Mature Living Magazine March 2012

PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE March 2012

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE OLDER, BOLDER INDIVIDUAL

Stay safe at sea Sick of feeling tired?

A Book to treasure One on one with Johnny Logan

at t

he

See Page 33 for details

• SLIGO • MAYO • GALWAY • LEITRIM • ROSCOMMON

Contents

www.matureliving.ie

March 2012

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Any photos that you may have of a colleagues retirement can be sent to the same address.

Our next issue will be available on March 17th and the deadline for submissions is 6th of March.

Seamus Casey Editor Editor: Seamus Casey seamus@matureliving.ie Advertising: Lisa Gilmartin lisa@matureliving.ie Production & Design: Stephen Finney steve@matureliving.ie

S

PRING is well and truly upon us as we introduce the March issue of Mature Living. Indeed, it looks like we have escaped winter entirely this year, with the mild weather, interrupted only by the occasional frosty morning.

As we bring you another issue packed with timely news, advice and information the organisations representing the elderly are bracing themselves for possible further campaigns against threats to their living standards.

This follows the comments in the IMF’s fifth review, which stated that older people have “remained largely unaffected by the recent welfare adjustments”. The IMF have suggested that the Government needs to cut key supports for older people such as free travel, free electricity and Over-70s Medical Cards, and take a hard look at the real state pension rate.

Organisations like Age Action Ireland and Older and Bolder are, undoubtedly, alarmed at this and the EU Declaration on the question of benefits for older people.

Age Action Ireland, in their pre-Budget submission in October, listed 19 policy changes which had affected older people. In the interim, a plethora of cuts have impacted severly on the elderly. If the heralded changes are implemented by the Government we can only expect a resurgence of the grey power demonstrated in Dublin in October 2008.

In this issue we have a one-on-one with RTE’s Northern correspondent, Tommy Gorman and also speak with Ireland’s Mr. Eurovision, Johnny Logan. We look into the history of one of the West’s oldest industries, Foxford Woollen Mills. We provide some valuable advice for people contemplating a cruise; we look at a unique book by a Ballina photographer which provides a photographic history of the West over 15 years, and we look at the valuable contribution of Sligo Lions Club . . . just a sample of the stories and issues covered this month in your FREE magazine.

Once again I would like to remind you that if your group or organisation wish to receive bulk deliveries of Mature Living please send your request to seamus@matureliving.ie or post it to: Mature Living, 28 Cleveragh Road, Sligo.

We also welcome input from your organisation and if you would like to have articles or photographs of recent events highlighted please send them to the same address, seamus@matureliving.ie.

News Slow Walking and Dementia One-on-One with Tommie Gorman Johnny Logan: We speak to Mr Eurovision Foot Care: What is Podiatry?

Stay Safe at Sea Foxford Woolen Mill Pet’s Corner: Your pet’s health - Symptoms you shouldn’t ignore Down Memory Lane: The Hi Lows Band Mayo International Choral Festival LED vs Plasma vs LCD TVs 10 Ways to reduce the cost of Driving Fantastic walk-in closets Using Hypnosis to improve your golf game Competition Food and Drink: Mary Berry's three cakes in one Women: Why do we kiss?

A book to treasure Employment Sick of feeling tired?

Six common cleaning mistakes Services Directory Puzzles Dating: Meeting Place

Published by: IBS Publishing Riverview House, Barrett Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo and Cleveragh Road, Sligo Tel/Fax: 071-9154538 / 096-77743 Web: www.matureliving.ie • Email: info@matureliving.ie

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News

Mayor of the City of Galway opens Elder Abuse: Signs, Types, Age Action computer training room and Reporting

Pictured above at the official opening are: Mayor Cllr. Hildegarde Naughton, Pauline Power, Executive Manager Getting Started Programme, Niamh Hennelly - Project Officer, Mairead Joyce, Olivia McCullough, Andy Dittrich, Patricia Knight, Anna-Marie Byrne and other staff members and tutors.

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dedicated computer training room for older people was officially opened in Galway city earlier this month, as part of the latest expansion in Age Action’s award-winning programme to provide older people with IT skills.

The training room at Age Action’s offices at West End Square, Small Crane, was opened by the Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Hildegarde Naughton, this afternoon.

Over 120 older people have already been trained there since the room was established earlier this year, and over 2,000 older people in Galway city and county have developed their computer skills since Age Action’s

Getting Started programme began in 2007.

“We are currently running 10 classes a week in this room and, together with the classes in local libraries and other facilities around the county, it will help us meet the huge demand from older people who want to learn how to use computers,” Getting Started Development Officer Niamh Hennelly said.

Getting Started classes are also currently being provided in Ballybane Library, the Galway City Library, Oranmore, Ballinfoyle, Loughrea, Portumna, Ballinasloe, Tuam, Ballygar, Oughterard and Gort. “The impact which these classes are having on the quality of life of

the learners has to be seen to be appreciated – it is literally opening up a whole new world to people and changing their lives,” Getting Started national coordinator Pauline Power said. “From learning to surf the internet, to using email and Skype to keep in contact with family and friends abroad, computers are greatly enriching the lives of older people.”

The success of the Getting Started programme was recognised recently when it won the national Aontas Star Award for adult education.

The challenge for Age Action in Galway currently is to recruit more volunteer tutors to meet the demand for places on the course. “We need volunteers who can give two hours a week, for a minimum of four weeks,” Niamh Hennelly said. Training is provided for tutors.

The new training room has eight personal computers and laptops. It also has wireless internet so that people can bring their own laptops if they wish. The Getting Started programme is just one of the services provided by Age Action from its offices at the Small Crane. Its Care & Repair home DIY and visitation services also operates from the offices. Spanish classes for older people also take place there.

The official opening of the training room coincided with the 20th anniversary (to the day) of the foundation of Age Action. A birthday cake was cut to mark the occasion.

For further details of classes or to volunteer as a tutor, contact Niamh Hennelly at 087-1956047 or 091-527831.

Card Players enjoy Drumderrig House EVERY week a group of keen card players gather at Drumderrig House, Boyle's Private Nursing Home, for a few hands.

Residents and non residents participate.

Recently Ita Roche, the only lady present, skillfully relieved the men of their few bob! • Paula Cull, owner of Drumderrig House, says "The fact that non residents join in is important. We want our residents to feel that they're part of the community. Just because people are elderly, it doesn't mean they've stopped living or enjoying their favourite pastimes." Playing cards, boules, bingo, keep fit and dancing and music nights are just a few of the many activities Drumderrig's residents have to hand.

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study into elder abuse by the National Council for Ageing and Older People estimated that as many as 12,000 older Irish people might be suffering from some form of abuse at any given time. The report, 'Abuse, neglect and mistreatment of older People' found that the reluctance of society to recognise the problem of elder abuse is merely following a pattern of how such abuses come to be accepted.

Dr Des O'Neill is a consultant geriatric physician at Tallaght Hospital who leads the national Age-Related Healthcare Project. He is also a member of the Department of Health's working group on the issue of elder abuse. He believes that incidents of elder abuse are both under-reported and under-acknowledged in this country. "There has been almost no research into elder abuse in Ireland, but we have no reason to think that the extent of the problem here is any different to anywhere else", he explains.

"Research elsewhere has shown that between 3% and 5% of older people experience regular abuse in some form" he was quoted as saying in irishhealth.com

Forms of Elder Abuse There are several forms of abuse, any or all of which may be carried out as the result of deliberate intent, negligence or ignorance.

(HSE.ie) • Psychological abuse • Neglect & acts of omission • Financial or material abuse • Physical abuse • Sexual abuse • Discrimination

What is Elder Abuse? ''A single or repeated act, or lack of appropriate action, occurring within any relationship where there is an expectation of trust which causes harm or distress to an older person or violates their human and civil rights.'' (Protecting our Future, Report of the Working Group on Elder Abuse, September 2002) - HSE.ie 65 years of age is taken as the point beyond which abuse may be considered to be elder abuse.

Reporting Elder Abuse If you are a victim of Elder Abuse, are concerned about abuse, or if you suspect someone you know may be a victim of abuse, you should contact the HSE elder abuse service, through your GP, Public Health Nurse, local Health Centre or any of your local Senior Case Workers or An Garda Siochana.

The HSE has a dedicated Elder Abuse Service, with Senior Case Workers in Elder Abuse now working in most Local Health Office Areas.

Signs and Symptoms According to the American National Centre of Elder Abuse, the symptoms of abuse vary with the form of abuse, but things to look out for include: Unusual or unexplained injuries, such as cuts, bruises or burns, for which strange and inconsistent explanations are given • Unkempt appearance • Pressure or bed sores • Evidence of confinement, such as being tied to furniture or locked in a room • Dehydration or malnutrition without a medical cause • Fear, withdrawal, depression,or anxiety • Visits to many doctors or hospitals • Helplessness • A hesitation to talk

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News

Russia selects grandmothers for Eurovision entry

The group, the Buranovskiye Babushki (Buranovo Grannies

RUSSIA has ignored established stars to choose a group of singing grandmothers from an obscure provincial village to represent the country at the 2012 Eurovision song contest.

The group, the Buranovskiye Babushki (Buranovo Grannies) from the far-flung Udmurtia region, won Russia's qualifying tournament for Eurovision with their cheerful folk-disco song "Party for Everybody".

"Party for everybody, come on and dance!" sang in heavilyaccented English the elderly group of six women in traditional costumes as the studio audience at the televised qualifying contest clapped along to the beat and cheered with delight, giving them a standing ovation.

The dancing pensioners beat off competition from some of Russia's top pop stars, including a duet by 2008 Eurovision winner Dima Balan and former member of popular female duo Tatu, Yulia Volkova.

Their song is likely to be the first ever sung at Eurovision in a mixture of English and Udmurtian, a language from the Finno-Ugric group.

One of the group, named as "Grandmother Olga", said that all they wanted was to make enough money through singing to build a church in their home village.

"That is our only goal.

Grandmothers do not need glory and wealth," she told the Vesti news website.

Russian media reacted with

ironic amusement to the choice of a novelty song to represent the country at the glitzy pop extravaganza, which will be held in the Azerbaijani capital Baku in May. "It's interesting and original, at least," music producer Iosif Prigozhin told news agency RIA Novosti. "They're not young, they're not glamorous, they're in national costumes. They should have gone to Eurovision even earlier." The Buranovskiye Babushki rose to fame in Russia by singing cover versions of hits such as the Eagles' "Hotel California" and "Yesterday" by the Beatles in Udmurtian, the native language of a region in central Russia best-known for manufacturing Kalashnikov automatic rifles. Britain has also chosen a pensioner to represent it at this year's Eurovision, the 75-year-old pop veteran Engelbert Humperdinck, best known for his 1960s hit song "Release Me".

management policies.

Age Action has campaigned for many years to have the home care sector regulated and independently inspected, given the vulnerable nature of the users of these services and the fact that these services are provided behind closed doors.

The national older people’s charity strongly supports the recent Law Reform Commission report which called for such regulation and independent inspection.

“The new standards are a step forward, but will only apply to new home care packages and, in effect, only cover a fraction of

Page 6 Mature Living March 2012

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In the last edition of Mature Living Magazine we gave you a chance of winning a Christmas in June Weekend for two at Hotel Westport!

Engelbert Humperdinck

Age Action welcomes HSE home care package standards AGE Action has welcomed the introduction of national standards for the 26 organisations who have been selected to provide enhanced home care packages on behalf of the HSE. This is the first time that national standards have been introduced in Ireland for home care packages and marks a step forward in protecting some of the most vulnerable of older people.

The new standards cover areas such as appropriate recruitment procedures, Garda vetting, training, protection of older people, medication and

MAKERS, SUPPLIERS & FITTERS

home care packages being provided across Ireland. They do not cover existing home care packages provided by the HSE or packages provided on a private basis by firms,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said.

“It must also be noted that these standards will be monitored for compliance by the HSE, rather than an independent body.”

“Age Action believes that if the Government is serious about protecting older people then it must act to regulate and independently inspect all home care and home help providers,” Mr Timmins said.

The luck winner was Margaret Stenson of Tubbercurry, Co. Sligo.

Congratulations!

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Something for everyone in Enniscrone

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€149 pps* • Beside Blue Flag Beach, & Championship Golf Course • Social Dancing and music in the bar weekly • Perfect base for touring the scenic Northwest

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* Offer valid Sundays to Thursdays until 3 May.

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his year when planning a short break, why not look a little closer to home and stay in the 4* Diamond Coast Hotel, in Enniscrone. The luxury hotel has the largest guest rooms in the Northwest and is renowned for its excellent service and hospitality. This Spring, there is fantastic value to be had, and Enniscrone has plenty to offer. Enniscrone Beach has been awarded the Blue Flag. This is fantastic news for Enniscrone, and reaffirms what the locals have already known: that Enniscrone’s beautiful 5km beach is safe, clean, and extremely well looked after.

Not only does Enniscrone have one of the finest beaches in Ireland, the 18-hole Championship golf course is rated 14th in the top 100 golf courses in Ireland.

Enniscrone offers world class golf without the crowds.

It was recently described on pgatour.com: “Enniscrone is in a class of its own, providing a links experience few others can match.”

If golf is not for you, why not visit Kilcullen’s seaweed baths. Celebrating 100 years, this business has been run by the Kilcullen family for 4 generations, the baths are celebrated for their therapeutic and relaxing qualities.

Alternatively choose from a treatment in the Sunset Spa, Swimming at Waterpoint, Pitch and Putt, hiking in the Ox Mountains, or pottering in the jewellery and gift shops.

Go West this spring for a truly relaxing over 50s holiday

H

otel Westport is secluded in 7 acres of beautiful woodland in the heart of Westport. You’ll discover a uniquely friendly, comfortable and stylish hotel, abounding in warmth and relaxation.

Hotel Westport offers a variety of holidays and are renowned for their theme breaks – Golden Years (where you get an extra night’s dinner, bed and breakfast free!), Golf, Walking, Bridge and Indoor Bowling.

As part of their Golden Holiday Programme they take care of your every need! The holiday includes a full Irish Breakfast each morning (served until a leisurely 11am!), and a four course Table d’Hote dinner each evening.

They organise day tours too - Knock Shrine, Kylemore & Ballintubber Abbeys, Foxford Woollen Mills, Achill Island and The Céidé Fields (at your own expense), or for those of you wanting something a little more relaxing, book a treatment in their luxurious Ocean Spirit Spa. Choose from an array of treatments – specialised massages, soothing facials, exotic hand and foot spa treatments, luxurious body peels and wraps. They organize games and entertainment in the evenings too. You won’t want to go home!

The Hotel has 129 bedrooms with all the comforts of home. The elegant ‘Islands Restaurant’ overlooks the Carrowbeg River, while the ‘Maple Bar’ provides the perfect ambience for music and chat over drinks amongst friends. Avail of the extensive leisure facilities on hand, relax with a good book in the patio gardens or take a stroll along the Carrowbeg River into town where there is an excellent mix of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Hotel Westport is located in the perfect place to take in one or more of the many outdoor activities in the local area: Croagh Patrick, Ireland’s Holy Mountain, Clew Bay, with 365 islands, blue flag beaches, horse riding, golf, surfing, fishing, walking and shopping - just to mention a few and the nearest Hotel to the newly opened Great Western Greenway - 42km of uninterrupted walking and cycling taking in breathtaking scenery on the way, from Westport through Newport and Mulranny and into Achill Island!

A warm, friendly welcome awaits you at Hotel Westport, “One of Ireland’s best loved Hotels”. Sale Special – 18th or 25th March 5 Nights DBB Only €229 per person sharing. Call NOW for further details

Maybe your idea of a break centers more on great food and good nights out. Diamond Coast Hotel and Enniscrone village will not disappoint. With music in the bar, social dancing and excellent food choices you are guaranteed to find something that will delight you.

Diamond Coast Hotel……Your home at the Coast.

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Harbour Hotel, Perfect for a Galway City Getaway

T

he Harbour Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Galway City, perfect for a getaway break.

Experience the vibrant atmosphere of Galway City, just a short stroll from your hotel room. Meander through the cultured streets and enjoy art galleries, theatres, markets, museums and Galway’s fun-filled bars. The Harbour Hotel is located just a three minute stroll to Eyre Square and five minutes from the train station.

Each room is designed with the comfort of the guest in mind, with pillow topped mattresses and fluffy duvets with crisp, white linen. For a special treat, upgrade to one of the Superior Rooms with a little extra space and comfort, additional amenities include a stereo system, bath robes and complimentary bottled water. There are a number of Harbour View rooms which also include bathrobes and complimentary bottled water.

Dine in The Harbour Seafood Bar & Grill, where Head Chef, Paddy Anslow has created some new, mouthwatering dishes using only the very best of local produce.

All residents have complimentary use of the onsite gym and fitness studio, jacuzzi and steam room. Indulge your senses at Haven Beauty which offers a full range of facial, body and massage therapies to leave you feeling revived, refreshed in rejuvenated.

A warm welcome awaits you in the West, with complimentary tea and freshly baked scones on arrival for all Golden year Packages.

Amazing Golden Year Offers of Three Nights Bed & Breakfast, Dinner on Two Evenings, including a Day Trip to Connemara & Kylemore Abbey and entrance tickets into Kylemore Abbey from €169pps.

Kylemore Abbey was originally built by Mitchell Henry in 1867 as a romantic gift for his beloved wife and now home to the Benedictine order of nuns, Kylemore Abbey is the ideal destination for a day out. Located just an hour’s drive from Galway City and surrounded by stunning Connemara scenery, this 1000 acre estate has much to offer visitors all year round.

Full details of packages available www.harbour.ie or the reservations team on 091 894800 or stay@harbour.ie

News

Slow Walking and Dementia H

ow fast do you walk? That speed may predict the likelihood of developing dementia later in life, say researchers.They also say that grip strength in middle-age was linked to the chance of a stroke. Brain scans, walking speed and grip strength were recorded for nearly 2500 people who were, on average, 62 years old. The results presented at the Academy of Neurology showed that 11 years later, 34 people had developed dementia and 79 had had a stroke.

The researchers said slower walking speeds were linked to a higher risk of dementia and weaker grip with a higher risk of stroke.

Frailty and lower physical performance in elderly people have been associated with those increased risks, but the researchers say they weren’t sure until now how it impacted middle-aged people.

Suggestions of a link between slow walking speed and poor health have been made before.

But the scientists said more studies were needed to understand why.

FREELANCE JOURNALIST WANTED

To Write feature articles, interviews and human interest stories for Mature Living Magazine.

Please email us with examples of your work, CV and cover letter to seamus@matureliving.ie or Call Seamus on 085-2498067

Veggies And Skin Tone DO you want to get that healthy glow? Instead of going for a sun holiday, you might want to help yourself to certain types of vegetables.

The latest research finds that instead of spending a fortnight sunning yourself on the beach, you should just eat more carrots, sweet potatoes and mangoes. A study in the journal Evolution and Human Behaviour showed that eating a diet rich in fruit and vegetables gives you a more healthy golden glow than the sun. It’s thanks to substances called carotenoids — the antioxidants responsible for the red colouring in fruit and vegetables like carrots and tomatoes. Participants were asked to manipulate the colours of 51 faces on a computer screen to make them look healthier. Consistently, they picked

skin tones calibrated to reflect the intake of carotenoids, rather than tones simulating suntans.

The researchers also found that just one or two more portions of fruits and vegetables a day resulted in a subtle shift toward the more healthy yellowish tone of carotenoid consumption. And taking a 15 mg daily supplement of beta carotene for eight weeks had the same result.

The researchers say the benefit comes from consuming a variety of fruits and vegetables, which contain different types of carotenoids. The more colourful your diet — the better.

But you can eat too much. Excessive consumption of carrots can produce carotenemia, a too yellowed skin tone that looks jaundiced.

Woodferne Green Heating Systems IN Sept 2005, DC Logs commenced supplying firewood to local businesses. We also stocked some log cutting machines. Having established a wide network of customers, research was completed to ascertain the needs of the current customer.

We quickly identified the awareness of and renewed emphasis on Energy saving and Energy rating, and all research indicated the need for good quality, energy saving, value for money stoves. The expansion of our business to incorporate the sale of Woodferne Stoves has proven to be a very successful venture and has provided customers with this quality product.

Page 8 Mature Living March 2012

Why? The quality of our stoves is excellent.

We offer a vast selection of stoves; we can meet the needs of any customer.

We sell stoves at very competitive prices.

Our stoves are highly efficient and meet all current energy ratings.

We have friendly, knowledgeable staff willing to assist with all your queries.

We are pleased to say that we are rated as one of the most successful home heating businesses. Our keen prices, coupled with excellent quality and selection, gives us the added advantage over any of our other competitors.

Start to cut your solid fuel bills in half with a Cast Iron Multi Fuel Woodferne Stove. We have a wide range of high quality cast iron stoves and stainless steel fittings with both traditional and contemporary stoves in matt black. Our polished enamelled stoves come in various colours, fittings and spare parts are also available at affordable prices.

Call and see our large range of stoves and fittings at our showrooms in Derrylyn, one mile from Teemore Cross, Fermanagh, where our staff will deal with all your enquiries.

Should you require any of our installation team to call to your home

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Feature by Stella Carroll

Tommie Gorman

Living in Interesting Times

Pictured in Kilkelly at the unveiling of a sculptor by Vivienne Roache from Garretsown, Kinsale Co.Cork, Tommy Gorman RTE Northern Editor who addressed the large crowd at the opening ceremony . Photo © Ken Wright Photography 2011

T

ommie Gorman commutes between his home and family in Sligo and his work in Belfast.

“I’ll be 56 in April. The older I get, the more important where I was born and reared become for me. ” He is married to Ceara Roche and they are the proud parents of two

“Having a meaningful job gives you dignity. Being deprived of that option must be souldestroying for people who through no fault of their own are made unemployed” Page 10 Mature Living March 2012

smart and talented children, Moya (18) and Joe (15).

Tommie has been RTE’s Northern Editor since 2001 but his career in journalism started in 1977 with the Western Journal in Co Mayo. In 1980 he became the North West Correspondent, for RTE. Initially he was based in Derry.

“Even though I grew up forty miles from the border, I had no sense of the awfulness of The Troubles until I went to live in the North. “ At the time of the hunger strikes, I could see no end to the conflict. It was terrible. Derry was a small place and after a while you developed a sense of foreboding about who might be involved. There was the realisation good was triumphing over evil. It was unnerving to know that people were lying awake at night, planning to plant bombs and to kill.

Thirty years on, sometimes without warning, memories of people who died needlessly come back to me. It was an awful time in Ireland. It is still a miracle that we have managed to cap the blood lust and the anger.”

1989 brought a complete change for Tommie and his family. His appointment as Europe Editor and relocation to Brussels brought a new lifestyle and a fresh way of working.

Reporting from the powerful empire that is the European Union. The Parliament and Commission and its complex systems of hearings, white papers, debates, and policy making. “ At first I was intimidated by the scale of that challenge. I spent the

first few months wondering if I had the skills to get to grips with it. The only way to handle that fear was to work, work and work some more” Tommie laughs.

“I feel so lucky that the form of cancer I got hasn’t taken me out. Many other people have not been so fortunate”.

League final win in Barcelona and one of his last markings, Ireland’s win and Brian O Driscoll’s three tries at the Stade du France.

He became adept at translating ‘euro speaks’ into plain English. But, Ireland was never far from his heart.

In 2001, Tommie accepted the position of Northern Ireland editor and returned to a changing Belfast.

“Today, Belfast is beautiful, vibrant: it gives you energy. I am so happy to have spent the past ten years in the North. Our little country is well on the way to creating a political settlement that can serve as an example to the world.”

His Brussels-based years coincided with the end of the Cold War, the enlargement of the European Union, the introduction of the Single Currency and the Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. His work brought him to many parts of Europe and to his delight, the job included covering sports events. He worked at Italia 90, the World Cup in France, Manchester United’s Champions Tommy in Sligo, on top of Knocknarea

One of Tommie’s most famous interviews became the most watched programme of 2002. The interview with footballer, Roy Keane, following Keane’s departure from the FIFA World Cup is a landmark in the journalist’s career.

Other memorable interviewees have included the developer and businessman, Sean Quinn and Gerry Adams. Tommie Gorman was awarded European of the Year in 2001 and received an honorary master’s degree from NUI Galway in 2009. He made two documentaries around the visit of Queen Elizabeth to Ireland – The Queen and Us and The Queen’s Speech.

The older I get, the more important where I was born and reared become for me. ”

A Sligo Rovers season-ticket holder, Tommie says the past two years have been a special time for supporters. “ I get such a lift to see the floodlights of the Showground light up the sky in the town. I was at a Rovers match just last night, the

Tommie pictured on the receiving line at Dublin Castle on the night of the State Dinner for Queen Elizabeth II

first home game of the season and it was absolutely magic. One more campaign starting reminded me of the great Brendan Kennelly poem Begin Again ” Tommie says Sligo Rovers are a perfect example of the power of community. “The Rovers are a miracle. How they have kept going over the years defies logic. The amount of voluntary support that goes into the club is amazing and the location of the ground itself is great. A green space right at the heart of the town.”

Sport is vital to Tommie and he says that as he gets older, it

Pictured at Jim Fahy's retirement, alongside Jim and Cillian De Paor, the head of Television News in RTE. It will come on another file.

becomes more important. “There is such choice of sport now, International rugby, Premiership soccer, Inter-County G.A.A., but for me, when I look skywards looking for a favour each week, Rovers are top of the list. “

“Even though I grew up forty miles from the border, I had no sense of the awfulness of The Troubles until I went to live in the North.

Tommie’s ongoing battle with cancer is very much part of his public persona. For eighteen years, Tommie has lived with, coped with and managed a carcinoid cancer condition. “When I was first diagnosed in 1994, our daughter Moya was just ten months old, so I do think it is fantastic that I am still standing and have the energy to work. I feel so lucky that the form

of cancer I got hasn’t taken me out.

Many other people have not been so fortunate”. He says. Tommie has never hidden his illness, nor the rigours of the treatments he has endured. . His documentary ‘Europe, Cancer and Me’ was the story of his fight to lead a normal and productive life while managing the cancer. “One of the reasons I made it was because it was an opportunity to pay my dues. Often as I reporter, you are the one asking the tough questions. It seemed fair that I should put some hard, personal questions to myself.

Another reason for the programme was it gave a chance to show how the E112 system could give people with rare conditions access to treatment in other EU member states. A third, important element of that programme was the fact that I was working on a story, even if it was my story. It helped me to cope with what I was facing.”

People faced with health issues sometimes seek his advice and Tommie tries to share the lessons he has learned.

Work has always been his salvation. “Having a meaningful job gives you dignity. Being deprived of that option must be soul-destroying for people who through no fault of their own are made unemployed. “ “I have great respect for the notion that if something is important, you should apply yourself to it. This may sound perverse but sometimes I’m thankful for my dodgy health because it regularly gives me a sense of who and what matters. I feel blessed by the life I have: life has been very kind to me” Page 11 Mature Living March 2012

Feature Featureby Article Stella Carroll

Johnny Logan Eurovision win, he made a conscious decision to centralise his work and began concentrating on the European market. It was something which he would never regret. Last year, those travelling bags were continually packed as Johnny toured Sweden with 21 concerts, 11 performances in Denmark, closely followed by dates France and Germany. “People constantly ask me where do I live now. It amazes me, as I have always lived in Ireland, in Ashbourne, Co Meath, and I hope I always will.” Johnny is just about to embark on another rigorous European itinerary and is currently putting the final touches to a new album “Reconnections”.

J

ohnny Logan, often called Mr Eurovision, is an energetic, self effacing and cheerful man. His many years as a performer have fostered a wry sense of humour and a tough work ethic. At 57 years of age, he is fitter, calmer and more enthusiastic about life than ever.

Sean Sherrard, or Johnny Logan as we know him, was born in Australia, but moved to Ireland with his family aged three, where he lived in Howth Co Dublin. His father was the famous tenor, Patrick O’Hagan.

When he was barely twelve years old, he began touring with his father in Australia and New Zealand. There he and his father found themselves killing time by singing together in the dressing rooms of the great concert halls. This period had a tremendous influence on Johnny Logan, encouraging him to become a musician as well.

“This way of life has made it easy for me to be on the road, which means that even today, packing a suitcase and heading off touring has never been a problem.” he laughs.

An early career in show bands and nightclubs of Ireland set the scene and the discipline for a life on the stage. In 1987, following his Page 12 Mature Living March 2012

Ireland is a great place, after I did the McDonald ads, I would be coming through passport control in Dublin airport, and they would quip 'Can I get a burger with that' and you knew you were home!

The musical content has its roots in Irish traditional music, but with an upbeat electric rhythm. It follows Johnny’s 2007, C.D., 'The Irish Connection” an album that went platinum in Denmark, double platinum in Norway and Gold in Sweden. There have been many other releases and concerts in between and a visit to Johnny’s official website reveals an impressive back catalogue distributed widely.

Johnny married Ailis in1975 and they have three sons; Adam is 32, Fionn, 27 and Jack is 19. Johnny, like most parents, finds great delight in the lives of his children. Jack is currently studying music and playing in a punk band. “He drives me nutty, he is so like me. When I was teaching him the guitar he would say “ I don’t need to know the names of chords, just show me where the fingers go.” Johnny laughs “ His friends are lovely polite young men, and I smile when I hear the punk songs they are composing. It’s 'Good morning Mr Logan' and then I hear the interesting song titles like, Lefthanded bleep, bleep. And laugh to myself.” Family keeps him grounded. “ I have sold over 16 million records, took part in three Eurovision Song Contests, and one audience in Berlin, had one million people, live and sixty to seventy million people watching television, and then you go home and your son looks at you and says 'Dad, you dress gay' “ he laughs”. I told him to stop borrowing my clothes then.”.

He has the enviable accolade of being the only artist to win the Eurovision song contest twice.

Johnny Logan rarely gives press interviews now due to 'frequent misquotes' and misunderstandings.

Over the years, he has become the subject of media scrutiny on his private life and in 2011 became embroiled in a row over comments about Jedward. “ I like to give live interviews where possible, it means I can be myself and although sometimes I feel I am too honest, and can say the wrong thing, it is a more true representation of me.”

He laughs, “I love the West of Ireland and Galway is one of the best parts of the country. I remember being 17 years old and playing Salthill. I never made a fortune, but it was enough to have a good time.”

He recalls fondly, his last visit West of the Shannon. “ I was there last year and the place was hopping-such a good atmosphere. I wish I was there today, with the sun shining, it would be magic.”

In the past year Johnny embarked on a fitness regime and has lost 20 kilos in weight. “ I am feeling good and it becomes a bit addictive. You feel so well that you want to keep on exercising. I have hurt my shoulder recently but will be back on track soon.” Like many people who have experienced life in the fat pants and the skinny jeans, Johnny has many a tale to tell on the remarks of the public. Standing at

Mr Eurovision speaks about life, living in Ireland and his love of the West.

I love the West of Ireland and Galway is one of the best parts of the Country.

I remember being 17 years old and playing Salthill.

I never made a fortune, but it was enough to have a good time.” the queue for a bank-link in Killarney a man enquired politely “Is that you Johnny Logan ?” only to follow it up with “You are after getting very fat”. Similarly, while lying in an intensive care unit in Galway, with tubes everywhere, wearing nothing but his black Homer Simpson boxer shorts.“ Having partied too much” a sick, frail old woman lying opposite whispers “Johnny Logan “ and he answers 'yes' “Johnny Logan” she whispers a little louder “yes” he says. A third whisper “ Johnny Logan” and he raises himself to look at the old dear, who mutters” You are after getting very fat! Johnny laughs at this complete audacity of the Irish spirit, which, he says, is unlike anything you experience in Europe.” Ireland is a great place, after I did the McDonald ads, I would be coming through passport control in Dublin airport, and they would quip 'Can I get a burger with that' and you knew you were home!” The good humoured banter is a joy to him.

A new photo session on his website, reveals the slimmer, smooth and sophisticated Johnny, full of enthusiasm, positivity and ready for the next challenges.

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N5 Business Park, Castlebar, Co. Mayo Tel: 094-9024994 - 087-7783633 Visit: www.disabilityaidsdirect.net

Feature Footcare Article

What is Podiatry?

Article by Deborah Sheridan

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odiatry means podos or foot and iatros or physician. The work of a Podiatrist is to diagnose, treat, and also prevent diseases of the human foot. We do this by assessing and identifying problems, delivering treatment as part of the holistic care of the individual and by providing education to aid self help where appropriate. It is also essential to know when to refer to other professionals. There are many common ailments that require treatment by a Podiatrist; these include Corns and Callus, Ingrown Toenails, Dry skin and Heel Pain.

Corns and Callus When the skin is subjected to high levels of stress it tends to “thicken

BSc Pod Med MCh SI

up” and form a callus or a corn depending on the type of stress involved. Commonly, on the foot this occurs over prominent joints such as on the tops of deformed toes or in between toes and on the soles of the feet where an underlying foot problem results in an inefficient gait. These can be quickly removed by the Podiatrist and a treatment plan set in motion to reduce these stresses so that the lesions reoccur less frequently. The use of medicated corn pads is not advised as they can lead to more skin damage.

Ingrown Toenails Under some conditions, the edge of the nail can jam against the soft tissue down the side of the nail and even pierce the skin causing great pain and infection. Sports, poor nail cutting and some foot shapes that put extra pressure on the sides of the nail during walking can all contribute. It is essential to always cut nails straight across as trying to relieve pain by cutting down the sides of the nail can easily lead to infection and also leaves a gap which the skin moves into when the patient walks thus producing a vicious circle of pain and self treatment as the nail grows forward.. Always seek professional help to prevent compounding the problem.

Dry Skin The skin on the feet, especially around the heel can become very dry and result in painful cracks or fissures. The patient can combat this by starting a daily regime of gently filing away any dead skin and applying a good foot cream. This is best carried out after bathing and drying carefully to “lock in” extra moisture. If the dry skin is thick or

Page 14 Mature Living March 2012

an area which takes a great deal of stress during the gait cycle and under some circumstances the ligaments in this area can become inflamed. Cushioning the area does not always work on its own so seeking advice is important.

there are fissures present it is best to see a Podiatrist for treatment first.

Heel Pain Pain felt on the bottom of the heel can have a sudden onset and can be worse in the morning when the foot is first put to the ground. The heel is

FootSure Deborah Sheridan is experienced in all areas of foot care with a special interest in Diabetes and its effect on the foot. She also provides a home visiting service.

“Looking after your feet always makes good sense as pain free feet helps not only the older person but all of us to remain mobile, independent and healthy so take the time to book an appointment if you have any problems or need advice.”

Deborah Sheridan, Podiatrist BSc Pod Med MCh SI Deborah is pleased to announce her move to new premises and looks forward to welcoming her regular patients and meeting new ones.

Please ring 087 9807322 for an appointment.

Footsure Podiatry by Deborah Sheridan BSc Pod Med MCh SI

4 Holistic Living The Square, Claremorris Telephone: 087 9807322

Outdoor Fitness - Visit us online www.outfit.ie

Outdoor Fitness

Are you running with it yet?

T

raditionally people did their workouts indoors in either a gym, a hall or in their home.

The problem with these settings is that they deprive you of the single most beneficial ingredient there is – Fresh Air!! As you know there is nothing like fresh air to improve your health, your mood, your body and your mind. So why hasn’t anyone come up with the idea of building outdoor gyms? Well they have! And they are here! Outdoor gyms are already extremely popular in countries like Canada, Australia, England, Turkey and many more.

These countries have realised that

Eventually every town and village in Ireland is going to be able to benefit from an outdoor gym

the future is outdoors! Although the concept is a relatively new one to these shores, there are already outdoor gyms springing up in locations throughout Ireland.

Ryan from OutFit, Ireland's first outdoor gym installation company has been amazed by how fast the craze has swept the nation “Already this year we have installed outdoor gyms in 7 locations!

Eventually every town and village in Ireland is going to be able to benefit from an outdoor gym.”

The main reason people are not getting enough exercise is that they don’t have time or opportunity. The beauty of outdoor gyms is that they sit and wait for YOU to be ready!

Picture yourself out for a walk or nipping down to the shops and coming across an outdoor gym with walkers, steppers, bicycles, crosstrainers and various resistance machines. You’d be mad not to spend a few minutes enjoying the opportunity to improve your health, mobility, flexibility and general wellbeing. The good news is you can get one in your town too! Local councils are responsible for the various parks and walkways in your area and they will all by now have heard about this new and exciting concept. Talk to your local councillor today and get the ball rolling! GET OUT/GET FIT/ HAVE FUN!!

In this regular feature we will look at a different piece of outdoor fitness equipment every month and examine in detail what physical benefits are gained from a workout on that machine, how to get the maximum use out of it (many of the machines can be used in different ways to focus on different areas of the body) and which pieces are specifically designed for the 'young at heart' generation. And as getting fit is not just about exercise, we will also be including some tips on healthy eating to complement your daily workout.

There are outdoor gyms already installed in several locations in the west of Ireland - Roscommon Castle Park, Roscommon Town; Boyle, Co Roscommon; Coolooney, Co Sligo; Aclare, Co Sligo; Ballyvary, Co Mayo.

All are installed in local parks and walkways and are completely free to use at any time. Why not take a trip to visit one and see what all the fuss is about?

Machine of the Month:

The Low Impact Walker Function:

Enhance strength of hip joint and waist muscles. Improve fitness.

Method: Stand on the pedals and hold onto the rail. Swing both legs back and forward in walking motion.

This machine is designed to get the blood flowing through the muscles as you swing your legs back and forwards in a running motion. It strengthens the leg muscles as well as the hip joints and tummy muscles. It is recommended you spend about ten minutes on this machine at the beginning and end of your workout.

Page 15 Mature Living March 2012

Travel

Stay safe at sea

Concerned about the safety of your next cruise vacation?

What risks you should worry about -- and tips to stay safe on board.

W

hen we think “cruise”, we think endless sunny skies, exotic ports and the onboard activities we’ll be enjoying. However, the recent Costa Concordia disaster has once again brought the question of cruise safety back to the forefront.

How safe is cruising — and what can we do to stay safe at sea?

Risks travellers could face Cruising has come a long way in the century since the Titanic.

Despite some incidents, experts generally agree that cruising is a safe way to travel. In 2011, an estimated 19.2 million people took a cruise, according to Cruise Market Watch.

Most travellers didn’t experience any major problems.

However, no mode of transportation is completely risk-free, and there are potential risks associated with cruising including: Piracy Forget what you’ve seen in the movies: modern-day piracy has touched the cruise industry — like the Spirit of Adventure which was pursued by pirates in January 2011.

However, most pirates attack merchant ships — usually around Somalia and the Gulf of Aden,

Page 16 Mature Living March 2012

according to the International Chamber of Commerce’s Commercial Crime Services. In other words, you’re unlikely to encounter trouble on a big ship touring Europe or the Caribbean.

Terrorism Believe it or not, experts worry cruise ships could be the target of terrorist plots — just like any mode of transportation or place where tourists congregate. There have been some bomb threats in recent years, which have caused evacuations and delays — like the bomb hoax involving the Norwegian Sun. However, since 9/11, the biggest impact is increased security and stricter luggage screening.

Nature Cruise ships’ flexible routes and itineraries mean they can steer clear of major issues

like hurricanes, but weather can be a contributing factor to maritime mishaps. For instance, “rogue waves” heavily damaged a Spanish ship and killed two people in 2010. However, they’re called “rogue” or “freak” for a reason: they rarely happen, say experts.

Mechanical error or fire “Floating resort” is a bit of a misnomer: there’s a lot of powerful machinery propelling the ship. Ships can break down, experience power outages and even catch fire, like the Carnival Splendor in 2010.

Again, fires don’t happen often and most passengers escape without injury — but the resulting loss of power and amenities can be a lasting inconvenience.

Crime Safety experts consider cruises to be “floating cities” for a reason: theft, fraud, rape, assault and even murder can happen on board.

Tourists are often perceived as being wealthy, making them an ideal target for crime. Worse yet, they tend to let their guard down on vacation. While crime isn’t unique to cruises, international law and inadequate investigative facilities or personnel make solving crimes more difficult.

Incidences of crime don’t make world headlines, but advocates like International Cruise Victims are calling for better awareness of crime at sea and better protection for passengers.

Still, serious crime aboard cruise ships is relatively rare, say experts.

Some even go as far as to say you’re safer on a cruise than in some major cities because cruise ships are “controlled environments” — and under the watchful eye of security cameras.

• Stay out of “crew only” areas – especially if you’ve been invited. Unfortunately, crew members can also be in on scams. While you’re being entertained in a crew only area, their accomplice could be robbing your empty cabin. Be aware that staff members aren’t usually permitted to socialise with guests.

• Be cautious around strangers. Not opening your door to strangers is good advice anywhere you travel.

Also dangerous: getting into situations where you’re alone with a stranger, like on an empty deck late at night.

Be cautious around strangers. Not opening your door to strangers is good advice anywhere you travel.

Human error Ships are piloted by people, and, as the Concordia disaster reminds us, people make mistakes. True, you can’t do much to protect yourself against these risks. However, experts warn there are two risks we should take steps to avoid: Health The most common health issue people face on a cruise is sea sickness, but food poisoning and gastrointestinal viruses are also a risk. Anytime you have a large number of people in close quarters, viruses can spread quickly.

Still, some cruise companies have a better record than others when it comes to sanitation. Any cruise ships participating in the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention’s Vessel Sanitation Program are required to report any outbreaks – and you can check out their record online.

Tips to stay safe at sea Again, any form of travel has some risk. While experts debate policies and regulations, there are some things travellers can do have a safer trip: • Plan ahead for your health. Even though you don’t plan to be in one country for a length of time, experts still recommend visiting a travel clinic to get any necessary travel vaccines and preventive medications. (You might need proof of a yellow fever vaccine to go ashore in some countries.)

Also, make sure you’ve got enough over the counter and prescription medications to last for your trip — you may not be able to get these medications on board or on shore.

• Get travel health insurance. Onboard medical facilities aren’t equipped to handle everything and you may need to be airlifted to the nearest hospital — a trip that could cost up to €150,000. Without insurance, you’ll also be on the hook for

medical bills and transportation home. Experts advise to make sure you have at least €500,000 in coverage that includes accidental injury, hospitalization abroad and medical evacuation at sea.

Ships are piloted by people, and, as the Concordia disaster reminds us, people make mistakes.

• Participate in emergency drills. Do you know what to do in an emergency? By law, companies are required to offer safety drills within 24 hours of departure — make it part of your itinerary.

Read the safety information. Another important safety measure: read through the safety information as soon as you arrive. Make sure you know evacuation routes and procedures, and check that your cabin has enough life jackets for your party.

• Help stop the spread of viruses. The same measures you use at home to avoid the flu can help on board too, like washing your hands often and staying in your cabin if you aren’t feeling well. Report your illness to medical staff on board too.

And while it’s not pleasant to think about, experts also warn to get out of

the area if you see someone vomit or have diarrhea — you could inhale particles that could make you sick too.

• Take the same precautions you would in an unfamiliar city. Don’t be paranoid, but be wary.

• Practice safe sun. We know you’ll be outside a lot, but the water acts as a giant mirror reflecting and intensifying the sun’s rays. Be sure to apply sunscreen — and reapply it often — and wear a hat, UV protective clothing and sunglasses to prevent heat-related illnesses.

- Book excursions with a reputable company. Concerned about your safety on shore, or the safety of gear you’ll be using? Experts recommend to book onshore excursions through your cruise company or a reputable provider.

Experts advise to take the same safety personal safety precautions on a cruise as you would visiting a majority city — like keeping doors locked and not walking alone at night.

The same goes for ports: be aware of your surroundings and take precautions to protect your cash.

If you plan to go it alone, be aware that you may need a visa to get in — and you’ll have to apply for one well in advance.

• Keep your wits about you. Many vacationers enjoy a few “adult beverages”, but a few too many can impair your coordination, inhibitions and judgment — making you vulnerable to accidents and crime.

• Know before you go (ashore, that is). How safe are those ports of call and what documents do you need to get in? Experts recommend checking travel alerts and destination information for any country you plan to visit.

• Secure your valuables. If you have to bring valuables with you, use the safe in your cabin or the purser’s safe to secure your cash, jewelry and electronics.

A lot of people are in and out of your cabin when you’re not there, and these items are easy to grab.

How worried should you be? You can find whole websites dedicated to maritime disasters and others praising the safety of cruises — take both with a grain of salt. Most travellers don’t experience problems, but with a few simple precautions you can reduce the risk of trouble even more.

Experts advise to take the same safety personal safety precautions on a cruise as you would visiting a majority city

Page 17 Mature Living March 2012

Feature by Stella Carroll

Foxford Woollen Mills The story of one nun’s vision for full employment and prosperity in the heart of rural Ireland.

I

n 1892, The Convent of the Divine Providence was begun by the Irish Sister of Charity, Mother Arsenius Morrogh-Bernard in the village of Foxford, County Mayo, on the banks of the River Moy. Foxford was a small rural hamlet, recovering from the ravages of the famine and with little opportunity for employment.

However, Mother Agnes had a vision to bring prosperity and employment and she backed this vision with hard work and a business acumen which would be admired by the most hardened of men. Borrowing €6,000 to start the project, she built the beginnings of what would be a large working mill, producing quality textiles and bringing jobs and dignity to the area.

The early years at Foxford were a struggle, but the faith of the Sisters and the diligence of the local people

the faith of the Sisters and the diligence of the local people won out, and by the turn of the century, the mill had begun to thrive. Sisters and local people worked side by side won out, and by the turn of the century, the mill had begun to thrive.

Sisters and local people worked side by side, the mill was a success. A fire destroyed the main mill in 1908, but the determination of Mother Ar-

Page 18 Mature Living March 2012

senius and the people of the town shone through and they rebuilt. By 1930, there were more than 250 people working at the mill, with countless knock on prosperity brought to local sheep farmers, craftsmen and the town in general.

Foxford became known as ‘The Town Without Watches’, as the whistle which brought the workers to their daily toil and marked the lunch and home time could be heard for miles.

It was said, that even those working in the bogs marked the passing day by the mill whistle.

Foxford prospered around the mill.

Mother Arsenius also encouraged sports and music, and set up the Brass and Reed Band which is still the pride of Foxford today. Also, mainly to her efforts, a handball alley was built in 1901. As the years passed and money became more plentiful she had houses built for employees of the Mill and a music school was erected in 1923.

Mother (Agnes) Arsenius continued to improve and update the Mill and the town itself until her death in 1932 In 1988 recession hit the textile industry, but the community spirit fostered by the nuns came to the fore and local business people came together to save the mill. In 1992, the Mill celebrated its 100 year anniversary by opening the visitor centre, where the history of the mill can be reviewed. Today, the quality of the Foxford woollen garments are renowned throughout the world.

Quality craftsmanship continues to be the watchword, while modern designs makes their products among the most coveted in the world. The new modernised mill, craft shop, restaurant and visitor centre attracts over tens of thousands of visitors each year. A living legacy to the amazing, Mother Arsenius (Agnes) Morrogh Bernard. A woman of vision and devotion who made dreams into realities for Foxford.

Feature by Sonya Hamill of Blue Apple Dental

Get a Grip on Your Dental Health & Life

Why modern dentistry can open up a whole new life experience, in particular for denture wearers.

E

very day more people are switching on to the benefits modern dentistry can offer. People who once had the dental doors effectively closed on them are now having a world of choice opened up.

Many people, in particular those who were once given no choice but to put up with ineffective, loose fitting dentures, are seeing new opportunities for solving their dental problems.

Over the years new technologies have been introduced. The most prevalent of these, dental implants, is now a tried and tested option.

There are many misconceptions about dental implants. In many ways they are actually best viewed as a very flexible little tool for solving a wide variety of dental problems in a wide variety of ways, often with relatively simple measures. In the right

hands, they are a very predictable and reliable treatment option. They can be used very effectively in a wide number of ways. From the simple replacement of a single lost toot, to giving you something to clip a denture onto; to getting rid of the need for removable teeth altogether.

There has long since been a movement in dentistry to establish that the most life changing basic form of treatment for people without teeth should be 2 dental implants in the lower mouth as a basic standard of care, in order that a denture can clip into place and offer much greater stability, reliability and confidence for the individual. In terms of dental complexity this is relatively simple stuff for an experienced implant dentist. But in terms of the overall impact on the patient’s life, it can be transforming stuff. More comfort, more ease in eating, greater choice of food, and enhanced confidence in social situations are just a few of the benefits. So, how do you take your first steps into exploring the options?

Hopefully, I can answer a few of the most common questions.

Are they expensive?

Well, that depends on how you look at it. Dental implants, planned well and carried out well, are a long term investment. If looked after properly they should be there a long time. In relative terms to other types of dental options, the investment for good implant treatment is typically slightly higher due to the cost of the materials involved. But the aim is that they will last longer, and give you great

service, therefore being more cost effective over the longer term, and enhancing your life experience in the meantime.

Is the treatment painful?

Actually, you’d be very surprised.

The procedure itself should be pain free. You may have a bit of discomfort for a couple of days afterwards, but this shouldn’t be anything some normal painkillers won’t control, and it isn’t dissimilar to having had a tooth taken out. The patients I talk to each day usually say that the procedure wasn’t as they had imagined, and any discomfort was short lived, mild, and well worth it for the final result.

Will dental implants work for anyone?

Most people will be suitable for dental implants, although the route may differ a little for some people. A good, detailed consultation with an examination and x-rays, with an experienced dentist, is the only sure fire way of finding out how they could work for you. Expect to pay for this service if you want a full assessment.

At our practice we like to be able to give you an hour of time so that we can cover everything with you and give you all your options, so that you come away with all your questions answered.

This type of treatment is a fantastic option for someone who wants to get on top of their dental situation.

When patients who have experienced ill-fitting dentures make the move to having them clipped onto dental implants, they can’t believe the difference. I might go as far as saying this is the treatment I get most excited about at Blueapple Dental & Implant Team, because when a patient comes to see us who has tolerated loose dentures for a long time, you just know how great this treatment will make them feel! The buzz of seeing them reach that end result is what makes our job so rewarding!

Other things to consider: • Choose a dentist you get along with, someone you know you can rely on and who you know will take good care of you.

Sonya Schofield Hamill is the Practice Manager of Blueapple Dental & Implant Team, Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh.

Tel. 048 66386111 Join us on Facebook for News and Updates.

‘Blueapple Dental & Implant Team’ is an award-winning dental practice in the village of Belcoo in Co. Fermanagh, run by husband and wife team, James and Sonya Hamill.

Blueapple carries out all forms of dentistry under one roof, and focuses on helping people overcome their dental challenges, to re-establish their dental health, comfort and beauty. They believe that there is no-one they can’t help regain their dental confidence.

‘Blueapple Dental & Implant Team’ has won multiple awards, including ‘Best New Practice’, ‘Best Young Dentist in the UK & Ireland’, and most recently ‘Best Patient Care in Ireland 2012’.

www.blueappledental.com

• Choose someone experienced, who carries out this type of work frequently.

• Don’t get lured by cheap deals, particularly if something doesn’t feel right. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Dental implant treatment done really well, by an experienced and committed dentist you can rely on, is worth the bit more you may have to pay. A ‘good’ price is better than a ‘too good to be true’ price. Don’t forget that, as with everything in life, if the cost is low, savings will usually have to be made somewhere, and you don’t want it to be in your mouth, because you want your dental work to last.

Blueapple welcomes new patients.

Just call 048 66386111 to make an appointment for your consultation.

Pets Corner

Your pet’s health:

Symptoms you shouldn’t ignore They can't tell you with words, but you can spot the signs of illness and injury in your pets.

Know your pets, and be on the lookout for any unusual behaviour or change in habits. When in doubt, seek expert help rather than making your own diagnosis.

T

to call the vet? Here are some signs that could signal serious illness, according to WebMD and other pet health sources.

Some signs are obvious — like a wound or lump — but others can be subtle or confusing. Not sure when

Itching and biting Many of the things that make our pets itch make us squirm too — like fleas, ticks and mites. However, some causes aren’t so obvious, like hormonal problems, staph infections, yeast infections or fungal infections. Watch out for signs of scratching, licking and chewing —

hose big brown eyes can melt your heart, but they can’t tell you what’s wrong.

Even at the best of times, life with pets can be a bit of a guessing game — but it can be scary when something is wrong. Pets can’t tell us if they’re sick or in pain, so it’s up to us to watch out for warning signs.

especially if there’s hair loss, scratches or skin irritation around the site.

Vomiting or diarrhea It’s not unusual for a dog or cat to eat something they shouldn’t have, throw up and be back to their normal selves in no time. When should owners worry?

When vomiting or diarrhea persists — like throwing up several times in a day — and when it’s accompanied by

other symptoms like lethargy and a lack of appetite. The culprit could be a gastrointestinal illness, or it could be a parasite like roundworm.

If you see blood — whether it’s fresh or looks like coffee grounds — experts warn to call your vet right away.

Blood can be a sign that your pet has eaten something dangerous (especially something sharp), but it also could be a sign of a gastric ulcer.

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Lack of appetite Whether they’re fussy eaters or bottomless pits, listen up when your pets aren’t interested in food. A lack of appetite could warn you of stress, fever or pain — and if it lasts more than a day or accompanies other symptoms, call your vet.

And cat owners take note: going without food for a couple of days can lead to an accumulation of fat in the liver. This “fatty liver” can be treated when it’s caught early, but can be fatal if left untended.

Lethargy and decreased activity Like their humans, pets can tire out with lots of work and play — but unexplained fatigue or a drop in energy shouldn’t be dismissed. Pets may become less active as they age, but weakness, collapse or a change in how much activity your pet wants to engage in should warrant at least a phone call to the vet. Lethargy could be due to a temporary illness, or something more serious like a heart condition.

Change in urinary habits It can be a messy business, but changes in when, where and how often your pet empties their bladder can be a warning sign of trouble rather than an attempt to punish you. For instance, if you’re constantly filling your dog’s water dish, this excessive thirst and frequent urination could be a sign of diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease or a problem with adrenal glands. Dogs and cats might be relieving themselves in unusual

places — like around the house instead of outside or in the litter box.

On the flip side, urinating too little could mean a urinary tract infection or bladder stones — which can be especially problematic (and sometimes deadly) for cats. Blood in the urine (or urine that looks pink in colour) is also a sign of trouble.

Coughing, sneezing and difficulty breathing Admittedly, a sneeze or two can be kind of funny, but persistent sneezing — particularly if there’s a runny nose or discharge from the eyes or ears — should warrant a trip to the vet.

Likewise, persistent coughing can be a cause for concern. Kennel cough, a contagious form of bronchitis in dogs, is usually mild — but it can be dangerous for puppies and short-nosed dogs (like pugs).

Most dogs will appear otherwise healthy, except for a nagging dry or “honking” cough.

Chronic coughing could be related to more serious conditions like heart or lung disease and heart worms.

Any signs of choking or difficulty breathing should get emergency attention.

Hair loss Pet owners are well acquainted with shedding, but hair that comes out in patches or noticeable bald spots are more than a nuisance. Patchy hair could be the result of a skin infection or parasite. A single bald spot could be the result of an injury,

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while symmetrical bald spots (appearing on both sides of the body) could signal an endocrine disorder like hypothyroidism.

A warning to owners: Wear rubber gloves before you take a closer look!

Ringworm is another cause of hair loss, and can be spread to humans.

Unexplained weight loss or gain Pets are affected by the balance of calories versus exercise too, so adjusting diet and exercise is often the cause. However, when other symptoms are involved and there hasn’t been a change to your pet’s diet or exercise routine, it may be time to have it checked out.

Unexplained weight gain could be caused by diabetes or endocrine issues like Cushing’s disease.

what vets can do for some pets like hamsters or birds. Many of these symptoms apply to many species — like signs of pain or digestive upset.

Some signs are more specific, like unexplained loss of feathers in a bird or signs of fungus in a fish (which could spread to other fish in the tank).

Regardless of which furry, fourlegged, finned or feathered friends share your life, the same rule of thumb applies: know your pets, and be on the lookout for any unusual behaviour or change in habits. When in doubt, seek expert help rather than making your own diagnosis.

Stiffness, lameness or difficulty getting up These symptoms are all signs of arthritis, but don’t overlook them as a sign of aging. There’s a lot that can be done to treat arthritis in pets, from anti-inflammatory medications to surgery. It’s important to keep pets mobile and active for both health and sanitary reasons.

Pain can also be from an injury, ruptured ligament, tick-borne disease (like Lyme disease) or hip dysplasia (sometimes seen in bigger dogs like Labrador retrievers).

Signs in other pets Admittedly, cats and dogs get a lot of media attention because of their popularity, and there’s a limit as to

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“He who sings scares away his woes.”

Mayo International Choral Festival

Feature

Members of the Mayo International Choral Festival committee, at their recent meeting to review choir entries.

Standing, L to R: Steven Brady, Treasurer, Edward Horkan, Chairman, Pat Jennings, Committee Member, Gerry Needham BL, Committee Member, Cllr Eugene McCormack, Committee Member. Seated, L to R: Deirdre Lee, Musical Director, Music Committee, Declan Durcan, Festival Director, Anne Marie Gibbons, Mezzo Soprano, Music Committee.

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hat’s according to Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, a Spanish novelist, poet, and playwright in the 17th c.

The same can still be said today and this will, very much, be the case when 30 choirs perform all over Mayo at the end of May this year.

Plans are at an advanced stage for the hosting of the first county-wide Mayo International Choral Festival 24th to 27th May, and the organising committee met recently to review all choir entries.

The committee members are delighted with the response – entries include choirs from Finland, the US, Wales, Slovenia and Norway, and those from Ireland include, Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Waterford, Wexford, Sligo, Derry,

Galway and several Mayo based choirs.

The festival will take the form of concerts throughout Mayo on the Thursday and Friday nights, competitions on Saturday and a Gala Concert in the Royal Theatre on Saturday night.

On Sunday, choirs will perform at church services and nursing homes, in addition to a few surprise performances. A full programme of events and details of participating choirs will be announced in March.

The committee held a general public meeting on Wednesday evening, 8.30pm, March 7th, TF Royal Hotel, Castlebar, which was attended by representatives of the Mayo choirs, Mayo Lions

groups, Chambers of Commerce, accommodation providers, tourism marketing groups and anyone with an interest in the festival.

The event should be a major boost for the town of Castlebar and the organising committee are leaving no stone unturned.

The success of Sligo’s Choral Festival over the years has shown the potential there is for such a singing festival.

It has been all systems go since Enda Kenny launched the Choral Society’s website last December. Choirs, both competing and noncompeting, will receive in advance of their trip, a detailed information pack, which will include competition times, venues and location guides.

Promoting the festival, Chairman Eamon Horkan said: “There’s something very primeval about singing. The voice, mankind’s first musical instrument and older than the beating of a drum, has evolved and taken many forms over thousands of years. My lifelong love of music, my participation and travel with the Mayo Male Voice Choir, and the realisation that Mayo has the facilities for hosting such an event made the dream of a Mayo International Choral Festival a reality.”

May 24th to 27th promises to be a weekend of song and joy in Mayo.

So to help you to scare away any woes, for more information, visit www.mayochoral.com or find us on Facebook.

Focus on Sligo Lions

Sligo Lions – serving and caring

Carers Weekend Retreat - the cruise on Lough Gill

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N our January issue we carried a feature on Lionism in Ireland and focused on activities in the Ballina Lions Club. This month we take a look at Sligo Lions and the fine contribution they are making in the local community.

Sligo Lions club is celebrating its 35th year of service to Sligo town and county. Unlike many other clubs it has an urban and rural dimension with members from Sligo town, Tubbercurry, Ballymote, Ballisodare and elsewhere.

Chartered in 1977, its first president was Sven Peterson from Ardaghowen, Sligo and its first secretary was Tony Finnegan from Thornhill Sligo. The current president (for 2011/12) is Bryan Corcoran, Campbell Court, Cairns Road, and the Secretary is Gerry Munnelly, Corhownagh, Ballisodare, Co. Sligo.

There is a current membership of fifteen and three prospective members in the pipeline. The gender balance of the club is two thirds male and one third female. The members are extremely active with an 80% to 90% attendance at monthly meetings. The following is a broad example of the projects undertaken in 2011: Celebrity Jigs and Reels This was, perhaps, the biggest project of the year, organised and hosted in the Radison Hotel, Sligo in late February. Thirteen local charities competed in the competition and 650

patrons paid into the event on the night. In total €51,000 was raised and distributed among the competing charities.

Christmas Food Appeal The first project, to kick-start the New Year, where members collected cash outside the main supermarkets in Sligo over a period of eight days.

200+ hampers were packed with food purchased from the proceeds and distributed to needy families in Sligo town and county in conjunction with the HSE social workers and the SVDP society.

home and most of them are on call 24/7. Some of these would have no contact with the outside world from one end of the week to the next. This retreat away from their home environment allowed them the luxury of 4-star accomodation, participation in activities such as yoga, reflexology massage and make up application.

They had access to computer training, individual counselling and skills training. They were offered workshops on the role of the EU carer’s interest groups. Support groups included Carers’ Association and mental health services.

The enjoyment and sense of fulfillment experienced by the carers was palpable at the end of the retreat. This project had such an impact on the carers who benefited from it as well as all those involved in organising it that it is now seen in Lions circles as worthy of being taken on board as a Lions national project which would make the retreat available to family carers throughout the country.

In a Lions report to cabinet it has been described as a five star project and there is no doubt that this will certainly become a district project.

The Carers Assoc. and HSE will work with Lions clubs to identify suitable carers in each region for the weekends. The Sligo weekends have been extended to three for 2012: June 8th, 9th, 10th; July 6th, 7th, 8th; July 27th, 28th, 29th. This is to facilitate different regions.

Senior Citizens’ Holiday In June sixteen senior citizens were taken to the Trabolgan holiday centre in Cork. A coach was hired to transport them and they were provided with food and drinks on their journey. It was wonderful to see how much they enjoyed and appreciated the break.

Caring for the Carers In early July a sponsored walk was organized to raise funds to part fund the Carer’s weekend retreat which was held in St. Angela’s College, Sligo the last weekend in July. This was an innovative idea by Sligo Lions and the concept is now spreading to other clubs. Thirty family carers from around the West and North West were sponsored by a number of clubs in the region.

These are people who are caring for a family member in their own

A workshop with MEP Marian Harkin.

Spectacle Collection In conjunction with the Ballina Lions Club the Sligo club completed a collection of unwanted spectacles throughout the churches in the dioceses of Elphin and Achonry. In all, 5000 pairs of spectacles were sent to the Chichester Lion’s Club in England where they were graded and made ready for use in eye camps in Africa, India and Eastern Europe.

Other Projects In addition the club was involved in service projects such as the painting of the Cheshire Home premises in Sligo and some members helped out with badminton coaching for the special Olympics team. They contributed to the Pakistan Appeal, the Suicide Awareness programme, the Sean O’Malley project in Africa, the Parkinsons Association of Ireland and contributed to a local trust fund that enabled a young boy undergo surgery in the United States.

Having pioneered the project, the club’s main priority in the immediate future is to work with other clubs and the national executive with a view to having the Carer’s Weekend Retreat accepted as a Lions National project.

Judging by the resolve and determination of all the Sligo Lions we have no doubt that they will achieve this objective.

Our thanks to Lions’ secretary, Gerry Munnelly and Mary Henry for supplying text and photographs.

Memories

T

The Bands of our Showband Era

Article and Photos courtesy of Gerry Gallagher www.irish-showbands.com

here were hundreds of them. Irish bands of every size, description and musical genre travelling the roads and borheens of Ireland. They travelled the length and breadth of the country from the 1950's through the mid 1980's. Although "officially" the term showband was coined in the late fifties and was used to describe bands that played a wide variety of music and usually included a "show" during the night, the term was gradually applied to all the bands that played in the 1960's. As the

Irish music scene splintered in the late sixties into pop, country bands, the term was dropped but we still find it the best overall description of the bands of the "ballroom" era. In the early days, they travelled in whatever they could find...bread vans, hearses, and even cars (roof racks and all). In later years, many (if not most) of them travelled in converted Ford Transit vans (like the one pictured right) that were normally used for delivery services.

After a couple of windows were popped into the centre panels, a

row or two of old airplane seats were installed and the band was ready to travel "in style." Although style was a matter of opinion...if you're stuck in the back of a van on a cold and rainy winter's night, it may seem like "a long way to Tipperary," but it's even further to Castletownbere, Co. Cork!

It will be impossible to list all the bands that played the dance halls, ballrooms, marquees, parochial halls, community centres, hotels, and town halls across Ireland but each month we are

Hi-Lows Band Feature (1961 - 1978) - The Story

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he story of the Hi-Lows showband starts around 1960. Brothers Des and John Tighe, from Rooskey, Co. Roscommon, were playing on the local scene, best known for their involvement in traditional music's Ceoltas Ceoltoiri Eireann. Around this same time, Carrick-On-Shannon's Savoy Swing Seven were enjoying regional success as one of the top showbands in the Northwest. However, a sudden split in the Savoy created a major headache for bandleader, John Healy, when he did not have a full line-up for a gig in Strokestown, Co. Roscommon.

Knowing the reputation of the Tighe brothers who lived just up the road, John asked them to sit in with the band on the night. They did such a great job, they were invited to join the Savoy on a full time basis. Within a short time, the brothers had established themselves as "showband" musicians and were approached by Mickey Smith to join the Gowna, Co. Cavan-based Grafton Showband after the departure of Larry Cunningham to form the Mighty Avons in 1960. Des took up the offer, while John remained with the Savoy, although only for a short time and a few months later, he joined Des in the Grafton.

In 1961, the Grafton showband under went some changes, reorganised and became The Hi-Lows. The original line-up included John Tighe (RIP-guitar), Des Tighe (trombone), Pete Columb (vocals), Gerry Davis (RIP-bass), Joe Feeney (RIP-sax), Michael Smith (trumpet), Joe Hackett (RIP-drums) and Frank Melia (keyboards).

It was still the very early days of the showband era, so most of the band's gigs were limited to parochial halls and the older ballrooms which had been in service since the 40's and 50's.

Page 24 Mature Living March 2012

There were no single records being released by Irish bands at this point. Unlike many of his contemporaries, Des Tighe never gave up the "day job" but was a Primary School teacher for 40 years until his retirement in 2000. On the other hand, John was a professional musician as were many of the other lads in the band.

In 1964, Ian Corrigan succeeded Pete Columb on vocals. The next few years saw the band grow their reputation and travel further and further afield as the showband era finally took off and new halls and ballrooms were being built around the country.

In early 1968, Ian Corrigan left the band and would eventually end up fronting the Casino Showband. The Casino would end up donning war paint and marched into showband history as the The Indians, still on the road today, approaching 45 years together. For a time, John, who had always sang a major portion of the band's programme, took over the lead vocal spot, switching from lead to rhythm guitar.

In May, 1968, they ventured into the recording studio for the first time and released their first original single, Maureen Alanna (written by the Tighe brothers), which featured John on vocals. By a strange twist of fate, the record was released on King Records, the label managed at the time by Larry Cunningham, whom they had "replaced" in the Grafton Showband so many years earlier. Although none of their first three singles made the Irish charts, they helped establish the band as more than just a regional favourite and the band was now travelling the length and breadth of the country.

Other musicians who played with the band during the 1960's were Sean Kenny (RIP-guitar), Ernie McCarthy (sax), Frank McKenna (guitar) and Tony Tracey (RIPguitar). In early 1969, Sean Kenny (RIP) was actually about to emigrate to Scotland when Mickey Smith and John Tighe tracked him down (at Dublin Airport we're told) and persuaded him to change his mind and join the band.

1969 and 1970 saw the release of two more singles, The Green Dog (written by Jet Calders and Des Tighe) and Silver Threads Among The Gold, both featuring John. In late 1969, Gerry Reynolds came on board as the band's new lead singer. Around this time,

the major split between pop and country music on the Irish scene was starting to take hold in a major way.

Bands like the Cotton Mill Boys, Hoot'nanny's and Smokey Mountain Ramblers, combined with the growing success of "Country and Irish" stars like Big Tom, Margo and Larry Cunningham, meant most bands that had previously tried to play it "down the middle" had to make a choice and the Hi-Lows went with country.

Des made the switch from playing trombone (a staple of the brass dominated showband era) to keyboards and fiddle (remember his traditional roots). With Gerry out front and the switch of genres, things started to happen for the band in the early 70's. In 1971, Michael Smith retired as manager of the band and for a short time, Des and John managed the band themselves. A few months later though, they were taken on by new manager, Frank Milton. The new country line-up featured Gerry Reynolds (RIP-vocals), Ronnie Creevy (guitar), Gerry Davis (RIP-bass), Jet Calders (drums), Des Tighe (keyboards, fiddle), John Tighe (RIP-guitar) and Michael Hughes (sax).

With Gerry making a name for himself as a front man, the band released One Hundred Children which entered the Irish Charts and became the band's only chart single, cracking the Irish Top Ten and reaching number eight in the summer of 1972.

The Hi-Lows had

Pictured left: Left to right: Oliver Flaherty (drums), John Tighe (guitar), Gerry Reynolds (bass/vocals), Margaret O’Rourke (vocals), Sean Sweeney (guitar) and Des Tighe (keyboards/fiddle)

planning to feature a band from the west with the help of Gerry Gallagher and www.irish-showbands.com . Apart from a few who enjoy near mythical status (such as the Royal Showband and a handful of others), most bands came together, played for a few years and then either reinvented themselves, changed their name, or just disappeared, their members either returning to civilian life, or scattering to two or three new bands.

For such a small country, it is difficult to comprehend the sheer

All editorial and photographs are kindly supplied by Gerry Gallagher from www.irish-shownbands.com Over the years Gerry has built up what can only be describe as the definitive guide to the showband era.

I would like to thank Gerry for allowing us to reproduce the articles and photos in Mature Living. If you would like to know more about your favourite band or who was number one in a particular year visit www.irish-showbands.com number of bands that the country produced. Almost as hard to imagine, is the number of dance halls that once dotted the countryside, many out in the "middle of nowhere." Pick up next months issue for another blast from the blast from the showband era...

Top singles - 1965

managed something that had eluded many showbands, producing a chart single.

In late 1974, Frank Milton would step down as manager and the Tighe brothers took over the management of the band. Gerry and the Hi-Lows continued to grow in popularity. In December, 1976, the band took the major step of adding a female vocalist Left to right: Front row: John Tighe (guitar), Des Tighe (trombone), Pete to the lineup and Margaret O'Rourke Columb (vocals), Joe Feeney (sax), Gerry Davis (bass) Back row: joined Gerry fronting the band. A Michael Smith (trumpet), Joe Hackett (drums), Frank Melia (piano) short time later, Vincent Gill, who had played with and been During the 1970's, the Hi-Lows featured musicians managing the Royal (and then New) Blues, took like: Oliver Croghan (RIP-bass), Oliver Flaherty over the management of the band. New guitarist (drums), Tommy Kelly (guitar), Declan Nerney in the band was Declan Nerney, who would (guitar), Paddy Reilly (RIP-drums), Peter Reynolds later break out on his own (after stints with (guitar), Tommy Shanley (guitar), Sean Sweeney Gene Stuart and Brian Coll) to become one (guitar) and PJ Ward (drums). Throughout it all, of Ireland's top country stars today. though, the Tighe brothers remained the glue that held Declan's website reports he was only the band together.

16 when he joined the Hi-Lows.

Finally, at the end of 1978. after releasing the album, 1978 saw the release of the Gerry and Margaret decided to quit to form their own band's one and only album, The band.

The Hi-Lows played their final gigs in 1978 on Perfect Match, which featured Christmas Night and St. Stephen’s Night, in the Gerry and Margaret. The Cloudland, Rooskey and The House of Music in Cong, release followed their Co. Mayo respectively.

After nearly 20 years, Des and single, Stranger In My John decided to pack in the showband life and stay a Place, and was one of the little closer to home.

They formed a little group called few country albums Mixed Spice, with Paschal Flaherty on drums, and released by Polydor played the local pub scene.

Drummer Dermot Gray records (Cotton Mill arrived in 1979 and the band continued to gig until Country by the Cotton John’s untimely death in 2000.

Although not counted Mill Boys was the only among the greatest bands that ever played in the other title we can find and showband era, the Hi-Lows were representative of so that was in 1971). In many bands that laboured in the shadows of names like conjunction with the Dickie Rock and the Miami, Brendan Bowyer and the release, the band was featured on Royal, and Big Tom and the Mainliners. They provided solid entertainment and dancing pleasure to thousands the cover of of Irish people across several generations. Although the new they may never receive the accolades of their more publication famous peers, they still provided the backbone (along Entertainment with so many other bands) that made the era one of the News which was greatest the country has ever seen. published by the Our sincere thanks to Sharon Tighe-Mooney and Des Top Rank Tighe for their help with this feature. organisation.

Pictured Left: Top row: Gerry Davis (bass), Middle row: Des Tighe (trombone), Gerry Reynolds (vocals), John Tighe (guitar), Front row: Michael Hughes (sax), Jet Calders (drums) and Ronnie Creevy (guitar)

1. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband The Hucklebuck/ I Ran All the Way Home (HMV) 2. Dickie Rock & Miami - Every Step of the Way (Pye) 3. Butch Moore & Capitol Showband - Walking the Streets In the Rain (Pye) 4. Tom Dunphy & Royal Showband - If I Didn't Have A Dime (HMV) 5. Joe Dolan & Drifters - My Own Peculiar Way (Pye) 6. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Don't Lose Your Hucklebuck Shoes (HMV) 7. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - I Love You More Today (Pye) 8. Dickie Rock & Miami - Wishing It Was You (Pye) 9. Butch Moore & Capitol Showband - Born To Be With You (Pye) 10. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons _ I Guess I'm Crazy (King) 11. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband The Wonder of You (HMV) 12. Joe Dolan & Drifters - I Love You More and More Every Day (Pye) 13. Tommy Drennan & Monarchs - Boolavogue (Ember) 14. Sonny Knowles & Pacific - No One Will Ever Know (Pye) 15. Dickie Rock & Miami - Around and Around (Pye) 16. Eileen Reid & Cadets - Are You Teasing Me (Pye) 17. Dickie Rock & Miami - Just For Old Time Sake (Pye) 18. Dickie Rock & Miami - I Left My Heart In San Francisco (Pye) 19. Eileen Reid & Cadets - Right Or Wrong (Pye) 20. Declan Ryan & Regal - I Need You (Emerald) 21. Butch Moore & Capitol Showband - So Many Ways (Pye) 22. Butch Moore & Capitol Showband - A Christmas Wish [EP] (Pye) 23. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Love Made A Fool (Pye) 24. Sonny Knowles & Pacific - We Could (Pye) 25. Clem Quinn & Miami - Buck's Polka (Pye) 26. Tony & Graduates - Kelly (King) 27. Art Supple & Victors - Showbands On Parade (Rex) 28. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - Tribute To Jim Reeves (King) Page 25 Mature Living March 2012

Gardening

Helping grandkids at gardening and teaching them to love It!

Perhaps you and the grandkids have tried some mini gardening projects and you're ready for bigger things.

Helping grandkids garden can become a learning experience for them and great fun for you. Growing vegetables is especially fun because you and the grandchildren can eat what you grow. middle of the rows. It will give the grandkids a nice walkway that will keep their shoes relatively clean.

Don’t use store-bought mulch. Use grass clippings, hay, pine needles or leaves. At the end of the season, you can till the mulch into the soil for much-needed organic material.

1. Consider the grandchildren when planning your garden.

Kids’ gardens need wide spaces between rows so there is ample room to walk without treading on the plants. Even if you don’t use mulch around the plants, put it in the

2 Let the grandchildren help with the planting.

Be sure to raise some crops from seeds. There’s nothing quite like putting a tiny seed in the ground and seeing it turn into a flourishing plant.

Put extra seeds in the ground so that if some of them are planted too deep or too shallow, you will still have a good crop. You can always thin if you have too many plants. For the smallest children, beans are the easiest seeds to handle.

3. Make the most of the educational opportunities.

Mini-lessons on botany delivered in

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Steeltech PVC coated galvanised sheds come in a range of colours that can blend in with most locations. A major advance in Steeltech sheds technology is the use of non-drip type insulation on the walls plus on roof stall sheds and garages. This non-drip product is warm to the touch and avoids all moisture droplet formation, hence keeping your shed dry in all weather conditions.

Steeltech sheds come in a huge range of sizes catering for all storage solutions from small, and medium to large.

They can also be custom made to your requirements. Steeltech sheds have been made in Ireland for more than 20 years and the company delivers and erects them free nationwide. Steeltech's sale is now on, with great savings to be made.

The showroom is open six days till 6 pm at Behy Road, Ballina, County Mayo; Sundays by appointment. Behy Road is located at Judges Texaco garage on the Sligo road as you leave Ballina. Steeltech Sheds, Behy Road, Ballina, County Mayo. Tel: 096 45216.

Archers of Ballina New & Exciting Ranges Archers of Ballina are continuing to add new and exciting ranges to their wide selection of products for the home. This Spring has seen the arrival of Linum cushions & fabrics from Sweden, boasting fresh and funky designs at a very affordable price. Archers are also delighted to launch LSA glass-ware, renowned for their quality and selection from every-day up to that big occasion.

Now stocking a range of kitchenware, interiors and lighting to rival any big city department store, Archers is the

ideal location for items to finish your home. Add these departments to their extensive building & plumbing, bathroom & electrical offerings, aswell as doors, floors, kitchens, a Waterford Stanley cooking & heating centre, a dedicated paint & wallpaper team and a Garden centre, and in Archers of Ballina you have a range of products on offer, supported by an experienced sales team, which more than justifies its position as the largest Builder’s merchant and homestore in Connacht.

the garden can have a greater impact than lessons learned in school. Be sure to use the proper names for the plants. Use the time-honored method of using the seed packets to identify the small plants, or make miniature garden signs. Point out insects and birds in the garden as well. If you don’t already have bird and insect identification guides, buy some.

4. Include some herbs.

Herbs are fun for grandchildren to smell and taste. Maybe they’ll even learn to enjoy a little chopped basil on their “basketti.” Herbs in the garden also attract beneficial insects.

Plant most herbs early, as many varieties will "bolt," or go to flower or seed, in hot weather. Be careful about planting most varieties of mint as it spreads like crazy. If you want mint, plant it in a container.

Feature Gardening Article

STEELTECH SHEDS & GARAGES

MASSIVE SALE NOW ON

5. Plant some flowers in or around the vegetable garden.

Blooming plants add colour and beauty and also attract pollinating insects.

The vegetable garden is also a good place to grow some flowers just for cutting. Some gardeners swear by marigolds, geraniums and other strongly scented flowers to repel unwanted insects. Grow sunflowers for the bloom and later you can harvest the seeds to feed to the birds, if they don't find them first!

6. Skip the chemicals in the kids garden.

are turned off completely. Try mulching, which not only conserves moisture but also controls weed growth and keeps soil from becoming hard, so that gardens require less drudgery. Children almost always love to water, so save that job for them.

8. Be relaxed at harvest time.

Letting kids garden always means a few goofs. Some items will get picked when they are too small or when they are not yet ripe. Occasionally a branch may be broken off, or even a whole plant may get pulled out of the ground. You can reduce the chances of the plant being damaged by taking your garden knife and cutting the stem partly through and then letting the grandchild give the final tug.

9. Let them get big!

Most vegetables are tastiest when picked relatively small, but let a few specimens grow just to see how big they will get. Grandchildren get a big kick out of enormous vegetables.

Zucchini is a great one to grow big. It seems to get enormous overnight.

Pumpkins and melons are other good giant crops.

Organic gardening is not only best for the planet, but also safest for kids’ gardens. Lots of insects can be handpicked and killed by being squashed or dropped into soapy water. It’s not fun, but it works. Wear gloves if you are squeamish, or use tweezers or tongs.

Some organic gardeners put the insects into a plastic container, freeze them and put them outside for the birds.

Your grandchildren may not cotton to this part of organic gardening. If not, try to do it while they are not around.

7. Decrease the drudgery.

Don’t expect grandchildren to love garden maintenance. Pulling weeds and hoeing can be hard work. Some think that grandchildren should experience the good and bad sides of gardening. I agree, but if you turn it into a chore, don’t be surprised if they

10. Encourage the kids to taste the produce.

If the grandkids don’t like the taste of their vegetables, that’s okay, although kids will consume lots of things if provided with a little ranch dip! Even if they decide they don’t care for the vegetables, they can still help you prepare them for the table. They’ll enjoy seeing other people enjoy the food from the kids’ garden.

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Motoring

10 ways to reduce the cost of driving

COMMERCIAL RANGE 2012 FLEET COMMERCIALS 2012 VW Crafter 3.5 MWB H/R.....................€29,500 2012 VW Amarok 163BHP 4Motion...............€35,500 2012 VW Caddy Maxi TDI 4 Motion 2.0 ........€21,500 2012 VW Caddy TDI......................................€14,500 2012 VW Transporter 2.0TDI..........................€22,500 TRANSPORTER RANGE 2011 VW Transporter 2.0 DSL SWB...............€19,500 2010 VW Transporter 2.5TDI 6Sp LWB............€19,500 2010 VW Transporter 1.9TDI .........................€16,500 2009 VW Transporter 1.9TDI SWB.................€13,500 2009 Vw Transporter 1.9TDI LWB High Roof....€18,500 2008 VW Transporter 1.9TDI SWB................€11,500 2008 VW Transporter 2.5TDI 6Sp (30K).........€15,000 2008 VW Transporter 2.5 LWB.......................€13,500 2008 VW Transporter 2.5TDI SWB A/T...........€18,500 2007 VW Transporter 1.9TDI .........................€11,000 GOLF RANGE 2010 VW Golf 1.6 DSL Van Comfortline..........€15,000 2009 VW Golf 1.6TDI Comfortline Van...........€12,500 2007 VW Golf 1.9TDI Van...............................€9,000 CADDY RANGE 2011 VW Caddy Van TDI Choice....................€13,500 2010 VW Caddy Van TDI Choice...................€11,500 2009 VW Caddy Maxi Extras.........................€10.500 2009 VW Caddy Van TDI.................................€9,950 2009 VW Caddy TDI Passenger 7 Seater.........€18,500 2008 VW Caddy Maxi ....................................€9,000 2008 VW Caddy TDI.......................................€8,500 2007 VW Caddy TDI Passenger......................€14,500 2007 VW Caddy TDI........................................€7,000 CRAFTER RANGE 2011 VW Crafter 3.5 HR.................................€27,500 2010 VW Crafter 3.5 HR EL...........................€24,500 2008 VW Crafter...........................................€15,000 2008 VW Crafter 3.5 LWB HR 9000XL..€14.600 + VAT 2007 VW Crafter...........................................€13,500 TOUAREG RANGE 2010 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Comm Extras..........€24,500 2009 VW Touareg 2.5TDI A/T........................€16,500 2007 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Com.......................€13,500 2005 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Passenger...............€12,500 2004 VW Touareg 2.5TDI Passenger...............€10,500 MITSUBISHI RANGE 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial...........€18,500 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial...........€15,500 2008 L200 kombi 5 Seater ( Full Canapy).......€16,500 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5Sports....................€15,500 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 LWB......................€17,000 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero DSL SWB....................€15,000 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 SWB.....................€16,500 2006 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2.............................€12,500 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 LWB......................€11,500 CITROEN RANGE 2008 Citroen Berlingo DSL................................€7,500 2007 Citroen Berlingo......................................€6,000 2006 Citroen Xsara Pacasso DSl.......................€7,000 2005 Citroen Berlingo DSl................................€5,000 2005 Citroen Despatch...................................€5,000 2004 Citroen Berlingo DSL...............................€3,500 2003 Citroen Berlingo Dsl................................€2,750 2001 Citroen Berlingo Dsl.................................€1,500 MERCEDES RANGE 2008 Mercedes Sprinter 303..........................€12,500 2007 Mercedes 315 Sprinter Box Van.............€12,500 2007 Mercedes Vito 115BHP.............................€7,500

2004 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€5,000 2002 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€3,000 FORD RANGE 2008 Ford Transit Connect Com........................€7,500 2008 Ford Transit Connect Kombi 5Seater.......€10,500 2008 Ford Transit 260......................................€9,000 2007 Ford Transit 260......................................€6,500 2005 Ford Transit Connect Com........................€5,000 2005 Ford Transit 280 LWB..............................€5.000 2004 Ford Transit Connect Com........................€4,000 ISUZU RANGE 2005 Isuzu Trooper Dsl....................................€6,000 2004 Isuzu Trooper Dsl...................................€4,500 2003 Isuzu Trooper Dsl...................................€3,500 2002 Isuzu Trooper .........................................€2,000 PEUGEOT RANGE 2008 Peugeot Partner Van................................€7,500 2007 Peugeot 407 DSL Estate..........................€9,000 2005 Peugeot 307 DSL 7 Seater.......................€6,000 2005 Peugeot Partner DSL................................€4,500 2004 Peugeot Partner DSL................................€3,500 2003 Peugeot 206 DSL Van..............................€3,000 KIA RANGE 2008 Kia Carnival DSL 7 Seater.....................€12,500 2007 Kia Sportage 2.0DSL Comm..................€7,500 2007 Kia Sorento Passenger 2.5 DSL EX Auto..€11,500 2005 Kia Sedona DSL 7 Seater.........................€7,500 2004 Kia Sedona DSL 7 Seater.........................€5,500 OPEL RANGE 2008 Opel Vivaro DSL Com LWB......................€9,000 2007 Opel Astra DSL Van.................................€7,500 2007 Opel Combi DSL.....................................€6,000 2006 Opel Vivaro Dsl Com..............................€6,500 2006 Opel Zafari 7 Seater Petrol......................€7,500 2006 Opel Astra Dsl Van..................................€6,000 2005 Opel Zafari 7 Seater Petrol......................€6,000 2005 Opel Vivaro DSL Com.............................€5,000 SUZUKI RANGE 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Dsl Pass 4x4..........€16,500 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara Dsl Passenger.........€13,500 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4 X4 Dsl Passenger€9,500 2004 Suzuki Jimmy 1.3 Petrol...........................€5,000 NISSAN RANGE 2008 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI CC Canapy.........€13,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI CC Canapy.........€11,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI CC A/T...............€10,500 2007 Nissan Pathfinder DSL A/T.......................€9,500 2002 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI Crew Cab.............€4,500 RENAULT RANGE 2007 Renault Master 2.7 Pick up 5 Seater.........€7,500 2006 Renault Master DSL.................................€7,500 2005 Renault Master DSL.................................€6,500 2004 Renault Master DSL.................................€4,500 2001 Renault Espace 2.0 Passenger .................€2,500 LANDROVER RANGE 2008 Landrover Discovery SE 2.8 V6 7 Seat....€27,500 2004 Landrover Discovery Dsl Passenger...........€7,500 2003 Landrover Defender LWB.........................€6,000 BUSES RANGE 2011 VW Touran 7 Seater DSL Comfortline.....€24,500 2010 VW Touran 7 Seater DSL........................€19,500 2009 VW Touran 7 Seater DSL.......................€18,500 2009 VW LT 2.5 tdi 15 Seater (9Kl).................€27,500 2009 VW Shuttle 1.9 TDI 9 Seater...................€27,500

TOYOTA RANGE 2009 Toyota Hi-Ace Van LWB.........................€11,500 2007 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€7,500 2005 Toyota Yaris D4D....................................€5,000

Al: 086 2449645, Derek : 086 8119141, Damien : 087 2368841, Niall: 087 6385033

AL HAYES MOTORS LTD., www.alhayesmotors.com GALWAY RD., PORTUMNA, CO. GALWAY

Tel: 090 9741390, 090 9742200

T

he cost of motoring has risen significantly in recent times, particularly with the rapid rise in petrol and diesel prices.

There are, however a number of ways in which you can reduce the cost of motoring. Try following our Top 10 Tips below and you could be driving further for less.

one-quarter of the total foot travel.

1. Get the best deal on petrol prices.

The price of petrol can vary by as much as 5 cents a litre in local areas. Pumps.ie is a free service allowing people to search for the cheapest fuel in any town in Ireland. They review prices daily to ensure that their information is as up-to-date as possible.

6. Find cheaper parking.

Many people now rent out their driveway or garage to commuters on a long-term basis.

2. Drive in the highest gear.

Driving at high speeds in low gears can result in 45% more fuel being consumed than needed.

3. Keep your tyres pumped up to the correct level.

Fuel economy can be improved by up to 5% by keeping your tyres inflated to the correct level. The recommended pressure for your tyres can be found in your vehicle handbook and, in some cases, next to the air device at petrol stations.

4. Don’t drive erratically.

Constantly accelerating and braking consumes more fuel than smoother driving. Look ahead to anticipate potential road blockages which will reduce the need for sudden breaking. For peak efficiency don’t push the accelerator down further than

5. Save money on car insurance.

Internet comparison sites are an excellent way to find the cheapest quote. Car insurance quotes can vary by hundreds of euros so huge savings can be made.

7. Don’t overuse the air conditioning or heater.

Overheating the car and then having to open the windows is a waste of energy and lowers your fuel economy.

8. Avoid short journeys.

Driving short distances is significantly less fuel efficient than longer journeys. For example, every time your car engine is turned on it is equivalent to idling your engine for one minute. Instead set time aside to walk short distances.

9. Share a journey.

Sharing a lift into work with one other person slashes your fuel bill by half by allowing you to share the cost of driving.

10. Close your windows.

Having windows open at high speeds creates significant drag meaning that more fuel is used.

Even if closing your windows means the air conditioning is required it is still more fuel efficient.

2012 FLEET RANGE 2012 VW Touran 1.6TDI 5 Seater.................€25,500 2012 VW Sharan 2.0TDI 7 Seater................€39,500 2012 VW Tiguan TDI Passenger Extras..........€28,500 2012 VW Passat 1.6TDI Comfortline..............€27,000 2012 VW Jetta 1.6TDI..................................€23,500 2012 VW Golf 1.6 TDI Plus Model................€23,500 2012 VW Golf 1.6TDI..................................€21,500 2012 VW Polo 1.2TDI..................................€16,500 2011 FLEET RANGE 2011 VW Touran 1.6TDI Comfortline 7 Seat..€24,500 2011 VW Scirroco 2.0TDI Extras...............€26,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6 TDI Comfortline...............€19,500 2011 VW Fox..............................................€10,500 2010 VW Touran 1.9TDI 7 Seater.................€19,500 2010 VW Beetle Cabriolet 1.4......................€24,500 2010 VW Scirroco 1.4TSI 122BHP.................€21,500 BEETLE RANGE 2010 VW Beetle Cabriolet 1.4......................€19,500 2009 VW Beetle 1.4 High............................€15,000 2008 VW Beetle 1.4 High............................€14,000 2007 VW Beetle Cabriolet 1.4......................€12,500 2004 VW Beetle 1.9TDI High.........................€8,500 PASSAT RANGE 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Highline Extras.........€25,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Estate Comfortline....€26,500 2011 VW Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline.............€24,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Comfortline.............€23,500 2010 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140bhp C/tline........€22,500 2010 VW Passat 1.6TDI................................€19,500 2010 VW Passat 1.9TDI Comfortline..............€21,000 2009 VW Passat 1.9TDI ..............................€16,500 2009 VW Passat 2.0 TDI 140BHP H/line.......€19,500 2009 VW Passat 1.4TSI Comfortline A/T.......€16,500 JETTA RANGE 2011 VW Jetta 1.6TDI 4kl.............................€21,000 2011 VW Jetta 1.4 TSI Comfortline................€19,500 2010 VW Jetta 1.4 TSI Petrol.......................€15,000 2010 VW Jetta 1.6 TDI.................................€17,500 2009 VW Jetta 1.6FSI Petrol........................€14,500 2009 VW Jetta 1.9TDI.................................€15,000 2008 VW Jetta 1.9TDI.................................€12,500 2008 VW Jetta 1.9TDI Automatic...............€16,500 2008 VW Jetta 1.6 FSI.................................€10,500 2007 VW Jetta 1.9TDI..................................€9,500 2006 VW Jetta 1.9TDI C/L.............................€8,000 GOLF RANGE 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI BM Cabriolet..............€25,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI 5DR...........................€19,500 2011 VW Golf 1.2TSI 5DR............................€17,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI Plus Model..................€21,500 2010VW Golf 1.6TDI Plus Comfortline..........€18,500 2010 VW Golf 1.4TSI Petrol.........................€16,500 2010 VW Golf 1.9TDI Comfortline Van.........€15,000 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI 5DR...........................€18,500 2009 VW Golf 2.0TDI ................................€16,500 2009 VW Golf 1.4 Comfortline 5Dr..............€14,500 POLO RANGE 2011 VW Polo Petrol 5DR Choice..................€12,500 2011 VW Polo Diesel 5DR Choice.................€16,500 2010 VW Polo 1.2 5DR................................€10,500 2010 VW Polo 1.4 TDI Sport.........................€11,500 2010 VW Polo 1.6TDI..................................€12,500 2009 VW Polo Petrol 5DR............................€10,500 2008 VW Polo 1.2 5DR Choice......................€8,950 4 X 4 PASSENGER RANGE 2011 VW Tiguan Passenger..........................€28,500 2010 VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 4x4 Passenger.......€24,500 2008 VW Tiguan 2.0DSL 4x4 Passenger.......€21,000 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitaro 2.0DSL Pass.........€17,000 2008 Hyundia Touscan 2.0 DSL......................€9,500 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9DSL Pass.........€13,500 2007 Daihatsu Terios 1.5 Passenger 5DR.........€7,500 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero Sports Passenger.......€16,500

ESTATE CARS 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Estate Comfortline....€26,500 2007 VW Passat 2.0 Leather 140 BHP..........€11,500 2006 VW Passat 1.9TDI Estate.......................€9,500 2005 VW Golf 1.9TDI Comfortline (Extras).....€7,500 7 SEATER RANGE 2011 VW Touran 1.6TDI...............................€24,500 2010 VW Touran TDI 7 Seater....................€19,500 2009 VW Touran 1.9TDI Automatic..............€19,500 2008 Ford Galaxy 1.8 DSL Ghia 7 Seater.....€19,500 2007 VW Sharan TDI 7 Seater.....................€14,500 2007 VW Touran 1.9TDI 7 Seater...............€12,500 2003 Ford Galaxy TDI 7 Seater.....................€6,000 AUDI RANGE 2010 A4 2.0TDI Extras.................................€27,500 2009 A4 2.0TDI .........................................€24,000 2008 A4 2.0TDI..........................................€21,000 2008 A6 2.0TDI Automatic...........................€17,500 2008 A3 2.0TDI 5DR...................................€16,500 2007 A4 1.9TDI...........................................€13,500 2006 A4 2.0TDI...........................................€11,500 2006 A6 2.0TDI .........................................€13,500 VOLVO RANGE 2008 Volvo S40 1.6 DSL..............................€14,000 2007 Volvo S40 1.6 DSL..............................€11,500 2006 Volvo S40 1.6DSL.................................€9,500 2004 Volvo S40 1.8 Petrol.............................€5,000 2004 Volvo S40 1.9DSL.................................€4,500 1999 Volvo V70 2.0 Estate............................€2,500 TOYOTA RANGE 2009 Toyota Avensis D4D ...........................€15,000 2009 Toyota Yaris 1.0 5DR............................€9,500 2008 Toyota Corolla 1.4................................€8,000 2008 Toyota Avenis Dsl Est...........................€13,500 2008 Toyota Verso 1.6 7 Seater...................€12,500 2007 Toyota Auris 1.4 DSl...........................€10,500 2007 Toyota Hiace SWB................................€7,500 2007 Toyota Corolla......................................€7,500 2007 Toyota Avensis 1.6................................€7,500 2005 Toyota Yaris 1.0....................................€5,000 2003 Toyota Rav 4 Dsl...................................€6,500 2002 Toyota Verso 2.0 7 Seater.....................€3,500 FORD RANGE 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Style A/T.....................€13,500 2009 Ford 1.6 DSL Zetec.............................€13,500 2008 Ford Mondeo DSL...............................€11,500 2008 Ford Galaxy TDI Ghia Model..............€19,500 2008 Ford Focus 1.4 5DR (34K)...................€10,500 2008 Ford Focus 2.0 TDI CC........................€13,500 2008 Ford Fiesta 1.25....................................€7,500 2008 Ford Focus 1.6DSL..............................€10,900 2008 Ford Focus 1.6 DSL Van........................€8,500 2007 Ford C Max Dsl.....................................€7,500 2007 Ford Focus 1.4 5DR ..............................€6,500 2007 Ford Fusion 1.4 5DR.............................€6,500 2006 Ford Galaxy DSl Zetec Model.............€12,500 2006 Ford Focus C Max DSl..........................€6,000 2006 Ford Focus 1.8 Dsl.................................€7,500 OPEL RANGE 2008 Opel Corsa 1.2 5DR.............................€6,000 2008 Opel Astra 1.4 5dr SXI Sport.................€8,500 2007 Opel Vectra 1.9DSl...............................€7,500 2007 Opel Corsa Van DSL.............................€5,000 2007 Opel Corsa 1.4 5DR.............................€6,500 2006 Opel Astra 1.4 3DR Sx1........................€6,500 2006 Opel Vectra 1.6....................................€6,000 2006 Opel Zafira 1.6 7 Seater.......................€7,500 2006 Opel Vivaro 1.9 Dsl Van.......................€6,500 2006 Opel Astra 1.7 Dsl Van.........................€6,000 SEAT RANGE 2008 Seat Cordoba 1.4TDI Sal......................€8,500 2006 Seat Cordoba 1.4 Sal...........................€6,000 2004 Seat Cordoba 1.2 Sal...........................€4,500

PEUGEOT RANGE 2008 Peugeot 308 1.6 Dsl 5Dr.......................€9,500 2007 Peugeot 407 Dsl Estate SW....................€8,500 2007 Peugeot 307 1.4 5Dr.............................€7,500 2007 Peugeot 407 Dsl Solaire Model.............€8,500 2006 Peugeot 307 1.4 5DR ...........................€6,000 2006 Peugeot 206 5DR.................................€6,000 2005 Peugeot 206 5DR.................................€5,000 HONDA RANGE 2007 Honda Civic 1.8 SE...............................€8,500 2005 Honda Civic 1.6...................................€5,000 2005 Honda HRV 1.6....................................€6,000 2004 Honda Accord 2.2 Dsl..........................€5,000 2003 Honda Civic 1.4i...................................€4,000 2002 Honda Accord 1.8................................€1,500 2000 Honda Integra 1.6 Petrol.......................€2,000 BMW RANGE 2009 BMW 318 Dsl Extras...........................€21,000 2008 BMW 118 DSl SE................................€10,000 2008 BMW 318 DSl Extras...........................€16,500 2006 BMW 318 Dsl Extras............................€11,500 2005 BMW 520 Dsl a/T Extras....................€10,500 2002 BMW 520 DSl......................................€5,000 2002 BMW DSL............................................€4,500 2001 BMW DSL............................................€2,000 MITSUBISHI RANGE 2011 Mitsubishi Grandis 2.0TDI 140BHp.......€29,500 2011 Mitsubishi ASX 1.8 DSL Estate 5DR.......€23,500 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8 DSL.....................€19,950 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Petrol..................€17,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt Cabrio 1.5....................€13,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR Automatic..............€13,500 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Extras ...............€12,500 2010 Mitsubishi L200 Crew Cab Canopy......€24,500 2010 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR Automatic.............€12,500 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0DSL Comm.....€15,500 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Petrol.................€14,500 2008 L200 Crew Cab Extras........................€16,500 2008 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5..........................€10,500 2008 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR...............................€7,500 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 DSL Sports..........€13,500 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 LWB...................€16,000 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.3.............................€7,500 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 DSL Sports..........€13,000 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 LWB...................€14,000 AUTOMATIC RANGE 2011 VW Golf 1.6 DSL Comfortline..............€22,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR A/T.......................€13,500 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI Comfortline................€21,500 2010 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR A/T (5K)...............€12,500 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Style A/T.....................€13,500 2009 VW Golf 1.4 TSI H/L A/T....................€13,500 2009 VW Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline.............€16,500 2008 VW Golf GTI 3DR 210BHP...................€13,500 2008 VW Jetta 1.9 TDI DSG.........................€15,000 2008 VW Transporter 2.5TDI SWB 100KL....€19,500 2008 Audi A6 TDI DSG Leather....................€17,500 2007 Skoda Octavia TDI ...............................€7,500 2007 Kia Sorento ex Pasenger A/T leather....€11,500 2007 VW Passat 2.0 Highline DSG...............€12,500 2007 VW Passat Comfortline 2.0TDI DSG.....€12,500 2007 VW Jetta 1.6 DSG...............................€11,000 2007 VW Jetta Comfortline 1.9TDI DSG.......€12,000 2007 Kia Sorento 7 Seater ..........................€12,500 2007 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 SWB A/T............€13,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5 TDI A/T Extras.......€10,500

CITROEN RANGE 2008 Citroen Picasso C4 DSL..........................€7,500 2006 Citroen Picasso 1.4...............................€6,000 2003 Citroen Xsara 1.4.................................€2,500 2002 Citroen Saxa 1.0..................................€1,500 RENAULT RANGE 2007 Renault Clio 1.2....................................€5,000 2006 Renault Megane 1.4 Sal........................€6,000 2005 Renault Laguna 1.9 Dsl.........................€5,000 2005 Renault Clio 1.2....................................€3,500 NISSAN RANGE 2008 Nissan Primera 1.6 SVE........................€6,500 2008 Nissan Tida 1.5 Sal..............................€7,500 2008 Nissan Navara 2.5T|D SE 5DR...........€13,500 2007 Nissan Almera 1.5 Sal..........................€6,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5 T/D SE 5DR A/T.....€11,500 LEXUS RANGE 2008 Lexus is220 DSL Extras........................€16,500 2007 Lexus is220 DSL Extras........................€14,500 FIAT RANGE 2006 Fiat Multiple 1.9 DSl 6 Seater................€5,000 2006 Fiat Punto 3DR......................................€3,500 2003 Fiat Punto 5DR......................................€1,800 MAZDA RANGE 2007 Mazda 6 2.0DSL Touring......................€7,500 2004 Mazda 6 DSL.......................................€5,000 2001 Mazda Primo 1.3 H/B...........................€1,500 2002 Mazda 323..........................................€1,800 HYUNDAI RANGE 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 A/T 7 Seat.........€21,500 2008 Hyundai DSL Comm ..........................€10,500 2006 Hyundai Tuscon 2.0 DSL Passenger........€9,500 2004 Hyundai Trajet DSl 7 Seater...................€4,500 2003 Hyundai Coupe 1.6..............................€3,500 2001 Hyundai Accent 1.3...............................€1,300 THIS WEEKS SPECIAL OFFERS 2009 VW Polo 1.2 3DR..................................€7,500 2008 VW Golf TDI 5DR DSl...........................€9,500 2007 VW Touran 1.9TDI 7 Seater...............€11,500 2007 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140BHP....................€9,000 2007 VW Polo Fox........................................€5,000 2007 Audi A4 TDI .......................................€11,500 2007 Ford Focus 1.4 LX.................................€6,500 2007 Ford EOS 2.0 Leather...........................€9,500 2007 Renault Clio 1.2 5dr..............................€5,000 2007 Nissan Almera 1.5................................€6,000 2007 Chevrolet 1.2 Petrol..............................€5,000 2006 VW Golf 1.4 Plus..................................€6,500 2006 Ford C Max Dsl....................................€6,000 2006 Nissan Micra Dsl..................................€5,000 2006 Nissan Almera 1.5................................€5,000 2005 Nissan Almera 1.5................................€4,500 2005 Citroen C5 Dsl......................................€4,500 2005 Peugeot 206........................................€5,000 2005 Renault Megane Dsl..............................€4,500 2005 Toyota Avensis 1.6................................€4,500 2005 Saab 9-5 2.2 Dsl...................................€5,000 2005 Toyota Corolla D4D..............................€5,000 2005 Toyota Avensis 1.6 Petrol.......................€5,000 2005 Toyota Yaris 1.0....................................€4,500 2005 Ford Mondeo DSL................................€5,000 2005 Opel Vectra 1.6 ..................................€4,500 2005 Opel Vectra DSL...................................€6,000

SUBURU RANGE 2005 Suburu Legacy 2.0...............................€5,000 2004 Suburu Forrester 2.0 A/T 4WD.............€5,500 2000 Suburu Forrester 2.0 4WD....................€3,000 SKODA RANGE 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9TDI A/T..................€10,500 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI..........................€9,500 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.4................................€3,000 2002 Skoda Octavia 1.4................................€2,500

AL HAYES MOTORS LTD.

www.alhayesmotors.com GALWAY RD., PORTUMNA, CO. GALWAY Tel: 090 9741390, 090 9742200 Tuam: 093 26411 AL: 086 2449645 • DAMIEN: 087 2368841 • DEREK: 086 8119141 • ALAN: 087 4153872 • NIALL: 087 6385033

House and Home

Fantastic walk-in closets

T

here isn't any reason why your walk-in closet can't be a fabulous space. Here are a few ideas on how to create a fantastic closet.

Believe it or not, the closet is one of the most important rooms in your house. It’s the place where you start

Page 30 Mature Living March 2012

and end your day. That said; eliminate the stress of digging through piles of shoes or struggling to find your favorite sweater by giving yourself a fantastic walk-in closet.

Not only can a walk-in closet provide enough space to store your wardrobe in a clean, orderly and streamlined fashion, but just like any other room in your house, it can also be designed to reflect your personal style.

A classic his and hers design will nix any need to fight over who gets more space. Each side provides an equal amount of hanging and storage space, while the centre island gives you plenty of drawers to store intimate apparel and accessories.

All-white shelving is a popular choice because it makes a walk-in closet immediately feel clean and organized. But it’s not the only option available. Up the glamour quotient of your closet by opting for shelving in rich woods like mahogany or walnut.

Typically a walk-in closet keeps clothes tucked away and hidden behind closed doors. However, if you love modern, minimalist decor and own a wardrobe you are dying to show off, install a walk-in closet with sliding glass doors.

Your walk-in closet doesn’t just have to be a place where you store clothes. If you have the space, outfit it with a sitting area, vanity or desk.

A simple chair tucked to one side can provide a private place to gather your thoughts in the morning. While a love seat or a covered bench gives you an extra place to set out clothes.

Lighting is an important aspect to any walk-in closet. Don’t be afraid to get creative and let the lighting in your closet reflect the design aesthetic of your other rooms. You don’t have to stick to overhead or track lighting. Create a mood by

hanging a pretty chandelier.

A large walk-in closet can be decorated like any other room in the house. Make your closet a comfortable space by adding luxury rugs and tables or floor lamps.

Personalize the room with paintings or photos. If you have a centre island or a vanity, add a little life to the room with a potted plant or a flower vase. Just like any other space in your house, your walk-in should be a place you want to spend time in.

However you decide to outfit your closet, remember it’s the little details that make a room.

House and Home

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LIFEST YLE February 2012

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Feature with Niamh Flynn

Using Hypnosis to improve your golf game ARE you striving to improve your handicap, or simply to bring some consistency to your game? In the second article on the subject of Hypnosis, Niamh Flynn of Bodywatch outlines some hypnotic visualisation exercises for golfers who may be currently struggling to maintain form. If you can absorb the following and successfully apply it to your game we would love to receive some feedback.

Niamh Flynn

T

Niamh heFlynn brain does not distinguish between what is real and what is imagined. Consider the following exercise: When you are in a quiet place where you can relax completely, close your eyes and imagine cutting a juicy, fresh, tangy lemon. Then, keeping your eyes closed, visualise or picture biting into that juicy, bitter lemon and feeling that sour, tangy yellow juice oozing in your mouth. Really imagine it with your eyes closed for a few moments and when you are finished, open your eyes. If you really engaged with the action and pictured and visualised it vividly in your mind you will probably find that your mouth started to water and you may even have found your facial muscles twitching in response to simply imagining the bitterness of the lemon. This is the power of the human brain and our imagination.

Our body responds to that which we imagine. It follows that if we visualise our game of golf going badly then the communication between the brain and the body will follow the picture we have created. Hypnosis can help with visualisation by tapping Page 32 Mature Living March 2012

into the creative, subconscious part of the mind. Subsequently, improvement in a game of golf, or indeed, other activities is all within our visual grasp.

While a one on one hypnosis session with a professional hypnotherapist can certainly help to sort out many motivational and habitual golf problems swiftly and easily you can also help yourself. All you have to do is want to improve your game, expect to improve your game and then visualise yourself playing a great game of golf prior to going to sleep at night. Before going to sleep the brain starts to generate more theta waves. These are the brain waves often associated with the hypnotic state and in this state we are more

If you are serious about improving your game in this manner the secret lies in preparation.

suggestible. If you are serious about improving your game in this manner the secret lies in preparation. Firstly, identify what it is that would make your game of golf better. Be objective. Golfers sometimes ruminate more about what they do wrong than what they do correctly so this should be a simple enough exercise.

Step two involves writing it down.

In fact, write all of it down before you go to bed. Draw two columns on a sheet of paper. In the column on the left, write out the weaknesses in your game. In the column on the right, draw a picture or create a list of all the changes you can make in order to improve your golf swing or master your putting. Do you lose focus easily for example? What would happen if you maintained focus prior to taking a shot? Do you get anxious prior to putting? What would your game be like if you were calm and relaxed throughout the entire game?

Perhaps you can picture how your long game would improve if you could visualise the trajectory of the shot you wish to create prior to each shot and then allow your subconscious mind to take over while you automatically recreate that shot physically. There are additional amendments you can make in order to enhance the success of your hypnotic visualisation exercise. The most difficult for many to accept but arguably the most important is simply

to make a decision to suspend any disbelief you may have about the exercise. Then, once you have a clear picture of what you wish to achieve for each part of the game, visualise each optimal change in your game of golf clearly in your mind.

Choose to focus on one aspect of the game or several aspects of the game every night. Of course you can visualise at any time but hypnosis can accelerate the speed of the process so prior to sleep and when you first awaken after sleeping are prime times. Repetition is key so if you are using the time prior to sleep to reprogramme your game of golf then be prepared to commit to the exercise for at least a month.

Believe, visualise and repeat, repeat, repeat. Have a great game!

Niamh Flynn is currently pursuing a PhD in hypnosis for Chronic Pain at NUI, Galway. She is also the director of Bodywatch Ltd. a provider of NGH, Internationally Recognised Hypnosis Certification Training programmes. You can contact her at www.bodywatch.ie FREE DOWNLOAD: There is a Free Download of an hypnosis MP3 on the website www.hypnotized.ie All readers have to do is go to the website and then move to the tab that says 'Free Download' and follow the instructions.

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ature Living have teamed up with Killarney’s exquisite Holiday Inn, to offer one lucky reader a two nights stay with Breakfast for two people. To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic break, simply answer the question below and send your answer, along with your name, address, email address and telephone number into us at: March Competition, Mature Living Magazine, Cleveragh Road, Sligo or alternatively you can email your entries to us at: competitions@matureliving.ie

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Food and Drink

Mary Berry's three cakes in one

A great time-saving idea if you have family or friends to visit: an iced chocolate cake, a lemon drizzle cake and a dozen almond buns, all made from the same basic mix!

Serves: About 12 For the basic cake mix: 6 large eggs 350g (12 oz) self-raising flour 350g (12 oz) caster sugar 350g (12 oz) softened butter 3 level tsp baking powder 1. Preheat the oven to 180ºC/Gas Mark 4.

2. Beat together all the ingredients until smooth in a large mixing bowl.

3. Divide the cake mix into two. Use one portion for the chocolate cake.

Divide the remaining portion again into two. Use one portion each for the lemon drizzle loaf and one for the almond fruity buns.

Chocolate cake

40g (1½ oz) cocoa powder 4 tbsp boiling water Half the basic cake mix A little icing sugar, to serve For spreading and icing: 150ml (5fl oz) double cream 150g (5oz) plain chocolate, broken into pieces 4 tbsp apricot jam Page 34 Mature Living March 2012

The chocolate cake will keep for 3 days in the fridge, but the icing will lose its shine.

The lemon loaf and buns will also keep for 3 days. All will freeze well for up to 2 months, but uniced.

Spread half of the ganache icing on the top of the jam on one of the cakes, then lay the other cake on top, sandwiching them together. Use the remaining ganache icing to ice the top of the cake in a swirl pattern. Dust with icing sugar to serve.

Lemon drizzle loaf

Almond fruity buns

Finely grated zest of ½ lemon Half the remaining basic cake mix (a quarter of the original) For the lemon crunchy icing: 50g (2 oz) granulated sugar Juice of ½ lemon 450g (1lb) loaf tin, greased and lined

Two 17cm (7 in) deep sandwich tins, greased and lined with non-stick baking paper.

1. Put the cocoa in a mixing bowl, and add the water a little at a time to make a stiff paste. Add to the cake mixture.

2. Turn int othe prepared tins, level the top and bake in the preheated oven for about 20-25 minutes, or until shrinking away from the sides of the tin and springy to the touch.

3. Leave to cool in the tin, then turn on to a wire rack to become completely cold before icing.

4. To make the icing, measure the cream and chocolate into a bowl and carefully melt over a pan of hot water over a low heat, or gently in the microwave for 1 minute (600w microwave). Stir until melted, then set aside to cool a little and to thicken up.

5. To ice the cake, spread the apricot jam on the top of each cake.

2. Bake in the preheated oven for about 35 minutes, or until golden brown, shrinking away from the sides of the tin and springy to the touch.

3. While the cake is still warm, make the topping. Mix together the sugar and lemon juice, and pour over the warm cake.

4. Leave to cool a little and loosen the sides of the cake, then lift the cake out of the tin.

1. Add the lemon zest to the basic cake mix, and turn into the prepared tin.

If your oven is large, you can bake the cakes at the same time - or if not, bake them in batches.

50g (2 oz) sultanas 50g (2 oz) dried apricots, snipped into small pieces 25g (1 oz) ground almonds The remaining quarter of the basic cake mix A flew flaked almonds, for the topping A 12-hole bun tin, lined with paper cases 1. Add the sultanas, apricots and ground almonds to the cake mix and stir until well mixed.

2. Turn into the prepared paper cases and sprinkle with the flaked almonds.

3. Bake in the preheated oven for about 20 minutes, or until golden brown and springy to the touch.

Top tip:The chocolate cake will keep for 3 days in the fridge, but the icing will lose its shine. The lemon loaf and buns will also keep for 3 days.

All will freeze well for up to 2 months, but uniced.

Dementia care at home new guide for family caregivers

H

ome Instead Senior Care, Ireland's trusted source of home care for seniors, has published

a new guide to help family caregivers care for loved ones with dementia at home. Entitled, 'Dementia Care at

Home: A Guide for Family Caregivers', the publication explains some of the basic facts about the different forms of dementia and looks at practical ways of dealing with some of the common issues associated with dementia. It also gives insight into how the person with dementia feels and reacts to certain situations so the family caregiver can better understand their behaviour.

‘Dementia Care at Home’ was compiled for Home Instead Senior Care, who has been developing dementia training for caregivers globally since 1994. Speaking about the new guide, Kathleen Whiriskey RGN said: “With many outreach efforts supporting people living with dementia, there is little available to help the family caregiver who may feel isolated and overwhelmed by their responsibilities. This booklet is an excellent resource for family caregivers struggling to care for loved ones liv-

ing with a dementia.”

Also speaking about the new guide to dementia care, Heather Gately, owner of Home Instead Senior Care said: “It is estimated that there are more than 40,000 people in Ireland living with some form of dementia.

There are another 50,000 people whose lives are also affected: the family caregivers who work each day caring for loved ones who can no longer care for themselves. We believe this guide will serve as a valuable resource to family caregivers and help them better understand dementia and the behaviour of loved ones living with dementia”.

Log on to www.homeinstead.ie to download a FREE copy of ‘Dementia Care at Home: A Guide for Family Caregivers’. You can also contact Home Instead Senior Care in Galway who provides in-home dementia support throughout counties Galway, Mayo and Roscommon.

Page 35 Mature Living March 2012

Feature Article Women

Why do we kiss? bonding. Kissing can also cause a spike in Dopamine and Serotonin, which are linked to craving and desire and that ‘can’t-wait-to-bewith-someone’ feeling we have when we think we’re falling in love.

Romantic kissing can also cause a surge in adrenaline levels.

Kissing is a complex behavior involving 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles.

H

umans have been kissing one another for thousands of years.

But is smooching more science than art, more biology than poetry?

There’s the romantic kiss, the social kiss, the air kiss, the kiss that conveys affection, familial ties or deep respect. The ancient Romans were big on romantic kissing, but the Greeks viewed kissing more as a way to pay homage or give social recognition. In Biblical times, washing and kissing another’s feet was considered a gesture of humility and respect. The Black Stone of Mecca, a relic considered holy by Muslims, has been polished smooth by centuries of kissing. Today, kissing is a near universal behaviour, with many of us puckering up under the mistletoe, to seal a marriage and to ring in the New Year.

Humans have been kissing — for any number of reasons — for a very long time, according to scientists. But where did the custom come from and why exactly do we do it?

There are several evolutionary theories that could explain why people are attracted to the lips of other people, Sheril Kirshenbaum, biologist and author of The Science of Kissing, said at the ideacity 2011 conference in Canada last year.

One theory harks back to our hunter-gatherer ancestors. When foraging for food, the colour red was viewed as a reward signal, Kirshenbaum said. Hence the subliminal ‘come hither’ message of Page 36 Mature Living March 2012

red lips.

Another possible origin of human kissing is based on the Freudian thought that it can provide the same sense of comfort, calmness and attachment that babies feel when they nurse. Similarly, another theory says that kissing reminds us of the pre-historic practice of “premastication”, wherein a mother chewed the food herself and then fed her baby by mouth.

Infants frequently use their lips to explore the world around them, and indeed, our lips are full of sensory information, according to Kirshenbaum. When we kiss someone, for example, we gather all sorts of personal data and not just visually — but in terms of taste, scent and touch. All of our senses become engaged which, particularly for women, can help us judge if a person is an adequate mate. Studies have shown, for example, that on a subconscious level, a woman can smell when a man’s group of genes that manage the immune system (called MHC) are compatible with her own. This DNA compatibility increases the likelihood of producing healthier and stronger offspring.

Passionate mouth-to-mouth kissing also triggers a cascade of chemical changes in our body. If ‘the Earth moves’ when you kiss someone, neuroscientists say this could be attributed to a rise in love hormones such as Oxytocin, which is responsible for feelings of attachment and

Women are from Venus — and men are easy?

Women place more importance than men on the act of the kiss itself, according to Kirshenbaum. By contrast, men tend to see kissing as a means to an end — or, in other words, as foreplay for sex. And studies have shown that by kissing, men pass along small amounts of testosterone through their saliva, priming their mate for sexual intercourse.

Sixty six per cent of women reported they ended a budding relationship because of a bad first kiss, she said. For men, this number was 59 per cent.

What about the cootie-factor?

Kissing is thought to engender passion and facilitate reproduction, as well as feelings of comfort and well-being — but what about the possible problem we don’t like to think about: spreading germs?

Kirshenbaum devoted an entire chapter of her book to this issue, and she said that as long as bacteria and viruses aren’t getting into the bloodstream, kissing presents little risk to our health. (Unless, of course, you’re into the recent vampire trend that’s popular among some teenagers. Unlike kissing, ‘biting’ and

sharing blood presents very real dangers since germs that are essentially harmless in our saliva can be risky once they get into your bloodstream, Kirshenbaum said.)

In fact, kissing can be good for our hearts in more ways than one – by fostering more intimacy and satisfaction in our relationships and reducing cholesterol levels and overall stress.

A few kissing factoids • Kissing is a complex behavior involving 34 facial muscles and 112 postural muscles.

• About two-thirds of people tilt their heads to the right when they kiss.

• The earliest literary evidence we have of kissing dates back about 3500 years.

•The scientific term for kissing?

Osculation.

• Ever wonder why people tend to close their eyes during a good kiss?

Our pupils tend to dilate during novel and pleasurable experiences — and closing our eyes could be a natural response to let less light in.

Hollywood’s first tongue kiss was in the 1961 film Splendor in the Grass between Natalie Wood and Warren Beatty. The longest kiss on the big screen? Tina Fey and Steve Carell presently hold the record with a fiveminute kiss during the closing credits of the movie Date Night.

Books

A book to treasure SMOKE – from A Peopled Landscape

A

CCLAIMED for his artistic and innovative approach to photography, Ballina-based photographer Eamonn O’Boyle continues, after 20 years in business, to push the boundaries of picture capture and post-production techniques. He is a three times Fuji Photographer of the Year awardwinner.

He is acknowledged as the artist who can create a designer product, exclusive to particular clients, having moved forward from some of the standard, traditional methods employed some years ago.

Nowhere is this unparalleled skill and expertise more evident than between the covers of “A Peopled Landscape”, the magnificent book of photographs published by Eamonn in recent times. This is no ordinary book – it is a pictorial history of a changing Ireland and a culmination of almost two decades of Eamonn’s work.

The images reveal an Ireland which, strangely enough, changed very little for much of the twentieth century, compared with the transformation effected by the Celtic Tiger years. It presents a portrait of the West of Ireland with people departing from the traditions of their ancestors. Classic pictures of old shop fronts and fair days, with

people in their ordinary, everyday lives are captured for posterity.

Here, Eamonn has done a valuable service as many of these scenes and “fixtures” have, regrettably, disappeared in the first decade of the 21st century.

The best true illustration of photographic artistry is the photographer’s ability to convert a simple scene into a timeless portrait or story. An ordinary image of a group of women enjoying a party on Enniscrone beach becomes a wonderful depiction of a group of young people living for the moment.

Similarily, the weathered image of the fisherman on Glenlara reveals the resilience of a man who survived through turbulent conditions.

What singles out Eamonn in terms of his skill and craft, is his ability to capture intimate studies of ordinary people doing ordinary things – the everyday practices we take for granted like the old man lighting his pipe or a group of women chatting outside a store. Ordinary people see these things without appreciating the significance of such events, while skilled photographers like Eamonn recognise that it is more than just a snapshot in time.

Eamonn has long been recognised for the quality of his landscape

photography and this book contains some spectacular aerial images, particularly a photograph of the islands in Clew Bay and another of Croagh Patrick under snow.

Western People editor James Laffey, writing about A Peopled Landscape, said: “what we see in this book is a living, breathing history on every single page – images that will inform historians in years to come.

The text to complement the photographs in what is undoubtedly one of the most significant books to be published in the West of Ireland in recent years has been penned by well known writers Fr. Brendan Hoban and Fr. Kevin Hegarty. The result is a product of the highest quality and has to be recommended, particularly if readers are seeking an ideal present for family or friends away from home.

Normally priced at €35.00, a limited number of copies of A Peopled Landscape are available at the special discounted price of €30

(excluding postage) with Mature Living. You will not get a better opportunity to acquire such a valuable photographic history of the West of Ireland.

Eamonn O’Boyle Photographics is located at The Old Bond Store, Dillon Tce., Ballina. Tel. 096-79791; mobile 086-2217029. His email is image@eamonnoboyle.com. You can also check out his website, www.eamonnoboyle.com., where you can order the book online.

A pictorial record of the West of Ireland over 15 years Published by Eamonn O’Boyle, Photographer The publication can be purchased on line at eamonnoboyle.com

SPECIAL OFFER:

Westport College of Further Education

Limited number of copies available at discounted price of €30 (ex. P & P) to readers of Mature Living magazine.

Eamonn O’Boyle currently teaches photography to FETAC Level Six at Westport CFE. For students who wish to learn from a master of the craft this is an ideal opportunity to enrol and get valuable tuition from one of the west’s most accomplished photographers.

Eamon O’Boyle’s studio is located at Old Bond Store, Dillon Tce., Ballina, Co. Mayo. 096-79791 or 086-2217029.

Email: image@eamonnoboyle.com Page 37 Mature Living March 2012

Feature Article Employment

What do you want to be when you retire?

This is a generation of people who are too young and too healthy to sit back and do nothing

T

hinking of occupying your time with a part-time job? Here's a look at how part-time employment can play a role in your retirement.

The idea of retirement is different for everyone, but increasingly, work is creeping its way back into many people’s retirement plans – and not just because of the effect of the recent property downturn on pensions.

According to a recent report only 1/3 of current workers expect a retirement without work, with 56% of those surveyed between the ages of 50 and 64 saying that they will continue to work part-time in either the same or a different line of work.

The main reasons for working parttime during retirement include the need for income, as well as the desire to do something different and to stay productive.

This is a generation of people who are too young and too healthy to sit back and do nothing, so they physically need to keep active, they want to be engaged in the business community.

Part-time work in retirement can include anything from continuing your career through consulting or freelance work, to something completely different: working at the local golf course, library or retail store, for example.

“We often used to say when we were kids, ‘what do we want to be Page 38 Mature Living March 2012

when we grow up?’, now the comment is, ‘what do you want to do when you retire?’” says John Daly, a Mature Living reader frrom Ballyhaunis who retired in 2008 after 35 years of working as a civil servant.

After 3 months of being retired, John explains that he began to miss interacting with people and keeping busy.

“I still wanted to feel useful,” he says, “I wanted something that was less stressful, the contact with people was really important to me,” he says.

After considering working parttime in a completely different area,

he has since picked up 3 part-time jobs in line with his background, that he says came about as a matter of fluke and timing.

“For me, it’s a happy time, actually, I feel good and I really feel positive about life and I just feel like I’m adding value, and that I’m contributing, and I feel like I’m still in the game,” he says.

Another Sligo-based retiree now in his 80s who made the decision to take on occasional consulting work earlier in his retirement also noted that the biggest advantages to working part-time are a sense of “you can still do the job,” and that you are appreciated for your ability.

Many people are also looking at doing something different in terms of retirement work, and service sector positions – grocery stores, hotel work and retail – are popular because of the flexibility of hours and type of job. On the employer side of things, he says many businesses can gain a level of expertise from third quarter people that they can’t buy – things like work ethic and a mentor for the younger workers.

So how can you as a third quarter or retired individual go about finding part-time work? Here are a few tips: 1. Learn the skills of job hunting: Many third quarter people haven’t looked for jobs in a long time, he says. So make sure that your resume is up to speed, accurate and informative.

Only 1/3 of current workers expect a retirement without work

2. Use the tools that are out there: Spend time searching websites to find the types of jobs you’re interested in. Also check local papers for any jobs that may be advertised.

3. Use your personal and professional contacts: Be sure to advertise the fact that you’re looking for something work-wise or volunteer-wise. Send your resume out to your email list, with a note saying you’re looking to take on part-time work, as some jobs are never advertised.

Employment

CPA Ireland’s Guide to Networking

T

his is the fourth in a series of articles by CPA Ireland aimed at providing you with a comprehensive guide to improving your job prospects, with advice on your CV, cover letters, networking skills and much more. Here, we discuss one of the most important aspects and often the most beneficial way of finding a job: networking.

Networking Your Way to Success Nowadays, relying on finding a job on just searching through the newspapers and jobsites is no longer enough. Many jobs are filled by word of mouth or by contacts made through networking and the more contacts you make in the industry you want to work in, the more opportunities you will encounter.

•List Your Existing Contacts Who do you socialise with, where do they work and who do they know?

Consider all of the following: fellow students, ex work colleagues and employers, lecturers and college groups, sports memberships, friends, acquaintances, neighbours and old business contacts like clients and suppliers.

•Indentify Possible Networks Target industries and sectors you are interested in, search for upcoming events, conferences and seminars and join professional institutes where possible. Be prepared so you really have to put yourself out there.

• Use the Internet Social networking is becoming an integral part of our communications so it is important to use these to reach a wider audience. Linkedin is a great way of showing off your professional portfolio and can be viewed as your online CV. Facebook and Twitter, while they are a more personal, informal method of

communication, can also be used as your professional platform.

• Face-to-Face Make an effort where possible to meet people in person rather than just talking over the phone or online: face-to-face contact has a much bigger impact.

• Follow Up Follow up meeting someone with an email or a phone call, get connected on the relevant social networking sites and make sure if you promised them anything, such as information, that you deliver on it. Make sure to ask them first when would be a good time to get in contact, so whether it’s a certain day, week or month, etc, you won’t be disturbing them during a busy time.

• Network with Names If you are attending an event where there is an opportunity to network, have a clear idea of who you want to speak to and what you want to achieve from the conversation.

Knowing the names and faces of the important people in the business will help, ensuring you have no identity mishaps and know who to talk to.

• Keep in Touch Once you have a good professional network built up, it’s important to stay in contact with all of them on a regular basis as people are more willing to help you if you have a relationship built up, not just when you need them.

• Everyone’s Equal Finally, recruitment agency, Robert Walters, advises that the key to good networking is to ‘be open, prepared

the more contacts you make in the industry you want to work in, the more opportunities you will encounter. and courteous; treat everyone as equals and expect to give as much as you receive.’ The CEO of a big company may be the most casuallydressed or youngest person in the room, so never judge a book by a cover and see everyone as a potential addition to your network.

CPA Ireland is one of the main Irish accountancy bodies, with more than 5,000 members and students in the island of Ireland. The CPA title is the most commonly used designation internationally for professional accountants and the Institute’s qualification enjoys worldwide recognition. Its current membership operates in public practice, industry, financial services and the public sector and CPAs work in over 32 countries around the world.

Page 39 Mature Living March 2012

Getting back on track by Robert McMullen

9 tips to get back on track personally and professionally after a loved one’s death being an aging loved one, often he or she neglects family or friends. These will be the people who were and will remain important in your life. Get the family together for dinner or catch up with a friend over lunch — doing either can do you a world of good!

Keep a few mementos By all means, save a few special keepsakes. I, for one, have my father’s favourite hiking hat and a collection of smaller objects that have found a new home on the windowsill in my home office. This way, they are frequently in sight; however, they are not overwhelming.

You may be tempted to also keep larger objects, but I would recommend resisting this urge. Your own attic, garage or spare bedroom can be much better used than to storehouse Mum/Dad’s old furniture.

F

ollowing a loved one’s death, there can be a tremendous void in your life. While tending to the needs (whether physical, emotional, spiritual or financial) of an aging parent/friend/spouse, you may have ignored your own family, reduced your working hours or not participated in any favourite hobbies due to an apparent lack of time or energy for months or even years. You may have completely lived and breathed your own caregiving job.

Trust me, as a former carer, this can be a very easy thing to do — yet it becomes one of the hardest habits to break.

One of the biggest problems when a loved one is gone is refocusing on you. While there were plenty of days when I wandered aimlessly following my father’s death, I soon came to realise that while Dad was gone, life — for me — must continue. The same can be said for you. With that said, however, getting back on track both personally and professionally may not be an easy thing to accomplish.

Here is some of my advice for you to remember if this happens to you: Take time to grieve I heard this upon my father’s death and have often repeated these Page 40 Mature Living March 2012

comforting words to other caregivers. Grieving is a personal process and can never be rushed.

What happens when you hurry through a job? You, typically, overlook a step or two or even deliver a sub-par result. You must allow yourself time to fully heal (whether it be five months or five years) before you can best move on.

Remember what was important to you Before you became a carer, did you once enjoy taking long walks?

Reading? Going to hurling matches?

Visiting farmers’ markets or antique stores? Whatever your past pleasure was, try reintroducing yourself to this (even on a smaller scale) and you can benefit.

Open new doors Whether you dream small, large or somewhere in between, explore new opportunities. Learn a new language.

Practice yoga. Float skyward on a hot air balloon ride. Take a cake decorating class. Walk on different ground; tread in different water.

Reintroduce yourself to your own family and friends With a carer’s centre of attention

When Dad was in his late stages of Alzheimer’s disease, he no longer could enjoy his vast collection of records and tapes. Resisting the urge to inherit these for my own music library, I, instead, sold them to a local second-hand music shop.

Making a few euros off the sale and turning the profit back to Dad was not that important. Removing the reminder of Dad would prove to be far more valuable.

Seek counseling I have heard a number of stories from carers who joined a support group when their loved one was alive and now remain with the group even

after that loved one’s death. Former carers can find support, understanding and encouragement through participating in a circle of this kind. If need be, consider a higher level of counseling… talking about your loss with a psychologist behind closed doors can help you manage through a very traumatic and often life-changing experience.

Slow down Following a loved one’s passing away, you may well be tempted to work harder and faster so as to distract you. Doing so is only a bandage solution; your feelings of grief must be allowed to come out, be addressed and properly dealt with.

Volunteer Giving back to the community can be another option. Using your own skills and experiences to help others can help heal old wounds. Volunteer opportunities can be advertised in your local newspaper or on line.

Accept the death Encountering sadness and depression can be perfectly natural. These are human emotions; both are standard to feel at such at a time. Walk this walk for as long as necessary, but, in time, reframe your loved one’s passing to be more positive — perhaps your parent was sick and death prevented long-term suffering.

By recognising and admitting that your loved one is now in a better place, you are better able to reach a higher level of personal peace and acceptance.

Health

Sick of feeling tired? healing with an emphasis on prevention. In many cases, he says, intervention on a timely basis would mean, for one, that we wouldn’t need so many pharmaceuticals.

Integrative medicine, he says, looks for the safest and most gentle remedy.

Holistic medicine can be traced back to Indigenous cultures dating back thousands of years. It also embraces more recent therapies including vitamin supplements and acupuncture.

S

ix ways to boost energy, beat fatigue and feel younger. Feeling worn down? Constantly exhausted? You aren’t alone. In fact, according to health experts, a ‘lack of energy’ is one of the top five complaints doctors face. And it is a complaint that Western medicine all too often fails to treat.

“I discovered that I couldn’t help about 70 per cent of my patients,” says Dr. Woodson Merrell, author of The Source: Beat Fatigue, Power Up Your Health, and Feel 10 Years Younger . “They weren’t sick, but they weren’t well either.”

Speaking at CARP’s A New Vision of Aging Conference in Canada, Dr. Merrell said there were six steps that can break the fatigue cycle and lead to better heath and improved longevity. These steps draw on both Western medical knowledge and Eastern healing practices.

East meets West A prominent integrative medicine specialist, Dr. Merrell is the rare practitioner who gives medical advice that is a combination of traditional and alternative.

The chairman of integrative medicine at Beth Israel Medical Centre in New York and a professor at Columbia University, Merrill received conventional medical training — but because he believes that Western medicine doesn’t necessarily have all the answers, he is also licensed in acupuncture and trained in nutrition, botanical medicine and homeopathy.

Merrill takes a holistic approach to

Where’s the science?

While integrative medicine has largely been a consumer-driven movement, in the last 10-15 years, there has been good science to support many of the treatments, Merrell says.

In an effort to bring alternative practices into the mainstream medical system, Merrell teaches the science behind these therapies. He says he carefully scrutinises any studies on the performance of natural remedies: “You have to look at the quality of the studies. We look for the gold standard, the same that is used for traditional medical studies.”

As a result of research supporting alternative remedies, about one third of US medical schools have joined the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrated Medicine, including such prominent institutions as Yale, Harvard and John Hopkins.

“This is huge,” Merrell says, adding that it marks a turning point.

“Academic medicine has come to see the value in integrated medicine.”

So how can Merrell’s approach help you to beat fatigue?

“There are simple things you can do to increase your energy,” he says.

“Much of it isn’t rocket science, and in fact, may remind you of the advice your grandmother gave you. It’s easy to say and understand… but not always easy to incorporate into your life.”

Yet, he says that thousands of his patients who have used this program have experienced incredible changes in mind, body and spirit. Here’s an overview: Manage stress Stress can be good because it allows us to respond to emergencies, but prolonged stress can be very damaging to our health and energy level. One way to reduce stress is through meditation, but if it’s not your thing, then it could be as simple as breathing — very slowly. Deep breathing calms the nervous system

and normalizes the heart rate.

Merrell recommends taking ‘breath breaks’ throughout the day, every hour if possible. Using your abdominal muscles (as opposed to chest muscles), take a deep breath in to the count of four, pause for a count, and then exhale slowly to the count of six. Repeat this four times.

“You can even do this in a meeting when someone is yelling at you,” Merrell says.

Before the light bulb was discovered, we got on average 10.2 hours of sleep per night; now we get 6.9 Load up on power foods To combat fatigue, Merrell recommends eating mainly a fish and plant-based diet, including such power foods as salmon, trout, almonds, walnuts, legumes, cruciferous vegetables, dark leafy greens, tea, citrus, garlic, rosemary and olive oil.

Trouble foods include red meat, trans fats, refined carbohydrates, wheat, cow’s milk, coffee and alcohol.

Detoxify In his book, Merrell writes that at last count, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found 148 man-made chemicals in the average American blood sample, including alarmingly high rates of mercury. Simple things you can do to help detoxify your life include avoiding toxic substances as much as possible, including the cleaning products you use in your home, filtering your drinking water and going organic.

heart and brain health. “When it comes to energizing yourself, exercise is like plugging yourself into a power grid,” he says.

Get enough sleep If you’re like most of us, the advice when it comes to sleep is simple: Get more! “Before the light bulb was discovered, we got on average 10.2 hours of sleep per night; now we get 6.9,” Merrell says.

So how much sleep do we need? Most of us need 8 hours per night. “During the 8th or 9th hour of sleep, most of the healing happens,” Merrell says.

“And in case you’re wondering, the power nap does count — 15 to 20 minutes in the afternoon can make a huge difference to your energy level.”

Ever wake up suddenly at 4:00am and can’t get back to sleep? Try a technique called dream remembrance: “Lock onto the dream you were experiencing,” Merrell says, “and 50 per cent of the time this will take you back to sleep.”

Stay connected. Coming out of ourselves to give to others makes us both happier and healthier. People who are religious or spiritual have a lower rate of heart disease and they experience greater longevity.

And don’t underestimate the power of laughter. A Japanese study found that nursing mothers who laughed while watching the Charlie Chaplin movie, Modern Times , had higher levels of the beneficial hormone melatonin in their breast milk, which reduced their babies’ previously diagnosed allergic skin reactions to latex and dust.

“This small study offers a wonderful window into the mysteries of human nature,” Merrell says. “It’s clear to me that laughter is a built-in healing mechanism.”

Get your exercise For aerobic exercise, Merrell recommends a minimum of 30 minutes/3 days a week. Even moderate exercise boosts the immune system and leads to better Page 41 Mature Living March 2012

Technology

LED vs Plasma vs LCD TVs antireflective or antiglare material on each screen. A plasma with a really good antireflective coating may be better to watch with room lighting than a glossy-screen LCD with no such coating (and vice versa).

Viewing angle Winner: Plasma TVs Losers: LCD and LED TVs How big is your room? Do you or loved ones sit off to the side, viewing the TV at an angle? If so, it's important to note that LCDs of both flavours lose picture quality when viewed "off axis", as in not directly in front of the screen.

Small room, small couch, motherin-law off to the side? Don't worry about it.

Somewhere in the middle are InPlane Switching (IPS) LCD panels, which offer a better viewing angle at the expense of overall contrast ratio and black level.

W

hen you cut through the hype and the fanboys, each TV has different benefits and costs.

So to help you figure out which TV is right for your house, let's take a look at each one.

First, a BIG disclaimer: Any article of this type is, by necessity, going to contain a lot of generalizations. In most of the categories below, there are likely one or two exceptions to each rule. It's great to find an outlier, but that's just what it is, an outlier. The "average" product featuring these technologies is going to perform as listed.

Second, some terminology Plasma TVs, made by Panasonic, Samsung, and LG, range in size from 42 inches to roughly 65 inches.

There are some larger models (notably Panasonic's 150-inch), but for most people, they max out at 65 inches.

LCD TVs range in size from a couple of inches, to 80 inches, and everywhere in-between. They're made by everybody. All "LED TVs" are actually LCD TVs, they just use LEDs as their light source, instead of the traditional CCFLs. As they tend to perform a little differently, and are marketed way differently, we'll address them separately. LED models also tend to be the higher-end models from a particular company, so often their performance advantage can have to do with this more than the inherent technology.

You might ask yourself, at this point, why only three companies for Page 42 Mature Living March 2012

plasma? When electronics companies started building their manufacturing plants for TVs, they faced a choice: Make big "cheap" flat panels that can't go much below 42 inches (plasma), or build a more expensive factory that can make a wide variety of sizes, even though the bigger sizes will be more expensive (LCD).

As production has increased, the larger LCD sizes have become more price competitive, so that distinction has disappeared. As such, you don't see a lot of companies investing in new plasma TVs. Not when an LCD factory can make everything from mobile phone screens to 80inch HD TVs (an over simplification, but you get the point).

Light output (brightness) Winner: LED TVs Loser: Plasma TVs Runner-Up: LCD TVs Without question, LED TVs are the brightest panels you can buy. Some models are capable of well over 100 footlamberts. To put that in perspective, in a movie theater you're lucky if you get 5. LCD TVs are a close second.

Plasma TVs just aren't that bright.

It's all relative, though, as plasmas are still likely way brighter than oldschool CRT tube TVs. So plasmas aren't "dim", but they aren't nearly as bright as their LCD and LED counterparts.

The question is, do you need that light output? In a dark room, 100 footlamberts will be searingly bright.

In a bright room (daytime/sunlight) a plasma might be hard to see.

Another aspect to consider is any

Energy consumption Winner: LED TVs Loser: Plasma TVs Runner-up: LCD TVs No question, LED TVs have the lowest energy consumption, especially when you turn down the backlight. Toyota Prius drivers, this is the TV for you. LCD TVs are a close second, with the same addendum.

Plasmas, especially when you turn up the contrast control (which you need to for them to look their best), just aren't as energy efficient. They are, however, far better than they were a few years ago.

If you want to go green, get an LED TV. That said, it won't save you money. Because LED TVs are more expensive than other panels, it will take you years to make up that difference in energy savings (if ever).

We're talking a few euro difference in a year here.

Price Winner: LCD TVs Loser: LED TVs Runner-up: Plasma TVs Because they tend to be at the lower-end of a company's TV offerings, LCD TVs are the cheapest panels you can buy.

As mentioned earlier, LED TVs are the technology behind many companys' high-end offerings.

The cheapest TVs will almost always be LCDs. Plasmas tend to have the best size/price ratio.

Lifespan Tie Multiple studies by a variety of sources have found flat-panel TVs to be extremely reliable. Internet forums are always populated by the

angry, so invariably you're going to read more "well mine broke!" posts than "I've had mine for 5 years and it's great".

Burn-in Tie Gotcha! All TVs can burn in. It's unlikely you'll abuse them enough for this to happen (think airport arrival/departure displays). Plasmas can have image persistence, which has the outward appearance of burnin, but isn't permanent.

The short version? You're going to notice image persistence long before it will become a problem.

Uniformity Winner: Plasma TVs Losers: LCD and LED TVs Uniformity, or a consistent brightness to the image, doesn't bother me a lot. It bugs other reviewers, though.

Plasma can have issues in this regard as well, though they're far less frequent or noticeable. LED-edgelit TVs are the worst offenders, though cheap LCDs have their own issues. In many cases, the uniformity will vary per sample. So your TV might be fine, but your brother-in-law hates the one he bought of the same model.

And the winner is...

If you want to count wins and losses from the list above, have at it. The thing is, these items don't have equal weight. That's the point.

For one person, absolute light output is absolute, for another, black level is above all else. These two performance aspects are, for now mutually exclusive.

So don't listen to those who say, "well, its brightest, it's best" or "LCD's black level is terrible, so they blow". Reading through this list I'm positive you mentally weighted certain factors above others, even if you didn't notice it at first. Go with your gut. If you watch a lot of TV during the day, or have a room with lots of windows, an LED TV is probably best. If you watch at night, and want the TV to disappear into the background, plasma is probably best.

Want to know the best part, and the dirty little secret of the TV world? If you're buying a name-brand TV, its picture quality is going to be really, really good. You are seriously picking from good, gooder, and goodly goodest here. Compared with flat-panel TVs from just a few years ago, new HDTVs are thinner, brighter, better-performing, and cheaper than ever before. So have at it. Your new TV is going to be fantastic for years to come.

Cleaning

6 common cleaning mistakes In the ongoing war against harmful germs in our homes, we're making some basic mistakes. Here are some common cleaning blunders and how to avoid them. agents need ‘contact’ time of 1-3 minutes (or longer) to maximize their ability to kill bacteria and other microscopic organisms. (Check the label of your cleaning product for specific ‘dwell’ times.)

Overlooking germy hotspots Experts recommend paying special attention to the ‘hotspots’ for germs including door and fridge handles, light switches, faucet taps, computer keyboards, telephone hand pieces, chopping boards and utensils, kitchen towels and sink, cleaning cloths and sponges, rubbish bin lids, bathrooms (including toilet seat and flush handle, sink, bath and shower) and water storage containers and filters. Be sure to clean these areas frequently, preferably at least once per day.

W

hat’s the dirtiest item in most Irish homes? Not the toilet or even anything bathroom-related, but the simple kitchen towel according to a study by the Hygiene Council.

According to the study, these ‘dirty’ towels were, in fact, highly contaminated with E. coli, which can cause severe cramping and bloody diarrhea. The explanation for the not so harmless kitchen towel may have less to do with not laundering them than not laundering them properly. In order to kill bacteria, researchers say, towels should be washed in water hotter than 60 C (140 F) or by using boiling water in a pot. “What is apparent is that we do clean, but not necessarily effectively enough by targeting specific areas with a method that really works.

Practicing good hygiene through targeted disinfecting as well as regular hand washing is something we can all do to maintain a clean, healthy home environment.

So what are some the top mistakes we make when trying to keep our homes healthy and hygienic? Here’s a look at some common cleaning blunders.

6 cleaning mistakes Not cleaning regularly Most homes should be cleaned on a weekly basis. The ‘every week’ rule also holds for laundering towels and bed linens. (Remember to wash linens in temperatures of 60 C or 140 F or above to kill bacteria and avoid cross-contamination between infected and non-infected clothing and other items.) And when it comes to bedding, don’t neglect to wash (or dry clean) duvets, comforters and pillows at least once per month to control for dust mites, dander and pollen. Tip: When drying heavier items like comforters or duvets, toss in a clean tennis shoe to help prevent lumping.

Rushing We’re all short on time — not to mention that cleaning isn’t everyone’s favourite activity!

However, rushing the job can mean leaving some pretty scary germs behind. Take time to move furniture, rugs, plants and other items to clean surfaces thoroughly. Also, give your cleaning products time to do their job: most cleansers and disinfecting

Not taking care of equipment Be sure to change vacuum bags regularly and remove debris from the brushes. And don’t forget to clean mops, sponges and cleaning cloths after each use to avoid spreading around more dirt and germs the next time you clean.

Unsafe use of cleaning products While in pursuit of a hygienic home, it’s important to keep in mind that certain cleaning agents or combinations of products can actually be unhealthy to use, particularly for people who suffer from allergies or asthma. When certain bleach and acids come into contact, for example, they can create chlorine gas, which is highly toxic. Another example: Combining bleach and ammonia can inflame your airways and damage the lining of your lungs. Avoid mixing your various cleaning products, and as a general rule, select the least toxic or ‘green’ product possible for tackling the job. For instance, a mixture of 10 per cent vinegar with water can remove up to 99.9 per cent of bacteria on surfaces, experts say. (See How to make your own cleaning products and Sweetsmelling toxins.)

Not wearing gloves It’s not only about keeping hands attractive and preventing them from becoming inflamed, cracked or chapped. Our skin is permeable, meaning it can absorb the chemicals and toxic substances from cleaning products. Some common solvents can cause serious damage to the liver and kidneys, and even potentially lead to cancer, according to health experts. Also cracked skin means that any contact you have with bacteria in your home can be transmitted directly into your blood stream. The best protection: wear either disposable latex or reusable rubber gloves while cleaning. (If using reusable rubber gloves, buy several pairs to use exclusively for certain tasks such as washing dishes and cleaning the bathroom. This will help to avoid cross-contamination.)

Finally, keep in mind that our hands are the biggest spreaders of germs in the home, and frequent hand washing with good old fashioned soap and water is still one of the best weapons we have for staying healthy. (See The art of hand washing.)

GERMS: QUICK FACTS • While some germs cause disease, not all microbes are harmful. They are, in fact, the foundation of the earth’s food chain — and we would not survive without them.

• Germs enter the home mainly by people, food, pets and pests. Cross-contamination happens when germs are transferred from person to person or through direct or indirect contact with a surface — and back again.

• Bad bugs commonly found in the home include MRSA (meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), E. coli, Norovirus and Clostridium difficile.

Sources: Mayo Clinic; Hygiene Council; Prevention; NHS Page 43 Mature Living March 2012

Feature Article Services Directory

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Services Directory

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ORGANISE PREVENT

S.T.O.P. is a registered charity which was set up to assist and support individuals who feel suicidal, are in distress or those who have been bereaved by suicide.

Currently S.T.O.P. provide the following services • Provides bereavement support through a suicide bereavement group which meets monthly.

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• Promotes positive mental health and related issues by attending information evenings and also visiting (when requested) schools, communities and organisations throughout Ireland.

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If you feel that you could benefit from any of the above support please call Mary on 087-4188053.

Puzzles

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Puzzle Competition, Mature Living Magazine, Cleveragh Road, Sligo

Closing Date is April 4th 2012, Terms and Conditions Apply

Answers on page 38

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