vegetables.

Pairs well with carrots, chicken, duck, fish, lamb, onions, potatoes, rabbit, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turkey and wild mushrooms.

Thyme helps digest oily and fatty foods, it is packed with antioxidants and can kill MRSA infections.

Article by: Paul Calso www.thesustainablelarder.blogspot.ie Twitter: @calsocooks

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Whiter Shade of Pale Sun-screen, sun lotion, SPF, UVA, UVB. What do you really know about these various terms and, more to the point, what do you need to know, where sun protection is concerned?

It’s obvious enough that we Irish have a fairly extreme relationship with the sun. We don’t see a whole lot of it for much of the year and then, when we do, we can’t get enough of it. Therein lies the problem. We get very little opportunity to gradually build up a tolerance to it. In the case of sun exposure, that tolerance comes thanks to melatonin. This pigment is activated on exposure to the sun as a means of protecting the skin. However, that very ‘tan’ which we find so appealing is actually a sign of oxidation, or rusting in the skin, which of course is a type of aging. That said, we rely hugely on the sun for our health and well-being. Exposure to sun and natural daylight helps to trigger vitamin D production, regulate sleep hormones and the body clock, as well as boosting immunity and increasing longevity. So avoiding it entirely is really not such a good idea.

What you want to do instead is to introduce gradual exposure in relatively small doses. As I already said, as soon as we see the sun come out, we tend to plant ourselves in the nearest park for the day. Once our shoulders and noses are suitably red and crispy, it’s time to go home. Not ideal. Bear in mind that I mentioned melatonin affords some degree of protection to the skin and the cells underneath it. However, consider the typical Irish complexion: fair-haired, pale, freckly skin prone to turning red on exposure to the sun. That’s because we tend to have much lower levels of melatonin than, say, our Mediterranean counterparts. So just ten minutes at a time would be more than enough for our sun-starved skin. One of the reasons melanoma are such a problem here is because people who may well work outdoors all the time are getting too much exposure with no protection. But more about that in a minute.

Scientists are constantly working to devise better functioning sunscreens which afford protection from long-wavelength and short-wavelength rays. Some concoctions absorb rays while others bounce them back away from the skin, the ultimate aim being to stop them penetrating the skin. The technology may be new but the concept certainly isn’t. Ancient Egyptians, who clearly got a bit more exposure to the sun than us, saw a tan as being terribly working, or rather, slave class. Therefore staying pale was key. They too had their forms of sun-block, and amazingly many of the substances they used are still used in modern formulations. Jasmine oil, for example, aids DNA healing at a cellular level, rice bran has UV-absorbing properties while Lupine extract has long been known to have a protective effect on the skin. You’ll often see pigs or rhinos

rolling in mud to create a barrier from the sun, which makes a whole lot of sense, as there are a number of minerals in that mud. Sailors often used talc as sun protection. What does talc contain? Zinc. Think of the zinc sticks used in Alpine regions to protect from sunburn. But what if you could get your minerals from the inside out?

While scientists are working on sunscreen pills, the fact is, you can sun-proof your skin with your diet too. Brightly-coloured fruits and vegetables bring a potent cocktail of antioxidants.

The pigment beta-carotene is one of the most useful antioxidants you can ingest for this purpose. You’ll find it in a number of orange-coloured foods, like carrots, peppers, pumpkins and so on. Bear in mind that green leafy foods are also a great source of beta-carotene. You simply can’t see the orange colour as it is blocked out by the more dominant green chlorophyll, which in itself is a great skin protective. Lycopene is another one you will want to get on board. It’s the pigment which gives tomatoes, watermelon and ruby grapefruit their vibrant colours. You’ll notice too, most of the food sources of anti-oxidants are also really juicy foods. Dehydration speeds up the risk of getting burnt, as your skin simply doesn’t have the reserve of moisture it needs to buffer it. So eating vibrant, juicy foods just makes sense if the sun is out.

I mentioned melanoma a little while ago. One factors which influences your risk of developing melanoma, or any cancer, is the type of fats and oils which dominate in your diet. Omega 6, for example, as well as trans-fats, found in cheap cooking oils, ready meals, biscuits, crackers, processed sauces and fast foods really put the pedal down on the inflammatory process and increase the proliferation of prostaglandins. This expedites the growth of rogue cancer cells. On the other hand, good fats like cold-pressed coconut oil, flax oil and olive oil, as well as fish oils, nuts and seeds, helps to quench the inflammatory process and really boost your skin’s ability to handle sun exposure well.

It still doesn’t give you a license to spend hours under the sun though. Aim for ten minutes at a time to start and gradually increase to twenty minute stints, but that’s more than enough.

So respect the sun, enjoy the sun and enjoy your Summer!

Article by: Jennifer Allen Twitter: @yourkeytothrive Website: yourkeytothrive.com Model: Ryan Barrett

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A sh l e a R o nd o z a i Ashlea Rondozai comes to life when she dances. She bubbles with energy as she sits down with Rebecca Egan to talk career, dance and of course the Make a Move Festival.

Tell us about yourself.

Well, I’m a Limerick based dancer, teacher and student. I have been dancing since I was five years old, it really is my passion - it’s what I love and it’s what I do. Dancing comes naturally to me. I have been living in Limerick for fourteen years now, so I’m pretty much Irish. I’m originally from Zimbabwe. My family is super musical and involved with dance. My sister loves to dance too, and my brother raps. It all really comes from my mother, she is the singer in the family, and she plays the guitar. I love to drum as well. I adore anything artistic; I love art, I get great enjoyment from drawing and it was definitely my favorite subject in school.

I am also a part time student in Limerick Senior College. I study mental health and I have taken introductory modules in Psychology. I think about things very thoroughly so I really enjoy learning about how the mind works, figuring out how people think, and human behaviours and emotions. It all links to my work as a dance teacher and dealing with kids and teenagers. I have been teaching dance since I was 14, it affords me such a fantastic opportunity to inspire and influence people in a positive way.

Do you think there is a huge link between artistic fields and mental health, for you and for students?

Absolutely. There is no denying it. When I dance, it is like everything fuses together.

I feel the music. It helps me to express happiness, anger and sadness. Dancing is so emotive and cathartic. I believe everybody can dance. Some people say ‘oh no, I can’t dance, not me’, but they can, they just need to find their own moves, their own style, a way to express themselves. People can’t imagine how beneficial it is for their mental health as well as physicality. I feel as a teacher, it is my job to help people to express themselves, to be comfortable in their own skin and in dancing. Dancing is freedom, it is life. Where there is music there is happiness.

How would you describe your style of Dance?

Well I never really knew until last year, but I call my dance experimental. I freestyle many different genres and interlace them into my performances and workshops. I do contemporary, popping and locking (James Brown style!), hip hop, house, krump and gymnastic dance. They all fit different types of music and have a different groove to them: hip hop is chill with attitude, house is even more relaxed, while krump is full of sharp moves and dramatic pauses and often identified as a very angry/expressive dance form. When I freestyle and use all these different styles I can tell a story - my dances always tell stories because I believe it is a personal expression of you in the now, flowing with the music and living in the moment.

What are your main approaches in teaching?

You can’t be stiff. You just can’t! That’s my main thing in teaching. I like to get to the level of the students - I address them as an equal rather than an authority figure and I use my humour a lot in class which works with children and teens as well as adults.

Also, I don’t teach choreography, I teach dance. Like with hip hop - sure, you can learn a routine and look great, but do you really feel the music, the moment and can you truly express yourself if it is a taught and rehearsed routine, compared to doing what moves just feel right and flow for you? I don’t think so. That is why you can’t be stiff, you have to fully use your body to express yourself.

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What are your greatest struggles as a dancer?

Oh a tough question! I guess, because I freestyle there is always the fear of the unknown just before I perform. I will know a move or two I want to include but I won’t know where or when I will do it. Also because I perform solo it can sometimes be nerve wracking.

I struggle a lot with choreographed work too because I hear the music differently to others. Everybody hears music their own way. When I feel a beat and I want to do a move there, it might not be where it is supposed to be, so there is a strong element of self-control in choreographed pieces for me. I just find them constraining I guess!

What is your 5-year plan?

It keeps changing. I am so ahead of where I ever thought I would be, and I am so humbled by it. Next year, I don’t have an idea where I could be - I would love to start travelling a bit further, maybe Europe. I want to keep improving my teaching skills and learning more about different types of dancing and developing my experimental creative dancing style… I guess it will unfold itself.

What is your biggest project at the moment?

I am always very busy between my involvements with Drum Dance Ireland – I have travelled across the country doing workshops with them - and RARE, a dance crew I have joined where we meet, dance and compete. I also work in schools

with all age groups and run workshops for hen parties and the like, but right now my work with Make a Move Festival is my big kick. Since 2012 I have worked with Make a Move Festival as a dance assistant, leader and teacher, but this year I was asked to be the board director for all things dance related in the festival. Because I am always careful to only take on things I can fully commit to, I am really loving my role with Make a Move this year because there is so much to it: organizing workshops, music, indoor and outdoor facilities, guest performers and all that jazz. We have had meetings over the last few months where we all work together to produce the best experience for people living and visiting the city for the festival. It is so soon too, the first weekend of July is just around the corner!

Finally, a quick one! Who is your greatest inspiration?

Michael Jackson! In terms of his performance; he was famous without being provocative which is such a big thing these days. He was original, genuine and had his own moves that everybody still instantly recognises. He changed dance, I would love to be able to develop techniques the way he has.

To keep up with this exuberant young gem in Lady Limerick’s crown, follow her on twitter: @AshleaRonds Article by: Rebecca Egan Twitter: @beccae20 Photography by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com

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FI T N E S S

&

H E A L T H

5 FOODS THAT FIGHT BACK They say prevention is better than the cure when it comes to long-term health. Here are five body-boosting superfoods that pack a massive punch on your behalf for your health and wellbeing, and advice on how to get the best from them.

1) SPINACH Yeah spinach makes you strong, we know that. But did you know just one serving of spinach could give you around 300% of your daily recommended Vitamin A? This powerhouse vitamin maintains healthy skin, teeth, skeletal and soft tissue.

Worried about wrinkles? Well, spinach is a rich source of Coenzyme Q10. What’s more, it is loaded with Vitamin C, K (strong bones), contains more Calcium (when cooked) than milk and has 13 plant-based compounds called “flavonoids” that have both anti-oxidants and anti-cancer properties. So it is not just Popeye that should be getting his fill!

BEST: Steamed DON’T: Overuse in smoothies. Rotate your greens for variety.

2) BROCCOLI Broccoli contains a ridiculously high amount of potassium, nearly equal that in a banana (310mg compared to 358mg per 100g) which maintains a boss nervous system and keeps your brain at the top of its game. If you are worried about wrinkles, vision or a healthy immune system? Broccoli to the rescue, as it’s full of fibre and nutrients like vitamin A and C. Also a natural detoxifier for the body, broccoli contains compounds which work together to produce sulforaphane, which can switch on a specific gene in the liver that detoxifies cancer causing chemicals and other toxins. Without the broccoli this gene remains inactive and our bodies looks for other detoxifiers.

There are many ways to dish it up, such as eating raw with hummus or add some butter and juice of a lemon to flavour steamed broccoli.

BEST: Organic to avoid chemical residues DON’T: Overcook as it destroys many of its beneficial compounds

4) GARLIC Garlic is one of the oldest natural treatments for disease and as a supplement for general health. It helps strengthen the immune system - beneficial for fighting off infections and even cancer.

This is because of its very potent active ingredient allicin, the compound that gives it its distinctive smell. However, it is only released when the bulb is crushed and left for 5-6 minutes for the allicin to form.

BEST: Add it towards the end of cooking DON’T: Forget to crush it 5) SALMON Omega-3 fatty acids lower your risk of heart disease mainly by lowering triglycerides and countering inflammation. You can find these fats in a variety of sources, including green leafy vegetables such as, spinach, broccoli, kale, walnuts, flaxseeds and pumpkin seeds, avocados, eggs (depending on how the hens were fed). But the very best source is fish. Choose fish with the highest omega-3 content such as wild salmon. When trying to remember which fatty fish are highest in omega-3, remember the acronym SMASH (Salmon, Mackerel, Anchovies, Sardines, Herring).

BEST: Wild caught and frozen at sea to preserve the omega-3 nutrients.

DON’T: Consume farmed fish, the omega-3 content will be very low. Exercise caution with smoked salmon as it delivers a hefty dose of sodium.

Article by: James Devine Twitter: @jamesdevine_tw

3) BLUEBERRIES Blueberries provide a truckload of antioxidants to the body.

They are a super anti-inflammatory flavonoid compounds which is very beneficial for mopping up those pesky free radicals generated as a by-product of metabolism, which can cause cellular damage. Bad news though if you’ve been tucking into blueberry muffins for your five-a-day - they tend to lose all their properties when heated at temperatures above 180ºC in the oven.

BEST: Fresh or Frozen DON’T: Heat above 180ºC

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M a r i o n M u r p hy C o o n e y

A lady with a vibrant energy and full of jokes, Marion Murphy Cooney is fast becoming a household name. Her designs are all over red carpet events and style awards up and down the country. An award winning fashion designer from Limerick, Marion is a great inspiration as a mother, a wife and an entrepreneur – with three children, a demanding job and a husband who regularly travels with his work. We found it very interesting and eye opening to step into the world of this talented fashion designer.

Why did you decide to become a fashion designer?

I didn’t - it chose me! I have had a sewing needle in my hand since the age of five; it never entered my head to study anything other than design.

How long have you been designing clothing?

Officially? Ten years. Unofficially? For as long as I can remember. It went from dressing my dolls to ‘recycling’ my shopbought clothes. My husband always tells the story that when we first met he came to my parents’ house to pick me up. I complained that I had nothing to wear.

I said ‘hang on for half an hour and I will make something’. He thought I was joking. I wasn’t. My parents didn’t even blink.

What was your big break?

I don’t think there was one big break, I think there were a number of lucky opportunities. That combined with a lot of hard work and supportive family and friends meant that there were a lot of mini breaks! It is very funny though – the harder one works the luckier one seems to get!

What is your favourite part about being a fashion designer?

I am always learning. I am learning from people, I am learning about people.

Because design is so creative, the mind is always on the go.

What were your inspirations for the designs you have created?

There have been so many. But you know what: I can honestly say for the most part, it is the Irish woman on the street. I often look at a lady that I feel has dressed with style, she has a presence and I analyse the look – how did she make it work? Style should always express one’s personality.

How did you select the materials you use?

My mantra is never to compromise on quality. A good fabric will allow for a good cut. My designs are not disposable; once you buy an MMC design you have it for life. The fabric needs to stick the pace too. I am also drawn to colour and prints. What catches my eye, what stands apart, what talks to me and is unique – just like the individual I am designing for.

How do you feel about dressing all of these glamorous celebrities?

Of course I love it, who wouldn’t? It is such a thrill to meet these famous faces that I feel I know as they are in my living room on a daily basis – albeit on the TV screen! But I can honestly say I get just as much as a buzz designing for my non-celebrity clients. Nothing can beat the feeling of knowing that someone has left your studio feeling happy in themselves, that they feel they look well in their clothes and that will give them a confidence boost.

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Who would be your dream person to dress?

Jennifer Aniston. She is an elegant, beautiful woman who seems so natural.

She can teach us all a thing or two about dressing to suit you, never means having to compromise on style.

What is your approach when you start a piece?

The fabric usually determines what I will make - it’s as if it walks off the counter and into my head as a piece. If it is a bespoke piece, it would be the client’s own personality.

Do you try to send out a message or theme in your clothes?

I never intentionally decided to send out a message but I am told that I inadvertently have. Style is individual, it is classic and it is elegant - but most importantly it is unique to each and every woman. And to be honest, that is exactly what all of my pieces are.

Who is your favourite designer?

I think Victoria Beckham is a woman that has sartorially grown up before our eyes.

She has made the fashion mistakes – haven’t we all - but she has found herself, and all in the public eye. I feel her clothes and looks will stand the test of time.

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Any advice to designers starting up?

Be true to yourself. Never try to copy others. Go with your gut instinct, never rest on your laurels and you will have a winning formula on your hands.

What are the hours of a fashion designer like?

Do you really want to know?! I have heard of a thing called a working day and a routine but I need to look the latter up in a dictionary! In a world that involves 3 children, a husband that works away from home and a job that is by no means predictable, I would love to know what my hours are like myself!

How do you get your best work done? Do you have a process?

Blind panic… Joking! Of course there are manic times but I have a great team behind me. It is amazing what a working day can throw at you. And just when you think things are going swimmingly…

You have travelled a lot and done shows in Abu Dhabi… can you tell us about this experience?

Abu Dhabi is a magical world – an entirely different one. I had to put the thinking cap firmly on to ensure my designs reflected this different way of life. I am so fortunate that I have a great friend out there who made the transition an easy one for me. It did not do me an ounce of harm to feel some sun on my bones either.

And you are an award winning fashion designer...

I know - I have to pinch myself… it is the icing on the cake to receive recognition for doing something you love.

And you own a store…

Yes – I recently moved my Design Atelier to Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. I love it there as I can work closely with local master craft people and harness the organic talent that exists there.

You have a very busy life... What do you do to relax?

Jogging. I just find it amazing that by being out in the fresh air and by just managing to place one foot in front of the other repeatedly - how the world can look a calmer and nicer place than it did just thirty minutes previous. Also, there’s nothing better than a good book. With a demanding job and trying hard to be a good mother, reading is about the best form of escapism I can get!

What are your plans for the future of MMC design?

Progress in anything brings problems, opportunities and solutions.

That is what I have found anyway. My latest opportunity is that I am now being stocked in the Middle East – and I am all too aware how fortunate I am to be able to say this. The problem is time - the Middle East isn’t exactly down the road. And as for the solution – hold on ‘til I have a chat with the Hubby!! (Laughs) Finally, where can we keep up to date with you?

Easy! Email – Twitter – Facebook Marion Murphy-Cooney ‘The Design Atelier’ Friar St Nenagh Co Tipperary Ireland 00353 67 31265 info@marionmurphycooney.com www.marionmurphycooney.com Interview by: Michelle Costello MUA: Mary Kiely - Hair: Rachel Flanagan Images by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com

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BE A U T Y PRODUCT REVIEWS

ÓGRA MOISTURISING FACIAL CLEANSER - €29.95 Where can I buy it ? www.ograskincare.com

ÓGRA ANTI-AGEING FACIAL MOISTURISER - €59.95 Where can I buy it ? www.ograskincare.com

As soon as Ógra arrived at Fusion, we were intrigued by the product and its components! Straight away, history lessons about the amazing preserved artefacts found in bog land around Ireland sprung to mind. Our thoughts were – if peat can preserve bodies for thousands of years, just think of the wonders it could do for our youthful glow! Without getting too scientific, it’s the anaerobic conditions in the bog that act as a preservative, and peat contains strong antioxidants which can prevent or delay some types of cell damage. So, back to the cleanser. We were pleasantly surprised by the rich creamy texture of this product. As some cleansers can cause the skin to feel dry and tight, this was certainly not the case. It felt silky and hydrating as it was being applied, and our faces felt softer as soon as we rinsed it off. Sometimes creamy cleansers aren’t the best makeup removers but this passed the test, even with mascara. It purifies the skin without stripping it and therefore leaves you with a bright complexion.

This light texture felt so soothing on the skin. There are little tiny flecks of peat in the moisturiser just like the cleanser which at first confused us. It was understandable in the cleanser as it was going to be rinsed off, but we wondered if we would be left with traces of turf on our face after applying the moisturiser – not the look we were going for! Fear not, after gently patting and spreading the smooth cream all over the face, the specks magically disappear. This skincare regime is refreshing and enriching, although those with extra sensitive skin may need to patch test. After using the moisturiser for a few days with no complaints, one occasion caused a few blotches but they quickly calmed. This anti-ageing solution that is 10,000 years in the making will transform dull, dehydrated skin and could be Irish women’s best kept skincare secret!

S ty l e o n th e st r e e t

Name: Valarie Conway From: Limerick Blazer: Lily - €180 Top: Taifun - €80 Jeans: Mosmosh - €150 Shoes: Clarks - €95 Style Inspiration: Marilyn Monroe

Name: Elaine Clogan From: Clare Jacket: Lily - €450 Top: Marc Aurel - €130 Shorts: Lily - €90 Shoes: Amy Huberman - €90 Style Inspiration: Amal Clooney

Name: Adam McKiernan From: Clare T-shirt: Topman - €20 Jeans: Topman - €50 Toms: New York - $48 Style Inspiration: Kanye West

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Name: Dean McMahon From: Limerick Jacket: Zara - €180 T-shirt: Pull & Bear - €15 Jeans: River Island - €40 Shoes: River Island - €53 Style Inspiration: David Beckham

MAKE UP Beauty Trend – Ombré Lip Trending this summer is the Ombré lip look. Ombré meaning - A gradual blending of one colour hue to another using one or more colours. This look contours the mouth, the darker shade adds definition to the mouth and the soft tone of the pigment in the centre of the lips creates an illusion of fuller lips. What you see here is more of a dramatic look, but an Ombré lip can be recreated using the same technique with lighter colours, as long as the shades being used are from the same colour family. A lip pencil and a lip brush are essential to recreate this look.

Step 1 - Prime the lips all over for longevity. Using MAC ‘Magenta’ lip pencil, line the natural shape of the lip, then, using a lip brush, blend that colour into the lip.

Step 2 - Now use MAC ‘Candy Yum Yum’ lipstick, filling the rest of the lip in with this, then rub lips together for blending.

Step 3 - Using MAC ‘Nightmoth’ lip pencil to draw over the natural lip shape (if you have fuller lips already just go along the natural lip line) to make the lips look fuller.

Then again blending it inwards with a lip brush.

Step 4 - Now for a more dramatic look I’m adding a black eyeliner pencil from Urban Decay to the outer corners of the mouth, blending inwards using a lip brush.

Step 5 - Add some more MAC ‘Candy Yum Yum’ lipstick into the centre of the lip and then rub the lips together again for more blending.

Step 6 - Using MAC ‘Vanilla’ pigment with a lip brush and pressing this onto the centre of the lips.

Step 7 - For this final step I’m adding a clear lip gloss from MAC all over the lips with a lip brush for a glossy finish. If a matte look is desired simply leave out the gloss, place a tissue between your lips and press down with your lips to take away any excess product.

Article by: Mary Kiely Twitter: @kielymary Model: Shauna Lindsay Images by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com

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FA S H I O N

Play Dress-Up for thisYear’s

Music Festivals

Music festivals are a just reward of sunshine, laughs and a few (dozen) cheeky drinks after the 9 - 10 month-long Irish winter.

Many attendees will chose to go for The Uniform: floral crown, tiny shorts, and a healthy dose of fake tanned leg, ending in the long sock/ welly combo. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with The Uniform - apart from it being so ubiquitous at the Irish festival as to deserve the title of The Uniform.

I’ve attended a decent mixture of festivals - from my first and only Oxegen in 2007 (when I sported a fetching purple rain jacket for three days), to East London hipster-fest Field Day (where I felt helplessly uncool next to people with more piercings than clothes). I feel like this spectrum of experience has given me some really fun festival fashion inspiration.

Firstly - a thought on dresses. Eschewed by many for the practicality issues when sitting on the ground - they are actually a great option. You just need to choose a pleasantly floaty style so that you can conserve your modesty with some strategic tucking when sitting cross-legged. It’s an all-in-one outfit which still allows you to expose some skin to the (hopefully) glorious sunshine, and can be layered up to the hilt with T-shirts, hoodies, and even a fetching purple rain jacket. Just Google pictures of Coachella to see how the boho American crowd do it. Denim is kind of an ideal festival fabric, whether it’s in a dress, jacket or shirt.

Go for a fun floral print, which besides being awfully pretty will hide the mud. Once the base is taken care of, it’s a lot of fun to experiment with accessories. Why not try going for a theme with friends (think of a loose disco/ 90s/ under the sea vibe - more gentle co-ordination and less hen party). Every year Bestival, which takes place in the Isle of Wight, has a different overall theme, this year’s being Summer of Love. If they can do it, so can you.

Take the chance to experiment with something you wouldn’t have tried before, whether it’s outrageous fake eye lashes or a wig (which can come in handy after not washing your hair for a couple of days.

Obviously the fashion is secondary to just having an amazing time and enjoying the music, but there’s no harm in looking great for the photos.

Article by: Laura Hastings Twitter: @LauraHastings89 Image by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com Model: Gillian Egleston

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SHAUNA LINDSAY STYLE GUIDE...

Festival season is beginning and what better way to get inspired than looking at the fashion queens rock it out at Coachella.

These fashion queens im talking about are of course Gigi Hadid. I LOVE this look because it’s extremely wearable and very easy to re-create without the thousand euro price-tag!

Gigi is wearing a black crochet crop top with black shorts, paired with an awesome fringe waistcoat (I found the EXACT match) and she has very smartly used a necklace as a badass looking belt, hooking it onto the belt loops of her shorts (yay for creativity)!

The Bodyshop Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil

ASOS Fringe Suede Collar - €68.49

THIS MONTHS FAVOURITES River Island Black Crochet Bralet - €47.00

www.flashtat.com ‘Child Of Wild’ Metallic Body Tattoos - €25.00

www.ASOS.com Beaded Traveller Pouch Necklace - €16.44

River Island - Black Distressed Ruby Denim Shorts - €35.00

www.express.com EXACT Necklace/ Belt - €49.90 www.boots.com Soltan Beautiful Bronze Self Tan Gel - €12.99

www.gosh.ie - GOSH Cosmetics CC Cream - €13.99

H By Hudson Kivar Beige Seude Ankle Boots - €136.98

Zara Studded Leather Messenger Bag - €45.95

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So staying on the theme of festivals, its very important that your skin is ‘on fleek’ and glowing while your bopping around in some random field drinking buckfast with the gals!

On a serious note though, one of my most frequently asked question is always ‘what do you use for leg shine?’ I don’t think people understand the importance of ‘leg shine’ and at festivals its number one priority (theres my dramatic side again).

A few months ago I came across a game changer in the whole ‘leg shine’ scene.

Its a product from ‘The Bodyshop’ and its called ‘Honey Bronze Shimmering Dry Oil’. This dry oil was released in 2011 as part of The Bodyshops ‘Honey Bronze’ collection and has remained a part of their permanent line, costing €25.95 for 100mls. The ingredients include Fair Trade honey and Beeswax, both of which are amazing for your skin, and if that wasn’t good enough, its the most beautiful smelling product ever made. (although some would disagree) The oil moisturises and softens the skin while giving you a gorgeous, subtle, bronzed glow. It dries into your skin super fast and doesn’t leave you with that sticky, greasy feeling.

When you first try this product you might be a little terrified as it comes out quite pigmented and strong, but blend it with an old makeup brush and you have the nicest legs in the land. Being naturally sallow, this product really enhances my tan, but it also looks amazing on the palest of skin. I like to use this product on my arms, legs and chest. (and any other part of my body I’m leaving hang out for a night out on the town) I would definitely recommend this product to all ladies, all ages, who are looking for that sexy ‘Victoria Secret’ glow. Let me know what you think!

Twitter: @shaunalindsay Instagram: @shaunalindsay Website: www.shaunalindsay.com

M E N ’ S FA S H IO N The summer has arrived and we are about to be taking back in time to the 1920s with the comeback of the glorious French Riviera. The style that defined a decade is back, and boy are we excited to showcase the amazing pieces that kept the men of yester-year in high style. Typically associated with the rich and powerful men of the French Riviera, you don’t have to own a yacht to pull off this timeless classic style.

LINEN BLAZER First up, the amazing linen blazer. Unlined and lightweight material, the linen blazer is the perfect first addition for that classic Riviera style. Go for something relaxed and causal that you can just throw over the shoulder when the sun gets too much. Neutral colours usually work best for this look and really set off the outfit.

Where to Buy? Zara.com How much? €95.16

BRETON STRIPES The key piece to this style and look is the Breton Stripes, the most eye-catching part of the outfit relies on this crucial piece. The Breton stripes were first worn by the French navy in 1858, and a horizontal band of blue and white makes for an immaculate finish. It also helps that Jean-Paul Gaultier has been keeping the look fresh since the start of his career.

Where to Buy? Asos How much? €47.94

TAILORED SHORTS Tailored shorts are the only way to maintain your sartorial standards – they really pull this amazing look together. Put with the Breton knit and the linen blazer, the shorts launch this outfit way beyond the classic Riviera style. Ideally, you want to source yourself a pair that finishes just above the knee in a neutral or pastel shade. Make sure your shorts are crisp and clean and say “summer” not holiday.

Where to Buy? Tommy Hilfiger, Brown Thomas Limerick How much? €116.10

DRIVING SHOES A lot can be said about the solid deck shoe. The worst is that it takes some months to break these bad boys in, but hey no one ever looked good without a little pain, so suck it up and carry on. Or if you want to be comfortable from the off, try a pair of driving shoes made from supple suede or leather instead. Whether you end up at a music festival or the beautiful highways of Monaco this summer, do it in style and get your driving shoes on.

Where to Buy? www.schuh.eu How much? €170.00 Article by: Evan Considine Blog: pageforevan.blogspot.com

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I WANT

TO DIE

WITH MY

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Fashion Credits Photographer: Tarmo Tulit MUA: Mary Kiely, Annette Smyth Hair: Siobhán Ryan, Niall Colgan Limerick Stylists: Stephen Lynch, Shauna Lindsay Models: Ryan Barrett, Shauna Lindsay & Richie Lind Clothing by: New Look Cruises St, Remix Arthur’s Quay, Jean Depot Cruises St. FUSION MAGAZINE | 37

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T r av e l The Redhead and the Backpack #4 Monk Chat: train your monkey mind (Chiang Mai)

In Thailand, along with the monarchy, Buddhist monks are highly revered. 95% of Thais are Buddhist and at some stage in his life, every Thai Buddhist boy is expected to spend time as a monk. Buddhism is very prevalent here - in train and bus stations monks have reserved seating, there’s a density of temples and at the feet of Buddha statues, fresh food offerings can be seen daily. There’s even a billboard on the way to the city from Bangkok airport that warns tourists that any Buddha tattoos they may have, are disrespectful. While in the templefilled Chiang Mai, I decided to take advantage of a meditation programme offered by the Buddhist monks here. For two days and one night, they offer anyone who wants to the opportunity to meditate with them and learn about Buddhist teachings. I emailed ahead a few days in advance and on Tuesday, turned up at the Chiang Mai office to attend. A small donation is requested to cover meals, accommodation and transport to the retreat, which is a 45 minute drive from Chiang Mai.

10 seconds, I managed to meditate. It was the strangest feeling and sounds like a cliché, but when it happened, I saw bright white and felt as if I was floating out of my body. Then, feeling excited to have that happen, I snapped out of it.

SO FRUSTRATING!!

On arrival I met Cat, a girl backpacking from Birmingham and we decided to share a room. The rooms were simple and the beds rock hard. We left our bags in the room, donned our white clothing for meditation and in silence, crossed the courtyard to the main hall as a loud bell sounded to call us. This all sounds really daunting but really it wasn’t. The monks leading us were warm and friendly. All they asked, was that we observe silence over the following two days.

The day started with chanting - praising the Buddha, the Dharma (teachings of Buddha) and the Sangha (followers of Buddha).

Meditation in sitting then began. Meditation in Buddhism is important as it allows a follower to practise “mindfulness” and it teaches how to control the mind: “You must train your monkey minds”. We were told to concentrate on our breathing - think “inhaling” and “exhaling”. If a thought entered our minds, acknowledge it, but then return to the breathing. Before, when I thought of meditation, I believed that I had to clear my mind of everything. The monks informed us that meditation isn’t this - it is controlling your mind, not clearing it. They taught us that people are so aware of having a healthy body - they eat well and exercise to maintain it. But rarely do they have an appreciation of a healthy mind, and rarely do they spend time looking after it. Humans are like water, H2O. The body is the hydrogen, the mind is the oxygen. Separately, these elements do not equate to water, together they do. Similarly, for humans, the body and mind must be looked after together to make us whole.

I have to say that the meditation, ironically enough, was draining! It was so difficult to not think! You think that you are not thinking but even thinking this, you are thinking.... if that makes sense?! Inhaling and exhaling - they’re the only thoughts to have. Mindful breathing. Twice in that first day, for less than

The next morning was a 5am wake up call. We started the day with morning chants, then meditation. Afterwards we participated in a gentle exercise session (looking after the body) lead by Dr Anchlee Gibbins, a beautiful lady of about 50 who is an advisor to the meditation programme. Then it was time to line up to give alms. This is done daily around temples

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in Thailand where people line up to make food offerings to the monks. We had breakfast at 7.30am, again in silence. The breakfast was simple, as was all the food.

Rice and broth, noodles and vegetables - all vegetarian.

After this, we were allowed to break the silence for a question and answer session with the monks. This was amazing and there were no rules about what we could and couldn’t ask. It really allowed us to learn about Buddhism and the monks leading it were fantastic, and were so open and honest. Some of the most interesting comments/revelations for me were: - Buddhism isn’t a religion, it’s a way of living. It is open for anyone to participate in, either wholly or partly.

- Buddhists follow a 5 part code of ethics (precepts). No killing, no stealing, no sexual misconduct, no lying, no alcohol/drugs. Monks too abide by this and breaking any one of these precepts results in permanent expulsion from the monastery.

- Buddhists believe in karma. They also believe that suffering in life is unavoidable and how much suffering you have correlates to your behaviour in a past life. On the subject of karma, the monk leading our group’s discussion told a story that I thought was quite controversial. His own nephew, a university student, got his girlfriend pregnant.

They both decided to have an abortion. A short while later, his nephew was involved in a fatal car accident.

He and his family believe that this was the spirit of the baby exacting karma upon him as he broke one of the 5 precepts - you shall not kill, when aborting the baby.

- Anxiety shortens life. Monks strongly believe in neuroplasticity - useful, as so do physios (my job before I went on my travels). If you continuously have negative thoughts, only negative connections in your brain will form. Have only positive thoughts to foster positive connections (meditation helps to train you to do this control your mind).

- Another controversial one...... the Buddhist belief is that if somebody commits suicide, it is because they did so in their previous life. Until that person has gotten through 500 lives, each life will end as a result of suicide.

- Food is not to be enjoyed. It is purely to nourish the body.

- Unlike most other religions, Buddhism embraces everybody - transsexuals, homosexuals, ladyboys.

Everyone.

- Forgive and forget. This is not to let the person who has wronged you off the hook, it’s to allow yourself off the hook. If you can’t forgive and you can’t forget, the only person whose mind suffers is yours.

A very interesting and valuable two days. And, like the monks informed us, Buddhism allows you to take away the parts that you, yourself, believe in. I don’t believe that spirits of babies arrange car accidents. I’ll continue to drink red wine, eat chocolate and enjoy it. However, I will take mindfulness away with me. I will continue to practise mediation. I will think more positively and train my mind to do so. And I will try to forgive and forget more readily.

Article by: Yvonne Dallman Facebook: /TheRedHeadandTheBackpack Images by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com

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BUSINESS

‘Celebrate Success!’ Jenny Huston tells Network Ireland Limerick Business Women of the Year Award Winners Last month, Limerick’s top business women gathered together in the beautiful No.1 Pery Square, to celebrate their success at the Network Ireland Limerick’s Businesswomen of the Year Awards.

The Awards were hosted by Jenny Huston, former 2FM DJ and founder and designer of jewellery brand Edge Only.

She gave an impassioned speech on the importance of women owning their achievements in their careers, and giving themselves a pat on the back.

WINNERS ON THE NIGHT

Network Ireland Limerick Business Woman of the Year, Established Business Carmel Bracken, Design Wise Automation The former legal secretary started DesignWise Automation Limited in 1993 with her husband, who came from a Mechanical Engineering background.

DesignWise Automation Limited are industry leaders in automation design and consultancy services. They provide intelligent and effective solutions and are committed to delivering the highest standards of design in each project for Special Purpose Equipment & Automation Systems. They have supplied many industries, with Healthcare and Medical Devices as their key focus.

The company motto is ‘a simple solution to a complex problem.’ “Our core competency is design, hence the name Designwise,” says Carmel.

2015 looks set to be a hugely successful year for Carmel and her husband Declan, as not only will they be marking 21 years in business, they will also celebrate their 25th Wedding Anniversary in June.

Network Ireland Limerick Businesswoman of the year New Business Donna Kennedy, Lilac Rose Bridal

Network Ireland Limerick Business Woman of the Year, Employee Category Petrina Hayes, The Savoy Hotel

Lilac Rose is a leading bridal boutique offering a one-to-one service for brides looking for dresses and accessories. It caters to customers seeking more of an eclectic and individual style. Donna says: “We are uniquely defined by our range of stock and offer the highest standard of customer service. Each customer is assigned their own dedicated consultant who is on hand throughout.”

“My aim is not only to provide alternative pieces, but to ensure that the service and aftercare far exceeds my customers’ expectations.”

Donna has not only succeeded in the local market but also further afield, with 45% of her sales coming from elsewhere in the country, and 5% of sales in the international market.

The solicitor-turned-bridal shop owner puts her success down to “passion, excitement and zeal to grow the business further.”

Since taking on the role as Marketing Manager of The Savoy Limerick City Hotel, Petrina has been responsible for the rebranding of The Savoy from the Marriott, and the continued growth and development of the Savoy brand.

Petrina maintains that keeping on top of customer needs is vital to her role. “The hospitality industry is a fast moving sector and it is so important to be aware of what your customer wants and expects reading relevant and up to date articles, traveller’s reviews and blogs help me to understand what we need to be achieving to keep our guests happy. As American business leader Victor Kiam once said, ‘In business, the competition will bite you if you keep running, if you stand still, they will swallow you.’ We are the people that are entrusted to close the sales and to make the guests’ experience so great, there’s no question they’ll come back and be our guests again.”

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FOO D & D RI N K ‘Come Hungry, Leave Happy’ – The Buttery, Bedford Row, Limerick Young, vibrant and smart, Limerick lady Hazel Murphy was born to be an entrepreneur. The Buttery, located on Bedford Row in Limerick has recently celebrated their 1st birthday, a huge milestone for any new business. Employing 14 members of staff, this stylish dining hub not only has a fantastic day trade, they now have added tapas and wine to their delicious new menus. We sit down with the stylish Hazel to get to know more about The Buttery.

“The Buttery was really a dream come true for me! I spend my days managing the day to day running of The Buttery & generally tackling all the fun stuff involved in running a business, I’m an extremely chatty person, so I try to spend as much time as I can out in the main restaurant and that fits very well with this industry - we have the most fabulous customers who have in my eyes become good friends!”

How did you get involved in this line of work?

It may sound like a cliché but I always wanted to open a restaurant!

The energy, atmosphere, dealing with people who are there to enjoy themselves - all of it appealed to me so much - watching people come and ensuring that there visit is pleasant & being told as they are leaving what a wonderful time they had - that to me is ultimate job satisfaction.

What do we get at The Buttery?

Breakfast - Monday to Saturday Fluffy American Style Pancakes with Streaky Bacon, Eggs Benedict, Royale & Florentine, Avocado & Egg, Veggie Breakfast - We love breakfast at The Buttery.

Lunch - Monday to Saturday We recently launched our new menu, you can find our Pulled Pork Bap with our homemade BBQ sauce - it’s just delicious! The Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich is very popular – All of our Salads are with the freshest ingredients – My favourite is the Veggie Salad – it is so tasty and eye-catching with chickpeas, beetroot, halloumi & a spicy tahini dressing.

Wine & Tapas - Friday & Saturday from 6pm An excellent way to spend an evening with friends, or with a special someone. It’s sexy in the city (Laughs). We are rolling out a larger menu along with new wines & the sexiest plates & bowls! You will have to come in to see and you won’t leave disappointed - I may be bias but I love coming in with the girls to start off our nights out!

Brunch on Sunday.

Every city in the world enjoys leisurely brunches on a Sunday and Limerick should be no different - it is the day of rest, when people have time to relax, I want people to be able to come, eat good food & drink great coffee in lovely surroundings.

What is the best part of your job?

I adore my team here in The Buttery so much they are exceptional! Dynamic, hardworking committed and so passionate it’s infectious to work in an environment like this! Being able to work with my brother day in & day out - although at times it can test even the most patient of people, I wouldn’t change it for the world - we have such great fun and he is an incredible support for me and of course being able to constantly evolve and be creative with food, drinks, decorations, menus - even down to small things like choosing the music that is playing it’s so enjoyable.

One of the things I love most is turning the key in the door every morning and meeting the interesting and fabulous people coming & going, from tourists to people on lunch breaks, to groups of friends catching up its overwhelming to watch it.

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when it comes out! Watching photos being taken and hearing the infectious laughter coming from tables because they are enjoying themselves so much that to me is just priceless! Going for a meal, no matter what time of the day or how much you are spending, it should be a fun and enjoyable experience that leaves you smiling - and that is what we aim to create every single day for every single customer!

The Buttery is a beautiful space, what is the inspiration behind the interior of the restaurant?

I wanted a light, bright but cosy space that you can get lost in alone with the papers or lost in conversation with friends. I wanted everyone to feel comfortable, I’m not overly fond of modern & minimalist style. I have inherited my mother’s obsession for candles & quirky bits & pieces dotted around the restaurant. Mum comes in weekly to arrange fresh flowers, and has a quick spot check (to keep us all on our toes!) I have been told over & over again by customers they feel like they are sitting in their own homes so I guess home was the inspiration, because they do say it’s where the heart is!

Finally, what are your contact details for people to get in touch?

Phone: 061-597668 Email: thebutterylimerick@hotmail.com Facebook: /TheButteryLimerick

Vietnamese Chicken Salad I love looking up recipes from around the world. There is a want in me to travel and taste all the glorious recipes from the different continents. This salad came about using some basic ingredients from home with flair from Vietnam.

(Serves 2) 3 shallots Half a red chilli deseeded 1 tablespoon of granulated sugar 3-4 black peppercorns 100ml rice vinegar 3 tablespoons of oyster sauce/fish sauce 1 large chicken fillet Sea salt and black pepper Quarter head of white cabbage 1 large carrot A few sprigs of mint A small bunch of coriander A small handful of salted peanuts

Method 1. Peel and coarsely chop the shallots, add them to a large mortar and pestle along with chopped chilli and the sugar and black pepper. Grind it until soft and liquid is dispersed. Transfer this mix to a large bowl and stir in the rice vinegar and fish sauce. Set to one side.

2. Brush the chicken fillet with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill it under a medium/high heat for about 6-8 mins either side making sure it is cooked through. Allow to cool then shred with your fingers finding the natural grain.

3. Finely shred the cabbage and chop the carrot into fine matchsticks, taking your time. Add these to the vinegar mix, toss thoroughly then add the chicken, mint leaves, coriander leaves, toss like you would a normal salad until combined and top with a scatter of roughly chopped peanuts.

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VA L’ S K I T C H E N Against the Grain The whole paleo thing has been here for a while now, the basis of it being that we eat like our paleolithic ancestors and chow down on lots of protein and, ideally plenty of fresh greens, nuts and berries. While it’s unlikely that our caveman cousins were enjoying a six-egg spinach omelette every morning, and probably ate all the animal, not just the muscle meat like steak, there is lots of evidence showing that eating this way will help you lose body fat and build muscle. But there’s more to life than having a body like Conor McGregor (is there?) and who doesn’t love something sweet in the evenings or with a yummy cup of coffee during the day? I’m a devil for a chocolate brownie myself, or some carrot cake, or just a snifter of something to take the edge off.

To have sweet cravings is a natural thing but if you satisfy these wants with delicious baked treats made with coconut or almonds and sweetened with honey or maple syrup, you will have beautiful, moist cakes that are far from lacking. In fact it’s better for you to eat these yummy things than to not eat them. It might even count as a way towards your five-a-day.

Beetroot Epic Brownies

These are sexy brownies, no other way to say it. I am thrilled with how they turn out.

Ingredients

Method 1. Break up the chocolate and put it in a thick-bottomed pot with the butter, heat gently until it’s all melted together, stir gently while melting 2. Add the vanilla and leave to cool slightly, slowly stir in the maple syrup

200g dark chocolate - min 70% cocoa solids 100g butter (or coconut oil if you are off dairy)

3. Blitz the cooked beets in a blender and add to the mix

2 medium cooked beetroot - optional

4. Beat the eggs in one by one, sprinkle on the ground almonds and stir in until well combined

2 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract

5. Pour the mix into the prepared tin and bake for 25-30 minutes until slightly risen

100ml pure maple syrup 150g ground almonds Preheat oven 170degreesC Line a small baking tin, about 20cm x 10cm with foil

6. Take out from the oven and leave to set until almost completely cold, cut gently and devour with cream or ice cream, and a few raspberries

Carrot Cake Muffins Grain free, gluten free, sugar free, tasty! These easy and deliciously moist muffins tick all the boxes when it comes to a sweet treat that’s actually good for you. Have them for breakfast with coffee or as a perfect lunch-time snack. Don’t be fooled by their dodgy appearance, they are beautiful on the inside.

Carrot Cake Muffins - makes 12 Preheat the oven to 170degreesC

Ingredients

6 free range eggs 1/2 cup melted butter OR coconut oil (extra virgin available from Dunnes and Superquinn) 6 tblsp runny honey 1 tblsp vanilla extract 1 tsp bread soda 1 tsp cinnamon 1 ½ cups coconut flour, you can get this from health food shops and Musgrave’s 2 cups grated carrots 1/2 cup raisins or mix of raisins and sultanas 1/2 cup chopped walnuts Preheat the oven to 170degreesC/350F/Gas 5

Method

Mix all the wet ingredients together in a large bowl, sprinkle in the coconut flour and stir, ensuring you have no lumps. Add the carrots and the remaining ingredients and mix well, you don’t need to use a mixer or food processor so please don’t.

The mix will look way too carrotty but it’s fine Spoon it into muffin cases and bake for 30 minutes or so until they are a nice dark brown.

Leave them to cool slightly before devouring.

Article & Images by: Valerie O’Connor Website: www.valskitchen.com Twitter: @valoconnor FUSION MAGAZINE | 50

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BAKING Str awberry Cheeseca ke Ice Crea m I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! And what better way to scream about the summer’s best dessert than to make it yourself. This recipe, you cynical nay sayers, is one of those why-have-I-never-tried-this-before moments! If you have a bowl, access to an electric mixer and the ability to buy ingredients in a supermarket, then you my friend are ready to embark of the most important journey of your life. Homemade ice cream is as easy as… well, pie, but some people find baking pie hard so it’s as easy as the easiest thing you have ever done. Look, it’s just easy peasy, Trust me!

The bog standard recipe for homemade vanilla ice cream has three ingredients: double cream, condensed milk and a splash of vanilla. This is what the business calls your base recipe! From there add in a tub of mascarpone, reduce some strawberries, blitz some digestives, fold them all together, freeze it overnight and for much less than the price of a teeny tiny tub of Haagen Dazs you have about two litres of homemade Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream. This is a no churn, no fuss, no brainer. And with so many fruits coming into season, imagine the possibilities. Maybe give Raspberry and Coconut a go, or how about Peaches and Cream or even Banana’s Fosters? Whatever you decide the end result will be delicious homemade creamy ice cream, perfect for those lazy summer days.

Bake Time

15-20 minutes preparation, overnight freezing.

Pan Size

One 2 litre loaf tin or two small 1 litre loaf tin.

Serving Size

Depends on who you are sharing with!!

What you need For the filling: • 300g strawberries, hulled and chopped roughly • 100g caster sugar • 1 tbsp water

For the Ice cream: • 1 can sweetened condensed milk • 250ml of double cream • 225g of Mascarpone cheese • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 80g of soft butter • 10 digestive biscuits

Article by: Hazel Ryan Sheehan Website: www.cupcakerys.com Twitter: @cupcakerys Image by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com

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D RI N K S SUMMER D ELIGHTS

I love June. The promise of warmer weather, less rain, starting of barbeque season and, of course, those small little delights from our own garden or our grannies garden, that begin to come into season. The best fruits in June are of course strawberries. There are also peas and broad beans in season but I am still working on drink recipes with those two involved. I am definitely a fan of strawberries. Not only are they juicy, summery and uber-delicious, they are also nutrient-rich and packed with antioxidants like vitamin C. They offer a wide range of health benefits - regulating blood pressure, fighting bad cholesterol, helping to fight cancer, promoting eye health and boosting immunity. Definitely they are one of the super foods that is on top of my list. There is so much you could do with fresh strawberries - jams, purees, jelly, ice cream - but what I love most is to fire up my barbeque, call a few of my friends, and while cooking up some meaty treats I prepare a couple of jugs of strawberry delights to get us started. The easiest would be everybody’s favourite - Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri. It is really simple to make and it is the perfect summer cocktail.

Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri

(Serving 6) 1 cup or 200 ml light rum 100 ml of lime juice (6-8 limes, depends how juicy they are) 50 g of sugar (if you like it sweeter, feel free to add more) 500 grams of fresh strawberries (if not available, you could use frozen ones as well) Method: Place the strawberries and sugar into a blender, whizz it up until smooth, then add lime juice, rum and a handful of ice.

Blend, until mixture is nice and smooth. Taste it - you can still adjust the sweet or sour, adding more lime juice or more sugar, and of course you could increase the strawberry content, if you like it fruitier. Pour into frozen or chilled glasses and enjoy. If you leave out the rum, it would be a lovely treat for the young barbeque enthusiasts as well.

If you are not a big fan of rum and your barbeque is Mexican themed, you could mix up some Strawberry Margaritas instead, but be careful those little deliciosos tend to be a bit on the sneaky side. There is a chance you will burn your meats if you have too many of them before you start grilling!

Frozen Strawberry Margarita

(Serving 6) 200 ml of Tequila 100 ml of Cointreau or Triple Sec 100 ml of lime juice 100 g of sugar (could be less if you do not want it as sweet) 500 g fresh strawberries (feel free to add more if you want the drink fruitier) Method: Put the strawberries and sugar into a blender and mix until smooth. Add lime juice, Tequila, Cointreau or Triple sec, plus a handful of ice and mix until smooth. Pour into chilled or frozen glasses and enjoy.

So, let us hope we get enough sun in June so our strawberries will be extra sweet and juicy. Be sure to try to enjoy those little super berries while they are in the peak of their season.

Article by: Kaur Ellermae Image by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com

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HOME TRENDS

Yellow

PusH

POPS this

Summer

Have you heard that Decorating with Pops of Yellow is the hot home décor trend of Summer 2015?

We thought it would be fun to take a look at some rooms that have POPS of yellow and some that have a bit more than a POP! We have to be honest… yellow was never “our” colour, but we are really loving yellow right now as a complimentary colour.

Vincent van Gogh said this about yellow: “a colour capable of charming God.” Now let’s see what you think of it! Maybe some of these rooms will inspire you to add a POP of yellow into your home décor and brighten up your home this Summer.

Interior design trends tend to mimic the fashion fads and much like on the catwalks, yellow appears to be having quite a moment lately. While yellow can appear garish, a lot can be said for bringing a little sunshine into your home. A few tasteful and tactical touches can add warmth and character to any boring space.

The key to successfully incorporating yellow into your home is sticking to an otherwise neutral colour scheme. Yellow works fantastically with monochrome, beiges and especially grey. It can blend in with the most sleek and modern of interiors as well as the earthier, bohemian surroundings.

Whether you choose to go all out with a feature wall or decide to keep things a little more subtle with a few zesty soft furnishings, a touch of yellow is a great way to brighten up your rooms.

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HELPFUL HINTS OF YELLOW Throw pillows are a fantastic way to incorporate any trend in your home. Toss a pillow on the couch and voila, instant update.

Throw rugs can add a pop of colour to any room, like a Moorishinspired woven rug from Ikea, or try Argos or Harvey Norman.

Another option is painted furniture, like a gorgeous refinished dresser or upholstered furniture.

Shabby chic and bang on trend.

Home accessories like vases, bookends, candle holders, and ministatuary are also a loweffort way to add accents of yellow to your living spaces.

Lamps, chandeliers, wall sconces and other lighting choices are also a great option – find quirky lamps online at places like etsy.com or in local flea markets and boot sales.

A neutral painted room with pops of colourful artwork on the walls is always a showstopper.

Or finally, try adding yellow curtains or blinds to get your yellow decor fix.

Yankee Candles.

That is all!

Mix and match these tips and you are sure to make a statement.

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YOU’RE

SOMEBODY’S

TYPE World Blood Donor Day

Blood. For some, even the sight of the word is enough to cause wobbly knees. Perhaps this article is not for the very faint-hearted in that respect! However, giving blood is a precious gift that literally saves lives on a daily basis. Sunday the 14th of June is World Blood Donor Day and this year, the theme of the campaign is “Thank you for saving my life”. The main objective of the campaign is to show unpaid voluntary donors, who help blood transfusion services all over the world, how much they are appreciated and also to highlight that blood is in constant demand. It aims to promote regular blood donation to ensure availability, quality and safety of blood and blood products. In many countries the demand exceeds the supply of blood so new donors are always welcomed with open arms. The 2015 campaign urges people over the age of 18, all over the world, to give voluntarily and regularly with the slogan: “Give freely, give often. Blood donation matters.”

The average adult has between 10 and 12 pints of blood in their body, and it makes up 7% of a person’s body weight. Of course, there are rules and regulations regarding weight and age and health of donors. When a person gives blood, less than a pint is taken and 90 days must pass between donations.

3,000 blood donors are needed each week in Ireland and only 3% of Ireland’s population give blood. Blood transfusions are not the most common topic of conversation in Ireland. However, a startling statistic is that 1 in 4 people will need a blood transfusion at some point in their lives.

Transfusions of blood and blood products help to save millions of lives each year. Blood transfusions help to support major surgical procedures and they also help patients who are suffering from life threatening illnesses. The body often loses the ability to produce enough of its own red blood cells when undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Patients with low blood cell counts may need transfusions. Unfortunately, sometimes complications can occur during childbirth and a blood transfusion can be essential in saving the lives of the mother and baby. At times of emergency caused by natural or man-made disasters, blood supply in hospitals is vital and in very high demand.

One can be forgiven for being unaware of the complexity of the different blood groups and until you have given or received blood, it’s unlikely that you would know your blood

group. There are eight blood groups and they are: O-, O+, A-, A+, B-, B+, AB- and AB+. The blood type (O-) can give to all of the major blood type groups and the blood type (AB+) can receive from all of the major groups but the others are restricted to compatibility. Whatever your blood type, if you would like to donate, the Irish Blood Transfusion Service will be more than happy to see you at one of their clinics to discuss whether or not giving blood is suitable for you. Giving blood takes approximately 8 to 15 minutes but it is advisable to allow more than an hour for the whole process from registration to refreshments. The total volume of blood taken is 470ml, which is less than a pint as mentioned earlier. It is important to remember that donating blood can take its toll on a person and it would be wise to take it easy for the rest of the day.

Here are the IBTS Limerick clinic dates in June: June 2nd Manister June 4th Castletroy June 16th Raheen Article by: Gemma Musgrave

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June 3rd Rathkeale June 15th Corbally June 29th Dromcollogher

LI M ERI C K LIFE The man with silver teeth and a monkey In 1823 John Goggin married Catherine McNamara, who was about ten years his senior. Catherine had built herself a confectionary and catering business on George Street (O’Connell Street). In 1824, while the couple began expanding their family, John took over the running of the business full time.

The shop stocked a large range of goods from liqueurs and lozenges, to foreign and exotic fruits such as oranges, pickles and wines.

There is the possibility that John enjoyed his occupation as a confectioner a little too much and would sample his own sweets, as during his life he had acquired full set of dentures made entirely of silver. These teeth were sensationalised in July 1863 in the local press with an intriguing court case, when twenty nine year-old Mary Shaughnessy was imprisoned for 3 months for stealing these teeth. The report gave no indication as to how she achieved this feat, though it seems she was a career criminal (this was her 25th conviction). Mary gave the teeth to twelve year-old Margaret Grady. The court decided that as the child knowingly handled stolen goods she was sentenced 14 days imprisonment before spending a further five years in St. Joseph’s Reformatory School in Dublin.

This would continue to be an interesting and tragic year for the Goggin family. In December, “a friend presented Mr Goggin with a monkey, which he determined to treat as a special favourite.” This monkey, though a favourite of John’s, was not a favourite of John’s pet dog. “Ten days ago the animal entered Mr Goggin‘s room, where a lapdog was lying, when a fight ensued, and, in the act of separating them, Mr Goggin received a bite from the monkey in the hand.” (Cork Examiner) Sodium hydroxide, which was the cure-all at the time, was immediately applied to the wound. The bite was located on the joints last two fingers of his right hand, and the sodium hydroxide burned away the damaged flesh. It seemed as it the

wound was on the mend, as although it remained open it was not infected. A few days later John began to feel unwell. This was brought to the attention of the leading doctors in Limerick at the time. Sadly no remedy could aid John and he took a turn for the worse, and he died at his home on 29 George Street. It is probable that he died of hydrophobia (rabies) as the monkey, after killing both the family dog and cat, was deemed infected with the disease.

“The melancholy event has cast a universal gloom over the city.

Mr Goggin was esteemed as a kind friend; frank, affable, and courteous to the numerous patrons of his extensive establishment; and his loss will be long regretted by a large circle of sorrowing friends.” (Cork Examiner). He was buried in St. John’s Church of Ireland Churchyard and his age was recorded as 52 on his headstone, though this would put his age at marriage as 12.

Three weeks later on 10 January 1864, his wife Catherine, aged about 69, also passed away.

The threat of rabies was ever present in nineteenth century Limerick. In 1895, 771 animals were reported as infected, 567 of these being dogs. Two years later provisions were to be put in place under the Disease of Animals Act to prevent the further spread of rabies throughout Ireland. Under this general order all dogs in public places required muzzling. At the same time more stringent measures came into force as to the seizure, destruction and disposal of stray and unmuzzled dogs, and isolation was required for any animal suspected of exposure to rabies. These measures had an almost instant impact on the infection of animals in the country. It was not until 1902 that rabies was considered eradicated in Ireland.

Article by: Sharon Slater Twitter: @limerickslife

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K A T H LEE N T U R N ER

Name: Kathleen Turner Age: 33 From: The Wilds of Tyrone

How long have you been playing music?

And what was the first song you ever learned to play?

I’ve been singing since always really.

Everyone in my family sings so I was surrounded by it at home and at school.

My earliest memory is singing along with the TV to ‘Name That Tune’ with Lionel Blair on the BBC..... And now I feel old.

The first song I ever learned to play was ‘Sorry’ by Tracey Chapman. I was about 12 I think, and I was given a wee nylon string acoustic guitar for my birthday. I remember feeling completely amazing, being able to play a song myself - just the total biz. I had completely forgotten that lovely memory! Thanks for reminding me!

First album you ever bought with your own money?

Ooh, I think it was a tape of Gloria Estefan’s ‘Cuts Both Ways.’ I urge everyone to go immediately and YouTube ‘Get on your feet.’ Brilliant.

How did you get involved in the music scene in Limerick?

When I first moved to Limerick, I was doing my Masters at the Irish World Academy and Dave Irwin was in my class. He’s just a gorgeous pianist and guitarist, and he was working on Liam O’Brien’s ‘Crooning at Christmas’ jazz show in Dolan’s. Dave told Liam about me, and they asked me to do a few songs. And it just went from there really.

One of my favourite things about Limerick is the way people just take you into their group of friends - there’s such a welcome here. One gig, and suddenly I was meeting all of these beautiful musicians and being asked to do more. When I first moved here, someone told me I’d get pulled in by the music community here. I was meant to be here for 10 months and that was almost 9 years ago.

You were part of the Pig Town Fling last year and also part of the documentary that was filmed…how was the experience, recording and performing with so many musicians from Limerick?

I had such a gorgeous time working on the Pig Town Fling. I was paired with Godknows Jonas and the poet, Jo Slade.

We came from completely different backgrounds musically, but we all have a love of words. We had such a great time writing that song, and then when Denise Chaila, MuRli and Trent came on board for the recording it just knitted together.

And being part of the gig itself was something else. We had been backstage running through the song for a good while, getting amped up. If you’ve ever seen Godknows perform, you know that you have to deliver 110%. By the time we actually got to the stage, we were just so excited to perform. That was a perfect moment, I’ll hold onto that.

Orchestra Studio. Such a gorgeous group of musicians worked on that, I was really lucky. I didn’t intend it to happen this way, but the combination of everyone’s musical backgrounds made that folk soul thing work I think. I had Cillian O’Dalaigh on guitar, Thomas Johnston on pipes and whistle and Kieran Munnelly on snare and flute. All of those guys are really beautiful trad players, so they brought that to the table.

Then we had the gorgeous jazzers, Boris Hunka on keys and Peter Hannagan on double bass. And Diane Daly on violin, she’s supremely talented and completely made Kenmare Bay, which is the most complex song on the EP. And it was all recorded by Sean Og Graham. He’s an awesome musician himself, and I’d heard the work he’d done on Niamh Dunne’s album, ‘Portraits’ so I knew I wanted to work with him. A very happy day and a half that was.

If you were to describe your music to someone who hadn’t heard it before… what would you say?

I always find that really hard to answer.

I think I’m a bit of a mix-up of sounds because I grew up with the whole singersongwriter folk background, but I also have a huge love of gospel and soul. I used to listen to Aretha Franklin’s Gold album on repeat, the entire way through my teens. So... I guess my songs try to bring folk and soul together in some way.

What gigs do you have coming up over the Summer?

At the minute getting ready for my first home gigs in the North - very excited about that. We’re in Strule Arts Centre, Omagh on 23rd May, Black Box in Belfast on 24th May, and there’s more dates for the summer in Cork, Dublin and Galway being arranged at the moment.

But definitely best of all, I’ll be playing back in my favourite spot. We’re in Dolan’s on Saturday 27th June! Can’t wait!!!

You have an EP up on Bandcamp called Some Stories, when did you record it, where and with who?

I recorded Some Stories just because I needed to get the songs out there, for my own joy. I had a brilliant time recording it. We could only get everyone together for a day and a half so we recorded almost all of it live, in the Irish Chamber

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Interview by: Olivia Chau Twitter: @olliechau Image by: Tarmo Tulit www.tarmotulit.com

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D J PROFILE

Name: Maedbh O’Connor Age: The tender aul age of 21 From: Born and bred in Limerick City How long have you been a DJ? I started DJing when I was about 17. I got involved with a local DJ school in the city called Beats Working, which was owned at the time by local DJs from Limerick who were also in charge of the running of a very successful club night called Bunga Bunga in the city. Immediately I loved it.

What first got you interested?

The first underground night I ever attended was in Dolans Warehouse where a techno DJ called Dave Clarke was playing. I was going along as it was a friend’s birthday. I had heard of Dave Clarke before but didn’t know much about that kind of scene in Limerick, so said I’d go along for a look and fell in love with both the place and the tunes. Then I heard about a night being ran in the city called Macronite, formally Micronite, which was run by a guy called Dan Sykes and loads of other local Limerick DJs. I had seen a lot of the posters around and the line-up was always sick. So I went anyway, and it was nuts! I knew after heading to a few of the Macronite nights that I was mad to get in to the DJing, the sound system was one of was best around and hearing tunes I loved on such a loud sound system gave me the urge to want to do it myself, to be up on that stage one day lashing out tunes that I loved on a system that was great.

Ultimately all this really made me want to become a DJ. What was you first gig?

The first gig I played was in good old Bakers Place in the Underground in Limerick supporting a duo DJ act called ‘Hystereo’.

It was a beats working showcase and was held as part of the Bump Limerick Music Conference Festival, which was savage craic! I had played a few small gigs before that, but that was my first gig in front of a big crowd.

What type of music do you play?

Techno! Anything that is really heavy and raw, although I have been known to drop a few base house and footwork tunes from time to time depending on the type of gig I’m playing and what type of mood I’m in. I have a soft spot for every genre really, but usually find inspiration from the likes of Ansome, JoeFarr, MPIA3 and Sunil Sharpe.

What is your preferred weapon of choice?

If I had to choose I would definitely be playing off CDJ 2000’s with a 2000 mixer - they are sweet! At the moment I own CDJ 1000’s and an 800 mixer, and work off the Software Serato with a Rane SL3, Simple yet effective!

Where can we catch you next?

I am going to focus a bit on production work over the Summer but watch this space. I will be back with a vengeance in September.

Interview by: Olivia Chau Twitter: @olliechau Image by: Tarmo Tulit – www.tarmotulit.com FUSION MAGAZINE | 65

FIL M

Ardmore Studios: Cinematic dreams on the way to Limerick

Lights, camera, action. The old mantra from the world of celluloid illusions might soon be heard loud and clear here in Limerick city. Film addicts and cinema buffs alike may see their dreams of a film studio sited in their locality realized if Innovate Limerick, a company set up by Limerick City and County Council, gets its way.

For you see, Ardmore Studios, currently headquartered in Bray, Wicklow is running out of space, and it is looking to expand right here in our own very doorstep. The company’s eyeing up a gigantic 33,445sq metres (that’s about 340,000 square feet) building unit at Plassey Technological Park to fulfill its need for further studio space.

That particular building was formerly occupied by Dell, and further back in yonder years, Wang Computers. The site was purchased by Limerick businessman PJ Noonan 12 years ago, and was leased to Limerick City of Culture last year as a dedicated events venue.

Ardmore Studios opened way back in 1958, and has evolved in sync with the times ever since. The studio has played host to a large number of productions over the years, both foreign and domestic. From episodes of Fair City to Braveheart and the stylish Excalibur, Ardmore is no stranger to fame and notoriety in the international circles.

Limerick is a city of many facets, but one that is sorely lacking is the presence of a large TV and cinema studio, one facility that can breathe life into the dreams of many, one focal point that can act as catalyst to spark the collective imagination of cinema fans the city over. It’s not for lack of local talent, mind you. The likes of Richard Harris, Liam Redmond, and Daragh O’Malley were all locally born and bred. And there is a wide array of amateur actors and filmmakers out there, scoping out projects, showcasing their stuff, hoping to make it big.

Furthermore, the city of Limerick enjoys great connectivity to the wider world; Shannon airport is only a stone throw away, and with comprehensive rail and bus links to the rest of the country, business trips in and out of Ireland would be a breeze.

The former Dell building is almost purpose-built for the job. While building a studio facility from scratch would take years, the mammoth size and roof height of the erstwhile manufacturing plant could be readily transformed into a dream factory in a matter of months, if not shorter.

The financial boost to the city in terms of jobs and the general economy cannot be underestimated. The studio itself would create about 750 new jobs, with many other ancillary jobs coming onstream in its wake; catering companies, supplies, entertainment, you name it. Limerick would get a new lease of life.

Besides, rumour has it that representatives from a major US film company have recently visited Ireland, looking for a studio to shoot a production early in 2016, and Limerick would be very much in their sights if the Ardmore expansion comes to pass.

We all hope for a rebirth of a city that has been being in somewhat of a decline over the last few years. Ever since the financial crash hit Irish shores, Limerick, as many other towns and cities across the country, has suffered badly in terms of unemployment and financial hardship.

The arrival of a large and seasoned studio like Ardmore might herald the onset of a new epoch for the city on the Shannon.

And as the old movie Casablanca goes, one might say that this could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Article by: Fernando Sanchez

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Mickey

V E N U E OF T H E M O N T H

Martins is a funky little bar at Number 1, Augustinian Lane. It has long been the city’s premier hangout for those who see things a little differently.

It’s home to a disparate bunch of music and sports heads and driven by a hip gang of drink dispensers and behind the bar music selectors. It’s the only bar in Limerick playing all day alternative sounds and there’s always something happening that they want you to be part of. The outdoor space often gets transformed into a little garden, holding festivals and parties that you will remember for years to come.

Street sounds are the main stock in trade and you will hear a diverse range of DJ beats for your listening pleasure.

Known for a delicious lunch time trade, you can enjoy tasty craft beers by a blazing fire and you are sure to find great conversations and craic. If you are living in or visiting Limerick, Mickey Martins is a must on your night out.

BE A T O N T H E S T REE T

Name: Shane Long What is playing on your ipod?

“Earned it” - The Weeknd Who is your favourite band/solo artist?

I have a few favourites but Kings of Leon are the first that come to mind.

What was the best gig you have ever been at?

When Ed Sheeran played the O2 IN Dublin, it was a brilliant concert.

What was the last album you bought?

Mechanical Bull which is Kings of Leon’s last album.

What is your favourite Limerick venue?

Dolans is a great place to go with a group of friends and they have had some great bands and artists live at the Big Top. FUSION MAGAZINE | 67

LIMERICK COUNTY

Metal Twist- Art Exhibition Mon 8th- Sun 28th June FREE Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock An exhibition with a difference, Lynda Christian adds a delicate feminine touch to the more masculine medium of metal. Christian sculpted the cold, sharp material into magnificent pieces, which she then photographed and developed into exquisite artworks. Often identified by their huge scale, Lynda has built large sculptures which have exhibited in many locations nationwide - in 2013 she had an 11-metre long piece in Sculpture Context 2013 at the Botanic Gardens.

Drawn to the idea of creating beauty in the lost and forgotten items of life, where other people see scrap and rubbish, Lynda uses metal from bed springs and other everyday objects to create her breath-taking pieces. Through photography she experiments with the resulting image with multiple mediums from watercolour, crayons, inks and oils to wax and textured materials, creating colourful tactile works.

Lynda says ‘I enjoy creating though evoking pieces, from flights of fancy to tranquil, relaxing moments ... [and] happy accidents, and developing these into new pieces�.

These pieces with a difference can be seen for free at Friars Gate Theatre. Why not check out what shows you can catch when there?

See www.friarsgate.ie for all information.

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ARTS & CULTURE WITH REBECCA EGAN

ARTS & CULTURE

LIMERICK CITY Alliance Française Tres Course International Film Festival Fri 12th June 7/8pm €10/ €8 (conc.)

69 O’Connell Street (formerly the Belltable) 43 original short movies are to be screened on the big screen of 69 O’Connell Street. Hugely successful last year, Limerick is well up on its luck to have this festival return. Each movie is shorter than three minutes and delivers its own unique messages – you’ll be so absorbed, the entire screening will be over before you know it and you’ll want it all to start again! There will be films from all genres and many languages will be subtitled in English. There will be meaningful and tragic tales that may just draw a glistening tear to your eye, mixed with the most hilarious sketches that will put even the most cynical in the convulsions of laughter. It will be cathartic merry-go-round of the finest degree for those sensible enough to attend.

Empowering the audience, viewers will be invited to vote for their most preferred short movies by the wide collection of international film makers. Voters in 23 other countries will complete the same task, with results posted online for audiences to compare what clips held most value where.

Sponsored by The French Table Restaurant and No. 1 Perry Square, there will be a private reception at 7pm followed by the screening at 8pm.

More information www.limetreetheatre.ie

DruidShakespeare Tues & Wed 23rd/ 24th June, 7.30pm (split viewing), and Fri 26th June, 4pm, Sat 27th June, 7pm (full run) €61/ €53 (conc.)

Lime Tree Theatre There is no need to wonder why Shakespeare is as relevant today as he was in the 16th and 17th centuries: eternally familiar human relations and emotions are at peril in all his narratives. A new adaptation by Mark O’Rowe directed by Garry Hynes, and a co-production with Lincoln Centre Festival, this is Shakespeare as you have never seen it before. Remaining traditional in the length and passion, DruidShakespeare provides a fantastic glimpse into the past. Condensing four quality performances, it promises acting of the highest calibre with Clare Barrett, Derbhle Crotty, Gavin Drea, Bosco Hogan, Garrett Lombard and Karen McCartney to name but a few.

Shakespeare’s’ action-packed plays in this production include Richard II, Henry IV (Parts 1 & 2), and Henry V. Loaded with childlike innocence, zealous and foolish arrogance, and a true fable of coming-of-age when facing fate, DruidShakespeare will entertain the audience with live music while their astonishingly talented cast perform wonderfully created moments capturing the ambition, destruction and rebellion contained in Sir William Shakespeare’s works.

All details available on www.limetreetheatre.ie

Celtic Steps Sat 20th June, 8pm €24/ €22 (conc.)/ Family €70 University Concert Hall No dance is quite as unique as Irish dance - with its fast clipped rhythms and graceful sweeps it often leaves the masses astounded. Celtic Steps currently hold residency in Killarney Racecourse for their fourth year and have therein built up an audience of more than 200,000 from all nooks and crannies of the world. Critiqued as ‘a truly world-class show’, the Kerry based performers will leave you popping out of your seat and wishing you had their moves!

Still not convinced? In the mix the group have the renowned five-time World Champion David Geaney, along with droves of All-Ireland champion musicians and singers.

Suitable for all the family - you can purchase tickets at www.uch.ie

Stand-up with Deirdre O’Kane Fri 26th June, 8pm €20 Dolans Deirdre O’Kane started her comedy career almost 20 years ago, and with the experience she has gained since then she will undeniably provide you with a cracker of a night. They say laughter is the best medicine so you know what to do! In the mid-1990s Deirdre got to the finals of the BBC New Comedy Awards. Stand-up comedy alleys have been quietened of her for some time as she has been pursuing acting (she is due to grace Moone Boy for her third series). However, she is now making an exalted return to the bright lights and loud laughs of the comedy stage.

Having toured the world with her stand-up scripts - Middle East, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Prague, Brussels, London and a selection of Cat Laughs festivals worldwide, not to mention recurring trips to Edinburgh Fringe - Deirdre says “arriving at middle age, I felt I needed to say stuff.” Luckily for us, this need will bring her to Dolans this June!

Check it out at www.dolans.ie Article by: Rebecca Egan Twitter: @beccae20

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Jun e 1 s t - 8t h

EVENTS G UIDE LAUNCH OF KILMALLOCK: WALLED & ALIVE RADIO SERIES

GILBERT O’SULLIVAN AND HIS BAND IN CONCERT

Wednesday 3rd June @ 7.30pm

Saturday 6th June @ 8pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

MY FAIR LADIES

ERIC FITZ- OLIVIA- TIG

Wednesday 3rd June @ 8pm

Saturday 6th June

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

THE BROTHERS SIM - LIVE MUSIC

HOT FUSS

Monday 1st June @ 8pm

Wednesday 3rd June

Saturday 6th June

Arthur’s Quay Park, (opposite the Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre), Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

BALLYHOURA FOOD FAIR

SWITCH

Monday 1st June

Wednesday 3rd June

Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

TRAFFIC

TEIGE BUTLER (DJ)

SWITCH

Monday 1st June

Thursday 4th June

Sunday 7th June

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

CIRCUS SKILLS WORKSHOP Monday 1st June @ 10am - Noon Arthur’s Quay Park, (opposite the Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre), Limerick CLOWN NOIR LIVE @ THE SPIEGELTENT Monday 1st June @ 4pm Arthur’s Quay Park, (opposite the Arthur’s Quay Shopping Centre), Limerick BRAD PITT LIGHT ORCHESTRA LIVE @ THE SPIEGELTENT

SWEET SUMMER DESSERTS Tuesday 2nd June @ 7pm - 9.30pm Hook and Ladder, 7 Sarsfield Street, Limerick

ESCAPADE Wednesday 3rd June Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

TEIGE BUTLER (DJ) Sunday 7th June

PUSS IN BOOTS Monday 8th & Tuesday 9th June @ 10am & 12pm Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

‘ON THE NAIL’ LITERARY GATHERING

JUMPING IN THE CITY

Tuesday 2nd June @ 8pm

Friday 5th June, 6.30pm - 11pm

METAL TWIST - AN EXHIBITION OF NEW WORK BY LYNDA CHRISTIAN

The Loft Venue, The Locke Bar, 3 George’s Quay, Limerick

Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Dock Road

Monday 8th - Sunday 28th June

RAHEEN 6KM

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

EDDI READER LIVE @ THE SPIEGELTENT Tuesday 2nd June @ 8pm

Friday 5th June

THE JUNE RODGERS SUMMER SHOW

OPEN MIC NIGHT (CHAPTER AND VERSE A NIGHT OF PROSE AND POETRY)

Friday 5th June @ 8pm

Monday 8th June @ 8pm

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

OLIVIA CHAU (DJ)

UNITED NOTIONS - LIVE MUSIC

Friday 5th June

Monday 8th June

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

TRANSMITTER

TRAFFIC

Friday 5th June

Monday 8th June

Wednesday 3rd June @ 1.15pm

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

St Mary’s Cathedral, Bridge Street Limerick City

TWILIGHT RACING - DUBLIN GOSPEL CHOIR

HORMONAL HEALTH WITH OLIVIA BECK

Saturday 6th June @5.30pm

Raheen, Co. Limerick

Arthur’s Quay Park, Limerick GREANEY (DJ) Tuesday 2nd June The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City PLAN B Tuesday 2nd June Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick LUNCHTIME CONCERT HOULIHAN (SOPRANO) DERNOVA (PIANO)

HELEN IRINA

Wednesday 3rd June @ 7pm - 9pm

Limerick Racecourse, Greenmount Park, Patrickswell

Hook and Ladder, 7 Sarsfield Street, Limerick

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List your Event by emailing events@fusionmedia.ie

Ju n e 9t h - 1 9t h

TIG (DJ)

KILFINANE 5MILE

PLAN B

Tuesday 9th June

Friday 12th June

Tuesday 16th June

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

Kilfinane, Co. Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

ERIC FITZ

LUNCHTIME CONCERT O’SULLIVAN (PIANO)

PLAN B

Friday 12th June

Tuesday 9th June Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick LUNCHTIME CONCERT SEBESTYEN (CELLO) AND O’SULLIVAN (PIANO)

PETER STUART

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City HOT FUSS

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

St Mary’s Cathedral, Bridge Street Limerick City

SOURDOUGH BREAD ADDED FERMENTS

SEE FOR CINEMA - STILL ALICE

Saturday 13th June @ 10am - 4pm

Wednesday 10th June @ 8pm

Limerick Learning Hub, New Road, Kileely, Limerick

DAY

WITH

BLOOMSDAY IN BRUFF

THE BROTHERS SIM - LIVE MUSIC

Saturday 13th June

Wednesday 10th June

Bruff, Co. Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

PSYCHEDELIC PILL PLAY NEIL YOUNG AND CRAZYHORSE

SWITCH

Saturday 13th June @ 9pm

Wednesday 10th June

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

STUART

Wednesday 17th June St Mary’s Cathedral, Bridge Street Limerick City BRENDAN SHINE

Friday 12th June

Wednesday 10th June @ 1.15pm

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

-

Wednesday 17th June @ 8pm Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick SING OUT WITH STRINGS Wednesday 17th June University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick THE BROTHERS SIM - LIVE MUSIC Wednesday 17th June The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City SWITCH Wednesday 17th June Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

GREANEY (DJ)

GREANEY (DJ)

Saturday 13th June

Thursday 18th June

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

THANK FUNK

ESCAPADE

Saturday 13th June

Thursday 18th June

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

THE PERFECT SUNDAY BRUNCH

TWILIGHT RACING - PRISON LOVE

GREANEY (DJ)

Sunday 14th June @ 10am - 1pm

Friday 19th June @ 5.30pm

Thursday 11th June

Hook and Ladder, 7 Sarsfield Street, Limerick

Limerick Racecourse, Greenmount Park, Patrickswell

MILFORD GARDEN FETE

LOUGH GUR SUMMER FESTIVAL (UNTIL 21ST)

BACK TO BEFORE Thursday 11th & Friday 12th June @ 7pm University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick MAGPIES ON THE PYLON Thursday 11th June @ 7pm Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City ESCAPADE

Sunday 14th June

Thursday 11th June

Mlford, Co. Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

OLIVIA CHAU (DJ)

MRS SHAKESPEARE

Sunday 14th June

Friday 12th June @ 8pm

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

DIVINE INVENTION

GLENN WOOL

Sunday 14th June

Friday 12th June @ 8pm

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

TRAFFIC

RED HURLEY

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Friday 12th June @ 8pm

SUMMER ENTERTAINING

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

Tuesday 16th June @ 7pm - 9.30pm

ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE TRES COURT INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL Friday 12th June @ 8pm Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

SOLSTICE

Friday 19th June – Sunday 21st June Lough Gur, Co. Limerick GENTLEMAN JEFF Friday 19th June The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City BEDROCK Friday 19th June Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Monday 15th June

Hook and Ladder, 7 Sarsfield Street, Limerick TIG (DJ) Tuesday 16th June The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

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Jun e 2 0 t h - 3 0 t h

CELTIC STEPS

THE BROTHERS SIM - LIVE MUSIC

ROCKY MAYHEM MUSIC FESIVAL

Saturday 20th June @ 8pm

Wednesday 24th June

Saturday 27th June

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

Kilfinane, Co. Limerick

KILMALLOCK WALLED TOWNS DAY

PLAN B

Saturday 20th June

Wednesday 24th June

Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

THE GOD BOX

SENSATIONAL SUMMER SALADS

Saturday 20th June @ 8pm

Thursday 25th June @ 7pm - 9.30pm

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

Hook and Ladder, 7 Sarsfield Street, Limerick

GORILLA RADIO Saturday 20th June @ 8pm Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

KNOCKAINEY VILLAGE FESTIVAL Saturday 27th June Knockainey, Co. Limerick

TEIGE BUTLER (DJ)

GREANEY (DJ) Saturday 27th June The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City UNUSUAL SUSPECTS Saturday 27th June

Thursday 25th June

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

DEUCES WILD Sunday 28th June

THE NUTCRACKER & FILM SPECTACULAR - PERFORMED BY DALTON SCHOOL OF BALLET

SWITCH

Sunday 21st June

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

LIMERICK SINGS INTERNATIONAL CHORAL FESTIVAL

TEIGE BUTLER (DJ)

Friday 26th - Monday 29th June

PLAN B

Sunday 21st June

Various locations

Tuesday 30th June

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

RTÉ CONTEMPO PRESENTS ‘FATHER CONCERT SERIES

UNITED NOTIONS - LIVE MUSIC Monday 22nd June The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City HIGH DECIBEL Monday 22nd June

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Thursday 25th June

QUARTET & SONS’

Friday 26th June @ 1pm Limerick City Library, The Granary, Michael Street, Limerick

DRUIDSHAKESPEARE

DEIRDRE O’KANE

Tuesday 23rd - Wednesday 24th, Friday 26th & Saturday 27th June

Friday 26th June @ 8pm

Tuesday 23rd June The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

SOCIAL DANCING KILBEHENNY CATHERINE & THE IMAGES

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WEBSITE: www.fusionmagazine.ie

INSTAGRAM: @fusionmagazinelimerick

Friday 26th June Kilbehenny, Co. Limerick OLIVIA CHAU (DJ) Friday 26th June

Tuesday 23rd June

The Red Hen Bar, 15 Patrick Street, Limerick City

SEE FOR CINEMA - KUMIKO: THE TREASURE HUNTER

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

TRAFFIC Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Friday 26th June @ 7pm - 9.30pm Hook and Ladder, 7 Sarsfield Street, Limerick

TIG (DJ)

Monday 29th June

COOKING WITH DAD

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

TRAFFIC

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DOMINO EFFECT Friday 26th June

Wednesday 24th June @ 8pm

Smyths Bar, Denmark Street, Limerick

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

KATHLEEN TURNER Saturday 27th June @ 8pm Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

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TWITTER: @fusionlimerick

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mak e

a

m o v e

The Make a Move Festival is a festival with heart and soul. It has brought the city alive in so many ways over the past number of years, and includes an eclectic and diverse line up. The festival celebrates highlighting local talent, a lot of it emerging, and shines a light on lots of creative energy bubbling away beneath the surface of the city.

We asked Shane Mac Curtain, Chair of the Board, how did Make a Move come about?

“Back in 2011/12, a large group of community arts practitioners across the city did a training course together.

They were looking for projects to work on. Hip hop was identified as culture that had strong roots in all communities in the city. It could be used as a springboard for inclusion and reinvigorating the city centre. So from the start we had a strong links in communities. Consequently, in the three festivals to date, we have had hundreds of young people signing up to do workshops in street art, breakdancing and music production. Along with this we have brought in a great range of rappers, dancers and graffiti artists to perform for and work with young people across the city. As a festival though, we are evolving and while hip hop is still a guiding force, recent years have seen us incorporate other aspects of street generated culture.”

For example, Shane tells us, “Since 2012 the festival has hosted a number of discussion events, in particular the Writers Bench. These events can take credit for changing the nature of the discussion about street art in the city. Irish Times journalist Jim Carroll has hosted his banter events in the city and this year he speaks to award winning Limerick born novelist, Kevin Barry.”

Shane added, “The Make a Move festivals aim is to give young people a stage or a canvas to showcase their work, this is an important underlying ethos of the festival. This year is no different with an innovative street art project which will see teenagers from some of the city’s most historic areas. In the area of music, a number of young rappers will showcase their work at a special weekend gig. And young people from their dance workshops will get the chance to perform on the same floorspace as some of the country’s best breakdancers on Sunday July 5th”.

With so much happing this weekend, make sure you keep up to date by checking out the website www.makeamove.ie Article by Michelle Costello

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