Out N ow!
8 November 2012 Issue 22 - Volume 13
dn ’t Y ou r m onth woul
PAGE 6
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The Food Store takes Store of Year Award
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The Food Store, based in Claremorris, captured the prestigious National Store of the Year award at a Gala ceremony in Galway last weekend. The store, on the Ballyhaunis Road, employs 38 people and offers on-site bakery, delicatessen, meat counter and general shop floor, with many special lines including an organic range of fruit and vegetables, cheeses and wines. Pictured at the presentation were Niall Heffernan (proprietor), second from right, with his wife, Attracta and daughter, Sara. Also included is President Michael D. Higgins (who presented the Awards), and presenters Karen Foster and Anton Savage.
T
HE revelation that almost two thousand first year third level students from Mayo (or in excess of 80%) are still waiting for third level grant applications to be processed has come as a shock. But the fact that 3,300 students across Donegal and Sligo are in a similar position indicates that the new centralized SUSI system for assessing applications is not working according to plan and is beginning to cause hardship and stress to many families across the region. Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has confirmed that only 17.5 percent of the 2,354 grant applications from first year applicants in County Mayo have received a reply from the department. Many students still waiting for grant approval face being shut out of essential college services such as libraries and computers. One student speaking to North West Express said he only gained access to the library in UCD by convincing the attendant that his grant cheque was in the post and the first part of his fee would be paid the following week. The delay in approving and paying out grants may also be contributing to a rise in demand for financial help from college hardship funds. Nationally, about 50,000 students, mainly first years, are still waiting to hear whether their grant has been approved after the new online system introduced in June was beset by delays. The chaos is affecting students who have to pay an annual charge of €2,250 to register with their college and avail of all services essential for their courses. Students in receipt of a grant are exempt from paying this charge, but to do this they must show they have grant approval and that the money is on its way. If they cannot show this, they may be asked to pay the charge upfront and seek reimbursement once the grant has been paid. Continued on Page 2
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Freelance Journalist
Grants hold-up causing stress to students
Continued from front page Donegal - based FF spokesman for Education, Charlie McConalogue said the new student grant processing system is in crisis with so many students still waiting for their grant applications to be processed. With no contact from the Department of Education, many students are being prevented from registering properly in college and consequently don’t have access to essential student services. Some have been forced to drop certain courses as a result. Others in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance have been told they will lose their payments from this week unless they show proof of full registration. Ballina-based Mayo Fianna Fail deputy Dara Calleary says it’s obvious that the new centralised system for first year college students is riddled with problems. He called on Minister Ruairi Quinn to outline what’s being done to rectify the situation. A spokesperson for the Students Union of Ireland said the delay had caused confusion among students with regard to access to services. In many cases colleges were accommodating when the situation was explained, but some students may not have come forward. Some administrators of the SUSI scheme blamed the applicants saying that hard copy documentation required had not been submitted as requested. On the
other hand there is evidence to show that some students had not even received the documentation pack. On the face of it, a centralized strategy which was introduced to streamline the student grant approval
process is proving to be even more cumbersome than the original localized system and is causing unwarranted stress to parents and students at a time they should be free to concentrate on lectures and studies.
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Representatives of Macra na Feirme from Connacht were invited by Marian Harkin MEP to a meeting of the European Parliament’s Agriculture Committee. Sean Coughlan, Lahardane, Co. Mayo representing Addergool Macra na Feirme is pictured with Marian Harkin MEP on the occasion.
Ballina man launches his first CD single POPULAR Ballina man Kevin (Bubbles) Gorman will launch his double CD single in the coming weeks in good time for the Christmas market. Kevin will be including his own compositions, “Hurt in my Heart” and “Going Down for Christmas”. After a long and varied career in the music industry he has recently turned to song-writing and it is expected these compositions will be the first of many. The Ballina man’s musical background includes band management, D.J. and Night Club entertainment and work as a solo performer in the Ballina area. In recent years, also he has travelled to Dublin and Drogheda to consult with many top figures in the entertainment industry including David McCune, Marc Oliver and Bazz
Leahy. Kevin’s musical influences include artistes like Bruce Springsteen, Kenny Rogers, Hank Williams and The Eagles. The recordings will take place in The Ventry Recording Studio, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin, a facility regularly used by artistes such as Bob Geldoff, Boyzone, The Sawdoctors, Chris de Burgh, Shay Healy, Padge and Rodge and others. Some of the proceeds from the sale of the CD single will be donated to Suicide Awareness, a charity dear to Kevin’s heart, as some of the people who worked with him in the music business, and inspired his writing, have become victims of suicide. Kevin, who also has strong Sligo roots, can be contacted at 0833815194 or at kevin.gorman66@gmail.com.
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Special Rick Epping Celebration Concert at Hawk’s Well THE Hawk’s Well Theatre is delighted to present a very special concert on Saturday 17th of November to honour and celebrate the immense musical talent of Rick Epping. Rick Epping is a California-born musician who has immersed himself in American old-time and Irish traditional music since the 1960s. A long-time resident of Sligo, Rick has well and truly embedded himself in the heart of Irish music in Sligo and indeed nationwide. An extra-ordinary talent, this multi-instrumentalist holds a very dear place in the hearts of so many. He will be joined by musical friends from far and near to celebrate his IBS Publications ,Office 3, Unit 7, North West Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo Unit 3,Riverview House, Barret Street, Ballina, Co. Mayo. Advertising: 071-9154538 Editorial: 096-77743
enormous contribution to music in this very special concert. Musicians who have been confirmed to play on the night include very special guests Cathy Jordan, Séamie O’Dowd, Frankie Gavin, Steve Cooney, Jordan McConnell, Philip Duffy, Brian McDonagh, Jim Rooney, Mick Kinsella, Gearoid Devaney, Padraig Devaney, Thom Moore, Johnny Moynihan, Cathal Hayden, Máirtín O’Connor and Michelle Lally. Tickets for what promises to be a wonderful night of music at the Hawk’s Well Theatre are available from the Box Office on 071 916 1518 or www.hawkswell.com at €18/15conc.
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Sligo Fundraiser for Crumlin Children’s Hospital A fundraiser for Crumlin Childrens Hospital will take place on Saturday November 24th, in Castle Dargan Hotel at 9pm. It will consist of Leg Waxing for men carried out by Salus Beauty Salon, a Hong Ying Kung Fu Exhibition, Raffle, Auction, Disco and we have 5 men doing the Full Monty!!! Tickets are €15 and children are free. All proceeds are going to Crumlin Children's Hospital and Crohn's & Colitis Research. Tickets are available from Castle Dargan Hotel, Gulf Filling Station, Collooney, KG Construction, Top Part Sligo.
Aaron Dorey from Ballintogher, Sligo, won an all-Ireland sean-nós dancing prize at the Oireachtas festival held in Letterkenny last weekend. Aaron took second prize in the under 12 ‘Steip’ all-Ireland competition. Aaran is pictured here, with his sister, Alanna, entertaining MP and TD, Gerry Adams. The annual Oireachtas festival, which is in its 115th year, celebrates the best of sean-nós dancing, singing and storytelling. Pic: Seán Ó Mainnín.
“The Gathering” – Magical Mayo 2013 Calendar A beautiful calendar featuring striking images of the unique attractiveness of Mayo, is now available in all C & C Cellular outlets throughout Mayo. All proceeds from the sale of this beautiful calendar will help fund the establishment of Pieta house in the West of Ireland. Pieta House, which is a suicide & self-harm crisis center. Since its foundation in 2006 it has helped more than 8000 individuals and families. Pieta House provides its services free of charge, in a pro-
fessional, confidential and non-judgemental manner. The need for such a facility is growing as some of the shocking incidences of suicide is currently having a devastating impact on communities across the region. With “The Gathering 2013” gathering momentum, this calendar would make an ideal gift for families & friends of the Mayo Diaspora worldwide. It is also an excellent opportunity to showcase the unique natural beauty and attractiveness of Mayo.
Ballaghaderreen Bypass will remove N5 bottleneck LAST Friday, Minister for Transport, Tourism & Sport Leo Varadkar turned the sod on the N5 Ballaghaderreen Bypass scheme, which will make a huge difference to the road network in the North West. The project will remove a significant bottleneck on the N5 and dramatically improve the quality of life in Ballaghaderreen. It’s being funded directly from the Exchequer, will cost €59m to construct and take two years to complete. Speaking at the sod turning, Minister Varadkar said the project will benefit motorists and hauliers, and should enhance efforts to market the North West as a tourism region by improving access. “In these straitened times it’s unusual to announce the start of a significant road project. Anyone who has travelled to the North West, particularly hauliers, will be familiar with this bottleneck. So this is a significant day for motorists, for hauliers, and particularly for local residents,” Minister Varadkar said. “Road access to most parts of the country has improved dramatically in recent years. However, the quality of road access remains an issue to the North West. The Longford bypass opened earlier this year, and work is underway at the Downs on the Mullingar. The new bypass at Ballaghaderreen will further enhance the road network in the North West region.” The Chairman of the NRA, Peter Malone, said: ‘The Ballaghaderreen Bypass is an important project because it will deliver much needed safety improvements and allow for improved access to and throughout the region. The National Roads Authority has seen first-hand the benefits delivered from similar schemes from around the country and looks forward to its completion’.
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Pictured at the announcement of C & C Cellular as Sale outlets are: An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny; President Manchester Mayo Association Marcella Wilkinson, Brendan Chambers Proprietor C & C Cellular, Margaret and Gerry Collins, Magical Mayo Calendars, Cathaoirleach Mayo Co. Council Cyril Bourke, Michael Larkin, Coordinator Magical Mayo Calendars.
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FAS Craft Presentations for West A pprentices from Mayo, Roscommon and Galway were present for the FÁS Advanced Certificate Craft Presentations for the West Region which took place on Friday 26th October in the Menlo Park Hotel, Terryland, Galway. Pictured at their Graduation Ceremony are FÁS Apprentices from the three counties with Councillor Jim Cuddy, Deputy Noel Grealish T.D., Terry O Flaherty, Mayor of the City of Galway, Paul O’Toole, Director General, FÁS, Róisín Doherty, Area Director, FÁS, and Eamon Gleeson, Manager, FÁS, West Region.
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Sam to appear at IT Sligo’s Annual Conferring In recognition of the contribution of IT Sligo’s former and current students on the All Ireland winning Donegal GAA team, the Sam Maguire Cup is set to make an appearance at the Institute’s Annual Conferring Ceremonies next week. More than 1,800 graduates will be conferred at IT Sligo next Thursday and Friday, November 8th and 9th, with the first cohort of students graduating from programmes in Computing in Games Development, Supervisory Management, and a variety of programmes that were introduced to address the skills develop-
ments in the built environment and pharmaceutical sectors. The Sam Maguire Cup and a number of the winning team’s players and management will be special guests at one of the conferring sessions on Thursday, November 8th, including current IT Sligo student Mark McHugh and his father, Martin McHugh who once coached the IT Sligo team. President of IT Sligo, Professor Terri Scott, said it’s a fitting tribute to the team and to the IT Sligo management team that worked with the players during their time at the Institute; “The IT Sligo representation at the
All Ireland Football Final this year was outstanding. Between the Donegal and Mayo panels, 21 of them were either current students or alumni. The talent base was further recognised at the 2012 annual GAA All Star Awards when 5 of our graduates and Mark McHugh were named All Stars. Karl Lacey who graduated in 2007 was also named player of the year,” she said. IT Sligo’s Sport Scholarship Scheme supports rising sport stars in a wide range of sports, from GAA to soccer, and surfing to boxing. For more information see www.itsligo.ie
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IT Sligo Science Week 2012 November 11-17th
FREE ENTRY Open to all
13th Annual Science Fair - November 11th
Lecture Series - November 12th to 16th
Science Week Lectures Series 2012 November 12th to 16th
Diverse, exciting and progressive topics by leading authorities in the scientific field Date
Speaker
Title
Location
Time
Monday November 12th
David Gradwell
“Searching for The Northern Lights in Ireland 2012-2013”
A0004
7.30pm
Tuesday November 13th
Brian Leyden, Gerry Harrington and the Staff from the School of Science, IT Sligo
“An evening of Science, Poetry, Music and the Lives of Sligo Scientists”
Canis Major @ The Clarion Hotel
7.30pm
Wednesday November 14th
Michael Casey, Eamon Gaughan & Michael Bell
“Nature Walk” by Birdwatch Ireland (Sligo Branch) (convene at The Fish monument)
IT Sligo Grounds
1pm
Wednesday November 14th
Seamus O’Brien & Noel Connaughton
“The concerns about septic tanks and what should or could happen in 2013”
A0006
7.30pm
Thursday November 15th
Colin Fitzsimons of the Irish Rocketry Society
“From Donegal to Space: Amateur Rocketry in Ireland”
A0004
7.30pm
Friday November 16th
Dr Don Cotton
“Sligo’s Estuaries and their Wildlife”
A0005
8.00pm
Science Fair: Sunday November 11th 1 “The Archaeology Road Show” Applied Archaeology students with Dr. Marion Dowd & Shirley Markley MAIN CANTEEN ALL DAY • Step back in time and examine human evolution, have a look at how you might have appeared! • Make you own prehistoric jewellery necklaces and bracelets • Handle our traditional face masks from around the world • Know your artefacts, handle our large collection of replica archaeological objects • Become an archaeologist for the day and earn your certificate. • Excavate for buried treasure with our archaeo‘lolly’g dig • Archaeology themed Colouring Books and Activities Books; Stickers; Goody Bags and Treats abound • Let our slide show bring you around the world from prehistory to history “See the Unseen”-Look into the microscope and see what archaeologists find from the past: beetles, grain etc. • Help decorate and paint your own Ogham stone • Jump forward into Medieval times and feel what it was like to be a prisoner, step into our Medieval stocks, if you dare! • Have your hair braided Medieval style! • For our brave little soldiers - Warrior face painting and tattooing on offer • Take part in our Medieval shield making Visit our Egyptian pharaohs: • Make your own pharaoh’s hat • handle papyrus and cartouches • learn to write Egyptian style by making your own hieroglyphic bookmarks • mummify ‘Ken & Barbie’ “Solas ar Gaeilge” • Know and learn your Irish words and old Irish proverbs • learn the Gaelic origin of your name, townland or place 2 Game Programming with XNA Neil Gannon B1041 2.30pm XNA programming workshop-build and deploy a game on an Xbox Age 10 + Tickets at Reception only
3 “Flash Mob” Dance Expo Sarah Middleton Concourse 5pm “Beat IT Dance School”: Examine the science behind dance! 4 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Frank Clinton Concourse All Day Awareness of your environment: learn about cutting down your waste and becoming more ‘green’ + freebies 5 “Vampire Skeletons Explored” Christopher Read B2008 1pm and 3pm IT Sligo Lecturer talks about deviant burials in Ireland as seen on National Geographic, Channel 5 and RTE 6 “Science Spectacles to Entertain and Educate” Randall Henley A0004 12, 2 and 4pm A lecture and demonstration showing the fun and magic of science 7 Model Flying Club Sligo Model Flying Club Concourse All Day A static display of model aircraft 8 “Stop the Words Moving” Sweeney’s Opticians Main Concourse All Day Information stand on visual stress and dyslexia. Recycle your old glasses to help Vision Aid Overseas and National Council for the Blind Claim your €25 voucher towards brand new glasses 9 “Explorius Aquarium” Reception All Day Mobile marine rock pool: watch them move! 10 Hip-Hop workshop Sarah Middleton Black Box 12, 2 & 4pm “Beat It Dance School”: Try out your dance skills and examine the chemistry behind the moves with this high octane fun event 11“It Doesn’t Add Up” Dr Ken Farquhar B2002 12, 2 and 4pm Amazing magic tricks performed and the maths revealed
12 “Kelvin Recycle Magic Show” Magic Marvin A0005 12, 1.15, 3pm, 4.45pm A 45min show using magic and puppets to entertain. Learn about Recycling and Energy Conservation in a fun way 13 “Chemistry in a Lunchbox” Graham Hewston E0011 12, 2 and 4pm Chemistry that can be investigated within the contents of an unusual lunch box 14 “The Wonder of Marine Life: Life on the Seashore” Leif Barry Room C2001 12noon, 1.30, 3.00, 4.00pm A slide show and hands on interaction of seashore creatures and plants aimed at parents and children to learn species identification and healthy seashores edibles 15 “Life in the Back Garden” Dale Treadwell B2045 12.30pm 2.00, 3.00: 4.00pm A look at life in your own garden: bugs, hedgehogs etc. 16 Orreco Concourse All day Orreco display their advanced blood testing process for elite athletes, and professional sports teams 17 Epono Biotech Concourse All day Makers of a break through portable equine blood analyzer 18 New Frontiers Concourse All day 19 Bird watch Ireland Sligo Group Concourse All day 20 “Flights of Fancy” E1008 All Day Build a scientific flying toy and launch it Tickets at Reception only
21 "The REAL Science of the Circus” James Soper E0017 12.30, 2, 4pm Spectacular juggling and balancing tricks used together to show how forces work and combine during circus performances
29 “Daft Antics” B1050 1pm, 3pm, 4pm County Sligo Circus School Science of juggling, acrobalance and other circus skills ~Max 25 places per show ~Tickets at reception only
22 “Mad Lab” E1006 12noon-5.30pm Become an electronics engineer for the day, build your own electronic gadget Charge: Beginners Kit €5; Advanced €10 Over 8yrs only Tickets at Reception only
30 “Eagles Flying” Reception All Day Irish Raptor Research Centre Experience some of the biggest birds of prey in the world
23 Rude Mechanicals E1007 12 noon-5pm Make your own moving toy using simple tools and materials (paper, wood, card, glue). A mini machine, crane, car or windmill, and you get to take it home! Engineering has never been this much fun! 24 Sligo/Leitrim Mountain Rescue Main Canteen All Day Meet the mountains rescuers and see their equipment 25 Science and Technology Puzzle Reception All Day Try out our competition and win a prize! 26 Sligo Bay Life Boat Services Main Canteen All Day Meet Sligo’s sea rescue team: voluntary first response search, rescue and recovery services 27 Sligo Fire Service Main Canteen All Day Meet Sligo’s fire men and women: display of fire prevention and damage 28 Sligo Garda Siochana Main Canteen All Day Meet the members of the Crime Prevention Unit
31 Discover Primary Science Maria Keeney, IT Sligo Concourse 12.30-2.30pm Exciting science experiments by local primary school children 32 “Potions, Explosions and a Little Bit of Magic” Sue Mc Grath A0006 12, 2 and 4pm Scientific Sue shoes her dazzling demonstrations and wacky experiments 33 “Science Ireland” Declan Holmes B1058 12.15, 2 and 4pm Hands-on science shows, learn how physics really works! 34 “Nature Challenge” Michael Bell B2001 12-2pm and 3-5pm Nature under the microscope. Identify leaves and seeds, listen and take the bird song challenge. Observe creepy crawlies from local habitats from the scales of a butterfly to the amazing world of lichens 35 Research Students: IT Sligo Concourse All Day A showcase of the Post Graduate work ongoing in IT Sligo 36 Irish Defence Forces Concourse All Day 4th Western Brigade Meet the men and women of our Defence Forces and learn about life in the Irish Army; Explosions to boot with their E.O.D. (Explosive Ordnance Disposal) display!
For further information visit www.itsligo.ie/scienceweek and www.scienceweek.ie IT Sligo Science Week is sponsored by:
Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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IT Sligo’s Open Day on November 15 Learn from the experts
Students from St. Mary's College, Ballysadare, Sligo experiment in Forensic Science at last year’s Open Day at IT Sligo.
W
hether you’re preparing for your Leaving Certificate, finishing a PLC course, or considering returning to full-time education as a mature learner, you’re invited to IT Sligo’s Open Day on November 15 to learn more about the 50 CAO courses it has on offer. More than 1,300 secondary school students are expected to visit the annual event from all over the country.
Running from 10am to 3pm, the Open Day features demonstrations, workshops, information lectures and tours of the 70-acre, modern campus. Prospective students are invited to experience the atmosphere at the Institute and to speak with current students and lecturers about their course preferences. There will also be a new iPhone 5 up for grabs in a competition for attendees on the day.
Gerry Hegarty, Student Affairs Manager, believes that IT Sligo has a well deserved reputation as a dynamic and innovative third level education institution. “We increased our first year student enrolment in 2012 and we are planning further growth in student numbers in 2013. Through our close links with employers, we know they value the practical experience our students receive
through our work placement programmes. Together with our first class facilities and supports, IT Sligo is a very attractive choice for third level. “Seeing is believing and I’d urge those who are considering their third level choices to come and experience our learning environment in person,” he said. “Open Day is an opportunity for students to get a flavour of what we offer. We’ve benefited from a considerable capital development plan in the last number years and we have some of the best and most modern campus facilities in the country.” Parents obviously want to support their sons and daughters make the right choice for their third level education and they are also welcome at the event. According to Hegarty, “IT Sligo’s Open Day is a great opportunity to hear about programmes and career prospects first hand from current students and lecturers. Given the current employment challenges, parents want to satisfy themselves about their children’s future career prospects and I would encourage them to come and find out for themselves about the benefits of studying at IT Sligo” For a detailed programme of events see www.itsligo.ie/openday. For more information contact Dara McGoldrick, Student Recruitment Officer at 071 9155383 or mcgoldrick.dara@itsligo.ie
Business as usual as Sligo’s Clarion goes into receivership IT was announced at the weekend that a receiver, Aidan Murphy of Crowe Horwath Accountants, Dublin, has been appointed over the assets of the Clarion Hotel in Sligo. It is also understood the Hotel will continue to operate under its existing management structure and it will be business as normal as far as customers and staff are concerned. All the deposits paid for future business will be honoured in full and this process will have no impact on the day to day operation of the hotel. Membership subscriptions to the Leisure Centre will continue to be valid. Crowe Howarth Accountants are specialist consultants to the hotel, tourism and leisure sectors and have many years of experience of working with hotel companies.
and her keen embroidery and other dressmaking skills were used on the piece. It is estimated that in excess of 20,000 attended the event. Each featured artist used a variety of techniques, such as knitting, stitching, embroidery, dressmaking and more to produce stunning works inspired by the environments in which the various artists from throughout the
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Alleged “inappropriate use” of prison officers’ funds investigated A recent Oireachtas committee meeting discussed the alleged “inappropriate use” of what is understood to be a significant amount of money from a fund held by prison officers at Castlerea Prison. It is also understood the matter has been referred to the Garda Commissioner for investigation. At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee earlier in October the committee confirmed receiving information from an anonymous source regarding the alleged “inappropriate use” of funds. The committee said that the matter might not fall within its remit but that it would refer the matter to the Garda Commissioner for follow-up. “This may not come within the remit of the committee. However, as it alleges inappropriate use of monies, we will refer it to the Garda Commissioner for appropriate follow-up and comment,” Committee Chairman John McGuinness said. It is not yet clear whether a complaint has been made to Gardai regarding the alleged “inappropriate use” of funds but it is understood that the monies have been paid back.
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Leitrim artist featured at Knitting and Stitching Show LEITRIM’S Ruth Duignan was among twenty textile artists to exhibit at the Knitting and Stitching Show in the RDS from 1st to 4th November. The exhibition was coordinated by the Crafts Council of Ireland (CCoI) in conjunction with their member organisation. Ruth’s amazing, layered and landscaped dress used cotton, tweed-linen and other materials
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country live and work. The Knitting & Stitching Show is the largest textile and crafting event in Ireland and hosts one of the largest exhibitions of patchwork in Europe. Over four jam packed days the Show’s Learning Curve presented over 90 workshops on everything from the basic getting started to more advanced master classes in felt making, cross stitching and millinery tech-
niques. The Knitting & Stitching Show is a complete craft and fun experience for novice and experienced hands. From picking up needles for the very first time, to advancing abilities, sourcing from the largest selection of yarn and materials suppliers under one roof to inspiring galleries of patchwork and accessories, the event was both inspiring and successful.
Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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O Emperor to play McGarrigle’s this weekend
W
aterford’s O Emperor return to Irish soil following their European Tour and will play McGarrigle’s of Sligo on Saturday night next, November 10th. The Sligo venue will be part of a string of dates across Ireland and a new double A sided single, ‘Electric Tongues’/’Erman Gou’ was released on November 1st. It was October 2010, O Emperor came into prominence with the release of their album, ‘HITHER THITHER’ with Universal records, reaching number 6 on the Irish album charts. They have since gone onto release the album in Europe on independent German label K and F records,
with 2012 spent touring Europe to promote its release. 2012 also saw them spending many moon cycles in their home studio/fire hazard recording material for their new album to be released next spring. Their new material promises to be quite a departure from their previous efforts and the release of their double A side single ‘Electric Tongues’/Erman Gou’ reflect the band’s developing taste and diversification: "Electric Tongues" musically and lyrically conveys the sensory overload of a surreal dream being strongly influenced by pioneering Krautrock acts from the early '70s whom the band have collectively grown to love.
"Erman Gou" evokes a more thoughtful, introspective mood. Set against a stripped down live band feel with some stream-ofconsciousness guitar and synth work, it reflects the easy, unhurried approach that the band has favoured in recent times. The singles are now available for download but for the modern world we live in of immediate gratification, the two songs are live for streaming on the group’s Bandcamp page oemperor.bandcamp.com. The Waterford group, who will be supported by The Altered Hours for the Sligo gig, also play The Roisin Dubh, Galway, on the 22nd November.
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A first for Mayo as property owners prosecuted over household charge
MAYO may have a reputation of coming in second in relation to many issues. However, the county seems to have achieved a first last week when three property owners from the Westport area made history by becoming the first persons in the country to be prosecuted for non-payment of the government’s controversial household charge. This may just be the start of many such cases, particularly involving owners of multiple properties. Summonses to appear before Judge Mary Devins at Westport District Court last Thursday were issued to Peter Anthony Keegan, Belclare, Westport, and a married couple, Barbara O’Malley and Liam O’Malley with an address at Clooneen, Rosbeg, Westport. The summonses against Mr. Keegan
related to allegedly not making a declaration in relation to six units in Westport town. The cases against the O’Malley’s relate to non-declaration in respect of three units in Westport. When the cases came before her, Judge Devins asked if they were the first cases of their kind in the country, to which Mr. Ward McEllin, solicitor (for Mayo County Council) replied: “As I understand it, yes.” Mr. McEllin told the court it was an offence to fail to make a declaration and it was a separate offence to fail to pay the household charge. Judge Devins adjourned the cases against the three until December 20th. Meanwhile, Mayo County Council has confirmed it has issued a total of eight summons, with a total of 25 properties, in relation to non-payment of household charges. Acting county secretary John McHale explained: “These summons were issued following a number of reminder letters to multiple property owners. “This is the commencement of the next phase of an ongoing process for collection of household charges that is being implemented on a nationwide basis. It is expected that other local authorities will be issuing proceedings in the coming days and weeks.” All of this is happening against a background of the local authority having to issue apologies for sending notices seeking payment to some householders who had already paid the controversial charge.
Ballina mourns loss of popular local priest
THE communities in Ballina and its hinterland are still numbed and in shock following the sudden death of popular local priest, Fr. Muredach Tuffy. The 39-year-old Castleconnor native was a curate and director of the Newman Institute in Ballina, Co Mayo. He was also the
diocesan director of pastoral renewal and adult faith development, a member of the diocesan liturgy and music commission, and diocesan vocations director and communications officer. The body of the priest was discovered on the morning of Tuesday week in his apartment attached to the institute at Cathedral Close in Ballina. Fr. Muredach was ordained in 1999, and worked as director of the Newman Institute since 2003, where he had been instrumental in its development and growth into a centre for adult religious education. He was also the diocesan director of pastoral renewal and diocesan vocations director, as well as lecturing in applied theology at the Newman
Institute. He also acted as Bishop Fleming’s spokesman. On the previous Saturday, Fr Tuffy officiated at the wedding of a friend in his home town of Castleconnor. “Shock and disbelief” has been the general response to the death of this young priest, who was so helpful and amenable, particularly to young people. A Facebook site set up after his death has thousands of likes and the comments of young people in particular is an indication of the shock, sadness and deep sense of loss so many of them are experiencing. Our thoughts are with his grieving family and his fellow clerics who are trying to come to terms with what has happened.
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Galway Company assists in Sandy relief efforts
A
s New York continues its major clean-up operation after Superstorm Sandy it has emerged that a charitable trust based in Galway is playing a lead role in the response to the devastation. Disaster Tech Lab, which has offices in Galway city, was among the organisations to respond to the Haiti earthquake in 2010, and specializes in using digital technology to respond to emergency situations. The organisation’s work in responding to Superstorm Sandy,
which has devastated New York city and left millions without power or water supplies, is coordinated through so-called ‘Crisiscamps’. These bring together experts, developers, and first responders to provide for humanitarian crisis management and disaster relief. Crisiscamp units have met in Galway, as well as in Boston, Washington and other US locations, to review their highly specialized response to Superstorm Sandy. Evert Bopp, the founder of Disaster Tech Lab said the company
has been involved in the response since Sandy hit the US shoreline last week. The company has developed an online mapping system which can pinpoint network outages as well as available public Wi-Fi locations. Mr Bopp said that internet access has become a primary need for a lot of people trying to cope with their situation and find information on services and the welfare of relatives. Volunteers attending events in Galway and the US will work together via video-conference and Skype.
Harkin Calls for Broader Debate Noonan not for turning on mortgage relief deadline on Future Farm Payments THE Reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the Single Farm Payment is hugely important to counties like Donegal but there had been too little public debate on the outcome which would be fair to all concerned. This was suggested by Independent MEP Marian Harkin when she addressed a public meeting organised by Inishowen IFA in Carndonagh on Wednesday, October 31st. She expressed dismay at the failure of politicians in general to engage in the debate on the Single Farm Payment. “Having spoken to representatives of farmers covering the eleven counties of my constituency and listened to the views of a range of farmers involved in the various farm activities, and at all levels of production, I believe that the share out of the Single Farm Payment must result in a more equitable distribution for the future”, she said. Unfortunately there had been a ducking of the issue at political level, except for the Minister for Agriculture, and a focus on the so called productive farmer as if in some way this equated with those who currently had the highest per hectare payments, she said. “Productive farmers exist at all levels of production and as far
as I am concerned I nail my colours to the mast of the family farm whose continued existence is vital to the future economic and social development of counties like Donegal. Farmers have to produce on marginal land as well as good land and they have to produce in favourable as well as very unfavourable climatic conditions, so the argument is much more nuanced than is often presented”, she suggested. The future Single Farm Payment needed to ensure that no farmer would be ‘cut off at the knees’ through sudden or excessive reduction of payments while the next generation of farmers also needed to be catered for, she said. “The EU Parliament has a proposal whereby no farmer would be entitled to earn more than 30% above or below the average. My own view is that this could be extended to 40% with proportionate increases for those close to the average”, the Independent MEP said. This would ensure the least disruption to the activities of existing high payment farmers while incentivising the lower payment farmers and young farmers to increase the overall output of the country’s farms, she said. She called for a much wider debate on the future Single Farm Payment, which she described as the ‘only game in town’ due to the lack of a definitive budget for Pillar 2 of the CAP. There was a major economic and environmental need under Pillar 2 to develop a new properly funded REPS scheme and supports for those farming disadvantaged farmland, Marian Harkin said. “Farmers availing of these schemes have suffered serious reductions in their incomes in recent years and this needs to be redressed in the next CAP programme”, Marian Harkin MEP concluded.
IN our last issue we carried a story about the increase in property sales due to the end-of-year deadline for mortgage relief. The scurry for homes (for those who can get mortgage finance) is likely to increase further in the coming weeks since Finance Minister Michael Noonan has firmly rejected calls from within his own Government to extend the mortgage interest relief deadline from the end of the year. Last week, there were numerous calls from within both Fine Gael and Labour for Mr Noonan to extend the deadline, even for a number of months, given the noticeable upsurge in property activity since the summer. The incentive means firsttime buyers receive mortgage interest relief at 25 per cent and non first-home buyers receive relief at 15 per cent. Currently, mortgage interest relief runs for seven years. However, Mr Noonan has said despite the positive impact of the relief on the market in recent weeks, he is not for turning and that the relief would be ending on December 31. "It was one year, that encouraged a lot of people to buy houses and they are still doing so. "And it seems to be working. So I am confirming there will be no extension to
the mortgage interest scheme," he said. Last month, a survey of leading auctioneers found that buyers had expressed a strong desire to get deals closed before the December deadline. Values across the country as a whole were up 0.9 per cent in September -- following increases in August and July -- accord-
ing to the official CSO figures. That's the biggest national price rise since the property market started its five-yearlong descent at the start of 2007. House and apartment prices have halved since the 2007 peak. The average price of a house or apartment outside of Dublin is now €144,000.
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tech news & science
Do You Have any news or views for us? email: info@theexpress.ie
New iPad mini 'thin as a pencil'
ELECTRONICS giant Apple has revealed a smaller version of its hit iPad tablet computer which comes with a screen about two-thirds the size of the full model. Apple starts taking orders for the new model this Friday in the US - priced from 329 US dollars - and will ship the wi-fionly models on November 2, according to marketing chief Phil Schiller at an event in San Jose, California. Later, the company will add models capable of accessing "LTE" wireless data networks. The iPad mini weighs 0.68lbs (0.31 kilograms), half as much as the fullsize iPad, and is as thin as a pencil, Mr Schiller said. The screen resolution is 1024 by 768 pixels, the same as the iPad 2 and a quarter of the resolution of the third-generation iPad. "It's not just a shrunken down iPad, it's an entirely new design," Mr Schiller added. Company watchers have for a year been expecting the company to release a smaller iPad to counter cheaper tablets like Amazon's Kindle Fire. However, most were expecting it to cost between 250 and 300 US dollars . At 329 dollars, it is twice the price of the basic Kindle Fire. In a surprise move, Apple added that it is upgrading its fullsize iPad tablet just six months after launching a new model, doubling the speed of the processor. Previously, the company has updated the iPad once a year. The fourth-generation iPad will have a better camera and work on more "LTE" wireless data networks around the world. Apple is also replacing the 30-pin dock connector with the new, smaller "lightning" connector introduced with the iPhone 5. Matt Leeser, Head of Buying for Communications Technology at John Lewis, said: "We're excited by Apple's decision to launch the iPad Mini as it is a significant step towards the proliferation of tablets as the market reaches lower price points and will join a range of very competitive tablet options now in that sector. "Last year Apple dominated the tablet market, but this year there is going to be a lot more choice available, including tablets from Samsung, Google, Amazon Kindle, and the Nook from Barnes & Noble. We're also excited about the range of options Microsoft's Windows 8 operating system will bring to the market."."
Consumers slow to embrace Windows 8
M
ICROSOFT bills Windows 8 as a "reimagining" of the personal computer market's dominant operating system, but still has a lot to do before the makeover captures the imagination of most consumers, a poll has shown. The phone survey of nearly 1,200 adults in the US by The Associated Press and GfK found 52% had not even heard of Windows 8, leading up to Friday's
release of the redesigned software. Among the people who knew something about the new operating system, 61% had little or no interest in buying a new laptop or desktop computer running on Windows 8, according to the poll. And only about a third - 35% - of the people who had heard about the new system believed it would be an improvement.
Engineer Chris Dionne, 43, of Waterbury, Connecticut, had already seen Windows 8 and it did not persuade him to abandon or upgrade his laptop running on Windows 7, the previous version of the operating system released in 2009. "I am not real thrilled they are changing things around," he said. "Windows 7 does everything I want it to. Where is the return on my investment to
learn a new OS (operating system)?" Microsoft usually releases a new version of Windows every two or three years, but it is different this time around. Windows 8 is the most radical redesign of the operating system since 1995 and some analysts consider the software to be Microsoft's most important product since co-founder Bill Gates won the contract to build an operating system for IBM's first personal computer in 1981. Microsoft is hoping the way Windows 8 looks and operates will appeal to the growing number of people embracing the convenience of smartphones and tablets. The consumer ambivalence, however, was even more pronounced when it came to Microsoft's new tablet computer, Surface, which was built to show off Windows 8's versatility. Sixty-nine per cent of the poll's respondents expressed little or no interest in buying a Surface, which Microsoft is hoping will siphon sales from Apple's pioneering iPad and other popular tablets such as Amazon's Kindle Fire and Google's Nexus 7.
Jail phone jamming 'may hit public'
PEOPLE living near jails could have their phone signals accidentally jammed under proposals to stamp out the illegal use
of mobiles among prisoners, it has been claimed. Concerns were raised by MSPs about the unintended impact of UK Government plans to crack down on the problem, which may also see personal data mistakenly stored by authorities. Holyrood's Justice Committee, while supporting the intention of UK-wide legislation, called for assurances that members of the public will be protected. Some Scottish jails are in densely populated areas, such as Saughton in Edinburgh, Barlinnie in Glasgow and Craiginches in Aberdeen. Roseanna Cunningham, Community Safety Minister, told the committee: "I understand exactly the point that is being made about the proximity of some jails to built-up areas and the necessity to ensure that if
anything is put in place it does not effectively blanket a much wider area than simply the prison, which is what the primary purpose of any decision would be." Officials said technology will be tested to ensure there is no overspill into residential areas. But the committee heard that signals could still be affected and data picked up in some situations. Jim O'Neill, senior legal policy manager at the Scottish Prison Service, said: "You cannot say it will never, ever happen. The key for us is that it's only able to exercise this power within prison. Might someone's data be captured as they walk by an open prison in a rural area? That may well happen. The key then is to sift out that data and destroy it."
Trials are being held in English jails but phone jamming has not been tried in Scotland. It is already an offence to have a mobile in jail but authorities are concerned that serious, organised crime is still being conducted by prisoners with access to illicit phones. The Prison (Interference with Wireless Telegraphy) Bill passed its third reading in the House of Commons earlier this month. It enables the authorities to prevent, detect and investigate the use of mobile phones and other communications devices and will apply to all prisons, young offenders' institutions and secure training centres. As well as allowing the jamming of signals, the legislation will let prison authorities trace calls, although it does not allow conversations to be recorded.
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Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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Man Sues Wife for Being Ugly Gets Awarded $120,000 in Damages
I
n what may be the weirdest divorce trial in recent history, a man in China sued his wife for being ugly and actually won the right to divorce her and a substantial settlement of $120,000. No, this is not a joke. Earlier this year, Jian Feng, a man from northern China took his spouse to court for being ugly. But you couldn’t really tell that by looking at her, in fact the unnamed woman could be considered attractive by most standards. To make things even weirder, the judge actually ruled in his favor, granting him the right to a divorce and a settlement of around $120,000. This probably makes no sense to you right now, but I’ll try to clarify things as best I can. Jian Feng’s problems began when he and his wife had their first baby. The man described his daughter as “incredibly ugly” and told the court she resembled neither of the parents. Now, most fathers would just hold their piece and love that little angel as if she were the most beautiful baby ever born, but not Feng. He started accusing his wife of cheating on him, and he kept at it until she couldn’t take no more and finally admitted she might have something to do with the baby’s appearance. You see, Jian Feng’s wife hadn’t always
been attractive. Before she even met him, the woman spent around$100,000 on dozens of plastic surgeries to drastically improve her looks, and since the alterations weren’t passed on to the baby, she assumed she was the reason for the looks that weren’t up to the father’s standards. As soon as he heard his wife’s confession, Jian
filed a lawsuit, accusing her of marrying him under false pretenses. Most judges would laugh at the claim, but not the one he found. This “model” father and husband was awarded the divorce he wanted and a settlement of around $120,000. It’s unclear who got custody of the baby, but I think it’s safe to assume she stayed with the mother.
Jian Feng’s wife, before and after plastic surgery
Farmer claims on phone insurance after iPhone 'gets stuck inside a cow' It may sound like a load of old bull but a farmer who claims to have lost his iPhone up a cow's bottom tops a list of unusual mobile phone insurance claims. THE agriculturalist from Barnstable in Devon, said he was using a torch app on his iPhone 3GS while assisting a cow giving birth before it disappeared out of sight. When the man in his 30s was eventually reunited with his smartphone it was too damaged to use, leading to his bizarre insurance claim. A close second on the strange list, revealed by MobileInsurance.co.uk, was from a Nottingham woman who said she accidentally baked her Nokia 6303i inside a Victoria Sponge cake. A woman in her 20s using her BlackBerry Bold as an adult toy and a couple dropping a phone in the ocean while re-enacting the a scene from Titanic also made the list. MobileInsurance.co.uk executive John Lamerton said he had seen a lot of 'weird and wonderful claims' from customers. He added: 'I’m not sure how some of them even came about, particularly in the
case of the farmer and the cow. 'Mobile phones are only going up in price now, so it pays to have them insured for as many scenarios as possible. 'Judging by these claims, you really never know what you might need to claim for. 'My advice would be to just use the phone as a phone and not as an ingredient in a cake or a firework for that matter.'
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A Scottish brewery claims to have created the world's strongest beer - a 65 per cent super strength alcoholic drink called Armageddon. The appropriately named beer is likely to leave consumers feeling like it’s the end of the world the next morning, with a pint containing 37 units of alcohol - twice the recommended weekly intake for a man. Created by Scottish firm Brewmeister, the product is proving so popular with beer fans that there is currently a two-week wait for delivery. The beer is made from ingredients including crystal malt, wheat and flaked oats and is freeze fermented to bring it to the required ABV. Brewmeister says the beer should be 'consumed like a fine whisky', adding: 'Despite being 65 per cent, the beer has a lot of flavour - malty, hoppy, slightly sweet and lots of yeast still in the beer. 'Be careful though, smelling it is probably enough to put you over the limit!' Brewery founder Lewis Shand told Standard Media: 'The phrase "delivers a punch" doesn’t quite cut it - delivers a supersonic charged explosion is probably more appropriate.' A 41 per cent beer called Sink The Bismarck! was the previous record holder before Armageddon's recent market introduction.
World's largest bra sold to 'world's most eccentric company' The world's largest bra has been bought on internet auction site eBay by the 'world's most eccentric company'. GoldenPalace.com, who has recently snapped up an array of weird and wonderful items, purchased the giant piece of underwear for a bra-gain £3,601. The unique undergarment, which is almost the size of two tennis courts, was sold by chillisauce.co.uk as part of a charity auction for the Breast Cancer Campaign's (BCC) ‘wear it pink’ event. Buyer Richard Allen said: 'GoldenPalace.com has mastered the art of guerilla marketing and we are never happier than when we find an opportunity to apply those skills to help make a better life for those in need.'
The top ten weirdest claims made: 1. Lost inside a cow 2. Baked into a cake 3. Flushed down a lavatory 4. Snatched by a seagull 5. Blasted by fireworks 6. Stolen by monkeys 7. Dropped from a tree 8. Thrown at a boyfriend 9. Worn out by 'intimate' use 10. Dropped overboard
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naturalhealth By Megan Fennell
The information provided to you on this page is for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for medical advice and it is important that you do not make medical decisions without first consulting your doctor or other healthcare professional.
Do Not Panic! Breathing Techniques Can Help You Exercise
I
f you've got chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), it's more important than ever to get some exercise—it can save your lung function and slow down the progression of COPD. The problem? The shortness of breath that comes with exertion can make it tempting to move less than you did before. This sets up a vicious cycle: shortness of breath leads to inactivity, which leads to a decline in fitness, which leads to further shortness of breath and inactivity. To get out of the rut, Michael Berry, PhD, chair of the department of health and exercise science at Wake Forest University, in Winston-Salem, N.C., recommends walking, stationary biking, and elliptical training. They work well for people with COPD, but strength and resistance training are playing an increasing role in patients’ regimens. As we age, people—particularly those over the age of 60—lose muscle fibers, according to Berry. Healthy people lose fast-twitch muscles, which are used for short bursts of energy. But individuals with COPD tend to lose
slow-twitch muscles, which are used for endurance activities as well. Weight training helps to improve skeletal muscle function so patients can remain active longer. Exercise of the lower legs—frequently walking or cycling—is the main focus of any organized exercise program for COPD, says Gail Weinmann, MD, the deputy director of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute’s Division of Lung Diseases, but exercising the upper arms through resistance training is also helpful. (Like anyone starting an exercise program, a person with COPD should be cleared for exercise by a health care provider, Dr. Weinmann cautions.) If you have COPD, another advantage of exercising the respiratory system is to learn how to cope with the panic that can occur with shortness of breath. “I have heard it described as when someone is hit in the stomach and can’t get their breath,” Berry says. “Exercise teaches people how to deal with that sensation, to work through it. They know they are going to get up the steps, and they will get short of breath, but now they know, ‘I’m not going to keel over and die.’”
going to whistle). The exhale should be longer than the inhale, but air should not be forced out. This breathing helps people relax and reduces the amount of air trapped in the lungs. Diaphragm breathing helps to strengthen this important muscle and is accomplished by lying on one’s back with knees bent and making the stomach, rather than the chest, move out while inhaling and in while exhaling. Patients are typically introduced to breathing exercises only when they visit a respiratory therapist or participate in a pulmonary rehabilitation program, Berry says, mainly because time-crunched primary care physicians focus on exercise and smoking cessation. McBride’s insurance would not pay for respiratory therapy, so he utilized breathing techniques he learned during Lamaze classes years ago. He visualizes wringing out a towel when he starts to panic and concentrates on breathing out twice as long as he breathes in. “A lot of people don’t want to do anything because they are afraid of getting short of breath," he says. "It doesn’t scare me anymore because I have had enough experience with the distress part.”
Breathing techniques can fight panicky feelings Mike McBride, a COPD patient from Arvada, Colo., who racewalks with oxygen in tow, says the first time he walked around his neighborhood for exercise, he thought he was going to have to call someone to pick him up. Over the years he has had setbacks and has learned his limits, but he continues to exercise at the gym and walks at least three times a week. “Learning to deal with the panic is the first thing to get past,” McBride says. Respiratory therapists offer two common breathing techniques: pursed lip and diaphragm breathing. Pursed lip breathing is performed by inhaling through the nose and then exhaling through pursed lips (as if one is
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Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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e are delighted to announce Damien Demspey & his band will be playing a special show at The Royal Theatre on Thursday 15th November. Almighty Love, the brand new studio album from Damien Dempsey, is on sale now. This much anticipated release was writ-
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renowned Irish graffiti artist Maser on the project ‘They Are Us’. Inspired by Dempsey’s lyrics, Maser painted giant masterpieces of Dempsey’s words on derelict buildings in Dublin. His bold colours and style transformed the sounds and poetry of Dempsey’s songs into the very definition of street art on the Dublin cityscape. Sales of the limited edition prints raised funds for The Simon Community, a charity set up to help the homeless. In December 2010 Dempsey and Glen Hansard, the Oscar winning songwriter, recorded and performed ‘The Auld Triangle’ which raised much needed funds for the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) ‘Keep The Lights On’ Campaign. Dempsey made his acting debut in 2011 in the Irish feature film ‘Between The Canals’. His song ‘Sing All Your Cares Away’ was featured in the BAFTA Award winning film ‘Tyrannosaur’, and he has songs in two upcoming Irish films "Stalker" and "King of the Travellers". Tickets, €25.00, are on sale now from Ticketmaster outlets online & nationwide and from the Royal Theatre Box Office on 0818 300 000 or 094 90 23111.
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ten in Dublin and London and recorded in New Air Studios, London. The album has been over four years in the making and is Dempsey’s most definitive recording to date. Produced by long term collaborator John Reynolds, Almighty Love includes performances from Sinéad O’Connor and emerging London artist Kate Tempest. The first single to be taken from the album is the title track Almighty Love, which is a soaring ballad celebrating the powerful strength of love. The four years since the release of his album The Rocky Road have been busy for Dempsey. In addition to writing and recording Almighty Love, Dempsey was involved in recording and performing the Official Irish Euro 2012 Song ‘Rocky Road To Poland’. The songs lyrics were compiled from suggestions made by the listeners of The Ray D’Arcy Show on Today FM. The single was produced by John Reynolds and reached #1 in the Irish charts. All proceeds from the sale of the single were donated to The John Giles Foundation and The Irish Cancer Society. Dempsey also collaborated with
‘Thoughtful, charming … at once savage and sensitive, he is the most exciting Scot-
KEVIN Bridges returns to the road this winter, and will include an eagerly awaited performance at the Royal Theatre, Castlebar on Friday 7th December. His brand new show called the 'The Story Continues...' follows up the huge success of his sell-out UK and Ireland tour of 2010. Having made his debut on BBC 1's 'Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow' in 2009 he has now gone on to host the Bafta nominated 'Live At The Apollo' and Channel 4's 'Stand-Up For The Week'. His 6 part BBC 1 series, 'Kevin Bridges What's The Story' was transmitted early last year, and a new DVD - 'Kevin Bridges, The Story Continues...' will be recorded in
tish comedian since Billy Connolly’. Broadwaybaby.com ‘Hilarious observations. One of the hottest properties on the stand up scene’ Edinburgh Evening News Tickets €33.50 are on sale from the Royal Box Office on 0818 300 000 or 094 9023111 or online from www.RoyalTheatre.ie and ticketmaster.ie
Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
renewable
energy
all you ne ed to know Solar Water Heating Heating water is the second largest energy use in typical households Solar water heaters can be a costeffective way to generate hot water for your home here in Ireland. One square metre of Solar Panels on your roof receives the equivalent of more than 100 litres of oil in free solar energy per year. And as a matter of fact, this is more than in Paris. Ok. But what if the sun is not shining? No problem. A solar water heater not only converts direct sunlight but also indirect sunlight into heat, so it works even when the sky is overcast. True,there will be less solar heat available during the winter, but a back-up heater will boost the water temperature. The result is 100% comfort at all times, with plenty of hot water for a fraction of the cost. Our panels have been fully tested and come with a 10 year Guarantee and are approved for the SEI Greeener Homes Scheme, which means that
you can qualify for a grant of € 300 per m2(to max. 12 m2 ) How Solar water Heating Systems work Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don't. Solar water heating systems include two main items. They are Storage Tanks and Solar collectors. Types of Solar water Heating Systems There are two types of solar water heating systems: • Active, which have circulating pumps and controls, • Passive, which don't. Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank. Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In onetank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank. Solar Collectors There are two main forms of solar collectors or panels on the market here in Ireland Flat Plate collectors and Evacuated Tube collectors. The main component of ach is the absorber, which The SolarCat 3 Coil, 300 litre, heavy duty, high pressure, stainless steel tank with 3 Coils and immersion. They are also available in other sizes such as 200/250 litre.
absorbs solar radiation and converts it into heat. In a plate collector, the absorber is in the form of a flat, black plate in a shallow metal container covered with one or more layers of transparent glass or plastic; either air or a liquid is circulated through the cavity of the container. Heat is directly transferred from the absorber to the circulating liquid (air, water) The absorber in an Evacuated tube collector consists of a relatively narrow strip of copper with a selective black coating bonded to a single copper tube.The tube contains a special fluid which evaporates when heated. This vapour rises and transfers heat to the water circulating in the systems primary circuit. Evacuated tubes are more efficient than flat plate collectors; consequently they take up less space. They are, however, more expensive that flat plate. Generally speaking, to produce a given amount of hot water, Whether using flat plate or evaporated tubes, the installation costs will be roughly the same. Rainwater Harvesting Rainwater Harvesting Systems In Ireland, daily water consumption rate per person is 148 litres. However, only 67 litres of this is used for personal hygiene and nutritional consumption. This means that approximately 80 litres of water per
person on a daily basis do not need to be high quality but while using water from the utility for all your daily water requirements you are paying the same amount of money for each litre of water. The water you are using for washing your car, watering the plants and toilet flushing is treated to the drinking water quality. It is possible to use rainwater harvesting systems for such needs. They are widely used in homes, farms, public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and hotels and many other facilities. How do they harvest water? Its early versions were simply gathering the rainwater in a tank. Today, our rain harvesting systems are much more improved and efficient with the addition of a couple of elements, such as pressure vessels, pumps and filters. A typical rainwater harvesting system has the following elements: • A surface to catch water, this is generally found on your roof • Channels for water transport from catch surface to the storage tank • Filters to filter particles • Pumps and pressure vessels to pressurise water and keep water pressurised. • Water storage tank to store ready-to-use water. • Piping system to transport water to the points of consumption.
What will be your savings? This is dependent on many factors. The most important one is, which part Ireland you live in. This is important to know the annual rain figures for that area. Also the surface you will use for catching the water plays an important role in the calculations. When some average values are taken, you can save about €1 for each square meter of your horizontal water catch surface annually. Rainwater harvesting systems pay for themselves in a short time, generally a few years. Installation and Maintenance of rainwater harvesting systems Rainwater harvesting system design and installation needs experience and training. Systems are designed to occupy minimum space especially in your garden. For this purpose, underground tanks are used. The pipe system is connected to the intended points of use. Pressurizing and pressure maintaining elements in the systems allow you to have constant water pressure in your rainwater pipe system. Rainwater harvesting system elements are made of durable materials and have a simple technical structure. These two features result in minimum maintenance requirements for the overall system.You may only need to clean filters from time to time and maybe some infrequent maintenance may be required for pumps.
Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
Living room
furniture at a glance I
f the dining room furniture is the most often used furniture in the house, then the living room is often the room where the family spends most of it's time. It is a multi functional room as it is for relaxing and also less formal entertaining. Living room furniture needs to be hard wearing since it gets such use, yet this should not be allowed to stop the room from being stylishly decorated. What is considered living room furniture? Living room furniture is made up of a wide variety of different pieces of
furniture including the following: • Settee and foot stool sets, • Coffee tables, • Book cases, • Mirrors, • Occasional tables, • Sideboards, • Display units, • Lamps and other ornaments, • TV stands and cabinets, • Fireplaces, • Statues and hearth decorations, • Rugs and floor adornments. There are as many combinations of furniture as there are people. With the variety of furniture available, combined with the room
size and shape, it is possible to create a truly original living space.
How to furnish your living room Furnishing a living room can be a tricky exercise, and is one that requires quite a deal of thought and planning. For many homes the living room is the showcase. The first consideration is the size and shape of the room and included in this consideration is also location of door(s), window(s), radiators and fireplace. When these have been taken into account you
will have a good idea of what configuration of furniture will best fit into and complement your living room. You should also set a budget guideline at an early stage to help narrow down the possibilities a little. Stick to a style.With your basic living room furniture it is best to use a common theme throughout. You can introduce different ideas through the accessories you choose to go with the basic furniture.
Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
choosing the right
flooring for your home
being stained and finished by mid-century. Pine soon became subflooring as parquet got popular, with prefabricated parquet patterns being sold to install on cloth yielding “wood carpet.” Herringbone oak parquet patterns abounded with the emergence of custom borders featured in dining rooms, libraries, and drawing rooms. The 20th century visited lighter wooden flooring in the 20’s and 30’s, with strip oak the standard in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s. Peaking in 1956, wood flooring was overwhelmed by carpet following the FHA’s acceptance for new home construction. Throughout the 60’s and 70’s hardwood flooring was a specialty surface utilized very selectively until the appearance, durability, health and maintenance benefits returned it to favor again in the 80’s and 90’s.
Carpet Carpets were probably first made by nomadic peoples to cover the earthen floor in their tents. It is not certain however, if the Egyptians, the Chinese, or even the Mayas first invented carpet making. It is quite possible that many peoples, none of whom were in contact with each other, began to make carpets at about the same time. We can be certain however, that by the fifth century BC carpet making had reached a high artistic level. This was proven by the Russian archaeologists Rudenko and Griaznov, who in 1949 discovered the oldest known “knotted” carpet in the Pazyryk valley, about 5000 feet up on the Altai Mountains in Siberia. Today, Carpet weaving is by far the most widespread handicraft in Iran; it is also the best-known one abroad. Persian carpets are renowned for their richness of colour, variety of patterns and quality of design . Wooden Flooring Wooden flooring made its
appearance in the Middle Ages, with some of those 800-year old floors still in use today.The upper levels were the most common placement, with the most expensive wooden floors being stained colors, laid in patterns, parquets and even marquetry. Less costly floors were decorated with painted patterns and designs starting in the early 1600’s, with the genesis probably being painted oilcloths which are still popular today. Colonial times brought smooth pine wooden flooring boards, and the 18th century saw painting to simulate stone and simple checked patterns combined with floor cloths in elaborate wood floor designs and marbelized diamond patterns being very common. These were used primarily in hallways, dining rooms and parlors. Finer cuts of wood flooring and inlayed designs were limited to the formal and nicer rooms. The 19th century was characterized by unfinished pine wooden flooring that evolved to
Vinyl Flooring Vinyl Flooring first came into being as a light-weight and durable building material during World War II. As more and more use of this product began being discovered, vinyl entered into the commercial market with a vengeance. Today, one very important usage of this chemical is in the flooring industry in the form of vinyl floor tiles. Depending on the composition of the material, vinyl tiles tend to have variance in characteristics, leading to choices in terms of whether a given tile is more or less suitable to be installed in a bathroom, doorway, or basement. In the VCT, for example, manufacturers add a printed design layer created through a rotogravure printing process.This design layer is what gives the vinyl floor tiles those beautiful designs and colors and sparkle, making them attractive. It is in VCT again that manufacturers sheath a highperformance “wear” layer on top, in order to withstand heavy duty traffic. It is not for nothing that these tiles are called “Resilience tiles”. They tend to bounce back from whatever impact and pressure they are subjected to, whether through footfalls or static load. A few other notable characteristics of this product are as follows: Diversity of designs Thanks to technology, vinyl flooring tiles can imitate the look and feel of wood or ceramic floors, but at considerably less cost than these more expensive counterparts. It is very easy to cut the tiles and give them any shape; so the floor can be turned into a mosaic of designs and art. Company logos can be planted on the floor through vinyl floor tiles. Direction signs can be impregnated on the floor using this product… the list is as endless as your imagination.
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Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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Northwest Express November 8th, 2012 Northwest Express November 8th, 2012
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Santa is coming to town
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t c e f r e P e Th
Christmas Gift RISTMAS H -C E R P T C E F R E P E TH P AR T Y V E N U E
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Around 40 million were sold in the first three years of production although the phase didn’t last for long. The latest model sports expressive LCD eyes and the ability to adapt their personality in reaction to user behaviour. Also making the list are Monster High Ghouls Rule dolls and a Web Shooting Spiderman. Parents are also expected to shell out for electronic children’s tablets and other electronic toys and games. The InnoTab 2, a multimedia learning device which children can use to read books, play games and draw pictures, is tipped to be a favourite. The similar LeapPad 2is also expected to be a popular addition to Christmas stockings this year.
2012’s Dream Toys Cabbage Patch Kids dolls - €35.99 InnoTab 2 - €110.99 Jake and the Neverland Pirates Pirate Ship Bucky - €65.99 LeapPad2 - €109.99 Lego Lord of the Rings: The Mines of Moria - €85.99 Mike the Knight’s Deluxe Glendragon Playset -€35.99 Monster High Ghouls Rule Dolls - €27.99 My Moshi Home - €45.99 Twister Dance - €32.99 Web Shooting Spider Man - €39.99
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