The Limerick Magazine by The Limerick Magazine

free 2015 magazine issue 01

SEPTEMBER

we are culture

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Welcome

TO t he li merick magaz i n e The Limerick Magazine is a fun and informative monthly free-sheet keeping you up to date with what is happening in Limerick

City and County, with reviews, event listings, interviews, men and women’s fashion, lively opinion and interesting articles to get you talking.

Publisher - Fusion Media - 74 O’Connell Street Limerick - 061-597627

Editor - Kayleigh Ziolo

kayleigh@fusionmedia.ie Graphic Design - Keith Aherne design@fusionmedia.ie

Editor in Chief & Advertising Manager Michelle Costello

michelle@fusionmedia.ie

TLM contributors:

Photographers:

Shauna Lindsay - Beauty Editor

Eoghan Lyons

Cornelia O’Riordan - Student Technology

Ken Coleman

Sintija Zorge - Health

Steve Murray

Jane Harrison - Wellbeing

Eoin Lyons

Christine Costello - Music, Young Entrepreneurs

Tarmo Tulit

Jane Butler O’Halloran - Lifestyle

Kamil Krawczak

Martin Edwards - Literature

Billy Hayes

Olivia O’Sullivan - Food

Rebecca Egan - Art & Culture

Sharon Slater - Limerick History Olivia Chau - Music

Mary Kiely - Make Up

@limerickonline

@thelimerickmagazine

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T R EE E M I

TH TR EA

THEATRE

C I S U

October 2015 Box office: (061) 774 774 Choose your own seat online:

www.limetreetheatre.ie

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Dia l i n wi th 06 1 With the first stage of the Limerick 2020 bid looming

“061 Limerick is an opportunity for cultural

events will include a special large scale ‘ghost sign’

than to bring on a jam-packed feast of unique events

their individual events under one banner whilst also

artist Sean Starr in collaboration with Limerick’s own

in October, what better way to drum up excitement

across the city and county over the coming weeks. These upcoming events will be under an umbrella aptly titled The 061 (the dialling code for the city and surrounding areas).

practitioners across Limerick to showcase together allowing us to highlight the vast amount of cultural

activity being created and enjoyed by our citizens, friends and neighbours.”

project created by the internationally renowned sign

Tom Collins and with input from The Cranberries. A special exhibition of professional sign work and mirrors will also go on display at Fab Lab in the city centre.

the belief in Limerick’s bid for the prestigious 2020

Here’s just a taste of what you can dial into right now:

has also dialled in to support 061 Limerick,

The Limerick Jazz Festival Friday 25th to Sunday

design. It also features popular indigenous festivals,

The city will play host to artists from the USA, Spain,

It’s important for all of us as Limerick citizens to

spokesperson, John Daly, notes the continuous growth

“The bid is about our citizens and how they experience

The 061 cultural extravaganza is a showcase of how

rich and diverse culture is in Limerick, and confirms European Capital Of Culture. Limerick Marketing

encompassing music, dance, history literature and including the Limerick Jazz Festival, plus the recent

Elemental Arts and Cultural Festival and Culture Night.

Sheila Deegan, Limerick City and County Council Arts Officer says: “The cultural revolution of 2014

that was manifested in the home grown festivals and events in Limerick continue to be important expressions of our shared public culture. Together

these festivals and events show that Limerick is rich in culture and diversity and through these festivals we

embrace the identity and creative energy that these

27th September

the UK and Northern Ireland. Limerick Jazz Festival

of the festival over recent years. “Limerick is renowned for its musical diversity and over recent years the

Limerick Jazz Festival has enabled us to showcase the

great jazz talent that exists in Limerick, whilst also

welcoming many of the world’s leading jazz artists

to our city. This year’s programme of events is simply world class and we look forward to celebrating this great musical genre across the three day festival”.

Until 30th September you can also catch the final days of Limerick City Gallery of Art celebrating 30

year anniversary since the reopening of the Gallery

with 30 Day Hath September, where you will see some new, unusual and unexpected pairings.

engage in some way with a cultural event in Limerick. Limerick’s culture,” Sheila emphasises. “We encourage

people to continue to engage in the bid process by keeping an eye on updates on our website, on Twitter or Facebook or by submitting your own thoughts via the website itself. The strength of our bid will be determined by how all our citizens interact with the process.”

A full programme of events showcasing the wealth of

events give to the locality. As Limerick bids for the

Love Letters from Limerick

activities Limerick has to offer is available by logging

we have shown that there is a huge appetite for all

Described as an ‘Art Exhibition and Collaboration

brochures available at cultural venues across the city

designation for European Capital of Culture 2020, things cultural, so let’s celebrate!”

Currently running until Friday 9th October

Gift Project to the city of Limerick’ the series of

onto www.limerick2020.ie or by picking up one of the and county.

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

f il m s pecial Filmmaking is having something of a moment here

in Limerick. Long before the announcement that

Troy Studios, a division of world renowned Ardmore Studios, were to turn the old Dell site in Castletroy into an international film studio to host multi-million dollar budget films, we knew there was something special happening in local filmmaking.

So it’s lights, camera action as we take a look at a some

of the wonderfully creative short films being made in

Limerick, including the ambitious Limerick Film Trilogy production, and Zeb Moore tells us what’s in

store for October Richard Harris International Film Festival.

Season for Shorts There is a huge simmering pot of talent in Limerick

producing short films that capture the imagination, spark deep emotions and take you into a whole other world. From a surreal, dark animation, to family man

coping with isolation, to a heartwarming tale of life after loss featuring a cast of local rescue pets, the short films being made in and by the people of Limerick are about as vibrant and diverse as you’ll see.

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Photograph by: Ken Coleman

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“Shorts are very important in film making” says Cashell Horgan, Writer and Director of The Clockmaker’s

Dream. “There’s nothing commercial about them,

he might have hoped but it’s a learning and healing process.

Other Limerick shorts to look out for…

The Clockmaker’s Dream

they are grounded in creativity, a labour of love made

You worked closely with Limerick Animal Welfare,

We take a look at some of the imaginative productions

As mentioned I’m a big animal lover and when it came

A clockmaker in a fictional world is busy with his

cast, I wanted to make sure we did it right and each

instruments working. Until his beloved wife dies. In

through the goodwill of talented people.” being made on our doorsteps...

Director Interview: Liam O’Neill, Lost and Found Lost and Found is a heart-warming tale about a

young boy named Charlie who, having lost his father,

how did that come about?

to putting together a film that called for an animal animal would be properly looked after. LAW were on hand to monitor everything that happened and

help us keep them happy. All the animal used were previously rescued by LAW and we were very grateful to their forever owners for letting them be cast.

thinks he has come up with a plan to provide for his

Plus we wanted to use the film to support their work

people’s beloved animals and collect the rewards when

help us. A share of the funding that was received from

financially struggling mother. He decides to ‘petnap’ they are reported lost. Of course, it doesn’t work out quite as he expects... Director Liam O’Neill explains

his decision to break the golden rule of never working with children or animals…

How did the film come to be?

I’ve worked mostly as a producer for the last 20 years, and was itching to get back to directing – I wanted to

be hands on and work more closely with actors again. It’s very easy to get boxed in to a particular area in filmmaking so I had to figure out how I was going to

and give something back for the time they put in to our crowdfunding campaign will go to the charity. Tell us about the cast?

They were a dream to work with. It’s understandably

tricky when you’re bringing people together to work

in such a close manner who’ve never met before, but they clicked very quickly. Lee O’Donoghue, who plays Charlie, is a very talented actor who you should

look out for in the future, and Caroline Monaghan, who plays his mother Kathleen is brilliant also.

break out. I drew on my love for animals and nostalgia

What was it like to shoot on location in Limerick?

to Lost and Found. And so there I was taking my first

scenes at a large farmhouse in Castleconnell, it meant

for our grown up children’s younger years, and that led

steps back into directing by breaking the golden rule

of directing; working with both children and animals at the same time.

It was like having our own studio! We shot a lot of the we didn’t have to worry about logistics as much. Everyone around the village was very accommodating

When and where can we see the film?

coming to terms with loss. We have a child who

the Richard Harris International Film Festival. After

desperately wants to look after his mother as she struggles to cope, and uses his child logic to come

up with a solution. Obviously, it doesn’t work out as

his despair he becomes obsessed with trying to build a perfect replacement for her, but each creation is a failure. Time is running out and his world is in danger of stopping forever…

The Clockmaker’s Dream has been ticking away in

the mind of Cashell Horgan since all the way back in

2001. “The initial idea was for a stop motion animation, which I scripted, but as with many things, ideas get left to one side and other projects take over. But I knew I had to go back to it and in 2014 it started to

take shape. It evolved into a more experimental style, mixing live action, 3D animation and puppetry to make the dreamscape visual style. We’re lucky to have

so many Limerick creatives involved lending their

unique talents and style to the film, Joe Mullins plays

the Clockmaker, Ken Coleman did the mannequins, Emma Fisher designed the costumes, and all the make-up team are local too. Everyone involved has

done it for nothing more than the genuine desire to be involved, they’ve given up their time to make it what it is.” The Clockmaker’s Dream was one of

two films to be awarded €15,000 by Limerick City of Culture alongside Lost and Found.

and helpful and it helped ease the pressure somewhat.

What’s the message at the heart of the story?

It’s an emotional but hopefully uplifting tale about

daily task of keeping all the town’s mechanical

The premiere in Limerick is on 26th October during that we’ll be taking to film festivals around the globe

and we hope to get as many people as we can to see it!

Photograph by: Kamil Krawczack

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Photograph by: Steve Murray

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Narcan Sean Ryan, an Irish paramedic working the

else, until it all comes to a head in a dramatic way.’

to manage a fractured personal life, with his only

“she’s pretty hard done by, and is trying to keep the

unsympathetic streets of New York City, struggles son refusing to speak to him and the void between

himself and his wife Sinead growing bigger with every passing day. The death and darkness of the

job begins to creep inside Sean’s head clouding his

judgement. During the course of a twelve hour shift, life changing decisions with irrevocable consequences

must be made; Sean must call upon every ounce of his resolve to try and find some sort of balance.

Laura O’Shea, who plays Sinead, Sean’s wife, says that Narcan is an everyman story, ‘it’s about being worn

down by the everyday. When bad things happen in one area of his life it has a knock on effect everywhere

She explains her character is also deeply affected family together, I think there are a lot of women who

can relate to that in some way.” The film also features some very well-known faces, including Malcahy McCourt, and Peter Halpin who played Frank in

the film adaptation of Angela Ashes. “We were so

thrilled to get them on board. I myself have worked

with Director Patrick McNamara for a while, when he picks a cast he tends to stick with them on other

projects, I suppose we have a bit of a Tim Burton

Johnny Depp thing going on!” Narcan was filmed

on location in New York and is currently in postproduction.

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Th e Li me rick Trilo gy Speak to anyone involved in film in Limerick, and

As Project Manager for Film Limerick, Ronan

project manager of Film Limerick, a collaboration

who wanted to learn about the process. “I thought it

they will mention Ronan Cassidy. Ronan is the between Limerick City of Culture and Behind The Scenes film network.

As well as supporting short films such as Lost and

Found and The Clockmaker’s Dream, Film Limerick has also the facilitator of an ambitious filmmaking

and education project, The Limerick Trilogy. “The project is funded by Limerick City of Culture and

is a training program for film practitioners with

the objective of increasing the professionalism of

filmmakers in Limerick” says Ronan. “The aim is to

increase the opportunity for filmmaking in Limerick and at the same time showcase our local filmmaking

talent and indeed showcase Limerick as a filming location.”

The three parts of the Trilogy - The Apparel, directed

by Peter Delaney, Day Off directed by Steve Hall, and

explains that his brief was to provide training for those would be better to get these people out and onto a film set rather than attending a series of lectures. I

discussed the idea with Behind the Scenes and once they were happy to go with it, I got in touch with Gerry

Stembridge, sold him the idea and luckily he came on

board. Gerry looked on this as an opportunity to give something back to his hometown from his experience

of working with the likes of Kevin Spacey, Harvey Weinstein, Kate Hudson –the list goes on and on. He has been incredibly generous with his time and there’s

no way this project would have been possible without him. He has mentored the script writers; he guided

the directors with casting and shadowed them on set.

Everyone involved has now come through the process. So instead of a classroom experience, we simulated

the nearest thing possible to working on a film set and now can really relate to the whole experience.”

the most recently completed Date: Time, are now

Ronan explains why new talent need outside support

through its own lens, the directors ‘creating their own

“Emerging filmmakers usually start out working on

in post-production stage. Each film shows the city city within a city’, as Irish writer and director Gerry Stembridge puts it.

What has made this project unique is that three first

time writers and directors saw their work brought to

the screen. Training opportunities were given on set by Gerry, Ronan and the Director of Photography

Patrick Jordan (Volkswagen Joe, Pentecost) to the

to make the jump to professional filmmaking. their own, filming, editing and sometimes acting so

they would essentially be operating as a one man show. It’s fine to do it this way if you are just looking

for an audience on Youtube. However, if a filmmaker

is to advance, they will eventually want to apply for funding and when this is the case, the interest will be on a team not the individual.”

different production departments. Post production

So what’s next for the films and the talent involved?

Institute of Technology, where similar opportunities

they will be aired on RTE and will have a good run on

is being overseen by Simon McGuire in Limerick are given to trainee editors. Finally music will be

added by Patrick Cassidy (Hannibal, Calvary) and

Noel Hogan (Cranberries), who will make his debut as a film composer.

“When post production is complete we are hoping the festival circuit. The teams are in place now. We’ve

shown them how it’s done, so the next step is for

them to go and look for funding for further projects and hopefully bring them back to Limerick. Behind the Scenes will be there to continue facilitating filmmakers in Limerick.”

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o t d e g A n o i t c e f Per

Texas Steakout, 116 Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Connell Street, Limerick 061 410 350 www.texassteakout.com reception@texassteakout.ie

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R i ch ard harris in t e rnati o nal film f es t

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Organiser Zeb Moore tells us why the 2015 RHIFF is going to be the biggest and brightest yet… What is the Richard Harris connection?

Well, of course we wanted to recognise an iconic actor, the Hellraiser himself. But it’s more than that - we have the support of the Harris estate, which happily

has just been secured for the next five years. As long as they are involved that’s what we’ll be known as. How will 2015 be different to previous years?

The festival has evolved, not just in terms of size or

popularity, though we’re happy to say it’s growing in

that way too – it’s pretty surreal to talk to someone like John C. Reilly and find that he’s heard of it! The

first major difference this year is that we have taken

open submissions for feature films as well as shorts.

in the joy of those experiences. We’re bringing in

“Aston Productions and Frenzy Films will be coming to scout for cast and crew for both their movies that are set go into production in Limerick in the new year. It’s a huge, potentially lifechanging opportunity for local film talent”

We’ve had entries from all corners of the world,

monologue competition and portrait prize for visual artists, and increased participation with workshops and Q&A sessions.

What famous names are we going to see this year?

Of course it always depends on schedules but we’ve had yes’s from Jack Reynor and his partner Madeline

Mulqueen, Sean Cronin, and Bridget Miller. We’ll also have Tadhg McMahon doing an acting

masterclass, Jared Harris of course will be returning, and many more will be there to see the films and offer their own vital insight to attendees.

As if that wasn’t enough, Aston Productions and

Frenzy Films will be coming to scout for cast and crew

for both their movies that are set go into production in Limerick in the new year. It’s a huge, potentially

life-changing opportunity for local film talent to be seen and to make contacts. Who judges the films?

The adjudicators across all the categories are

international; we don’t want there to be any local bias

on entries, and it’s not me who has a say in any of it either! We have audience awards for short films, the

have any kind of interest at all come and be part of it! What are the future plans for RHIFF?

We have to keep progressing. We want to keep the

quirky, intimate elements that make it so unique, but

at the same time we can’t just continue to screen in

69 O’Connell Street, and cram it in to three days. Most of the major film festivals run for at least 7 days

and we need to start thinking about that. We’ll be looking at ways to bring the festival out into more

areas of the city, and to collaborate with other venues, be they cinemas or public spaces or heritage sites. We also want to add other types of performance to the festival, such as music concerts for opening and

closing. There’s a few things in the pipeline that I can’t say much about yet but watch this space!

from Iran, to Bangladesh, to the United States. Plus we’ve brought in new ways to participate such as the

more cultural elements from other areas too, so if you

Newport Beach Competition where the winner gets

For more information and to check out the festival

automatic entry into the Irish Spotlight category at

programme visit www.richardharrisfilmfestival.com,

the Newport Beach Film Festival 2016.

facebook.com/ and @rharrisfilmfest

What makes RHIFF different to other film

Interview: Kayleigh Ziolo

festivals?

Photograph by: Billy Hayes

The feedback I have had is that it is the personal

touches that really make the experience. We make a conscious effort to make sure everyone has the

chance to connect with someone who has common

interests or might be a useful contact. Also our focus on the Irish diaspora, and bringing people back to see first-hand the great things that are happening in

film in Ireland and in Limerick in particular. Plus, we’re not just about film directors and actors. We have something for everyone who is involved in or

interested in the industry, from make up to hair to

rigging and engineering. A film is a sum of its parts and our aim is to try to create more opportunities for local talent in all these areas.

What else can you tell us about the weekend?

It’s a festival for everyone. It’s a weekend where

hundreds of people who share a common interest in film and art come together and immerse themselves

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The Fine P ri n t As Limerick Printmakers prepares to curate the

curation. “We’re so excited to be in such a dynamic

Belltable Arts Centre) from October 2015 to March

new life being breathed into it.” Jessica tells us that

gallery space at 69 O’Connell Street (formerly

2016, we chat to Manager Jessica Tobin about what to expect from the upcoming exhibitions.

You may not know just how vital Limerick Printmakers are to the local arts scene. There are around 50

members who use the space to create their work, and

it also runs courses for both children and adults to

space, which, in the care of the Lime Tree, is seeing

Martina’s upcoming exhibition will feature painting, drawing, printmaking and other processes. “Martina’s

interests lie in observing the mannerisms of human beings. She’s casting a satirical eye over everyday

scenarios and produces images of her observations in a humorous and exaggerated manner.”

learn and hone their techniques. On top of all that,

When Martina’s exhibition ends after 2nd November

from LSAD, the Printmaking Award and the Tom

a group show selected from an open application

awards bursaries to emerging young artists graduating Fox Bursary. The latter award commemorates talented artist and former LSAD student Tom Fox who passed

away in 2010 at the age of 44. “it’s really important

to us to provide tangible support to emerging artists,

and Tom’s family wanted this to be his legacy too,” explains Jessica. “Our mission statement is all about providing education and open access to the artform.”

Open Submission will take pride of place. This is

process for artists and printmakers working locally, nationally and internationally. “We’ve been running

Open Submission for ten years, and this is the first at 69 O’Connell street. It’s been extremely popular

over the years, and has consistently showcased the

breath of techniques and talents employed by artist and printmakers.”

Often this mission statement means literally bring the

The recipient of the Printmaking Bursary 2014/15,

mobile equipment, which you may have seen around

Dawn’s artwork has previously been shown at

artform to the public. “We have handmade bespoke town during City of Culture 2014 and at Elemental

Festival. We use these in schools and other events too, to give everyone a taste of printmaking techniques and their versatility.”

Dawn West, will be presenting her show in December. Ormston House, for which she presented a series of personal photographs from her time in Syria several

years ago, a poignant insight into life there before the civil war.

The curation of the gallery space at 69 O’Connell

So if you thought printmaking was mostly about

opportunities for printmaking to be exhibited, seen

again. These exhibitions are set to be diverse, thought

is all part of continuing their ethos of providing and experienced by all. The collaboration with the

new managers of the space, The Lime Tree Theatre, kicks off on 15th October with the work of Martina Gleeson, the Tom Fox Bursary Award winner

2014/2015. Jessica is audibly over the moon about the

putting slogans and iconography on t shirts, think provoking and revealing. Don’t miss them!

Details for the 2016 programme will be announced

in the coming weeks, find Limerick Printmakers on social media at to keep up to date with what’s on at 69 O’Connell St.

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R i d dim & Gro ov e Name: Teige Butler Age: 21

From: Limerick, Ireland Day Job:

Full time Music Technology and Production student

in LIT. During the college year I actively work at booking DJ’s and promoting music through my club night ‘Riddim & Groove’ which I set up with my

friends Paul and Darren in 2013. It’s something we started as a hobby for a bit of a laugh but it’s gradually becoming more and more popular. How long have you been a DJ?

I’ve been DJing properly about 3-4 years. During secondary school I was the lead singer/rhythm

guitarist in a band. We decided to take a break for the Leaving Cert year and during this time I picked up DJing as a way to fill the void.

What first got you interested?

When I was younger and playing in a band I was totally against the idea of electronic music. I was big into songwriting and the likes of Bob Dylan, Phil Lynott, The Beatles etc. I suppose my first exposure to

electronic music was when I began going to your run

of the mill, regular nightclubs around town. Listening to the same obnoxious sounding music every weekend made me wonder if there was more to clubbing than

this. It wasn’t until I went to my first Macronite that I got exposed to the proper definition of good

electronic music. Going to Macronite introduced me to genres of music I didn’t even know existed like

proper Techno and Jungle. I guess Macronite planted

the seed to which my interest in DJing and electronic music in general grew.

What was your first gig?

The first proper gig I played, where I had free reign to

play what I wanted, was in the smoking area of Angel

Lane at the end of my Leaving Cert year. The night

in question was to mark the end of the Leaving Cert. I had heard they were looking for a DJ that played something a bit different so I sent in a mix of some Garage and Grime. It was the first time I could play the music I wanted to play in front of a crowd in a club setting so I was delighted.

What type of music do you play?

I have a soft spot for most genres but my go-to genre

in a club setting would have to be Garage, whether it

be 2-step, 4x4 or Speed Garage. For me, the bouncy groove and rhythm of Garage is unbeatable. In more relaxed, chilled out settings I love to play a mixture of Hip-Hop, Disco, Funk and Soul.

What is your preferred weapon of choice?

At the moment I mainly use Traktor with either

turntables or CDJ’s. Even though I do collect a lot of vinyl, I think the use of a laptop can help DJ’s deliver more exciting, fast paced sets.

Where can we catch you next?

You can catch me most months during the college

year at D.I.E or Riddim & Groove. You can also

catch me playing more low-key sets around town in places such as The Red Hen and The Locke Bar.

Name: Paul Byrne Age: 19

From: Limerick City, Ireland Day Job:

I don’t actually have a day job but I am studying Music

Technology & Production in L.I.T. at the moment. I also set up and run R&G (Riddim & Groove) along with Teige Butler and Darren O’Carrol. As of

recently I also got welcomed aboard the D.I.E. crew, that’s something I am excited about. How long have you been a DJ?

Only about 4-5 years now I think. What first got you interested?

The first time I remember liking electronic music was sometime in primary school. Me and my friends all

had mobile phones and would send each other music using infrared. Thinking back now some of those

songs I listened to were embarrassingly bad, but I loved them at the time. A few years later when I was

in secondary school, I discovered Dubstep and Drum

& Bass. I then made friends with Michael Kelleher, we were always sending each other links to music we

had found. This was when I began listening to pretty

much every genre of electronic music and music in general. DJing was something I was introduced to at

a very young age. My parents are friends with Paul Tarpey so we used to spend time in his house when

I was growing up. It was there I saw someone mix records for the first time. So I guess it’s a combination

of discovering music with my school friends and seeing Tarpey mix that started it all off.

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What was your first gig?

Not really too sure what qualifies as a “gig” but the

first time I played music in front of people must have been at a house party or something. What type of music do you play?

I listen to everything under the sun but I play house, garage and disco out more often than not but I also

play some techno, funk and soul. My main interest would be house music, house music in general, no real preference to what sub-genre or era it is, just as long

as it sounds good to me. This will most likely change over time and I will start to play other types of music but at the moment I’m buying lots of house records! What is your preferred weapon of choice?

I have tried controllers and digital vinyl systems but

I have found they can get boring after a while and it means you have to bring a laptop (that can crash) to

a gig. Recently all I use is vinyl unless the venue or promoter doesn’t have a pair of turntables in which case I use CDJs. The main reason I prefer to use vinyl

is because actually beat matching gives you something

to do while standing in front of people while you DJ. Getting records in the post is also great. Where can we catch you next?

At Riddim & Groove or D.I.E.

Interview: Olivia Chau

Photograph by: Eoin Lyons

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Th e Cu rrag hg o wer S in g e r s

Have you heard about Limerick first city and

people to get the opportunity to perform and be the

The choir has also performed all over Europe, having

at the Wexford Opera Festival in October, and

choir in the truest sense. ‘We have a real mix of

“We sing songs from all over the world, folk songs

county community choir? They are set to perform raise money annually for amazing local causes. Choirmaster Timothy Schinnick tells us how it all began…

focus of attention.” Tim says they are a community

singing ability and backgrounds. From people who

just enjoy singing to those who are classically trained, from nurses doctors to tradesmen and retirees.

After around 18 years of being involved in church

What is it that brings them all together? “Since

and Choirmaster Timothy Schinnick felt it was time

enough music into my life. I love the friendship and

choirs, The Curraghgower Singers artistic Director

for a change. Community choirs at that time were becoming increasingly popular in the UK, possibly

influenced by several choir appearances on Britain’s

Got Talent, so Tim decided to create Limerick’s own

community of choral singers. They began as two separate choirs, ‘Choirdivarus’ in Limerick, the first ever formed in the city, and ‘Cantairi Luimni’ from

Limerick County, and they eventually amalgamated

I joined, I feel like a sponge, I just cannot get camaraderie” says choir member Mary Kiely. Billy

Connolly cites the social and performance aspects:

“Being in the choir has given me a new lease of life. I was always involved in contact sports, hurling and the like. I’m close to retirement and the choir has

brought me back into the circle again. It’s a wonderful opportunity to learn, to sing and to perform.”

to become one company of voices.

Their performances have made quite an impression in

So, what is the main difference between religious and

perform at the Wexford Opera Festival by the award-

secular choir singing? “By their very nature, church

choirs are more about congregational singing, they

lead the voices but are not the main part” says Tim. “There was a need, I felt, for a secular choir here, for

the classical world. “We were honoured to be asked to

toured Poland, Spain, and are soon to head to Paris. from many countries, so we’re often rehearsing in other languages”.

With preparations already in place for the Wexford

Opera Festival, the singers are turning their attention

to their annual Christmas Concert in Limerick. The choir uses their December performance to raise money for important causes, many of them local. Last

year the concert was in aid of Limerick Rape Crisis

Centre. “Which ever cause we choose, it’s always because someone within the choir has a personal

connection with it. That’s incredibly important to us,” says Tim.

The Wexford Opera Festival takes place 21st October – 1st November www.wexfordopera.com

winning Wexford Ladies Choir, who had heard us and wanted us there. We’ll be performing at a fringe

event of the festival so everyone can come along and see us!”

Interview: Kayleigh Ziolo

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Th e li me rick magazine

Fas h i o n

with Shauna Lindsay Instagram - @shaunalindsay

Beauty Editor Shauna Lindsay charts the latest trends and the best on the high-street this month

Statement Shoes Statement shoes are a must this Autumn as we’ve seen at Fashion Week.

I’ve found some insanely cute shoes from ASOS.

com that definitely make a statement, without that designer price tag.

ASOS Performer Pointed High Heels

ASOS HARMONY Heeled Sandals

ASOS ROCK CITY Pointed Embellished Ankle

I saved the best for last. I am SO in love with these!

- Yellow €99.00

ASOS EDGWARE Pointed Cut Out Ankle Boots - Nude €81.00

Boots €99.00

- Nude Metallic €81.00

ASOS MILLIE Flat Shoes - White €72.00

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70’s v ib es From viewing snippets of LA, New York, Milan & Paris Fashion Week I think it’s safe to say there’s a lot of 70’s inspired pieces for Autumn/Winter 2015 which I for one am really excited about.

Summer colours are out and we’re seeing a lot of bronze tones, burgundies & mustards arriving. Fringe, faux fur, print, lace patchwork and suede are all huge this Autumn so thankfully, there’s going to be something in stores for everyone’s taste. Take a look at some of my favourites from our much loved high-street stores.

This is one of my favourite pieces. I’m in love with this vintage oversized suede patchwork panel top.

New Look are absolutely KILLING IT this season. Definitely worth a stop on your shopping spree. You will not be disappointed.

This is just an outfit I’ve quickly thrown together

just to showcase how amazing their pieces are. I’m

in love with EVERYTHING from River Island this season.

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A u tu mn k nits The chill of the season is tightening its grip, but if

Knitwear Industry before setting up Áine Knitwear.

What’s next for the brand?

yet, a comfy poncho or sweater wrap is a stylish

in a steady decline over the last 20 years but I strongly

there is a growing desire among customers for Irish

you’re not ready to pull on the heavy pullovers just compromise.

These cosy pieces are from McConnell Woollen Mills.

The Irish Knitwear Industry has unfortunately been

believe that the Irish Industry can once again become a world leader.

McConnells was founded in 2000 by Anne Brehan,

What inspires the current collection?

with traditional Irish craft.

Irish knitwear heritage, and modern technological

a local knitwear designer fusing cutting edge design

How did you get started in knitwear design?

I was educated at the Limerick School of Art and Design (LSAD). I spent 10 years working in the Irish

The collections are steeped in traditions of the

innovation coupled with a strong colour palette &

textures create a unique, recognisable style, to redefine the perception of Irish knitwear.

The Áine range has a worldwide customer base; knitwear. I’m passionate that Irish craft is continually

protected and nurtured. I still have strong links with LSAD, in order for the business to be sustainable I

must pass on experience and expertise to students that

have an interest in learning the craft. I regularly take in students for work placements and nearly all current employees are former students. Photographs by: Tarmo Tulit

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Th e li me rick magazine

Beauty

with Shauna Lindsay Instagram - @shaunalindsay

STROBING Contouring, made popular by the ever so famous, Kardashian family, is without a doubt one of the

cleverest beauty tricks in the book. If you can master contouring you can cut yourself a killer cheekbone,

a fake nose job and make your face look half a stone thinner, all with the blend of a brush.

BUT ladies, that’s old news. I am LOVING the brand new trend - strobing.

What is strobing? It’s basically just a fun word for

highlighting. So, forget everything you know about contouring (let’s face it, it was too hard to master

anyway). Strobing will easily highlight your face in

all the right areas giving you a dewy, shimmery, more youthful glow while enhancing your features.

However, ‘dewy goddess’ can turn into ‘sweaty mess’ real quick so read my tips below to find out how to perfect your strobe…

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how to get the look

1. Prep your skin Strobing is all about getting that perfect dewy

look, so you’ll need to replenish dull, tired skin with a good moisturiser first.

2. U se a highlighter that suits your skin tone. We do not want that horrific ‘frosted’ look so

to avoid this, make sure the highlighter you’re

using complements your skin tone for a subtle sheen:

- Fair skin complexions should use champagne

- Light / Medium skin complexions should use

- Olive skin complexions should use golden

- Dark skin complexions should use terracotta

tones

pink champagne tones tones

tones.

3. H ighlight ONLY the areas that catch light. That’s cheekbones, temples, down the bridge of your nose, under your brow bone, in the

corners of your eyes, and cupid’s bow. Blend out afterwards using fingers or makeup sponge to get rid of any harsh lines.

Using the highlight in these areas will enhance

your natural features, without leaving you looking sweaty and shiny

Image source: www.alamode.com

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The where? Adare Manor Hotel

When? September 2015

why?

Brown Thomas Autumn Winter 2015 International Collection Showcase

Cathy Casey, North Circular Road, Celia Holman Lee and Libby Hickey, South Circular Road . Pic: Press 22

Michelle Costello and Tarmo Tulit, Fusion Magazine. Picture: Press 22

Aileen Wallace, O’Connell Avenue, Liam Dwan, General Manager Brown Thomas Limerick and Siobhan Hogan, City Centre. Picture: Press 22

Siobhan Walsh, Ennis Road, Charlotte Casey, Limerick City and Catherine Hogan, Ennis Road. Picture: Press 22

Sarah Keane, BT, Gillian O’Halloran and Roisin Lawlor, Ardnacrusha and Anne Brannigan, Savoy Hotel. Picture: Press 22

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Products used: - Tissue - Liquid Latex - Artificial Blood - Bruise colour wheel - Woundfiller - 3 small disposal Brushes For safety reasons before using Latex always do a patch test. Put some Latex /Eyelash glue behind the

ear area and leave for 24 hours to make sure there is no allergic reaction.

Want to create a truly gory look for the Halloween party season? Make Up Artist Mary Kiely shows how to make an open woundâ&#x20AC;Ś

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Sc a ry Spe cial Eff ects Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Choose the area for the wound. Start rubbing the latex

Blow dry the latex and tissue with a hair dryer to

Start thinking about what exact type of wound it

will need to be dumped after as latex is extremely hard

then repeat step 1.

of what shape the wound will be. Use a tweezers and

onto the area, using a cheap disposable brush ( brush to get out)Place thin layers of ripped tissue on top of

speed up the process. Wait until the area is fully dry

latex. Cover all the tissue with more latex, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t leave

will be. A stab wound? A burn wound? Then think

start ripping along the centre of the wound to shape the wound as desired.

any dry areas.

Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Use the bruise wheel then to start adding colour to

Once happy with the shape and colour of the wound,

Adding blood is so much fun, this step is the best

colour so stick with deep and bright red colours. If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

great for burn wounds.

realistic. There are lots of types of blood, any will suit

the wound. A burn wound would be more red in

a stab wound it will need depth, in the inside of the

wound there will have to be a dark colour to give that effect, put black/ dark purple in that area. Bringing

start filling it in with woundfiller. Woundfiller-PUS is

and will bring the whole look together and make it this look. Add as much blood as you want to get the effect desired.

the red colours to the outside of the wound, buffing and blending them together at all times.

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Pi n g i n for a tho ught Limerick’s young entrepreneurs are shining

into the world of business during this amazing

opportunity. Every year we see students with new, innovative ideas spanning from witty t-shirts to sports equipment to Polaroid photobooths and so much more. School walls are plastered with eye-catching

Photoshop posters, Facebook accounts ﬂooded with

invitations to Like company pages and share posts. This encourages students to not only think outside the

box, but also helps them build a better understanding

of how a business is run and how to a market your idea on a tight budget.

Since the success of Limerick’s own Collison brothers, thousands of young local people have been

inspired to share ideas and start building on possible million dollar ideas. The two young brothers created a consumer-friendly interface called Stripe, built to simplify online transactions. They are now based in

Silicon Valley and the company is worth billions. At

the competition this year we saw huge success from

local Transition Year students. Not only did the Guide a Key team place at the ﬁnals, but they also won a place

on the Student Enterprise boot camp where they will

be mentored by successful, Irish entrepreneurs along with 17 other teams. Guide a Key helps those with

dexterity issues guide their key to the keyhole with ease when unlocking and locking doors. Every year, across Ireland, thousands of teenagers step

into the shoes of Richard Branson and try out the

Another Limerick enterprise came home with the

programme, students are encouraged to build and

named Sugar and Spice. This team made cosmetic

Enterprise Awards competition. Students must ﬁrst

all natural ingredients.

life of an entrepreneur. As part of the Transition Year

award for Best Marketing Campaign, a company

run their own small enterprise as part of the Student

products in the form of lip balm and facial scrub from

compete in the regional contest before progressing to the ﬁnal in Croke Park, Dublin. Hundreds of

promising young entrepreneurs take their ﬁrst step

Some students who weren’t lucky enough to win a

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place in the ﬁnal gained phenomenal success in their

small enterprise outside of the competition. Limerick student, Aideen McLoughlin is only sixteen years

old, and she’s spent her summer travelling the country selling her handcrafted jewellery at quirky markets and fairs from Cork to Galway under the name Pingin Jewellery. The jewellery itself is made from coated copper wire, wrapped around colourful stones and

woven into stunning designs. There’s a wide range of

bracelets, earrings and rings, each one more intricate than the last. Pingin Jewellery has proven to be a huge

success for the young entrepreneur. Aideen initially

began making jewellery as she had very sensitive

ears and couldn’t wear earrings. So she modiﬁed store-bought earrings to suit her and through that

began designing her own range, eventually moving into rings, bracelets and necklaces.. The name Pingin

comes from the old Irish pingin coin introduced in 1928, made mainly from copper. Aideen’s jewellery is available to buy at Lucky Lane on Catherine Street.

Every year Transition Year students in Limerick do

us proud with new, innovative ideas and enterprises, improving every year as more students get involved. Be sure to support young entrepreneurs around the

city. You never know who might be the next Collisons.

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3 e s s enti al apps f o r st ud e n t s Beginning college is a highly anticipated life event for

every new student. But once the excitement dies down

and study is looming, it’s time to get yourself straight and organised and ready to make the most of the best years of your life.

Here are 3 apps that are destined to make student living a little more manageable

Handy Timetable

Sleepcycle

Headspace

This app is most definitely a must have for any student.

Anyone who has passed through college will

It’s not all fun and games, college can be overwhelming

a handy timetable app for your smartphone. Handy

while attempting to balance a hectic social life and

mental health for people of all ages. It’s a quick and

Handy Timetable is indeed just what it’s name says; Timetable lets you carry your timetable around with

you on your phone, so you’ll always know where and when your classes are. Features of the app include a

simple and easy to use layout, colour coded subjects, time and room adjustment as well as reminder notes to add to specific class slots.

Handy Timetable is available for free for both iPhone and Android

agree that trying to manage getting enough sleep maintaining good results in college can be a major

struggle. Sleepcycle is a sleep analysing app with alarm clock feature. The aim of Sleepcycle is to analyse your

sleep every night, the app does this by tracking your movement and breathing patterns from underneath your pillow. The app’s alarm clock feature is designed

to wake you up while you are in your lightest stage of sleep, ensuring that you will be the most productive if you wake up at this time. Sleepcycle is a must have

app to ensure you are getting enough restful sleep and to ensure that you will be up early enough to attend those dreaded 9am lectures.

Sleep Cycle is available for €0.99 both iPhone and Android.

for anyone. Headspace aims to maintain positive easy to use meditation app to help free the mind and

ease any mental stress that may be affecting your

everyday life. The Headspace app offers a program called ‘Take10.’ Take 10 is the apps 10 minutes x 10 days meditation course for beginners, the program

encourages the user to take 10 minutes out of their day to listen to the meditation steps in the app for 10 consecutive days; with each day comes a new step to follow with new audio instructions. The Take10

course is the apps free introduction to meditation, if you find the course useful there are more courses available to buy through in app purchases.

Headspace is available for free for both iPhone and Android.

Article by: Cornelia O’Riordan

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an i n terv iew with

Myles

As Language UnBecoming a Lady hits Broadway, writer and star Myles Breen tells us how the Divine Diana came into his life

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Where did it all begin?

Did you have to change much content because of

Who will be travelling over to New York with you?

performance some years back of Mr. Gay Ireland, a

No, just one line referring to the civil partnership. The

director Pius McGrath of Honest Arts, and of course

The moment that ignited the tale came from a Limerick Drag Queen performing at an alternative event to Ms. Limerick. Taking off the wig, putting away the jewelry and hanging up the dress, saying a

the marriage referendum?

piece itself is written in a timeless manner, it shouldn’t date. It reflects all life, emotions, love and loss.

Myself, Director Liam O’Brien and our lighting the Divine Diana! I will have her costume all packed

up in the bag, wig and all, so hopefully I won’t get

stopped at airport security, that would take some

farewell to the character represented such a strong

How did you get the chance to bring it to New York?

the make-up? What does he feel and how does he

Theatre Company, (self-founded in 2002), and he also

How long is the run for and where exactly will it be?

off, he is actually from Limerick. We worked together

Manhattan, from the 13th-27th of September.

image. Who is the man behind the dress, underneath

identify with who he is? By putting away the glamour we saw who the man underneath it all really was. How was the Divine Diana born?

As I was writing, the Divine Diana’s voice became

very strong, I had an idea who she was and she started

roaring in my ear! (laughs). She became very vibrant,

colourful, very theatrical but also incredibly wise. She would say ‘I’ve known heart break it’s nothing

to be ashamed of ’, so Robert, the other character, recognised that she was always there to help him should he face hard times.

George Heslin is the Artistic Director of Origin

founded the first Irish Theatre Festival, and to top it years ago in Island Theatre Company, and we catch

explaining! (laughs).

We play for ten nights in The Cell Theatre in

up when he is home so he is very aware of the work

We’ll tell our American expat friends and relatives

long after we wrote it, we talked about the possibility

Oh please do! I’m delighted to be over, my brother is

we do here with Bottom Dog Theatre Company. Not of bringing it over, but there is always plenty of red tape. Is everybody available? Will it clash with other

projects? Where will funding come from for flights, accommodation etc.? Never mind American equity, cultural exchange… So we had to wait until all the

to check it out!

based in NY and we will get to celebrate my nieces birthday when I am there too, so it will be great to see

not just my own friends and family in NY but others from the Irish community.

stars aligned I guess, and now they have!

Will you close the book on Language UnBecoming

Does the play reflect you in anyway?

How have you found funding?

I don’t know… you can never tell. The piece isn’t stuck

of writing developed, I could identify that, yes, it did

City and County Council have been very supportive,

Well I hadn’t intended it to at all, but as the process reflect my own experiences of being a gay man in Ireland. It reflects how different things were to what we are now.

What has changed since the play was written?

So many changes, so many… if the original production

touched on the thought that we would be arguing over marriage equality, people would have laughed in your

face. This is set in the 80s so people would have said that’s never going to happen in Ireland, never. Now look, we are leaders in the world, the first to make

marriage equality lawful by popular vote. There has

been a big change in attitudes, a change in opinions. Also a big shift in role models, we now see rugby &

GAA players, politicians and public profiles of all

Culture Ireland have come on board and Limerick

so we are very grateful. We’re very fortunate, we have

had the people of Limerick behind us from the start, they have been fabulous. We owe them a huge thanks because without them, it would not be possible. The

a Lady after New York?

to any time so it could be revived. It will be interesting to see how Americans will react to it, as it is full of

Irish humour, Irish history, and it is simply very Irish.

Ireland only decriminalised homosexuality in 1993, which people find very surprising.

Gala Fundraiser in the Lime Tree Theatre went so

Are you advertising predominantly to Irish

people came to see the once off, world performance

There is a marketing team for the festival and they

well, we got huge support and of course, loads of of the Divine Diana Show - it is always spoken about

and referred to in the play but it never actually is shown, it was a special treat! I’m very blessed to have

had so many talented Limerick people give up their free time to join Diana on stage, including very dear friends of mine, the Drag Queens Madonna Lucia

American audiences?

are helping us out, and yes, we are aiming for Irish American audiences, but for people from all walks of

life too. With a universal story comes and welcomes a universal audience, everybody should be able to take something from it.

and Sheila Fitzpatrick.

sorts coming out as gay, and society says ‘well done, good on ya!’

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What will you do when all this excitement is over and you come back home?

The Panto rehearsals will start back not long after our

return, and we are currently working on a new project too, nothing like Language UnBecoming a Lady, it is

quite dark in fact. We are hoping to have rehearsed readings in November, and we will see how that goes and where we can take it.

Myles has been in the business 30 years and this is his first ever opportunity to perform his own work

outside of the four corners of Ireland, so all support is richly cherished and appreciated by him. Words: Rebecca Egan

Photographs by: Ken Coleman

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11:00am - 3:00pm

SUNDAY THE SOUL MARKET

8:00am - 3:00pm

SATURDAY

FAMOUS FOOD MARKET

Tel: (061) 214 782 • Email: info@MilkMarketLimerick.ie

www.MilkMarketLimerick.ie

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the l i m et ree

Branches Out There’s a show for every man, woman and child at

the Lime Tree, whether you’re a theatre fan or not. From the moment the 510 seat state of the art theatre

hall opened in 2012 it has brought in an eclectic mix of modern and traditional musical, theatrical and

comedic performances, and has attracted an ever

growing audience of thousands. “Since around 2013 interest just seemed to explode. There’s a real appetite

for all areas of the arts here in the city, and we always try to make sure our programmes reflect that diversity

of interest and offer something for everyone” says Louise Donlon, Lime Tree Theatre Manager.

The Lime Tree plays a huge role in bringing arts into

the community in Limerick, and are extending their

reach with their management of 69 O’Connell Street, which has recently been agreed for the next five years. “We originally stepped in temporarily, but we had many ideas that we wanted to take forward in order to

revitalise the former Belltable, which is a great venue. We’re facilitating curators in the gallery space, and there are many theatre productions we’re looking at

that work much better in the more intimate setting of 69 O’Connell St.”

Photograph by: Tarmo Tulit

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Bua ladh Bos

Curtains up on the Autumn season

October has a particular focus on the younger

audience, as Bualadh Bos Children’s Festival returns due to popular demand. “We specialise in children’s theatre, as being part of the Mary Immaculate College

campus, a lot of our audience are studying to become

teachers. They will be bringing future pupils and finding inspiration in performances geared towards

younger age groups so there is a big need to cater for

them, as well as encouraging everyone to introduce their children to theatre and performance at an early age.” Topping the Bualadh Bos bill this year is

a highly anticipated performance of Camille SaintSaens’ Carnival of Animals. “It’s a classical music

piece that’s very popular amongst children and often

acts as an introduction to classical music. However, it’s actually very rarely performed, because it requires

a full orchestra. So we’re extremely lucky to have not only the Irish Chamber Orchestra performing the

music, but also Louie Lovett will be narrating and reading verses by Ogden Nash.”

So, that’s the kids (and the big kids) covered, what else can we look forward to? “As ever, it’s going to be a real mixture. We recently had Agrippa open to

rave reviews, in October we’ll have Bell X1 playing

on their acoustic tour, November will see the return of The Unlucky Cabin Boy, plus programmes for See

Cinema and The Richard Harris Film Festival, and

that’s before we even get to Christmas performances!” Limerick is indeed blessed to have a such a forward thinking venue that actively seeks to broaden the

scope of the arts in Limerick. “We see ourselves as a

Download full brochures for Bualadh Bos and the

international talent, particularly those from Ireland

www.limetreetheatre.ie

platform for local arts, for national companies, and for

Lime Tree’s Autumn season at

who are working elsewhere” says Louise. “We want them to bring shows here and see what’s happening

in Irish theatre right now, to see what Limerick has

to offer, which is a great deal and it’s getting better all the time.”

As well as the Carnival of Animals there will puppetry

and music with Music Generation Limerick and

the Trumplets, and a series of writing, making and imaginative workshops catering for children aged

two to 16+. The Bualadh Bos festival runs until 20th October.

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O p e n House Knock Knock, Open wide, See what’s on the other side

Open House aims to help change perceptions, break

If the weather is good and you fancy a wander, there

quality places for current and future generations. Their

Grounds of the Kings Island’, ‘Under Your Feet’ and

October sees the fourth year of the very successful

and the wider community. The public domain cannot

event allows the public to interact with and learn

it’s something ‘done to the public’, who usually have

family homes to industrial buildings and everything

for creating and developing that space will do so in

down barriers and inspire people to demand highpioneering programmes and initiatives are designed

to meet the needs of decision-makers, young people

Open House Limerick architectural festival. This

be created without the public’s involvement. Usually,

about Limericks unique built environment, from

no choice but to hope that those who are responsible

in between. This event takes place over the course of

their best interests.

queues should be expected.

The model is being replicated across Europe, the

What is Open House, other than an opportunity to

32 cities worldwide now involved. Dublin becoming

1992, architect Victoria Thornton created the

Limerick opening her doors for the first time in 2011.

better understanding of architecture and the built

grown from strength to strength becoming a staple

the barriers between the architecture profession and

previous years, buildings such as the ‘Red Tech’ on

buildings accessible to all, in line with her belief that

new visitors to experience the building but old

one weekend and is completely free of charge, though

United States, Latin America and Australia, with

see what lies beyond the net curtains? In London,

the first Open House city in Ireland in 2005, with

Open House concept, with the aim of fostering a

Over the last four years Limerick Open House has

environment outside the profession. Frustrated by

of the cultural catalogue of the city and county. In

the general public, Victoria set out to make London’s

O’Connell Avenue were opened, not only allowing

direct experience is the most effective way to learn

students to reminisce about its past.

environment.

Limerick Open House, 2015 takes place over the

Buildings surround us in a city but the one thing we do

year’s event include:

as the structure, framework or composition. The urban

- Glin Castle in the county (booking required)

about, understand, and argue for quality in the built

not learn about in schools is the fabric of a place, such

- McKerns Printworks/former Presbyterian meeting

the Open House project is having direct experience.

- Private houses including homes in Monaleen and

merely through abstract images, such as photos and

- Ardnacrusha is once again on the list of places

Thornton states “You can’t make an informed decision illustrations. You need to be engaged with the space in question to know what the reality is”.

‘Limerick Modern’. The children can be entertained at workshops in the Hunt Museum and FabLab. This

is only a small taster of what is on offer throughout the city and county over the course of the weekend.

Keep an eye on twitter @OpenHouseLmk to keep up to date with the state of the queues to make the most of your weekend. Most importantly, enjoy our city!

Words: Sharon Slater

weekend of 9th-11th October. Highlights of this

fabric of our community has such a strong impact on us on an everyday basis. The core beliefs and values of

are three walking tours included this year: ‘Burial

house.

the Irish Estates, Corbally.

opened. This year it is working on a pre-book bases, check the website for details. Last year hundreds of people showed up and many of them had to be

turned away, so if you are planning to go, make sure you book and book early!

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Treaty City Brewing Stephen Cunneen spills the beans (or should that be the hops?) on Limerick city’s own craft brew

How did you start making beer?

I began like many craft beer makers as a hobbying home brewer. While we were living in Canada we used

to have Christmas parties, where we’d invite around

30 people. They’d always be looking to sample some

of the wares so I started making porter for guests. They really loved it, so that was the first moment that I thought there was something in this that could be

brought to a wider audience. All the beer was brewed

in the spare room, so there was a constant smell of fermentation, which I love, but I think the neighbours weren’t so delighted! Then our daughter came along

and the ‘bedroom brewery’ ended up being turned into a nursery!

What led you back to Limerick?

After Vancouver, work brought us back to Ireland and

we moved to Tralee. The Cunneen family heritage is very much rooted in Limerick City, and we always

felt that any beer we would make and eventually sell

would reflect that and draw upon the history and culture of Limerick.

How did you set up Treaty City Brewing?

Once we had our recipe, we went into contract

brewing, where we brew our product at an existing brewery facility. Everything else is us, we source the ingredients and manage the process, it’s the most cost effective, safest way to start it off.

Has Limerick had its own brewers before?

Yes, many many years ago there would have been we’re not the first ever in Limerick, just the first of the resurgence in modern craft beer!. We ensure we

keep a connection with the local brewers and recipes

of old – the Harris Ale uses East Kent Golding hops, which would have been widely available and used here historically.

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The Irish craft beer industry has exploded in recent years. What sort of appetite have you found in Limerick?

From the very start, we’ve been amazed to see Harris

Pale Ale fly out of the pubs. I think as we tentatively recover from recession, and people start to have a bit

of money in their pocket, they are thinking more about how they spend it. There’s an appetite for something different from the bog standard. People

want quality over quantity and want to really enjoy their few drinks.

Do you think you’ve arrived at a good time then?

Absolutely! We see Limerick is on the up and up with

fantastic opportunity for growth in the city. There is a palpable change in the city and we feel there is a

real buzz around for new and existing businesses. Limerick2020, the Opera Centre development etc. all

underpin this appetite for change. The future is bright for the Treaty City!

And what about the future of Treaty City Brewing?

It’s pretty bright here too! We’re in the process of building our own brand new brewery, which is a bit of feat! We have a young lad who is a fitter by trade so

we’re taking a retro fit approach, making as much as possible rather than buying in. It means more of what

is involved in the beer making is our own, Treaty City will be truly holistic craft beer making! Any new beers on the horizon?

We have a few kegs of our Thomond Red Ale in The Blind Pig, Nancy Blake’s, The Red Hen and The

Greyhound Hotel. Again, it’s a real traditional red ale. We’re also aiming to launch our porter in time for Christmas – of course I would say this, but I really think this is the best recipe we’ve produced yet!

It’s got a gorgeous balance of chocolate and coffee, it’s everything a porter should be, rich and full of substance. Keep an eye out in December for this one! Interview: Kayleigh Ziolo Photographs by: Tarmo Tulit

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Co q B u ll a rrives to sh a ke thi n gs up in L imeri ck COQBULL is the brand new chicken and burger

Discussing the exciting new brand, now open one

October, with a mouth-watering menu of delicious

wanted something that would really excite and stand

concept, due to open up on Thomas St, Limerick this and hearty chicken and beef burgers, as well as an array of tantalising cocktails and local craft beers.

The name CoqBull originates from the simplicity

of the locally sourced ingredients at the core of the

brand’s offer, which only uses 100% pure Irish meat. Open every day from noon, the restaurant takes a simple and honest approach by offering guests some

unforgiving and flavoursome food with a classic CoqBull twist.

year in Cork City, owner Padraic Frawley tell us “we out in the market whilst also emphasise the honesty of the produce. Guests are encouraged to engage

with the journey of their food, from its source in the countryside of Limerick, to the cooking process of rubbing, marinating, and charring in the Coqbull

kitchen, to how it’s finally served on the plate. The

open kitchen also allows you to see first-hand the chefs busy at work which gives a real atmosphere of theatre and vibrancy to the overall experience and entices the guest further into the world of CoqBull”.

Signature dishes at the restaurant include the

A young, humorous and bold new brand, CoqBull is

a spit and lovingly marinated 24hrs beforehand in the

www.coqbull.com Thomas Street Limerick.

Rotisserie Chick; a full juicy roast chicken cooked on

brand’s very own secret liquor. A burger lover’s heaven,

the ultimate embodiment of real food for real people.

the menu also boasts a huge variety of chicken, beef, bacon and fish burgers, and a ‘No Bull’ burger for

the veggies. CoqBull’s cocktail menu represents the brand’s passion for mixology and guests can expect a real treat when ordering the brand’s very own

signature cocktails, aptly named the Coq (one for gin fans) and Bull (for those who prefer something a

little stronger), both served in their very own pewter goblets.

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th e li me rick magazine f o o di e There’s much to discover on the Limerick food scene

right now, as Olivia O’Sullivan of Eat in Limerick explains…

Limerick is having a food moment. With more selection than ever before, our food

offering is soaring and we’re slowly starting to realise

that we have something very special going on at our doorstep.

Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have right here in Limerick and it’s up to us to support all these

businesses if we want the scene to continue to thrive. Food tourism is huge at the moment and, as a gateway city, Limerick should be benefitting from the surge of interest in the Wild Atlantic Way, and we have to promote what’s going on here as a collective.

That’s why #eatinlimerick was created. In response to so much activity in the local food industry, it’s

an attempt to capture what’s going on in our food

scene and pull it all under one promotional umbrella showing what we have on offer to the world, and to

the locals as well. The first part of the project will launch very soon with a fold-out illustrated guide

map detailing eateries throughout the City, with Adare and Castletroy also featured. Already there are active social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram encouraging the use of the #eatinlimerick

hashtag for all Limerick food related posts and pics. So get involved in the conversation by tagging your posts and pics with #eatinlimerick

What is it that makes the Limerick food scene so special?

Best of hospitality – right here

The Milk Market

From restaurants and cafés to gastro pubs and wine

We’re lucky to have the oldest weekly market in Ireland taking place in the heart of our city every

week. The Famous Saturday Food Market is a

buzzing hive of activity as local Irish produce mixes with international specialties in an atmosphere that’s

impossible to recreate anywhere else. The canopy ensures it’s a fully covered market so regardless of

the weather, visitors can get that outdoor market feel. It’s my personal favourite thing to do on a Saturday morning and I recommend it to absolutely anybody coming to the city at the weekend.

bars, healthy eating options, traditional chippers, juicebars and ice-cream parlours we have a growing selection, and with this comes healthy competition

which can only serve to raise the bar for Limerick’s food offering.

In a host of different awards of late, Limerick is coming up trumps with the Best Hotel Restaurant

in Ireland located in Limerick (Adare Manor), Best

Ethnic Restaurant in Ireland (Aroi), the Best Market Stall in Ireland one of our own (Country Choice at

the Milk Market), the Best Restaurant in Munster here too (1826 Adare), and the Cocktail Bar of the

Year (Cornstore). That gives you some idea of the quality we have on our doorstep.

Words: Olivia O’Sullivan

Twitter & Instagram: @eatinlimerick

Photographs by: Tarmo Tulit

Facebook: /eatinlimerick

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Irish Food Awardwinning local producers In the last Irish Food Awards, Limerick producers

came out tops in many categories. The local Blas na hÉireann award-winning produce included the

gold winning quiche at Café Noir by the Artisan

Food Factory, silver winning Mixed Summer Berry Preserve by The Green Apron, silver winning

Pimento Herring by Silver Darlings, gold winning Cheddar with Chilli and silver winning Oak

Smoked Cheddar by Old Irish Creamery Cheese, gold winning Horgan’s Original Pastrami and silver

winning Horgan’s Irish Spiced Beef by Glen Aine, and bronze winning Apple Pie by Murphy’s Home

Bakery. And that’s just last year’s award winners, there are many more Blas na hÉireann metallic labels on

Limerick products in circulation from previous years, each no easy feat to achieve.

Great Taste Awardwinning local producers Café Noir’s Goat’s Cheese, Spinach & Red Onion Quiche and their Quiche Lorraine by the Artisan

Food Factory were both awarded stars at the UK Great Taste Awards this year, as was Ballyhoura

Mountain Mushrooms’ Cep Oil, Mushroom Vinegar, Mushroom Ketchup and Wild Garlic Vinegar. So

too was Bob-O-Link Espresso by Pónaire Coffee Roastery, the Irish Whiskey Truffle by MoonRiver Chocolates, and the Chicken Liver Pâté and Field

Mushroom & Walnut Pâté produced just out the Ennis Road at Carrygerry Country House.

Needless to say, there is a heck of a lot going on in Limerick’s food scene, and I hope #eatinlimerick will

not only get that message out there, but inspire a curiosity to discover more.

Look out for the guide maps soon and get in touch if you’ve any food news you want to share.

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Flash Fiction an in v i tati on “Your loves they never leave you, do they?” he said, leaning back in his chair, “mine, sure I can see them all still, well, remember them somehow, there was

the girl with the fingers, she would flare them when she spoke, and another who wound her hair around her thumb when she wanted to pick a fight. Some of

the names, of course, aren’t so clear, but I can always remember something.”

I drank my coffee dubiously, not that I really

disagreed, but then I wasn’t as experienced. He wasn’t much older than me but he had something about

him that said this wasn’t his first time around, he had that easy knack of being in the right places, saying

the right things. “You mean the ones you’ve actually loved?” I said, not really able to imagine it, having only really been heartbroken twice and not fully sure

I’d ever recovered. There was maybe five girls I could

remember very well, well enough to say I carried them with me still, wherever they were now. We

were perched on the far edge of our youths, dangling dangerously, dully towards middle-age.

“I don’t really have any other emotion for women but

I knew she hadn’t asked me out of love. I didn’t know

odds for me to wish them well when they go,” he said.

from love.

love, very few are worth anything else, it makes no

“I remember things differently” I said, “I don’t know, I remember, scenes. I remember something said and

how I felt.” I remember, I thought to myself, most

of all, walking up beside her, the one who won’t be forgotten. I remember how ordinary it was: she would be checking her phone and I would be trying to see

why she asked me but I knew in my veins it wasn’t

Somewhere in the city she was living her life, completely unaware of the effort it took not to contact her, as indifferent to me as the Shannon. Somewhere

in the city, someone was loved more than they knew. I couldn’t explain to him that somewhere in her past she’d conjured a perfect day that I still lived in.

her face without her seeing I was staring. I was never

I finished my coffee, I hadn’t the taste for it really. The

notice, a laughline here or a freckle on her cheek, each

Carew’s and I wished I could move everything on. He

tired of that face, there was always something new to thing perfect, each thing making a perfect whole.

“Where is she?” he asked, and I could have feigned

indifference but I wanted to talk. “She’s married now. She actually invited me to the wedding, can you imagine? I’d have rather walked on coals and could have as easily walked on water as gone.” “She must have loved you a lot”, he said, “to ask you.”

cars lined up behind someone double parked outside was talking about some student he’d met in Costello’s and I really couldn’t wait much longer for my next go round.

I wonder will she light a candle in the Augustinians for me, if she hears, when she hears. Written by Martin Edwards

I looked at him, knowing he’d have found the right

things to say, knowing he’d have had the strength to

go. He knew the right things to remember I thought, he’s been here before, he knows the right things to forget.

If you’d like to submit a short piece of writing for our fiction section, we’d love to read it. Email TLM@fusionmedia.ie. It can be any genre and any form

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L ime ri ck lif e Documenting the lives and events of our city’s past Ada C. Rehan, actor, 1857-1916 The world was a stage for Ada C. Rehan, the famous Shakespearean actor from Limerick City.

She was born Delia Crehan in Shannon Street, Limerick on 22 April 1857, though, like many actors, she lied about her date of birth on numerous records, saying that she was three years younger than she

actually was. Her parents were ship carpenter Thomas Crehan, and Harriet Crehan. In 1864, when Ada

was seven, the family relocated to Brooklyn, New

York. By 1870 her elder brother William (born in 1845) had followed in his father’s footsteps and was working as a ship carpenter, while her elder sisters

Mary (born in 1848) and Harriet (born in 1850)

were both working as actresses. Ada and her younger brother Arthur (born in 1860) were scholars, but by

1880 both Ada and Arthur would join their siblings

in the acting profession. Ada was a statuesque 5 foot

8, with grey blue eyes and dark brown hair. William

Winter would later write: “Her physical beauty was

of the kind that appears in portraits of women by Romney and Gainsborough—ample, opulent, and bewitching—and it was enriched by the enchantment of superb animal spirits.”

The stage played a major role in the Crehan family life, and her sister Mary had married fellow actor

Oliver Byron by 1870. It was her brother‐in‐law, Oliver Byron, who helped her make her debut in 1873 as Clara in Across the Continent. Ada then joined Mrs. Drew’s celebrated ensemble at the Arch

Street Theatre. It was during this period that the

typographical error dropped the first letter of her surname, Crehan, giving her the stage name that she would be known by, Ada C. Rehan.

She spent two seasons with Drew before being spotted

Daly was as Nelly Beers in Love’s Young Dream

Theatre Manager. Daly was so impressed with her

finest and probably the most beloved of all younger

by John Augustin Daly, an American Playwright and

performance in 1879 as Mary Standish in his plays Pique and L’Assommoir, that he asked her to join his

company in New York. Her first performance with

and under his guidance Rehan quickly became the comediennes. Though Ada would have been earning

a wage in her own right she remained living with her parents and brothers William and Arthur in 1880.

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Ada excelled at classic comedy, including such

Shakespearean roles as Mrs. Ford, Katherine, Helena, Rosalind, Viola, and Beatrice, and Sheridan’s Lady Teazle. But she was also at home in the newer comedies Daly presented, among them the American

premiers of Pinero’s The Magistrate (1885) and Dandy Dick (1887), in which she played Mrs. Posket and Georgiana Tidman respectively.

Of her talent, Winter was quoted as saying, “Her acting, if closely scrutinised, was seen to have been studied; yet it always seemed spontaneous; her

handsome, ingenuous, winning countenance informed

it with sympathy, while her voice—copious, tender,

and wonderfully musical—filled it with emotion, speaking always from the heart.”

After applying for a passport in 1894 for the purpose of “travelling on the Continent”, Ada Rehan was

widely admired in Europe, having acted in Paris, Berlin, Hamburg, London, Edinburgh, Dublin, and Stratford-on-Avon.

Following the death of her mentor, manager and director John Augustin Daly in 1899, Ada would

slowly drift from public appearances, until she

officially left the stage in 1906 and made New York City her home until her death there in 1916. She is

buried in Green-wood Cemetery, Brooklyn, New

York. Her funeral arrangements were announced in the New York Times. Even though she had left

Limerick’s shore more than 50 years previously, she was still remembered in an obituary from the Limerick Chronicle, 11 January 1916.

Ada was immortalised in the following books: Ada Rehan: A Study by William Winter (a private print

for A. Daly, 1898) and Ten Weeks with Ada Rehan by

Lark Taylor (1916). More than 25 years after she died, a Second World War liberty ship was named after her, the USS Ada Rehan.

Article by: Sharon Slater

Photographs courtesy of Library of congress Washington D.C.

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24&25 OCT Fish Go Deep(7hr set) 60miles (live)Lerosa John Daly(live) Frawl

Fatty Fatty Phonographics

Aoife Nic Canna A2DF Lenny ‘loco’ Murphy Andrew O’ Donoghue DID

Boat Club, Sarsfield Bridge, Limerick F1 Sound everywhere, outdoor stage runs from 3pm both days until late Early bird tickets available from residentadvisor.net & O&F, 2 catherine st, Limerick €25 To Organise tickets alternatively call (+353) 0894449731 or contact ontheriverlimerick@gmail.com

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Health & Wellbeing Go o d h e a lth i s

have a “good” day every day. However, we all want to

be “good” versions of ourselves, so we need to start listening to our “good side” over that “bad side”.

Let’s imagine your “good side” in “real life” it is where you are positive, happy, hardworking, who enjoys making time for physical activity and food

preparation. You feel good, you have energy, are full of

motivation and desire to complete all the life’s tasks

h o l i s ti c h e a lth So many people get caught up with the ‘latest’ diets

and ‘best exercise’ to achieve a superficial goal to

improve their appearance. But rather than adapt and create a better lifestyle, this goal becomes an added pressure in life.

Of course, appearance is not what is important. It’s not healthy to focus only on diets and exercise to change the way you look. Good health is being

whole and able to heal yourself; it is one of the most important states of being. It’s more important to

take your overall health into serious consideration in everyday life. And it’s not just about how you eat and

how often you exercise. It’s about mind, body, and spirit, and making sure you have balance in each.

and obstacles. You always think positively which leads to positive actions.

Now let’s look at your “bad side” where you lack

energy, are easily distracted and find excuses for quitting whatever you started. “Bad side” only hears the pessimist in you who fills you with negative

thoughts which leads to negative actions. Call it your inner pessimist or better yet, call it your enemy. This

enemy is the “resistance” within you, it can’t be seen, touched, heard or smelt it can only be felt. Listen to your “good side”

There is a saying: “effort beats talent” so set your mind straight, focus and get moving.

Every excuse you conjure up to avoid what you need to do is from that bad side.

“We are wrong if we think we are the only ones struggling with resistance. Everyone who has a body experiences resistance”- Steven Pressfield To sum up in two words: You can.

We are all creatures of habit. While it is hard to

eliminate habits altogether, it is easier to replace bad-unhealthy habits for good-healthy ones. We all have a “good” side and a “bad” side in us. We don’t

Article by: Sintija Zorge

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Par ent ProTip: Ho w Not to S ave Yo u r Re latio ns hip Let the baby sleep in the bed, we said. Just for tonight, we said...

You may be surprised to learn that an episiotomy

‘Right so’ I reluctantly acquiesced and the three of us attempted to settle down for the night.

and a new-born are not enhancers of romance. The

Five minutes later. ‘Look Jane, I can’t sleep in the bed

induced fog begins to lift, the stark reality of life with

room to get some sleep!’

minute you find yourself with both, and the pethidine a tyrannical infant begins to set in. The blueprint for

with all the snorting and snoring, I’m off to the spare

our next fourteen months was asserted on the very

‘What?! But what about me?’ I demanded.

ensued went something like this:

‘Sure you are breastfeeding anyway, there’s nothing I

Following hours of incessant feeding schedules,

perpetually exhausted!’

first night home from the hospital. The horror that

nappy changes and cleaning up projectile vomit I

can do and there’s no point in the two of us being

was so happy to finally abandon the baby to the

That ill-fated night marked the disastrous demise

our fabulous super king size sleigh bed. I sank into

situation only became progressively worse. I would go

bespoke Moses basket and retreat with the hubby to

the plush duvet and breathed a sigh of much needed

relief. At last! However this halcyon haze was not to last. We were interrupted exactly one minute later by a shrill, piercing squawk from the basket.

of our bed sharing arrangements. From then on the

to bed every night at eight o’clock, baba in tow, in a desperate attempt to reclaim some much coveted

sleep. Meanwhile the hubby chilled out downstairs, watching his Sky Plus, enjoying some Bud.

‘Look we’ll just bring him into the bed for a few

Severe sleep deprivation combined with an unfair

‘Grand’ I said. ‘Just a few minutes so.’

apoplectic rage and aggravation. The baba was feeding

minutes’ said the hubby. ‘Just to settle him.’

Baba continue to squeal and shriek with an unrelenting wrath. Any attempt to place him into the Moses basket was met with violent protest.

‘He’ll just have to sleep in the bed tonight’ the hubby declared.

division of the baby labour quickly resulted in my every hour on the hour all night long. I was constantly

clock watching, obsessed with counting how many

hours/minutes of sleep had I secured. Was it more or less than last night? I wondered could I actually die

from lack of sleep? (Google results were inconclusive).

I constantly fantasised about getting a general anaesthetic, that’s how desperate I was to get some

sleep. It was so unfair, the hubby didn’t know how lucky he was to get a full eight hours of sleep every night, while I would have given anything for even three hours uninterrupted.

Days blurred into weeks blurred into months. Oh my God, we are never going to have an uninterrupted conversation again. We are never going to have a

clean house again. We will never get to eat at the same time. We will never spend our Saturday afternoons

having lazy alcohol fuelled lunches in the Ardhú. I could continue ad nauseam. The list was depressing.

However, there was light at the end of the sleepless tunnel of no lovin’. Fourteen months later the baba still doesn’t sleep but I do get to go out to dinner with

hubby, we do manage the odd adult conversation and

we have hired a cleaner to deal with constant mess. In short, life with a baby is just about accepting a new

normal – if you stop trying to get back your life ‘before’, you and your relationship will likely both survive. As I read in a book Babyproofing Your Marriage: ‘his

difficult time will end, as soon as it does, we’ll miss it and we’ll want it back’ (Cockrill et al 2007). Article by: Jane Butler O’ Halloran

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Free falling up life after weight loss We’ve all seen the weight loss success stories that

Weight loss surgery has a huge stigma, looked upon

Your demons become your best friend when you’re

honest about the struggle with inner wellbeing and

truth. The pain, hard work, money and effort that went

darkest times; telling you your not good enough

aim to cheer and inspire. But should we be more identity, both during and after losing weight? Jane Harrison thinks so…

Everyone’s definition of achievement and success

is different. Aims and desires vary greatly between individuals. Everyone has something they are striving for, and this is the thing that drives us as humans to

wake up and build the life we want. My goal since I was 12 years old was to lose weight. During my teens

I weighed 22 stone, and I went on a journey to lose half my body weight.

as an easy way out. This could not be further from the into my life change was nothing less than any other

person on a weight loss journey of any circumstance. After 10 years of trying everything, I had to do something before it was too late. Yet I felt the need

to hide my decision to have surgery, to pretend I had won this battle “alone”, though the truth is weight loss surgery is an aid - it is not a guarantee that you

will lose the weight you want. The added pressure of

trapped in an extremely overweight body that I hated. I was drowning in attention and from the outside it looked like my life was going sky high, but it was all happening at a pace I wasn’t ready for.

Once people recognised my achievement, the pressure I put on myself to sustain this feat started to take

control of me. I had achieved what I wanted, but I was still just as dispirited as I was before.

known they wouldn’t dissolve away along with the 70kg. I couldn’t accept the change and subconsciously

replaced them with self destructive behaviour to fill the void.

somewhat empty. So many people are on a journey of

solely focused on the physical change as an ultimate

and the world at my fingertips after spending a life

were all I had known my whole life but I should have

measures to keep this achievement and success.

my weight - I was going to extreme and unhealthy

was still stuck on the overweight, unmotivated and New found confidence, new job

unhealthy state. Looking back I realised those demons

When you have lived for a goal your whole life

The aftermath of weight loss success is rarely talked

depressed me.

and you are a failure for letting yourself get to this

hiding this added to the strain of trying to maintain

I can only describe the experience as freefalling up. I was changing drastically physically but my mind

heavily overweight, they are a companion during your

about beyond reaching your goal. In my case, I had goal, rather than my overall happiness. The diet

and exercise were the priority but I overlooked a whole dimension of my mental change. I still had

the mentality of girl weighting 22 stone even after

then arrive at the place you ached for life can seem

health, fitness and wellbeing and I feel the ongoing

struggles need to be explored, alongside the triumphs. The ideals of weight loss are not as black and white

as people think and often after a huge weight loss, even the questions asked about your journey can be unintentionally invasive and make you feel extremely vulnerable.

the weight was shifted. The goal of wanting to be

In spite of this, I believe you grow stronger during any

centre of every thought.

last 3 years have been an uphill climb I wouldn’t take

accepted and not being judged for my size was the

journey, weight loss related or not. Even though the it back because I feel I have a greater understanding of myself. By sharing my experience, I hope I can help others to conquer their own mountains. Article by: Jane Harrison

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News & Views What’s b een hap p e n i n g i n L i m e ri c k i n S eptem ber … A candlelit vigil was held for TJ O’Herilhy and Bryan

As the full horror of the Syrian refugee crisis played

Creative Arts Therapy Centre The Blue Box launched

accident while working on Thomond Bridge

with Cork to Calais Refugee Solidarity opened an

they provide to disadvantaged and vulnerable

Whelan, the two men who lost their lives in a tragic

The city marked its Granniversary, a year since Royal De Luxe Theatre brought a giant granny to wander the streets for three magical days…

…We couldn’t help falling in love with Westfest as

UB40, Ryan Sheridan, Walking on Cars and more

out before our eyes, Limerick to Calais, in conjunction

emergency aid depot for supplies to be delivered to

the camps via convoy on 30th September, to donate or volunteer visit facebook.com/limericktocalais for more details

a campaign to help raise necessary funds for services

children in Limerick. The Irish public can contribute

to this worthy cause by taking a selfie with their

beloved teddy bear and posting on their social medial channels. On September 25th, please Text BEAR to 50300 to donate €2. 100% of your donation goes to The Blue Box CLC across most network operators

rocked Newcastlewest

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Grove Island Leisure Centre Corbally, Limerick Phone: 061 350221

www.auraleisure.ie WHERE PEOPLE FEEL BETTER

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the limerick maga z i n e mus ic

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FINE LEBANESE &

INTERNATIONAL CUISINE

Album Review Conversation Amongst the Ruins EP Randolf and the Crokers

Looking for the perfect soundtrack to play while

you stare dreamily out of rain washed car window?

Limerick band Randolf and the Crokers have concocted the perfect mixture of Alt/Folk/Country

3 COURSE

LUNCH MENU €9.95 Mon - Friday

to create one of the most toe-tapping EPs to come out of Limerick. Conversation Amongst the Ruins

combines the suave, alternative lyrics one might ﬁnd in a Lana Del Rey ballad with upbeat harmonica

solos, alongside spine-chilling harmonies from classic

country lullabies. The four song EP opens up with a

lively string of guitar chords, throwing you straight into a Discover Ireland ad. Hangin’ is the ﬁrst single

from the band, released in December 2014 along

with a music video to accompany it. Its lively beat and addictive harmonies make it the perfect opening track. Warfare follows, slowing down to a gentle ballad

lead by impressive female vocals. This switch-up is an

interesting twist the Limerick band are more than capable of pulling off. We are re-introduced to the harmonies for the love ballad History, a break-up song

that people will frequently choose for wedding first dances, fooled by its gentle acoustics and completely

forgetting to listen to the lyrics. The EP comes to a powerful ﬁnish with The Trace, an eerie tear-jerker to help the audience recover while credits roll.

You can listen to Conversation Among the Ruins on Spotify.

The band are currently working on new music and hope to release their second single this month. Review by Christine Costello

EARLY BIRD

5-7pm Fri & Sat All Day Sun-Thur

COCKTAIL NIGHT €5

Every Thurs €5 cocktail

CATER FOR PARTIES

Live Music and Guest Belly BELLY DANCER Dancers

Indoor & Outdoor

Every Fri & Sat

Mejana Restaurant 52 Thomas Street, Limerick T: 061 278989 reservation@mejana.ie www.mejana.ie 61

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th e sca r e factory When we meet Lauren and Ger, organisers of The

Lauren: I have been passionate about acting since a

of any relevant training you may have including

civilised surroundings. Yet they still give off a slightly

School of Acting as a child and was bitten by the bug!

think might give you an edge. Be prepared to wow us

Scare Factory, they are in smart everyday attire in terrifying air as they talk about the joy they get from turning attendees into quivering wrecks. “Oh, we love it” says Ger with a wild glint in his eye as they tell tales

from the 2014 event of pale faces and people begging

to be let out. “This isn’t Disneyland. The Scare Factory

plays on every kind of fear, we’ve thought long and hard about the psychology of being scared. We aim to not just give you a fright, but leave you feeling

disturbed for at least a week afterwards.” The only

reassurance they offer is that the actors will not touch

you. “Though they also won’t ever break character, no matter how much you sob.”

Don’t say you haven’t been warned – The Scare Factory

is a truly nightmarish experience that is perfect for real horror and fright fans. If you get the heebie-jeebies in

the fairground Haunted House, this might not be for you. If you’re up for facing your worst fears, and want

to find out more about this unique interactive theatre experience, read on...

What backgrounds do you have that led you to The Scare Factory?

Ger: I have a business and legal background managing these aspects for Sohol Events. Managing

social media, legal and creative aspects for the various

events including The Limerick City Obstacle Course, Electric Night and of course scaring the people of Limerick with The Scare Factory. Photography and cinema is a pastime of mine too.

young age - 11 to be exact. I attended the Limerick I currently work as an acting tutor for that school and

we endeavour to provide young talent in Limerick with high-quality acting lessons which will give

them the confidence and ability to take on anything. We are regularly in touch with talent scouts and

directors nationwide and so I have developed a good inside knowledge of the casting process. I also have qualifications in event management and PR.

with confidence and a genuine interest in frightening

the hell out of people!! We will be looking for people with spark who can entertain and we are truly excited to see what talent lies out there. Contact us through our Facebook page and we will do our best to respond

to all enquiries. For anyone who is interested in taking part in entertaining/acting in general look up the Limerick School of Acting and get involved in the scene.

Tell us about The Scare Factory actors?

Where can people find out what’s happening? Can

School of Acting who provide us with well trained

Lauren: We will be chock-a-block full of updates

Lauren: The Scare Factory work closely with Limerick

and talented individuals who are already very familiar

with the level of work and commitment that we are going to expect from them at Scare Factory. We also

take on new actors without prior experience which

gives us a great mix of experience and enthusiasm. Some people that worked with us last year had no formal training and were absolutely fantastic to work

with. We do four weeks of acting workshops with our

actors prior to opening night which prepares them

we expect any stunts leading up to it?

and pictures on our Facebook page so that’s the best

place to find out more. We work very closely with

Icon Nightclub running exciting competitions. Last year word of mouth and online social media/print

feedback was amazing - it was a massive event in the

Limerick calendar and made an incredibly positive

impact. And yes this year we are planning a major surprise so keep an eye out!

fully for the experience. This year myself and Nigel

Will The Scare Factory be an annual event for the

in the Limerick Institute of Technology. Students that

L: Yes, with the support of the public we’d love to get

Mercier ran an intensive acting course for teenagers

completed the course and are 16+ will know what to expect at the auditions as they will have already been put through the paces about the whole experience. How can people get involved?

Lauren: Our casting dates will be revealed on FB in the coming weeks. Keep an eye out as demand will

be high! When attending the audition let us know

makeup artists, set designers or anything at all you

foreseeable future?

bigger , better, scarier and have major plans to do so

for the future. It’s clearly making a massive impact and resonates with people. It’s a fun way to spend

an evening and really gets people into the spirit of Halloween so we will definitely look to make it as big an event as possible.

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Can you tell us a bit more about what’s in store for visitors, without giving away the surprise?

Ger: At The Scare Factory we ensure our acts truly frighten you. People seem to think it will be a pitch

black room with actors jumping out to give you

frights. We don’t need the element of surprise, we want you to see our horrors coming straight at you! How will this year differ to 2014?

Ger: We started work back in January and haven’t stopped. We were overwhelmed with the success of last year and want to build on top of it. While I

can’t go into details, we will create more scenes that make you stop in your tracks and just want you to

turn around but can’t because of the horrors you just passed!

What’s the best of feedback you’ve received?

Ger: The best feedback was simply seeing the genuine surprise of grown adults breathless walking out the

end with laughter saying they did not expect it to be *that* scary. There are no more scary movies anymore unfortunately so people want to attend these events and get back to the spirit of Halloween

Do you cater for parties and large groups?

Ger: We do indeed, any type of groups ranging from youth clubs, staff night outs and corporate. Check out Facebook.com/

TheScareFactoryLimerick and

www.thescarefactorylimerick.com for more information

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L ite ra ry review Mae Leonard is originally from Limerick, now living in Co. Kildare. She is a member of Poetry Ireland’s Writers in Schools programme. For many years she has been broadcast regularly on RTE Radio One’s, Sunday Miscellany programme. Awards include the Gerard Manley Hopkins Poetry award, Cecil Day-Lewis Award (for poetry and prose), Scottish International Poetry Awards, The Golden Pen, Francis McManus Short Story Competition and the Belmont Prize for Children’s Poetry. A collection of poetry I Shouldn’t Be Telling You This was published by Doghouse in 2011. My Home Is There 2 was published by The Limerick Writers’ Centre in 2012.

This September Award winning writer Mae Leonard launched the third volume of her My Home is There short

story collection series. Leonard, a member of Limerick Writers Centre, is a renowned poetry and prose writer and

Mae Clancy-Leonard

My Home is There 3, Mae Leonard

a prolific contributor to RTE Radio One’s Sunday Miscellany. Her writing often uses Limerick past and present 3 is perfect you’re in the mood to take a gentle mental stroll through the life of Limerick.

Mae Clancy-Leonard weaves enthralling narratives from tiny nuggets of local lore and majestic tales from her strong roots in the close knit society by the Abbey River. - Louis Mulcahy – Potter and Poet For anyone interested in getting a sense of Limerick’s past history, Mae Leonard’s writing provides that vital link between history, memoir and musing. Volume 3 of My Home is There is a welcome addition to our knowledge about Limerick’s heritage. - Professor Bernadette Whelan, Department of History, University of Limerick, Limerick.

Mae Clancy-Leonard has been a loyal and valued contributor to Ireland’s Own for more years now than either of us want to remember! Her writing is warm and evocative and it is clear that her native Limerick is never far from her thoughts or pen. Long may it continue to be so. - Sean Nolan, Editor, Ireland’s Own.

The Limerick Writers' Centre LIMERICK - IRELAND

€15.00 $20.00 £10.00

Me and My Backbone, Siobhan Mungovan Book Hub Publishing www.bookhub4u.ie Me and My Backbone is a story which, in Siobhan’s own words, serves to remind us we must never underestimate

human potential. For this book is Siobhan’s coming of age account of living with Spina Bifida. At the moment she was brought into the world, her parents received the prognosis that she would never walk or live independently, let

alone write a witty and uplifting account of her journey and see it published. Siobhan overcame those odds, and though she has faced challenges that many of us could barely imagine, she is able to tell those stories with humour and a sense of determination that is not just inspiring, but infectious. Me and My Backbone is about finding

happiness in your own definition of normal, one that will give courage and hope to parents and individuals facing similar challenges.

LIMERICK WRITERS’ CENTRE

Mae Clancy-Leonard is a fine poet, playwright, Sunday Miscellany contributor, and in her recent sell out, ‘One woman Shoe’ at the Moat Theatre Naas, an exceptionally stage entertainer. It is for her natural story telling gifts that she is universally feted – stories of her beloved Limerick, and other destinations, stories recounted with warmth, wit, but often carrying a sharp sting in the tale. - Neil Donnelly. Playwright. Theatre Director

My Home Is There 3

as a subject base, presenting small snapshots of her own experiences and exploring its identity. My Home is There

My Home Is There MAE CLANCY-LEONARD

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th e li me rick magazine E v e nt gu i d e 30 DAYS HATH SEPTEMBER

ADARE TO SURVIVE

TOM PRENDERGAST

Tuesday 1st - Wednesday 30th September

Sunday 27th September @ 9am - 5pm

Thursday 1st - Saturday 31st October

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street, Limerick City

Clonshire Adare County Limerick

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street, Limerick City

LIMERICK JAZZ FESTIVAL

IRISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA - SING OUT WITH STRINGS

Friday 25th - Sunday 27th September

Tuesday 29th September @ 11am

Thursdays from 1st October to 3rd December

Various venues in Limerick

RANKS: A LIMERICK INDUSTRY Friday 25th September - Sunday 25th October

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street, Limerick City

ULRC WINTER RUN SERIES 2015

Limerick City Gallery of Art, Carnegie Building,

UL Boathouse, University of Limerick, Castletroy,

Pery Square, Limerick

Limerick

THE ESPOSITO QUARTET

POLAR VOICES - FROM THE ARCTIC TO THE ATLANTIC

Tuesday 29th September @ 8pm

All Saint’s Church, Castleconnell, Co. Limerick

Friday 2nd October @ 1pm - 2pm

CO-HEAR MUSIC FESTIVAL

THE TRAIN

Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th September

Limerick City

Tuesday 29th September - Saturday 3rd October @

The Orchard Bar, The Granary, Michael Street, Limerick

8pm Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College, Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street,

GIRL BAND ALBUM LAUNCH Friday 2nd October @ 9pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

RYAN SHERIDAN

DON MCLEAN LIVE

Friday 25th September @ 8pm

Tuesday 29th September @ 8pm

STARTUP WEEKEND LIMERICK

Castletroy, Limerick

Nexus Innovation Centre, University of Limerick,

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

JURASSIC ADVENTURES Saturday 26th September @ 4pm

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

BAD REP PRESENTS BEHOLDER Saturday 26th September @ 9pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

GIVEAMANAKICK - WE ARE THE WAY FORWARD 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY Saturday 26th September @ 9pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick,

SEE FOR CINEMA – AMY

Friday 2nd - Sunday 4th October Castletroy, Limerick

Wednesday 30th September @ 8pm

RIBBF 2015 NATIONAL BODYBUILDING CHAMPIONSHIPS

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

Saturday 3rd October @ 11am

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

MOXIE Thursday 1st October @ 8pm

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

JACK L - PHANTASMAGORIA

PAT COLDRICK - GUITARIST

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

Thursday 1st October @ 8pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

Saturday 3rd October @ 8pm

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

ULTIMATE WEDDINGS LIVE LIMERICK Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October @ 12pm - 6pm Limerick Racecourse, Greenmount Park, Patrickswell

WOMEN IN BUSINESS NETWORKING EVENT

STILL, WE WORK: PERIPHERALS BY SARAH BROWNE

Wednesday 7th October @ 6pm - 10pm

Monday 12th - Sunday 18th October

Castletroy Park Hotel, Dublin Road, Limerick

THE MID-WESTERN CANCER FOUNDATION’S 2015 BUTTERFLY BALL

ME, MICHAEL

Saturday 3rd October @ 7pm

Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

Radisson Blu Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick

12.30pm

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

Thursday 15th - Saturday 31st October

RON SEXSMITH

Sunday 4th October @ 8pm

Thursday 8th October @ 8pm

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

TOMMY FLEMING Sunday 4th October @ 8pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

OPEN HOUSE Friday 9th - Sunday 11th October

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street, Limerick

LIMERICK MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WEEK

KING KONG COMPANY

Monday 5th - Sunday 11th October

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

Limerick City

THE TRUMPLETS

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street,

DYLAN MORAN “OFF THE HOOK” Tuesday 6th October @ 8pm

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

ON THE NAIL’ LITERARY GATHERING

Friday 9th October @ 9pm

Saturday 10th @ 12pm & Monday 12th October @ 10am & 12pm

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

LOVE LETTERS FROM LIMERICK Thursday 10th September - Friday 2nd October

Tuesday 6th October @ 8pm

Fab Lab, Rutland Street, Limerick City

Limerick

TWO DAY MUNSTER FESTIVAL

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

Limerick City

POLISH ARTS FESTIVAL & EXHIBITION: TRANSGRESSING DIMENSIONS. LULLABIES & KEENING

Thursday 8th - Friday 9th October @ 10.30am &

THE KILFENORA CÉILÍ BAND Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street,

Saturday 10th October @ 2.20pm

Limerick Racecourse, Greenmount Park, Patrickswell

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street, Limerick City

LIMERICK PRINTMAKERS: MARTINA GLEESON Thurs 15th October – Monday 2nd November 69 O’Connell Street Gallery

CARNIVAL OF THE ANIMALS Thursday 15th October @ 12pm & 7pm

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

PADRAIG RYNNE’S NOTIFY Thursday 15th October @ 8pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick City

PITSCHI, THE KITTEN WITH DREAMS Friday 16th @ 10am & 12pm, Saturday 17th October @ 12pm & 3pm

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

LAUNCH OF MAKE BELIEVE ONLINE JOURNAL Friday 16th October @ 7pm - 9pm

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street,

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MEND & MAKEDO THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS LUCINDA SLY

GLASS SOCIETY OF IRELAND - SOLAS

LITTLE HOURS

Thursday 22nd October - Sunday 8th November

Friday 16th October @ 8pm

The Hunt Museum, Custom House, Rutland Street,

Saturday 24th October @ 8pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

Limerick City

ANDY IRVINE

OKTOBERFEST BEAG LIMERICK 2015

Friday 16th October @ 8pm

Thursday 22nd - Sunday 25th October

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

King John’s Castle King’s Island Limerick

SEODA SHOWS PRESENTS DAVID KITT

RHYTHM OF FIERCE: CROÍ GLAN AND FEARGHUS Ó CONCHÚIR

Friday 16th October @ 9pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

Thursday 22nd October @ 8pm - 9pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

SIEGE OF LIMERICK 2015 Sunday 25th October from 12pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

LIMERICK WOMEN’S MINI MARATHON Sunday 25th October @ 2pm

University of Limerick Castletroy Limerick

Dance Limerick, 1-2 John’s Square, Limerick

THE BLUES BROTHERS

Saturday 17th October @ 2pm

RICHARD HARRIS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick,

Courtbrack Avenue, Limerick

Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th October

THE SPEKS Lime Tree Theatre, Mary Immaculate College,

THE SCARE FACTORY Saturday 17th October – Monday 2nd November @ 7pm – 10.30pm Venue TBC

69 O’Connell Street, Limerick

HOW TO KEEP AN ALIEN Friday 23rd October @ 8pm

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

THE NEW TRIANGLE Saturday 17th October @ 8pm

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

25TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF ONE ACT DRAMA Friday 23rd - Sunday 25th October @ 8pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

SAOL FAOI SHRÁID

BELL X1 ACOUSTIC TOUR 2015

Tuesday 20th October @ 10am & 12pm

Saturday 24th October @ 7.30pm

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

GER CAREY LIVE Wednesday 21st October @ 10am & 1pm

Friars Gate Theatre, Kilmallock, Co. Limerick

THE PLAYBOY OF THE WESTERN WORLD Wednesday 21st October @ 8pm

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

SEODA SHOWS PRESENT THE SUITCASE JUNKET Saturday 24th October @ 9pm

Dolans Pub & Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

OLIVER CALLAN LIVE 2015 Saturday 24th October @ 8pm

University Concert Hall, University of Limerick, Castletroy, Limerick

Sunday 25th October @ 8pm Castletroy, Limerick

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE

Closing Time 1 0 m i nute s with… Karl S pa i n Limerick comedian Karl Spain is not long back from

What can’t you live without?

Your favourite place with friends?

with Al Porter for a month at the Fringe, which was

games. And my girlfriend Rachel but not in that

really come in to it. Although maybe avoid beds and

his stint at the 2015 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. “I lived great. We’re also writing a panto together, although

since he’s been signed with Off the Kerb Productions,

Oxygen, coffee and TV and PlayStation football order! PlayStation should be higher.

Just being with friends is good, the location shouldn’t bathrooms with them.

the same agency as Michael McIntyre, we may have

Your worst habit?

Best advice you’ve received?

Karl doesn’t have much going on himself: He’s in the

stimulation. I also have the annoying ability to do a

receive it, I heard it , and I’ve passed it on a lot.

to stop being friends due to me being bitter.” Not that middle of supporting Kevin Bridges on his world

tour, he’ll also be touring with Sean Locke later in the

I have an inability to switch off. I need constant few things at once.

year, he’s just written a sitcom, will be performing for

Any hidden talents?

see him at the Galway Comedy Festival in October.

quiz member, though I’m not able to carry a team.

the Irish Embassy in Saudi Arabia, and you’ll soon

We get to know the man behind the comedy in 10

Yes I have many hidden talents… I’m a good table

quick questions…

If you had to eat the same thing for the rest of your

What’s your earliest childhood memory?

Pizza, or can I be bold and say Italian food?

I don’t know if it’s my earliest memory but I remember

life, what would it be?

my Gran and Great Grandmother making a huge

Your favourite place to be alone?

to the heater as my extended family witnessed this

comedians.

fuss of cleaning my bottom while I stood holding on spectacle. My mother was giving birth to my sister Leigh-Anne at the time, so I was about 18 months

old. I’ve tried to avoid finding myself in that situation ever again.

Bed, bathroom and at top of peoples lists of favourite

Other people’s success is not your failure. I didn’t

First thing you’d do as King for a day?

I’d find it hard to let go of such power. But I’d try and annoy the worlds fools, and put myself on stamps. All-time favourite joke?

Jokes come and go, at the moment it’s a very long joke

I was told at Electric Picnic about a man with a big willy… (we’ll leave it there so.)

Photograph: The Lisa Richards Agency

THE LIMERICK MAGAZINE