FUS
Dec. 2014
€2 l ime r i c k ’ s
ION M A G A Z I N E
f r es h es t mon t h l y magazine
12 / 14
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Editor’s Note
Welcome to Fusion Magazine Limerick’s Freshest Monthly Publication
Well 2014 has just flown by and it’s already the Christmas Season. What a year! Where has the time gone? We are wrapping up an extremely successful year with The City of Culture, which I feel has put Limerick back on the map for the amazing talent we have (and have always had) here. Going forward, this talent needs to be nurtured so I look forward to what comes next. Speaking of Limerick talent, The Rubberbandits have returned to us after travelling the world with their live shows, teaming up with Russell Brand and delighting the Internet with viral parodies and deconstructing the interpretation of time, politics and a Spastic Hawk. We also talk to the lovely Nicole Dunphy, a Limerick confectionery entrepreneur whose tasty delights are wowing the likes of Vivienne Westwood, Vogue and Dolce & Gabbana. As it is our Christmas edition, our entertainment section features great events for all the family. We have Crooning at Christmas, Fusion Magazine’s 12 Pubs of Christmas, an events guide that will fill you with joy and of course the family entertainment highlight of the holiday season - Panto. With two pantomimes on this Christmas we sit down with the fabulous cast of both for Battle of the Pantos. Our Fashion and Beauty section is full of local products and if like me, you’re currently compiling your shopping list with great aspirations but often end up grabbing what you can in the final hours of the Christmas rush, then you can delight in the fact that this won’t happen this year. We have an amazing array of crafts available in Limerick as featured in this edition, so make sure you stop by all of these spots and support local business as well as find unique gifts that your friends and family will love. While this month is so busy for so many, make sure you spend time with people who might find themselves alone over the holidays. It can also be a tough time, for some so if you need help or someone to talk to don’t be afraid to ask. There is someone who will listen. Have a safe and wonderful Christmas and from all the Fusion Team, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Until Next Month, Michelle Costello Editor & Founder Fusion Magazine FUSION MAGAZINE | 3
contents
3 Editor’s Note 6 Contributors 8 Opinion 12 People Profile 15 Student Life 16 Arts & Culture 18 Visual Artist 20 Cover Story 24 Fitness & Health 26 Well Being 27 Beauty 29 Fashion 40 Business 42 Travel 44 Crafty Gifts 46 Fo od & Drink 54 Charity - NOVAS 55 Limerick Life 56 Home 60 The Hot Sprockets 62 Dj Profile - Michelle McMahon 64 Battle of the Pantos 68 The 12 Pubs of Christmas 72 Events Guide 74 The Hunt Museum
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Cover - The Rubberbandits Photographer - Tarmo Tullit
Printed by - Davis Print, Limerick Graphic Design - Davis Print, Design Department Christmas Illustrations - Jacob Stack - www.jacobstack.net Special Thanks - Lorraine O’Connell - Patricia Lindsay - Johanna Aaspollu FUSION MAGAZINE | 5
Fusion Magazine 74 O’Connell Street, Limerick www.fusionmagazine.ie e. hello@fusionmedia.ie p. 061-597627
Olivia’s second home is the music scene in Limerick. A DJ, writer, festival hopper and all around lovely person, she’ll have everything you need to know about the music world of Limerick and most importantly, before the gig happens - so no fear of missing out.
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F ITN ES S & H E A LTH FOOD
Valerie is our favourite foodie. She is quirky, cool and knows the Limerick food scene inside out. Expect scrumptious recipes from her that can be made at home and up to date news on Limerick’s food producers. Her book “Bread on the Table” is available to buy in O’ Mahonys Bookstore & The Craft Hub.
Eric Johnson
The man behind the infamous TRX in Limerick, when he isn’t putting people through their paces, Eric writes for us. Operating on a philosophy of each person needing a fitness programme that suits the individual, expect his articles to dispel the myths behind health and fitness.
Va l e r i e O ’ C o n n o r
O P INI O N MU SI C
Dave Cuddihy would brighten any room he enters and is heavily involved in a lot of projects in Limerick. This man has the ability to run a small country and do it with style. He is smart, witty and we are delighted to have him contributing to Fusion Magazine.
D ave C u d d i h y
A ssistant Edito r & HU M A N IN TER ES T
From the wilds of Mayo, Mairéad has adopted Limerick as her second home. Her love of people and nature makes her the perfect fit for the human interest stories as she always wants to get to the core of the person she engages with and if she had her way, she would talk to everyone in the Limerick.
M a i r é a d Co l l i n s
The man behind the lens, it is his job to keep us all looking good. From Estonia but living in Limerick over a decade, Tarmo is the perfect fit for Fusion Magazine as he can tackle any photography challenge and it’s his love for the people of Limerick that keeps him here...literally.
Olivia Chau
P H OTO G R A P H ER
Ta r m o T u l i t
C ON T RI B U T ORS
A warm and friendly guy, Kaur knows his stuff when it comes to beverages. After fifteen years in the industry, he’s not afraid to experiment so we can definitely trust his taste buds when it comes to his refreshing recipes.
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M a r y K i e ly
M A K E UP COM E DY
A RTs & CULTUR E H A IR
Donnchadh Tiernan
Stephen is an incredible talent and a great addition to the Fusion team. When he is not working as an award winning stylist for Hugh Campbell, Stephen spends his time being creative. Not only does he work on our fashion and beauty shoots, he will now give you a guide to upcoming trends and how to keep your locks in the best condition and above all looking their best.
Ste p h e n O ’ D r i s c o l l
With a passion for the arts, Rebecca is a theatre hopper who always makes time to see shows. She’s full of life and energy and loves art as much as plays, dance, music and drama so she is perfect to keep you up to date with events in Limerick.
Rebecc a E g a n
B A K IN G FA S HI O N DR IN KS
H a z e l R ya n S h ee h a n L a u r a H ast i n g s
The fashionista of the group, bubbly, bright and full of joy, Laura is from Limerick but lives in London. Her background is in fashion journalism and being in the heart of the London fashion scene, will keep us in the loop will all the latest trends.
Kaur Ellermae
Hazel is just like her baking - lovely, sweet and makes everyone around her feel good. She is a familiar face as she showcased her skills on The Great Irish Bake Off and Hazel will have you whipping up tasty delights to please your family and friends.
Mary is a creative, fun and friendly lady who loves all things make-up. Working for Dior in Brown Thomas and as a freelance makeup artist, expect top make up tips, great product advice and upcoming trends to keep us in the know with the latest from the make-up world.
Donnchadh’s intellect and wit is a delightful contribution to Fusion Magazine. He has a way with words and will always have you cheered up with his quirky style and banter. He can be found on the comedy and film circuit in Limerick and the newest addition to our team.
OPINION
I am Cultured
December tends to be a month when we look back at what we have done with our lives in the past year, the happy times, the sad times, the times we should have known better and occasionally those times that we know will stick with us for the rest of our lives. I count myself lucky that this year I have had quite a few of the latter. Little hairs begin to stand on end as a wave of memories comes flooding back, none vivid initially, more so a sweeping wash of colour at present but the goose pimples immediately tell me that they were special, whether I realised or not at the time they occurred. My little fling with Limerick began back in 2002 when a fresh faced Kilkenny chap dared to take a chance, dared to ignore all he had heard and dared to start a love affair which has been going strong for 12 years now. For as many years I’ve immersed myself in all Limerick has to offer, or so I thought! Certainly 2014 has opened my eyes to a whole new Limerick, a Limerick I have never been prouder of as an adopted citizen. This strange feeling washed over me in a way I didn’t think possible. I don’t draw, I don’t paint, I don’t act or sing, how could I be cultured? The answer is simple: I am, because I allowed myself to be: I allowed culture to embrace me, and it did embrace me, like a hot whiskey on a cold winters’ night. My relationship with Limerick City of Culture began mid 2013 on hearing about funding opportunities
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for Limerick organisations. As Chairperson of Limerick Pride Festival the mere thoughts of funding to help the festival grow caught my interest straight off, but this was soon followed by the doubt. Culture is only for artists, people who act or paint, people who attend functions and hold onto that compulsory glass of wine like a prized accessory. Culture to me oozed of hierarchy, you were either in the elite or you were out in the cold with other uncultured. Why did I think like this? Well this has to be blamed on my own personal attitude. I was not good enough to be cultured, to be one of the elite, to have a talent to show the world. If there is one thing I will take out of Limerick City of Culture, it is how wrong I was. Kick-starting this Year of Culture in the Potato Market with hundreds of other revellers, the sense of excitement was growing; it rained on us, we didn’t care, we partied together, we partied as a city about to start into a new chapter. To bring us back to earth, we were forgotten about when it came to the allimportant countdown to midnight, but alas - we were mere mortals and everything cannot go as planned. As we met the New Year with sore heads, the storm clouds brewed around this notion of culture. No one could agree, and thus began the arguments over “who had more culture?” The eyes of the country were on us, what would Limerick do next? Standing in a city hotel
I allowed culture to embrace me, and it did embrace me, like a hot whiskey on a cold winters’ night.
Article by David Cuddihy Illustration by Ken Coleman
function room on a faithful night in January with hundreds of others I listened to countless people list their accolades and give solutions to problems which were mounting. I felt a bit inferior as once again I felt I had no great claim to culture, but this time it seemed to be different. I felt a fight, along with most others in that room, a fight to make Limerick 2014 something special. Standing in a disused warehouse sometime in March with 500 other people, it was at this very moment I felt cultured for the first time in 2014. It was a far cry from what I thought culture was all about; but yes, this was culture, and I loved it! Fuerza Bruta, you gave Limerick an energy and ultimately a thirst for more. In mid-June I found myself back in the same location however this time we swapped the warehouse for the big top. Bianco gave us the follow up we so badly craved. Watching an acrobat performing a striptease, while on a tight rope eating a hot dog - surely this can’t be culture? The hundreds of people around me begged to differ. Once again I felt cultured. I was getting used to this culture business! Skip forward another month, I found myself once again in an abandoned warehouse with members of Limerick Pride painting models for The Urban Horse Project - my stint of being cultured was taking me to some very unusual locations so it seemed. My next brush with culture took me to the streets of Limerick with Granny. Who can forget the energy of that September weekend? Standing in the middle of thousands of others, strangers were friends for a few hours as we waited for her good self to get her act together and grace us with her presence. You know you are in the presence of something truly wonderful when everything around you seems to disappear and all your focus goes on to one spectacle. You know you were part of something amazing when even the memory brings a shiver and a wave
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of happiness over your being. Granny, you brought the culture out in all of us with your visit! Spectatorship aside, my personal dalliance with Limerick City of Culture has and will always be one of the proudest moments of my life. Having spent 9 months heading up the organisation of Limerick Pride Festival and working with a wonderful team of volunteers all paid off as hundreds of people lined the streets of Limerick in support of the LGBT Community. People often ask why we need a Pride, but if you looked around on that day you would have realised. For that one day when the Festival takes to the streets the feeling of acceptance by the people of our City, the happiness, the smiles, the feeling of belonging make it all worthwhile. Standing on the middle of O Connell Street watching the people of Limerick applaud and wave their Rainbow flags as the Pride Parade passed them put a lump in my throat. This was my culture, this was our culture and we were proud to show it off. As we go now to close out the year I can look back through widened eyes and say yes, indeed I did have culture. I opened up and allowed myself to be immersed in what the year offered and undertook an attitude change whilst doing so. I have turned from cynic to someone who cannot wait to see what is next. I found that culture is for the average Joe and is there for us all to partake in if we allow ourselves the opportunity. I leave this year behind with hope, hope for the future in Limerick and hope that our new-found lust for culture will stay with us for some time to come. Everyone’s City of Culture experience will differ; different events, different venues, and different emotions. Highlights for some may be low points for others, but we can all say we were there. To the thousands of people involved in bringing us culture during 2014, I salute you!
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people profile
Nicole Dunphy Queen of Confectionery Nicole Dunphy, has taken her love of sweets and turned it into an internationally recognised brand that has attracted interest from fashion designers like Dolce and Gabbana, Vivienne Westwood and has even been featured in Vogue...twice. It’s a long way from their headquarters in Ballysimon where I met Nicole, but Pandora Bell’s unique and delicious products are selling far beyond Limerick with prestigious clients like Harvey Nichols, David Jones and Dean and Deluca. Nicole is originally from North Circular Road and despite studying English and History of the Arts in Trinity, working in the media sector for years and running a gay club in Limerick, she was inspired by her father who set up his own business as an antique dealer and wanted like him, to take her career in another direction. “I always had this thing that I wanted to do more on running my own business. So I started planning and doing bits and took career breaks and I went to France to the Valrhona Chocolate School and learned chocolate making. Then I went to Italy and did a cookery course and went back again and learned how to make gelato and how to be a barista and then stated doing an online chocolate course here and experimenting with chocolate.” The world of gelato and Limerick seemed too far apart at the time and high end chocolate is such an expensive market, that Nicole and confectionery joined forces instead. “I wanted to take the same idea of doing something really upmarket but non-chocolate... so we have beautifully soft nougat with cocoa butter and a very intense amount of nuts and honey in it, so it’s
a totally different nougat experience. We do fruit jellies, except they are made with 70% fruit with no added colours or gelatine, so they’re vegan. We do lollipops that are all natural and completely handmade from scratch and so are the candy canes and traditional sweets. We do salted caramels with a little bit of fleur du sel added and a really high butter content, and fudge with a real crumbly butter texture.”
Sugar, sweets and tasty treats, Jellies, fudge and yummy eats,Tons of scrumptious candy to sell, Can all be found at Pandora Bell! Mmmmm... and that’s only some of the products. The name Pandora Bell is pretty unique and stands alone as a brand, so obviously I wondered what inspired it or who is Pandora? “I had kind of toyed with lots of different names...eventually I just decided to create a name. I wanted the brand to be very traditional and timeless because I think that stands for good quality. So Pandora Bell
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was the name of a girl that I just came up with and I decided she was like, you know when you see an old movie with someone standing at a train station and there is a steam train and it’s pulling out of the station?...and she is there, off on her world adventure. I have a picture of her like that, so that she would have gone and found all the most beautiful, elegant, fabulous sweets around the world and travelled on the steam train.” What a wonderful sense of adventure being captured in a product, one of such wholeness, honesty and happiness. Something we all like to buy into and might even explain the level of interest and success Pandora Bell has had on the international market. With this level of exposure, I imagine running a business full time is quite the undertaking. “If you do have your own business, it is full time... it’s very few people that can say I’ll have my own business that will run during school times and a half day on Friday so I can take Johnny to the rugby. (Laughs) It just doesn’t work like that. You are either committed or you are not...I like to think we are reasonably focused around the reality of families around here but when work comes first, work comes first.” I sat before a really genuine, headstrong, engaging woman who exuded warm and productive energy. I don’t think we see that enough in comparison to the men in suits so we discussed at length women in business and the difficulties (if any) that they, mothers and single parents face when running their own business. “The balance is a constant struggle and the sort of thing where you are thinking to yourself ‘Would I like to be the mum who drops the
kids off, goes for a long walk and has a coffee or would I like to be me? Which one do I really want to be?’ And I really needed to decide that and I decided that this is what I want to do but also out of necessity. I mean who is going to keep the show on the road if I’m not doing it?” With all this in mind, I wondered what is the best piece of advice Nicole has ever been given about business? “’Never be afraid to hire someone more qualified or intelligent than you.’ Your knowledge is not everything. Business is built on bringing together different people and different ideas and different
minds and you can always keep learning and learning. Every day is a learning experience; you’ll never get to the stage where it’s all done.” Pandora Bell is available in select Limerick stores, online and exported around the world. It’s the type of confectionery that contains a little bit of magic, as if belonging to another time. It’s luxurious, decadent and most importantly - local. Best of all, Pandora’s adventure keeps continuing. Nicole has a new product in the pipeline, a new website and some gluten free products too. She has come a long way but she still has tons more to see on her travels
and to bring back to us. “The idea for Pandora Bell was one thing and then it was something else...you are mulling over all of these things and the idea eventually evolves and ever since we started, it has evolved. What you start with on day one is not what you continue with; it has to be a kind of constantly organically growing thing. You always have to put your creativity and I suppose a bit of your heart into it all the time. Otherwise it’s going to become some kind of corporate entity or we might as well be selling plumbing parts but we are not. We are selling beautiful food so we have to be connected to
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it all the time and I think we are, so it’s great. “ It’s wonderful to see a successful, hard-working business owner in Limerick who has been brave enough to pursue her interests and take it to such a high level. Nicole is an inspiration with her getup-and-go attitude and willingness to discuss the challenges and deserves every success. As for her products, I’ll definitely be filling stockings (including my own) with these sweet treats this Christmas! Article by Mairéad Collins Images by Tarmo Tulit
student life
Student profile
Exams Oisín Ewing L.S.A.D Fine Art / Printmaking and Contemporary Practice Best thing about being a student? Being surrounded by creative people and having the opportunity to gain insight into their processes. It is a great source of inspiration.
Favourite Limerick phrase? Come here I want ya.
Best event you were at as a student? Hard to say. I would like to say the days of well resolved production are a joyous event for me. Otherwise I would say the Halloween ball for L.I.T. because of the flamboyant nature of the costumes.
Favourite place to grab lunch? Paparazzi. However, I think it is now called Papa’s.
If you weren’t studying in this area, what else might you be doing? I think I would have enjoyed either zoology and/or horticulture. Favourite student dinner? Chilli con carne on a baked potato with sour cream and cheddar. Mmmmm.
Favourite place for a quiet pint? JJ Bowles
Favourite place to take someone special out for dinner? Freddy’s bistro What nightclub would you inevitably end up in on a night out? Costello’s One piece of advice that you would give to students? Engage in as many workshops as you can and try not to take anything personally.
For some of us December means exam time, for others it’s after Christmas. Either way, the pressure is on. For the super organised amongst us studying will already be underway with study plans made out and the library stripped of all its books, but if you haven’t started don’t worry, there’s no time like the present. A good way to organise your study is to create a study schedule, aim to spend a certain amount of time studying specific subjects but be realistic with what you’re capable of and don’t forget breaks. Use your resources - the library is there for a reason, even if it’s only a quiet place for last minute cramming sessions. Past exam papers, if you can access them, can give you a good idea of what may come up in the exam. Before entering the exam make sure you have everything you need (a working pen would be handy). Make sure you have enough sleep, plenty of water and a good breakfast - no one appreciates a grumbling stomach when they’re trying to write a full essay in 30 minutes. Try and keep stress levels to a minimum, remember you can only do your best.
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A r t s & C u lt u r e
L i m e r i ck C i t y ABBA Forever
UCH, December 4th Formed and led by renowned Limerick musician Dennis Scally, this production will have you out of your seats and singing your hearts out. The tribute act is a great sing-a-long experience and will put a smile on anyone’s face. All the big hits will be included in this stunning performance: Waterloo, Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia, S.O.S, The Winner Takes it All and plenty more! Dennis is accompanied by lead vocalists Lucinda O’Connell and Marie O‘Hara with Rae Daniel on lead guitar as he takes care of the keyboard himself. Dennis and Rae have a great reputation for their slick musical abilities on stage as part of the ABBA forever tour. Don’t forget your dancing shoes and tuned up vocal chords if you want to make this a whopper of a night!
The Strypes Live
Dolans, December 7th The young strapping Cavan lads are touring near and far and lucky for anybody who can make their gig in Limerick. Recognised by styling like The Beatles and sounding like The Rolling Stones, these rockers will get you up on the dance floor to bop, jive and jump about or maybe a bit of air guitar – sure, whatever you’re into! You might remember their appearance on The Late Late Show or more recently, the Imelda May Show or even Electric Picnic if you’re a music festival junkie. Signed to Virgin EMI Records, Evan Walsh, Josh McClorey, Ross Farrelly, Pete O’Hanlon, Jack Hayden and Conor Bates are the Perfect Storm for your eardrums. I Wish You Would go to the show to judge for yourselves, because You Can’t Judge a Book by it’s Cover. See what I did there?
Joyeux Noel
St. Mary’s Cathedral, December 12th The Irish Chamber Orchestra is due to perform a festive French themed Opera night in preparation for Christmas. Works by SaintSaëns, Vivaldi, Debussy and Britten will be performed. Pieces include The Swan, At the Piano, The Schoolboy, Le Petit Papa Noël and Gruber/Mohr Silent Night to name but a few. The full list is available on the ICO website or on Culturefox.ie. Our very own, renowned Irish soprano Fiona Murphy will steal your breath away as she performs on the night. Many of the pieces to be heard are inspired by impressionist paintings and indeed, the impressionist era and will indeed allow for a sensorial experience. A very cultured night is sure to be had, with the musical tones welcoming you to another world we rarely get the opportunity to see.
Swan Lake
Lime Tree Theatre, December 16th After talking to the box office staff of the Lime Tree Theatre, I can tell you this event will sell out quickly so be sure to get your ticket to avoid disappointment. The production is by Ballet Ireland and will reach 26 theatres across the country on its national tour. It might be common knowledge for some but the ballet performance is to a Tchaikovsky score. This famous classical and romantic ballet tells the story of Odette, a beautiful princess who is turned into a swan by day by evil magician Von Rothbart, only to return to her human form at night. She encounters a prince, Siegfried, and the two fall madly in love. But will he be able to break Von Rothbart spell? This story of love and tragedy has truly stood the test of time, showing the struggle between good and evil since its world premier in 1877. Performed by 22 professional dancers from Ireland and abroad, Swan Lake promises to be breathtaking.
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A r t s & C u lt u r e
L i m e r i ck C o u n t y Christmas by the Hearth
Friars’ Gate Kilmallock, December 20th I’m going to redirect you back to Friars’ Gate for this wonderfully welcoming event for family, friends and all the Limerick community. Led by Seán Keane, this musical evening will definitely get you into the festive spirit if you are still in Grinch mode! Fergus Feely will join Seán on mandocello, Pat Coyne on guitar and Stephen Doherty on piano, flute and accordion. Seán will sing some of his well known tracks and play songs on the tin whistle, low whistle, harmonica and flute. This showcase of talent is yours to discover! Tickets are available on above mentioned websites and on UCH.ie
Christmas by Candlelight
Friars’ Gate Kilmallock, December 10th West End singer Aileen Donohoe (Wicked, Mamma Mia, The Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast) will perform an eclectic Christmas concert filled with yule-tide favourites. Aileen will be accompanied, on piano, by West End musical director Robert Scott (Singin’ in the Rain, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, She Loves Me, Oliver!) who has composed special arrangements for the occasion. Get Christmas well and truly under-way with an evening of songs, carols and festive cheer by candlelight.
FINE LEBANESE & INTERNATIONAL CUISINE
Christmas 2014 Early Bird 3 Course Menu €21.50 (up to 6pm)
Mezze Menu From €24.95
4 Course Meal From €27.95
Article by Rebecca Egan Christmas Illustrations by Jacob Stack
Live Music and Guest Belly Dancers Mejana Restaurant 52 Thomas Street, Limerick T: 061 278989 | reservation@mejana.ie www.mejana.ie
visual artist Jacob Stack
“Imagination does not become great until human beings, given the courage and the strength, use it to create.” (Maria Montessori)
Jacob Stack, originally from the idyllic countryside of Donegal embodies this exact teaching with his fun and fabulous art. He follows the one thing so many of us leave behind us into adulthood - imagination. He lets it in to take him anywhere it wants to go and then produces his work inspired by his experience for all of us to enjoy. What a gift. As he says himself: “I struggle with what’s it all about?...I don’t know. I just draw penguins.” (Laughs) It’s certainly refreshing to meet an artist with this approach as well as appreciate art that sets out to document anything from a random thought to a joke. After qualifying from LSAD, Jacob held an exhibition with his fellow graduate Freddie Leyden which was a turning point in his career. “It was kind of like the first time that I thought this could work as a career because there was such good feedback...people were saying it was great to come out of a show that had no big concept or anything behind it...it was just myself and Freddie doodling and drawing some bad jokes. I think the tagline was ‘Art, Illustrations and Witticisms’.” Such a quirky style of art is difficult to describe so I asked Jacob how he would describe it to a stranger. “Its illustration kind of style and then I usually end up doing a lot of cityscape kinds, I suppose. Some of its kind of like kids books and kind of friendly and some are almost like one panel comics...I’d love to do a kids book. There is a narrative to a lot of the drawings but not followed through...it’s funny because there are reoccurring characters like penguins and bears so maybe we will put them into a book but not just yet.” Unlike other art with a deeper context
trying to provoke the viewer, Jacob’s art is refreshing, random and imaginative so I wondered where he gets inspiration and
motivation for so many different creations. “It’s partly autobiographical in a way. I say that, and then I’m drawing robots and stuff. (Laughs) I know people say inspiration can come from anywhere but then, it kind of does. I think I probably have a different way of thinking about it. I see a dog on the road and I wonder what that dog is thinking, I see a bird hopping along the ground instead of flying and I kind of give them characters; it can be overheard conversations... kind of taking a different understanding of what
people mean really...kind of funny, out of context...I usually don’t know what I’m going to draw next...it’s cool, it keeps me entertained.” All art has meaning and although Jacob’s work often lightens the mood, I wondered if much of his work sets out with a mission to send a message. “There have been a few pieces that have a bit more thought or a bit more thinking going on about it. There was an illustration for Occupy Paper...they had an edition coming out and the only word they had was ‘support’. I thought ‘emotional support’ and that got me onto mental health awareness and that image got published in the mag. Then it was Mental Health Awareness week and I put it up on Facebook because if there is something in the news that’s suitable or means something to me or friends, I’d put up something. I put that up and explained it and people sent me some messages and said they found it really powerful...and that is really cool.” Jacob Stack is a really nice, gentle natured guy with a great sense of humour and definitely an artist to watch out for. You could spot his work a mile off, so distinct, creative and inviting. So what does the future hold for him and his work? “This year has been great. I’ve been involved in so many projects and the variety has been great as well. I’d like to go home for a bit. I haven’t been home in a while to visit family...I would love to still be involved in Limerick stuff because before I came here, I didn’t do anything arty and now I’m slowly making a living out of it. So I do want to balance doing things in Limerick but hopefully go further afield.”
Interview by Mairéad Collins Image by Tarmo Tulit
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C o n t i n e n ta l F i s t f i g h t s with The Rubberbandits
Two lads who wear plastic bags on their faces while singing songs about Spastic Hawks, their Dad’s crazy best friend, how it’s ok for guys to f**k each other, hang out with Russell Brand intellectually discussing the world of politics, corruption and inequality invaded the Fusion Headquarters to catch up and talk about their homecoming show. Having started out with prank phone calls and gaining popularity over the years through various other mediums and songs. The Rubberbandits satiric comedy genius has won audiences over around the globe. After what has been a busy four years for them, Olivia Chau spoke to Blindboy Boatclub about their adventures. Over the last 4 years, you guys have been busy boys from doing programmes for Channel 4, selling out over 90 shows at The Edinburgh Fringe Festival, not to mention various gigs and festivals around Ireland, England, and America. Are you knackered? “We have several different bandits. It’s rarely just the two of us at a gig. There are about 12 fake bandits. We’ve put gigs on at opposite ends of the country on the same night and no one has even noticed.” Gigging at the The Globe in London must’ve been surreal. Could you feel the ghost of Shakespeare roaming around? “The Globe was great craic. They have a full workshop in there where they just make beeswax candles. Shakespeare himself sounded like a good laugh. He spent most of his time hanging around with thieves and prostitutes, he used to take all their words and put them in his plays. Nowadays it sounds pure posh but back in the 15th
century, hearing Shakespeare would have been like hearing Wu Tang Clan or Biggie Smalls. Posh people, in England spoke French before Shakespeare because they were descended from Normans, only the peasants spoke English. It was considered gutter talk.” Tell me about your tour, Continental Fistfight. “It’s a West End musical that we perform in the West End of London to a shower of craic and tans who pay us English pounds for the pleasure!” How did your act translate over to a British audience? “We grab Irish vernacular with our fists and rub it on the inside of their gums with the palms of our hands in the toilet of a petrol station.” When you were in America, were the audience full of just Irish people or were there American’s there, who didn’t know what was going on?
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“Worse, Irish Americans. Annoying bastards. Irish Americans behave like a second hand caricature of Irishness when they are around actual people from Ireland. It was all drinking whiskey straight from bottles, starting fights but not finishing them, and calling each other yanks as a pejorative accusation. We fucked off to an opium den in Chinatown as soon as the gig finished and regaled a load of triads with yarns about catching pike in Plassey.” You guys are friends with Russell Brand. I watched a few episodes of The Trews that you did with him. He seems like a close talker. Is that a bit off putting when you’re trying to talk about serious issues? “Russells a gas man, we met him by accident. We were buying a second hand dart board on ebay, we called around to collect it, and lo and behold it was Russell who was selling it. We hit it off from there and now he’s our spiritual advisor. We’re starting a dart board company with him.”
Also Stephen Fry is a fan and tweeted about your ‘Fellas’ video. Did that give you the warm and fuzzy feelings? “Stephen Fry only tweeted about us coz he owes us 9 grand.” You guys seemed to have had an avid interest in England and Scotland splitting up? Do you think it can work out for them? “That was just a load of craic to watch. It was like observing a well to do couple having an argument in Marks and Spencer, where both of them are terrified to shout or express anger. So they keep smiling and gritting their teeth at each other with pure contempt. Even if Scotland did get independence I don’t think it would matter. They still suffer the same problems as England with out of touch public school boys ending up in politics. Edinburgh is basically London on a hill, except it’s always cold and people look disappointed when you speak with an Irish accent.” All your songs are open to interpretation, you leave it up to the audience to make up their own minds, however has anyone ever commented on the videos and gotten it so wrong? “There’s no such thing as getting it wrong. If a person thinks something we create is a big steaming pile of shit, then for that person, it’s a big steaming pile of shit. In that persons own subjective view of the universe we are a pile of shit, and it’s just as valid a view as someone who thinks we are not a pile of shit. We couldn’t give a fuck either way, we only care if we think it’s a big steaming pile of shit, that’s the
important bit. If you start worrying about what an audience likes or doesn’t like about your work then you’re no longer engaged with your own unique creative process that got that audience interested in the first place.”
Was Electric Picnic this year a nice return for you, knowing people weren’t going shout for ‘Horse Outside’? “We were expecting a load of people to do that to be honest, but luckily through a concerted effort of releasing songs like Spastic Hawk and Dads Best Friend we have managed to alienate and isolate all horse outside fans, to the point that they now believe we are “a big steaming pile of shit”. So it was nice and refreshing to have a crowd full of gas cunts at Electric Picnic this year.” Gabriel Byrne (the puppet) is a lot more creepy in real life and smaller, do you think this is from all his hard living?
The Rubberbandits show will be on December 27th in Dolan’s Warehouse Interview by Olivia Chau Images by Tarmo Tulit
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“That’s not a puppet Olivia. Gabriel Byrne has been out of the public eye for a few years. He suffers from a unique form of Body Dysmorphia whereby he wants to become as small as possible. He’s sank millions into painful and expensive surgery. He’s currently about two foot tall, but his ultimate goal is to become subatomic and be able to jock a quark in the large hadron collider.” Your gig in Dolan’s this month is a homecoming because you haven’t been here in a couple of years. How do you think your new show will go down with the Limerick audience? “We’re going to try our best to do our full London theatre show in Dolans this Christmas. We’ve never done our full London show anywhere in Ireland, because Irish audiences tend to get hammered drunk and shout during the bits where they are supposed to be quiet. The Brits don’t do this, so we do much better shows over there. Hopefully Dolan’s will be good craic and we can do our best for Limerick.” What do you miss about Limerick when on tour? “Donkey Fords, the smell of the river, the unreal blast of the gulfstream that Limerick gets, its roundabouts and the crow that hangs around Arthur’s Quay and robs fags out of peoples mouths.” Lastly, what are you guys getting each other for Christmas? A sparrows thoughts and the shadow of a dogs bark, respectively.
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f i t n e s s
&
h e a l t h
Juicing What is it? Juicing has been around for quite some time now but let’s shed some real light on why it is becoming ever so popular. It is a form of fasting and detoxing for the body. Our kidneys work very hard on a daily basis to detox our bodies. The juice detox can be seen as a form of boost for our bodies natural system. What was once used by nearly every celebrity known to man has now become readily available at your finger tips. How does it work? Juicing removes the insoluble fibre from vegetables and fruits. While fibre is an important part of an overall healthy diet, removing the insoluble fibre allows for increased absorption of specific health promoting phytonutrients including enzymes, while the soluble fibre persists into the juice. By removing the fibres and consuming fruits and vegetables in liquid form, we are providing a nutrient delivery system to our bodies that allows individuals who would otherwise have difficulty consuming whole vegetables, the opportunity to reap the numerous benefits vegetables have to offer. Why do it? Juicing offers many life-enhancing health benefits including a faster, more efficient way to absorb immune boosting nutrients naturally found in fruits and vegetables. It provides a way to access digestive enzymes typically locked away in the fibre matrix of whole fruits and vegetables. Most commercial juices are processed and lacking in nutrition while freshly juiced fruits and vegetables are loaded with an abundance of vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients. Some of the benefits of juicing for short periods of time include weight loss. I have seen first-hand people loose from 7 to 10 pounds over the course of three days and coinciding with a workout plan, will boost your results even more. I have seen clients skin clear up of any redness or blemishes caused by inflammation from processed foods. Sugar cravings drop and a sense of balance is found. The juice detox is great for kickstarting any weight loss program or even if you are stuck for those upcoming Christmas parties!
Article by Eric Johnson
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w e l l
be i n g
feeling overwhelmed by
christmas
?
We here at Fusion, read an absolutely fantastic little article online the other day called ‘The Christmas Police’ that we simply had to share in the run up to the holiday season. What a great reminder to simplify!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all there is to do, STOP. 7 You don’t have to buy more gifts. 7 You don’t have to do more baking 7 Y ou don’t have to send out Christmas cards even if you’ve received some. 7 Y ou don’t have to decorate your house to match your neighbours’ houses. 7 You don’t have to put up another tree. 7 You don’t have to go to that party you don’t want to go to.
Just relax and BE. After the initial bout of slight panic, it’s strangely freeing to go against the grain! As most will be running around The Crescent, banging into people reaching for the last item on the shelf, panicking as your lunch hour flies past and you’re still in the queue at Pennys, give yourself permission to STOP and enjoy what you have done (even if it’s nothing). Nobody enjoys being around frazzled people, especially at this time of year.
Christmas Illustration by Jacob Stack
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be a u t y Men’s Hair Banish Those Bad Hair Blues Have you had a few hair disasters in your lifetime? Perhaps at the hands of an artistic older sister or a visit to a barber while you nervously clutch a picture of Tom Hardy which somehow translated to be more Ken Barlow? Here are some tips to banish those bad hair blues.
Tip 1. H e a l th y H a i r What do muscles and hair have in common? The answer is Protein. Hair is made up of an essential protein called keratin. And just like your muscles if you don’t refuel it with the strength and energy it needs it’ll be limp and lifeless. That’s why it’s important to use the right shampoo and conditioner. I would recommend Redken Products as their range covers all of your hair needs.
Tip 2. Know your needs
Picture this, its 2am and the Icon is packed and a night of inebriation has ensued. At this point all standards go out the window. What does this situation and good hair have in common? Knowing your needs! Style can be made simple with technologically advanced products that give you exactly what you need. Flex your style muscle with the correct products that suit your look. Try Techni Art products to copy the professionals.
Tip 3. Hairline Receding?
If you notice more hair than normal collecting in your comb or your scalp/hairline is becoming more visible then Cerafill thinning hair solutions might be for you. It contains ceramide to strengthen the hair fibre and minoxidil to revitalise the hair follicle and to help to regrow hair. Bear in mind it takes time to regrow hair and results vary after using minoxidil regularly for 2-4months. The amount of hair regrowth is different for each person and in some instances it will not work. As a rule of thumb, if the scalp is shiny than the follicle is beyond regrowth.
Tip 4. The Professionals Top stylists are interested in what you want, not how they think you should look. Do your research. Check the web or fashion magazines for looks you like and feel free to bring in a picture of your hairstyle but be realistic - a sharp geometric fringe might be cool in a fashion editorial but in real life it could be more Dumb and Dumber than a Saville row tailored look.
Article by Stephen O’Driscoll
B e a u t y
m a ke
Women
Inglot – Under Makeup Base 30ml/€22: Every girls pet hate is when they spend a lot of time doing their makeup in the morning to see that an hour later it is in a mess on their face – what a waste of time! There can be many reasons for this happening, but there is one amazing product that can prevent it and that is the “Inglot Under Makeup Base” – it’s a life saver! The gorgeous primer will prolong the life of your foundation and instantly creates a flawless blank canvas on your face. It is suitable for all skin types as the gel texture absorbs any excess facial oil whilst also creating an illuminated look to your skin. While some may find this product rather costly, a little goes a long way so you are really getting value for your money. A pea-sized amount of this amazing primer will have your skin primed and ready for the day ahead.
Tips t o spa r k l e t h is F e s t i v e S e a s o n
Soap and Glory – Sugar Crush Body Scrub 300ml/€11.29: For all you Fake Tan lovers out there, this will be your new best friend! The “Sugar Crush Body Scrub” is a hugely popular product in the Soap and Glory range and it is no surprise why. There is nothing worse than fading fake tan and the residue beginning to build up in the ridges of your skin. Fear no more, as this beauty will solve all your problems. This amazing scrub has a gorgeous fruity lime fragrance so you are guaranteed to smell amazing the minute you step out of the shower. The scrub gently removes any dead skin, old tan and so much more from the skin. It is made from gorgeous products such as smashed brown sugar, lime, almond oil and macadamia grains which create its gentle, yet effective texture. The Sugar Crush Body Scrub is definitely a product worth purchasing if you like to apply fake tan.
Men
Let’s start with the eyes. Smoky eyes are the way to go. They are sexy and seductive and can suit everyone because you can go for a very soft or more dramatic look. Put a lighter colour on the eyelid first. I’d recommend a gold or silver shimmer or glitter to keep with the Christmas theme. Then bring a darker colour into the crease of the eye like a dark brown or purple, a grey or black. Then it’s time for lots of blending in the crease to give that real smoky effect. Grab your eyeliner and put it along the lid. Whether it’s a kohl pencil, liquid liner or a gel liner, it will enhance the eyes. Then add your mascara or lashes if you prefer and as always, go as natural or as dramatic as you like. This will accentuate the eyes and will complete the look. Face For the cheekbones, add some highlighter to give a gorgeous glow off the skin. To give more structure to the face and compliment the smoky eye, you should contour under the cheek bones. Put your finger in the dip under your cheekbone and that’s where your line for contour should go and make it a small soft line. Don’t go too far down. Make sure the products you use to contour are matte. No shimmer for this one as you are trying to create a natural shadow. Lips For stand out lips this season, always prime the lips first to keep the lipstick and/or pencil lasting longer. Always pick a pencil similar to the lipstick you’ll be wearing or similar tones so it’ll blend fabulously together. Then with your lip pencil of choice, colour all of the lip in as this stains the lip for longevity. Then apply the lipstick and you’ll have a far more intense colour. Bright red, crimson and wine hues are the colours to have this season. Here are some of the products that I would recommend when it comes to completing the look: Eye shadow Dior Holiday 5 Couleurs palette in ‘Golden reflection’ Charlotte Tilbury’s ‘The Vintage Vamp’ luxury palette
DKNY For Men Eau De Toilette 30ml/€19.99:
Vo5 Extreme Style Gel Wax 75ml/€5.09:
Everyone loves the smell of a freshly scented man and this is one of my favs. While light and floral scents are lovely for the summer time, scents need to be switched up for the season that is in it. Musky smells are very popular for men during the winter months and that is why the DKNY For Men is an incredibly popular aftershave. The gorgeous urban woody fragrance gives off a masculine scent, while also seducing the senses and leaving a lasting impression to passersby. While the scent is quite strong, it is not overpowering and leaves your skin smelling fresh for the day.
This is a product for us all, men and women, and probably one the majority of us use on a regular day. Whether it is for creating a crazy hairstyle or simply keeping your hair in place for the day, the Vo5 Extreme Style Gel Wax is amazing. It has an incredible long lasting formula that creates amazing definition for any look. What is the main benefit of this Gel Wax you may ask? Well because it is a combination of a gel and wax texture, this product provides the hold of a gel without that harsh crustiness of a wax. It also creates that great shape that wax gives without that greasy effect. The Vo5 Extreme Style Gel Wax is a must-have product for those of you who need a reliable hair styling product.
By Niamh Webb O’Rourke
u p
Eyeliner Dior Addict black liquid liner Inglots 77 black gel liner Highlighter Mac mineralize soft and gentle Contour Mac medium deep mineralize powder Rimmel medium matte powder Lips Primer - Mac prep and prime Pencils All Mac - Nightmoth, Cherry & Burgundy. Lipsticks Rouge Dior 977 Mac Ruby woo Mac New York Apple Mac living legend
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Article By Mary Kiely
Be the belle of the
C h r i st m as Pa r t y Discover a host of untapped fashion possibilities this December with some festive-themed items the likes of which you’ve never seen before. Stand out from the crowd with a snowman sweater, and win over the ladies with a Jingle Bells playing tie this Christmas. Novelty fashion items are the hilarious craze for the original and witty gentleman. At a party everyone will flock to the joker with a knowing glint in his eye who can turn on the surprise flashing lights in his Santa jumper. If you want to be the life and soul of any party this month, get yourself to an exclusive stockist, such as Penneys or River Island. Be on the lookout for a piece with a catchy slogan, “Sexy Santa” or “I’ve been a naughty boy” are sartorial classics. Embrace the manly odours that begin to emanate after five minutes of wearing a 100% polyester jumper inside a crowded pub. It shows commitment, which obviously impresses the women. “We Wish you a Merry Christmas” has never sounded so poignant as when heard through a musical tie. Pick up one of these beauties and allow everyone within forty feet to enjoy the tinny vibrations. After all, everyone enjoys having a Christmas carol stuck in their head for the entire night. 2014 has certainly been the year of beard-appreciation, so why not take it that step further and invest in a fake Santa beard. Wear it on a night out, it’s a fantastic catch-all for beer dribbles and stray crumbs as an added bonus. If the 12 pubs of Christmas have gotten the better of you, it even doubles as a pillow. Heed this advice gentlemen and you’ll be the belle of the Christmas party season.
Article by Laura Hastings
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f a s h i o n Glitzy, glamorous, gleaming… as a copywriter for a company (which shall remain nameless) that sells a lot of lower-end jewellery; I spend a good part of my day coming up with adjectives such as these to describe crystal encrusted pendants in the shape of dogs and other such questionable accessories. This has never dampened my enthusiasm for a proper bit of luxurious sparkle however, and December is my favourite month for indulging this penchant to the max. Christmas parties abound and the sequins come out to play. A couple of years ago I interviewed the designer Ashish, who has featured sequins in every one of his London Fashion Week shows since he made his debut in 2004. He spoke about the hostile takeover of the sequin by lip-syncing girlbands, who have given it a bad name. His clothing proves, as do many of the pieces currently available on the high street, that sequins are bad-ass, attention grabbing, and a whole lot of fun to wear. If you have shied away from them until now, read on for a persuasive argument. This winter, my favourite way to wear sequins is definitely, unashamedly, influenced by East London hipsters. House of Holland showed some amazing pieces at their Autumn/Winter 2014 show, including a pink and red striped top positively dripping with paillettes (fun fact: I once passed Henry Holland in Shoreditch - he was coming out of the trendy supermarket I can’t afford to shop in, munching on crisps). It’s all about a loose fitting top positively dripping with sequins, paired with super tight, ripped jeans. And preferably a killer pair of heels. If you’re looking for a more traditional way to wear them, I would still advise going for separates, mixing and matching is just that bit more interesting. A sequinned skirt with a band T-shirt or the aforementioned top with jeans is a versatile look. If you decide to go for a dress, go loose - think of a Kate Moss circa 1990’s slip dress as opposed to a prom dress shape (Taylor Swift has ruined the prom dress for everyone, it’s a sad fact). December is definitely a month to let loose in, so why not try out some sequinned accessories (as long as they’re not dog-shaped pendants) too? In the month of over-indulgence, sequinned earrings are more than socially acceptable. Age barriers need not be of concern either, especially when you mix a sequinned piece with something simple as mentioned above. Don’t discriminate against the sequin claiming mutton dressed as lamb, Tina Turner was making them cool before The Saturdays were born after all. December is a time for over-indulgence, plain and simple, so that we can all have fun memories to look back on in January when we’re broke. Pull out the sequins along with the champagne, and embrace the festive mood.
Article by Laura Hastings Image by Tarmo Tulit Model – Shauna Lindsay MUA – Annette Smyth Hair – Stephen O’Driscoll Clothing The Edge Clothing, Milk Market, Limerick
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Location – No 15 Le Maison de Curio, Anne Street, Limerick Photographer – Tarmo Tulit Stylist – Michelle Costello Hair – Stephen O’Driscoll MUA – Mary Kiely & Yvonne Scanlon Models – Danielle Sheahan, Sinead Mitchel, Catherine Fagan, Shane Coleman Assistants – Emma McNamara & Lorraine O’Connell
Clothing – Ann Dilleen & The Edge (Milk Market)
Designer – Ann Dilleen Ann is a recent LSAD graduate whose collection is based on the spider and the fly. Her stunning pieces and eye for detail makes her one of Limerick’s freshest new designers. She can be contacted by email anndilleen@gmail.com
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Tutu’s by – Alice Marshall Ryan – School of Classical Ballet Accessories – No 15 Le Maison de Curio, Anne Street, Limerick
b u s i n e s s C h r is t m a s Networking Event 5.30pm - 8pm - Thursday, 11 December 2014, Radisson Blue Hotel, Ennis Road
Title: The
relevance and importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace – Understanding your colleagues and your customers.
Guest Speaker: Donal Fitzgibbon This event, hosted by Limerick Chamber in association with Limerick Chamber Skillnet, is an ideal way for you to establish new contacts, build up and strengthen relationships and keep abreast of issues that could affect your business. In a relaxed festive environment, Donal Fitzgibbon will deliver a one hour interactive training session and then facilitate some structured networking. Emotional Intelligence is increasingly relevant to organisational development and developing people, because the principles provide a new way to understand and assess people’s behaviours, management styles, attitudes, interpersonal skills, and potential. Emotional Intelligence is an important consideration in human resources planning, job profiling, recruitment interviewing and selection, management development, customer relations and customer service, and more. Donal Fitzgibbon will conduct a short interactive workshop, giving attendees the opportunity to discuss and reflect on their own Emotional Intelligence and how this affects communication with others. This event is free of charge for members and members are encouraged to bring a friend. The more people we have – the broader the networking and business opportunities. Non-members are also welcome to attend this special event for a fee of €20.
Agenda 5.30pm – 5.45pm: Registration and networking 5.45pm – 6.45pm: Donal Fitzgibbon – The relevance and importance of emotional intelligence in the workplace – understanding your colleagues and your customers 6.45pm – 7pm: Break; Tea/Coffee, Finger Food 7pm – 8.15pm: Structured networking with light refreshments This is bound to be a popular event so book your place now to avoid disappointment. Contact Rachel at rjoyce@limerickchamber.ie or call 061 217605
Christmas Illustration by Jacob Stack
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profile
So, it’s your night out. You don’t have work tomorrow and you’re looking for somewhere in town to go. The possibilities are endless. You could just go down to your local, or you could go to a big night club in town. You know the one, where it plays the indiscernible chart music and the songs blend into each other. These both seem like good options but don’t seem to appeal to the night you have in store for yourself. You want something different, with that local pub feel that has live music and a great atmosphere. Well look no further than Cobblestone Joe’s located on Ellen St. in Limerick’s city centre. This new bar has only been open a few short years, but is one that people seem to gravitate towards with ease and assurance, and know that they will have a good night. This venue opened back in 2011 by Darragh and David Ryan, two brothers who wanted to bring something unique to the Limerick scene. Cobblestone Joe’s offers music 7 nights a week, with something different every night. From singer song writers to heavy rock bands, the venue has something for everyone. The name itself was a happy coincidence, as when the bar was being fitted out with cobbles, and their Dad and Darragh’s son is named Joe, David turned to Darragh, “What about Cobblestone Joe’s?” The venue itself used to be a barber shop and after renovations, it was open for business. Cobblestone Joe’s did have live music, since it opened but it wasn’t until this year, that the stage and sound system got a full overhaul. With sound engineer Ciaran (The Cullhane) Cullhane at the helm, bands have no need to worry about their sonic presence. His attention to detail and friendly demeanour, make him one of the easiest people to work with. Bands such as The Hot Sprockets, Fox Jaw, The Hip-Neck Blues Collective, Electric Eel Shock, Octopus Project, Race The Flux, Little Mammoths, Willie and The Bandits, and Jon Gomm are just some of the acts that have graced the stage at this venue. To add to the already great atmosphere, the bar staff are friendly and always up for a laugh. They’re the heart and soul of the venue, making sure that you enjoy yourself and never have an empty glass. The bar boasts many craft beers on tap but don’t worry you can still get your pint of Guinness, if nothing else tickles your fancy. Cobblestone Joe’s has only been around a few years but already has made its mark on the Limerick music scene by being a place that bands know they are welcome with enthusiastic owners and staff, championing their music. So next time you’re in town with your mates and trying to decide where to go, Cobblestone Joe’s should be at the top of your list. With a wonderful vibe and live music, it’s hard not to like the place.
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Dreaming of a W h i te C h r i s t m a s
F INLAN D
Christmas and New Year holidays - Finland gives you a truly idyllic location to celebrate the festive season and an authentic Lapland experience with traditional Finnish finishing touches. Spend Christmas or ring in in the New Year in the picture-perfect scenery of Finland in winter, staying in exceptionally well-built and well-appointed log cabins. After days spent trying out a range of winter activities (such as husky sledding, snow-shoeing and snowmobiling) or searching out Arctic wildlife, warm up in a traditional sauna or in front of the fire. Holidays in Finland can accommodate friends and family groups and are also suitable for couples seeking a romantic getaway together. With the possibility of seeing the northern lights, as well as spending Christmas or New Year in truly magical setting, this will be a winter holiday you’ll never forget. Finnish Lapland is located up above the Arctic Circle in the far North of Finland. The region is bordered by Sweden to the West, Norway to the North and Russia to the East. There are around 35 ski resorts in Finland with the best of these located in Lapland. These include Levi, Ylläs, Pyhä and Saariselkä. The ski areas have good snow conditions until late in the season to the end of April.
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Accommodation Levi, the “official ski resort of Santa Claus” and its neighbour Ylläs, 50 minutes away, are Finland’s biggest resorts. Levi is the closest Finland has to an Alpine resort: a bustling little town, with interesting and surprisingly extensive skiing - 65 miles of slopes served by 26 lifts. Ylläs is located at the southern base of the region’s highest ‘fell’ and has Finland’s longest ski run (two miles). The resort, Finland’s biggest with a vertical drop of 1,519 feet (463m) has two base areas, Akaslompolo (where skiing started as long ago as the 1930s) and Ylläsjärvi. Both are old Sami villages. Saariselkä is a friendly uncommercialised resort close to the Russian border. Apart from snowmobile, husky and reindeer safaris, you can go gold-panning and spend the night in an igloo. The sun disappears almost completely between early December and mid-January in this part of the world. During these months a blue twilight envelops the arctic landscape and days pass in a palette of rose-coloured dawns and dusks. Activities After dinner, it is always worth checking the night sky for any signs of the Aurora Borealis. As the Finns are anxious to stress: “When the sun goes down, it is not pitch black. You will experience the atmospheric blue polar light, and if you are lucky, catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights”. As for snowmobiling, there’s so much terrain that you can travel for mile after mile, enjoying the endless snowscape, with its abundance of picturesque forests, lakes and rivers until you realise that you have to find your way back. So make sure you travel with someone who knows where they’re going or join one of the guided excursions. You’ll be given protective clothing and a helmet, of course. And gloves too, but you’ll find the snowmobiles have hand-warmers. Long before the advent of snowmobiles and mobile phones, the native Sami people traversed Finland’s winter landscapes for centuries with teams of huskies. Today husky safaris are hugely popular with tourists, who can drive and look after their own husky team for up to a week or more as they explore the hauntingly beautiful landscape. Getting there Holiday Experts will help you plan the perfect trip Tel : 061 - 536700 Mob : 085 - 1016862 Email : mike.shinnors@holidayexperts.ie
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Crafty Gifts t h is C h r is t m a s
Amidst the tablets, phones, perfumes and clothes, there is something undeniably wonderful about receiving a handmade gift under the tree at Christmas. Maybe it’s the fact that it was made with love, care and attention of a different kind to that of the factory produced products or perhaps because they are just like a snowflake - each one is unique. Whatever it is, there is something very special about giving a gift of this kind to a loved one during the holiday season. Crafts in Limerick are no different and arguably even more charming as you are supporting local business. There is an impressive array to choose from but here are some you can find here on our home turf this Christmas. th e cr a ft h u b 9 Lower Cecil Street, Limerick Happily the passion for supporting local has never been more in fashion. The Craft Hub on Lower Cecil Street is a legacy project from the Made in Limerick pillar of City of Culture and it is a dream come true in the beautiful shop and studio spaces for Limerick shoppers in search of something special. The Craft Hub works as a co-op where designers and artists whose work is for sale in the shop. They also work in the shop so that when you invest in a piece of quality design from a Limerick artisan, your money goes straight to the artist and to the Craft Hub to keep the project going. The Hub also serves as a centre of education with classes in silversmithing, felting, ceramics and other crafts being held throughout the year. What better gift to yourself than a weekend learning how to craft your own silver jewellery? The trend for supporting all things local can be indulged here with beautiful knitwear by Caroline Mitchell and Hanora K, textiles by Daivas Textiles and Kate Ramsey and ceramics by Clare Jordan, John Quinn, Aoife Slattery and Mary Conroy. Pick up some delicious, handmade cosmetics by the Sunvale Soap Company or try some delectable chocolates from Moon River and divine preserves by Green Apron. You can even pick up Valerie O’Connor’s book ‘Bread on the Table’ here. It really is a centre of the best in Limerick. If you want to invest in something stunning for your home, check out the Fish Vessel by Gerard Feniman or the elegantly turned wooden bowls by John Dowling. The Craft Hub is an art gallery, a craft shop, a design centre, living studios and workspaces and the happening place for the artist and crafter in all of us. Even animal lovers will love the option to sponsor a chicken for Christmas by having a jumper knitted for ex battery hens being re-homed.
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L i m e r i ck M i l k M a rk e t
# A R T P AS T E
Milk Market, Limerick
Available from The Stormy Teacup, Foxes Bow and Lucky Lane, Catherine Street, Limerick
But the fun and choice doesn’t stop there. The Christmas Market in the Milk Market will have tons on offer for shoppers. The Limerick hotspot will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Expect lights and festive decor to set the scene with tons of speciality Christmas products on offer. The waft on mince pies and festive treats will ignite the senses while other traders will host a bundle of seasonal gifts like wreaths and personalised gifts will fill their stalls and leave you full of festive cheer. It will operate from the 5th-12th December, 12th-14th of December and daily from the 17th-24th during Christmas week and until Christmas Eve and have up to 60 stalls and shops selling everything from festive and speciality food to books, bric-a-brac and fashion. There will also be choirs singing to raise money for their chosen charities so it really will be a hub of seasonal good will and festive fun.
One of the newest craft additions to the Milk Market are the Snobs Accessories. They are unique handmade accessories for your phone, iPad, Netbook, iPod or even your books. They are the perfect pouch for your most prised possessions and are a wonderful example of a modern handmade product for any age. Matching covers are available and with so many different patterns and colours to choose from, you’ll be sure to spot the one for you or that special someone.
Outside of these expected craft filled spaces, there are plenty of crafts of all shapes and makes in different places around the city and county. One example that really turns heads and not the first image you might think when you hear the word ‘craft’ is #ARTPASTE which is the brainchild of local artist Evan Kennedy who decided to turn unemployment into an opportunity. After working for years as a Special Needs Assistant he spent the bulk of last year developing the start up business he calls #ARTPASTE. A self confessed ‘recovering’ comic addict and an aficionado of geek culture he did the unthinkable and began to make art out of his comic book collection. “I can decoupage anything paper based onto a canvas. I want you to have an artwork that no one else has. I want to make a piece for you that proclaims to the world this is what I love.” Evan took #ARTPASTE to Dublin Comic Con in August 2014 and got a fantastic reaction that proved there was a market for high quality handmade decoupage craft and more importantly a rabid fanbase who are as passionate about the work as he is. On the other side there is also controversy as he has encountered. “For some people what I am doing is sacrilegious, like cutting up sacred texts. I got personal vindication when I presented former Marvel artist Ian Churchill with a canvas made from a Hulk comic he had drawn. He was thrilled as he hadn’t seen it in years and signed it for a fan.” #ARTPASTE products are currently stocked in Lucky Lane on Catherine Street and also The Stormy Teacup craft store and Cafe on Foxes Bow or contact Evan at artpaste.com There really is no end to the choice on offer this Christmas or indeed all year around from these creative souls and definitely ones to keep in mind when writing your letter to Santa.
Christmas Illustration by Jacob Stack
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FOOD & DRIN K TEA Christmas is knocking on our doors and many of us are throwing dinner parties to entertain friends and family. Why not try and make Tea a part of the festivities? This inexpensive drink can be the star of your evening. I am going to give you a few ideas on how to bring the extraordinary out of this ordinary product. When you are entertaining and looking to finish your fantastic meal with something light and hereby in the late night after stuffing yourself with gorgeous food, why not empty your herb and spice cupboard and go crazy. My favourite way to serve herbal teas is to put mugs of hot water on the table alongside a few bundles of herbs (thyme sprigs, rosemary sprigs, fresh rose petals, dill, bay leaves, coriander, basil, mint, parsley), some slices of ginger, cinnamon sticks, star anise, lemongrass, cloves, chillies, lemon, lime and of course don’t forget sugar and honey, and whatever else you can find in your cupboard that you think you can make tea from. Tell your friends to help themselves and make their own flavour combinations. You have to drink the tea with the herbs still in it - I prefer this to a soggy tea bag floating around. While throwing a dinner party, it’s always a good idea to prepare food and drinks that are easy to make and not too time consuming. You don’t want to end up all over the place and wrecked and not able to enjoy your friends and food you cooked for everyone. Tea is a lovely easy drink that will get your night started with no mess and with ingredients that are inexpensive and easy to get.
Article by Kaur Ellermae Image by Tarmo Tulit
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ch e f p r o f i l e Is there anything you won’t eat? “I’ll try anything once!” Favourite Cuisine “I think our own modern Irish/ French cuisine...we are surrounded by water with some of the best shell fish in the world and with our lovely Irish weather that has given our grass the lovely green and sweet flavour, we have some great mouth watering beef and lamb. I like to look back at some old time favourites and put my own modern take on it. On the menu we will have our 5 hour slow cooked braised beef, a beautiful warm winter dish.”
Chef Derek Fitzpatrick T he T reasury
74 O’Connell Street, Limerick Your earliest memory of cooking? “ Helping my Mum make bacon and cabbage at home. I would havebeen around 12.” When did your love affair with food begin? “At home as a kid. I loved being in the kitchen.” Where did you train? “Dromoland Castle” What’s the best piece of advice you have ever gotten about cooking? “Keep it simple and take your time.” What’s your favourite thing about being a chef? “I just love food...changing and experimenting with new dishes.” What’s your signature dish? “Duck breast, confit duck leg, beetroot and balsamic, peach and watercress salad.” Strangest thing you have ever tasted? “Oysters, I could never get to like them.” What is the toughest part about being a Chef? “Mainly unsociable hours but it’s worth it after a good service.” What is your favourite food? “There’s so much great Irish fish produce out there. Unfortunately most of our fish gets exported to France and other European countries. But my favourite seafood is scallops. They are such a great shell fish with a lovely sweet taste. Actually one of my favourite dishes on our menu has Scallops in it. The seared scallop, braised pigs cheek, pearl barley risotto, lobster froth and crisp apple.”
R o a s t D u ck B r e a s t , Confit Leg, Roast B e e tr o o t , P e a ch a n d W a t e rcr e s s S a l a d . Recipe by Chef Derek Fitzpatrick
Do you ever order a sneaky take away? “It depends if I was out the night before if so a curry is most definitely on the cards.” Do you often eat out in other restaurants? “Not much but when I get the chance I take advantage.” If you weren’t a chef, what profession would you be in? “Probably still a kitchen porter.” Ever cook for anyone famous? “George W Bush at Dromoland Castle.” Who do you like to cook for most? My daughter Sophie she never complains What do you make of reality shows about kitchens? “Yeah they’re good, great British menu, some great chefs on the show.” Are you more of a Jamie Oliver or a Gordon Ramsey in the Kitchen? “We all get a bit hot headed, but I’m a fairly laid back guy.” Which celebrity chefs cooking do you like most? “The Square London which is run by Tim Howard. The man comes across as a really nice guy and his food is honest and cooked to perfection using the simplest of ingredients.” Have you ever had any kitchen nightmares? (Laughs) “Yeah and I’ll never forget it. It was a busy Friday night with the service going well, the weather was fairly rough outside and as we were sending a table. Bang! The electricity was gone. Panic! Panic! Panic! No lights, No ovens. We had gas so we got a few candles and worked on in the darkness. I could have lost a finger chopping that night but I survived to tell the tail.”
Ingredients: Duck breast Duck leg Sea salt Duck fat Thyme Red wine Beetroot Balsamic vinegar
Rapeseed oil Thyme Seasoning Peach Watercress, Rapeseed or Olive oil Sea salt
Method: To make the Confit duck leg, sprinkle the leg with red wine, sea salt and a few sprigs of thyme, Leave to marinate for 24 hours, the next day wash off the leg and put it into a deep dish, cover with duck fat and cook in the oven at 160°C for about 1.5 hours. For the Roast beetroot, wash the beetroot and leave whole. Put the beetroot onto tin foil with some rapeseed oil, balsamic vinegar, sea salt and a sprig of thyme. Now wrap the beetroot like a parcel and cook in the oven at 160°C for about 1 hour or until the beetroot can be pierced easily with a sharp knife. For the duck breast, score the skin with a sharp knife (this will ensure a crispy skin) and season with sea salt. Place the duck on a cold pan without oil (there is enough fat in the skin) cook on medium/low heat for around 8 minutes on the skin side, then turn onto flesh side for 1.5 minutes, now leave the duck to rest on a rack (this will ensure a more tender duck). For the Peach and watercress salad, choose a nice ripe peach, this will ensure a nice sweetness for the duck. Peel the peach, dice into medium size pieces and add the watercress with some rapeseed/olive oil and Sea salt. Plating: While the duck breast is resting, put the duck leg without fat into the oven on a tray for about 10 minutes at 200°C, until crispy. Take the beetroot out of the tinfoil, cut into quarters. Slice the duck breast in two and place on the plate, place the beetroot around the breast and place the duck leg on top. Garnish with the peach and watercress salad.
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E at M o r e K a l e Cabbage at Christmas? From Kale chips to green smoothies, there isn’t a foodie who hasn’t been horsing into nosebags of the green stuff. There’s a lot of truth in the rumors that cabbage, kale, and Brussel sprouts, all part of the brassica family, are some of the healthiest foods in the world. Loaded with antioxidants and bursting with vitamins and iron, the humble cabbage is a powerhouse of yumminess and goodness just waiting for you to eat it. Forget about soggy boiled cabbage that loses all of its goodness, the best way to enjoy cabbage simply is to finely shred it, wash it and shake off the water, melt a little butter or heat a little oil and cook the cabbage gently over a low heat for 15 - 20 minutes covered and stirring occasionally, season with sea salt and pepper and top with a little butter. To liven it up, simply fry a little grated ginger or bacon lardons before adding the cabbage to the pan - yum and highly addictive.
Kale Chips Crisps made from cabbage! Yes it’s true and also very yummy. They really taste great but still make you want to drink beer. Use curly kale or Cavalo Nero, or any variety that you fancy, you can get some great ones right now from the Limerick Community Grocery Store, from Steve’s organic stall outside the Limerick Milk Market, or from Tobias inside the market and any decent supermarket. Ingredients 1 head kale or 250g bag, washed and dried with the ribs removed 2 tbsp olive oil 1 tsp sea salt Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 5 Method Cut the kale into pieces of about 2 inches long, in a large bowl drizzle over some olive oil, just enough to barely cover it and give it a quick massage to make sure it’s evenly coated. Get 1 or 2 roasting trays, depending on how much kale you are cooking, spread the kale out on the trays (it shouldn’t overlap), sprinkle over the sea salt Bake the kale in the oven for 20 minutes until they are crispy and crunchy and that’s it, enjoy this salty guilt-free snack. Cabbage just got sexy.
W i n t e r M i n e s tr o n e For a post Christmas feast to sooth your partied-out soul try this easy and delicious meal in a bowl. Using brown rice instead of pasta makes this into a gluten free feast that will keep you fed for a couple of days. Using a flavour loaded deep green kale like Cavalo Nero will give you a delicious soup where you can taste all the different ingredients in each spoonful. Top with shaved parmesan and serve with a hunk of crusty bread and you have the perfect winter warmer that’s also really good for you. For a vegan version use a stock made from vegetable bullion powder, the Marigold brand is the best one. For the best flavour use organic veggies, all available at the Limerick Community Grocery Store. Ingredients 1 onion - chopped 2 cloves garlic - finely chopped 2 carrots - diced 2 sticks celery - peeled and diced 2-4 tblsp olive oil 50ml white wine - optional 1 cup brown basmati rice - preferably soaked for an hour at least 1 tin cannelini beans 2 large tomatoes 2 litres fresh chicken stock or vegetable stock - heated up for the soup 2 large handfuls of kale, washed and roughly chopped Sea salt and pepper Parmesan cheese for serving Method In a large, heavy-bottomed pot heat the oil over a medium heat and gently fry the onion, garlic, carrot and celery, turn the heat down to low and put a lid on the pot and allow the veg to ‘sweat’ for about 15 minutes. Turn up the heat and add the strained rice to the pot, give it a good stir and add the wine (if using), this will give the soup a deep, intense flavour. Let it bubble for a few minutes to burn off the alcohol. Add the stock to the pot with the tomatoes. Cook for 20 minutes on a simmer. Check to see if the rice is nearly done and then add the beans and the kale and cook gently for a further 10 minutes Taste the soup and season with sea salt and black pepper. Ladle into bowls and top with parmesan shavings. The gentle cooking of this soup ensures you still have all the different colours and textures in your bowl. Enjoy with a glass of that white wine you opened!
S a u e rkr a u t In the festive season it’s easy to overindulge and feel and look more than a little bloated after all those sweets, extra drinks and those delicious turkey and ham sandwiches. By introducing some good bacteria into your gut you will ease a lot of digestive problems, and even get a flatter tummy! All this from a jar of cabbage? Making your own sauerkraut is fun and affordable and will give you a superfood with so many probiotics that your gut will just love you for it. Eating a little sauerkraut every day will also change your taste buds and help you to ditch sugary foods and fizzy drinks. If you’ve never eaten fermented foods before, start by eating just a teaspoon a day as the influx of probiotics can cause a ‘dying off’ reaction as the pathogens in your gut are hunted out. You could make this and give to your very open minded friends as Christmas presents. It is essential that all your equipment is really clean so sterilise your jar by boiling it in a full pan of water for 10 minutes and leaving to cool. Also add your spoons and tongs to the pan. Sauerkraut is a process of encouraging lactobili bacteria to grow, so you don’t want to introduce others to the mix. Don’t
be put off by the technical appearance of this, it’s spectacularly easy to make. Equipment needed: 1 x 1 litre mason jar, 1 instrument for ‘pounding’ the cabbage like a flat ended rolling pin, a very clean, large plastic basin or bowl, a small jar or stone for weighing the cabbage down in the jar, this will also have to be sterilised. Makes one 1 litre jar Ingredients 1 head organic cabbage, red or white 1 tsp sea salt 4 tblsp whey (this is a bi-product of cheese making and can be bought from health food stores) if you are not using whey just use an extra tsp salt 1 tsp caraway seeds or other flavourings like star anise or black peppercorns Method Shred the cabbage with a large knife, you can use a food processor but it tends to chop the cabbage too finely.
Put the cabbage into the bowl with the salt and whey. Mix everything together with your hands and then get your rolling pin and begin pounding the cabbage with the flat end, keep going for 10 minutes until some of the juices are being released, just think of the toned arms your getting! Sprinkle on the caraway seeds or other flavourings, or leave it plain. Get your sterile jar and pack the cabbage in with the juices, press in down and pop in a jar-weight or stone that’s big enough to put pressure on the cabbage when you close the lid down. You want it to be submerged in the juices. Place the jar on a plate to catch any juices that overflow. Leave the jar at room temperature for 4 days, you should see bubbles happening in the jar, this means it’s working! Open the jar every now and again to release the gases. You can refrigerate the sauerkraut after this time, that will stop the fermentation process, you can also let go of the weight in the jar. Sauerkraut goes really well with cold meats so will be a welcome addition to Christmas snacks.
Recipes & Images by Valerie O’Connor - www.valskitchen.com
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C h r is t m a s S pi c e C a k e For me there is no better way to celebrate Christmas than to bring the joy of baking, crammed with all the flavours of the season, straight into my kitchen. Nothing says Christmas like a thick slice of cake, packed to the brim with flavours and aromas set to tantalise your taste buds. This perfectly moist, spiced cake, lavishly filled with a sweet jam, topped in a light yet rich frosting echoes all the bells and whistles of the holidays but with such little effort. While some will argue that Christmas cake should be fruit rather than sponge-based, this is designed for those with a sweeter tooth. For those who like to marry all the good things of the season into the one, succulent forkful, this is for you. All the usual suspects make an appearance; ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. The sponge batter, while baking, will fill your kitchen with the most welcoming of scents. The plum jam will enchant you with its simplicity. If you are anything like me, the frosting will have you licking the beaters once finished. This one however, is not to be shared with the kids. The dark rum adds another layer of flavour rendering the cake perfect for this Christmas season. So what are you waiting for? Spatulas at the ready...It’s time to bake! Bake Time
20-25 minutes
Pan Size
Three 8-inch round cake pan, greased and floured with the bottom covered in a circle of parchment paper.
Serving Size
12 people
The Filling: 750g plums, washed, cored and pitted and cut into ½ inch slices 80g salted butter 130g regular sugar 1 vanilla bean, cut length ways, the inside scraped out and put into a pot. When made in advance, and I advise making this in advance, it will last up to two days in the fridge. Melt the butter in a heavy bottomed large pan over a medium to high heat on the hob. Sprinkle the sugar over the butter and then carefully lay the plum slices directly on top. Throw in the vanilla bean and leave the whole thing, without mixing, until the plums start to release their pinky juices. Once the juices have come to a steady simmer, turn down the heat and cook the fruit, mixing often until you have a mixture that looks like apple sauce. This should take about 25-30 minutes. Once you get to this stage, scrape it out into a bowl and leave uncovered in the fridge for about 4 hours to cool and set up to a thick but pliable jam. The Cake: 425g self-raising flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg ¼ teaspoon ground cloves 425g dark brown sugar 125g butter 125ml vegetable oil 4 large free range eggs 375ml buttermilk Preheat your oven to 180°C (350F or Gas Mark 4). Sift together the flour, baking powder, spices and then give the ingredients a good whisk through to make sure they are evenly mixed. Blend together the butter and the brown sugar with an electric mixer on a low speed until the mix looks like wet sand. Slowly add in the oil and turn the mixer to a high speed until the mix is fluffier. With your mixer back on low, blend in your eggs one at a time, adding the next just as the last yolk has been incorporated. Add the flour next in three parts,
alternating with the buttermilk beginning and ending with flour. Mix the batter until completely incorporated on a low speed to ensure you do not over mix. Divide your batter evenly between the three pans and bake on the centre rack of the oven for about 20-25mins, until the tops have turned golden, the sides have come away a little from the pan and a skewer inserted in the middle comes out clear. Once baked, remove your cakes from the oven. Run a knife around the edges and leave cool in their pans for about 10 minutes before turning them out on to a wire rack to cool completely. Wait until they are cold before removing the parchment paper. The Rum Buttercream: 227g pack of unsalted butter at room temperature and very soft 450g (plus more if needed) sifted icing sugar 60ml (or to taste) dark spiced rum 2 tablespoons of full fat cream Mix the butter, cream and half the icing sugar on a low speed until fully mixed. Add in the rum to your taste. Add the rest of the icing sugar, and mix until the colour has gone pale. You should have a thick, but spreadable frosting. Leave at room temperature until you are ready to use it. Putting it all together: Take one cake layer and lay it top side down on your serving plate. Add a thin layer of buttercream around the outside edge. Fill the inside with your jam. Place the next cake layer, top side down and repeat the buttercream and jam. Place the third and final layer of cake on top and give the whole cake a crumb coat in the rum buttercream frosting. Place in the fridge for about 30 minutes to firm up. Remove and frost with your final coat of buttercream. Any leftover frosting can be used on cupcakes or licked straight off the spoon and any leftover jam will taste superb on your morning toast. This cake is best served at room temperature. When you store it in an air tight container and out of direct sunlight, it should keep for up to 4 days.
Article by Hazel Ryan Sheehan - www.cupcakerys.com Image by Tarmo Tulit
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c o ckt a i l o f t h e m o n t h
EA R L G R EY J ELLY w i th B E R R IES AN D C R EA M Now you don’t always have to drink the tea, why not try to do an amazing classic dessert using tea as a flavour enhancer. I have one of my favourite recipes in mind and it is so simple. This recipe uses Earl Grey tea, I am not a big fan of drinking it but I sure changed my mind when I was eating it. It is light, floral and pairs well with the berries, very reminiscent of traditional English high tea.
INGREDIENTS For the jelly 700ml water 7g powdered gelatine (approx 2 tsp) 2 Earl Grey teabags , or 2 tsp loose leaf Earl Grey 3 tbsp sugar Mixed berries, frozen or fresh For the cream Chantilly 350ml cream 50g icing sugar ½ vanilla bean, seeds only For the tuille 25g melted butter 25g flour 25g icing sugar, sifted 25g egg white For the macerated berries Mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries) Splash of Grand Marnier/ Cointreau
INSTRUCTIONS Bloom the gelatine powder in 100ml of cold water. Heat remaining 600ml water in a small saucepan until just below boiling and then turn off. Add tea/tea bags and sugar and stir to dissolve sugar. Allow too steep for 2 minutes - not too long, you just want a mild bergamot flavour. Strain - reserving the liquid. Add the bloomed gelatine and stir to combine. Strain again to remove any tiny bits of undiluted gelatine. Divide between 6 glasses and scatter in the mixed berries, then allow them to set in the fridge for at least 3 hours. If you want the berries to be perfectly suspended in the middle of the jelly, you’ll need to pour in half the jelly mixture, scatter with berries. Allow to set for half an hour in the fridge and then top with remaining jelly mixture. For the cream chantilly Whisk the cream to soft peaks. Then add the icing sugar and vanilla seeds (you could also use vanilla extract or paste). Put into a piping bag with a star nozzle and pipe onto the set jelly. For the Tuille Preheat oven to 180C. Reverse a baking sheet (it’s easier to use the underside as it doesn’t have the lip around the edges) and line with baking paper. Combine all ingredients into a small bowl and then spread onto the parchment paper lined baking sheet. Bake for 3-4 minutes until lightly golden. When cool, snap into long shards and store in an airtight container. For the macerated berries Combine the mixed berries with just a dash of Grand Marnier. Don’t forget to take a slug yourself for good luck or make yourself a cocktail while you’ve got the bottle out. Place the macerated berries in the glass next to the cream, then top with the tuille. Enjoy!
There are lots of new hip, healthy, tasty and crazy drinks out there that have tea as main component. So step out of your comfort zone, skip your milk and sugar and try something else. If you haven’t tried it yet, there is a new place in Limerick 3 Rutland street called Bubble Tea Paradise Healthy Cafe. Their speciality is Bubble tea. Bubble tea you ask? Also known as pearl milk tea or boba milk tea is a
Taiwanese tea-based drink invented in Taichung in the 1980’s. Bubble teas are typically of two distinct types: fruitflavoured teas and milk teas. However, some shops offer hybrid fruit milk teas. Most milk teas include powdered dairy or non-dairy creamers, but some shops also offer fresh milk as an alternative. Other varieties are 100% crushedfruit smoothies with tapioca pearls and
signature ice cream shakes made from local ice cream sources. The most popular bubble drinks are bubble milk tea with tapioca and bubble milk green tea with tapioca. I hope I was able to give you some ideas to make your life easier on this busy period of entertaining. Don’t be afraid to experiment, if you go wrong you can always start again. Article by Kaur Ellermae Image by Tarmo Tulit
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c h a r i t y N o va s i n i t i at i v e s
fostering social inclusion Last year, Novas Initiatives assisted 2,014 people with homelessness nationwide. 68% of this figure was in Limerick. This countrywide figure was an increase of 23% on demand of services on the previous year and was a 25% increase on the year before that. Clearly the demand is phenomenal as is the pressure on the supply to constantly expand. Homelessness is a talking point in the national media more than ever before and the problem is reflected right here at home and being managed so successfully by the people at Novas. Coming to Limerick just over a decade ago, Novas was seen as a way to solve the issue of the increasing number of homeless people who were dying during the winter months and were not connecting with the services available. They originally set up in St. John’s Square but over time, as it was a listed building, it wasn’t fit for purpose for the expansion they required. In 2011, they moved to McGarry House on Alphonsus Street, where they currently have a dual complex system with 67 houses. Novas is the Latin for ‘new beginning’ and their multipurpose approach makes this philosophy a reality for so many. They provide seven services here in Limerick alone. Getting a roof over someone’s head is the fundamental priority but their work goes much deeper than that. There are so many reasons why someone might become homeless from job loss to financial issues to family breakdown etc. Novas have preventative services which involve working with the person to find the root cause of their situation, with the aim to prevent the problem from reoccurring. The organisation supports the wellbeing of people along the way and aim to provide exit routes for them. Novas also run services like community detox for addicts and there is a voluntary food run every evening in the city. They also work with the Council to tackle the issue of homelessness in Limerick. They have a service from 5-9 after office hours as well as a 24-hour helpline for anyone who needs emergency accommodation. The day of the single male addict being the face of homelessness has been quickly diluted with the recession.
Over half of those accessing the residential services last year were women and over 90% of those accessing the family service were also women. There is a new strand appearing in the form of middle class families too, which has started to shift the more common one dimensional view among people about who is homeless. We now are more aware than ever that homelessness could happen to anyone without warning. There are thousands of people out there - families, children and single adults that are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless or on the margins of society who are being helped by Novas. It’s not all doom and gloom however, but it is rare among tough topics do we get to hear some of the better news. The Brother Russell Housing Project on Mulgrave Street is one great success story and one which will provide many men who have been homeless for anywhere from 10-30 years, with independent living and a place that they can call finally call home. Novas Initiatives are doing incredible work and definitely worth keeping in mind over the Christmas season. In an effort to make it a little easier, Intensive Family Support Service is launching its Annual Toy Appeal to provide presents for the children and teenagers of this service. It is hoped that each child will receive a present thanks to your generosity, which unfortunately is something that families cannot guarantee. Should you wish to participate in the toy appeal, you will be allocated a child or young person, and provided with their age and gender in order to help you select an appropriate gift. Each child will be given a numerical reference so that they can be identified by Novas. You will then be asked to purchase a gift for that child, and deliver it in a gift bag (unwrapped), labelled with the number of the particular child, to the family support service at 1 Mungret Street, Limerick City. Should you wish to become involved or require any further information contact una.burns@novas.ie - 061 370325 or 083 1083726.
Article by Mairéad Collins Christmas Illustrations by Jacob Stack
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L i m e r i ck l i f e As a twenty-seven year old armed with an English degree and an ardent unwillingness to contribute to society in the same manner as all those other people out there who aren’t special like me, I often find myself stewing at the crossroads of indecision for even the most mundane of choices: Chinese or Thai?; coffee or tea?; people or gravy? While you reader, as a regularly functioning member of society, may well be contentedly sipping some Chinese coffee in the company of a Thai person who oddly sips tea while slathered head-to-toe in rich Sunday gravy as you read this piece, understand that as a nonartistic muggle with the world before them on a platter, decisions may not weigh so heavily for you as for me. PARKLIFE! The choice between a tea and a coffee of a morning may have far-reaching ramifications for my as-of-yet unrealised and equally uncompromising artistic vision. As a cultural vessel of sorts I’m only too aware of how fickle and easily toppled my resolve is depending
on the tenacity of the missiles of information and grenades of pop culture society throws at me: I used canary-yellow legal pads the entirety of my second college year on account of Josh from The West Wing using them in meetings; I took up smoking and neat whiskey with enthuse the first year I began watching Mad Men. For legal reasons I may not divulge the profound effect Season 3 of The Walking Dead had on the means by which I sift through human clutter on a busy day in TK Maxx. Each of these temporal attributes I absorb act as obstacles to the masterpiece of postmodern literature I will eventually produce, an ironically ghost-written autobiography of Bertie Ahern entitled “This is Why You Love Me”. I know I’m not alone in this spongy artistic predicament. There’s a reason my tweed-jacketed literati brethren reside eternally outside the cafes of little Catherine Street, stalled in a limbo-like state void of inspiration and that is the
misguidance of popular culture and advertising. Here are some of the bigger culprits arty types (such as me) might be best watching out for in the run-up to Christmas, in order that we might keep our hip integrity in the swell of commercial interests. Christmas Ads Lead to Christmas Shopping Yes smiles and charity are all well and good but to the untrained eye a tweedy genius purchasing gifts gives the impression that their choice of rolled tobacco and second-hand shoes is an aesthetic choice rather than an economic necessity. If you must stoop to giving gifts at Christmas picked flowers from a church garden or poetry on a napkin will suffice. Sons of Anarchy Leads to Blue Collars In the midst of its final season this Kurt Sutter wrestling prototype may provide all the cheap thrills warranted of a rainy evening in, its ripple effects are too dangerous to
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not be considered as threats: Skull tattoos, leather waistcoat, flannel check shirts. Before you know it you’ll be an unemployed mechanic in a Bruce Springsteen song. Giving to Charity Leads to Sticky Residue on Clothing These days there is rarely a charitable donation in this vacuous modernity that will not see that hapless do-gooder’s clothing ruined with a cheap plastic sticker that not only clashes with tweed but negates the selfless importance of an anonymous donation to stand alongside the breast-beating change abandonment of the hoi-polloi. Reading and adhering to magazine lists such as this lead to an absence of personality. Erm. Yeah. Article by Donnchadh Tiernan
h o m e
The centre piece at Christmas is not the tree or the TV, it is the family dining table and decorating it can add a real sense of engaging and communicating with your family over the holiday season. We will eat there, play board games, laugh, fight and have great debates around this piece of furniture. So why not take a little time to transform it into a hub of seasonal good cheer. Decorating the table for Christmas dinner is a great way to make the holidays even more memorable. Red, green and white are sure favorites and probably always will be, but here are some style tips to go for a different look.
The Traditional & Elegant C hr i s tm a s T a b l e
T h e C o u n tr y C h i c C hr i s tm a s Ta b l e
The Glitz & Glam C hr i s tm a s T a b l e
Make Christmas dinner a rich sophisticated affair with glamorous black glassware, gold shimmering decorations, understated foliage and plenty of champagne. Create an elegant centrepiece by bunching an array of glass candlesticks together. For atmospheric lighting - arrange glass votive candles on the table and at intervals around the room to create a glowing atmosphere. Use a sparkly runner - swap your usual tablecloth for a shimmery runner trimmed with glittering beads. Decorate the mantelpiece with evergreens such as eucalyptus - it sets the scene and smells heavenly.
Use red and white hand-painted decorations, homespun-style linens and a seasonal runner on the table. Finish the look by dressing your chandelier in berries and ivy or just hang them from the ceiling by making a suspended centrepiece. Choose wooden decorations - dress the mantel with a small wooden tree and tea lights in glass votive, finish with a garland of ivy. Do use brightly coloured table linen - red and white gives an instant Christmas feel and is the perfect backdrop to plain white china.
This is the bold and bright theme. You can be decadent with amethyst and fuchsia tableware set against an indulgent chocolate backdrop. Why not make a suspended centrepiece - use lengths of ribbon pinned to the ceiling to hang shimmering baubles over the centre of the table and sprinkle foil-wrapped chocolates on the table for a great after-dinner treat. For shimmer and sparkle, buy inexpensive tree decorations, such as small baubles or glittery stars, and place them in bowls along the table, alongside co-ordinating napkins and a tablecloth.
TIPS
FOR SETTING THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS TABLE
THINK ABOUT TABLE SIZE This time of year often results in the entire family of 15 around the usually small table for 6, so instead of spending a fortune on a new table, how about creating an extension with a garden table placed at one end. Or use a sheet of MDF placed on top of a smaller table, with batons screwed onto the bottom to stop it from sliding. Just make sure the table cloth is long enough!
SEAT EVERYONE IN COMFORT Comfortable seating during Christmas dinner is a must, so make sure you’ve got enough suitable chairs. If it’s a squeeze, stools are ideal as they take up less space. ORGANISE THE SEATING PLAN If you love being super organised. Handwritten place cards add a personal touch along with being sure everyone has been given each course.
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PROTECT YOUR TABLE Most tables need protecting from hot dishes and spills. Place heatproof mats along the table for hot serving dishes. CREATE A CENTREPIECE A festive decoration in the centre of the table always adds a little something extra. For a traditional, Christmas look, mix holly branches and candles in a large glass bowl. INCLUDE A PERSONAL GIFT Secret Santa time...
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When I first saw The Hot Sprockets, I thought that the band had stepped out of some kind of time warp from the 1970’s but that just adds to the charm of these loveable rockers. They are a firm favourite with festivals and gig goers for years and have gained popularity from their high energy shows and friendly banter. Always up for a good time and a party, these down to earth guys are some of the nicest people on the scene and it’s hard not to like them. An all-out blues, rock ‘n’ roll band you’d be mad to miss a gig of theirs. I got to sit down with Andrew Sutton the drummer of The Hot Sprockets to talk about all things Sprockety! Let’s talk about your style; you guys have one of the best styling going for a band? Where do you get your clothes and inspiration from? “Why thank you...but given the choice, we wouldn’t wear any clothes so seeing as we have to...ah to be honest we just always wear what we wear on stage so there isn’t much inspiration behind the image. It’s just us wearing the clothes that we wear. *all items from the official Hot Sprockets summer and autumn catalogue are available at your local second hand shop*” You guys were in Canada for Indie Week in October, how did you get on? “It was amazing. Toronto is a groovy place indeed. So much happenings happening at the same time, it really puts lil ‘ol Dublin into perspective. We ended up playin 7 gigs in 5 days so it was pretty full on but we met some great people and saw some killer bands.” Tim rocked a sombrero while you guys were there for the whole time? “He did. Frank got it for him for his birthday over there. I’d say he has whiplash right about now as it weighs about 10 kilos but it will be worth it. Nothing says Toronto like a sombrero.”
You were also over in the States with Cold Comfort during the Summer. I’m sure the American’s just loved you. Have any plans to go back next year? “We’re hoping to get back for Paddy’s Day for a lil tour. We’ll defo be hitting Chicago but hopefully this time we get to go down south. We’re all visa’d up, so we’re too legit to quit.” You have to be one of the hardest working bands around at the moment with non-stop gigging, touring, making music and having your own radio show. Are you just getting started? “Wait until you see ‘The Hot Sprockets waffle makers’ comin next year. Ah to be honest we just try to be as active as possible in every medium that we can but also in things we enjoy. If we’re offered a radio show, we’re gonna do it. If we get to make waffle makers...so be it.” The Hot Sprockets seem to be a firm favourite with festival and gig goers in general, why do you think this is? “I’m not sure Olivia, can you tell me?! Hmm...Well I think we try to put out positive vibes and we always rock out as hard as we can and party as hard as we can. I guess these are qualities festival promoters go for?”
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When you’re making your videos, there always seems to be a sense of fun and a bit of a piss take. Who comes up with the concepts for each video or is it collaboration with the director? “I don’t know what videos you’ve been watching but all our videos are serious sombre tales. “Shake Me Off” is about the tough life of a biker gang on a par with easy rider. Somebody was shot in “Comin On” and a man was violently dismembered/murdered in “Soul Brother”... but yeah, we usually have the idea or concept and we’ll meet up with the director for some brainstorming sessions. Some tend to stay like the original idea, some get whackier and whackier as the shoot goes on.” What has been one of your favourite places that you’ve played to date? “Ah honestly, there have been too many to mention. Getting to go to the states was pretty special for us. So I’d say personally and I can’t speak for everyone in the band, it would probably have to be Kansas City Irish Fest. It was crazy. It was in the middle of this kind of financial district and we were playing on a closed off road. I couldn’t see where the crowd ended. It was a really sweet buzz to experience that so far from home.” You’re touring like crazy all over Ireland at the moment and playing in Vicar St. before Christmas, how exciting is it to be playing Vicar St? “We have an Irish tour leading up to the Vicar Street gig starting in November so we’ll be up and down the auld Emerald Isle. But it’s amazing to be doing our next headliner in Vicar Street. I can’t really believe it to be honest. So many amazing bands have played there over the years, even gigs I’ve been going to since I was a kid. It’s a total honour to be playing it.”
What can we expect from the new EP that you have out ‘Licks from the Vault’? “Ball to Ball rockin! We’re slammin it together just for the Vicar Street gig. But it’s gonna be real rockin. There are songs from before the first album so they are pretty hard core. It’s one that the old school fans will be feeling and for the new schoolers, it’s a glimps into the past.” You’re playing in Dolan’s in Limerick on the 6th of December and you guys always get a great response from the Limerick crowd. Are you always excited to be down here? “Totally. Some of our first gigs here were for the Freshers Week for the Art College. Those people know how to party so it was a match made in Limerick. We’ve played loads of gigs down here since and they’ve always been sweet.” What does 2015 hold for you guys? “Well, we’ll be heading in to record our third album early in the year so we’ll have our sights set on releasing it the same year. Gigs wise, we’re planning tours over in the States, Canada and Europe. Just that and waffle makers...” Finally where can we get a hold of your music? “You can get it online at the usual haunts like iTunes or from our website. It is also available in certain stores around the country like HMV and Tower. Also if you pop down to one of our houses for a cup of tea we’ll be sure to hook you up.”
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Interview by Olivia Chau
D J
P r o f i l e Michelle McMahon
From: Originally Clare but now living in Dublin via a ten year stint in Limerick. Day Job: Editor of website Her.ie How long have you been a DJ? I started as a radio presenter with regional youth station SPIN South West when it launched in July of 2007, just after I finished college. Through my role there, I was offered many MC and DJ gigs. I fell in love with playing for a crowd so I invested in my own set of Pioneers, some nice speakers and made my living room a practice set. “Have kit, will travel.” What first got you interested? I have always loved music and socialising. Having been acutely aware that the success of a night out can hinge on a DJ reading the crowd and playing a set that will keep the crowd on the floor, I loved the challenge of being that person and having to react to the
night, minute by minute. It’s a really rewarding job when you get it right, and 99% of punters are friendly and appreciative. First gig? I don’t think it was my first but in the very early days I played a gig in a tiny club in Cahirsiveen. It was absolutely hopping! I think every local in the town descended on the club and with some lax laws I didn’t finish up until 4.30am or so, after which everyone retired to the attached pub for a lock-in. I also had to stand in for a picture with pretty much every person in there. It was epic, and I was still buzzing for the four hour drive home the next day.
Type of music you play? I’m the absolute opposite of a music snob and will listen to almost anything. I play a lot of commercial nights so at any given time I have three or four chart songs I’m obsessed with, but if given the choice I’ll play a 90s night any night of the week with a mix of pop, R&B, Hip-Hop, Soul and killer dance. Preferred weapon of choice? I have an enduring soft spot for my Pioneer 400s decks and 600 mixer. I still prefer to play from CD rather than laptop, I’ve seen a lot of people get really lazy that way. That said, I don’t gig half as much anymore so maybe it’s easy to say that for me!
Where have you gigged? The biggest Irish gigs for me have been at Oxegen three years ago, the official after party for the first Cois Fharraige festival (RIP – that was a cracker) and on stage at the Dome in Tralee during the Rose of Tralee festival. Favourite gig to date? Any of the ones I’ve just mentioned were pretty special, but on a more regular basis I played La Boutique at Dolan’s for a long time and Confession in Scotts, both run by friends heavily involved in the LGBT community. The vibe on those nights is something I absolutely loved and always looked forward to. It never felt like work, and the cheesiest of cheesy tunes were welcomed with open arms. As was I!
Interview with Olivia Chau Image by Tarmo Tulit
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B a tt l e o f t h e P a n t o s What time is it? IT’S PANTO TIME! And boy oh boy does Limerick have two fiiiine pantos’ planned for this Christmas! Joined in Fusion HQ by Jack’s Mother (Myles Breen) of Jack and the Beanstalk, Poly and Esther Fabric (Damian Shaw and Tim Cusack) of Cinderella, laughter could be heard across the city as we discussed the traditions of Pantomime in Limerick and the exciting Christmas season.
So how long have you been doing panto? Myles: “A bloody long time! I’ve done Panto in Cork and Dublin before and in Limerick now since 1997. I played the same roles a few times, the scripts change slightly but not too much. I must admit, it really is a great gig, hard work, but there is something very natural about it. Other professional actor friends of mine have tried it and said ‘never again, it’s just too hard’, but I love it.” Tim: “The two shifts a day can be hard, but it is addictive, this is our 30th year and I’ve been dame for 20 years.” Damian: “I’ve been involved from the get-go too, and I’ve played many characters - I’ve even flown on carpets. When you return to a character after a number of years you play them differently, depending on the audience and things going on at the time. This is our fourth time to be the Ugly Sisters and it’s great when you know the script.” Is there a lot of tradition in Panto here in Limerick? Myles: “Traditionally, the evenings are a bit more slapstick than the matinees.” Tim: “Obviously there are more kids at the matinee and they get so involved, booing the baddy and the like, its great fun! You don’t get as many lines out in the matinee because the children are so reactive.” Damian: “With groups like Girl Guides/ Brownies there’s a great kick out of their reactions if you call them Scouts, they’re full of chocolate and have priceless moments.” Myles: “There is just nothing better than the children’s shows, they scream the most wonderful reactions.” Damian: “Sometimes the parents are more involved. We try to get them involved, we sing happy birthday to children, get them to help us on stage, it means so much to the audience.” Have all three of you ever worked together? Damian: “We’re always onstage around the same time but we go and support each other’s shows when we can.” Myles: “But if you’re on an evening off...the last thing you want to do is go to a Panto!” (Laughs) Tim: “We do always try though. I just love them.” Damian: “People think Panto is for children. They go in Dublin and Cork too and many don’t realise how professional they are in Limerick. I know people who now travel from Dublin to see Limerick productions ever year.” Myles: “Between music, sets, costumes…there is some talent in Limerick.” Tim: “Yeah, people come from Kerry, Cork, Dublin…all around now, it’s amazing.” Damian: “They realise the shows are often better down here.” Myles: “The thing is, you can throw a lot of money at Panto but it’s the heart in it that counts.” Tim: “The participation from the audience is the heart, it’s the kids.” Damian: “And you get to wear a dress and nobody says anything to you!”
Any funny memories? Tim: “When my daughter was three she saw me trying on a bra for my costume. She stood shocked in the doorway and said: ‘Daddy! I’m telling Mammy when she comes home’.” (Laughs) Myles: “All my nieces and nephews used to come and now they bring their children. They could never get over me in the dress.” Tim: “My nieces and nephews call me ‘Aunty Tim’ now.” (Laughs) What audience are your shows for? Damian: “I’d tell precautious people to relive their childhood. Come with an open mind and relive their younger years, with a blank mind.” Myles:”…and as we said, they both have amazing songs and sounds, make-up and costumes and talented actors. It’s a West End performance on your doorstep. It’s a bit of fun. Don’t be paranoid about not having a child to bring, my mother goes and gets a great kick out of the children altogether.” Tim: “The children’s reactions are worth seeing themselves.” Myles: “If you miss a gag…there is something different coming along.” If people had to choose one production, why should they go to yours? (Silence ) Myles: “Ours. Because I’m in it!” (Laughs) Damian: “Oh no you’re not!” Myles: “Ah no, there is great Limerick talent in both.” Damian: “Go to the one nearby you. Actually, can we answer this when he (Myles) is gone? (Laughs) Don’t go to their one, come to our one!” What audience will this year’s show attract? Tim: “Well it’s been going on for so many years now it’s the same crowd a lot of the time.” Myles: “It’s a great tradition, with returning audiences each year. I’ve had kids in the show who bring their own children now.” Damian: “Gerri May, Leanne Moore and even our own Emma O’Driscoll all started out in Limerick Panto, Liam O’Brien too.” Myles: “Panto is a package show. There is so much in it, you learn the hard way.” Damian: “The biggest thing for both Panto’s is that we are bringing business back into the city, it’s a day out for the family or group and it’s great to do that.” Tim: “You earn your crust anyway, that’s for sure!” Myles: “Panto is a lot of children’s’ first introduction to theatre, that’s important for us to keep in mind as well. I remember being brought to Dublin to see Maureen Potter and English Panto is very different from Irish Panto as well.” Tim: “Oh it’s very different, in Ireland you know the audience.” Myles: “Here, a Cork panto is for a Cork audience, a Limerick for Limerick and so on.”
Damian: “The gags are always local, that’s how it works.” Myles: “When you’re the man in a dress...” All: “You can do what you want!” (Laughs) Who’s involved on the production side? Damian: “Well we have children who will be performing through the fourteen shows with us and then we have people who are 45, 50 and older.” Myles: “Oh there is nothing worse than when a little child comes out and the audience melts after you’ve been sweating buckets. They get all their steps wrong… and they LOVE her! That sounds very bitter but it’s all part of the game!” Tim: “But you learn your crust from the older generation. I learned from Bazil Connaughton and Oliver Stapleton, they passed on so many tips and skills. They pull you aside and give you pointers for the next show, that’s how you learn. Bazil was in his early 70’s when he did his last show. He always treated everybody the same and that way of living was passed on too.” Damian: “We’re getting auld now so we’re passing them onto the next generation.” Myles: “Hard work but great craic!” Damian: “The hardest show is New Year’s day after celebrating the night before.” Myles: “Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without the Panto for me...I guess, the question is though, when do we retire? (Laughs) Is it when you have the crutches and the high heels?” Tim: “We do it for the fun. I work weekends up to Christmas and you’ll be wiped out. I’ve been doing it 30 years and all my family is involved in the show but I wouldn’t change it.” Myles: “And so much hard work goes on behind the scene - costumes, music, staging, so much.” What about rehearsals? Tim: “We do about three hours every Sunday night for two months prior to the show and more hours as we get closer.” Myles: “Well as it’s my job, we do it differently. We do a condensed two weeks from nine until nine, bam bam bam BAM, we just race through it.” Damian: “Sunday evening is the only time we’d all be free.” Anything else you would like to add? Damian: “Don’t just sit around this Christmas, get up, get out, and go to a show. Go out and don’t be afraid to enjoy yourself; people need to laugh, so have fun! Jack and the Beanstalk, the UCH Panto; University Concert Hall Dec 16th- Jan 4th Cinderella from Limerick Panto Society; Lime Tree Theatre Dec 27th- Jan 4th. Check out the details on www.uch.ie and www. limetreetheatre.ie
Interview by Rebecca Egan Image by Tarmo Tulit Image of Myles Breen, Richard Lynch, Damian Shaw and Tim Cusack
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C r o o n i n g at C h r is t m a s Time to really get into the festive spirit as “Crooning at Christmas” is set to Celebrate 10 wonderful years! Within moments of meeting Liam O’Brien to hear about this year’s Crooning at Christmas, it was clear that this event is something special. Liam admits the idea wasn’t even his: “I wish I could claim the idea as my own, but it was my father’s.” His Dad knew he would be home for Christmas break from acting on Emmerdale and asked him to do a Christmas concert, not knowing what he was starting. “That’s the music I loved…I’d always sneak off to listen to Frank Sinatra and the likes”. They decided to do a small Christmas concert in No. 2 Pery Square, currently home to the City of Culture offices. Liam’s Dad has since passed but he has decided to carry on the tradition in his memory. It seems only with joy that Liam has decided to dedicate December to perform and tour Crooning at Christmas this year. The concept of the show has never changed, but grown in size. Having maintained its’ audience, new people are attracted each year. A tribute to swing music from the 50s and 60s and focused on Christmas hits, you won’t hear anything that isn’t a Christmas track; “It’s a compilation of Christmas classics… its Christmas overload.”
H av e Y o u r s e l f a M e rr y O l d e
C h r i st m as December is a month when we are bombarded with everything that is Christmas which some of us love and others loathe as you have to hear the same music in every shop. On the other hand it gives a great excuse to listen to our favourite Christmas songs. Mine is David Bowie and Bing Crosby’s version of Peace on Earth/The Little Drummer Boy. I’m a big fan of Bowie and when I first heard this song, I was transfixed. The song originally aired in America on ‘Bing Crosby’s Merrie Olde Christmas’ November 30th, 1977 just weeks after Bing Crosby passed away. The single itself though wasn’t released until 1982 and was only available as at bootleg before that. The single was actually released on 7” red vinyl in 2010, with a limited run of 2000 copies. I was living in America when I first heard the song back when I was a teenager. Before that I had never heard it – maybe because we were over-run with Wham’s ‘Last Christmas’. Musical Direction is by Peter Hanagan, double bassist, who has been a part of Crooning at Christmas almost every year. He will have everything sounding as sweet as possible. This year includes an array of returning guest singers and a few surprises to make the show extra special to celebrate the 10-year anniversary. If you’re ready to rock around this Christmas season, catching the concert is definitely for you! “It stems from a genuine love of music and this year will be bigger than ever”. Show dates: December 21st: Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick December 22nd: Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick
Interview with Rebecca Egan Image by Tarmo Tulit
The harmonies between the two men worked so well with Bowie singing Peace On Earth and Crosby’s rendition of The Little Drummer Boy. Bowie at the time was trying to ‘clean up his act’ and be more commercial and he definitely gave it a good try with Bing’s Christmas special. The minute I hear this song, I immediately think of warm fires, good friends and spending time with my family. So at Christmas when you’re running around like a lunatic, sit down, relax, take a moment for yourself and listen to this song. You won’t regret it.
By Olivia Chau Christmas Illustration by Jacob Stack
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The 12 pubs of Christmas is fast becoming a very popular Irish tradition, where a group of friends visit up to 12 pubs in 1 night over the Christmas Season. Wearing silly jumper’s and flashing ties are a must, the more silly you look the better, all while playing games in the different venues. Be sure to grab a bite to eat as well as water along the way, no one wants to be “that person” during the night. It’s all about fun with friends and a few bevy’s in some of Limericks favourite pubs.
The
• • • •
12 Pubs of
ist Chr
mas Rules
12 Pubs to be visited in one night One drink per pub (it doesn’t have to be alcohol) Maximum of 30 minutes per pub ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST WEAR A CHRISTMAS JUMPER
To make things fun there are optional rules for each pub which participants can follow. If rules are not followed teams should decide the standard forfit in advance of each 12 Pubs excursion. 1. The Right-Handed Pub – all drinks to be handled with the right hand only 2. The Fake Accent Pub – each participant to speak in a different accent for the duration 3. The No Pointing Pub – no pointing 4. The No Swearing Pub – no swearing 5. The No Names Pub – no using other participants names / nicknames 6. The Left Handed Pub – no using left hand to hold drinks 7. The Strangers Pub – no acknowledgement of other participants 8. The Sitting Down Pub – no standing or visiting the toilet for the duration 9. The No Resting Pub – no sitting, leaning or resting your drink 10. The Swap Shoes Pub – swap one shoe with another participant 11. The Try And Stay Going Pub – no rules, come on, nearly there! 12. The Final Furlong Pub -you’re there, relax, enjoy the sense of achievement!
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Microsoft® Bing ™ screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation
Costello’s Tavern
Phil Flannery’s White House BAR
The Glen Tavern
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JP’s Three things that best sum up Christmas... Peace, goodwill and batteries not included! Start your Christmas at JP’s Bar on Sarsfield Street with free finger food for 12 pubs groups of 10 booked ahead with James (086) 0791916. Live music nightly and prizes for best Christmas jumpers. JP’s back lounge is home to monthly house nights Wax and Sound Lounge and also available for private functions with party packages and free DJ. As for batteries… We can charge your phones!
Mickey Martin’s Mickey Martins is a funky little bar at Number 1, Augustinian Lane. It has long been the citys 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 we want you to be part of. Street sounds are the main stock in trade and you will hear a diverse range of DJ beats for your listening pleasure. P: 061 – 415490 E: mickeymartinsbar@gmail.com
Smyths Bar Smyths Bar is the name in Limerick associated with top class entertainment, great nights out, fine food and great value service. Smyths Bar hosts live music 7 nights a week with no cover charge on the door to see some of the best bands from all around the country! Names like Blue Moose and Free Beer are just some of the top class acts that play regularly. Plenty of fun planned for Smyths over the Christmas season with a great list of live music, Santas Grotto for grown-ups and loads of festive food and drink. All served alongside the regular deals such as the ever popular 5 bottles for €16 bucket deal which has become a firm favourite. P: 061 – 310766 E: enquires@smythsbar.com
McGettigans McGettigan’s Limerick looks forward to welcoming you. They offer a selection of drinks and infamous cocktails and traditional Irish food with a bit of a twist. The Kitchen team at McGettigan’s pride themselves at serving top class award winning food for Christmas parties and festivities. It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Make it even more spectacular by booking your Christmas Parties and festive get togethers at McGettigan’s Limerick. They have a range of packages available including 3 course set menus for groups, festive bar bites and traditional turkey and ham dinners with all the delicious trimmings. Advance booking is required for selected menus. Have your Christmas and New Year all wrapped up at McGettigans. P: 087 – 2535880 E: contact@mcgettigans.ie
The Library The loudest Library in the world! You won’t find many books at The Library Bar, but you will find some of the best live music sessions in Limerick. With a mix of live entertainment, great service and a fantastic atmosphere The Libary Bar is a serious contender for the best spot in Limerick City. Located in the Market Quarter, the bar is an open and airy space with plenty of comfortable seating. The main attraction is the large stage and its LED light wall, which complements any style of music. With VIP seating available in the luxurious booths you can be sure of the best seats in the house. Serving beer, wine and cocktails, there are lots of promotions and prizes on offer and a late bar every weekend so you can dance your socks off! All types of parties can be catered for at The Library so no matter what your celebration, they will make it a party to remember! P: 061 – 467904 E: info@thelibrarylimerick.com
The Glen Tavern The Glen Tavern is situated in the heart of Limerick just off the main artery of O’Connell Street. A warm welcoming pub, all the convenience of city life but very much a family run establishment. Known for its great value lunches and daily specials, it is a lively pub with live music, good beer, great pints and wholesome food. P: 061 – 411380 E: glentavern@eircom.net
The Market Quarter The Market Quarter is a hub of entertainment in Limerick City, where you will find a host of venues serving up great food, drinks and entertainment 7 days and nights a week. The area is host to the Riverfest festival and many other events. The venues involved in the Market Quarter are Nancy Blakes, Phil Flannerys, Mollys Late Bar, The Old Quarter, The Office Bar, Charlie Chaplins, Smyths Bar and Icon Nightclub. Over Christmas and New Year’s Eve the Market Quarter transforms into a festive wonderland with a fun festive feel in the street and all of its venues.
Cobblestone Joes Looking for a great night out? Then look no further than Cobblestone Joe’s. Located on Ellen St. in Limerick’s city centre, this is the place to go for amazing live music and a great atompshere. From singer songwriters to live band, it hosts lots of artists from different genres in a unqiue and alternative setting to the regular pubbing pursuit.
Christmas Illustrations by Jacob Stack
Phil Flannery’s You are welcome to Phil Flannery’s Bar, ‘Your local pub right in the heart of the City’. Family run, with the aim to give you the personal touch. ‘Come in for a chat and stay for the craic’. Refurbished in 2007 with a state of the art Smoking Area and is located on Lower Denmark Street. Contact Details – P: 061-419761
Paddy Frawley’s Paddy Frawley’s is a retro Irish style pub also located at 49-50 Thomas Street. Paddy Frawley’s is open 7 days a week with live traditional Irish music and acoustic sessions every Thursday and Sunday. Contact Details - P: 061-317799 Email at reservations@aubars.com
The White House Established in 1812 and situated in the professional and business heart of Limerick City. The Whitehouse runs an open mic poetry every Wednesday night and has become world renowned. Music and entertainment every other night. Contact Details - P: 061-412377 - Email whitehousebarlimerick@ gmail.com
Costello’s Tavern Located on Dominic Street, Costello’s Tavern Limerick’s number one bar... Carvery Lunch served daily from 12.00 noon & Evening menu available from 6.00pm onwards. It’s the best place to finish your 12 Pubs with a festive boogie on the infamous dancefloor! Contact Details – 061-418250
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BEAUTIFUL DREAMERS - A CONVERSATION WITH A CITY Friday 28th November - Sunday 7 December 2014 @ 6pm & 7.30pm Once you have purchased your ticket, you will be emailed with the confirmed meeting point in Limerick City Centre.
THE HIGH KINGS Wednesday 3rd December @ 8pm University Concert Hall
LIMERICK ON ICE 28th November - 4th January 10am - 10pm Arthur’s Quay Park
THE COMEDY COUCH Thursday 4th December @ 9pm 3 Georges Quay, Limerick
SANTA EXPERIENCE 2014 Friday 28th November to Tuesday 23rd December Jetland Shopping Centre, Ennis Road
DEMO: THE PERFECT CHRISTMAS DINNER Friday 5th December @ 6.30pm - 8.30pm Hook and Ladder, 7 Sarsfield Street, Limerick
ABBA FOREVER - THE CHRISTMAS SHOW! Thursday 4th December @ 8pm University Concert Hall
CHRISTMAS AT CASTLE OLIVER Saturday 6th & Sunday 7th December Castle Oliver, Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick
LOUGH GUR SANTA VILLAGE 29th November - 23rd December 2014 Lough Gur County Limerick
Make your own Ceramic Christmas Decorations Sat Dec 6th - 1 hour 11am and 12pm The Craft Hub, Cecil Street, Limerick
AN EVENING TO REMEMBER Tuesday 2nd December @ 8pm University Concert Hall THE WATERBOYS LIVE AT THE BIG TOP Wednesday 3rd December @ 7pm Live at the Big Top, Milk Market, Limerick
7 T H OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHRISTMAS MARKET Saturday 6th December 11am - 3pm WestEnd Youth Centre and Our Lady of Lourdes Car Park, Childers Rd, Co. Limerick MUNSTER RUGBY V ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE (EUROPEAN RUGBY CHAMPIONS CUP) Saturday 6th December @ 5.30pm THE HOT SPROCKETS Saturday 6th December @ 8pm Dolans Pub & Warehouse THE THREE TENORS Sunday 7th December @ 7.30pm Church of the Immaculate Conception, Newcastle West THE STRYPES Sunday 7th December @ 8pm Dolans Pub & Warehouse
Make a Willow Christmas Tree and bring it home Sat Dec 6th - 2-4pm The Craft Hub, Cecil Street, Limerick
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VLADIMIR’S VIENNESE CHRISTMAS Monday 8th December @ 8pm University Concert Hall
The Oldest Woman in Limerick Lime Tree Theatre Friday 12th & Saturday 13th December @ 8pm
CHRISTMAS WITH JUDY Tuesday 9th December @ 7pm Dolans Pub
CHRISTMAS AT CASTLE OLIVER Saturday 13th & Sunday 14th December Castle Oliver, Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick
BIG BEAUTIFUL WOMAN Wednesday 10th - Saturday 13th December @ 8pm Red Cross Hall, Theatre & Performance Hub, Cecil St., Limerick EXHIBITION: Pigtown The Wild Watery Heart of the City by John Collins, Bourn Vincent Gallery Thursday 11th December @ 5.30pm
MUSIC GENERATION LIMERICK PRESENTS ‘THE SNOWMAN LIVE’ Saturday 13th December @ 3pm 69 O’Connell Street, Limerick Felt and Flowers - make your own felt flower accessories Saturday 13th December - 10am, 11am and 12pm The Craft Hub, Cecil Street, Limerick
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Forge your own Silver Jewellery Gifts Saturday 13th of December - 1-3pm 3.305.30pm The Craft Hub, Cecil Street, Limerick KEYWEST Saturday 13th December @ 8pm Dolans Pub HAM SANDWICH Saturday 13th December @ 9pm Dolans Pub
C o bb l e s t o n e J o e s
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Open Mic Night - ‘Chapter and Verse’ A night of prose and poetry Friars Gate Theatre Monday 15th December @ 8pm THE ELF FACTORY Monday 15th December @ 10am, 11.30am & 3pm Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College PANTO: JACK AND THE BEANSTALK Tuesday 16th December 2014 to Sunday 4th January 2015 University Concert Hall SWAN LAKE Tuesday 16th December @ 8pm Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College AN EVENING WITH FOOTSTEPS YOUTH THEATRE & B.A.R.D.S. Thursday 18th December @ 7.30pm Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick
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CHRISTMAS AT CASTLE OLIVER Saturday 20th & Sunday 21st December Castle Oliver, Ardpatrick, Co. Limerick CHRISTMAS BY THE HEARTH - SEÁN KEANE Saturday 20th December @ 8pm Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick Christmas Elf Sewing and Making Decorations Saturday 20th December - 10am12.30 The Craft Hub, Cecil Street, Limerick Forge your own Silver Jewellery Gifts 3.30-5.30pm Saturday 20th December The Craft Hub, Cecil Street, Limerick CROONING AT CHRISTMAS WITH LIAM O’BRIEN Sunday 21st December @ 7.30pm Dolans Pub
December 1st Flakey Jacob 2nd Maeve Ellen 3rd Mongoose 4th Mrs. Henry 5th Trees Fall Down 6th Odd Socks Revival 7th We Shot JR 8th Real Talk 9th Zara Walsh 10th TBA 11th Syd Arthur 12th Mrs. Henry 13th Trees Fall Down 14th We Shot JR 15th Flakey Jacob 16th Maeve Ellen 17th TBA 18th Randolph and The Crokers 19th Parliament Square 20th Trees Fall Down 21st The Lemon Suckers 22nd Real Talk 23rd Zara Walsh 24th A Medley of Limerick Musicians 25th Closed 26th We Shot JR 27th Trees Fall Down/Senekah 28th The Lemon Suckers 29th Flakey Jacob 30th Maeve Ellen 31st TBA
T h e Lib r a r y Cornmarket Row, Limerick
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KÍLA Tuesday 23rd December @ 8pm Dolans Pub
THE BRAD PITT LIGHT ORCHESTRA Saturday 27th December @ 9pm Dolans Pub
MUNSTER RUGBY V LEINSTER RUGBY (GUINNESS PRO12) Friday 26th December @ 5pm
MICK FLANNERY Monday 29th December @ 8pm Dolans Pub
A WEDDING OPEN DAY AT CHRISTMAS Saturday 27th December from 12pm - 5pm Limerick Strand Hotel
EAMONN HEHIR AND THE FLAG LISTENERS Tuesday 30th December @ 8pm Dolans Pub
RUBBERBANDITS CHRISTMAS FISTFIGHT Saturday 27th December @ 8pm Dolans Pub
THE O’MALLEYS NEW YEAR’S EVE Wednesday 31st December @ 9pm Dolans Pub
December 2nd Zoo Tuesday 3rd Best House Vibes 4th Stock Exchange 5th Back to the 90s (with 2fms DJ JJ Hartigan) 6th The Lollygaggers & DJ Peter Byrne 7th Sunday Sessions with Yvonne McCarthy 9th Zoo Tuesday 10th Best House Vibes 11th Stock Exchange 12th Back to the 90s (with 2fms DJ JJ Hartigan) 13th T.B.A 16th Zoo Tuesday 17th Best House Vibes 18th Stock Exchange 19th Back to the 90s (with 2fms JJ Hartigan) 20th Recoil & DJ Peter Byrne 22nd EPIC. 23rd T.B.A 26th Megabeat & 2FM’s DJ JJ Hartigan 27th Amazing Apples 28th Sunday Sessions with Yvonne McCarthy
Pa d d y F r aw l e y ’ s Thomas Street, Limerick December Fridays: In house DJ - Late bar Saturdays: DJ - Late bar Sunday: Live music from Tiny Giants New Years Eve: The Paddy Frawleys House Band. - Late Bar
the hunt museum T h e H e a rt o f t h e Ci t y I’ve been in Limerick almost a decade and only recently crossed the threshold of The Hunt Museum. Having studied history in this city I realise my lack of effort to visit Limerick’s most distinguished 18th century building is somewhat sacrilegious and I’ve been contemplating ever since: Why? I can only assume it has something to do with my conditioned association with museums with long bus journeys on school tours only to embark on the unachievable goal of trying to see everything in the amazing vortex that is a museum. Only then to return with little more out of it than a key ring from the gift shop. I think that can be the case for a lot of people, you feel like if you’re going in, you need to take the form of a human sponge and return with amble knowledge of the hundreds of panels of information you read so as to engage and impress others on your return. Little did I know until now what really goes on behind those impressive doors and I could not have been more wrong. History was once described to me as ‘a series of stories’ and The Hunt Museum is like the finest of giant storybooks filled with great characters, plots, illustrations and the written word. It was originally set up to house a collection of art and antiques collected by John and Gertrude Hunt. Today it is a hive of activity hosting everything from specialist tours to children’s camps, weddings and receptions as well as exhibitions and lectures. For the month of December, some wonderful exhibitions are on show to feast our eyes. A must see would be the ‘Limerick My City My Home’ which has just begun and runs until mid February. It’s a collection of paintings and maps, with the oldest starting in 1590 and bringing us right up to the present day with our dear old giant Granny. The National Self Portrait collection will also have exhibits on display from some Limerick artists. The Curator’s Choice will also feature for the month of December with twelve artists being selected, one each month as part of the City of Culture. The selection is made by the Head of Exhibitions, Naomi O’Nolan. The Hunt itself has a single figure staff, but has clearly fostered a community spirit with several interns and volunteers keeping the place running. If you ever take a guided tour, which run regularly or on request, you will be lead by one of the museums docents who are trained volunteers and give at least one half day a week to the museum. The space is used in many more ways than the day to day. As an original custom house of the 18th century, ships would have come in and captains were entertained in the Captain’s Room. This is now a venue used to host weddings, civil ceremonies, dinners and receptions. It’s a fabulous room featuring Irish art and delft and Chinese porcelain. Most exciting for the Christmas lovers, Lidl will be running a Christmas market in the Hunt Museum’s garden early this month. And this is only what’s happening in December. The Hunt’s level of community involvement and focus on the experience of learning is on the things that makes it something special. Sorcha O’Brien from The Hunt has been involved in many outreach programs and ran community led projects with different groups around Limerick, whether it be a collaboration with a Men’s Shed and Women’s Group or a dressed up historically accurate banquet for children, there is no end to the diverse home grown projects and exhibitions made possible by the museum. Their connection with and role within communities is outstanding with projects being returned to the groups involved, rather than stored within the museum. Learning takes place every day in the Hunt but not in the ‘absorb as much as you can as quick as you can’ way like I imagined. They have awarding winning camps for children and just as much fun for adults. There is everything from more formal lectures to informal gatherings or attending an event. And let’s not forget just having a coffee in the café, appreciating a bit of art or perusing through the gift shop. Clearly the Hunt Museum is serving our city on so many levels. Dr Dominique Bouchard took me by surprise with her welcoming comments and made me realise just how important not only are we to them but them to us so I’ll be sure to call in soon. “What’s most exciting is, it’s everyone’s collection. It’s their museum. It belongs to people here in Limerick...and we want to really help people enjoy it and get a sense of ownership and belonging when they come in.”
Article by Mairéad Collins Christmas Illustration by Jacob Stack
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