Mature Living Magazine June 2012

PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE June 2012

THE MAGAZINE FOR THE OLDER, BOLDER INDIVIDUAL

Eagles Flying High Over Sligo Is a house swap holiday for you?

Overcoming Dental Anxiety How serious can a migraine be?

Who cares for the Carer?

• SLIGO • MAYO • GALWAY • LEITRIM • ROSCOMMON

Scenic Lake Cr!ises

Lough Gills environs are unrivalled in Ireland for its unspoilt beauty and interest to tourists and locals alike. Its great diversity of geology, archaeology, history and scenery leave a permanent impression on all visitors. Lough Gills association with major events dates back as far as any locality in Europe, e.g. Queen Maeve of Connaught, O'Rourke's of Breffni, Norman Invasion, Sligo Abbey, Plantation castle, 1916 Rising. The Cruise takes in numerous places of interest including Church island, Dooney rock, Slish wood and many many more

• Coach Friendly • Tea/Coffee & Home-baking available • Live Commentar# & Poet$# Recitals • Depar%s Daily From Parke's Castle 11:00 am* / 12:30 pm / 1:30 pm* / 3:30 pm / 5.00 pm* (Easter to October, Weather & Numbers permitting) Bus transfer available from Sligo, Please Phone for Details. *Numbers permitting - minimum 4 people

The Rose Of Innisfree, Kilmore, Five Mile Bourne, Co. Sligo Tel: 071-9164266 • Fax: 071-9164557 • Mobile: 087-2598869 • Email: info@roseofinnisfree.com

• Straight and Curved Stairlifts • External Lifts • Through Floor Lifts • Disability Bathrooms • Level Access Showers • Bath Lifts

Lo-Call 1890-25-30-38 • Mob: 087-7783633

Contents

www.matureliving.ie

June 2012

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S we introduce our June issue of Mature Living things are certainly hotting up on many fronts in this little country of ours. The Stability Treaty issue is done and dusted, but European matters are still very much on the agenda and, unfortunately, prospects don’t look too good in either economic or sporting fields. Spain has just received a bail-out from Europe, but it doesn’t look like this development will alleviate any of the pressure on Ireland at this time. Also, if Spain has its way this week it will be “bail-out” time again for Ireland in the European Championships. However, hope springs eternal and as we go to press, we are still hoping for a resurgent Irish performance against the European champions. Still, on the positive side, we have been blessed with a period of good weather and Summer, hopefully, has just begun.

The economic uncertainty is adding to the pressures on older people in our communities. Those concerned about the security of their life savings now have the added trauma of personal security and safety in their own homes. The number of attacks on older people in their own homes is increasing, particularly in isolated areas. We would certainly encourage people to take note of the advice of Active Retirement Ireland to contact An Garda Siochana if they notice any suspicious activity near their homes. They should be aware of the telephone number of their local garda station and shouldn’t hesitate to ring and not concern themselves about the question of “wasting police time”. The hope is that reporting such suspicious activity will help to prevent further heinous crimes.

In this issue we have a One-on-One with RTE’s North Western correspondent, Eileen Magnier; we look at what’s involved in House-swapping Holidays, and explore the health benefits of hot tubs. We provide some tips on how to overcome dental anxiety and Dr. Andreas Jahnke gives some help and advice to people who suffer from migraine. Stella Carroll talks to some of those who dare to bear all for Irish cancer charities and Niamh Flynn gives us an interesting insight into the world of stage hypnosis. We include our range of regular features and advice pages and some lucky reader will scoop a Midweek Break for Two at the fabulous Sheraton Hotel in Athlone.

If you would like to be included in our growing list of subscribers please contact our office or fill in the Subscription Form included with this issue.

Once again, I would like to remind you if your group or organisation wishes to receive bulk deliveries of Mature Living please send your request to seamus@matureliving.ie or post it to: Mature Living, Office 3, Unit 7, Northwest Business Park, Collooney, Co. 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.

Any photos that you may have of a colleague’s retirement can be sent to the same address. Our next issue will be available on July 12th and the deadline for submissions is 9th of July.

News One-on-One with Eileen Magnier Fashion Overcoming Dental Anxiety Dare to Bare Family Days out “It’s only a Migraine” The Benefits of Hot Tubs 10 things you should never give your pet Flying High Over Sligo Fancy a holiday with Free accommodation?

The Bands of our Showband Era: Hoedowners Story What is Constipation?

Holiday check your Car House and Home Guide Stage Hypnosis – for good or evil?

Competition Food and Drink Hotels What Is an Internet-Ready TV? Macular Degeneration (AMD) Gardening Services Directory Spot the Ball Competition Dating: Meeting Place

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

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

EY2012 Re-imagining Ageing: All-Ireland Video Challenge

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ights, Cameras, Action.... To celebrate 2012, The European Year for Active Ageing and Solidarity between Generations, The Office for Older People, Department of Health in partnership with the Centre for Ageing Research and Development (CARDI) and Age & Opportunity, with the support of the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister and the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure, is launching an all-Ireland video competition.

The challenge is to create a short video clip (60-90 seconds) entitled Re-imaging Ageing: Generations Together. The video should highlight issues about ageing and show how generations working together can create a better older age for themselves and others. The winning entrant will

receive a cash prize of €500 with a runner-up prize of €250. Videos will be broadcast at a prize givingevent and other relevant events throughout the European Year for Active Ageing and posted to relevant age websites. Entries should reflect what younger and older people: · Think about ageing · Expect from older age, e.g. What kind of older person do I want to be? What kind of world do I want to grow older in? Experience as they grow older and how this affects perceptions of life after 60.

Competition Details The competition is open for entries from Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012 and the closing date is Wednesday 27th June, 2012. Winners will be announced the first week of September 2012.

Entries should be submitted via email to ey2012video@cardi.ie Prizes: Cash prize of €500 for the winner with a runner-up prize of €250 Judging Criteria The judging process is carried out by a panel of independent judges including representatives from government, non-governmental and academic organisations. How effective is the short film at incorporating the theme of ageing and intergenerational relations? Accuracy – is the film based on

accurate facts and information? Creativity and originality: how unique and innovative are the ideas presented in the short film? Production quality: is the film well produced?

Entry criteria All entries should include the participation of at least one older person and one younger person. · To enter, you must be resident in the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland. · The video must be a minimum of 60 seconds and a maximum of 90 seconds. · Entries should be submitted via e-mail to ey2012video@cardi.ie · Entrants must obtain written permission from any participants who are filmed.

Entries must be original, must not be copied, must not contain any third party materials and/or content that you do not have permission to use and must not otherwise be obscene, defamatory or in breach of any applicable legislation or regulations. If we have reason to believe your film is not your own work or otherwise breaches this provision, then we may not consider it and/or we reserve the right to eliminate your entry.

For more details on the competition contact Nicola Donnelly, Communications Officer, CARDI, Tel: 01 4786308

Over-50s cautioned as hip fractures on rise THE number of hip fractures in Ireland is expected to increase by 88 per cent by 2025, according to a new study by Osteoporosis International.

Based on current population trends, the study projects the number of osteoporotic-type fractures to increase by 79 per cent by 2025.

Dr Miriam Casey, consultant physician at the osteoporosis unit at St James’s Hospital and joint author of the study, said the HSE was going to be left with a large bill if preventative action wasn’t taken.

“Really the study is to inform older people that they need to take steps to ensure they are looking after themselves. People aged 50-60 need to make sure to really look after their bones,” she said.

Older people tend to have a mostly carbohydrate-based diet, she said, and they needed to ensure they are taking calcium supplements, getting enough protein in their diets and vitamin D. It is estimated that the population of over-50s will increase from 1.17 million in 2008 to 1.88 million in 2025, an increase of 61 per cent.

Hip fractures are regarded as the most severe of the osteoporotic fractures, with an associated mortality rate of 20-30 per cent during the first year after fracture.

Page 4 Mature Living June 2012

Older People ‘Should Not Hesitate in Reporting Suspicious Activity to Gardaí’ – Active Retirement Ireland OLDER people should not hesitate to contact An Garda Síochána to report any suspicious activity in the vicinity of their homes. That’s according to Maureen Kavanagh, Chief Executive Officer of Active Retirement Ireland (ARI), the national representative body for 544 Active Retirement Associations throughout Ireland, with a total membership of over 22,500 people.

Speaking this month in the wake of a number of attacks on isolated older people in their homes, most recently in Williamstown, Co. Galway, Ms. Kavanagh said: “I am urging older people throughout the country to make themselves aware of the telephone number for their local garda station – memorise it, or keep it written down beside your phone. And, then, if you notice anything suspicious in the vicinity of your home, use that number immediately to contact your local gardaí.

“We know from previous consultations with our membership that older people are sometimes reluctant to call the guards for fear they might be seen to be wasting police time, but An Garda Síochána has assured us that the best possible course of action for older people who notice anything suspicious is to report it to their local garda station immediately.

“Reporting suspicious activities will, hopefully, help to prevent further heinous crimes of the type perpetrated against older people in counties Limerick and Galway in recent weeks. Active Retirement Ireland is appalled by these recent attacks on older people in their homes. We are encouraging all of our members to be vigilant in checking on their neighbours, family members and friends, and to ensure they keep their local gardaí informed of any suspicious activity.”

L A ST ’S MONTHTION TI C OM P E NE R W IN

Last month’s lucky winner was Therese Joyce, of Ballivor, County Meath, who has won a two night break in the stunning Downhill House Hotel in Ballina, Co. Mayo.

News

Age Action welcomes 9% increase in elder abuse cases referred to HSE

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ge Action has welcomed the 9% increase in the number of cases of alleged elder abuse received by the HSE last year, noting that it is an indication of increased awareness of abuse.

“The 2,302 referrals received by the HSE’s dedicated elder abuse service is the largest number in any year since the service began in 2007,” Age Action spokesman Eamon Timmins said. “It is widely accepted that the elder abuse problem is under-reported and so the fact that more people are coming forward for help is a very positive development.”

The older people’s charity welcomes the HSE report’s findings

that greater awareness of elder abuse among HSE staff and families was believed to be a contributory factor to the increased number of cases referred to the HSE last year.

Psychological abuse (35%) continues to be the most common form of elder abuse reported, followed by financial abuse (23%), neglect (19%) and physical abuse (12%). The victim’s family are the most common abusers, with 80% of alleged abusers being a son/daughter, spouse/partner or other relative. The most common place for abuse to occur is in the person’s home (81%). Two-thirds of alleged victims in 2011 were women and there was a higher referral rate among the over-80s.

Despite the increased level of reporting this year, a total of just 9,000 alleged elder abuse cases have been received by the HSE service since it began five years ago. A 2010 report by the National Centre for the Protection of Older People found that 10,200 older people had been abused in the previous 12 months, and an estimated 18,700 had been abused since they turned 65.

Elder abuse continues to be under

reported in Ireland but today’s report indicates that more older people are now seeking help. Fear that reporting abuse may result in an older person being admitted to a nursing home or may involve the Gardai becoming involved are among the reasons why some older people put up with being abused, rather than seeking help. However, today’s report shows that the Gardai were consulted in just 15% of cases last year and only 7% of abuse victims were admitted to nursing homes.

“In the vast majority of cases the HSE work with families to resolve issues, involving outcomes which include monitoring, home support, counseling and mediation,” Mr Timmins said.

Age Action is urging older people who are being abused to seek help by contacting their local GP or public health nurse or phoning the HSE’s information line at 1850 24 1850 (Monday to Saturday, 8am to 8pm) to get contact details for their elder abuse case worker.

With most cases of elder abuse occurring in the community, Age Action is also encouraging the public to make themselves aware of the possible warning signs of abuse.

Sleeping less than 6 hours a night raises risk of stroke

REGULARLY getting less than six hours sleep a night raises the risk of stroke in middle age, research has shown.

Scientists in the US studied 5,666 people aged 45 and older who had no history of stroke and were of normal weight.

Over a three year period they found that those who habitually slept for less than six hours were significantly more likely to suffer a stroke.

Having too little sleep had a greater effect than other stroke risk factors.

The same pattern was not seen in overweight and obese individuals.

Lead researcher Dr Megan Ruiter, from Page 6 Mature Living June 2012

the University of Alabama, said: "In employed middle-aged to older adults, relatively free of major risk factors for stroke such as obesity and sleepdisordered breathing, short sleep duration may exact its own negative influence on stroke development.

"We speculate that short sleep duration is a precursor to other traditional stroke risk factors, and once these traditional stroke risk factors are present, then perhaps they become stronger risk factors than sleep duration alone."

She presented the findings at the Sleep 2012 meeting taking place in Boston.

Get on your bike for MS Northwest THE MS North West Therapy Centre in Sligo needs as many people as possible to get on their bikes this Sunday, June 16th. This will be a fun cycle and can be done in stages, so participants need not commit to the full 120km. The cycle is leaving the MS Therapy Centre, Ballytivnan at 9 am sharp and the route is: Sligo-Skreen-Corballa-BonniconlonLough Talt- Tubbercurry -CloonacoolCoolaney - Sligo.

MS Northwest recently purchased a fivebedded Respite Centre at Woodhaven, Sea Road, Sligo. The building will provide a spacious treatment facility and residential accommodation for people in the North West with Multiple Sclerosis and other neurological conditions.

In order to provide this much needed facility the MS North West Therapy Centre needs in the region of €1,000,000. A group of cyclists from Sligo and the surrounding counties are undertaking a 120km cycle around Sligo to contribute to those much needed funds.

Bowls Wanted in Mayo ACTIVE Retirement in Mayo are seeking to buy large bowls. They have two sets of small bowls which we can exchange/part exchange. Large bowls are generally used for competition here in Mayo. We would probably need two sets to cover teams of three in competition. Any offers considered. Contact Paddy 0876628410.

News

SPECIAL GUEST ON THE NIGHT MIKE DENVER ALSO STARRING:

Star Studded Music Extravaganza

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n next Wed June 20th there will be a very special Midsummer’s Fundraising Concert with a “star studded” line up in the Sligo Park Hotel. The concert is to raise funds for Aivar Vahar who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (ALS) in March 2011. ALS is a very aggressive disease but with costly specialist treatment it can give both great pain relief and add 3 to 5 years to the person’s life.

47 year old Aivar lives with his wife and family in Tallinn, Estonia and his connection with Ireland is his niece Kristiina who has been living and working in Sligo for the past 5 years. In the last few years Kristiina has become a close friend of Sandy and her family. Last February some of Kristiina’s family came to Sligo for a short visit and it was then that Sandy learned they were working hard fundraising in Estonia to raise the money to send Aivar to China for specialist treatment. In true Irish fashion Sandy vowed there and then that she would help them with their plight.

With the help of Tommy Marren from Mid West Radio, Sandy has put together a wonderful night of entertainment with some of Ireland’s top International Artists. One of Ireland’s greatest International acts Foster and Allen will also be making a rare Sligo appearance. Lorraine McDonald lead singer with the Conquerors and also a wonderful musician, Gerry Guthrie who is one of the new stars of the Irish music scene.

Much loved local lass Lisa Stanley who is the presenter of the very popular Phil Mac Show on Sky TV Showcase Channel ever week. A brand new bluegrass band “Rackhouse Pilfer” which includes Sandy’s son Willie. There will be an 8 piece band featuring some of Ireland’s finest musicians and finally a household name right across the West, Tommy Marren, who will host the show. All the Artists are giving their services free on the night for this worthy cause.

Tickets are now on sale at the Sligo Park Hotel and Third Wave Music, O’Connell St. for this 20th June event. Doors are open at 7pm and patrons are advised to be early as a huge crowd is expected.

We have just been infomed that the fantastic MIKE DENVER will be the special guest on the night.

A taste of Drumcliffe tea house arrives at Connacht Gold CONNACHT Gold is pleased to announce the arrival of "a taste of Drumcliffe Tea House" to our Sligo Store. Drumcliffe Tea House is already a widely known, popular establishment in Drumcliffe, County Sligo. which endeavours to carry their renowned reputation to Connacht Gold serving good wholesome soups, gourmet sandwiches, wraps etc and a simply gorgeous range of home-made scones, tarts, crumbles, chocolate, lemon & Guinness cakes —to name but a few. Enjoy a familiar cheerful service in a relaxed atmosphere after a browse around our award winning retail centre of excellence with convenient free customer parking.

After enjoying a refreshing cup of coffee why not take a stroll around our newly renovated Clothing Department & our new look Page 8 Mature Living June 2012

Homeware Department. We have something to suit all budgets and tastes. We stock a wide range of giftware, cookware, bakeware and much more. We have everything you need to make your very own homemade jams & why not visit our Board Bia accredited garden centre for some strawberry plants or fruit bushes and grow your own!

To celebrate the opening of 'a taste of Drumcliffe Tea House' we have great offers in all our other departments including our Agri, Pet & Paint Departments all weekend, so don't miss out! Sign up for our Loyalty Card to collect points & avail of special offers exclusively for loyalty cardholders! just fill out your details in store! We would like to thank all our customers for their custom & support from all at Connacht Gold, Deepwater Quay, Sligo.

Feature by Stella Carroll

Eileen Magnier

Bringing The News from the North West

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fter twenty-two years of reporting the news for RTE in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim, Eileen Magnier probably knows every main road, secondary road and country lane in the North West counties. She never uses a SAT Nav and is certain of a friendly wave or a cup of tea in even the most far flung parishes. She has brought us the news on hundreds of stories from the region, tragedies and triumphs, losses and celebrations, and the myriad of daily events which reflect the Ireland of today.

“You are always aware of what the families are going through and you would hate to add to the hurt by asking intrusive or insensitive questions. You try to be respectful and think about what they are going through and at the same time, you have to tell the story.”

Eileen is a native of County Kilkenny. Growing up, her parents instilled a good work ethic in Eileen and her siblings. “My father was a panel beater and my mother, had been a nurse. They took a great interest in current affairs. The radio and the daily newspaper was the brain food in the house, so I was always interested in what was going on“. She studied history and politics in UCD and holds a post graduate diploma in journalism from NIHE, now known as Dublin City University.

Eileen began her career in journalism as sub editor with The People newspaper in Wexford before joining RTE to train as journalist. It Page 10 Mature Living June 2012

was the beginning of a long and varied career with the national broadcaster. “Eamon Lawlor, was the Brussels correspondent at that time, he was interested in coming home and Tommy Gorman went to Europe to take his place. So, I came to Sligo, on a nine month contract, and I am still here 22 years later.”

Over the years, there have been many stories which stand out for Eileen. At the start of her contract in Sligo the 'Troubles' were still ongoing and many reports were around arms finds, road closures and incidents relating to the conflict.

“The news stories did change to a degree over the years, but we were always busy. The awful road accident in Buncrana was one of the most distressing tragedies which I reported from. To see the impact of the loss of eight people from one small community, seven of them were very young, and attending the funerals was very tough. You are always aware of what the families are going through and you would hate to add to the hurt by asking intrusive or insensitive questions. You try to be respectful and think about what they are going through and at the same time, you have to tell the story.” It’s a delicate balance which Eileen has always managed in an unassuming and professional manner. She is proud of RTE’s reputation in reporting the news, not just it's commitment to accuracy, in checking and rechecking the facts, but its sensitivity and respectfulness to both interviewee and the audience, particularly when faced with tragedies like the Buncrana crash.

Thankfully, there are good news stories too. “I think people are craving good news at the moment, they have had enough of the doom and gloom of life, and so, its great to be able to contribute to the Nationwide programme which brings a slice of Irish life in a positive way.” she laughs “I think you might get depressed if you were just reporting on the negative stories, but this brings a nice balance. I was recently recording the opening of the Daniel O'Donnell visitors Centre in Kinasslagh in Donegal and had great craic. You have to admire a small community for getting up and doing it for themselves, and

making the best of what they have. Nationwide is a celebration of this and of who we are in Ireland at the moment in time. ”.

Over the years, technology has changed the way Eileen reports the news. “In the beginning, we had a sound man, camera man, editor, reporter and a broadcast assistant on each story. With the advances in technology, it is now just myself and a cameraman on the road. I edit the story shortly after we shoot. Eileen is typically practical and pragmatic about these changes “ It’s probably less intrusive for the interviewees and as for us coping with any new technology? Well, we just up skill and get on with it”. She laughs.

Eileen pictured with her husband Tj Kilgallon the former Mayo footballer

“I came to Sligo, on a nine month contract, and I am still here 22 years later.”

Eileen is married to TJ Kilgallon, a secondary teacher and former Mayo Gaelic footballer. She has three children, Hayley (17), Dylan (15) and Evanne (13), who have grown up with their mother on 24-hour call for breaking news stories and where the deadlines for the one o'clock, six o'clock or nine o'clock news bulletins might take precedent over breakfast, or lunch or dinner times.

They are naturally proud of her achievements and doubly so when they took a day off school to attend her graduation last year. Eileen achieved First Class Honours in her Masters degree in History from Limerick University. “History is a passion with me and I loved going back to study. It was hard as I was still working full time and juggling a busy home. The kids thought it was great and I think it showed them that education is a life-long thing and not something you stop at a certain age. ”. As an avid reader, she is a member of a Book Club

where she enjoys the great variety of books which others recommend and she might not otherwise have chosen. In her spare moments, although it is hard to imagine that there might be any spare moments, she enjoys long walks in the Sligo countryside and beaches.

“I think people are craving good news at the moment, they have had enough of the doom and gloom of life,”

Eileen pictured with country music star Daniel O Donnell

Eileen is constantly asked to attend and compere charity events and is known for her gracious generosity in this regard. If she can help out at all, she will do so without any fuss or fanfare. She sits on Board of Management for the North West Simon Community and is particularly proud of the work being done by staff in the region in preventing homelessness and helping people to cope in very difficult times.

Twenty-five years of reporting the tapestry of life from the North West Counties have not left this journalist world weary, cynical or tired. Every day is a new challenge and adventure. From the bull in the supermarket in Ballinrobe to reporting on the St Patrick's Day parades. Whether standing in a

driving snow blizzard in the Barnesmore Gap, or deciphering the rhetoric from a three day conference we can be sure that there is enthusiasm, professionalism and a love for the job behind those words: “Eileen Magnier. RTE News, Donegal/Sligo/ Leitrim!”

“Every day is a new challenge and adventure.”

Page 11 Mature Living June 2012

Featurefor Article Fashion Ladies Day at The Galway Races

Suzie Mahony Desig!s Award-winning Milliner

Suzie Mahony Desig!s - Award Winning Milliner 'Comhcheol' Rafar!, Loughrea, Co Galway.

A www.suziemahonydesigns.ie Tel: 086 1948315 / 091 847326

ward winning Galway Milliner Suzie Mahony designs unique hats and headpieces. Over the last number of years Milliner, Suzie Mahony has created a name for herself both nationally and internationally as the milliner of choice for ladies attending glamorous events from Weddings to Race meetings.

TEL: 086-1758362 Main Street, Carrick-on-Shannon

Now Stocking a Wide Range of Top Brands • Fever • Charming • Christopher Wren • Via Veneto Coming in July...

Fran and Jane Clothing Range • Hair Extensions • Customised Fascinators • Bargain Basement now open One stop shop for all your clothing and accessories

Suzie’s collections are available in many leading boutiques throughout Ireland. She has won many awards including the international Hatty Award 2008, Network Galway Award 2009 and the ‘I Do’ Wedding Hat Supplier Award 2011.

Innovation Awards Finalist 2011/12. Her designs have been worn at Ascot, Cheltenham and the Dubai Races. They have won ‘Best Dressed’ at many race meetings including two in a row at Punchestown 2010. Suzie Mahony Designs sponsors the ‘Most Appropriately Dressed Lady’ Competition on the Monday evening at the Galway Races. This year she will judge the event with TV3’s Celebrity Correspondent Noel Cunningham and the winner will be presented with a Suzie Mahony Bespoke Hat. Her Collection was featured at Showcase 2012 at the RDS gaining international interest for the Milliner. Suzie has trained with many established Milliners including, Milliner to Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace where she designed her own hat blocks for her unique 2012 collection.

She provides a unique service to her clients, from her studio. Suzie works by appointment only and always tries to make her customers feel comfortable, relaxed and special when selecting a design. Visit www.suziemahonydesigns.ie for more information

Fashion for Ladies Day at The Galway Races

Boutique

Summer Sale Now On 30% OFF current summer stock, autumn winter deliveries commence July 2012

• SMART CASUAL DAY WEAR • OCCASION AND WEDDING OUTFITS • COMMUNIONS & CONFIRMATIONS Stocking sizes 8 – 16 We offer a limited range of size 18 Photo: Fee G

Photo: Fee G

Opening hours: 10.00a.m. to 6.00p.m. Monday to Friday • 10.00a.m. to 5.30p.m Saturday and evening appointments by arrangement Wednesday and Thursday.

Photo: Fee G

Stockists of over 20 different design labels including: Marcelino, Fee g, Indies, Ella Boo,Stop Staring, Lavand, Eva Kayan,Daisy May, Darling,Charming & many more.

Located at 2 D-Mek Centre, Teeling Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo.

Phone 096 74984, e-mail kalora@live.com

Feature by Sonya Hamill of Blue Apple Dental

Overcoming Dental Anxiety

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t is very common for a new client approaching a dental practice to begin with the phrase, ‘I don’t like dentists.’ We understand that this is simply a speedy way to immediately share the level of their anxiety. As you would imagine, often it’s the people who need our help the most who are the ones who hold off coming to see us for the longest. But one thing we definitely know is, the vast majority of people, we would even argue everyone, can be helped to feel comfortable having their dentistry done. The sense of achievement clients feel when they have done this can be extremely empowering for them. In fact, at Blueapple we are very proud of our success at helping patients overcome their fears to have dental work carried out.

So, what are some of the most common reasons for these types of anxieties?

Dental Embarrassment: One of the main reasons many people fear coming to see the dentist is because they are embarrassed. That brings me to point number one.

Never put off coming to the dentist because you are embarrassed to show them the condition of your teeth. We see people every single day just like you, no matter how bad you think things may be, no matter what age you are. We don’t judge them, we don’t think badly of them, we are just happy that they want to get on top of it, and really pleased that we know we can make them so much happier with their teeth. Once that first visit is out of the way, many of these people will be quite happy having their treatment.

The Past: Often a person’s anxiety stems from an experience they have had with a

dentist previously; typically a long time ago, often in childhood. There are a number of ways in which this can be overcome, but it is important to provide some reassurance first.

Modern dentistry is vastly improved in attitude, methods and capabilities to what it used to be. Modern dentistry should be painless.

Sometimes this problem stems from an experience with an inconsiderate dentist. Don’t write off the profession because of one negative experience. The profession has changed, and you just need to find someone who you feel will listen to you and take time to treat you the way you deserve to be treated.

Often a personal recommendation is the easiest route to the dentist for you.

Needle Phobia: Dare I say the ‘N’ word? Often the experience of having the anaesthetic is the single moment that an anxious patient has become most focused on.

We now have equipment for making this much easier. We can use a little gel or cold spray to numb the area in advance. And the dentist has techniques of their own for making this a much less challenging experience.

So, what can a dental practice with an anxiety friendly ethos offer you?

A variety of methods can be used to help a patient overcome the anxieties which prevent them having dental treatment carried out.

At Blueapple we operate an anxiety friendly policy, which means that we provide a tiered approach for helping individuals reach their dental goals.

This is because every client is different, and has different needs for helping them reach the point of being comfortable receiving treatment.

These begin with something as simple as gentle relaxation techniques, and

then progress. Some people like to listen to music, or place a blanket over them. A practice like ours can help you work out what is right for you.

Trust is key Trust between patient and dentist is the foundation of a positive dental relationship. When we begin treatment with an anxious patient at Blueapple, typically we begin with a treatment which is very straight forward and short. This enables the client to feel comfortable that our dentist is following their lead, stops when they ask them to so that it is done at their pace, tells them what they are going to do, and then does exactly that and no more. This level of trust is quite often a turning point for many patients, because they feel empowered and in control of the situation. As this trust is cemented, the patient typically finds themselves being able to achieve more and more in the dental chair.

What else is there?

The choice of using medications to help you achieve comfort in the dental chair is an option many people like to know is there. At Blueapple we see the majority of people find sufficient relaxation somewhere on the scale of help before this, but the knowledge that it is available if they need it is a great comfort. For those who do choose this route, they can look at either Oral Sedation (a sedative tablet), R.A. (sedation through inhalation) or Intravenous Sedation.

At Blueapple we offer IV sedation, and through this we provide a small dosage of sedative which gives the patient a state of deep relaxation, which enables them to have their treatment carried out very easily.

So, overall, the message is to take the first step and see what happens.

Find the dentist who works for you and make a plan. This quote is true, ‘A year from now you will wish you had started today.’

‘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

Blueapple welcomes new patients.

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

‘Such encouragement and support I have never experienced before and empowered me to complete the procedure without sedation….My trust in Blueapple across all aspects of my dental experience is always upheld each time I visit the practice. I cannot emphasise enough the transformation that has occurred in my life in terms of panic and anxiety. ‘ An anxious patient, Sligo.

Outdoor Fitness - Visit us online www.outfit.ie

Outdoor Fitness

Exercise and Mental Health Machine of the Month:

The Shoulder Flexor

Function: Strengthens upper arm muscles and enhances shoulder flexibility.

Outfit installation in Ballinlough, Co Roscommon.

W

e are probably all aware of the link between exercise and maintaining good mental health even if that awareness is not a conscious one. When we've had a nice long walk on a Sunday afternoon or on a warm summer's evening or indeed on a bracing cold winter's day, we automatically feel invigorated and refreshed. We come back indoors with renewed energy and focus and find it much easier to tackle into those jobs that an hour or so ago seemed so daunting. So although we may not be alert to the fact that fresh air and exercise is as good for us mentally as it is physically, if we

Outfit is Irelands first Outdor Gym Installation Specialist.

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just reflect on it we see that we do indeed benefit from getting out and about, whatever the weather. It's not always easy to motivate yourself, especially in our climate where rain is the dominant weather feature but as Billy Connolly once famously said, "There's no such thing as bad weather; there's just the wrong clothes!" And he was right. But when you know that something does you good and you are going to feel better afterwards, then it can be enough to tell yourself, "In an hour's time, I'll wish I had started now."

Of course, there is also scientific evidence to demonstrate the link between exercise and mental health.

A 2007 Yale study identified an exercise gene (known as VGF) and found that it worked as an effective anti-depressant in the brains of mice.

The research found that medicinal doses of VGF administered to humans could potentially provide an alternative to the current crop of anti-depressant medications on the market, with all of their welldocumented side effects.

If you're not used to doing much exercise, however, it can be difficult to get started, and we all know how easy it is to find excuses not to get up out of our chairs and get moving.

The Royal College of Psychiatrists in the UK recommends setting some goals for ourselves and tells us to make sure they are: S - Specific and clear M - Measurable - so that you will know when you have achieved them A - Achievable - keep to a level that you are sure you can achieve; be realistic.

R - Relevant - the goal means something to you T - Time based - Set yourself a time limit to achieving your goals.

Method: Stand in front of either wheel and place your hands on the handles provided. Rotate the wheels clockwise and anti-clockwise alternately. This exercise can also be performed while standing with your back to the wheels, although it does call for a little bit more flexibility.

Start with the easy way, facing the wheels, and gradually attempt to get a little bit further each time facing away from the wheels.

Outfit in Collooney, Co Sligo.

In this way, and with our targets in mind, we can be more certain of maintaining an exercise regime that suits us and that fits in with our lifestyle.

With the growth of the outdoor gym concept, we have less excuse than ever for staying indoors. We can take our walk and then spend as long or as short as we want doing some gentle (or otherwise) workouts on the

various pieces of outdoor fitness equipment available locally. If you don't have an outdoor fitness park in your area yet, it's time to get on to your local council or Age Action office and lobby for this facility that is going to help take us into a fit, healthy (mentally and physically) and happy future. After all, exercise is not just for the sunny days - it's for life!

Page 15 Mature Living June 2012

Feature by Stella Carroll

Dare to bare

The best ideas often come when you least expect them.

For more information call 086-173 3019, go to www.dipinthenip.eu or follow us on Facebook.

S

o it was for Máire Garvey, the founder of the Dip in the Nip campaign that has raised thousands for Irish cancer charities in Ireland. Máire's inspiration for the most liberating and cheerful of fundraisers came from a psychic.

This seer told her that she saw her in the middle of a group of naked women running into the sea. Her initial response to this revelation was one of amused disbelief. “ I did not think that was something that would be likely to happen. I have skinny dipped, on secluded beaches at six in the morning, but my immediate reaction was ‘No way is that going to happen’.” But the thought stayed with Máire and she began to realise that this might be a good way to raise money for charity.

The first Dip in the Nip took place in Sligo in June 2009. 180 women ran naked into a chilly Atlantic and raised €56,000 for the Irish Cancer Society. This year, on 24th June, there are women dips taking place in four locations nationwide, and plans for a men's dip in September. A couple's dip took place in February.

The 2011 Dip in the Nip Page 16 Mature Living May 2012

We Irish are not good at that so it is a great affirmation, its about body confidence and for the many who have survived cancer, its about joy. It is about shedding baggage and inhibitions and being happy to be alive.

Máire Garvey was born near Raphoe, Co Donegal but has made Sligo her home. She has a background in marketing and advertising and worked for Trócaire. She has been the access officer with Sligo I.T. and worked with the Chamber of

Commerce. But these days, she is more often called a Social Entrepreneur and her name is synonymous with the 'Dip in the Nip'. “ I don't feel that it is just ‘my’ project . I feel in a sense it was given to me, and I am happy to organise it, but I get so much back from it and feel it belongs to the women and more lately, the men, who take part.

The first year, I was so intent on the fund raising aspect, so stressed about the organising, that it was not till I turned from the ocean, being one of the first to run in, and saw the crowd coming towards me, bodies of all shapes and sizes, many of them bearing the scars of cancer, that I felt the laughter and the joy, and I realised it was a celebration too. We can bare it all, we are unafraid and we are strong women. It was amazing.” Síle Seoige of TV3 was the ambassador for 2011, and she remarked on how everyone ran into the sea as fast as they could, but strolled back out slowly as though they didn’t have a care in the world.

There is a huge amount of goodwill and good humour around the Dip in the Nip . The exact location of the dip is not announced until 24 hours before the event. This is for pretty obvious reasons, after all it is not a naturist or voyeuristic event – most of the Dippers, according to Máire, have never skinny dipped before. She pays tribute to the Irish media, who have respected the privacy of those taking part. “Paddy Power opened a book on the location of the first event it was so secret.” she laughs.

“We have an appointed photographer in each area, in Sligo that has always been Frances Muldoon, and she is sensitive to the women, but has taken some joyful and wonderful photographs over the years. Mobile phones and cameras are not allowed on the beach while the Dip itself is happening, and everyone taking part is very good about respecting

others.” Friendships have formed at the dips and the oldest woman who took part was 71. This year, there will be temporary tatoos for the 'Veteran' and 'Virgin' dippers. A prize for the best dressed dipper will see a flurry of boas and hats, and a fantastic piece of jewellery has been commissioned from Tiffany Budd, goldsmith for the best fundraiser.

Máire stresses that although this is a fund raising event, it is as much about celebrating our bodies. “We Irish are not good at that so it is a great affirmation, its about body confidence and for the many who have survived cancer, it’s about joy.

It is about shedding baggage and inhibitions and being happy to be alive.

Máire Garvey, the founder of the Dip in the Nip pictured with Terry Wogan

Family Days Out

Visit Arigna Mining Experience, Co Roscommon

T

his Summer, why not treat yourself or the whole family to an experience that they will all enjoy, and not worry about the weather. Arigna Mining Experience, just 11 miles from Carrick-on-Shannon town (via R280) is a great day out for all the family.

A typical visit includes a 45-minute underground tour, with sound and lighting effects for an authentic mining experience. The centre and unique underground tour have been open since 2003 and to date over 350,000 people from all over the world have enjoyed this unique attraction. The centre aims to preserve

the heritage and history of an area that has been involved in coal mining for over 350 years. Acclaimed travel writer Pol O’Conghaile of the Irish Independent described the underground tour as ‘’world class’’ and several reviewers on the highly respected global travel website Trip Advisor have agreed. The centre is open every day for tours from 10am to last tour at 5pm. The tour and centre are family friendly, fully accessible and is an all weather activity.

You don’t need boots or equipment, but a cardigan or jacket are advisable for the tour. Contact: 071-9646466 or www.arignaminingexperience.ie

Interview by Niamh Flynn MBA MMEDSCI BA CI DHP

“It’s only a Migraine” Niamh talks to Dr. Andreas Jahnke

Dr. Andreas Jahnke

E

verything is relative - even in a Neurologists office. ‘It is a good day when the diagnosis is migraine’ might seem like a strange or indeed flippant remark to make, but when faced with the prospect of telling a patient they have other serious neurological afflictions Dr. Jahnke’s comment makes complete and total sense. Perhaps even more so when practical and easy to follow advice follow suite.

Hospitals can be a mine field for the uninitiated and, prior to diagnosis, illnesses or disease can conjure up the most frightening of thoughts. Dr. Jahnke’s background and training have afforded him a deep understanding of the psychological and physiological effects of illness and are characteristics clearly reflected in his observations as he discusses the effect of migraines on his patients.

‘Migraines are scary for people when they experience them for the first time and do not know what to expect’. His philosophy includes common sense and attention to detail. It is, he explains, important to err on the side of caution if any symptoms arise and to seek advice as soon as possible. Then, once diagnosis has been made advice and treatment can be tailored to the patient. ‘Migraines are very treatable but there are sometimes differential diagnosis that can be missed with migraines like minor stroke, intracranial bleeding or subarachnoid haemorrhage and glaucoma (increased eye pressure)’.

Once the latter have been ruled out and migraine is the established diagnosis the great news is that some changes in lifestyle can make a massive difference to the frequency Page 18 Mature Living June 2012

of migraines. ‘There can be certain triggers for migraines, like smoking, irregular sleep patterns, certain foods or leaving out meals. It is best to have your meals regularly. When you miss a meal you get hungry and that is a very strong trigger’.

Despite knowing some of the triggers, the cause of migraines is still a bit of a mystery in many cases. Dr. Jahnke cites some of the general characteristics while stressing the need to rule out any other possible causes prior to treatment. ‘Migraines are the most common headache disease and they affect more women than men.

Normally the migraine headache is unilateral and can be associated with nausea and sensitivity to light and noise. Taking too many acute anti-migraine tablets can cause drug induced headaches. So it is important that every individuals case is given due attention’. For those already diagnosed with migraine Dr. Jahnke suggests keeping in touch with their GP to ensure that the frequency and dosage of any migraine medication being taken is ok. ‘It is a good idea for patients to keep their GP informed of any medication they are taking so that they do not overdose themselves.

Taking too many acute anti-migraine tablets can cause drug induced headaches. Each person is different and needs to be treated as such’.

He outlines some of the signs that it may be a diagnosis other than migraines. ‘What does not fit with a diagnosis of migraine is having the first attack when more than 40 years of age. For anyone who has an unbearable headache for the first time, one which affects their consciousness and/or has neck pain associated with it, immediate treatment with A&E is advisable.

Other considerations would include headaches with a duration of less than two hours, fever, losses of consciousness, poor or loss of vision due to increased ocular pressure, sensory or motor disturbances of the limbs.’

Dr. Jahnke is keen to stress some of the practical lifestyle changes which can help those who have been diagnosed with migraines.

‘Sometimes the contraceptive pill is a trigger, and definitely smoking is a trigger. So, on a practical level one can simply stop smoking. Many people take a paracetamol at the start of an attack and often, without anyone telling them to, they will seek out and lie down in a dark

room’. For those who suffer frequently with migraines there are also ways to keep the dreaded migraine at bay. ‘A prophylactic treatment is recommended when someone has more than one migraine attack a month. Of course, relaxation techniques, such as Hypnosis and Jacobson’s Progressive Muscular Relaxation (PMR) also help.

Surgery however, is not helpful’.

Dr. Jahnke’s knowledge of the subject is vast and, from experience, the signs and symptoms which children present with may be a surprise to many of us. ‘Stomach problems or diarrhoea or a flush/paleness in children can sometimes be indicative of migraines.

Dr. Jahnke’s knowledge of the subject is vast and, from experience, the signs and symptoms which children present with may be a surprise to many of us.

Children may complain of visual and abdominal problems and the headaches may not be so important a sign’. Throughout our conversation on migraines Dr. Jahnkes’ down to earth, pragmatic approach is one which clearly puts the patient first.

‘When someone attends their neurologist they may be asked a lot of questions. This is to rule out other reasons for headaches. Then, depending on the frequency and the intensity, the discussion may evolve around acute treatment and prophylactic treatment. When medication is necessary, it is always important to start with drugs which cause the least side effects and which take the person’s lifestyle into account. Giving up chocolate does not need to be mandatory. Life is too short! When treatment starts to affect quality of life that is not a great therapy and there could be an alternative’. With such great insight and advice about migraines, and in the context of other neurological disorders, this consultant may well have a valid point. Migraines may not need to be such a scary diagnosis for sufferers anymore.

Dr. Jahnke is available to give talks to migraine groups. He attends The Galway Clinic, St Josephs in Sligo, Cahercala in Ennis and St. Francis in Mullingar. All consultations with Dr. Jahnke are by appointment only and a GP referral is necessary. His secretary, Fiona, can be contacted on 091 442300 or at 087 9403863.

Fax number is 091 394057.

Feature by Jamie Grant of Grant Water Ltd

The health benefits of Hot Tubs pressure. The heat and massage ease blood flow and improve circulation, in addition to stimulating nerve impulses that boost the immune system and digestion. According to the American Heart Association, individuals with high blood pressure who have been advised to refrain from other activities that cause vasodilation (such as exercise) should also avoid using hot tubs. You should also not drink alcohol or move back and forth between cold water and hot tubs as this can increase blood pressure.

H

ot tubs, also referred to as spas, provide relaxation and soothe muscles. The term "spa" is associated with treatment by water. The earliest descriptions of western bathing practices come from Greece, where citizens bathed using regimens that form the foundation for modern spa procedures. In Greek mythology, it was believed that the natural springs and tidal pools were blessed by gods and able to cure a variety of diseases. While spas do not cure diseases, they do provide some benefits.

The heat, buoyancy and massage elements of a hot tub can provide a number of health benefits. People with nagging aches or pains, stiff muscles, circulation problems, headaches, sleep disturbances and chronic medical conditions like diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia and arthritis may alleviate their symptoms and stimulate healing with hot tub therapy.

STRESS RELIEF AND SLEEP BENEFITS Hot tubs can relieve stress and improve sleep. The massaging jets and soothing heat help to reduce tension which may make it easier to fall asleep. The weightlessness effect produced by the buoyancy of the water can also be relaxing.

Sitting in a hot tub raises body temperature, and the drop in body temperature that occurs after getting out of a hot tub may also induce sleep. Studies suggest that spending 15 minutes in a hot tub 90

minutes before bedtime can lead to an improved night's sleep.

MUSCLE RELAXATION AND JOINT PAIN RELIEF Massaging hot tub jets work to relax muscles and relieve pressure on nerves. In addition, the buoyancy provided by the water reduces body weight by 90 percent, taking pressure off joints. Hydrotherapy in a hot tub can provide symptom relief to some people with arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. The Arthritis Foundation notes that muscle relaxation, decreased pain and stiffness and increased ease of performing daily activities and exercises are all potential benefits from heat therapies such as soaking in a hot tub.

BLOOD PRESSURE AND CIRCULATION Heat from hot tubs can cause the blood vessels to open up (called vasodilation), which decrease blood

IMPROVEMENT OF TYPE 2 DIABETES Hot tub therapy involving up to 30 minutes a day, six days a week for at least three weeks is known to help individuals with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar, lose weight and improve their sleep patterns.

Particularly for people who are unable to exercise, sitting in a hot tub may be an effective alternative.

Those with diabetes need to

exercise caution, however, as they may be more susceptible to get burns on their feet due to nerve damage caused by diabetes. Drops in blood sugar may also not be obvious until getting out of the tub so individuals are advised to leave the hot tub gradually to make sure they do not pass out.

CHRONIC PAIN AND FATIGUE REDUCTIONS Hot tub therapy may help people with medical conditions that cause pain and fatigue. People with fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (both chronic conditions characterized by all-over body pain, aches or fatigue) can get pain relief from soaking in a hot tub or engaging in light stretches while in the water.

References Holistic Online: Hydrotherapy American Heart Association: Hot tubs and blood pressure

Collooney, Sligo • T: 071-913 0956 • M: 086-086 3991

www.grantwater.ie • info@grantwater.ie

Grant Water has a hot tub to suit any need and any budget.

From the smaller to the larger, there is a Spa just your size with the legendary therapy and quality we are known for Call today and get a special discount in conjunction with “Mature Living Magazine”

Go on treat yourself, you deserve it!

Page 19 Mature Living June 2012

Pets Corner

10 things you should never give your pet Did you know there are things that you should never feed your cat or dog? This useful article, written by Dr. Karen Halligan, is essential reading for all cat and dog owners. "Having worked in emergency for numerous years, I have seen pets given all kinds of foods and drinks. An easy rule of thumb, if it isn't particularly healthy for you, it most likely is not good for your cat or dog. Some pets will eat almost anything, so pet owners need to be careful or they could end up in the local emergency room. The following are ten bad things to give your pets.

9

. It may come as a surprise to many that tuna fish is bad for cats. The feline heart muscle requires an amino acid called taurine to maintain normal strength and function. Regular tuna fish for humans does not have this amino acid and cats that eat too much tuna fish will develop heart problems. If you want to give your cats that taste of tuna that they love, just make sure it is tuna fish for cats which has this amino acid added.

1

. Make no bones about it -bones are bad for animals!

Every year countless numbers of animals end up in the emergency room from being given bones by their owners, usually as a treat. The fact is that dogs are omnivores, not carnivores and most dogs and cats cannot tolerate bones. They can splinter or lodge in the intestinal tract with disastrous results, usually requiring surgery. They can also get stuck in their mouth or throat, which is just as dangerous. All bones are bad, including pork, chicken and beef. The next time you feel the urge to give your dog a bone, just make sure it's a milk bone or a nylabone.

Your pet will love you for it.

2

. Chocolate can be lethal to pets because it contains theobromine, which causes increased heart rate, central nervous system stimulation and constriction of arteries. Clinical symptoms range from vomiting, diarrhea, restlessness, and excitability to cardiac failure, seizures and death. This can occur as quickly as four to six hours after ingestion. Baking chocolate is the worst because it contains the highest amount of theobromine. A potential lethal dose is only one pound of chocolate in a 16-pound dog. If your pet has gotten into chocolate you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

3

. Alcohol is also very bad for cats and dogs. It doesn't take much alcohol to intoxicate a pet. Animals will stagger and bump into things, hurting themselves, and it also causes them to urinate uncontrollably. In high doses, alcohol will suppress the central nervous, respiratory and cardiac systems and can lead to death. It is best to just give your pet water.

4

. Milk is also not good for animals because many of them are lactose intolerant and will

develop diarrhea. Pets often lack the enzyme that is required to break down the sugar in milk and this can cause them to develop vomiting, diarrhea and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Even though they like it, especially cats, refrain from giving your pets milk.

5

. Ham and other salty meats and foods are very dangerous to pets. In addition to being high in fat, they are also very salty which can cause serious stomach ache or pancreatitis. Also, large breeds of dogs that eat salty food may drink too much water and develop a life-threatening condition called "bloat." This is where the stomach fills up with gas and within several hours may twist, causing the pet to die. Please avoid giving ham and salty foods to your pets.

6

. Onions are toxic to pets. They contain allyl propyl disulfide, which damages their red blood cells and can cause fatal consequences in animals. They may become anemic, weak and have trouble breathing. The best thing to do if your pet ingests onions is to get them to the vet right away.

7

. Caffeine is also bad for pets.

It contains methylated xanthine that, like chocolate, stimulates the central nervous and cardiac systems and within several hours can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart palpitations and even death. So make sure your pets stay away from that early morning brew.

8

. Avocados are also bad for pets. First, they are really high in fat and can cause stomach upset, vomiting and even pancreatitis. Second, the pit is also toxic and can get lodged in the intestinal tract leading to a severe blockage, which may require surgery.

10

. The latest study has found that raisins and grapes can lead to kidney failure in pets. Small dogs can also choke on grapes so it is best to just make sure that your pets eat a wellbalanced diet that is formulated for their life stage.

How long is a lifetime?

Dogs and cats, with good care, can live to be 10-15 years old or older.

Before you adopt a pet, ask yourself these questions: How old will you be 15 years from now?

How many times do you think you

might move in the next 15 years? Are you willing to move the pet too, and restrict your choice of housing to places where pets are allowed?

Will you change jobs? A new job that requires travel or long hours could mean extra boarding or pet sitting expenses. Will you have enough time each day to exercise your pet?

What other major changes might happen in your life in the next 15 years? Marriage? Children? Are you willing to continue spending the time, energy and money to care for your pet when taking on new responsibilities? Are you willing to re-train your pet so its behavior is acceptable to a new roommate, spouse, or child?

If you are getting a pet for kids you have now, how old will they be in 15 years? Will you still want this pet after the kids move out?

Have you previously owned a pet you didn't keep for at least 10 years? If so, what happened to it? What will you do differently to ensure a new pet has a home for life?

Feature by Stella Carroll

Flying High Over Sligo

T

he first time I heard about The Irish Raptor Research Centre, in Ballymote Co Sligo, I mistakenly heard ' Rapture research' and thought a group of religious fundamentalists had come to await the end of this world. This was followed by a brief dyslexic moment where I imagined a research centre for dinosaurs near my own home. The truth is almost as fantastic. In 1999, Zoologist Lothar Muschketat, his wife Regina and children Alex and Sarah moved from Germany to South Sligo, with a vision of a nice retirement in the rolling hills and green valleys. But life had other plans for them and their love of wild birds and animals came to the fore. They opened a raptor research centre.

Raptors, for anyone as ignorant as me, are

birds of prey. Thirteen years later, the centre is home to 350 birds and animals out of 75 different species. It has received accreditation as an EUZoo, saved the lives of many injured and sick wildlife and has brought joy to animal lovers from all over the world.

Originally the Centre was purely for research and breeding programmes, but as curious people began calling in to see “what the Germans were up to, Lothar recognised the interest there was in his work and in 2003, he opened a visitors Centre “ Eagles Flying” . It’s a welcoming place where ferrets and guinea pigs live beside eagles, falcons, vulture’s and owls. A variety of sheep, goats and horses wander happily in the fields around. Twice a day, at 11 and 3, there is a show, which allows visitors to witness the hunting abilities of the various birds of prey and gives a unique opportunity to get close to these fantastic creatures. Lothar has never become complacent

about the importance of these shows. “I am particularly interested in passing on knowledge and love for the wildlife to the younger members of the audience. They will be the decision makers of tomorrow, so they need to know that these birds and animals are not dangerous and just how amazing and important they are”. It is a breath taking show and there is an incredible feeling when a hawk sits on your hand or when you stroke the back of an Eagle Owl. There is no comparison with even the best made wildlife film. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed.

Lothar is as much an entertainer as an educator, cheerfully joking with the visitors but always ready to explain in a simple way, how life is from the perspective of that particular bird. He stresses that “Eagles Flying “is not a falconry and the birds are not trained to hunt or for sport. “Eagles Flying” is a great place for a family day out and probably the only place in the country where the youngest family member can ride on a friendly pig’s back while a raccoon searches in the pockets of another for hidden tit bits.

But behind the family entertainment, and the cuddly animals, these are serious scientists, dedicated to preserving wildlife. The hospital and rehabilitation programmes are now the most time consuming for Regina, Lothar and their dedicated staff.

Two young buzzards sit in one enclosure, both recovering from car accidents. Buzzards fly low to catch ground animals and are often hit by cars as they cannot ascend fast enough. One had a broken jaw and wing and was hand fed during its recovery; the other suffered head injuries and now has fits. They may be able to reintroduce them to the wild, but in the meantime, they have the best of care and attention and do not seem fazed by the visitors wandering around the gardens. Their website is at www.eaglesflying,com and visitors in the next few weeks may be lucky enough to catch sight of the eagerly awaited baby Himalayan Vulture, which indeed are the largest birds of prey in the world.

Page 21 Mature Living June 2012

Travel

Fancy a holiday with Free accommodation?

Why not try a house swap?

Fancy going on holiday but aren't so keen on paying out huge amounts for accommodation? By swapping your house for a couple of weeks you can get a holiday with more authenticity and for a much cheaper price. This month Mature Living looks at how house-swapping works.

THE HOLLYWOOD romcom The Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet certainly makes the notion of house swapping most attractive.

The movie saw Diaz’s character swap her slick LA pad for Winslet’s Cotswolds cottage with, of course, each having the holiday of a lifetime as a result

What is house-swapping?

Swapping houses with people in other countries to ‘see how the other half lives’ has been practised by people for years, and thanks to the internet is becoming a more accessible way of holidaying for less. It’s based on the idea that by swapping your home for a week or two with a homeowner in another part of the country or the other side of the world, you can benefit from free accommodation for the duration of your holiday.

This can work especially well if you are planning to go on a longer break, as you can take advantage of free accommodation for the whole time.

Living in a local’s home will also help you to get a more in-depth experience of the place you are visiting, rather than the more superficial experience you might get from staying in a hotel for a few days and ticking off tourist hotspots one by one.

The price you have to pay for this free accommodation and more authentic holiday is that you allow another couple, family, or individual to stay at your house while you are enjoying theirs. In this way they can experience the locality that you live in, and get to know your part of the world.

Page 22 Mature Living June 2012

You might try house-swapping with a friend or relative in another county or country, allowing you to experience their local surroundings while they do the same from your house. Or you could join one of the many house-swapping sites on the internet that provide a huge network of possible homes you could swap with.

How does house-swapping work?

If the idea of house-swapping appeals to you, you might first want to scope out any possible relatives or friends who live in an area you’d like to visit, and who might be interested in living in your home temporarily. It may be possible to come to an informal arrangement with them to live in

each other’s houses for a week, month, or more if the option is available. By doing so you can each benefit from a free holiday and experience what it’s like to live in another part of the world.

Alternatively you can sign up with one or more of the home-swapping sites on the web. You will usually

The price you have to pay for this free accommodation and more authentic holiday is that you allow another couple, family, or individual to stay at your house while you are enjoying theirs.

You can join a house swapping network for a small fee.

have to pay a fee to be a member of the site for a certain number of months, for example Home Link charges €124 for a 12 month membership with 20 photos of your house posted too. The price of membership will need to be weighed against how much you would usually spend on holiday accommodation, to see if the scheme will be worth the cost.

Some other home-swapping sites include Home Base Holidays, Home XChange Vacation, Green Theme International, HomeExchange.com and Guardian Home Exchange. Each will require you to sign up and pay a fee to have your house displayed in their listings for a number of months.

You’ll then be able to browse the homes available at your leisure, searching different countries and areas of the world until you arrive at your dream holiday accommodation.

If the occupiers of the home you’ve chosen are interested in staying in your home, you’ll be able arrange a house-swap. Typically this will involve corresponding by email or phone up until the point that you plan to travel, allowing you to get to

know each other and set out the particulars of the arrangement.

What are the benefits of house-swapping?

One of the biggest appeals of house-swapping is the amount of money you will save by not having to pay for accommodation on your holiday, whether that is for a hotel room or rented accommodation. With the extra money freed up from avoiding this expense, you may be able to extend your holiday stay, stay in more exotic destinations, or pay for events or activities that you usually wouldn’t be able to factor into your holiday budget.

In some cases you may also be able to save on car rental expenses, as you may be able to use your exchange-partner’s car (and vice versa).

This means you won’t have to fork out for expensive car rental when you want to travel from your holiday home – a car could already be waiting for you to use.

Aside from the economical alternative to holidaying that house-swapping presents, it can also improve your holiday in other ways. You may find that you have more of an authentic experience of the place you are visiting, because you will be living like a local instead of a tourist. For people who have travelled before and ticked off the typical tourist

sights, experiencing a new culture from a native point of view could really add something extra to your holiday.

What’s more, having your home occupied while you’re on holiday can in some ways make it more secure than if it was left empty. It’s much more likely to be broken into if it is obviously unoccupied, but if people are living there while you’re away then you can at least have the reassurance that it is being looked after.

What’s the catch of house-swapping?

The biggest issue that will come to mind when you’re considering swapping your home, particularly with strangers, is how secure it will be in your absence. It’s impossible to guarantee that your home will be completely safe while you’re

away, although many find that exchange-partners will treat your home with respect and care – because the exchange is based on trust and besides, it is their home that you are occupying at the other end.

Also it’s worth noting that houseswapping is only really going to be a suitable holiday alternative to homeowners rather than tenants. Although tenants can speak to their landlords to see if they would be happy with such an arrangement, some landlords may not want their rented accommodation being used by unknown and unreferenced occupiers.

It’s advisable to contact your insurer before starting on a houseswap, as mitigating circumstances may apply when there are new people occupying your home. However many insurers may treat the houseswap like any other guest-visit to your home, and may in fact prefer to know your house will be occupied while you are away rather than left empty.

Finally it may be a good idea to lock up any valuables you have before you leave your house. This will lessen the risk of them falling into the wrong hands or being accidentally damaged.

With the extra money freed up, you could stay in more exotic destinations, or pay for events or activities that you usually wouldn’t be able to factor into your holiday budget.

Page 23 Mature Living June 2012

Feature by Claudia McGloin - Advanced Nurse Practitioner

What is Constipation?

Everybody has their own normal bowel habits which vary from person to person.

Some adults go to the toilet more than once a day whereas others will go once every three to four days or even longer.

Throughout my nursing career, I have seen varying degrees of bowel habits and have seen the impact that this has had on patients and their lives. I am frequently asked about constipation and what can be done to prevent this so, this is the perfect topic for this month’s editorial seeing as summer is here and people need to get their constipation under control.

The Claudia McGloin Clinic and why we will work on both of these issues to give your bowel the optimum treatment.

Your GP may prescribe laxatives for constipation and will advise on changes to your lifestyle and diet.

See above the factors that cause constipation.

Colonic Hydrotherapy and Constipation Did you know that 80% of all illnesses start in the large intestine?

C

onstipation is a very common condition that affects people of all ages. It means that you are not passing faeces as often as you normally would do, you have to strain more than usual or you are unable to completely empty your bowel.

There is a strong connection between emotions and how the gut works.

Feeling upset can make your bowel slow down.

Constipation can also cause your stools to be unusually hard, lumpy, large or small like nuggets. The severity of constipation can vary greatly from person to person with many people only experiencing constipation for a short time with no lasting effects on their health while for others constipation can be a chronic condition that causes significant pain and discomfort which affects quality of life. In addition, constipation can also Page 26 Mature Living June 2012

cause stomach ache, cramps, bloating, nausea and loss of appetite.

If you continually strain to pass faeces, it can cause pain, discomfort and bleeding. Excessive straining can also lead to Haemorrhoids. More commonly known as Piles, Haemorrhoids are swollen blood vessels that form in the lower rectum and anus.

What causes Constipation?

Most cases of Constipation are not caused by a specific condition but several factors can increase your chances of having Constipation.

These include: • Not eating enough fibre, such as fruit, vegetables and cereals • A change in your routine or lifestyle, such as a change in your eating habits • Ignoring the urge to pass stools • Side effects of certain medication • Not drinking enough fluids • Anxiety or Depression • Pregnancy • Weight • Lack of Exercise • Psychological Issues There is a strong connection between emotions and how the gut works. Feeling upset can make your bowel slow down. Emotional upset, even in childhood, may result in constipation years later. This has always been evident during the Colonic Hydrotherapy treatments at

Most people have no idea how much old, hardened, impacted faecal matter there is in their colon.

Many experts believe that the average person has between 5 and 20 LBS of waste matter in their colon. A person suffering from constipation has up to 40 LBS of waste matter in their colon.

The colon or large intestine is located at the end of the human digestive tract. Its primary functions are to eliminate waste, conserve water and reabsorb electrolytes and minerals into the body. Waste materials that remain in the colon for extended periods of time

The colon or large intestine is an important part of the digestive system. The colon handles the bulk of the food we eat.

(impacted faeces, dead cellular tissue, mucous and parasites etc) pose several health problems. These waste materials can be reabsorbed into the blood stream making us feel weak, tired and ill. Impacted faeces can also impair the colons ability to absorb minerals and can cause the overgrowth of bad bacteria and yeast. A build-up of faecal matter in the colon can also inhibit muscular action causing sluggish bowel movements, slow transit time and constipation.

Feature by Claudia McGloin - Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Over time the colon may become unhealthy and lose its ability to properly eliminate all the waste materials from the digestive tract. waste material remains in the colon for days sometimes weeks. If this waste material deposits along the colon wall it may not leave there for months or even years.

These deposits of faecal matter can get to 2 or 3 inches thick!

The Colonic Hydrotherapy treatment stimulates bowel activity by using the body’s natural nerve and muscular response mechanisms and so is essentially a natural treatment.

Colonic Hydrotherapy can tone and exercise the bowel aiding the evacuation of waste both during and after the treatment.

Are you feeling or experiencing any or all of the following?

• Bloated • Constipated • Weight Gain • Lethargic • Flatulance • Irritable Bowel Syndrome • Backache • Indigestion • Candida • Insomnia • Body Odour • Dark Circles Under Eyes • Poor Concentration • Colitis • Diverticulosis • Diarrhoea• Menstrual Pain • Bad Breath • Parasites (Worms) Then a Colonic Hydrotherapy treatment is for you!

Over the next two issues Claudia McGloin a Advanced nurse practioner will be giving advice on various treatments that are available for different ailments.

Should you wish to contact her, you can call 071-9140728

Types 1 and 2 on the Bristol Stool Chart indicate constipation Colonic Hydrotherapy can greatly alleviate the congestion and build up of unwanted toxic waste.

A Healthy Colon The colon or large intestine is an important part of the digestive system. The colon handles the bulk of the food we eat. Its lining includes sensitive nerves and glands that aid the assimilation of food

especially vitamins, enzymes and water. When the colon is working properly its peristaltic (muscular wave like) motions move food through the system and eliminate unassimilated substances in the form of waste within 16-24 hours after eating. A healthy individual with a clean and healthy colon will have 2 bowel movements per day.

They should be large, well formed, buoyant and not accompanied by a foul odour.

Needless to say a healthy colon is essential to a healthy body!

A Toxic Colon Over time the colon may become unhealthy and lose its ability to properly eliminate all the waste materials from the digestive tract.

This is due to a combination of Poor Diet, Lack of Exercise, Drug Intake, Lifestyle and a variety of other factors. When the colon becomes less active the body does not eliminate its waste materials as effectively. Therefore, when the elimination process is not functioning properly deposits of waste matter build up along the colon wall. When this occurs, the Page 27 Mature Living June 2012

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

Hoedowners Story (1962-1973) A lthough Earl Gill got his start in the 50's playing with other bands around Dublin, the Hoedowners started life as the resident band in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. In fact, as were many bands of the day, they were actually more of an orchestra. During the winter the band played in the hotel ballroom, but during the summer they hit the road. In a 1969 Spotlight article Oliver Barry said that Earl was originally a piano player, but had an accident that severely injured some of his fingers and he turned his talents to the trumpet. However, his early training made him one of Ireland's most talented arrangers in the country.

Around the same time in the early sixties, Sean Dunphy was a carpenter by trade and sang part time with a group called the Keymen. He went to England after serving in the Irish Army where he continued to work by day as a carpenter and by night sang in the Hibernian Ballroom in Fulham.

When he heard Earl Gill was looking for a vocalist, he sent a tape and was signed

immediately.

The original "road band" included Mel Dean (guitar), Steve Pickering (guitar), Gerry Ryan (bass), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Claude Phibbs (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Sean Dunphy and Amy Hayden (vocals). At the time, the band was known as the Earl Gill Band. In the mid sixties, RTE (then known as Telefis Eireann =TE) started a television show called the Hoedown and Earl and the band were hired to provide backing for the singers. They took on the name The Hoedowners for the show and it stuck.

Around the same time, they teamed up with manager Oliver Barry, and set their sights on conquering the ballroom circuit. At that time the band was known as Earl Gill and his Hoedowners.

The band's next big break came in early 1966, after changing to their new name, they released Wonderful World of My Dreams and it went to number five in the Irish Charts, starting a string of hit records which would become legendary as there

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

were very few weeks in the mid to late 60's that there wasn't a Hoedowners record somewhere in the charts. In the 1960's and early seventies, the Hoedowners were one of the most successful Irish recording artists with 14 singles hitting the Irish charts between 1966 and 1973. In 1967, Sean was selected to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. This was Ireland's third attempt - Butch Moore and Dickie Rock had preceded Sean. The song was If I Could Choose. Sean came in second behind England's entry, Sandie Shaw's Puppet on A String. In Ireland, the record reached number two in the Irish Charts and provided the band's fourth hit single. The same year the band released "Sunset" one of very few instrumental songs to be released during the showband era.

In early 1968, Sean was hospitalized in

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 - 1968 Birmingham with tonsillitis and missed several dates in March. In mid-1968, Sean and the Hoedowners became the first artists to release a single on the new Dolphin Records, started by their then manager, Oliver Barry and Jim Hand, manager of the Capitol. Sean and the boys also released the first album on the new label, Ireland's Own Sean Dunphy. In December, 1968, the band underwent a shuffle when several new members joined including guitarist/vocalist Dave Carlisle from Newtownards.

In early 1969, Sean and the boys had their first number one hit with The Lonely Woods of Upton. In July, the band followed this up with the song, When The Fields Were White With Daisies which was arranged by Noel Kelehan and provided them with yet another number one hit and they became one of the few Irish artists ever to have a single in the top twenty for

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners in 1966 Left to right- Claude Phipps (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Amy Hayden (vocals), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Unknown (guitar), Vinnie Keane (drums), Pat Keohane (bass) and Earl Gill (trumpet).

Earl Gill and "his" Hoedowners: Left to right: Frank Mangan (trombone), Steve Pickering (guitar), Mel Dean (guitar), Claude Phipps (sax), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Amy Hayden (vocals) and Gerry Ryan (bass). Our thanks to Mel Dean for lineup info.

Page 24 Mature Living June 2012

12 months straight. A chart survey published in Spotlight in January, 1970 showed that Sean Dunphy was far and away the top recording artist in Ireland based on the number of weeks and position in the charts for all of 1969, ahead of Joe Dolan and in third place, The Beatles. The only other Irish acts in the top ten of the survey were the Real McCoy and Dixies.

In 1971, the band went the "gimmick" route when they released Poor Poor Farmer as Darby O'Gill (Tim Pat), who was actually Earl Gill. The single got to Number 3 in the Irish Charts and the band got plenty of press. The trend would continue in 1972, when the band donned costumes as circus performers and changed their name to the Ho-Down Circus. Joining the band around this time (late 1972) was

fiddler, Tony Kirby and former Gentry drummer, Shay Murphy. Each member of the band dressed as a different character from a typical circus lineup. However, the writing was on the wall for the Hoedowners.

An article in Spotlight dated December 20th, 1973 described Sean as the former lead singer with the Hoedowners, so we are assuming the band split up in mid to late 1973. He went off to do a residency in Canada (which seems to have been all the rage at the time), but was due back in Ireland in early 1974 for cabaret dates around the country. Also, around this time Earl Gill took over the management of Hugo Duncan and the Tallmen.

Our thanks to Mel Dean, former member of the band for help compiling this story.

1. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Little Arrows (Pye) 2. Johnny McEvoy - Nora (target) 3. Dickie Rock & Miami - Simon Says (Pye) 4. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - Two Loves (Dolphin) 5. Emmet Spiceland - Mary From Dungloe (Inset) 6. Pat McGeegan - Chance of A Lifetime (Emerald) 7. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Katie's Kisses (Pye) 8. Pattersons - I Don't Want To Be A Memory (CBS) 9. Irish Rovers - The Unicorn (MCA) 10. Sweeney's Men - Waxie's Dargle (Pye) 11. Emmet Spiceland - Baidin Fheidhlimi (Gael-linn) 12. Sean Dunphy & Howdowners - Christmas Polka 13. Patricia Cahill - One and One Are Two (Rex) 14. Freshmen - Papa Oom Oom Mow (target) 15. Granny's Intentions - Never An Everyday Thing (Deram) 16. Sands - Yummy Yummy Yummy (Tribune) 17. Sands - Dance Dance Dance (Tribune) 18. Johnstons - I Never Will Marry (Pye) 19. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Love of the Common People 20. Real McCoy - I Get So Excited (Target) 21. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Lady Will-power/ Woman Woman (King) 22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Christmas Time and You (Pye) 23. Sands - Help Me Rhonda (Tribune) 24. Memories - Oh No (Rex) 25. Dubliners - Dirty Old Town (Major Minor) 26. Emmet Spiceland - Bunclody (Page One) 27. Fairways - Flippiddy Flop (Release) 28. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - The Emigrant 29. Kathleen & Deirdre - The Bridal Path (Pye) 30. Johnstons - Both Sides Now (Transatlantic) 31. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - In Person (Pye) 32. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Same Old Song 33. Dreams - I Will See You There (Dolphin) 34. Dolly McMahon - Sweet Rathcoole (Major Minor) 35. Dubliners - Never Wed An Old Man (Major Minor) 36. Freshmen - Go Granny Go (Target) 37. Pat Lynch & Airchords - Piccolo Man (Pye) Page 25 Mature Living June 2012

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

Hoedowners Story (1962-1973) A lthough Earl Gill got his start in the 50's playing with other bands around Dublin, the Hoedowners started life as the resident band in the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin. In fact, as were many bands of the day, they were actually more of an orchestra. During the winter the band played in the hotel ballroom, but during the summer they hit the road. In a 1969 Spotlight article Oliver Barry said that Earl was originally a piano player, but had an accident that severely injured some of his fingers and he turned his talents to the trumpet. However, his early training made him one of Ireland's most talented arrangers in the country.

Around the same time in the early sixties, Sean Dunphy was a carpenter by trade and sang part time with a group called the Keymen. He went to England after serving in the Irish Army where he continued to work by day as a carpenter and by night sang in the Hibernian Ballroom in Fulham.

When he heard Earl Gill was looking for a vocalist, he sent a tape and was signed

immediately.

The original "road band" included Mel Dean (guitar), Steve Pickering (guitar), Gerry Ryan (bass), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Claude Phibbs (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Sean Dunphy and Amy Hayden (vocals). At the time, the band was known as the Earl Gill Band. In the mid sixties, RTE (then known as Telefis Eireann =TE) started a television show called the Hoedown and Earl and the band were hired to provide backing for the singers. They took on the name The Hoedowners for the show and it stuck.

Around the same time, they teamed up with manager Oliver Barry, and set their sights on conquering the ballroom circuit. At that time the band was known as Earl Gill and his Hoedowners.

The band's next big break came in early 1966, after changing to their new name, they released Wonderful World of My Dreams and it went to number five in the Irish Charts, starting a string of hit records which would become legendary as there

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

were very few weeks in the mid to late 60's that there wasn't a Hoedowners record somewhere in the charts. In the 1960's and early seventies, the Hoedowners were one of the most successful Irish recording artists with 14 singles hitting the Irish charts between 1966 and 1973. In 1967, Sean was selected to represent Ireland in the Eurovision Song Contest. This was Ireland's third attempt - Butch Moore and Dickie Rock had preceded Sean. The song was If I Could Choose. Sean came in second behind England's entry, Sandie Shaw's Puppet on A String. In Ireland, the record reached number two in the Irish Charts and provided the band's fourth hit single. The same year the band released "Sunset" one of very few instrumental songs to be released during the showband era.

In early 1968, Sean was hospitalized in

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 - 1968 Birmingham with tonsillitis and missed several dates in March. In mid-1968, Sean and the Hoedowners became the first artists to release a single on the new Dolphin Records, started by their then manager, Oliver Barry and Jim Hand, manager of the Capitol. Sean and the boys also released the first album on the new label, Ireland's Own Sean Dunphy. In December, 1968, the band underwent a shuffle when several new members joined including guitarist/vocalist Dave Carlisle from Newtownards.

In early 1969, Sean and the boys had their first number one hit with The Lonely Woods of Upton. In July, the band followed this up with the song, When The Fields Were White With Daisies which was arranged by Noel Kelehan and provided them with yet another number one hit and they became one of the few Irish artists ever to have a single in the top twenty for

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners in 1966 Left to right- Claude Phipps (sax), Frank Mangan (trombone), Amy Hayden (vocals), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Unknown (guitar), Vinnie Keane (drums), Pat Keohane (bass) and Earl Gill (trumpet).

Earl Gill and "his" Hoedowners: Left to right: Frank Mangan (trombone), Steve Pickering (guitar), Mel Dean (guitar), Claude Phipps (sax), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Vinnie Keane (drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Amy Hayden (vocals) and Gerry Ryan (bass). Our thanks to Mel Dean for lineup info.

Page 24 Mature Living June 2012

12 months straight. A chart survey published in Spotlight in January, 1970 showed that Sean Dunphy was far and away the top recording artist in Ireland based on the number of weeks and position in the charts for all of 1969, ahead of Joe Dolan and in third place, The Beatles. The only other Irish acts in the top ten of the survey were the Real McCoy and Dixies.

In 1971, the band went the "gimmick" route when they released Poor Poor Farmer as Darby O'Gill (Tim Pat), who was actually Earl Gill. The single got to Number 3 in the Irish Charts and the band got plenty of press. The trend would continue in 1972, when the band donned costumes as circus performers and changed their name to the Ho-Down Circus. Joining the band around this time (late 1972) was

fiddler, Tony Kirby and former Gentry drummer, Shay Murphy. Each member of the band dressed as a different character from a typical circus lineup. However, the writing was on the wall for the Hoedowners.

An article in Spotlight dated December 20th, 1973 described Sean as the former lead singer with the Hoedowners, so we are assuming the band split up in mid to late 1973. He went off to do a residency in Canada (which seems to have been all the rage at the time), but was due back in Ireland in early 1974 for cabaret dates around the country. Also, around this time Earl Gill took over the management of Hugo Duncan and the Tallmen.

Our thanks to Mel Dean, former member of the band for help compiling this story.

1. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Little Arrows (Pye) 2. Johnny McEvoy - Nora (target) 3. Dickie Rock & Miami - Simon Says (Pye) 4. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - Two Loves (Dolphin) 5. Emmet Spiceland - Mary From Dungloe (Inset) 6. Pat McGeegan - Chance of A Lifetime (Emerald) 7. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Katie's Kisses (Pye) 8. Pattersons - I Don't Want To Be A Memory (CBS) 9. Irish Rovers - The Unicorn (MCA) 10. Sweeney's Men - Waxie's Dargle (Pye) 11. Emmet Spiceland - Baidin Fheidhlimi (Gael-linn) 12. Sean Dunphy & Howdowners - Christmas Polka 13. Patricia Cahill - One and One Are Two (Rex) 14. Freshmen - Papa Oom Oom Mow (target) 15. Granny's Intentions - Never An Everyday Thing (Deram) 16. Sands - Yummy Yummy Yummy (Tribune) 17. Sands - Dance Dance Dance (Tribune) 18. Johnstons - I Never Will Marry (Pye) 19. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Love of the Common People 20. Real McCoy - I Get So Excited (Target) 21. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Lady Will-power/ Woman Woman (King) 22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Christmas Time and You (Pye) 23. Sands - Help Me Rhonda (Tribune) 24. Memories - Oh No (Rex) 25. Dubliners - Dirty Old Town (Major Minor) 26. Emmet Spiceland - Bunclody (Page One) 27. Fairways - Flippiddy Flop (Release) 28. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - The Emigrant 29. Kathleen & Deirdre - The Bridal Path (Pye) 30. Johnstons - Both Sides Now (Transatlantic) 31. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - In Person (Pye) 32. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Same Old Song 33. Dreams - I Will See You There (Dolphin) 34. Dolly McMahon - Sweet Rathcoole (Major Minor) 35. Dubliners - Never Wed An Old Man (Major Minor) 36. Freshmen - Go Granny Go (Target) 37. Pat Lynch & Airchords - Piccolo Man (Pye) Page 25 Mature Living June 2012

Motoring

10TH - 15TH JUNE 2012

Holiday check your Car

4TH ANNUAL WELCOME HOME FESTIVAL

COMMERCIAL RANGE VOLKSWAGEN RANGE 2012 FLEET COMMERCIALS 2012 VW Crafter 3.0 MWB............................€26,500 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 LW............. €19,500 2010 VW Transporter 1.9TDI..........................€16,500 2009 VW Transporter 2.5TDI LWB 6 Seat........€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 2007 VW Transporter 2.5TDI 6Sp...................€10,500 2006 VW Transporter 2.5TDI 6Sp.....................€7,500 CADDY RANGE 2012 VW Caddy Van TDI Choice...................€14,500 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 Seat...........€18,500 2008 VW Caddy Maxi.....................................€9,000 2008 VW Caddy TDI.......................................€8,500 2007 VW Caddy TDI........................................€7,000 2005 VW Caddy TDI.......................................€5,500 2004 VW Caddy TDI.......................................€3,500 CRAFTER RANGE 2010 VW Crafter 3.5 HR EL 0 Mileage...........€24,500 2008 VW Crafter...........................................€15,000 2008 VW Crafter 3.5 LWB HR 9000KL..€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 2008 VW Touareg 2.5TDI A/T........................€13,500 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 2012 Mitsubishi L 200 Kombi 5 Seater New Model Canopy.........................................................€32,500 2010 Mitsubishi L200 Extras Canopy...............€24,500 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial...........€18,500 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander Commercial...........€15,000 2008 L200 kombi 5 Seater ( Full Canopy).......€15,000 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5Sports....................€15,500 2008 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 LWB......................€15,000 2006 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2.............................€12,500 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 LWB......................€11,500 2005 Mitsubishi Pajero 2.5 SWB.....................€10,500 2003 Mitsubishi Pajero 3.2 SWB.......................€6,500 CITROEN RANGE 2007 Citroen Berlingo......................................€5,000 2006 Citroen Xsara Pacasso DSl.......................€7,000 2005 Citroen Berlingo DSl................................€3,950 2005 Citroen Despatch....................................€5,000 2004 Citroen Berlingo DSL...............................€3,000 2003 Citroen Berlingo Dsl................................€2,750 2001 Citroen Berlingo Dsl.................................€1,500 MERCEDES RANGE 2008 Mercedes Sprinter 303..........................€12,500 2007 Mercedes Vito 115BHP.............................€7,500

2005 Toyota Yaris D4D....................................€5,000 2004 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€5,000 2002 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€3,000 2002 Toyota Landcruiser LWB..........................€6,500 2002 Toyota Avensis Petrol 7 Seater.................€3,500 FORD RANGE 2009 Ford Transit 350 H/R Van........................€9,000 2008 Ford Transit 350 H/R Van........................€8,000 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 2006 Ford Transit Connect ...............................€4,500 2005 Ford Transit 280 LWB..............................€5.000 ISUZU RANGE 2005 Isuzu Trooper Dsl....................................€5,000 2004 Isuzu Trooper Dsl...................................€4,500 2003 Isuzu Trooper Dsl...................................€3,500 2002 Isuzu Trooper..........................................€2,000 PEUGEOT RANGE 2007 Peugeot Partner Dsl Van..........................€5,000 2007 Peugeot 407 DSL Estate..........................€8,000 2005 Peugeot 307 DSL 7 Seater.......................€6,000 2005 Peugeot Partner DSL................................€3,500 KIA RANGE 2008 Kia Carnival DSL 7 Seater.....................€11,500 2007 Kia Sportage 2.0DSL Comm..................€7,500 2007 Kia Sorento Passenger 2.5 DSL EX Auto..€10,500 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.....................................€5,000 2007 Opel Zafari 7 Seater Dsl........................€10,500 2006 Opel Vivaro Dsl Com..............................€6,500 2006 Opel Zafari 7 Seater Petrol......................€7,500 2006 Opel Astra Dsl Van..................................€6,000 SUZUKI RANGE 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara Dsl Passenger 4x4..€16,500 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara Dsl Passenger.........€13,500 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4 X4 Dsl Pass...........€9,500 2004 Suzuki Jimmy 1.3 Petrol...........................€5,000 NISSAN RANGE 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI CC Canapy...........€9,500 2007 Nissan Navara 2.5TDI Crew Cab A/T....€10,500 2007 Nissan Pathfinder DSL A/T.......................€9,500 RENAULT RANGE 2007 Renault Master 2.7 Pick up 5 Seater ........€6,500 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 Defender Dsl hardtop 12K.....€18,500 2006 Landrover Discovery SE 2.8 V6................€9,500 2005 Landrover Discovery 3 DSL......................€8,500 2005 Landrover Passenger ..............................€6,500 2003 Landrover Defender LWB.........................€6,000 BUSES RANGE 2010 VW Touran 7 Seater DSL €19,500 2009 VW Touran 7 Seater DSL A/T Extras.......€19,500 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.........................€10,500 2007 Toyota Hiace Van....................................€6,500

AL: 086-2449645 • DAMIEN: 087-2368841 • DEREK: 086-8119141 • NIALL: 087-6385033 • ALAN: 087-4153872

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

Tel: 090 9741390, 090 9742200

B

efore you go on holiday we strongly recommend that you get your car checked for defects that might give you a break-down during your holiday.

Before you start your well-earned holiday we have some good advice for you and we have also made a list of things we recommend you bring on your holiday.

starts. With this you have checked that it’s working properly. If the temperature gauge enters the red area and the cooling fan doesn’t start there is something wrong with the system that can cause severe consequences if you are getting caught in a queue on the highway.

This has to be repaired immediately.

Mechanical controls

Tyres:It’s very important that the tyres are in good condition before the holiday. It varies from country to country which minimum measures there are for the tread depth, but it’s usually about 1.6 mm. Though we recommend that you replace your tyres when there are at least 2.5 mm of tread left.

Tyres are always replaced in pairs.

Check also the sides of the tyres.

No cracks or “bobbles” must occur.

In case you observe one of these things replace the tyres.

Check your tyre pressure. Consult your owners manual for the correct pressure data. Often a label is placed in one of the doors with the pressure data. REMEMBER to check the spare tyre too.

If the car is heavy loaded for a holiday you have to raise the tyre pressure – consult your owners manual for exact data. If you don’t raise the tyre pressure the car will be unstable and the tyres will also be worn wrongly and too fast. In worst case they might get hot and explode.

Brakes: The most important thing is that your brakes are in good condition. They have to brake even and you have to be sure that your brake pads and brake linings on the brake shoes are not worn down.

Finally check that your brake discs are not under the minimum measures with risk of a cracked brake disc during heavy braking.

Also check that your brake drums (if mounted) are not over maximum measures.

Finally you have to get your brake fluid boiling point checked.

If the boiling point is too low it might cause a brake failure during heavy braking or during continuous braking in the mountains.

Engine: You ought to replace the engine oil and oil filter before your holiday if it hasn’t been done lately. If it has been replaced recently then just check the level.

If your holiday involves driving long distances on motorways we recommend that you pull your oil dipstick every time you are filling your fuel tank. The oil consumption will increase when you are loading your engine heavily for a longer period.

Cooling system: Check the coolant level. If the level is too low you should check all hoses, pipes, connections, studs and also check the radiator and the thermostat housing. This should anyway be done before a holiday.

If the car is mounted with an electrical cooling fan (which most cars are today) you should let the engine idle until the cooling fan

Exhaust: Before the holiday trip you should also check your exhaust. If it is very rusty you should replace it to avoid a nonplanned stop. Use a pointed hammer to hit on the rusty parts to see if there is a hole under the rust or there is non-attacked metal. If there is a hole or the metal is easily deformed when you hit it replace this part of the exhaust system. Especially check around the clamps where two pipes are put together and check where it has been welded on the pipe. This is the places where the pipes first get bad.

PRE –REG CARS 0 MILEAGE 2012 VW Touran TDI C/Line 7 Seat Extras....€29,800 2012 VW Touran 1.6TDI 5 Seater.................€25,500 2012 VW Touran 1.6TDI 7 Seater................€28,500 2012 VW Tiguan TDI Passenger Extras..........€28,500 2012 VW Passat CC 2.0TDI 140BHP White...€33,500 2012 VW Passah HL Silver Metallic.............€29,500 2012 VW Passat 1.6TDI Comfortline Extras..€27,500 2012 VW Jetta 1.6TDI................................€23,500 2012 VW Jetta 1.6 C/L Extras.....................€24,900 2012 VW Golf TDI Match Grey Met............€23,500 2010 /2011 FLEET RANGE 2011 VW Scirroco 2.0TDI Extras...............€26,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI Comfortline..............€19,500 2011 VW Fox.............................................€10,500 2010 VW Touran 1.9TDI 7 Seater................€19,500 2010 VW Scirroco 1.4TSI 122BHP................€21,500 BEETLE RANGE 2009 VW Beetle 1.4 High 15KM.................€15,000 2008 VW Beetle 1.4 High 12KM.................€14,000 2007 VW Beetle Cabriolet 1.4 18KM..........€12,500 PASSAT RANGE 2011 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140BHP Comfortline................................................€24,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Highline Extras.......€25,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Estate Comfortline 0 Mileage..................................................€26,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Comfortline............€22,500 2010 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140BHP Highline....€22,500 2010 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140bhp Comfortline................................................€21,000 2010 VW Passat 1.6TDI..............................€18,500 2010 VW Passat 1.9TDI Comfortline............€19,500 2009 VW Passat 1.9TDI..............................€16,500 2009 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140BHP Highline Leather.........................................€18,500 2009 VW Passat 1.4TSI Comfortline A/T......€16,500 2009 VW Passat 2.0 TDI Highline Est 140BHP Leather High Mileage.............................................€13,500 2008 VW Passat 2.0TDI C/L A/T.................€16,500 JETTA RANGE 2012 VW Jetta 1.6TDI................................€23,500 2011 VW Jetta 1.4TSI Comfortline...............€19,500 2010 VW Jetta 1.4TSI Petrol........................€15,000 2010 VW Jetta 1.6|TDI C/L.........................€17,500 2009 VW Jetta 1.6FSI Petrol.......................€11,500 2009 VW Jetta 1.9TDI Comfortline..............€14,500 2008 VW Jetta 1.9TDI................................€12,500 GOLF RANGE 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI BM Cabriolet............€24,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI 5DR Comfortline................................................€19,500 2011 VW Golf 1.2TSI 5DR............................€17,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6TDI Plus Model.................€21,500 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI Plus Comfortline........€18,500 2010 VW Golf 1.2TSI High Line Model........€16,500 2010 VW Golf 1.6TDI 5DR..........................€17,500 2009 VW Golf 2.0TDI................................€16,500 2009 VW Golf 1.4 Comfortline 5Dr.............€14,500 2009 VW Golf TDI Comfortline..................€15,500 2008 VW Golf 1.4GT Sports......................€10,500 2008 VW Golf 1.9TDI................................€13,500 2008 VW Golf 1.9TDI GT Sports.................€13,500 2007 VW Golf 1.9TDI.................................€11,500 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 1.6TDI.................................€12,500 2009 VW Polo Petrol 5DR............................€9,500 2008 VW Polo 1.2 5DR Choice.....................€8,000 2007 VW Polo 1.2 5DR Choice.....................€7,500 2006 VW Polo 1.25DR..................................€6,500 2005 VW Polo 1.2 5DR.................................€5,500 2004 VW Polo 1.2 5DR................................€4,500

4 X 4 PASSENGER RANGE 2011 VW Tiguan Passenger.........................€28,500 2010 VW Tiguan 2.0TDI 2 Wheel Drive Passenger..................................................€24,500 2008 VW Tiguan 2.0DSL 4x4 Passenger......€21,000 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitaro 2.0DSL 4x4 Passenger...................................................€16,500 2008 Hyundia Touscan 2.0 DSL....................€9,500 2008 Kia Carnival 7 Seater........................€12,500 2008 Mitsubishi L200 Intense Model 5 Seater.....................................................€15,500 2007 Suzuki Grand Vitara 1.9DSL Passenger...................................................€13,500 2007 Daihatsu Terios 1.5 Passenger 5DR........€6,500 ESTATE CARS 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Trendline 12,000Mls.................................................€22,500 2011 VW Passat 1.6TDI Estate Comfortline 0 Mileage..................................................€26,500 2009 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140BHP Estate Highline Leather.........................................€13,500 2007 VW Passat 2.0 Highline Leather 140 BHP.....................................................€11,500 2006 VW Passat 1.9TDI Estate......................€9,500 2005 VW Golf 1.9TDI Comfortline (Extras)....€7,500 2003 VW Passat 1.9TDI...............................€6,500 7 SEATER RANGE 2010 VW Touran TDI 7 Seater...................€19,500 2009 VW Touran 1.9TDI Automatic.............€18,500 2007 VW Sharan TDI 7 Seater....................€13,500 2006 Ford Galaxy 7 Seater Zetec Model.....€11,500 2004 VW Sharan 1.9TDI 7 Seater €7,500 2003 Ford Galaxy TDI 7 Seater....................€6,000 AUDI RANGE 2010 A4 2.0TDI Extras...............................€26,500 2009 A4 2.0TDI ........................................€22,500 2008 A4 2.0TDI.........................................€19,500 2008 A6 2.0TDI Automatic..........................€17,500 2008 A3 2.0TDI 5DR..................................€15,000 2007 A4 1.9TDI...........................................€13,500 2006 A4 2.0TDI.........................................€11,500 2006 A6 2.0TDI ........................................€12,500 2006 A3 1.6................................................€9,500 VOLVO RANGE 2008 Volvo S40 1.8 Flexifuel Extras..............€9,500 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 1999Volvo V70 2.0 Estate............................€2,500 TOYOTA RANGE 2009 Toyota Avensis D4D New Engine........€15,000 2009 Toyota Auris 1.4 3dr..........................€11,000 2008 Toyota Corolla 1.4..............................€8,000 2008 Toyota Avenis Dsl Est Verso................€12,500 2008 Toyota Verso 1.6 7 Seater...................€12,500 2007 Toyota Auris 1.4 H/B...........................€8,500 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 FORD RANGE 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Style A/T....................€12,500 2009 Ford 1.6 DSL Zetec............................€12,500 2009 Ford Focus 1.6 5DR.............................€9,500 2008 Ford Mondeo DSL..............................€11,500 2008 Ford Focus 2.0 TDI CC.......................€13,500 2008 Ford Fiesta 1.25..................................€6,500 2008 Ford Focus 1.6DSL.............................€10,900 2008 Ford Focus 1.6 DSL Van.......................€8,500 OPEL RANGE 2008 Opel Corsa 1.2 5DR............................€6,000 2007 Opel Vectra 1.9DSl.............................€8,500 2007 Opel Astra Van DSL.............................€5,000

2007 Opel Corsa 1.4 5DR.............................€6,500 2007 Opel Zafari Dsl 7 Seater....................€10,500 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 S...........l................€6,000 2005 Seat Cordoba Dsl...............................€5,000 2004 Seat Cordoba 1.2 Sal.........................€4,500 2003 Seat Ibiza 1.2 5DR.............................€3,500 PEUGEOT RANGE 2008 Peugeot 308 1.6 Dsl 5Dr.....................€9,000 2007 Peugeot 407 Dsl Estate SW..................€8,500 2007 Peugeot 307 1.4 5Dr...........................€6,500 2007 Peugeot 407 Dsl Solaire Model............€6,500 2006 Peugeot 307 1.4 5DR..........................€6,000 2006 Peugeot 206 5DR................................€6,000 HONDA RANGE 2005 Honda Civic 1.6..................................€5,000 2005 Honda HRV 1.6...................................€6,000 2004 Honda Accord 2.2 Dsl.........................€5,000 2004 Honda Accord A/T..............................€5,000 2003 Honda Civic 1.4i.................................€4,000 BMW RANGE 2008 BMW 318 DSl Extras M sport 140BHO....................................................€19,500 2008 BMW 318 Dsl....................................€13,500 2007 BMW 320DSL ..................................€11,500 2006 BMW 318 Dsl Extras............................€9,500 2005 BMW 520 Dsl A/T Extras....................€9,500 2002 BMW 520 DSl....................................€5,000 MITSUBISHI RANGE 2012 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8 DSL...................€21,500 2012 Mitsubishi L200 New Model Crew Cab Canopy..............................................€32,500 2011 Mitsubishi ASX 1.6 Petrol Estate 5DR...€21,500 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.8 DSL €18,500 2011 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Petrol.................€16,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt Cabrio 1.5.......... .......€13,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR Automatic............€13,500 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Extras................€11,500 2010 Mitsubishi L200 Crew Cab Canopy.....€24,500 2010 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0DSl Commercial................................................€18,500 2010 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR Automatic............€12,500 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander 2.0DSL Com.......€15,500 2009 Mitsubishi Lancer 1.5 Petrol................€13,500 AUTOMATIC RANGE 2012 VW Jetta 1.6TDI Comfortline Extras....€26,500 2011 VW Golf 1.6 DSL Comfortline.............€21,500 2011 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR A/T........................13,500 2010 VW Golf 2.0TDI 140BHP C/LA/T ......€20,000 2010 Mitsubishi Colt 5DR A/T (5K)..............€12,500 2010 Ford Fiesta 1.4 Style A/T....................€12,500 2010 Quasqui 2.0 Petrol SVCVT A/T............€16,500 2009 VW Golf 1.4 TSI H/L A/T...................€13,500 2009 VW Passat 1.4 TSI Comfortline...........€16,500 2008 VW Passat 2.0TDI 140BHP C/L A/T .................................................................€16,500 2008 VW Jetta 1.9 TDI DSG.......................€15,000 2008 VW Transporter 2.5TDI SWB 0 Mileage .................................................€19,500 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 DSL 7 Seater Leather.......................................................€20,000 2008 Audi A6 TDI DSG Leather...................€17,500 2007 VW Caravelle Bus A/T 8 Seater Extras........................................................€16,500 2007 Vw Shuttle 9 Seater Dsl A/T...............€15,000 2007 Skoda Octavia TDI .............................€7,500 2007 Kia Sorento ex Pasenger A/T leather..€10,500 2007 VW Passat 2.0 Highline DSG.............€12,500

AL HAYES MOTORS LTD.

GALWAY RD., PORTUMNA, CO. GALWAY Tel: 090 9741390, 090 9742200 Tuam: 093 26411

SUBARU RANGE 2007 Subaru Impreza 1.5 Extras...................€7,500 2005 Subaru Legacy 2.0..............................€5,000 2004 Subaru Forrester 2.0 A/T 4WD............€5,500 2000 Subaru Forrester 2.0 4WD...................€3,000 SKODA RANGE 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9TDI A/T...................€6,500 2007 Skoda Octavia 1.9 TDI........................€9,000 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.4..............................€2,500 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.9TDI.........................€3,000 2002 Skoda Octavia 1.4..............................€2,000 CITROEN RANGE 2006 Citroen Picasso 1.4..............................€6,000 2003 Citroen Xsara 1.4................................€2,500 2002 Citroen Saxa 1.0.................................€1,500 RENAULT RANGE 2006 Renault Megane 1.4 Sal......................€5,000 2005 Renault Laguna 1.9 Dsl........................€4,500 2005 Renault Clio 1.2..................................€3,500 2004 Renault Scenic 1.6...............................€3,000 NISSAN RANGE 2010 Nissan 2.0 Petrol SV.CVT A/T.............€16,500 2010 Nissan Pixo 1.0SE................................€7,500 2008 Nissan Primera 1.6 SVE.......................€6,500 2008 Nissan Tida 1.5 Sal............................€7,500 2007 Nissan Pathfinder 2.5TDI 7 Seater Passenger...................................................€11,500 LEXUS RANGE 2008 Lexus is220 DSL Extras......................€15,000 2007 Lexus is220 DSL Extras......................€12,500 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 2004 Mazda 3 1.4 H/B...............................€3,500 HYUNDAI RANGE 2008 Hyundai Santa Fe 2.2 A/T 7 Seater Leather......................................................€19,500 2008 Hyundai DSL Comm Tuscon.................€9,500 2006 Hyundai Tuscon 2.0 DSL Passenger......€8,500 THIS WEEKS SPECIAL OFFERS 2008 VW Golf TDI 5DR DSl.........................€9,500 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 VW EOS 2.0 TDI 140BHP..................€14,500 2005 Renault Clio 1.2 5dr............................€3,800 2007 Nissan Almera 1.5..............................€6,000 2007 Chevrolet 1.2 Petrol.............................€5,000 2007 Nissan Pathfinder 7 Seater Dsl.............€9,500 2007 Ford C Max Petrol...............................€6,000 2006 VW Golf 1.4 Plus................................€6,500 2006 Nissan Almera 1.5..............................€5,000 2005 Nissan Almera 1.5..............................€4,500 2005 Citroen C5 Dsl....................................€4,500

www.alhayesmotors.com

AL: 086-2449645 • DAMIEN: 087 2368841 • DEREK: 086 8119141 • ALAN: 087-4153872 • NIALL: 087-6385033

House and Home

Worktops Compared Wondering which Kitchen Worktop is right for your kitchen?

T

he kitchen work surface can take some rough treatment.

Hot pans, knives, household chemicals all take their toll. Also vital, is colour and texture. Getting it right therefore needs to be a priority; here are some comparisons to help eleviate the confusion. First some useful tips: Hardwood Worktops

Few things compare with the look and feel of natural wood. Hardwood worktops blend into almost any kitchen design. Be it contemporary or old farmhouse, wood can create the wow factor you're looking for.

Hardwood worktops are extremely durable and versatile. If solid hardwood worktops become scratched or water stained, its simple to re-sand and re-oil and restore as good as new. Here are some recommendations for keeping your hardwood tops in great condition: Spills: Clean up spillages quickly especially on the lighter wood types. Treating with Danish oil will give you a waterproof barrier, but must be re-applied on a regular basis.

Fit for purpose: Although all hardwood worktops are great for any kitchen environment Iroko is particular good for fitting in areas where water is running freely, for instances; around sinks. Iroko is frequently the wood of choice for installing in harbours and docks as fenders and dock supports.

Laminate The biggest advantage of Laminate Kitchen Worktops is low cost.

Laminate kitchen worktops can mimic almost any other surface type, including slate, granite, quartz and wood. While it is reasonably robust and waterproof, not really to be compared in terms of durability against Corian®, Granite, Quartz and other composite Page 30 Mature Living June 2012

surfaces.All our laminate products are of the highest quality and manufactured with the environment in mind. They are extremely versatile, easy to clean and resistant to most household chemicals. Can be fitted as a DIY project. Available with a choice of curved or straight edges types.

Smooth, textured finish or gloss finishes. Can be complimented with upstands and splashbacks instead of tiling.

Granite

contemporary look. Honed matt will incur additional cost.

CARE & Maintenance: Very low maintenance. Clean using a damp cloth and a mild detergent.

SEALING Required? None - However, using a stone seal product can protect against stains caused by food and drinks such as coffee and tea. If choosing to seal your worktop, do so approx. every 6 months.

DURABILITY: One of the hardest substances on earth, Granite is extremely hard wearing and won't scratch under normal use. Although Granite is naturally porous it is one of the least absorbent stones and cleaning up spillages immediately will reduce permanent damage.

Particularly take care with wine and citric acids. Hot pans should not be placed directly on a Granite worktop, use pan rests/hob bars.

DESIGN Flexibility: Granite can be cut into a number of different shapes and sizes, including curves and radius corners, using the latest in modern technology. However, unlike Corian®, it cannot be moulded to form integrated sinks or coved upstands as it is a 100% natural stone product.

Quartz

Granite is a 100% solid stone worktop of timeless beauty. Suppled in various thickness, 30mm being the standard. Comes finished in both high gloss and honed matt finish.

Extremely hard-wearing and difficult to scratch. A completely natural product with colour & grain variation found mostly in the medium and lighter colours. Darker granites are more consistent in colour but are not guaranteed to be entirely free from this possibility. Granite worktops are among the heaviest (30mm worktop 2.6m x 600mm weighs up to 145kg/23 stone) of solid surfaces.

Best USE: In any area of the kitchen, including around the sink and next to the hob or oven. A large high gloss Granite worktop creates a stunning finish to an island unit or breakfast bar.

Best LOOK: Granite is a luxury material that is timeless and complements traditional and contemporary styles alike. Choose from the classic polished high gloss finish or honed matt for a more

Quartz worktops are made from minimum 90% crushed stone mixed with acrylic resin and colour pigments. In some cases crushed mirror particles are added to give a sparkle effect.

Why people buy Quartz: Little specialist care needed. Non-porous and easy to maintain. Durable and hard-wearing. Heat, scratch and stain resistant. Crystalline Quartz particles reflect the light giving aesthetic beauty and style.

Best USE: Ideal for kitchen worktops Quartz combines natural, durable quality with luxury and style. Quartz can be used in any area of the kitchen. Non-porous, hygienic and long lasting are perfect qualities around sink units.

Corian®

Constructed using approx. 70% crushed stone mixed with acrylic resin and colour pigments. Due to the higher levels of acrylic resin Corian® has a warmer feel to it than Granite or Quartz and can be moulded and formed into curved shapes including fully integrated sinks.

Why people buy Corian®: Easy to maintain and repair if necessary as stains and scratches can be sanded out. Seamless joins make a smooth, hygienic and tactile surface. Corian® can be moulded to create contemporary designs and can incorporate fully integrated sinks and drainers. Worktops are lighter in weight than stone as the solid surface is 13mm thick and moulded over an MDF subframe.

Best USE: In wet areas. This is the choice for a seamless integrated sink and worktop run! Also works well in bathrooms and for vanity tops, shower walls and virtually as any design feature you could imagine.

For your Granite workstop why not visit Egan Stoneworks EGAN Stoneworks & Egan Granite & Marble based in Kilbeggan are a well established family business spanning 6 generations. We pride ourselves in quality & service to all our customers.

They supply the following: Memorials in limestone, marble and granite in traditional and modern design. We can reproduce any memorial you may have seen or design one to your specific requirements, Architectural church work, alters and Babtismal fonts, Shop Fronts, Fire hearths, Granite & Marble Stairs, Granite & Quartz worktops. They also carry a wide range of colours in granite, quartz and marble. Centrally located we offer a nationwide service of goods of quality and distinction. You can contact them on 05793 32167

House and Home

Egan Granite & Marble Ltd Main Street, Kilbeggan, Co. Westmeath

Manufacturers of granite worktops, vanity units & bar counters

057-9332167 or 057-9333946 Fax: 057-9332978 Email: eganstoneworks@eircom.net Website: www.eganstone.ie

Page 31 Mature Living June 2012

Feature with Niamh Flynn

Stage Hypnosis – for good or evil?

FOR many of us our introduction to hypnosis has probably been through watching a TV show or attending a live performance. In this article Niamh Flynn of Bodywatch explores some of the attitudes to hypnosis when performed on stage, particularly when some “victims” from the audience are encouraged to participate. She also reveals how the power of disassociation can have positive outcomes in some cases.

10%) who will go into a very deep trance state and will have the capacity to experience positive and negative hallucinations.

That is to say, in the trance state and on the suggestion of a hypnotist, they will see or hear things which do not exist or they will not see or hear things which do exist.

They are the same people who also have the capacity to experience a sense of dissociation which can be utilised in many different ways. One extreme example of this involves the ability, if so desired, to undergo an operation without the use of a medical anaesthetic. A powerful skill indeed.

Relaxing under Stage Hypnosis

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ove it or loathe it, the words ‘Stage Hypnosis’ almost always manage to evoke an extreme reaction either in favour or in protest during a discussion of the topic of hypnosis.

Those in favour will often wax lyrical of the entertainment, the laughs and the mystery surrounding the trance state. In contrast, Niamh those inFlynn protest will frequently rally against those who practice the art and those who participate in the production. Sometimes their denouncing of the act is on perceived religious grounds or, from time to time, mention is made of how it is unfair to ridicule individuals, particularly in front of an audience. Truth is, like most things in life, there are good and bad in every profession. Just as there are medics, solicitors, landscape gardeners and indeed any other profession you may care to mention, who are proficient and not so proficient, there are also stage hypnotists who are talented and respectful of their participants and there are also those who are not.

My introduction to stage hypnosis was under the tutelage of the great Ormond McGill, a delightful gentleman who, in his 90’s was up at 7am in the

morning, happy to share his well-versed hypnotic skills with interested parties. This was a gentleman who referred to his participants on stage as his ‘guests’ and who set the bar when it came to offering his audience an opportunity to observe, or to be a part of, a stage setting where those who acceded to his charms were treated with the utmost respect. As a virtuoso of the stage Ormond was able to turn even the most benign request into entertainment for the masses. He might for example suggest to some of his guests that they were Martians and that they could converse in Martian language while trying to explain life on Mars to mere mortals in the audience. His sketches for both observers and guests were funny, well orchestrated and inoffensive.

‘Plants’ are sometimes used in stage hypnosis shows but are usually unnecessary.

Although they are useful in encouraging others to go on stage by virtue of the concept of herd mentality, stage hypnosis is a numbers game. There are those who are highly hypnotizable and those who are not. In an audience of one hundred people at least five to ten

Page 32 Mature Living June 2012

will, on the instructions of their stage hypnotist, find their hands clasped together so tightly that they simply cannot pull them apart.

These individuals often have immense strength of focus and can direct their full attention on any given task with the greatest of ease.

These are the people who will respond well to instructions on stage and who have the capacity to provide great entertainment for those in attendance and, in the hands of a great hypnotist, will leave the show with some amusing stories for life.

Probably the best known of all Irish Stage Hypnotists was the wonderful, charismatic Paul Goldin who regaled thousands of people in Ireland and abroad by persuading hypnotized participants of his many shows to search for leprachauns and the like.

Testimony to his great legacy, his clinic in Dun Laoighre, Dublin, continues to offer solutions for those seeking hypnotic intervention for a variety of issues.

Whether or not you are a fan of stage hypnosis, the reality is that there are a certain percentage of the population (approximately 5-

Intensive Course June/July Galway 2012 Contact: Niamh Flynn MBA MMEDSCI BA CI DHP Tel: (091) 720145

MATURE LIVING has teamed up with Athlone's exquisite Sheraton Hotel to offer one lucky reader a midweek break for two people!

To be in with a chance to win this fantastic break, simply answer the question and send your answer, along with your name, address, email address and telephone number into us at the address below...

Q: How many bedrooms are in the Sheraton Athlone Hotel?

Send your entries into us at ‘Sheraton Hotel Competition’ Mature Living

Magazine, Office 3, Unit 7, Northwest Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo Terms and Conditions Apply, Closing Date for enties is July 2nd 2012

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ocated in the heart of Ireland, just off the new M6 motorway and less than a five minute walk from the main bus and rail stations, the Sheraton Athlone Hotel offers an ideal central location for the leisure traveller and is fast becoming one of Ireland's premier leisure destinations.

Sheraton Athlone Hotel is a superior 4**** hotel, standing as a distinctive and very impressive 12 storey glazed tower with breathtaking views over the historic town, the majestic River Shannon and surrounding countryside.

The hotel offers 167 superbly appointed deluxe bedrooms with 2 opulent penthouse suites and 1 stunning presidential suite with double height floor to ceiling glazing. Guests will be spoiled for choice with the sumptuous menu from La Provence fine cuisine restaurant, Harvest Café and the contemporary Sheraton Bar. Sheraton Athlone is a perfect base from which you can explore and experience Athlone & Ireland’s Lakelands. During your time in the Lakeland’s you can enjoy the range of water sports including scenic cruises, sailing and pedal boating. A suberb selection of championship Golf courses are within easy reach of the hotel.

The hotel is adjacent to Athlone Towncentre which means guests are moments

away from one of Ireland’s finest shopping centres with over 70 premium retail outlets. Hotel residents benefit from exclusive discounts in the centre's 70 national and internationally branded stores.

Guests can take advantage of our unique spa facilities with seven contemporary treatment suites to choose from.

Sheraton Fitness is available to all residents to enjoy a work out in our state of the art leisure facilities or a swim in the remarkable aquatics area where there is an 18m pool, 3 feature pools and a sauna and steam room to relax in.

Midweek Activities are available free of charge to all guests staying at the hotel.

These activities include; wine tasting, Beauty talks, Comedy & Canapés and Aqua Aerobics to name a few. Guests can also enjoy the splendour of the Lakelands when staying at Sheraton and enjoy the many discounts to the various local attractions which include; Clonmacnoise, boating on the River Shannon and Celtic Roots Studio.

Sheraton Athlone Hotel have created a range of superb breaks throughout the year which include a host of activities and entertainment. Packages are available for 3, 4 or 5 nights.

For further information contact the team on 090 6451000 or email reservations@sheratonathlonehotel.com

Food and Drink by Mary Berry

Salmon fillet with fresh sorrel and spinach sauce Sorrel has a sharp, crisp taste and is delicious with spinach. The base for the sauce can be made a day ahead; just reheat gently when ready to serve and add the spinach and sorrel.

Ingredients • 6 salmon fillets • knob of butter • 6 slices lemon For the sauce • 75g/2¾oz butter, melted • ½ lemon, juice only • 2 tsp plain flour • 300ml/½ pint half-fat crème frâiche • 1 free-range egg, yolk only • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 25g/1oz sorrel, finely chopped • 25g/1oz spinach, finely chopped Preparation method Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Place each salmon fillet on top of a piece of greaseproof paper, place a knob of butter and slice of lemon on top of the fish. Draw the edges of the paper together

to make a parcel, leaving enough room inside for the steam to circulate during cooking, then fold over the edges of the paper to seal.

Cook in the oven for 20 minutes.

For the sauce, place the melted butter, lemon juice, flour, crème frâiche and egg yolk into a food processor or blender and pulse until smooth. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, then blend again.

Pour the blended mixture into a heatproof bowl and set the bowl over a pan of barely simmering water.

Whisk continuously over a low heat for about 10 minutes until thick and fluffy, then add the sorrel and spinach and heat gently for a few minutes. Check the seasoning and serve hot with the cooked salmon.

Mango passion with honey and yoghurt This quick and easy dessert is a light way to finish off any Asian meal Ingredients • 200g/7oz carton Greek yoghurt • 1 tbsp clear honey • 1 small mango, peeled and cut into cubes • 2 passion fruit • fresh mint, to garnish Preparation method Mix together the honey and yoghurt in a small bowl. Using a teaspoon, scoop the seeds and flesh from the passion fruit into a bowl and mix with yoghurt mixture.

Divide the mango and yoghurt mixture in half and place into two stemmed glasses. Chill for up to 8 hours.

Serve at room temperature and garnish with fresh mint.

Page 34 Mature Living June 2012

Senior Resource Feature

Who cares for the Carer?

5 Basic Strategies to help carers cope • National Carers Week 18th - 24th June

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ccording to last year’s census, 270,000 adults over the age of 15 describe themselves as carers. While caring can be a very rewarding and bonding experience, the role is often demanding, exhausting and stressful which can lead to feelings of isolation and depression.

This stress can manifest itself in a wide range of ways, emotionally and physically, including disturbed sleep, headaches, weight fluctuation, fatigue, anxiety and mood swings. It is vitally important for family caregivers to recognise the signs and take steps to deal with stress before it becomes a major problem for themselves or for the person they look after.

"With National Carers Week in June, I’d like to share five basic strategies to help control the destructive effects of stress,” says Heather Gately of Home Instead Senior Care, Galway, who have produced a free information guide aimed specifically at family carers.

“Running on Empty – who cares for the CAREGivers?” examines the role of caregiving from the carers point of view, offering insights and information on coping with the stresses the task inevitably brings.

“Those five coping strategies are: 1. Set realistic expectations and goals; 2. Establish limits; 3. Ask for and accept help; 4. Take care of yourself and 5. Involve other people,” Heather continues, ‘Running on Empty’ goes through each strategy explaining steps that can be taken to achieve a reduction in stress. A caregiver who takes care of themselves, mentally and physically, will ultimately be a better carer to their loved one". To download a copy of ‘Running on Empty’ click on to www.homeinstead.ie/running_on_em pty.aspx Heather concludes, "We have access to a vast resource of information based not just on our experiences here in Ireland but also incorporating data from America and the other countries around the world where Home Instead Senior Care operates.

We use this resource in training and supporting our professional caregivers so it made sense to adapt it to help family carers," he says.

Heather Gately can be contacted on 091 384160.

Page 35 Mature Living June 2012

Hotels

Visit the stunning Leitrim countryside offer for an unforgettable break. A family re-union can be rounded off with a lavish evening meal It is an ideal wedding venue or conference centre. The central location of the hotel in Leitrim facilitates tours and visits to the surrounding unspoiled countryside. The location facilitates visits to the many nearby lakes that comprise the Leitrim countryside and shopping in nearby Sligo or Enniskillen A visit to Lough Allen hotel & Spa in Drumshanbo is a must and there are packages to suit any budget.

Drumshanbo • Co Leitrim www.loughallenhotel.com

Mid Season Mid Week Special

2 Nights B&B and 1 Dinner Just €99 pp 3 Nights B&B for just €99pp

To Book Call 071-9640100 or email reservations@loughallenhotel.com

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T’S summertime and one of the best places to base a home holiday or a week-end break is, undoubtedly, the Lough Allen Hotel in County Leitrim. Situated on the shores of Lough Allen, only 14 km from the bustling town of Carrick on Shannon, it is only a short walk to the town of Drumshanbo.

The 4 star hotel has offerings to compare with the top hotels in Ireland and also has the stunning Leitrim countryside. Spa treatments, leisure centre and a sumptuous candlelight dinner are all part of what’s on

Maldron Hotel Portlaoise - so different, so near

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he Maldron Hotel Portlaoise is regarded as one of the best Laois Hotels. Value is what business and leisure travelers’ alike look for and value is what ? the Maldron Hotel in Portlaoise delivers. Comfortable and luxurious rooms, efficient friendly service and a superior product at an affordable price.

The Maldron Hotel and leisure centre Portlaoise offers ? all of this and a little bit more. Regarded as one of the finest family friendly hotels, you and your family can enjoy a great value break together at this Portlaoise hotel. Maldron Hotel Portlaoise offers a number of family rooms and interconnecting rooms that are very comfortable and spacious. The Maldron hotel Portlaoise is perfectly positioned for sightseeing breaks in Laois and for families to avail of the many local attractions for kids.

For business meetings in Laois, The Maldron Hotel excels with a dedicated conference floor offering 8 state of the art Conference suites and 4 syndicate Meeting rooms. All our rooms include complimentary Wi-Fi / Broadband, natural daylight and Air Conditioning. We also offer you complementary secure car parking making us one of the finest hotels in Portlaoise.

Our superb Club Vitae Leisure Centre offers you the chance to relax and unwind after a long day. As a guest

of ours, you will have complimentary use of the leisure centre including: 20m swimming pool, children’s pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, aerobics Studio and gym.

Stir Bar and Restaurant offers food to suit all array of tastes using only fresh ingredients. Our menus are created with you in mind and offer healthy options and vegetarian dishes making us one of the most popular restaurants in Portlaoise.

Body and Soul Treatment rooms is a luxury quaint spa setting providing an extensive range of complementary and beauty treatments tailored to suit the needs of each individual. Our therapists are highly qualified & exceptional in their field and provide an extremely high standard of treatment at affordable and competitive prices. For more info or to book check out our website www.bodyandsoultherapyrooms.com The central location of the Maldron Hotel in Laois I is ideal for exploring the beautiful sights & surrounds of the Midlands of Ireland from the picturesque Slieve Bloom Mountains www.slievebloom.ie to the monastic round towers at Timahoe and the Garden Trail of Laois there is something for both young and old alike. For corporate guests the location of this hotel in Laois is convenient when traveling to Dublin, Limerick Cork or any location in Ireland.

Friends Night Away

1 night Bed, Breakfast & Dinner from €55 pps

Golden Years Offer

2 nights Bed, Breakfast & Dinner from €109 pps Excellent range of packages available for families, Midweek and Weekend breaks, groups & Events.

Tel: 057 8695900 www.maldronhotelportlaoise.com info.portlaoise@maldronhotels.com

The Heart of the Great Western Greenway

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Newpor$, Co. Mayo • Tel: 098 41155

Mid Season Mid week-Special

ewport is known as “The Heart of the Great Western Greenway” and sits on the banks of the Black Oak River, where tranquil, undiscovered mountain trails and walkways as well as the famous Burrishoole loop walks can be found.

Your hotel has every comfort, beautiful rooms classically decorated and furnished to a high standard, with elegant antique furniture happily co-existing with contemporary comforts and facilities, satellite TV and

(Sunday-Thursday)

2BB1D.........€100.00 per person sharing 3BB2D.........€150.00 per person sharing Enjoy a 2 or 3 night stay with breakfast and a 3 course evening meal included.

(Only available until the end of June) Please quote ‘mat#re living’ when availing of this offer.

www.hotelnewportmayo.com Page 36 Mature Living June 2012

telephone. There is a bar and restaurant with home cooking and we offer a packed lunch service should you require this on one of your trips out.

Please visit our website where you can see a range of packages and activities, from art classes to horse riding to fishing. www.hotelnewportmayo.com.

Hotels

Why choose a Hotel when you can have the Luxury of a Resort

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4 nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast and 5th night B&B FREE - €199 pp

*Dinner each evening *Full complimentary daily and nightly entertainment program *Transfers local Bus & Train Station *Complimentary tea & coffee daily *Full use of the leisure centre facilities In-House Activities: •Discount Spa Treatments •Complimentary use of Leisure Club – Pool & Gym •Complimentary Classes •Active 55’s Workout •Table Tennis •Bowling •Wine Tasting •Herbal Tea Tasting •Grow your own Garden •Classical Movies •Guilded Walking Tour •Flower Arranging Scenic Tours available on request

For Arrival - 2012 Dates • Sun 13th May • Sun 10th June • Sun 16th September • Sun 14th October • Sun 18th November • Sun 2nd Decemeber To Book: Call us now on 094 90 22033 or email to reservations@breaffyhouseresort.ie Bookings on line www.breaffyhouseresort.com

lanning a relaxing break away, the ideal location is Breaffy House Resort which is located in the heart of Co. Mayo. Set on 90 acres of gardens and rolling woodland. The House dates back to 1890, retaining some of its original Country House atmosphere whilst offering all of the luxury of a modern day hotel. The Resort is renowned for its warm welcoming staff with an excellent range of facilities. The Resort includes Spa, Leisure Centre with 20 metre pool, Sauna and Jacuzzi. The Resort offers deluxe rooms which include a range of suites, superior, standard rooms with all the facilities that your guests would require – direct dial telephone, multichannel colour T.V., radio, hairdryer, trouser press and tea/coffee making facilities.

This year we have put together an amazing offer of 4 nights Dinner B&B and 5th night B&B FREE when you book our Golden Breaks package. This offer includes 3 course dinner each night in the Mulberry Restaurant and breakfast each morning, along with 5th Night Bed & Breakfast free. Transfers can be

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

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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

arranged from local bus and train stations based on minimum numbers. Complimentary on site parking should you wish to drive. We have chosen a selection of arrival dates each month which means we can provide in-house activities such as wine tasting, table tennis, bowling, grow your own garden and pottery painting. This is the ideal location to explore Mayo.

The Hotel is just 20 mins away from the scenic town of Westport. All guests have complimentary use of the swimming pool, sauna, seam room, Jacuzzi, and gym. You may also take part in one of our many classes, which include Aqua Aerobics, Over 55’s workout and the increasing popular Zumba. If you fancy some pampering, enjoy some time out in Breaffy Spa. Which offers a range of facial, body and massage treatments to leave you feeling relaxed and rejuvenated. Enjoy a hearty breakfast at leisure between 7:30am –10:30am each morning and Dinner each between 6:30pm – 8:45pm. The Mulberry Bar serves food for 12-9pm each day for snacks, light bites and main courses.

OVER 50S / GOLDEN HOLIDAY Summer Offers 5 Nights Dinner, B&B July €399pps • August €419pps Start your holiday ANY night No Programme

A pictorial record of the West of Free Trip to Kylemore Abbey Ireland over Golden Years Breaks 15 years

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ook a 3 night midweek stay in the Harbour Hotel, Galway City this April and receive a free trip to Kylemore Abbey and Victorian Garden. Experience the best of both worlds, with luxury accommodation in the heart of Galway City, just 3 minutes walk from Eyre Square – where you can explore the medieval streets and experience the vibrant atmosphere of Galway City. Then escape to an oasis of calm and serenity to Kylemore Abbey & Victorian Garden.

Kylemore Abbey is the perfect day out, located in the heart of Connemara. The lakeside abbey is set against a backdrop of lush green slopes and is surrounded by the sloping mountains of the Twelve Bens. Originally a castle, Kylemore is steeped in history and tales of romance, tragedy and success. Home to Ireland’s only community of Benedictine nuns since 1920, this 1,000 acre estate has much to offer visitors Experience the Victorian atmosphere of the restored rooms of the Abbey, miniature Gothic church and Head Gardener’s House.

There are numerous nature trails, woodland and

with

lakeshore walks. For the more adventurous, guided mountain hikes are available. The Harbour Hotel is conveniently located in the heart of Galway City, perfect for a getaway break. A warm welcome awaits you in the West, with complimentary tea and freshly baked scones on arrival for all Golden Year Packages.

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.

Three Nights Bed & Breakfast with Dinner on Two evenings, plus a complimentary trip to Kylemore Abbey from €169pps, available Sunday to Thursday.

Book direct on 091 894800 or visit www.harbour.ie.

Page 37 Mature Living June 2012

Technology

What Is an Internet-Ready TV?

The Internet is becoming a larger part of people's daily lives, and more and more devices offer new ways to stay connected. As a longtime hub of information and entertainment, it's only natural that the television has followed suit.

I

nternet-ready TVs take the web content that has been increasingly popular in external devices—video game systems, Roku boxes, DVD/Bluray players, etc.—and deliver it directly to your television.

These televisions are equipped with an Ethernet port (and often a wireless connection or add-on) much like your PC or other network devices. Once connected to your router, they use your broadband Internet connection to provide you with content.

Content varies depending on manufacturers and models, but one can gain access to streaming video and music services (both paid and unpaid), smartphone-like applications or widgets, social networking tools, online photo galleries, and plenty more. Manufacturers continue to expand their offerings by the minute and can extend their devices' abilities via firmware updates--a distinct advantage over analog sets of yesteryear.

Is an Internet-Ready TV Interactive?

Can I Surf the Web on My TV? Internet-ready TVs are interactive, but only to a certain extent.

Most of these devices don't feature Internet browsers, so you can't simply surf the web as you would on a PC. The current exception is Sony's Internet TV Powered by Google TV, which does allow users to surf the Web while watching TV. The current focus of Internet TV is on streaming media--along with pared-down versions of popular web applications, for quick access to information you want to check regularly. That said, several applications provide a fully interactive experience. You can, for example, view your Flickr or Picasa slideshows, update your Facebook status, or perform other similar actions, but you can't pop open a browser and search for a vacation spot.

Why Would I Want an Internet-Ready TV? Streaming-media aficionados are popping up everywhere nowadays.

Whether it's video services like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon's own Video On Demand; music services like Pandora or Rhapsody; or a wealth of other entertainment options, the biggest selling point is having instant access to the entertainment you're after.

Many people utilise additional devices for these services—watching Netflix on a video game system, for example. With these televisions, an extra piece of hardware is not a requirement, and many services are free. It's also nice to have another place to access your social media updates, news, stock info, etc. Ever sit in front of the TV looking at your cell phone or laptop? Finally, several of these televisions also offer access to media on your home network, allowing you to enjoy content you already have sitting on a hard drive.

Is Internet Content as Good as It Would Be on Your PC--or Better?

Is There HD-Quality Internet Content?

As mentioned above, Internet content is slimmed down to specific, streamlined offerings that are dependent upon what each manufacturer offers. For example, you might access Yahoo! Widgets, but not browse the web from the company's search engine. You can see the latest news on AP or New York Times applications, but not be able to click through their entire website. Internet TV offers more of a snapshot than an immersive web experience for the sake of convenience and simplicity. As for HD-quality content, the answer is a resounding “yes”.

Video can be streamed in full 1080p resolution with services like Vudu or Netflix (although resolution and compression may be adjusted for slow or problematic Internet connections). And, of course, a 13-inch laptop screen can't quite compete with an HDTV for enjoying movies.

How Do I Navigate Internet Content on My TV? Does It Come With a Remote/Mouse Object?

The means of navigation depends upon each television's manufacturer and model. Nearly all units include a remote control for accessing content, including input of alphanumeric characters (video game players may be used to navigating and using software keypads with their controllers). Vizio provides a Bluetooth remote with a slide-out QWERTY keyboard for several of its models--similar to certain cell phone designs. Other models even allow you to attach a USB keyboard, such as Panasonic's TCP46G25.

How Can I Get the Internet on My TV if I Don't Have an InternetReady TV? There's no single answer to this, as there are so many ways to get Internet content nowadays.

Several DVD and Blu-ray players now offer similar services to those outlined in this FAQ, and many devices allow you access to particular

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content such as Roku's Netflix devices. Another option is accessing content through video game systems, something many consumers have been doing for some time now.

Perhaps the most obvious would be simply connecting a PC to your television. Several manufacturers offer low-profile media PCs these days that are equally at home in an office or living/family room. Of course not everyone wants a keyboard on his or her coffee table.

Article written by Deirdre Cooke from Deirdre Cooke Opticians, Sligo.

Macular Degeneration (AMD)

What is Macular degeneration?

The macula refers to the part of our eye which we use when we look directly at something. In a normal healthy eye, this area allows us to see with sharp, clear vision.

Macular Degeneration is an eye disease which affects this critical area of the eye. Currently, it is the leading cause of blindness in those age 65 and over. At the back of our eye there is a fine layer of pigment which helps keep our central vision sharp and clear.

As we age, this pigment layer thins, especially in our critical macular area and can result in loss of our central vision. An enormous amount of research is being carried out into this condition, concentrating on two main areas: Cause and Treatment.

Some of us are genetically more predisposed to this condition but researchers have identified some modifiable risk factors: SMOKING Research has shown that people who smoke are up to 5 times more likely to develop AMD than those who don't. Smoking releases free radicals into our bodies. These harmful molecules bombard the delicate pigment layer and thin it, leaving it more susceptible to aging and stress.

Smoking also restricts blood flow to the pigment layer at the macula. As a result fewer nutrients are carried to the eye, thus hindering repair.

Page 39 Mature Living June 2012

NUTRITION The pigment layer at the macula has been shown to contain three different antioxidants, known as Lutein, Zeaxanthin and Mesozeaxanthin.

These pigments are found naturally in fruit and vegetables. Green leafy vegetables such as cabbage, spinach and curly kale are all good sources, especially of lutein. Brightly coloured fruit and vegetables like bell peppers and corn are also good.

These foods should be cooked lightly, if at all, and chewed well to extract the maximum amount of antioxidants from them. Good diet from early in life is important, but it is never too late to make changes.

Mesozeaxanthin is harder to obtain from dietary sources but is found in salmon.

SUPPLEMENTS In addition to obtaining these antioxidants from our diet, nutritional supplements are also available.

Some of the more common supplements are Ocuvite Lutein, Vitalux Plus and Macushield.

Currently, only Macushield contains all three of the antioxidants required at the Macula. Remember nutritional supplements are not a substitute for good food and a well balanced diet and they should not be taken this way.

SUNLIGHT EXPOSURE Sunlight introduces molecules called free radicals into the eye which cause damage to the delicate pigment layer. New research indicates that the sun's High Energy Visible ( HEV) radiation - also known as blue light - may increase our long term risk of developing AMD. This is especially true in patients who have low blood plasma levels of antioxidants. HEV rays penetrate deeply into the eye and can cause retinal damage. You should ensure that any sunglasses you purchase are marked 100% UV blocking. Choosing sunglasses with an amber or copper tint will also help eliminate more of this blue light. Wide brimmed sunhats also help keep harmful rays away from the eyes.

Don’t forget our children- almost half the entire time we spend outdoors in our lives occurs before the age of 12. The lens of a child’s eye allows approx 70% more UV rays to reach the delicate retina than in an adult. The cumulative damage in childhood puts us at an increased risk as adults of developing debilitating eye diseases like AMD and cataracts. Most parents will protect their child’s skin from UV exposure, however it is equally

important to protect their eyes through wearing appropriate sunglasses which block both UVA and UVB sunlight rays.

EXERCISE Regular exercise will help improve our cardiovascular fitness. The eye will receive better blood flow thereby ensuring more nutrients are carried to the eye and the retinal pigment layer.

Regular eye examinations are also recommended so that your Optician can advise on the health of your eye and inform you if there are any early indications of AMD. The incidence of this condition is increasing. Protect your eyes and don’t become another statistic.

What can we do?

• Wear sunglasses when outdoors.

• If you currently wear glasses, Transition lenses will block UV light thereby giving you protection.

• Give up smoking.

• Include plenty of fresh fruit and veg in your diet, along with oily fish twice weekly.

• Watch you weight and your cholesterol.

• Exercise regularly.

Your Eyes Are Precious.....

Let us look after them.

10% discount off all Sunglasses until 31st July, 2012

25% discount off all Rayban Sunglasses (T&C Apply)

For a full discussion and advice on all aspects of your eye health, call us and book your appointment today.

Mon – Sat 9.30am -5.30pm PRSI and Medical Card applications welcome.

Gardening

Raised Bed Gardening

What Can You Raise in a Raised Bed? Easy on the Back Every inch the bed is raised is one less inch you’ll need to bend. In fact, physically challenged gardeners and wheelchair gardeners can keep on gardening when beds are raised to a reachable height. I can see raised beds getting higher as we get older.

is no tilling necessary! And even if your local soil is the worst clay or rock, your raised garden bed will won’t need to be amended and worked every year.

More Vegetables and/or Flowers You can squeeze more into a raised bed because you don’t need to leave room for paths. You never walk in the beds, you just lean into them. Keep this in mind when you’re building a raised bed and don’t make it any wide than you can reach.

R

aised bed gardening refers to gardening in soil that has been mounded or contained higher than the surrounding soil. Raised bed gardening is an old gardening practice, but it’s currently growing in popularity again because it offers several advantages to simply growing your plants in level ground.

You Control the Soil Obviously this will be good for your plants, since you can bring in the best garden soil. Never walking on the soil means it will forever be light and aerated, not compacted. It’s also good for the gardener because there

Good Drainage Ever hear the expression ‘well drained soil’? Of course you have.

Because raised beds are elevated, the soil drains more rapidly than garden

soil. You can work in the spring, when your yard is still mud and rainy days won’t be lost days in the garden. Of course this also means they can dry out faster, but raised beds are also easier to water than open gardens.

The smaller area is perfect for installing drip irrigation. Even if you use a garden hose, you’ll be wasting less water and taking less time than watering traditional garden beds.

Building a Raised Bed Raised beds are easy enough to construct. The simplest raised beds are just four boards joined together in a square. Cedar, redwood, the new pressure treated woods and even newer synthetic boards all weather well for several years. You can even get resourceful and build your bed out of bales of hay, cinder blocks or whatever’s handy. Or you can buy a kit that comes with everything you need to nail or pop your bed together.

Critter Control It’s much, much easier to keep burrowing animals out of a raised bed. Just line the bottom of the raised bed with hardware cloth or chicken fencing. Repellents can usually be sprayed just around the perimeter. You can even cover the whole bed with bird netting.

Prop. Barry Ward

Deerpark, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway

Special Offers 3 Trays of Bedding Plants €10

3 Roses for €25 3 Geraniums for €10

Hedging Laurels €2

Herbaceous Perennials Buy any 2 get 1 free Tel: 090-9643787 • Mobile: 086-0673167 Open 9am-6pm Monday to Saturday and 1-6pm on Sunday

Page 40 Mature Living June 2012

Feature Gardening Article

Summer Colour in Your Garden!

Now is the best time to bring some instant colour to your garden. Here are some timely tips from the experts at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre every year to keep it in good condition. Regular feeding also means that the lawn is less likely to become infested with moss and weeds. We recommend HumberPalmers professional lawn fertiliser (available in 25kg bags which treat 600sq metres). If you have moss and weeds apply a 3 in 1 product such as Westland Lawn Feed, Weed and Mosskiller. Always use a lawn fertiliser spreader for even application.

Pots of Colour Now is a good time to re-new outdoor pots with some seasonal colour.

Replace old compost with new compost – we recommend Plantsplus Professional Compost which includes slow release fertiliser to keep your plants fed for up to 6 months. You’ll find a massive range of plants full of colour for containers at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre at this time of year, including basket plants, geraniums, dahlias and the ever popular Senetti which has incredibly vibrant daisy flowers in rich magenta, purple, blue and pink.

Lawns A good lawn can really enhance a garden, but it’s vital to feed the grass

the huge range of ready-to-go baby vegetable plants at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre, including peas, beans, cabbage, broccoli, lettuce, scallions, celery, tomatoes, peppers and many more.

Most fruiting plants such as currants, gooseberries, strawberries and blueberries can be planted now and will provide delicious crops even this year. You’ll also find one of the best selections of fruit trees in the country

at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre including old Irish apples and varieties that grow especially well in the West of Ireland.

Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre is located just off the N4 near Boyle and also on the Lanesboro Road, Roscommon Town. Open every day Mon-Sat 9-6pm, Sun and Bank Holidays 1-6pm. Tel: 07196 67091(Boyle) & 09066 27700 (Roscommon Town).

Roses Roses are a popular favourite in gardens and are just starting to flower now. You’ll fine a huge selection at Ardcarne Plantsplus Garden Centre including the brilliant David Austin range, which combine the oldfashioned look and scent with a long flowering period. We also highly recommend the Flower Carpet Roses which look brilliant in beds and often flower until early winter. Don’t forget to feed your roses now to keep them flowering and in full health – we recommend Sudden Impact for Roses and also Westland Rose Food enriched with Horse Manure.

Fruit & Vegetable Garden Growing your own healthy and delicious fruit and vegetables is one of the joys of gardening and now is the time to sow and plant. Most vegetables can be still sown outdoors now or you can fast track your way to enjoying some home-grown crops with

Page 41 Mature Living June 2012

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uk Photograph: Michael Winning - www.winningphotography.co.

WIN €50 WIN €50 WIN €50 HOW TO PLAY The ball has been remove You have to decide where d from the picture. it was, and place a ‘X’ on the picture.

The X Should mark where you think the centre of the ball is and can only be marked in one box per entry.

If more than one correct will be picked at random answer is received then the winning entry from the winning entries.

Winner will be notified by pos t. Terms and conditions apply Send entries to ‘Spot the Ball’ Mature Living Magazine, Office 3, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo

Page 42 Mature Living May 2012

ENTRY FORM

Name____________________ ______________ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ _ Telephone_______________

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Services Directory

Easy Baths, Showers, Stair Lifts & Leisure All Disability Equipment Supplied & Installed - Covering Both North and South Baths • Walk in baths with door.

• Hydrotherapy, Hydraulic Riser-Lower baths.

• Bather sitting in an upright or lie down position depending upon selection of bath type.

Showers • Showers easy access, trays and enclosures, half-height, full-height doors.

• Shower stools, chairs, fold down seats, doors, curtain rails etc.

• Level access and easy access shower tray included • Slip resistant surfaces on shower base.

• Suitable for shower-chair or ambulant user.

Stair Lifts • Straight or curved, made to measure • Floor to ceiling/platform lifts • Swimming pool lifts

EAST BROTHERS GARDEN MACHINERY Doon Boyle, Co. Roscommon Tel: 071-9662710, www.eastmachinery.ie P U SH S R MOWE TRACTOR LAWN MOWERS

Chainsaws, Tillers, Outboard Motors, Power Washers, Generators, Electric Fences, Farm Machinery Spares

STRIMMERS

For more information please contact: JOHN HINDS R.O.I.: T: 048 42771652 M: 00 44 7802 298910 N.I. 028 4277 1652 M: 07802 298910

SAVE € SAVE € SAVE €

ORTH WEST EST NORTH PROTECTION ROTECTION DOGS OGS

Pups and Trained Dogs For Sale Have peace of mind in your home - invest in a fully trained fully trained family protection dog

Just Arrived Large Consignment of Sitting room , 3 Piece Suites & Sofa Sets

Save 20% - 50% Off Normal Retail Prices Respa & Odearest

Bedding Promotion Now on Instore Save 20%- 40% (while stocks last )

Free gift with every 3-Piece Suite purchased when you present this Advert

• IKC Registered • Microchip • Vet Checked • Flea'd, Wormed & Vaccinated • 7 Generation Certificate • 6 Weeks free insurance • Parents can be seen

Ballina, Co. Mayo Tel: 085-7843837

ADVERTISE

YOUR BUSINESS

TO A LARGE

AUDIENCE Call our Friendly Sales Team on 071-9154538

Services Directory

For all your Home & Garden needs Now open

Free tea or coffee with this ad

MAKERS, SUPPLIERS & FITTERS MACE MIDDLE, CLAREMORRIS. www.mcganns.com

Collooney, Sligo • T: 071-913 0956 • M: 086-086 3991

www.grantwater.ie • info@grantwater.ie

Grant Water has a hot tub to suit any need and any budget.

A full listing of products and rates are available on request

• Angles • Beading • Centre Pieces • Corbels • Corner Pieces • Cornices • Dado Rails • Niches • Plaques

TELEPHONE: 094-9388208 MOBILE: 087-2503184

From the smaller to the larger, there is a Spa just your size with the legendary therapy and quality we are known for Call today and get a special discount in Conjunction with “Mature Living Magazine”

Go on treat yourself, you deserve it!

Keith - 085-1053588 / 071-9310787 Trading As Pentico Contracting Ltd. Marella, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo. Office: (096) 37926 Fax: (096) 37957 Farnan: (086) 0830664 Liam: (087) 256 9959 E-mail: pentico@ireland.com

4 Holistic Living The Square Claremorris

FREE (BER)

with every house insulated this month (with this advert)

Podiatry Treatment By Deborah Sheridan Bsc Pod Med MChSI

087 9807322 Call for quotations on Steel Structure Sheds, Tanks, Houses (new build and refit), Plant Hire etc.

All Jobs, Small Jobs, Big Jobs!!

Also in attendance at Byrne`s Pharmacy, Kiltimagh on Thursdays

Deepwater Quay, Finisklin, Sligo Harbour, Sligo 071-9153360 • 071-9153362 Email: info@erin-recyclers.com

Healthier, Quieter, More Energy Efficient

• Water Analysis • Water Filtration • Water Softening • Well Drilling • Pump Supplied and Fitted • Rain Water Collection & Purification • Sewage Treatment Systems IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

Email: waterteck@eircom.net Website: www.waterteck.com Phone: 086-8072249 071-9658976

TRALAS INSULATIONS Spray Foam Insulation

Ph: 048-66326728 Mob: 086-0858030

www.icynene.ie

We’ll change the way you think about insulation and your building - GRANTS AVAILABLE

Tidy up around your home & garden WE BUY...

• Pvc copper, cylinders, copper piping & lead • Alumimium wheels, alumimium sheeting • Old stainless steel milk tanks • Rebar from building sites.

We also do site clearances (Metal Only)

WE WEIGH AND PAY . . . AND YOU’RE ON YOUR WAY!!

www.scrapmetalireland.com

Services Directory

ATLANTIC AUTOMATIONS

North West Counselling

Ballyneggin, Castlebar, Co. Mayo • Tel: 087-4187122 - Mob: 087-7587186 Manufacturers of quality Ornamental Gates, Railings and Stairs Specialists in Access Control Systems and Automatic Gate Systems

Counselling for people with addictions eg. Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling

• Relapse Programme • One-to-one Counselling • Referral system for private clients to White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre • Addiction and General counselling available Afternoon, evening and weekend appointments available

Counsellors are professionally trained and are fully accredited or working towards accreditation.

For appointments ring: 087-2879707, or 074-9723822 Email: taborhouse2004@eircom.net Tabor House, Drimark, Donegal Town

- Remote Control access systems - Keypad access control systems - Barrier access control systems

Helping people to recover

Visit our new SHOWROOM at Roadstone Retail park, Castlebar

Irish Shamrock Trees Whitethorn & Beech Hedging Trees and more Suitable for: • People with limited mobility Spray Foam Insulation

• People who have had hip surgery • People with back aches

For details of your local stockist

Phone: 087-9896948

• Aeos & REPS Specialists • All trees and tree plants • Refridgerated trees • Trees from €2.00 • All year round planting • Best Value Trees in Ireland.

We pride ourselves on our truly friendly and efficient service.

Tel: 087-2743914 24 HR www.irishshamrocktrees.com SUICIDE TEACH

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.

• Support and outreach to those bereaved by suicide.

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

• Counselling for those who are feeling suicidal / depressed or have been bereaved by suicide.

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

Feature Article Services Directory

JB DENTURE CLINIC Garden/Tone St, Ballina.

Boradruma, Snugboro, Castlebar

Mon-Thu 9.30 - 6pm / Fri 9.30 - 5pm • Homes • Hospitals • Nursing Homes Appointments by arrangement

Tel: 096-72189 or 087-6389500

We repair Kitchen seats, 3pce suites, fireside chairs, bar seating, sails, motorbike seats, headboards, office chairs etc. We retail foam rubber, vinyls, velours, webbing, buttons, springs, etc. Member of the National Guild of Craftsmen.

Open Monday - Friday: 9am - 5pm Tel: 094 9023532 or 086 8350608

JAMES MCGRATH WESTPORT GAS REGISTERED GAS INSTALLER • REGISTERED OIL TECHNICIAN • CALOR GAS INSTALLER

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS

• Solar Panels supplied and installed • Supplier and Installer of Gas /Oil Boilers • Domestic and Industrial Service • Gas and Oil Burner Upgrades • Heating Control Upgrades • Supplier of Valiant, Glowworm and Wolf Gas Boilers and Coster Gas Detection Systems

SERVICE AGENTS FOR Aga / Rangemaster / Electrolux / Zanussi / Parkinson Cowen Speed Queen and Maytag Laundry Equipment.

TEL (098) 35266 also (086)8169023 westportgas@eircom.net Servicing Mayo and North Galway

Bar, Hotels Private Houses All Upholstery undertaken Huge Selection of fabrics Contact: 086-8361070 or 071-9622700

Barcastle Retail Park, Castlebar. T: 094-9026100

www.symphonykitchens.ie

THOMAS KEANE KITCHENS

Axis Business Park, Clara Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly Main St, Coolaney, Co. Sligo Tel: 071-9167005

• Face Frame and in-Framed kitchens · Fitted Furniture MBedroom AIN STREET , BALLA • Kitchen available Tel: DVD 094-9366622

Steel Garden Sheds, Garages & Tegkon Custom Steel Buildings

ballastoves@yahoo.com Page 46 Mature Living April 2012 www.tommykeanekitchens.homestead.com

Tel. 05793 – 51277

• Galvanised Steel Frame • PVC Coated Cladding - no painting • Variety of Colours • All Sheds come with a non-drip roof • We can supply a wooden or concrete floor.

• All sheds erected within 1-3 hours • All sheds come with at least one clear light on the roof.

OPTIONAL EXTRAS: • 3’x4’ window • Gutters and downpipes • Roller Door • Tile effect roofing

TEL: 086-240 7844 www.candssheds.ie info@candssheds.ie

Services Directory

Aluminium & PVC Repairs

CADDEN

To windows, doors and patio doors

Expert patio door repairs!

ENNISKILLEN

FUNERAL DIRECTORS

“ We cover Southern Counties at Northern Prices”

• Rollers • Tracks • Hinges • Door Realignment • Locks • Multilocking systems etc

www.caddenfunerals.com 24 hour caring funeral services • Covering all areas at competitive rates Funeral cars/Wreaths arranged EAMON OR MARY CADDEN 048-2866329938 MOBILE 00447718573502/00447752109265 “ a family concern, with a concern for the family”

Over 20 years experience servicing Irish windows and doors. Fully insured GLASS PARTS ETC REPLACED Brendan Gormley: 071-9183860 / 087-2562669

Garden Street | Ballina | Co Mayo

Your Eyes Are Precious.....

Let us look after them.

Complete Eye Exams including • Glaucoma Screening • AMD • Cataract Screening • Spectacles and Contact Lenses

The Biggest & Best Value Fireplace Showrooms in Ireland

Save €€€s by calling to us

For a full discussion and advice on all aspects of your eye health, call us and book your appointment today.

• Fireplaces • Stoves • Gas • Oil • Solid Fuel • Electric • Granite Worktop Specialists

Mon – Sat 9.30am -5.30pm

Sligo Road, Enniskillen.

Phone: 048 66 326 327

Corn & Callous Removal Nail Problems Diabetic Foot Care Verruca Treatment Insoles Home Visits

PRSI and Medical Card applications welcome

www.footworks.ie | 096 60100 | info@footworks.ie

WIDOWER (60) seeking widow single or seperated lady from Roscommon to share some good times with. I am sincere, outgoing, tt/ns, caring and affectionate, like to keep fit, country walks, outings etc Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 902 at the usual address MALE 70’S 5’5”‘ divorced, looking to meet a male for friendship Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 812 at the usual address.

LONELY MALE SEEKS LONELY FEMALE for friendship and maybe more.

Age from 55. I am an easy going non smoker, occassional drinker.

Interested in fine dining.

Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 900 at the usual address.

DIVORCED LADY Early sixties, with a very bubby personality, trendy dresser, loves dancing. Has own house and car.

Like to meet honest gentleman with view to relationship. Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 816 at the usual address

FREE DATING* CLASSIFIED

I AM LOOKING FOR LOVE I love travelling, dancing, dining out. I am fun loving and easy going, I liek music. Would like to meet a nice lady 2-3 times a week for coffee and chats. Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 820 at the usual address ROSCOMMON LADY Affectionate, easy to get on with, outgoing and likes dancing, would like to meet non smoker gent aged 60-65. Replies, along with a blank Stamped Envelope to Box number 814 at the usual address

MAYO CALLING Attractive widow aged 53, would like to meet man of similar age, for friendship and going out. I do not drink, I do smoke. I live alone and love the craic and music, I am honest and caring and get on well with people. All replies welcome to Box number 821 at the address below.

To Reply to Any Box number, simply place your letter in a Blank, Stamped Envelope and then send this into us at: Dating Section, Mature Living Magazine, Office 3, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co.Sligo.

WRITE YOUR ADVERT HERE:

NO. OF ISSUES TO APPEAR IN (MAX 2) : SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS: THE FOLLOWING DETAILS ARE FOR OFFICE USE ONLY AND WILL NOT BE PUBLISHED. These details MUST be completed for all adverts NAME:

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ADDRESS: Post the completed form to Mature Living Magazine, Cleveragh Road, Sligo

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STRICTLY PRIVATE ADVERTISERS ONLY - BUSINESSES CAN CALL 071-9154538 AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY SALES REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT OUR EXCELLENT RATES. Please tick if you do not wish to avail of offers and information we may offer from time to time

Page 47 Mature Living June 2012

Deep Water Quay, Sligo Tel: 071-9161879

Now Open in our homeware department

Good wholesome soups, gourmet sandwiches, wraps etc and a simply gorgeous range of home-made scones, tarts, crumbles, chocolate, lemon & Guinness cakes —to name but a few.

To celebrate the opening of 'A taste of Drumcliffe Tea House' we have great offers in all our other departments including our Agri, Pet & Paint Departments, so don't miss out!

• Baking • Cookware • Giftware • Dining • Clothing Sign up for our Loyalty Card to collect points & avail of special offers exclusively for loyalty cardholders!

See instore for details

Open Mon - Sat: 9am - 5.30pm • Sun & Bank Hols 12-5pm • Open Through Lunch www.connachtgold.ie or www.garden-centres.ie