Mature Living Leinster

PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE Oct / Nov 2014

FOR THE OLDER, BOLDER INDIVIDUAL IN LEINSTER

The

Discover the Wild Atlantic Way

Exhibition

Sun 23 Nov 12-6 • Mon 24 Nov 10-6 at The Sligo Park Hotel

How to Allergy Proof your home

Exotic places to retire

A modern take on moss gardens

A Break at Glenlo Abbey with Dinner on the Orient Express!

THE WORLD’S ONLY INFINITY EDGE HOT TUBS

The Hot Tub Shop is an Irish based company that specialises in supplying and fitting Canadian built Coast Spas / Hot Tubs for health and family enjoyment. If you are seeking the very best in hydrotherapy, entertainment and relaxation then we have a Spa for you. We have entry level models to top end luxury Spas to suit your budget.

Servicing and advanced chemical solutions available for all brands of Tubs.

Keeping Your Hot Tub In Tip Top Condition Relaxing after a long day in your hot tub is one of the greatest feelings in the world.

Don’t risk not being able to indulge in this experience by not keeping your hot tub regularly maintained.The Hot Tub Shop are the best in the business. Our knowledge and expertise is unparalleled, as is our reputation for keeping your hot tub in tip top condition.

We offer: • Hot Tub Repairs • Hot Tub Servicing – annually & seasonally • Relocation & Installation • Emergency Repairs

6 Seater Tubs Starting from

€4995

Robert Murrary • Telephone: 01-556795 • www.thehottubshop.ie Mobile: 086-3808080 • Email: thehottubshop@gmail.com

www.matureliving.ie

October / November ‘14 T 16

HERE is a slight brrr in the weather, but Autumn is still a beautiful season and hopefully everybody is getting out and about and enjoying it. In this issue we feature the Wild Atlantic Way, 2,500 kms of coastline to be savoured in the west of Ireland – places to walk, cycle, drive, soak up the scenery and cuisine and enjoy unrivalled local hospitality.

At the close of Autumn, on 23rd and 24th November to be precise, a definite date for your diary has to be Mature Living Exhibition in Sligo Park Hotel. For a day out to remember you should book your ticket for free on-line. Click into www.matureliving.ie for full details.

The event will include an array of activities and exhibits for the Over-50s and should provide an ideal kick-start for the winter season.

18

Our One-on-One interviewee this month is the much-loved actor, Mary McEvoy, acclaimed for her role in the long-running rural soap, Glenroe, but not type-cast to a major degree since she has revealed her many natural talents in other productions such as The Matchmaker, which is currently receiving rave reviews from performances throughout Ireland. Mary has always been forthright about her personal battles with depression and speaks openly to Catherine Gilmartin about the difficulties this presents. However, when it comes to stage performances she has no fears or anxieties, the stamp of a true professional. Her latest book, just published, is also a worthwhile read.

In this issue, also, we explore some exotic places to retire and on the cooking front we test out some Belgian cuisine. Other tests which are probably even more important are health tests and we look at some of the vital check-ups we should take from time to time. We also look at the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

20

Those of us prone to allergies should turn to page 16 and learn how to protect your home from pollens, moulds, dust mites and such predators.

We also advise on some on-line spooks and scams, while Leonie Cornelius in her gardening section provides a modern take on the ancient Japanese art of the hanging moss basket. You may also be interested to read about the best-dressed celebs of 2014 and examine hair colour trends.

30

There are many other articles and features in the Oct./Nov. issue. To all of you, happy Hallowe’en from all at Mature Living.

Seamus Casey - Editor

LAST MONTH’S COMPETITION WINNER Congratulations to Declan Foley, Ballymahon road, Athlone who was the winner of the breakaway to The Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey.

Editorial: Seamus Casey seamus@matureliving.ie Design: Stephen Finney steve@matureliving.ie Advertising Sales: Lisa Gilmartin lisa@matureliving.ie

News Great Expectations...

One to One with Mary McEvoy Hair Colour Trends Life-saving health tests you should take Allergy proof your home this Autumn Autumn’s Best Buys As time flies by...

Kokedama A modern take on the ancient japanese art of the hanging moss garden Alternative Therapies Cooking: A taste of Belgium Exotic places to retire Discover the Wild Atlantic Way Cooking: A taste of Belgium Travel for the trendsetters of the 20th Century Competition Exciting new hobbies The Bands of our Showband era Hotel Guide Puzzles Services Directory Dating

4 8 10 12 14 16 18 19 20

22 26 28 30 32 38 41 42 44 48 52 53 55

Published by: Benbulben Publishing Limited, PO Box 41, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford Printed by: Datascope Ltd, Enniscorthy • Tel: 053-9234493 Distribution / Deliveries: David Walsh: 053-9270857 • Email: david@matureliving.ie Tel/Fax: 053-9270857 Web: www.matureliving.ie • Email: info@matureliving.ie

The information in Mature Living is carefully researched and believed to be accurate, but the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Statements or opinions expressed herein are not necessary those of the editor or publisher. Advertisements within the publication are not endorsed by the publisher. Neither are any claims made within the advertisements. Before consuming any products mentioned in the publication readers are advised to consult with their general practitioner or equivalent professional for opinion or advice.

News

'Bowled' over by the best!

Small Bowls Cup Winners Myshall ARA from Co. Carlow

T

he INEC, Killarney saw the hugely popular Active Retirement Ireland National Bowls Competition roll into town.

Spectators watched over 50 skilled teams of retired adults aged 50 to 95 compete for the coveted Active Retirement Ireland Cup. Now in its fifth year, the competition was bigger and more competitive than ever, as teams took part in local bowls events throughout the year to prepare for the tournament, culminating in this great event in Killarney.

In addition to the excitement of the Bowls, a host of other activities entertained the attending spectators throughout the three day event, including: · Pitch and Putt Competitions

· Arts and Crafts · Walking, excursions and more The winners of this year’s competition were Myshall Active Retirement from Co. Carlow, who won the Active Retirement Cup

T

tournament is encourage more people to remain active and sociable during their retirement years.

These bowlers are an inspiration to people of all ages. They are contributing to their own health and wellbeing by staying active and healthy through physical and mental activities. This is not only a great social event; it’s also a fantastic sporting occasion for people of all ages.”

With over 570 local associations throughout the country Active Retirement Ireland works to ensure that retired people maintain a full and active life and are recognised for their contribution to our society.

ABBEY VIEW UPHOLSTERY SINCE

www.upholstery.ie

1966

Our team of highly qualified upholsters will repair your much loved chairs or sofas using time honoured techniques to achieve the finest results.

100’s of high quality, durable, stain resistant fabrics available

• Commercial projects undertaken • Nursing Homes • Hospitals • Hotels, Restaurants, etc • Designers & Architects • Antique & Modern Pieces • Almost 50 yrs in Business

Contact Us: Abbeyview Upholstery, Unit 2, Convent Lane (Beside Loreto Abbey) Rathfarnham Tel/Fax (01) 4932505 Simon/Paul

The Most Trusted Name in Upholstery

One Man And His Dog: The Joy Of Exercise

Large Bowls Cup Winners, the Beaufort Hobbits of Co. Kerry.

Neither Either wo dance companies, one from Belfast and one from Dublin, come together to perform a new dance work that looks at the predicament of living out two conflicting states of mind at once.

Neither Either brings together an exciting group of creative artists and stunning dancers who will be performing the length of the island, from Enniskillen to Tralee, and taking in Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s and Project Arts Centre Dublin throughout October and November.

Choreographed by Liz Roche and set to Neil Martin's score, identities, beliefs, emotions and aspirations are put to the test in this poignant blend of dance, poetry and music.

At the crux of this piece are issues of conflicting identities, habits within oneself, adapting to

for small bowls, and local favourites Beaufort Active Retirement Association from just outside Killarney, who won the Active Retirement Cup in the large bowls competition.

The plate winners were Cashel and District, who won the small bowls competition, and hometown heroes Killarney Active Retirement Association in the large bowls.

Maureen Kavanagh, Chief Executive of Active Retirement Ireland, said: “Bowls is a sport that people of almost any age can participate in, regardless of their physical ability, so it really brings people together. One of the goals of our national

change and drawing distinctions inspired by Seamus Heaney's quote “...the strain of being in two places at once, of needing to accommodate two opposing conditions of truthfulness simultaneously...” from his prose work “Place and Displacement” from the collection Finders Keepers. Nicola Curry from Maiden Voyage Dance says, “Teaming with Liz Roche Company on this project felt right immediately not just because of our companies’ shared history but because Liz Roche is a choreographer whose detailed and fluid work is as articulate as the words from Heaney’s pen. It has also been a great pleasure to introduce Liz to new collaborators including Neil Martin who will produce the score and to Ciaran Bagnall, set and lighting designer.

Audiences are to expect

an evening rich in movement and music, bathed in sumptuous lighting, set in a stunning design and all of it inspired by the writing of Seamus Heaney.”

“This piece is a real ‘first time’ artistic situation for me,” says Liz. “It’s my first time collaborating with Neil Martin, Ciaran Bagnall and Louise Lowe and with the Maiden Voyage dancers Vasiliki Stasinaki and David Ogle. What Liz Roche Company brings to this co-production are the wonderful dancers Katherine O'Malley and Philip Connaughton and the final member of the creative team Catherine Fay. I'm really excited about what we will find together. We are also really pleased to be presenting a series of talks with various artists on Heaney's influence curated by Dr.Aoife McGrath who is a lecturer

at Queen’s University, Belfast. Our panels will see the likes of poet Maedbh McGuckian, director Jimmy Fay, and composer George Higgs in discussion, among others.”

PERFORMANCE AND TICKET DETAILS: Hawk's Well Theatre, Sligo Tues 4 Nov @ 8pm Tickets €15/€12 (0)71 916 1518 www.hawkswell.com +353 Project Arts Centre, Dublin Wed 12 - Sat 15 Nov @ 8pm Tickets €18/€14 0 881 9613 Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen Wed 19 Nov @ 8pm Tickets £5 www.ardhowentheatre.co m +44 (0)28 6632 5440 Dance Limerick Thurs 27 Nov @ 8pm Tickets €12/€10 www.dancelimerick.ie +353 (0)61 467 813

A Journey in Search of a Pirate Queen's Treasure.

"The landscape and freedom of space will change your life forever".

Exercise has always played an important part in my life. But it took my young dog to finally evict me from my old life and turn me into a complete adventure addict? The psychological benefits of exercise with your dog are just too numerous to mention: However, they do include Stress, Depression, anxiety, trauma, weight-loss, sleeping difficulties, plus many other ghastly aliments.

Direct interaction with your dog in the form of exercise can be a great source of emotional support in times of illness. It is a fact that exercise with your dog can alleviate long-term depression and have a significant effect on a person's mental health and wellbeing.

I can say without hesitation that exercise with your pet dog will physically and psychologically change your life forever. This is the tale of my adventures, with my companion - a dog around the coastline of North Mayo in search of the long-lost treasure of a Pirate Queen and to experience the healthy freedom of the outdoors.

PREMIER INTRODUCTORY SERVICE

Trying to find that someone special, particularly as we get a bit older can be a daunting experience. The unknown of on-line dating and some of the more traditional methods aren't for everyone. We established Unclaimed Treasures to specifically cater for the needs of the over 40s to active retired in Ireland Here at Unclaimed Treasures we want to bring the excitement of meeting new people back to our members.

Get in touch with us today for more information

Call: 01-4945993 / 087-1379025 unclaimedtreasuresireland@gmail.com www.unclaimedtreasures.ie

Rory Mc Dyer Travel Ltd.

License number: TA0315

Costa del Sol, Portugal, Lanzarote Autumn, Winter, Spring - October to May (Excluding Easter) From Dublin, Cork And Occasionally Shannon

Costa Del Sol Fr €419 Per Person Sharing Portugal Fr €499 Per Person Sharing Lanzarote Fr €699 Per Person Sharing • Flights, Lowest Fares Including Taxes And Airline-Specific Baggage Allowance • Transfers To/From Airport/Hotel • 7 Nights Halfboard/Fullboard/All-Inclusive, Depending On Hotel Chosen, Some Including Water/Wine At Meals, Twin/Double Sharing

We C For A ater Retir ctive Spec ement O Grou ial Intere r ps, C s ou t and ples Indiv idual s

Terms & Conditions Apply. Based On Lowest Air Fares

Tel: 01-8335100 • www.rorymcdyertravel.Ie

News

Cookbook Launched to Support Active Retirement Ireland

C

elebrity chef Gary O’Hanlon, Head Chef at Viewmount House in Longford, was in the opulent surrounds of the Slieve Russell Hotel last week to launch his debut cookbook.

Food for the Soul is a collection of Gary’s favourite home-cooked recipes. The cookbook is published by homecare company Bluebird Care which has 24 offices nationwide.

The cookbook will raise

money for Active Retirement Ireland, which has 24,500 members across Ireland.

Food for the Soul could be described as ‘food for the soul, stories from the heart’ as Gary has a personal back-story for each recipe, putting his unique stamp on the book.

Gary says, “We have four sections in the cookbook – Starters, Snack, Mains and Desserts. We also have a ‘How-to-Guide’ for the more difficult recipes. I am

really excited to partner with Bluebird Care on this project. They are a company that spends lots of time, energy and investment on projects to benefit other people and other organisations. I am pleased that my very first cookbook is one that is going to raise money for Active Retirement Associations across Ireland.” Not only has Bluebird Care produced this cookbook for sale nationwide they have also

commissioned a series of complementary online videos showing Gary cook each dish which are available to view on their website. Director of Bluebird Care in Donegal, Marty Kelly says, “We have long-held the view that good home cooking is very important to our customers who live in their own homes. We are in the homes of thousands of people every day right across Ireland and we understand the importance of a healthy and balanced diet. We asked Gary to write the cookbook for us and to devise recipes that had home-cooking at the heart of them. There are dishes for everyone – the beginner, intermediate or advanced home-cook.”

The cookbook was designed and edited by Media Box owned by Joanne Sweeney-Burke also from Gary's homeland of Donegal. Joanne and Gary started off their careers together as dishwasher and potwasher at the awardwinning Rosapenna Hotel in Downings so this collaboration is a special one for them.

The cookbooks are available for sale at €10 from Bluebird Care Offices nationwide

Free debt clinics in your area

By David Hall - CEO - Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation

O

ur team at the Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation and I have met with and dealt with thousands of people in mortgage , personal and company debt over the past number of years. During this time our experience has shown that many are frightened and unclear as to what options they have in respect of dealing with their over indebtedness.

Drawing on this experience, having concluded over 2,000 actual long term deals ( debt value of €500 million) , having assisted over 70 people become bankrupt (free of charge) and having consulted widely with clients we are launching debt clinics in association with our Insolvency partners Grant Thornton Debt Solutions.

This is designed to be debtor friendly and targeted. Here’s how it will work and what you need to do to book your FREE meeting.

Go to www.mortgageholders.ie Register and complete an on line

Page 6 Mature Living

standard financial statement. This can be completed in one sitting or you can take you time as this user friendly system allows you to complete it in your own time. If you unable to complete it on line print a copy, complete it and post it to us.

Our team of experienced experts will review your standard financial statement and we will book you in for a one to one meeting with one of our team who will have reviewed you situation prior to the meeting which will allow for better use of time and give you targeted information. In addition to the debt clinics we will have an hour long talk followed by questions and answers each evening following the one to one meetings. These talks will cover informal bank negotiations, formal arrangements through the insolvency system and bankruptcy.

There is no charge what’s so ever for the talk or the meetings, all the debtor has to do is complete a confidential standard financial statement and attend the meeting. Let’s tackle debt together. Debt should be afraid of us not the other way

around. The following dates are the start of a National tour and further dates will follow.

Dates: Red Cow November 6th 2014 Hudson Bay Hotel Athlone November 13th Sligo City Hotel November 12th 2014 Radisson Hotel Letterkenny 13th November 2014 Free one to one meetings will be scheduled during the day to accommodate everyone and the open talk will be held at 8pm each evening.

Book your place at www.mortgageholders.ie Speakers will include: David Hall CEO Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation Michael Bolger Head of Insolvency Services at Grant Thornton Debt Solutions Stephen Curtis Personal Insolvency Practitioner and Qualified Financial Advisor( Irish Mortgage Holders Organisation.)

Keith Farry Barrister and Insolvency Author

Staying Connected

By Anne Dempsey Head of Communications Third Age ‘Only the Lonely’ - the results from a recent study into loneliness were presented recently by Professor Brian Lawlor, Consultant Psychiatrist at St James’s Hospital and Director of the Memory Disorders Clinic at Mercer's Institute for Research on Ageing.

The study explored the benefits of greater social interaction among older people. As part of the research, a cohort of older adults were identified through GPs, public health nurses, and community activists, and a group of local older volunteers recruited. They visited the participants for an hour once a week, for 10 weeks, over three months The impact on loneliness was compared to a similar group of older people, receiving only their usual individualised care from community services.

The intervention showed significant benefits for all concerned: “Both participants and volunteers reported that they enjoyed the intervention. It is low cost and could be incorporated into existing support services, or non-government organisations, caring for community dwelling older adults," said Professor Lawlor. It makes common sense that social contact can diminish loneliness. Last year, Senior Help Line, Ireland’s only peer service for older people provided by trained volunteers, received over 30,000 calls. In a good proportion of these, loneliness was either expressed or implied, and people thanked the service for being there.

We have never been so connected to each other thanks to modern technology, yet for many older people, life can seem very lonely. Of course, we can be lonely at any age. Loneliness is a state of mind, characterised by feelings of sadness, longing, even despair. We are social beings. An isolated daily routine can for make an unhealthy lifestyle and nudge towards depression and mental illness. Loneliness has actually been likened to cancer and heart disease in its corrosive effect on the body, mind and spirit.

Loneliness in older people can be considered existential and part of the territory of ageing. With ageing come loss – the loss of spouses, family, friends, the loss of health, and the loss of income and purpose – and in an ageist society, the loss of status and a feeling of being counted.

Around 136,000 older people in Ireland live alone according to latest figures from the CSO. Many of these are older people. While loneliness is different from being alone, some older people - already isolated through bereavement, disability or an isolated location - find their solitary lives to be particularly difficult.

The hope for the Mercer Institute study is that the new synergies created by this project would encourage a higher level of social engagement for the participants, with the added expectation of improved health and a stronger sense of belonging.

There is a feeling that community loneliness is something new, and that in past times there was more regular and informal contact between people. This may, or may not, be true. In John McGahern’s novel ‘That They May Face the Rising Sun’, an acceptance of people dropping in to each other, of being welcome, of no appointment, necessary runs as a thread from the start of the story. The Mercer Study shows the value of the ordinary contact we used to take for granted. And if today we must be deliberate about what we did naturally, so be it. The benefits can be the same. Nobody is to blame for loneliness.

Awareness that there are lonely people living secret lives of some desperation at times is a first step toward acknowledging this particular 21st century phenomenon.

Senior Help Line 1850 440 444 10am-10pm every day of the year Mercer Institute for Research on Ageing www.misa.ie www.thirdageireland.ie

The

HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB

Exhibition

Sun 23 Nov 12-6 Mon 24 Nov 10-6

See Pag es a nd 1 5 1 4 more d for etails th e 2 0 1 of 4 Mature L i v i ng E x h i bi t io n

Excellent Room Rates for all Visitors and Exhibitors to the Mature Living Exhibition

Exhibition Special

€39 pp Sharing Single Supplement of €20

Pearse Road, Sligo • Tel: 071 919 0400 • Web: www.sligoparkhotel.com • Email: Sligo@leehotels.com

News

Great Expectations...

Passing on Wealth

I

Maureen Byrne and Betty Rossiter, pretty in pink at the training night, both from Oulart ICA Guild

W

exford Federation ICA held its “Training for Officers” last Thursday evening in Camross Hall for the following roles President, Secretary, Treasurer and PRO. Breda Banville, Federation President welcomed a big crowd to the event. There was an air of optimism with new officers eager to” learn the ropes”.

Training was given by the following Federation officials in their own respective fields; Breda Banville - Presidents, Mary Fitzgerald- Secretaries, Eileen Creevey-Treasurers and Joe Keane-PRO’s. The groups all received handouts and had a good group discussion.

Refreshments were provided

by Camross Hall Committee who was thanks for their help in arranging the venue.

The Autumn Federation meeting was held on Monday 29th September in Oylegate Community Centre. Breda Banville, Federation President recapped on the events of the summer, congratulating Mary D’Arcy, Arts & crafts Officer/Ballyfad Guild on representing Wexford Federation at The Garden Party in the “Make and Model” competition. Gretta O’Connor, Duncannon Guild represented Wexford at the Regional finals in the Brown Bread competition sponsored

by Aldi. Gretta spoke of an enjoyable day at An Grianan which included a cookery demonstration by Edward

Page 8 Mature Living

Hayden. Gretta featured in an article in”The Sunday Independent” following the competition. Breda noted there are a number of guild will have big celebrations during the coming year, Carrig on Bannow Guild are celebrating 50 years in October, with Duncannon (60th),Kilmore (50th) and Boolavogue (25th)celebrating anniversaries too.

Breda Banville and Ann O’Connor, An Grianan Teachta, will represent Wexford at the Diamond anniversary celebrations of An Grianan, next weekend. They will be accompanied by 2 Inch members, who were in An Grianan 60 years ago, namely Mrs. Kathleen Pierce and Mrs. Peggy Kavanagh.

The winners for the Halloween craft competition at the meeting were 1st place, Oylegate, 2nd, Oulart and 3rd The Maudlins.

Ray Shannon from Trolkey gave an entertaining report on his rise to fame with the “Dragons Den” TV show. Ray invented the Trolkey that unlocks your shopping trolleys without coins following a trip to the supermarket.

A Taste of the Opera – Brandon House Hotel, New Ross. Thursday 2nd October, 2014.

A big crowd was in attendance at for this event.

This was a free event as part of Wexford Creamery’s sponsorship of this year’s

Wexford Festival Opera. The ICA was delighted to be associated with the collaboration.

Breda Banville, Wexford Federation President introduced the evening and welcome everyone and thanked Wexford Festival Opera and Wexford Creamery for the event and the spot prizes they provided including Opera tickets, wine and Wexford Creamery hampers.

Breda profiled the work of the ICA with Mary Fitzgerald, Wexford Federation Secretary responsible for the slide show.

Breda was delighted to welcome the National Secretary of the ICA, Shirley Power, who is also the Kilkenny President and the Secretary Marie Landy. Breda also welcomed Eileen Fanning, President of Tinryland ICA, Carlow and her friend Breda Fitzhenry. Breda said that Wexford Festival Opera might visit surrounding counties next year in their promotion of the festival opera.

Breda introduced Neil Murphy, Sales and Marketing with Wexford Creamery and he reflected on the enormous change that Wexford Creamery is experiencing at the moment since it was founded 54 years ago. Neil spoke of the community spirit that he admires that is present in all 3 organisations.

Elizabeth Rose Browne, Wexford Festival Opera spoke

of the appeal of the opera festival to the local community, national and also international visitors. She said “Wexford Festival Opera is as intriguing as it is inviting”. A short video of last year’s operas was shown.

This was followed by the main event, the fabulous voice of Chloe Morgan,Soprano while repetiteur Janet Haney accompanied on the piano.

Chloe rang Verdi, Monteverdi and Mozart pieces and received a standing ovation for her performance.

Refreshments were served with Wexford Cheddar and finger food for the audience, who mingled after the show.

Dates for your Diary: 16th October, 2014 – Calling all past Carrig-on-Bannow ICA members and their families to celebrate their 50th anniversary, commencing with Mass locally at 7.30pm, followed by refreshments in the hall afterwards. A plaque will be unveiled to mark the occasion.

17-19th October, Wexford Weekend at An Grianan.

Tuesday 28th OctoberWexford Federation bowling competition at Leisuremax.

“Elf” The Musical – Wednesday 17th December, 2014. Breda Whelan, International Officer is running a bus with dinner and show tickets for this event.

Please contact Breda on 0863258386 or 053-9129681.

t is often quoted that the only two certainties in life are death and taxes, and why you can’t avoid death you can with some careful succession planning reduce the tax bill faced by your family when you pass away.

Since 2008 the rate of tax inheritance and gift tax which is known as capital acquisitions tax (CAT) has soared from 20 to 33 per cent. Historically our rate was low compared to other European countries but now we are moving ever closer to the UK’s rate of 40%.

It is a double edged sword along with our rate rising to 33% the tax free thresholds or allowances are falling. In 2008 the tax free threshold was €521,208 for a child; €52,121 for a “lineal ancestor or descendant” and €26,060 for others, these rates have been halved. For example the threshold for a child is now €225,000.

The reduction in these thresholds may not have been a huge concern during the recession but with property prices on the rise again it may lead to some very significant tax bills. For example a parent leaving a child a property worth €300,000 could be generating an inheritance tax bill of €25,000 approx. the child may not be in a position to sell the property or pay the tax bill. It is also worth bearing in mind that these thresholds are a life time threshold.

So what are the options for people who want to pass on wealth in a tax efficient manner?

It is important to be aware of the exemptions that are available when passing on wealth.

Spousal Exemption No matter how valuable your assets are may be your spouse will be completely exempt from inheritance tax. Indeed same-sex partners in a civil partnership are now treated the same as the spouse because of changes to the succession act. Co-habiting couples are not covered which may make it more difficult to establish your rights.

Business relief Business relief allows a son or daughter inheriting a family business to do so with a reduction on the amount of Capital Gains Tax liable, as it reduces the value of the business by 90%.

Small Gift Exemption The small gift exemption allows you to gift €3000 a year to anyone free of tax, this is especially useful for grandparents who have a number of grandchildren and want to pass wealth to them without incurring a tax bill.

One other way of avoiding your children having to pay inheritance tax is to take out an insurance policy to cover it upon your death.

Known as a section 72 policy, this is a life policy set up to pay a tax liability. In a world of ever increasing taxes and levies, with a little bit of planning you can avoid leaving your family with a nasty tax bill.

Mark Gilmore is a Qualified Financial Adviser he can be contacted on mark@moneytreefinancial.ie or on 0876788975 www.moneytreefinancial.ie Mark Gilmore T/A Money Tree Financial Services is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

COOLOCK VILLAGE, DUBLIN 5

LEISURE & HOSPITALITY VENUE

SPECIAL OFFERS

€250 for 12 Months €50 Payable on registration and €50 per quarter, for 4 quarters by direct debit €199 for 12 Months Adult, includes Parnell’s Social membership, €149 for fully paid up existing members.

TEAMWORKS GYM • GYMNASIUM & SPORTS FACILITIES • Professionally qualified trainers available for personal consultations • Sauna, steam room & jacuzzi • Modern, spacious changing facilities • Competitive membership packages available • Featuring Precor's new 8080 line of equipment — New To ireland • Overlooks the main pitch with floor to ceiling windows • State-of-the-art fitness equipment • 2 floodlit state of the art all weather pitches • Full-sized grass pitch • A 5-a-side pitch created to FIFA world standards • Extensive changing/shower facilities for home and away teams

Family Membership €300 for 2 adults & 2 children age 16 to 18 years, includes Parnell’s Social Membership.

WELLNESS MEMBER SHIP AVAILABLE €299 INCLUDES:

1 Physio Appointment, 1 personal training consultation, 1 Nutrion plan, 1 Healthy Option Meal voucher and 1 years Membership to the Gym Corporate membership also available • T&C’s apply • Open Mon to Fri 6.30am to 9pm, Sat & Sun 9am to 6pm

Full Restaurant & Bar • Good Food Served Food Served Daily from 12.30 until late • Carvery and Á la Carte Menus Available • Sunday Lunch Served For further details call: 01-8481283 • Email: sales@thechanel.ie • or vist www.thechanel.ie

• New and Recondi!oned Li"s • Free Survey and Quota!on • Grants Available • Tax Relief Available on Med 1 Form 24 Hour 7 Day a Week Call Out Service

Lo Call: 1890 837 274

www.bmstairli"s.ie • Email: bmstairli"s@eircom.net Mobility Centre, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co. Kildare The Beat Centre, Unit 12, Stephenstown Industrial Estate, Balbriggan, Co. Dublin

Feature by Catherine Gilmartin

Mary McEvoy Living with depression C

atherine Gilmartin spoke to the much loved Irish actress Mary McEvoy, renowned for her role as Biddy in RTE’s classic soap, Glenroe, ahead of her hugely anticipated appearance in John B Keane’s Matchmaker at Ballina Arts Centre on Saturday, September 27th. In this revealing interview she speaks candidly about life on and off the stage and gives an insight into the personal issues she faces.

Catherine Gilmartin spoke to the much loved Irish actress Mary McEvoy, renowned for her role as Biddy in RTE’s classic soap, Glenroe, as well as many other productions, including The Matchmaker in which she is performing at present. In this revealing interview she speaks candidly about life on and off the stage and gives an insight into the personal issues she faces.

Mary has been on the road constantly since 2001 and she says the first thing she would do if she won the lottery would be to get a driver! “I am a home-bird and I always try and get home after a show if I can. Since the Celtic Tiger the roads are better and so it is a lot easier for me to do this”.

Home to Mary is a green, leafy part of Westmeath, where she lives with her partner, Garvin.

She has no money worries and has every reason to be happy.

Yet, it is widely known that Mary suffers with depression and she has always been very honest about this. “I do a lot of public speaking for mental health organisations. There is such a lack of understanding out there. I work with Shine, a mental health organisation, and two other well

known performers who also give generously of their time - Dil Wickramasin, a broadcaster and John Moyles. I am in a comedy with the two of them, written by Isabel Mahon, (who also starred in Glenroe) based on life and how we deal with our demons and how we live with them”.

“My depression comes from anxiety. Amazingly, when I perform in front of people my anxiety disappears. I can perform in front of thousands and not feel anxious or nervous whatsoever, you have an armour to a degree.

The element of performance has a degree of protection. However, it is when I am myself, especially in everyday ordinary social settings, that I can become very withdrawn. These occasions still make me very nervous. People think its personal, but its not, I can’t help it. I crave people but the relationships need to be on my terms. People who are prone to self examine are usually depressed. It has been said by Socrates that “A Life unexamined is a life not worth living”, but I don’t know if I agree with that.

It is people who are over sensitive that suffer with depression, they feel things more deeply than others and it affects them, i.e. what’s happening in Gaza. It makes me feel so ashamed - I have so much; why am I depressed, I don’t have a right to be? The guilt is worse than anything else. All my life I have had people trying to fix me and they have way bigger problems than

Pictured with co-star, Jon Kenny in the Matchmaker.

Page 10 Mature Living

me”. “I got up this morning and my heart was in my mouth, I live alongside this thing. I have met some people in real distress, they have that lost look – they have genuine distress in their eyes.

The only answer is to let them be who they are, you don’t have to understand them. I like to have a cup of tea with people and just be. People who have mental disorders don’t have to talk, they crave company, they just want someone there and not to be alone”.

“It has been said I am bi-polar, I do not suffer with this, I do suffer with depression but this in no way affects me in my work. I know a lot of actors who suffer with depression but cannot come out and say it because they are frightened it will stop them getting work”.

“Older people suffer from depression and one of the reasons is the world doesn’t want to know about them anymore. TV and radio are mostly geared towards the young. People become tired of sticking to the rules and acting and looking a certain way. People want to break the bonds. It’s like women years ago getting fed up of wearing corsets, they would have loved to have taken it off and just let everything flop!”, laughs.., “People are sick of holding themselves together”.

My view is “What is old anyway? Is Keith Richards or Mick Jagger old? We are not old and even if society thinks we are, what the hell! We learn to be witches when we are older people who live close to the earth and don’t give a shit! There’s a great freedom in not caring”, laughs that infectious laugh again.

“I have land but I would never sell it - you don’t sell your soul. I have no kids, the land is my child, I want to grow trees on it; farmers will string me up for saying that as it is good land”, laughs again.

I ask Mary does she believe that people can have addictive personalities. Mary says: “Yes, but maybe people should look at the positives, like where the person is trying to get to rather than where they’re trying to escape from. That place of peace and love you get even for a moment,

i.e. when you are happily sharing a glass of wine and enjoying the moment with a friend, just before that next drink takes over.

That sense of peace we look for – do we want that peace from addiction? I don’t have a problem with alcohol; my addiction is eating!”

Although Mary has a wonderful understanding partner she says: “People expect too much from their partners. I practice Buddhism and one of the beliefs is that your partner is not here just for you, they have their own mission in life. It is a scientific way of looking at life and it also teaches that we are all deeply interconnected - my life his/her life, it doesn’t matter. Isolation comes from the belief that we are disconnected from each other. It’s not just addicts that are looking for connection, every one of us seeks connection. Ordinary Beauty encapsulates it. I met a junkie on the Quays, he was staggering around the place.

The owner called the guards to get rid of him, something

prompted me to go over to him and I found he was just trying to tie his shoe laces”. Mary’s voice waivers and she becomes emotional, “I tied his shoes for him like Mary Magdalen dried Jesus with her hair. He drew kindness from me but he was actually helping me. We want to ignore anything that deviates from perfection, but if we become nicer to each other, we become engaged and better people”.

“Depression or any mental illness has got a deeper purpose.

We all have a spiritual understanding and become more spiritually aware as to what is hurting us. I don’t believe in Pollyanna I don’t believe in thoughts that disempower me. I do believe that we need to waken up in this life – I meditate every day, once in the morning and in the evening. It’s like ballerinas, they practice the same exercises every day. How else can they improve?” “There is a lot of depression in Ireland - the Irish tend to blame the English for it, but it came from colonisation, when

people were poor and scared; it came from a sense of survival and isolation”. “Although I realise that nothing really matters in this life, it is but a dream, I have to say when my book became the No. 1 seller in the non fiction section it was the best feeling! You don’t get that in acting. Anne McDonnell, my partner Garvin and I cracked open a bottle of champagne and we had a real hoot that day. I say enjoy these moments and then let them go. I thank the universe but it is the soul that matters”. Mentioning the Matchmaker, Mary says working with Jon Kenny is easy and he is such fun to be around. Jon saves his drama for the stage; unlike most actors he is such good craic and never in bad humour. “He is a delight, ideally I would have preferred not to tour, I feel being on the road half of my life in a car is like being a hamster on a wheel, but working with Jon makes it easier”.

Mary in a relaxed mood

It all becomes worthwhile when you see people holding themselves from laughing so much; at the same time for all its humour the Matchmaker is essentially trying to combat loneliness in rural Ireland and as John B Keane says: “Every old shoe finding an old stocking”.

There was a very beautiful woman in the audience one night, she stuck out because she had that Italian glamour and a presence about her. She was going through tissues she was laughing so much and I said to myself: “God Almighty I would rather be here than anywhere else!”

“The joy of giving people laughter – there is nothing like it in the world and when there are tears running down their faces and they can’t stop laughing and then they are moved by something sad, it’s just like life.

Sometimes people are happy, sometimes sad, you can’t change it. No one says you have to be happy all the time, that is what I love about the Matchmaker, there is an incredible humanity about it. I love it!! I always go back to it even though it is a long show, very wordy and you have to work very hard. It’s great! I just love doing it and of course Jon has added his own spin to Matchmaker and taken it on another journey and its wonderful”.

I ask her if this role has become a part of her as much as Biddy in Glenroe and she says I would say more. “I have also played so many other roles, even Shirley Valentine. I have done 4 different plays this year. Another play I do is called Fruitcake writ-

ten by Amanda Barry from Cork, I have done that as often as I have done the Matchmaker and she is very much a part of me as well.

They do become part of you – it’s funny, you become a representative of your character; but I would say when I talk about Fionnuala Crust, although I do become immersed in the character, some actors take it to ridiculous lengths. They become so real that you can’t hear them!

What’s the point of being real if the audience can’t hear you!

They think their duty is to the person, not the audience! Mind you who am I to say? I don’t have an Oscar, maybe my way doesn’t work!” she laughs. “Actors often come into the dressing room in their character, have their make up done and sit there in character.

I would be so curious about the make up girl’s life to do that. How can I miss what is happening in the universe? People are so interesting, what gives me the right to be God almighty just because I am pretending to be someone else?

They lord it over everyone - I want to talk to the guys on the set or those doing the props; other people tell me to leave it until the rap party. You can talk to everyone after the performance. I think you might never get to the rap party because life is like that”, laughs that infectious laugh again.....

“How we live is part of the ultimate reality, we need to get out have a laugh and Jon Kenny has such a lust for life he interacts fantastically with the audience too”.

“I like to live in the moment as I said before I don’t have an Oscar, maybe that’s why!” laughs again, “I am too busy yapping to the guys on the set”.

“It is very intense when you are playing a role and it takes weeks to make a film, how can you force yourself from reality for that amount of time?

“Working with Jon on stage is great, he is so real, he just looks you in the eye and you know that the character is there, but there is no messing with him, no process before he gets on the stage, he just goes on stage and does it. He is wonderful and is one of the most talented people I have ever come across, he can sing, dance, act and direct”.

“Michael is a good friend of mine as well and has given me lots of work, I am very grateful to him. He has kept the show on the road. Michael is the Director and producer and I work very well with him, I bond with Michael because he understands me. If I say I feel so shit today he understands, he will say yes I know and he also knows that I will still perform as I always do no matter how I feel . He gets it. It’s great to know that I can say anything to Michael and he won’t panic thinking that I

Pictured with co-actor, the late Mick Lally, in an earlier episode of Glenroe. won’t be able to perform. I am a true professional and it is great to know that he knows that. I have worked with him for 30 years and am very grateful to him.

Mary has written a book which is now hitting the bookstores. It is called Ordinary Beauty - about little thoughts. Her last book, How the Lights gets in, the title of which is taken from Leonard Cohen, whom she loves, was extremely successful. Mary says: “I love Leonard Cohen, to me life is not a perfect Alleluia it is a broken Alleluia, even for the norms,” giggles, “the people who think they don’t have mental issues! they do, they just don’t know it!”.

Finally we discuss how she sees the future. Mary says she would love to get more into yoga and run a bit more as she had feels very unfit. “Career wise I would love to play a cop, a hard nosed Irish cop on the TV.” Mary tells me she misses TV work: “I loved it and I am still a regular contributor to RTE’s afternoon show”.

The problem is she never had a profile in England and feels that if you do not the role will always go to the person who has. Mary continues: “Like Helen Mirren, mind you she is so sexy and she will be until she is 90! I am as straight as a die but I would with her!” Laughs again. “ I really think she is such a sexy person. I don’t know what it is. There is something about her. Anyway, I would just love to play that role.

It would make me so happy and I would love more work on TV and the film”.

This obviously prompts me to ask why didn’t she leave Ireland and get a profile in England?

Mary says she didn’t feel she could leave her parents: as an only child with parents who were as old as grandparents she felt a responsibility to look after them as there was no one else. “Not that they wanted me to - they didn’t ask me not to go away but I always felt it. I was the only child so my parents concentrated on me. If my mother could have picked a career for me it cer-

tainly wouldn’t have been acting.

I was very loved, sometimes it can be too intense, it is very hard being the only child. When a parent dies it is very isolating coping with the grief, especially when there is no one who can share it with you. Other people can try and comfort you but they are not your brother or sister, so they are not going through the same thing, they can’t really understand, its an incredible isolating experience. My mother has been dead eleven years and I still find it very difficult because you don’t have anyone to share it with; you don’t have anyone who has the same connection to that person”.

I suggest that she may over idealise families and she says: “Maybe, but when I hear families say they don’t get on, I just say Jaysus do you not realise how wonderful it is to have each other?”

THE MATCHMAKER Keane’s hilarious hit play follows the efforts of Dicky Mick Dicky O’Connor to make matches for the lonely and lovelorn from all parts of the country. Keane’s marvellous and mischievous wit coupled by his unparalleled way with words is paramount. The play takes us back to a time when phones were few and far between, and the only web was one left behind by spiders!

Mary McEvoy points out that back in the time when John B Keane was writing, women were seen, not in a sexual sense, but working in the home, not having any kind of libido. Contrary to this, she says, John B's women have sexual desire. She says: "For all our modernity, that is still seen as dodgy. A man can be a bit of a player but a woman is a tart.

There is still that double standard”.

It was wonderful talking to such a genuine person and for her to share so much of herself. I will certainly be reading her new book and if you have not yet seen The Matchmaker it a piece of drama not to be missed.

Page 11 Mature Living

Fashion

HAIR COLOUR TRENDS

W

ith the turn of each season we often think that this is the best moment to reinvent our look.

If you’re longing for a new hair colour, Kristjan Hayden, Creative Director at Aveda cosmetics is your go-to expert.

As he explains to EZ Beauty, any Zoomer can take on fall’s hottest hair hues with gorgeous results. “It’s all about how you interpret the trends. You can do it subtly and in a sophisticated manner,” says Hayden. Read on for his tips on how best to go red, blonde and brunette for fall.

Red The leaves may soon turn to a deep, autumnal russet, but the trend for hair colour is a lighter shade of ginger. “We see a lot of people going towards a natural shade of red, as if they were actually born with the hair colour. Think of the colour of a highlight–that’s a shade of red that looks very believable,” says Hayden. Try a dry shampoo on alternating days to keep your colour blazing and visit your stylist for a glaze treatment when you notice your shade start to fade.

Brunette For brunettes, we’re doing tone-on-tone colour. We’re mixing a couple of bands of colour that are closer together in shade. It still looks like a solid colour, but there is dimension. You’ll see in photos of celebrities sometimes what we call a ‘shine mine’ where there appears to be a band of reflection around where the head rounds because it just looks so healthy.”

Blonde We’re seeing warmer blondes across the board and a move away from that very light, ashy type of colour. They’re sometimes a little bit lighter at the ends.

A 15-year-old is going for that striking ombre look where her roots are brown and her ends are blonde, but the more mature version is very, very subtle. The ends are just slightly lighter than the rest of the hair. Most people won’t even notice it–but you will.”

Aveda’s Colour Conserve line-up includes conditioner, shampoo, daily colour protect and strengthening treatment

Best Dressed Celebs of 2014: As the film festival winds down this weekend, we round up some the best-dressed who graced the galas, the parties and press conferences this year.

Page 12 Mature Living

Advertising Feature

Unclaimed Treasures

We turned the tables on Brian Murphy, founder of Unclaimed Treasures to find out more about the introductions agency for the 40 to active retired in Ireland.

Tell us a bit about Unclaimed Treasures and how it all started?

Unclaimed Treasures is an introductory agency that caters specifically for the 40 to active retired in Ireland. Being single myself, and seeing some of the challenges that my single friends were having when it came to meeting people, I realised that there was really no service in Ireland that concentrated on the 40 to active retired and I thought this would an interesting area to get involved in.

A lot of the time people will write you off when you get to a certain vintage, but I believe that it doesn’t matter what age you are you should never stop enjoying life or give up looking for that someone special.

How does the whole process work from start to finish?

At Unclaimed Treasures we pride ourselves on really getting to know our members and this is what we believe is key to making a truly meaningful match.

There are a number of steps to our process: • Step 1: A member of our team will talk an interested prospect through the process over the phone.

• Step 2: We will then arrange to meet for a no obligation membership interview. This is an informal chat and we use it find out more about our members; interests, views and more importantly what it is they are looking for in a partner. At this initial meeting we also verify identification by means of a photographic ID e.g. passport, driver’s license.

• Step 3: We use the information gathered to build a profile. When we have completed the profile we use this to get to work on finding a suitable match.

• Step 4: Once we identify a match, we contact both parties to discuss the profile (all profiles are confidential and no personal details will be shared until both parties give consent). Once both parties are happy we exchange contact details so a meeting can be arranged.

Online dating seems to be taking off in recent years, do you see more people going online or is there still an interest in the traditional “match maker”?

Online dating has definitely grown in

recent years, but it is not for everyone.

Many of my members have gone down this route, with limited success before joining Unclaimed Treasures. There are a few complaints that have been mentioned to me about online dating. It can be daunting and there is definitely nervousness around the anonymity of it.

At Unclaimed Treasures, because members have submitted photographic identification and have been interviewed by one of our team, we can guarantee that our members are who they say they are.

There are a few other introductions agencies out there, what makes Unclaimed Treasures stand out from the crowd?

There are a few things that make us different from the others out there. First of all we cater specifically and only for the 40 to active retired. All of our members are in the 40 to active retired bracket and they are the only people we are interested in speaking to.

We also don’t look for payment on registration or in advance of an introduction, our no obligation interviews are free and it is only when we have a match ready that the question of payment arises.

The good thing about Unclaimed Treasures is that we make our matches based on interests and personalities.

Both will be aware of what these interests are so the ice should be easily broken on the first meeting.

What are your recommendations to impress on a first introduction?

I have found that an informal coffee or a drink make of the best first introductions. They give you a chance to meet in a neutral location, check each other out and if you are enjoying each other’s company you can always continue the date.

Any advice for the Unclaimed Treasures out there on how to find the perfect match?

Well join Unclaimed Treasures for a start! Seriously though the best way is to commit yourself to going out and meeting people. Be a joiner! Join new clubs, try new activities and who knows who you might strike up a conversation with.

DOGS TRUST LEGACY

L

egacy giving is vital in order to secure the future of Dogs Trust. Dogs Trust saves the lives of over 1,500 puppies/adult dogs from destruction in the pounds each year.

Our life saving work is only made possible thanks to the support and generosity of the general public.

Leaving a % in a will can really go along way in helping continue our work.

We are highlighting the importance of this vital fundraising stream during Best Will in the World Week in October.

The size of the legacy can be any value – no donation is too small.

Mature Living Exhibition

Sligo gearing up for the Exhibition of the year

“The Mature Living Show is a dynamic event for people who want to make the most out of life”

M

ature Living Magazine is pleased to announce that the Mature Living Ultimate Lifestyle Show will be held on Sunday 23rd & Monday 24th November at The Sligo Park Hotel, Pearse road, Sligo.

Doors will open from 12 on the Sunday and 10am on Monday.

Having fun, sharing time with people you enjoy, surrounding yourself with things you like, are just some of the fundamentals of living a happy and fulfilling life. As a visitor to the Mature Living Exhibition, it will encompass all of these highlights and feature many more. Visitors will be treated to a full array of shopping opportunities, interactive exhibits, main stage entertainment, informative presentations and a fun inexpen-

Register online before Nov 20th to receive free entry

sive day out with family and friends.

This show promotes the richness of celebrating life as a mature person and is a combination of Lifestyle Shows, Health & Wellness Expos, Seniors Fairs, Better Living and more...all under one roof!

There will be exhibitors of all kinds on the days offering the older generation the perfect chance to discover all the latest products and services targeted directly to their age group. Unsurprisingly, the event is aimed at those over the age of 50 and offers a huge range of entertainment, including a fashion show starring “real” women, a garden showcase with experts answering questions, cookery demonstrations and craft sessions. For the active visitor there are also classes such as yoga and tai chi to partake in.

Such a large event is of course sure to attract a host of exhibitors with more than 60 display stands and various seminars.

Baby Boomers & Seniors will discover this event has a great deal to offer! Helping them plan for tomorrow while enjoying today. See a wide variety of fun, exciting, interesting and informative displays, representing all facets of today's 50 Plus lifestyles.

For the first time in history, you, the Baby Boomer and Senior are changing the definition of retirement.

Seeking ways to renew, revitalize, reinvent and rediscover. Like anyone else who wants to keep ahead of their time and with the times, Boomers & Seniors need and want answers to numerous questions regarding health and wellness, travel, finance, real estate, anti-aging, gardening, recreational activity, technology, transportation, aesthetics, second careers, adult lifestyle living and more...

The Mature Living Ultimate Lifestyle Show gives Boomers & Seniors the opportunity to get their questions answered, to connect with

companies, demonstrate and experience new products and services, come face-to-face with exhibitors who will inform, seminars that will educate and entertainment that will be fun and exciting.

The Mature Living Exhibition is designed to encourage personal growth and enrichment for those in the third age. Past perceptions about aging are rapidly falling by the wayside.

Growing older is a cause for CELEBRATION...live life to the fullest.

Each show differs from the others from year to year, but they all have some things in common - plenty of opportunities to take part in activities (for example dancing, yoga, t'ai chi, bowls, pilates etc); shows and demonstrations including live cookery, ballroom dancing, make-overs and beauty tips and the spectacular fashion shows; seminars (including financial information, tales of real-life adventure, relationship advice and our popular 'gardening question time'; and lots of exhibitors from travel companies, holidays and hotel getaways, health care providers, financial advice, energy-saving companies, insurance companies etc. As you can probably tell, every show is a funfilled day out.

HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB

Exhibition Special

€39 pp Sharing

Single Supplement of €20

Pearse Road, Sligo • Tel: 071 919 0400 • www.sligoparkhotel.com • Sligo@leehotels.com

If you have not previously visited The Mature Living Exhibi!on you are in for a pleasant surprise!

The exhibi!on is all about making the most of your life and leisure, and visi!ng the show will give you plenty of ideas - and experiences.

The shows take place in The Sligo Park Hotelon the 23rd and 24th of November Visit www.matureliving.ie for the latest details Page 14 Mature Living

The

Exhibition

www.matureliving.ie

E T A M I T THE UL

SHOW

Sun 23 Nov 12-6 Mon 24 Nov 10-6 at the

Sligo Park Hotel

• Fashion Show • Genealogy • Health Checks • Investment Advice • Alternative Therapies • Job Expo • Legal Advice • Crafts & Baking • Afternoon Tea Dance • Antique valuations • Home Improvement • Holidays • Recruitment Opportunities • Motoring • Gardening • Cosmetic procedures • Computing and Internet tuition • Personal finance • Property ..... to name but a few!

Visit us at www.matureliving.ie to register for

FREE ENTRY!

This event is the ideal place for industry enthusiasts to network and showcase their products to their target market.

To Book a Stand call Seamus on 085-2498067

Health

Allergy-Proof Your basement during humid summer months also provide an ideal breeding ground. While you can’t see them, mould spores can easily become airborne too.

I

t’s allergy season again! How to make your home a haven from pollens, moulds and dust mites If you or your family members suffer from allergies, you don’t need to look at the calendar to know the season has changed.

Autumn is prime time for sneezing, wheezing, runny noses, watery eyes and itchy throats. For people with respiratory problems like asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the effects of fall allergies can even be dangerous.

As with any kind of allergy, our immune systems take exception to certain substances and treat them as invaders. In

Page 16 Mature Living

other words, our bodies are mistakenly fighting off allergens as if they were viruses or bacteria – making us quite uncomfortable in the process.

These common culprits are behind the misery many of us feel this time of year: Ragweed/ Rogworth. It’s the top fall allergen for a reason.

The many species of ragweed start to bloom around midAugust, and each plant will release up to a billion grains of pollen before the season is through. These hardy and stubborn plants are everywhere, and don’t expect any relief if you live in a big city — pollen can remain

airborne for days and travel hundreds of kilometres. Worse yet, it clings to just about everything.

Mould. Blame the humidity and dampness: mould loves wet conditions in the summer and fall. The situation isn’t helped any by falling (and rotting) leaves and dying plant matter in our gardens. Indoors, damp conditions in your bathroom and

Dust mites. They’re the reason you don’t want to put your sheets under a microscope.

These tiny, spider-like insects love the humid, warm months of summer. But watch out — the first time you turn on your furnace they’ll get stirred up into the air and end up in your airway.

The symptoms aren’t pleasant, but staying indoors until the first frost hits isn’t really an option. Fall allergens are indoors as well as outdoors, and pollens and moulds can all too easily find ways to invade our homes if we’re not careful.

Keep the windows closed Cooler weather may have you dialling down the air conditioner and opening the windows, but your screens aren’t going to block out pollen and other allergens. Experts recommend keeping the windows closed — both in your car and your home — when the pollen count is high, especially during peak hours from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. ( Ragweed produces its pollen between 5:00 am and 10:00 am, so you may want to close your windows first thing in the morning.) If it’s hot outside, use your AC instead as it will help filter out allergens in the air.

Also, bear in mind that while rainy, wet days will keep the pollen at bay, but mould spores will be worse.

Home This Autumn

Keep up with the cleaning Declare war on the dust bunnies! Regular dusting, sweeping and vacuuming is a must to keep pet dander hair and dust mites under control.

How often? Experts recommend once a week — and that includes upholstery, furniture and carpets. You can also cut down on pet hair and dander by regularly brushing and bathing your pets.

Tidy up Need another reason to declutter? All those knick-knacks, newspapers, stuffed animals and assorted junk can collect dust and attract dust mites.

They also provide handy hiding places for mould, bugs and other pests we’d rather not have as house guests. Tidy, clean surfaces free of clutter and crumbs will go a long way to providing allergy relief – and they’ll be easier to maintain.

investigation shows, you know how easily one substance transfers to another.

Lightweight, sticky pollen and airborne moulds will cling to your skin, hair, clothes and shoes — and they can easily end up on your furniture and even in your bed if you come inside to relax after playing or working outdoors.

A better strategy: leave your shoes on the doorstep, throw your clothes in the wash and

have a quick shower before you do anything else.

And while we want to be more environmentally-friendly, hanging clothes and linens outdoors to dry this time of year is a no-no for allergy sufferers.

Wipe it down Bringing stuff indoors? Give it a wipe-down first to clean off mould and pollen. (Same goes for any outdoor items you’re

storing indoors for the winter.)

If mould is an issue, try a solution of bleach and water (if it’s safe to do so). To ward off musty smells, add a couple of tablespoons of baking soda to a bucket of water to wash items before storing.

If you have mould in your bathroom, around your windows or on other surfaces, get rid of it with a diluted bleach or hydrogen peroxide solution.

Check your plants Houseplants can harbour moulds too, so put your green thumb to good use indoors. Remove any dead or dying leaves before they rot and attract mites, other harmful critters or mildew. Also, check the soil for

any signs of disease or mould.

Make sure the pots have good drainage and avoid overwatering or standing water in pots or trays. Good air circulation is also key to keep plants healthy (you can fake it with a fan if needed).

If you’re allergic to moulds, keep plants out of rooms in which you spent a lot of time — like the bedroom or home office.

Keep it dry. Dust mites and mould love damp conditions — especially in your basement or bathroom. Experts recommend that the ideal level of moisture in your home should be 35 to 50 percent. Anything higher and you may need to dry things out with the help of a dehumidifier.

(If you don’t already have one, a humidity gauge can tell you the level of moisture in the air in your home.)

Wash up Did we mention the mites that live in our linens? It’s okay to skip the cold water wash and opt for hot instead. Weekly washings in hot water (at least 55 degrees Celsius or 130 degrees Fahrenheit) will kill off any mould or mites in your sheets, towels, blankets and throws.

Avoid other triggers Smog and indoor air pollution (like air fresheners, strongsmelling cleaners and perfumes) can make allergy symptoms worse because they irritate the lungs. Experts warn that people with asthma or COPD should pay extra attention to their health during allergy season — and have an action plan in case symptoms get worse. Regardless of the season, your home should be a place where you can relax comfortably — not a space that will aggravate health conditions or allergies. Overall, keeping things clean, dry and controlled will help provide relief for allergy sufferers until the fall season passes.

Leave the outdoors outside If you’re a fan of crime

Sources: Lung Association, WebMD, CNN.com

Page 17 Mature Living

Shopping

Autumn’s BEST BUYS Timing is everything when it comes to landing deals. Here, what to watch for on sale this season

A

utumn isn’t just shoulder season for travellers.

Savvy shoppers are out to take advantage of seasonal sales between the summer and holiday shopping seasons. After all, retailers don’t want to store items until next year, or have to account for them in their annual inventory. It’s also time to move out old items and make way for new fashions and models.

Here are some of fall’s top deals according to author Mark Di Vincenzo on Forbes.com: Fruits and vegetables Last chance to stock up before prices go up! Luckily, there’s still lots of fresh fare available, and many great ways to serve it or preserve it. Many foods like cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, spinach and Asian vegetables are still in season through the end of October. Many varieties

Page 18 Mature Living

continue well into November — like apples, pears, garlic, squash, onions, parsnips and potatoes.

And don’t forget the wine! The growing season is almost over for grapes, Cookware Getting ready for holiday feasts?

Sales on pots and pans are common ahead of the busy entertaining season. Not only are retailers offering up the items that people are looking for, they’re trying to entice people who are already in the store to start their holiday shopping too.

Alternatively, you can wait for spring when retailers offer promotions for wedding and graduation season Toys No, it’s not too early to start Christmas shopping. Fall is when

new toys hit the stores, and not long afterward the competition starts to heat up. Watch for stores to launch sales to keep in line with their competitors.

(Also, if you’re looking to get the hottest toys this year, it’s a good idea to shop early!)

Clothing. Back to school is over, and fall fashions will soon give way to winter.

Many clothing retailers are still trying to clear out summer stock at clearance prices, and you can also find discounts on fall pieces that will carry you well into the winter season.

One particularly hot item to buy in the fall is a good pair of jeans.

Swimwear We’ve said good-bye to summer and the pools are closed up, but it’s not quite time for those tropical escapes. Whether you’re a year-round swimmer, planning a sunny getaway or gearing up for next year, fall is the best time to find discounts on swimsuits. (And with fewer shoppers in the stores, it may also be a good time to get some expert help finding the right fit.)

Wedding gowns.

Know someone who is about to tie the knot? Wedding season may be over, but the dresses are still hanging around the shops. Fall is the ideal time to find a bargain with end-of-year

sales coming up. The stores will also be quieter — which means more attention for the bride-tobe, and more opportunity to talk down prices. Brides shopping in December will also get in ahead of those Christmas and New Year’s engagements.

Electronics. Looking for the latest tech toys? Black Friday (Nov. 28, 2014) deals beckon in the U.S. – and in recent years, more irish stores are joining the tradition to get shoppers to stay closer to home.

Charcoal & BBQ grills Most people shop for a new grill with the intention of using it for the summer. It’s not surprising that after the summer, prices start to drop and continue to go down as December approaches.

Retailers don’t want to store these items for the year or count them in their annual inventory.

Lawn mowers Admittedly, the majority of Irish

don’t have much to mow when the snow flies. If you don’t mind waiting until spring to use your new equipment, help stores make room for snow shovels and snow blowers by taking a lawnmower off their hands (for a discount, of course).

Like grills, patio furniture and other seasonal items, stores would rather sell to you at a discount than to clearance outlets at a loss.

New vehicles Just in case the new car deals weren’t already tempting enough, next year’s models are showing up in show rooms.

Further into the season, dealers will be getting more anxious to move old inventory. A word of warning: the longer you wait, the fewer the choices you’ll have for colours and options. If you’re feeling daring, wait until December for a deal on less popular colours — like orange and purple cars.

Feature

Hope House celebrates 21 Years

Gary Sheils Deputy Director, Attracta Canny, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Dolores Duggan

I

n 1992, Attracta Canny and Dolores Duggan, both Mercy Sisters , from their personal and professional experiences as teachers, social workers and addiction counsellors, saw the need for a Residential Addiction Treatment Centre for the West of Ireland.

The then Bishop of Achonry, Dr Thomas Flynn, was approached with the proposal as he had recently purchased

the Convent in Foxford. After some time, research and consultation, he kindly offered the Convent as the location for the new unit.

A Board of Management, with varied and valued skills was established at the end of 1992.

In March of the following year, planning permission was sought and gained to renovate the building and fundraising began.

The invaluable financial

Addic!on Treatment Centre Foxford, Co. Mayo

Call in confidence: 094"9256888 Email: hopehouse#eircom.net www.hopehouse.ie

assistance and support of the Sisters of Mercy Western Province, ensured that the dream of opening and sustaining an Addiction Treatment Centre in the West of Ireland would become a reality.

Works commenced in May 1993 and were completed in September 1993.

On 14th September 1993, Hope House Addiction Centre opened its doors to its very first residents.

21 years later Hope House has firmly established itself as one of Irelands Leading Addiction Centres providing high standards of professional addiction treatment to hundreds of addicted people and their family members every year. Hope House prides itself on the quality of its treatment and care and is accredited by CHKS, an international

healthcare accrediting body.

Hope House has been the proud recipient of many awards and accolades over the past 21 years including the AIB Enterprise Award, the AIB Better Ireland Award and the Meitheal Award, amongst others.

Hope House provides a comprehensive addiction treatment programme to addicted people and their families, comprising an initial 30 Day Residential Rehabilitation Programme for the addicted person, followed by 2 years of Continuing Care for the addicted person and their partner/spouse provided

by Hope House Counselling staff on an outpatient basis.

Hope House also provides a range of additional supports including dedicated Outpatient Family Programme, Relapse Group, special Women’s Group for former residents and a Prescribed Drugs Group.

To celebrate its 21st Birthday and 21 years of Recovery, a “Walk of Hope” took place from Hope House on 13th September 2014. The walk, led by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny was attended by hundreds of people, including many former residents and their families.

Rehabilitation Cent!e specialising in the t!eat"ent of alcohol, dr#gs, gambling and other dependencies.

Hope House... “where recover$ begins”

Page 19 Mature Living

INSPIRED PLANTING WITH LEONIE CORNELIUS

Kokedama

WORDS Leonie Cornelius PHOTOGRAPHY Leonie Cornelius and Marilin North

A modern take on the ancient japanese art of the hanging moss garden

T

he art of Kokedama is a form of Bonsai and originated in Japan in the 1600’s. Originally the idea was to grow a plant in a pot until the roots were strong enough to display the plant in a hanging fashion, roots showing.

The concept of creating a combination of suspended plants that together and each in itself creates its own little microcosm is fascinating and if you look up kokedama on pinterest the images show many inspiring varieties of hanging gardens.

The first time I came across these fabulous art form of Kokedama was through the ambient work of Fedor Van der Valk, an extremely talented Netherands based artist and designer. Seeing his moody collections of flawless kokedama took my breath away. From small ferns to actual citrus trees, Van der Valks work inspired me to try out my own kokedama collection. In this months write up I will talk you through the steps to achieve one of these cool easy maintenance garden spheres.

WHAT YOU NEED: Your kokedama plant there are lots of varieties you can choose for kokedama, from ferns to violets to herbs for the kitchen. Keep in mind that moss needs lots of moisture so the succulents I chose for mine are a little trickier to keep happy.

Soil A 7:3 ratio of peat soil and bonsai soil is what is reccomended for plants such as ferns etc but I used a good quality potting compost to try

Page 20 Mature Living

out my first ones and it works really well for the succulents which need less water.

Moss I used moss which I collected from my own garden, only taking a bit here and there so it can regenerate. What I love about this is that it has little ferns, ivy, primroses etc growing in it which makes it look really unique.

Scissors Cotton thread/garden twine I used a simple natural hemp twine but you can experiment with colour too. Shells little shop in Strandhill have some fantastic neon pink twine which is perfect for a more modern/urban version.

Instructions 1. Using the soil mix and water form a clay ball to suit the size of your plant. It should be sticky and solid (I created quite large spheres as I put a combination of different succulent plants into each).

2. Remove the soil from the plant root and gently insert it into the soil ball. Softly squeeze the soil around the root to become the bed for the plant.

3. Place the ball into the bed of moss (which I watered well beforehand so it sticks well) and form the moss around the ball to become a sphere shape.

4. Now take your string and pack it tightly around the ball at all angles creating a tight solid mass and making moss and soil one shape.

The crossing patterns of string look really cool. Once the moss grows a bit the string next to dissapears and the moss ball

evolves into its own unique form which is fascinating.

5. Choose a suitable spot and hang your kokedama artwork and enjoy.

Caring for your Kokedama A normal Kokedama with a fern will need to be soaked once a week or so and the best way to do this is to immerse the plant completely in a bucket/bowl of water.

You’ll know when your kokedama needs watering by the weight of the ball, and of

course by looking at your plant.

For my succulent experimental kokedamas I wanted to see how the moss and succulents will do together. I have had them for three months now and they are doing brilliantly and only need watering every fortnight.

Leonie Cornelius is an award winning garden designer and TV presenter who runs her own business-BLUME design house. contact: www.blume.ie corneliusleonie@me.com

Feature

As Time Flies By aging and perception of time I

t’s one of life’s more intriguing mysteries. Why does time seem to pass more quickly as we age? How many times have you heard the heartfelt lament, or uttered it yourself: “Where have the years gone?”

Remember the long, lazy days of summer when you were a kid?

Or how a school year could seemingly drag on forever? As an adult, on the other hand, we can only shake our heads at how quickly the days and weeks and seasons fly by. An entire year, or even five or 10 years, can pass in a blur. Scientists say the

perception of time speeding up as we age is a global phenomenon that is common across all cultures. Why is this?

No one knows for sure, but there are several theories from psychologists and neuroscientists as to why our perception of time changes as we age. Here’s a brief overview of some possible explanations for the sense that life, at times, seems to be racing out of control.

It all comes down to the math One explanation boils down to basic proportional theory. The logic is that at age 5, one year

constitutes one-fifth or 20 per cent of a person’s life, and therefore can seem like a long time.

At the age of 50, on the other hand, a year represents a mere one-fiftieth of your life — and as a result, a year seems to go by far more quickly.

Early memories are more potent Another theory, scientists say, has to do with how information gets stored in your memory when you experience something for the first time. Basically, when an experience is a new or novel one, the brain is wired to store more details.

In an interview on Sky, neuroscientist David Eagleman of Baylor College of Medicine in Texas says that when we have a new experience when we’re older, the brain can embroider on a bank of previous experiences.

When we experience something new in our youth, on the other hand, the brain works hard to record all the details.

The result?

The list of early-encoded memories is so dense that reading them back gives the illusionary sense they must have taken forever. “It’s a construction of the brain,” Eagleman says.

“The more memory you have of something, you think, ‘Wow, that really took a long time!’”

“Of course, you can see this in everyday life,” he adds, “when you drive to your new workplace for the first time and it seems to take a really long time to get there.

But when you drive back and forth to your work every day after that, it takes no time at all, because you’re not really writing it down anymore. There’s nothing novel about it.”

The bottom line: when experiences are new, novel or exciting, the brain records them in minute detail, but as experiences become more familiar as we age, the brain doesn’t bother with all the details — so events seem to pass more quickly.

The aging brain Yet another theory pertains to biological characteristics of the aging brain. This theory holds that as the brain ages, it loses the ability to measure time accurately. The brain’s neural conduction velocity, or the speed at which brain cells beat or pulse, essentially slows down with age, experts say. So just as when you’re walking slowly, people around you seem to be moving faster, the aging brain thinks more slowly, making the world appear to move faster… and faster.

The speed of time: a paradox Have you ever noticed that the hours sometimes seem to drag, but the weeks and months still fly by? Scientists have also observed a time paradox for some older people who have reported feeling a slowness of time as it passes, but in retrospect, a feeling that it’s actually flashing past.

According to experts, this generally affects people who have few activities, particularly new ones, to fill their day.

Guarantee Your Copy of THE MAGAZINE FOR THE OLDER, BOLDER INDIVIDUAL

for just €35 per year!

M

ature Living is full to the brim with information on events, finance, travel, pets, food and drink, health, hobbies and much much more! For just €35 (to cover postage and admin costs) you can have Mature Living delivered to your door.

Mature Living is published once per month and a subscription covers 12 months. Complete the form below. You can pay by cheque or Postal Order made payable to Benbulben Publishing.

I would llike to subscribe to Mature Living Magazine for 12 issues.

Name.......................................................................Telephone..................................................

Address...................................................................................................................................

Alternatively, you can pay via telephone using your credit or debit card. Simply call us on 053-9270857 with your details.

Cut out this form and send it to us at: Mature Living Leinster Subscriptions, Mature Living Magazine, Benbulben Publishing Limited, PO Box 41, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford

Therapies

Alternernative Therapies Explained

N

atural medicines involve a wide range of natural therapies that work on both the physical and emotional body in order to relieve pain, improve health, and also improve emotional conditions such as stress or anxiety.

The Benefits of Natural Medicine There are many benefits to be had from undergoing one of these

forms of natural therapies. Many of these therapies, such as herbal medicine, homoeopathy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine, use natural plants and essences taken from the earth in order to heal any problems or disharmonies within the body. These are safe remedies that are mixed to the precise specification of the individual, and have no side effects.

Flower essences are fantastic for

helping to heal any emotional disharmonies that are currently occurring within the body. These essences, which can actually be self-prescribed, can help with emotions ranging from anger to fear. By neutralising or ridding ourselves of these emotions, we can actually be helping to avoid becoming ill in the future.

Many of these therapies such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, treat the whole body, and are systems that have been in use for thousands of years.

The fact that these treatment systems have persisted for so long is proof that they are safe, and that they work.

Therapies such as nutrition, weight loss, colonic irrigation, and allergy testing/treatments are aimed at providing the body with the energy that it needs to operate at its peak, and removing any obstacles that may stop this from occurring. A healthy body needs the right fuel, and to be free of any toxins in order for it to be as healthy as possible.

Diagnostic tools such as iridology, naturopathy, and holistic doctors also play a role in optimum health as their goal is to identify illnesses before they start to

have a negative impact on the body. Being able to identify these potential illnesses early is vital and of great benefit as it helps to stop disease from damaging the body.

There is a strong preventative aspect in the majority of the natural therapies outlined below and this helps to prove the saying that prevention is better than cure. It is better to keep the body strong physically, mentally,

emotionally, and spiritually, so that toxins, disease or other physical conditions cannot take hold and create a negative impact on any aspect of the body.

Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine Acupuncture is a well known natural therapy that focuses on improving the overall wellbeing of the patient. It works by using fine needles that are inserted

Reiki: Our Path To More Well-being

R

eiki is an ancient healing art which originated in Japan. It was brought into the west in the 1980s. Since then, Reiki has become very popular and is now widely used in hospitals, nursing homes, health spas and by holistic practitioners all over the world.

Reiki (rei = universal ki = energy) is the universal life-energy surrounding and pervading all life. When our ki (or our life-energy) is flowing freely, we are generally more happy, more healthy and more balanced.

However, when our ki is not flowing freely, we experience this as physical, emotional or mental obstacles and there is a blockage somewhere in our energy system.

Some of the effects of Reiki are: • to experience a feeling of deep relaxation and peace • to reduce stress • to reduce anxiety • to improve sleep patterns • to stimulate and increase the body’s innate ability to heal itself • to assist in the healing of injuries • to assist in post-operative recovery • to boost the immune system • to help in times of change or transformation • to help in the grieving process or other situations of intense emotional pain • to remove physical, emotional and mental blockages and pain • to enhance self-confidence and self-esteem • to increase energy-levels

Reiki can be used as a once-off opportunity to find inner peace and relaxation, but it can also be used as a form of therapy.

During a one-hour Reiki treatment the client is lying fully clothed on a comfortable massage table. The Reiki practitioner is following a sequence of hand-positions around the client’s body. The energy is flowing through the practitioner’s hands into the client’s body. Clients experience this form of treatment as very relaxing and comforting. And, after all my experience with Reiki, I can say that it is a gentle yet powerful tool to increase our well-being and to bring our highest potential out in us.

Contact Melanie Pelka in Peace for Life on 087-1319891 for more details.

Offering holistic therapy and offer Reiki treatments, Reiki workshops, Autogenic Training workshops and Mindfulness Meditation classes at affordable and competitive prices at two holistic therapy clinics in the heart of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire. Both clinics are conveniently located close to main bus routes and train stations.

Melanie Pelka is a certified and experienced Reiki therapist/teacher, Autogenic Training therapist/teacher and Mindfulness Meditation practitioner/teacher.

Appointments in Dun Laoghaire and Dublin 2 Phone: 01-4302497 • Mobile: 087 1319891 E: info@dublinreiki.com W: www.dublinreiki.com

Therapies

into the body at specific points in order to clear energy blocks or stagnant energy and to help energy flow freely throughout the body once again. By restoring the natural flow of energy, pain is relieved and health is restored.

Many conditions can be treated with acupuncture, from addictions, to pain, skin problems, stress, and much more.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a complete medical system that has been used for over 23 centuries in the treating and preventing of illness. All treatments within TCM are designed to bring the Yin and Yang into harmony within the body by regulating the flow of Qi in the body. Treatments that are

used in TCM include acupuncture (link to acupuncture), herbal medicine (link to herbal medicine), diet, exercise, massage (link to massage), tai chi (link to tai chi), and qi gong.

Herbal Medicine and Homoeopathy Herbal medicine is practiced in many cultures and has been successfully used for thousands of years. An herbalist will prepare a treatment based on the consultation that they have with their client. Generally plants and plant parts are used within the herbal remedy, but some cultures will also use animal or mineral products in their herbal mixtures.

The herbal remedy may take the form of teas, capsules, tablets,

extracts, or tinctures, to name a few. Herbal medicine is effective as the ingredients in the remedy contain natural chemicals and compounds that have biological activity. Many conditions can benefit from the use of herbal medicine, from as simple as the common cold, to as complicated as digestive conditions and allergies.

Homoeopathy is designed to help the body to heal itself.

Symptoms of ill health are caused by disharmony within the person, and it is the person that needs the treatment rather than the disease or illness itself. The medicines used in homoeopathy are comprised of plant, mineral, and animal extracts and are prescribed according to the specific symptoms shown by an individual, as well as the emotions that they show and their general physical condition.

nutritional therapy, herbal medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Bowen therapy.

Beauty therapies can also be included under the umbrella of women’s health issues as they can be used for relaxation, and managing skin condition, as well as other things.

Natural fertility management is a way of managing a women’s fertility in order to achieve or avoid pregnancy. Training enables women to understand

their fertility cycle through observing signs such ad cervical mucus and basal body temperature. If natural fertility management is properly performed, it is safe for all women and has a 97 percent success rate for contraception.

As well as this, natural fertility management is also concerned with preconception care and overcoming fertility problems through the use of natural therapies.

Women’s Health and Natural Fertility Management Women’s health is an umbrella term for issues that commonly affect women such as menstrual problems, menopause, infertility management, pregnancy care, breastfeeding, and breast problems. These are conditions that can cause great discomfort for women so it is important that they are looked at before the problem becomes unbearable.

Some modalities that are particularly good for treating women’s health issues include

Trish Willams Ayurveda I can help you find your true self, your gifts, your skills and your talents, so that you make a real difference in your business and/or personal life .... helping you to free yourself from any 'negative baggage' and empowering you to achieve this both easily and effortlessly. Imagine discovering the key that unlocks your full potential. - Carol Passemard

www.breakthroughretreat.com E: carol.passemard@gmail.com

T: 087-1413026

Specialising in Champissage Indian Head Massage and Kansa Vatki Foot Massage

www.trishwilliamsayurveda.com

Mobile Service available Dublin and Wicklow • Ph: 085-8417665 Arklow, The Arklow Natural Healing Centre, 8 St Mary’s Terrace, Arklow (Next to library in Arklow) Ph: (01) 9034210 – Allow phone to ring to get answer phone

Page 25 Mature Living

Therapies

Alternernative Therapies Explained

Allergy Testing/Treatments Allergy testing is carried out to diagnose allergies so that treatment may be undertaken.

Any substance can potentially cause an allergic reaction, which may range from minor to potentially life threatening.

Some common allergens include lactose, wheat, animal dander, shellfish, and dust. There are

many tests that can be used to determine an allergen such as blood tests, elimination diets, and scratch or puncture tests, just to name a few. The treatment will depend on the person’s level of involvement with the allergen, but at a minimum, practitioners will recommend that you avoid the allergen wherever possible.

Some allergy tests can only be performed by medical doctors but many natural therapists such as naturopaths (link to naturopathy) and nutritionists (link to nutrition) will use some form of allergy testing in their diagnosis.

Animal Therapy Animal therapy combines a range of different natural therapies in order to provide a form of healing for animals. Preventative treatment is emphasised. Some natural therapies that are used include naturopathy, herbal medicine, homeopathy, flower essences, mineral therapy, massage, aromatherapy, nutrition, and iridology. Animals will normally respond well to natural therapies as there are no side effects. The whole animal is treated to improve their overall health, rather than just treating the symptoms.

Ayurveda Ayurveda is an ancient Indian medical practice that uses a range of treatments such as herbal medicine, diet, meditation, massage, and yoga to maintain or restore health. In Ayurveda, it is believed that each person contains part of the

universe’s basic elements, and these elements combine to create one of three body types.

They are known as vata, pitta and kapha. The theory behind Ayurveda states that illness occurs when one or more of the body types become imbalanced.

This is a therapy that can be applied to every aspect of life, and can even become a way of life. The Ayurvedic treatments will be prescribed according to your body type.

Colonic Irrigation Colonic irrigation is used to flush toxins from the colon – toxins that can build up and cause health problems. Treatments are given by qualified practitioners and are given in a clinic or spa.

Colonic irrigation is useful for general detoxification of the body as well as helping with conditions that may arise as a result of poor bowel function, such as skin problems, bloating or Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

However, it should not be used for inflammatory bowel conditions.

Ear Candling Ear candling is an ancient clearing method that has been used by the Egyptians, Chinese,

Greeks, and Hopi Indians of America. A special hollow candle is used to create a vacuum in the ear. This vacuum draws out old wax, the residues of past infections, and funguses. Ear candling can help to stimulate the immune system and also the peripheral blood circulation. It can also be used to cleanse and harmonise an energy field or aura. It is a non invasive and painless treatment.

Flower Essences Flower essences can be used to treat negative emotions, thoughts, and even disease. This is done by choosing a remedy that matches a patient’s temperament as well as their state of mind. Flower essences are not used directly for physical conditions but rather treat the worry and anxiety that is troubling the patient. In this therapy, the essences work n a vibrational level, so that the life force can flow more freely.

These essences are able to treat emotional problems such as anger, apprehension, loneliness, despair, uncertainty, self-esteem, and creativity, to name just a few. Flower essences are complete safe to use and have no side effects.

Tony Stockwell psychic medium

Friday July 10th 2pm - Monday 13th 3pm 2015 at Bewleys Hotel, Newlands Cross, Dublin 22

T

ony Stockwell, World Renowned Medium and Tutor, is delighted to announce that he will be running his popular 4 day Intense Mediumship seminar/workshop 'Spirit Messages' in Dublin for the first time. During this weekend he will be offering his students in-depth guidance and tutorship to assist them in fulfilling their potential to be the best medium they can be and to be a clear and truthful voice for spirit and the spirit world.

This is a seminar for those of mixed levels but would not be suitable for those new to mediumship and psychic development so no beginners please. ‘Spirit Messages’ is a course of tuition, practical work and assessment employing exercises and techniques that you can use in your own mediumship. Places are filling up so if you are thinking of attending please put your name down with deposit as soon as you can.

Fee €295 (deposit of €95 required to hold place) On Saturday night July 11th Tony will be holding an Evening of Mediumship Demonstration in the Civic Center, Ballyfermot Road, Dublin 8.

Tickets €25 Each

For further information please email Susan at diademsangelight@gmail.com / Text 087 6771352

Therapies

Creacon Lodge Wellness Centre

C

reacon Lodge Wellness Centre is an Irish oasis of relaxation, rejuvenation and healing that offers multi-day silent retreats and detox programmes alongside their therapies and classes. And to further restore you from the inside out, they cater to your tastes with fresh nutritional juices, Eastern Therapeutic Cuisine and Ayurvedic meals. Nutritional Therapy has always been present in Asian cultures.

Traditional Chinese and Indian cooking, whether Ayurvedic or not, employ a wide variety of time tested health giving foods and herbs. In folk wisdom, Nutrition has always been recognised as a main contributing factor for maintaining good health, it’s only in the recent years have we lost our elder's wisdom.

Fortunately, through a growing food culture, we are re-discovering this ancient wisdom, food and health aficionadas are trying to recapture this disregarded treasure.

More and more is known about the specific health benefits of particular foods, what chemistry is in them.

Bitter gourd, for instance, is well known to reduce Diabetes 2 through its triterpenoids and insulin which both have a blood sugar levels reducing effect.

Most culinary herbs are seriously underestimated in their wonderful ability to nourish and maintain our

health. I marvel at the amazing potency of parsley, often just seen as garnish, this wonderful little herb that aids your eyesight and protects your kidneys!

Eastern Nutrition relies heavily on the health imparting benefits of herbs and spices to complement carefully balanced meals.

Traditional foods carry you into a wonderful world of pleasant aromatic healing tastes and smells, and may linger in your memory. In this time of plenty, choosing Traditional & Natural Foods over fast foods will not only increase your Health and Well being, it will delight your tastebuds!

Pop into Creacon Lodge's Cafe to introduce yourself to a new and healthy you. www.creaconlodgewellnesscentre.com

Our treatments, individually selected and often blended together to address individual client’s conditions include:

Reflexology & Hopi Ear Candles.

CranioSacral Therapy

for adults, children and babies is a gentle, non-invasive but powerful hands-on therapy that benefits the whole body. It helps to release tensions deep within the body lowering stress levels, improving sleep, inducing relaxation, resulting in greater wellbeing. This will stimulate the body to promote its own natural healing capabilities improving overall health and resistance to disease.

Margaret Sinnott

Imagine living your life with more ease, less pain and the ability to deal with daily stresses Ă I treat each client uniquely, integrating my 25 years of experience as a nurse and a complimentary therapist. Your wellbeing is my focus!"

If you have any questions or you would like to book an appointment call Margaret on 01 818 6771 or 087 293 6159

www.holistictherapydublin.com

Therapies

Alternernative Therapies Explained Holistic Doctor Holistic doctors are concerned about what kind of a person suffers from a disease, while a traditional doctor will only diagnose the disease itself.

Holistic doctors find out as much about their patient as they can, as disease is seen as a consequence of a deeper imbalance. Holistic medicine understands that there is no separation between the mind and body, and the person’s emotional state will ultimately affect their health and wellbeing. It is in this way that holistic medicine focuses on prevention and strengthening the body’s resistance to disease.

Iridology Iridology is the study of the iris, or the coloured part of the eye.

By looking at the iris, the practitioner is able to see the changing conditions in every part and every organ of the body.

While iridology cannot detect a specific disease, it is able to tell if there is not enough or too much energy in a specific area of the body.

It is a diagnostic tool rather than a treatment tool.

The aim of the therapy is to diagnose a potential illness as soon as possible, before it has a chance to develop into something more serious.

Naturopathy Naturopaths prevent, assess, and treat conditions of the mind and body. They use conventional health sciences along with a range of natural therapies in

order to treat a person’s mental, emotional and physical states for a lasting effect. Naturopathy believes that every person has their own healing energy, and naturopathic treatment simply allows the body to repair itself and recover from illnesses.

Naturopaths encourage a person to take responsibility for their own health. The goal is to create a lifestyle that supports health and wellbeing.

Naturopaths use therapies such as herbal medicine, nutrition, flower essences, homoeopathy, iridology and massage to assist in the healing process.

Nutrition Nutrition is vital for our health and it can be defined as the science that establishes the relationship between a person’s diet and their overall health. To function properly, the body needs the correct levels of carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, mineral, and water. If any of these reach too low a level, a deficiency occurs and this results in a person feeling generally unwell or even illness.

Antioxidants are another important part of nutrition as they neutralise free radicals in the body – damaging substances that can contribute to premature aging, heart disease, and liver disease, amongst other

problems. To have a healthy diet, it is best to eat a diet that is rich in wholegrains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and plenty of water. For added health benefits, you can try eating some “superfoods”.

body fat content. Too much weight causes additional stress to be placed on the body and this excess weight can result in conditions such as back pain, heart disease, and diabetes.

While all natural therapies will help with the emotional and physical issues that may have led to the weight gain, naturopathy, yoga, personal training and nutrition are some of the more commonly used natural therapies for weight loss. As well as changing physical habits, it is also important to change your dietary habits – replacing your old diet with a diet that is rich in wholegrains, fresh fruits and vegetables.

Remedial Therapies Remedial therapies are an extension of remedial massage and include such therapies as acupressure, aromatherapy, sports medicine, Chinese massage, shiatsu, flower essences, reflexology, and more.

Weight Loss Weight loss is the process of losing body mass by reducing

www.deirdreclinch.com

"life is an unfolding process of becoming" Depression, Anxiety, Relationship Issues, Mid-life issues, Bereavement, Trauma, Sexual Abuse, Stress, Eating Disorders, Self Harm, Personal & Career Conflicts, Bullying, Intimacy issues, Anger, Loss of Self-esteem or Identity and Personal Growth.

D

eirdre was trained to work from a Humanistic and Integrative approach. Working from this perspective she invites the person to develop their awareness and promote a thrust towards wholeness and a renewed way of being in the world.

Her core belief is that each and every one of us has the propensity to heal and grow.

We heal by engaging and extending beyond the confinements of the life events that have prevented our natural healthy growth on our journey

to our true potential.

This approach works in a respectful manner with the whole person in a holistic and experiential way responding to the uniqueness and needs of the individual. As a humanistic and integrative therapist, Deirdre is not limited by one particular approach and takes into account all aspects of her client's life experience and abilities.

By bringing clarity, warmth and sensitivity to the session she can facilitate the client in developing their resources promoting personal growth and change.

By offering feedback and an external perspective she helps the client develop an understanding of themselves and how they function in life.

Together you work with the obstacles that may arise and with guidance and support you will gain insights and an awareness of areas of your life that you may want to change or manage differently.

Deirdre believes that it is the very essence of the client therapist relationship that facilitates growth and movement for a person and will accompany you on your journey offering

support while working with you through the process of promoting change in your life.

Deirdre Clinch is a qualified and professionally trained Psychotherapist and Counsellor working in both the north side and the south side of Dublin.

"Not everything that is faced can be changed, but nothing can be changed until it is faced" Oxford Road, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 • Tel: 086 8502724 • Email: deirdreclinch@eircom.net Deirdre Clinch is an accredited member of both IAHIP & IACP and adheres to their codes of ethics

Marie Clancy

Therapies

Reflexology Reflexology

Hot Stone Massage

Ayurvedic Foot Massage

Swedish Massage

Telephone Marie on: 086-6069534 Email: athymassage@gmail.com

Anam Coaching & Counselling www.anamcoachingandcounselling.com

Counselling

If you have unresolved issues from your past then counselling is a very effective way of helping you let go of any unresolved issues that may be holding you back.

Some people don’t know what the problem is – they may simply be unhappy – whilst others want to talk about a specific situation. Clients sometimes come to talk about a particular problem, only to discover that it’s something else that is the real trouble.

Relationships, loss and change are all common themes, as are anxiety and stress.

Confidentiality and discretion is paramount to the counselling relationship.

REIKI HEALING I first came in contact with Reiki in the nineties, at the time of the breakup of my own marriage.

My confidence was very low and I was always worrying, anxious and stressed. I also suffered from severe migraines.

I decided to give Reiki a try as I was really fed up of “talking about my problems”. My Reiki Practitioner was very welcoming. She asked me to lie on a massage table and placed a light blanket over me. The room was very warm and peaceful – she had relaxing music playing in the background and a scented candle lit. As she placed her hands gently on my chakras, (chakras are “energy centres” on the body which receive, transmit and transform the Reiki Energy), I could feel wave after wave of healing energy pulsate through me. My hands and feet began to tingle and my stomach was rumbling – a sign that the treatment is working. Originating in the mid 1800’s from Japan, Reiki is something that can benefit everyone and is used throughout the world by people of all creeds and belief systems.

Reiki Energy is a very safe, natural, deeply relaxing and very often life changing healing energy. Once the Reiki Energy enters the body it works to find the root of the problem that causes us to be low in energy, stressed or ill. It then clears away the debris that is blocking the affected energy channels. That day I truly experienced that powerful Reiki Healing as LOVE. After just 4 Reiki Treatments I felt my

confidence grow enormously – and I haven’t had a migraine since. I was so excited that such a simple hands on healing therapy such as Reiki could be so powerful that I wanted to learn more.

Today I am a Reiki Teacher.

Over the past few years I have seen a huge increase in both men and women coming to me to learn and receive Reiki.

People are constantly searching for natural methods of treating ailments and promoting a healthier lifestyle.

Reiki has proved to be of great benefit for a broad range of conditions. It is used as a complement to conventional therapies in hospitals world-wide. People who suffer with migraine, asthma, skin conditions, ulcers, orthopaedic injuries, infertility, overweight and arthritis to name but a few have noted amazing improvements in their health. Reiki has also been of benefit for some people challenged with various forms of cancer and other types of serious health challenges.

Reiki minimizes the unpleasant side-effects of prescribed medication and boosts the immune system.

The gentle Reiki energy is also effective in calming the mind and has helped many with anxiety and depression.

Besides offering therapeutic treatments aimed at curing specific conditions or at general relaxation, Reiki is used by individuals to help personal development: to find their true self, to break out of a rut, or move forward into a way of living that is more fulfilling and natural. Reiki helps us to recognise and heal our negative beliefs.

Reiki is also a self-healing method we can do on, to and for ourselves pretty much wherever we happen to be and at any time.

REIKI 1 WORKSHOP Including Healing with the Angels, Personal Development (More Self-Confidence) & NLP

€175 - €155 FOR STUDENTS/UNWAGED OBTAIN A NEW SKILL/CAREER

NLP

Is a set of psychological tools which you can you use in your daily life to help bring about self development and change. It can really make a difference in your life. With NLP you can begin to change self limiting beliefs and behaviours and overcome fears and phobias.

The following are some of the things I can help you with using NLP: Anxiety, Stress, Lack of motivation, Confidence Building, Low Self Esteem, Fear of Public Speaking, Fear of Flying, Fear of Motorway/Dual Carriage Way Driving, Panic Attacks, Jealousy and Shyness.

Life Coaching

Life coaching is a one to one partnership that helps clients to get fulfilling results in their lives. Coaching can help you with: Confidence Building, Self Esteem Issues, Stress Management, Life Changes, Career Change, Goal Setting and Prioritising, Planning for a Better Future and Motivation for Change

Karen Slattery

Stratford Haven, Orwell Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6 To book an appointment or for futher infomation Phone: 01-4923720 or 0872860269 Day and Evening Appointments available Email anamcounselling@eircom.net

Do You Want To Be Happier And More Successful In Your Life - Yes? Do You Want To Change The Way You Think, Feel And Communicate With Others - Yes? Then Treat Yourself To A Very Enjoyable, Powerful And Informative 2Day Reiki Workshop – Held Monthly Reiki Is A Very Easy To Learn Natural, Powerful And Safe Hands-On Healing Therapy

Private Reiki Healings - €50 Reiki Is Known To Heal: Relationships • Low Energy • Worry/anxiety/stress Migraines • Low self confidence • Irritable bowel Psoriasis •Low concentration • Infertility Patricia Loughlin – Master Reiki & Angel Teacher - 30 Years Teaching Experience

Tel 0876209892 • www.Reikiinireland.Com

Retirement Destinations

Exotic places to retire Does your idea of an affordable retirement include noshing on world-renowned cuisine and touring local wineries? As with France, you’ll want to steer clear of major cities and hotspots like Umbria and Tuscany– but a “comfortable life” can be had in the Le Marche region for just €15,000 – €20,000.

Naturally, the cultural and artistic offerings are more modest than you would find in Florence or Rome, but the area has its fair share of art and architecture — including the walled city of Urbino.

Got your heart set on Europe?

Some other top spots getting the nod from experts include Cascais, Portugal and Costa del Sol, Spain. Don’t be afraid to venture farther east. Expats are discovering destinations such as Tallinn, Estonia and Croatia as well.

Panama You’ll love it for its sunny climate and the scenery, but financial experts love it for its lower cost of living and fair tax policies for foreigners — something you won’t find everywhere.

Panama also has easier entry requirements than many countries in the region, plus a well-developed infrastructure of roads and communications.

The local currency is based on the U.S. dollar, and health care services are good in its main cities.

It’s not as cheap as other retirement havens, but you get

Ecuador

to live in paradise for €1200 to €1500 a month.

But the benefits don’t stop there: as a retiree, you’ll find generous discounts of between 15 per cent and 50 per cent on things such as hotels, restaurants, movies and many professional services. If your home in Panama is your only residence, you won’t pay property taxes either. (For more information, see PanamaInfo.com.)

Ecuador Rural areas may be lacking in health care and other essential infrastructure, but experts note

Thailand the major cities are affordable and offer many amenities — such as hospitals equivalent to what you’ll find in Ireland. Expatfriendly Cuenca often gets the nod over pricier Quito, plus you don’t have to worry about adjusting to the altitude.

Some sources say you can live well for as little as €600/month in Ecuador, and you’d be hard

pressed to spend €1000 even with luxuries thrown in. Like Panama, there are already established expat communities and generous discounts to be had. If your Spanish is rusty at first, don’t worry — English is spoken throughout parts of the country.

What other Central and South American destinations made the list? Belize often gets the nod because its official language is English. Lush, green Costa Rica is another popular choice as is Granada, Nicaragua. Mexico also appears on many lists, but you’ll want to choose your location very carefully to avoid crime. Head further south and you can find a reasonable cost of living in Uruguay or Argentina.

• Pension. Can you receive your government benefits in the local currency? Is there an option to join the country’s social security program?

Italy

n ce a r F t s e W South

Panama

R

etire for less and start a new way of life with these exotic retirement destinations. Ever heard of “geographic arbitrage”? Here’s how it can work for your retirement: you earn a pension or retirement income in a country like Ireland that has a high cost of living and then put those hard-earned euros to good use in a country with a much lower cost of living. The result? Retiring abroad means you can you enjoy a better quality of life for less cash plus you get to enjoy a new culture and a new way of life. Not sure where to look? There are many lists of top destinations out there, we’ve rounded up some of favourites.

Perpignan. With access to the high-speed train service in Montpellier, you can take a jaunt to Paris for the weekend.

The cost of living is higher than other retirement destinations — estimates a yearly budget of €25,000 — but France does have the best health care system in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

It’s a long way from home, but a chance to embrace a different culture and language — not to mention some top-notch eateries. According to some estimates, a monthly budget of €700 to €900 will easily cover good housing, meals out, health care, entertainment and a variety of other services. Some parts of the country still

• Taxes. What taxes will you have to pay, and to whom? You could end up paying in two different countries — and face high duties, tariffs, withholding taxes and consumption taxes in some areas.

You’ll also want to know about estates taxes, just in case.

• Fluctuating currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are going to fluctuate. Can your budget handle an increase?

• Access to financial services.

Opening a new bank account and investing may not be as easy as you think, and there could be heavy fees involved.

Thailand experience unrest, but experts say much of the country is peaceful as well as beautiful.

If the hustle and bustle of Bangkok — and the higher prices — isn’t your taste, experts suggest Chiang Mai as a budgetfriendly alternative. Hua Hin is more of a traditional retirement haven with golf courses and outlet malls and might be a good place to start if you’re worried about culture shock.

Southwest France Mais oui! But we’re not talking about living the high life in Paris or kicking back in Provence. Step outside the major cities and you’ll find an affordable cost of living, say experts. For example, most recommend the LanguedocRoussillon region in the Southwest — think medieval towns and castles, vineyards, rocky hills and the Mediterranean seashore. It’s where you’ll find Nimes (with its Roman ruins) and stylish

Page 28 Mature Living

Malaysia Concerned about foreign residency requirements? Experts say they won’t be a problem in Malaysia thanks to initiatives aimed at bringing in expats. Here, income from foreign sources is also taxfree, and buying property is permitted. It’s the easiest place in Asian to achieve permanent residency, but you’ll want to take a closer look at local laws.

Conservative dress and discrete behaviour are expected, and homosexual activity is illegal, according to the government website.

Experts say destinations like Kuala Lumpur are “moderately priced” (i.e. not as cheap as other retirement havens) but it is fairly easy to settle in. Infrastructure and services are in place to cater to retirees, and some sources note that many locals are eager to practice their English with newcomers.

What other Asian destinations should you consider? Experts also like nearby Bali, Indonesia as well as the Philippines.

• Local laws and customs. Are you comfortable living within the laws and expectations of your new home?

• Visa and residency requirements.

How easy is it to obtain a visa or permanent residency? The rules and procedures are different for each country.

• Rules regarding property ownership. In some places, you can own a condo but not land while other countries don’t have restrictions on purchases.

• The community. Do you want to live among your fellow expats or live like a local? Expat areas are more expensive, but you’ll be living among people who speak your language and share your culture.

• Health care. What is the quality of care offered and how do you pay for it? In many places, you’ll have to pay upfront for services, even if they are a fraction of the cost. Also, experts warn health insurance can be expensive if you’re over a certain age.

• Travel and communications. How much will it cost to keep in touch with the family and friends you’re leaving behind? Have you budgeted for travel to visit loved ones?

Also, remember that living in a country is very different than vacationing. Many experts recommend a “test drive” first — that is, an extended stay at your destination outside tourist areas, including some off-season time so you can get a feel for costs, amenities, climate, pace of living and culture. There is a lot to know about retiring abroad and a great deal of research to be done if you’re interested.

Malaysia

What to know if you’re considering it

Italy

No doubt a lot of your attention will be on cost of living, but there is a lot more to consider.

Page 29 Mature Living

Retirement Destinations

Exotic places to retire Does your idea of an affordable retirement include noshing on world-renowned cuisine and touring local wineries? As with France, you’ll want to steer clear of major cities and hotspots like Umbria and Tuscany– but a “comfortable life” can be had in the Le Marche region for just €15,000 – €20,000.

Naturally, the cultural and artistic offerings are more modest than you would find in Florence or Rome, but the area has its fair share of art and architecture — including the walled city of Urbino.

Got your heart set on Europe?

Some other top spots getting the nod from experts include Cascais, Portugal and Costa del Sol, Spain. Don’t be afraid to venture farther east. Expats are discovering destinations such as Tallinn, Estonia and Croatia as well.

Panama You’ll love it for its sunny climate and the scenery, but financial experts love it for its lower cost of living and fair tax policies for foreigners — something you won’t find everywhere.

Panama also has easier entry requirements than many countries in the region, plus a well-developed infrastructure of roads and communications.

The local currency is based on the U.S. dollar, and health care services are good in its main cities.

It’s not as cheap as other retirement havens, but you get

Ecuador

to live in paradise for €1200 to €1500 a month.

But the benefits don’t stop there: as a retiree, you’ll find generous discounts of between 15 per cent and 50 per cent on things such as hotels, restaurants, movies and many professional services. If your home in Panama is your only residence, you won’t pay property taxes either. (For more information, see PanamaInfo.com.)

Ecuador Rural areas may be lacking in health care and other essential infrastructure, but experts note

Thailand the major cities are affordable and offer many amenities — such as hospitals equivalent to what you’ll find in Ireland. Expatfriendly Cuenca often gets the nod over pricier Quito, plus you don’t have to worry about adjusting to the altitude.

Some sources say you can live well for as little as €600/month in Ecuador, and you’d be hard

pressed to spend €1000 even with luxuries thrown in. Like Panama, there are already established expat communities and generous discounts to be had. If your Spanish is rusty at first, don’t worry — English is spoken throughout parts of the country.

What other Central and South American destinations made the list? Belize often gets the nod because its official language is English. Lush, green Costa Rica is another popular choice as is Granada, Nicaragua. Mexico also appears on many lists, but you’ll want to choose your location very carefully to avoid crime. Head further south and you can find a reasonable cost of living in Uruguay or Argentina.

• Pension. Can you receive your government benefits in the local currency? Is there an option to join the country’s social security program?

Italy

n ce a r F t s e W South

Panama

R

etire for less and start a new way of life with these exotic retirement destinations. Ever heard of “geographic arbitrage”? Here’s how it can work for your retirement: you earn a pension or retirement income in a country like Ireland that has a high cost of living and then put those hard-earned euros to good use in a country with a much lower cost of living. The result? Retiring abroad means you can you enjoy a better quality of life for less cash plus you get to enjoy a new culture and a new way of life. Not sure where to look? There are many lists of top destinations out there, we’ve rounded up some of favourites.

Perpignan. With access to the high-speed train service in Montpellier, you can take a jaunt to Paris for the weekend.

The cost of living is higher than other retirement destinations — estimates a yearly budget of €25,000 — but France does have the best health care system in the world, according to the World Health Organization.

It’s a long way from home, but a chance to embrace a different culture and language — not to mention some top-notch eateries. According to some estimates, a monthly budget of €700 to €900 will easily cover good housing, meals out, health care, entertainment and a variety of other services. Some parts of the country still

• Taxes. What taxes will you have to pay, and to whom? You could end up paying in two different countries — and face high duties, tariffs, withholding taxes and consumption taxes in some areas.

You’ll also want to know about estates taxes, just in case.

• Fluctuating currency exchange rates. Exchange rates are going to fluctuate. Can your budget handle an increase?

• Access to financial services.

Opening a new bank account and investing may not be as easy as you think, and there could be heavy fees involved.

Thailand experience unrest, but experts say much of the country is peaceful as well as beautiful.

If the hustle and bustle of Bangkok — and the higher prices — isn’t your taste, experts suggest Chiang Mai as a budgetfriendly alternative. Hua Hin is more of a traditional retirement haven with golf courses and outlet malls and might be a good place to start if you’re worried about culture shock.

Southwest France Mais oui! But we’re not talking about living the high life in Paris or kicking back in Provence. Step outside the major cities and you’ll find an affordable cost of living, say experts. For example, most recommend the LanguedocRoussillon region in the Southwest — think medieval towns and castles, vineyards, rocky hills and the Mediterranean seashore. It’s where you’ll find Nimes (with its Roman ruins) and stylish

Page 28 Mature Living

Malaysia Concerned about foreign residency requirements? Experts say they won’t be a problem in Malaysia thanks to initiatives aimed at bringing in expats. Here, income from foreign sources is also taxfree, and buying property is permitted. It’s the easiest place in Asian to achieve permanent residency, but you’ll want to take a closer look at local laws.

Conservative dress and discrete behaviour are expected, and homosexual activity is illegal, according to the government website.

Experts say destinations like Kuala Lumpur are “moderately priced” (i.e. not as cheap as other retirement havens) but it is fairly easy to settle in. Infrastructure and services are in place to cater to retirees, and some sources note that many locals are eager to practice their English with newcomers.

What other Asian destinations should you consider? Experts also like nearby Bali, Indonesia as well as the Philippines.

• Local laws and customs. Are you comfortable living within the laws and expectations of your new home?

• Visa and residency requirements.

How easy is it to obtain a visa or permanent residency? The rules and procedures are different for each country.

• Rules regarding property ownership. In some places, you can own a condo but not land while other countries don’t have restrictions on purchases.

• The community. Do you want to live among your fellow expats or live like a local? Expat areas are more expensive, but you’ll be living among people who speak your language and share your culture.

• Health care. What is the quality of care offered and how do you pay for it? In many places, you’ll have to pay upfront for services, even if they are a fraction of the cost. Also, experts warn health insurance can be expensive if you’re over a certain age.

• Travel and communications. How much will it cost to keep in touch with the family and friends you’re leaving behind? Have you budgeted for travel to visit loved ones?

Also, remember that living in a country is very different than vacationing. Many experts recommend a “test drive” first — that is, an extended stay at your destination outside tourist areas, including some off-season time so you can get a feel for costs, amenities, climate, pace of living and culture. There is a lot to know about retiring abroad and a great deal of research to be done if you’re interested.

Malaysia

What to know if you’re considering it

Italy

No doubt a lot of your attention will be on cost of living, but there is a lot more to consider.

Page 29 Mature Living

Discover the

F

Cliffs Of Moher

rom its northernmost point in Donegal to its southernmost in Cork, the Wild Atlantic Way offers one of the world’s most diverse and spectacular coastlines. Immerse yourself in the culture, music and food found in the towns and villages along the way, climb the most breathtaking heights and experience a landscape that revives the soul.

In Seamus Heaney’s (1939 –2013) poem ‘Lovers on Aran’ he poses the question ‘Did sea define the land or land the sea?’ The Wild Atlantic coastline has intrigued and mystified visitors to Ireland and helped shape the people of the west of Ireland.

2750 KM • 160 DISCOVERY POINTS • 15 SIGNATURE DISCOVERY POINTS • 26 ISLANDS TO DISCOVER • 150 HIDDEN GEMS

Golden Years Midweek Packages

Situated along the breathtakingly beautiful Wild Atlantic Way, 4 Star Fels Point Hotel, Tralee is the ideal location for a much deserved break away.

Located just a few minutes stroll from the centre of Tralee town, Fels Point Hotel is a stone’s throw away from Tralee’s finest shops, cafes, entertainment and exciting visitor attractions.

Allow Us to Pamper You - Join us for a variety of sumptuous dining options at Morels Restaurant and Clarets Bar. Or treat yourself and enjoy some time out relaxing in the Herbs & Roses Spa where you can indulge in a wide range of Elemis massages, facials and customised beauty therapies.

10% discount on Herbs & Roses Spa specials for all Golden Years Midweek Packages.

Exclusive Over 50’s offer

2 Nights DBB from €99pps - Midweek Includes 2 Nights Bed & Breakfast, 2 Evening Meals 4 course meal each night in Morels Restaurant

3 Nights DBB from €139pps - Midweek

Incl 3 Nights Bed & Breakfast, Overnight Accommodation in one of our Superior rooms and 3 Evening Meals. 4 course meal each night in Morels Restaurant

Complimentary tea /coffee and scones on arrival for all Golden Years Midweek Packages Free Car Parking & Wifi Access, plus discounts to local visitor attractions

Rosscarbery, West Cork, (023) 8848722 info@celticross.com • www.celticrosshotel.com

T: 066 719 9100 • W: www.felspointhotel.com E: reservations@felspointhotel.com

- The Wild Atlantic Way provides visitors with stunning scenery at every turn and letting them experience the wild nature of Irelands Atlantic shore be it glorious sunshine or the even more impressive huge Atlantic swells battering the coast during bad weather.

Whether you find yourself wandering the Deserted Village on the Blasket Islands, foraging for local food across the Killala Bay or kayaking in Kinsale, these experiences are ones worth planning a trip around.

The Wild Atlantic Way is can be

enjoyed over a few days to several weeks, with over 1,000 Attractions, over 2,500 activities including walking, cycling, kayaking, surfing, fishing and more, over 50 Blue Flag beaches, nearly 20 long distance walks, over 120 Golf courses and over 500 festivals and events to enjoy during each year.

Wild Atlantic Way Guides by County Over the next two pages are guides to attractions for each county on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo

F

ishing, collecting seaweed, artisan foods, kayaking, swimming, walking, cycling, snorkelling, diving, adventuring, artists, story tellers, seaside towns, blue flag beaches, camping, myth and legend, folklore, islands, cottages and windswept lighthouses. The Wild Atlantic Way has everything you’ll need in a holiday and more.

From cliff top views to great

hikes and from historic cities to picture perfect coastal villages and some of the best surfing in the world, the Wild Atlantic Way drive caters for visitors of all ages and tastes.

Slow down, meet the people and experience the real Ireland.

Wild Atlantic Way Facts - The Wild Atlantic Way is the longest signed coastal route in the world at 2,750 km (1,700 miles) in length with plenty side

routes, loops and activities.

- the Wild Atlantic Way travels the entire west coast from the picturesque town of Kinsale in Cork through counties Kerry, Clare, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim and ends in Donegal - join the Wild Atlantic Way at any number of points along its length, complete it in either direction and enjoy the many shorter side loops and dozens of attractions and activities

Take the unique boat trip to the Skellig Islands UNESCO World Heritage Site, Co. Kerry

Food and Drink

A

lovely soup, quite nice when made with skim milk, very rich when made with whole milk, a splurge when made with cream.

Ingredients: 2 Belgian endive, cored 1 white onion, diced 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tablespoons butter 2 large potatoes, peeled and diced 2 cups chicken broth 1 cup milk (or skim milk or cream) salt and pepper chopped chives (to garnish) dill sprigs (to garnish)

Directions: 1 Mince the endives, reserving a few small leaves for garnish.

2 Saute the onion, garlic, and endives in the butter for 3 minutes.

3 Add the potatoes and chicken broth and simmer for about 15 minutes, or until the potatoes are soft.

4 Blend until smooth, using an immersion blender, or carefully transferring hot soup to blender and then back to pot.

5 Add the milk, salt, and pepper and blend. Serve hot or cold.

6 Garnish with chopped endive leaves, chives, and dill.

H

ere's an interesting carrot recipe -- If you can, try making it a day ahead of time & give the flavor time ...

Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 15 mins Ingredients: 8 carrots, sliced crosswise into 1/4-inch pieces 1/3 cup heavy cream 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 2 teaspoons granulated sugar 2 teaspoons dried parsley 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, grated 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper Directions: 1 In a medium saucepan, cover carrots with 1 inch of water & bring to a simmer for 10-12 minutes, until carrots are tender.

2 Drain water from pan & toss carrots with remaining ingredients.

3 Over low heat, stir carrots until sauce is heated through & serve.

These are great with a sunday roast Ingredients: 1 lb Brussels sprout, trimmed (try to get all about the same size) 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil 1/4 cup agave nectar (or honey) 2 tablespoons prepared stone ground mustard 2 tablespoons minced garlic 1 lemon, juice of (optional) Directions: 1 Preheat oven to 350째F.

2 Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment or aluminum foil.

3 In a mixing bowl, whisk together olive oil, agave, mustard and garlic.

4 Put brussel sprouts in bowl and toss to coat.

5 Spread evenly on baking sheet in a single layer.

6 Bake, uncovered, for 30 minutes, until tender.

7 Place on a platter and squeeze lemon juice over to taste, if desired.

8 Enjoy!

Food and Drink

Ingredients: 1 boneless pork loin roast (2 to 3 pounds) 1 medium onion, coarsely chopped 2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1/4-inch cubes 1 celery rib, cut into 1/4-inch cubes 1 garlic clove, peeled and crushed bouquet garni (3 sprigs parsley, 1 sprig thyme, 1 large bay leaf) 6 juniper berries salt and pepper 2 -3 cups full-bodied red wine (Burgundy or Merlot) 1 tablespoon raspberry or other fruity red wine vinegar 4 tablespoons vegetable oil 1/2 cup cognac 1 -2 tablespoon red currant jelly 1 -2 teaspoon potato starch Directions: 1 One to two days before, place the meat, onion, carrots, celery, garlic, bouquet garni, juniper berries and salt and pepper in a large glass or earthenware bowl. Pour in enough red wine to just cover the meat, then add the vinegar. Cover with plastic wrap, then refrigerate, the longer the better.

2 Remove meat from marinade and pat dry.

Heat 2 tablespoons of butter and the oil in a

large Dutch oven over high heat until hot but not smoking. Reduce heat to medium, add the meat, and brown on all sides, about 15 minutes. Off the heat, flambé the roast with the Cognac. (To flambé: heat alcohol in saucepan, then remove from burner. Have lid at the ready, just in case. Stand back, and ignite liquid with long match. Pour flaming alcohol over meat.).

3 Add the marinade, and all the ingredients in it. Simmer, partially covered, over low heat until the meat is tender, about one hour. Transfer meat to a cutting board, and let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.

4 Strain the cooking liquids through a sieve, reserving the vegetables. Discard garni.

Return the the liquid to the Dutch oven, and boil, uncovered, over high heat to reduce by one third, about 5 to 7 minutes.

5 Finish the sauce: Purée the vegetables and cooking liquid in a blender to a smooth consistency. It should be a thick, fullflavored sauce. Return to the pan and reheat it. Add the red currant jelly and whisk until well blended. If the sauce seems thin, add a little potato starch dissolved in 1 tablespoon water or wine. Whisk in the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Do not boil.

6 Slice the meat, and arrange on a platter.

Spoon some of the sauce over the sliced meat, and pass the rest in a sauceboat.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup flour, unsifted 1/2 cup almonds, very finely chopped 1/4 cup dark corn syrup 1/4 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed 1/4 cup butter 2 ounces semisweet chocolate, melted (two 1oz squares)

T

his is our favourite type of waffles. They normally are eaten hot, but the leftovers are very good cold as well.

Ingredients: 1/2 liter milk 8 eggs, separated 250 g butter 150 g sugar 500 g flour 1 pinch salt

Directions: 1 Mix together flour, egg yolks, sugar, salt and the milk until you obtain a dough without lumps.

2 Add the melted butter and the whipped egg whites.

3 Bake in a hot waffle iron. You only need to grease it for the first waffle if you're using an non-stick waffle iron.

4 Serve hot with some powdered sugar on top.

Directions: 1 Stir together flour and nuts.

In a 1-quart saucepan, stir together next 3 ingredients. Stirring constantly, bring to boil over medium heat.

Remove. Stir in flour mixture until well blended.

2 Drop by slightly rounded teaspoonfuls in oval shape 3" apart onto foil-lined cookie sheet.

Spread evenly with rubber spatula to 1/2" by 1 1/2" oval.

3 Bake at 350°F 4-5 minutes or until golden brown.

Cool completely on foil on rack.

Peel foil from cookies.

4 Place cookies, 1 at a time, top side down on cookie sheet.

Return to oven 1 to 2 minutes or until soft.

5 Roll into cylinder shape starting on long side.

Cool on rack.

6 Spread 1 end of each cookie with melted chocolate. Allow chocolate to set or eat it as-is.

7 May be stored in tightly covered container up to 1 week.

Heating

The benefits of a stove S

ystemising your fireplace with an enclosed stove simply makes sense. They are three times more efficient than an open fire, and operate at 80%-plus performance, according to most manufacturers. Fuelled by wood, briquettes, pellets, bituminous or anthracitic coal, a stove is cleaner, harnesses more heat and is

relatively safe to leave alight overnight. It can also heat the entire house if you include a boiler, so let’s go over the basics before you get overheated by their sheer good looks on the showroom floor.

The haunting flame and delicious scent delivered by wood is impossible to replicate. Wood is a

renewable resource, making wood burners the sustainable choice for radiant heat. A dedicated wood stove might seem exacting but if you have a steady supply it will squeeze marginally more kWs out of the timber than a multi-fuel model, burning it directly on a bed of ash 2550mm deep.

Securing and storing seasoned logs becomes a preoccupation for the devotee. Erratically purchasing logs in small bundles from local shops will winkle up those fuel bills, but in rural areas, prices for split logs can be keen.

MULTI-FUEL MAGIC Being able to choose your fuel according to supply is an undeniable advantage. Using a grate ventilated from below, multi-fuel stoves burn not only coal and anthracite, but can also handle wood, briquettes and compressed eco-logs. With a cast-iron build, these stoves are modern icons of design and performance. Bulk fuel supply is the most economical approach. Compared to carbon-neutral wood, fossil fuels contribute the CO2 burden in the atmosphere.

QUARTER THE RUNNING COST OF OIL/GAS HALF THE RUNNING COST OF SOLID FUEL FUTURE PROTECTION AGAINST RISING FUEL PRICES FUTURE PROTECTION AGAINST RISING CARBON TAXES • Works with your radiators • Clean and convenient • Efficient and economical • Low maintenance • No yearly service • Lifetime bonded guarantee available SYSTEM COST FROM €27 PER WEEk FUEL COST SAVING FROM €30 PER WEEK

SAVE MONEY FROM DAY ONE 085-7272270 FREEENERGY LTD 046-9733793

BACK BOILERS Many stoves act purely as space heaters, but you don’t have to stop there.

Back boilers are a godsend as a primary source of domestic water and central heating or as a means to supplement a conventional oil or gas fed system.

One approach is to split the heating between areas handled by the stove’s heating system and that fed by the oil or gas boiler. For occasional spaces, a stove without boiler is often enough with doors propped open to distribute heat to adjoining spaces.

Back boilers work on both inserts and free-standing stoves. The amount of energy you can extract from a quantity of fuel is not limitless, and the performance of a stove featuring a boiler will be split between the energy drawn down into water heating and the kWs thrown out into the room. If the stove is too small, and the area draughty, the drop in kilowatts as water is whisked away from the integral boiler will lead to a perceptible fall in temperature in the room.

North Leinster Windows and Doors

N

orth Leinster Windows And Doors Was Founded In November 2013, But Its Foundation Is Based On The Long Existing “Richi Specialist” Company, Well Known To Many Leinster/North County Dublin Clients.

The Company Offers Sale And Installation Of Windows - Interior & Exterior Doors - "Fakro" Roof Windows – Canopies And Many More !

North Leinster Windows And Doors Supply Renovation Companies, Building Companies And Individual Clients. They Also Offer A Full Renovation And Building Service.

They Can Also Help And Advise On Your Choice Of Renovation/Building Materials. Appartment/House And Elevation Painting “North Leinster Widows And Doors” Company Co-Operate With Various Companies Offering The Following: Electrical Services - Plumbing Gardening - Alarm Systems - System Shutters For Windows External And Inrernal North Leinster Windows And Doors Company Can Guarantee The High Quality Of Products, High Quality Of Labour, Total Professionalism And The Work Done On Time!!! If You Are Interested In Any Of Our Products Or Services, Please Do Not Hesitate To Contact Them On 083 333 97 47 / 01 841 4341

Heating

Eco Heat Therm

E The Fuel Depot, Allenwood, Co Kildare Paul: 0868864447 • Email:paulcarroll007@gmail.com We have turf for sale that is machine cut from the Bog of Allen and is processed locally to support local employment.

Our grade A firewood for sale is seasoned and has a high calorific value which ensures a longer, warmer, more efficient burning.

We sell by exact volume so our customer can tell exactly how much they use down to the cube.

Bulk Bag of Premium Hardwood €95.00 Bulk Bag of Quality Turf €85.00 Bulk Bag of Softwood €85.00

co Heat Therm is a 100% Irish owned and run company. Owner, Clinton McCormack, works with his team of skilled employees installing External Wall Installation (EWI) systems in the leinster area. Eco have been successfully installing EWI Systems around the Leinster area since 2010. There are 3 main types of Insulation boards used in EWI systems. All 3 are mechanically and adhesively fixed. PAREX ATLAS – AVAL POWERWALL Grants Eco Heat Therm can assist you in getting a grant. SEAI Better Energy Homes grant approval which is now available in Ireland. So why not avail of this great opportunity to upgrade your house.

What is External Insulation At the level of the damp proof coursing (DPC) inside the wall they start by fitting a starter board. This will be the level starting line for building up the insulation as well as a drainage adjunct to the DPC. As the project progresses they install Extruded Polystyrene insulation below the starter track and your choice of insulation above the starter track. Extruded Polystyrene has excellent hydrophobic properties in standing water and so is idea for ground level areas.

Removing an existing window cill as part of an External Insulation project in RathminesWindow refitted flush with the old facade as part of an Ex-

ternal Insulation project Traditional concrete window sills are simply thermal bridges permitting heat to flow from the home. We normally remove and replace them. By cutting the window sills back so they are flush with the existing wall we can bring the new insulation right up to the window ledge.

Eco Heat Therm attach the specified insulation (Parex / Atlas - Aval / Powerwall) to the clean and dry wall using a chemical adhesive initially.

Careful monitoring and adjustment to the amounts of adhesive permits them to correct any alignments flaws in the old wall. EPS Insulation with adhesive ready to be applied to a wall If there is a very heavy and uneven finish it can be smoothed out before the project starts Once the insulation is attached to the walls the house will start to warm up as the block work absorbs and retains heat. During the winter this protects the interior from cold and in summer from excessive heat. It saves money on maintenance costs and increases the life of the home, helping to protect from wear and damage.

Eco Heat Therm also do internal insulation and attic insulation and full details on what these entail can be found on www.externalinsulations.com Eco Heat Therm will drop up to your property and give a full site review and supply you with a quote and grant advice – please contact them on 01 2760124 / 086 374 9241

Tel: 086-3749241 / 01-2760124

info@external-insulations.com • www.external-insulations.com

External Insulation • Internal Insulation • Attic Insulation • Windows & Doors

SAVE YOURSELF MONEY!

UP TO 50% ON HEATING BILLS!

GET EXTERNAL WALL INSULATION FROM ECO THERM TODAY...

Eco Heat Therm can assist you in getting a grant. SEAI Better Energy Homes grant approval which is now available in Ireland.

So why not avail of this great opportunity to upgrade your house.

SERVING ALL LEINSTER AREAS • DUBLIN • WICKLOW Page 35 Mature Living

Heating FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FREE HEAT FireMaster: Multi Fuel burners are manufactured in Cork by N.Blair Engineering Ltd. They are capable of heating domestic properties, central heating systems, workshops, milking parlours, etc.

Multi Fuel Burners We are currently manufacturing 3 models: • Basic model (no boiler), ideal for heating a workshop or garage. €648 ex VAT, €782 inc VAT • Standard Model (28.5 Litre Boiler Capacity) €1400 ex VAT, €1722 inc VAT • Large Model (88.5 litre Boiler Capacity) €1700 ec VAT, €2091 inc VAT

FireMaster: Can be connected to exisitng central heating systems.

Their design enables them to burn larger pieces of timber as they can accomodate logs upto 3 feet in length.

FireMaster: gives outstanding performance using old pallets, turf, forestry by-products, straw, reject grain, oats etc. All models are made from carbon steel plate and are refactory lined front and back.

• Automatic Dampers • Easy to install

To See FireMaster in action visit our website www.nblaireengineering.com Or contact Noel Blair 086-8055816 • Nationwide Delivery

We offer comprehensive selection of services to the Commercial and Residential sectors. Providing variety of different trades we are committing to the company mission - that we like what we are doing and the quality of our services are as much important as the relationships that we build with our clients-that are more than happy to recommend us.

• Property Maintenance Programs • Plumbing / Electrical • Fit-Outs •Full Refurbishments • Painting / Decorating Tilling •Wooden Flooring • Carpet Fitting • Furniture Supply / Assembly • Furniture Clearance • Handyman Services • Locksmiths • Window / Door Repair • Attic Isolation

Telephone: 083-3339747 / 01-8414341 www.northleinsterwindowsanddoors.com

Multi Ireland Limited Modern and Efficient Home Heating Solutions

SAVE €1000’S ON YOUR HOME HEATING BILLS! Multi-Fuel & Solid Fuel Boilers • Modern and Ecological Boilers • Certainty Welded Connections • High-eddiciency heat exchanger • Optimal Fuel Consumption • Comfort of operating and safety • Suitable for domestic or commercial use • Adjustable off control combustion

No more massive home heating oil bills Turf, Wood and Coal can be used as fuel Stores excess heat

Optional heat Outputs from 12.5 kW - 275 kW • Warranty up to 5 Years • Cut heating costs by 50%

Sales Agents all around Ireland

Call Francis: 085-2101216 - Call James: 086-2585853 email us: sasboilersireland@gmail.com • www.facebook.com/multiireland

Advertising Feature - Rory McDyer Travel

Travel for the Trendsetters of the 20th Century”

“...years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover” - Mark Twain

S

o you’ve managed at last to slough off the gruelling business schedules, endless meetings and Monday morning blues to enjoy the freedom of early retirement! Not only that, but your family has grown up and is not as dependent as

before. This increase in leisure time and decrease in work and family commitments means that the over 50s now have time to travel more frequently, fulfill their dreams and explore their long term travel wish-list.

Groups, couples or individuals:

visit our comfortable, welcoming office to discuss your requirements with welltrained staff members who have your best interests at heart. Endless opportunities are opening up to maximise your enjoyment of life and still keep within your budget.

RORY MC DYER TRAVEL, with almost 25 years’ experience, has been at the forefront of travel agents looking after you: the Trendsetters of the 20th Century, to help you have the time of your life! From budget bargains to posh-and-pampered;

from active to easypace; we have a holiday to tick all the boxes.

Costa del Sol offers Over 50s government-subsidised, 4* bargain 1-week, halfboard packages (wine/water included,) October-May, from €419 per person sharing.

Flights, taxes, one 10kg carryon cabin bag, and accommodation, as described, included! You have a choice of hotels with good amenities, well-located and close to a beach. Great possibilities for healthy walks or, we can offer local, hired mobility scooters, at a reasonable rate, for those with walking difficulties.

Choose excursions to picturesque places such as Granada, Cordoba, Seville, Ronda, Gibraltar, Nerja and Tangier from our wonderful local agent at a reasonable price.

If “a life on the ocean wave” is what you dream of, we have an endless supply of cruises right through the pricespectrum. We will find the right cruise to suit your budget. We also have a fine selection of classic river cruises to whet

your appetite. All the organising is done for you and all you have to do is be there, relax and participate as you choose!

We also have a plethora of escorted tours (in Europe and also in far-flung, exotic areas) and city breaks where you are accompanied by a helpful guide, so all you have to do is sit back and relax from arrival at your destination to departure. These packages are all tried and tested and we are happy to recommend them, both for their quality and content.

What about visiting relatives/long-lost friends in Australia, New Zealand, the Americas North and South or Canada, now that you have the time to spend?..... or just go to these exciting destinations, with their awe-inspiring physical features and dynamic, legendary cities, for the sheer heck of it! We can offer you the best airline rates to the destination of your choice, plus internal flights and sightseeing packages, should you require them. It’s well worth consideration!

“We live in a wonderful world that is full of beauty, charm and adventures. There is no end to the adventures we can have if only we seek them with our eyes open” - J. Nehru

Page 38 Mature Living

“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” - St. Augustine We also have Round the World fares to take in all the exotic regions you only read about in the past! Special places to see...special memories to gather.

Leaving sun, sand and sea aside, some of you may have harboured dreams of winter magic. To this end we can offer visits to the ICEHOTEL in Sweden (a hotel made of ice and snow!) and packages In Search of the Northern Lights in Norway! We will help you choose the dates during which you are most likely

to see the Northern Lights but, as they are a natural phenomenon and depend on specific weather and atmospheric conditions, we can never guarantee their appearance. ICELAND is another fascinating destination...imagine the Blue Lagoon, hot springs and breathtaking scenery! There are several charter packages of which you can avail with a group leader to look after you.

Scandinavia offers a wealth of breathtaking scenery and healthy living to the over 50s. We have

escorted coach tours, fly-cruises and city breaks, packages to include the Fjords of Norway, all only limited by your imagination!

Whatever you want to include, discuss it with us and we will do everything we can to give you the exact package you want.

Closer to home, we have more spiritually oriented destinations, should you wish to visit. Lourdes, Fatima, Camino Walks, Medjugorje, Rome: we can link you up with a package to suit your requirements.

The wonders and warmth of Italy are also worth considering: Lakes Como, Garda and Maggiore, Sorrento, Lido di Jesolo, to name but a few. Good food, great historical places to explore: Rome, Pompeii, Assisi, Florence, Venice, Milan ... the list is endless. There is so much of interest in Italy, not just the wonderful food and wine!

So, call us at 01-8335100. Visit us at 49 Clontarf Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3, from 09h00 to 17h30 Monday to Friday inclusive (closed for lunch 13h00-14h00 daily), or by appointment on Saturday mornings. Check out our website www.rorymcdyertravel.ie .... and above all remember: “The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page” - St. Augustine An example of an itinerary for FATIMA. Aer Lingus return flights.

Return airport transfers to ESTOIRL. 4 Nights 4 STAR Hotel Estoril B&B Day one transfer to hotel.

Day Two take train to Lisbon City and explore the city.

Day three collection from Hotel and DAY TRIP to FATIMA. Day four at leisure and explore CASCAIS next to ESTORIL ON THE Lisbon coast.

Day five Transfer to Airport for flight home.

This trip can be extended extra nights if required.

Page 39 Mature Living

Feature Editorial

Life-saving health tests you should take lose up to 30 percent of their bone mass within 5 to 7 years following menopause. So get tested at menopause. Men can do the test at the age of 60 or when their physician advises it.

Currently the most widely used technique for measuring bone mass is DEXA (Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry). The person lies on a flat padded table and remains motionless while the “arm” of the instrument passes over the whole body or over selected areas. While the measurement is performed, a beam of low-dose x-rays from below the table passes through the area being measured. The machine converts the information received by the detector into an image of the skeleton and analyzes the quantity of bone contained in the skeleton.

H

ealth often takes a back seat in our fast paced, multi-tasking lives chasing wealth and happiness. And as Elbert Hubbard said ‘If you have health, you probably will be happy, and if you have health and happiness, you have all the wealth you need’. Most fatal health problems including cancer and heart disease can be prevented if they can be identified in their early stages.

Here are ten very important health tests that could save your life.

1. Heart Health Test – Get this test done to ensure that you are not at risk for heart disease.

You can start yearly check ups as early as 20 years of age but it is a must if you are 45 years old or older, you have a family history of heart disease including high blood pressure, or if you smoke. In this routine exam your doctor will check your blood pressure, and if it is higher than 130/90, you may be developing hypertension. Your doctor will listen to your heart for murmurs or irregular heartbeats and in case of abnormalities, order a stress test and an electrocardiogram to evaluate for heart disease.

2. Cholesterol Test – Lipid profiling (checking cholesterol levels in your body) is another test for detecting heart disease risk. The test measures ‘bad’ LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, ‘good’ HDL (highdensity lipoprotein) cholesterol, and triglycerides. If your total cholesterol is over 200, your HDL is less than 40, or your LDL

Page 40 Mature Living

is over 130, you are at risk for heart disease. In that case, your doctor may also test your apoB levels to measure fat particles in the blood. Elevated cholesterol levels are also high risk for gall bladder disease.

Start the tests when you are 20 and if the results are negative, get checked again after 5 years.

If you have a family history of heart disease, get the tests done yearly.

3. Diabetes – Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test is a blood test generally done to check your average blood sugar level for the past two to three months. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates that you have diabetes. The doctor may further order random blood sugar test or fasting blood sugar test. A reading of 200 mg/dL or higher for random blood sugar test and a reading of 126 mg/dL or higher for fasting blood sugar test indicates diabetes.

Get tested for diabetes if you are older than 45 years, you have a BMI of 25 or higher, you have high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, have heart disease yourself or family history of diabetes. You may also need to get tested for diabetes if you delivered a 9 pound or heavier baby, or had gestational diabetes or you have a history of polycystic ovarian syndrome.

4. Bone Mineral Density Test – You need to do this orthopedic test to find out if you are at risk for osteoporosis, especially if you are a woman. Women can

5. Breast Cancer Screening – Mammogram (a type of X-ray) is the screening test for breast cancer. Get a mammogram done every year once you turn forty.

It is best to schedule your mammogram right after your period when the breasts are least tender. If the mammogram picks up an abnormality, then you may have to undergo a breast ultrasound or maybe a breast MRI. 6. Cervical Cancer Screening – Cervical cancer is the easiest female cancer to prevent. The Pap test and HPV (Human Papillomaviruses) testing are the two screening methods to detect cervical changes leading to cervical cancer. If your Pap test results are unclear, your doctor may want to perform an HPV test. The Pap test is recommended for all women between the ages of 21 and 65 years old. If you are 30 years old or older, ask your doctor if the HPV test is right for you.

The tests are done during a pelvic exam. Your doctor takes

a few cells from your cervix (opening to the womb) and the cells are then checked for cancer. This test takes only a few seconds. Interestingly an Indian study led by Dr Surendra Shastri from theTataMemorialCenterin Mumbai, found a cheaper test to rule out cervical cancer. The test uses sterilized vinegar made from combining acetic acid with water (not the household vinegar stuff). The vinegar is applied to a cotton swab and brushed onto the cervix. After one minute, normal tissue stays the same colour, but cancerous tissue turns white. This screening strategy is however has not yet been implemented.

standard screening procedure for this cancer. This is because most oral cancers have already spread to lymph nodes or other areas by the time they are found. Your dentist or doctor will screen to rule out oral cancer during regular dental check up. They may examine for lesions and abnormal white or red patches in your mouth.

They may also use additional tests if required to identify areas of abnormal cells in your mouth. This is why it is important that you don’t miss out on your dentist appointment. And if you are heavy on tobacco and / or alcohol, then you should certainly consider oral cancer screening.

7. Colonoscopy – This diagnostic test is done to detect colorectal cancer even before the symptoms of the disease occur. This disease is curable in more than 90 per cent of cases if detected at very early stage.

So get your colonoscopy done if you are 50, and earlier if your parent or sibling had the disease. Doctors recommend getting tested 10 years before they were diagnosed, that is, if your parent or sibling was diagnosed with this cancer at the age of 52, you should get the screening done when you are 42. During a colonoscopy, a colonoscope which is a long, flexible instrument about half an inch in diameter is used to view the lining of the colon.

The colonoscope is inserted into the rectum and advanced through the large intestine. If necessary, small amounts of tissue can be removed for analysis (a biopsy) and polyps can be identified and entirely removed. The procedure typically lasts from 30 minutes to 1 hour.

9. Prostate Cancer Screening – There are two tests to screen prostate cancer: - Digital Rectal Exam where the doctor inserts a gloved, lubricated finger into the rectum to estimate the size of the prostate and feel for any lumps or other abnormalities - Prostate specific antigen test (PSA) to measure the level of PSA (a protein produced by the prostate gland) in the blood.

Most doctors consider PSA levels of 4.0 ng/mL or lower to be normal. Higher the PSA level in the blood, the more likely you have a prostate problem.

However, factors such as age and race, certain medical procedures or medications, an enlarged prostate and prostate infection, can affect the PSA levels, so your doctor is the best person to interpret your PSA test results.

Begin PSA screening at the age of 50, but you need to start earlier (40 to 45 years of age) if your father or brother had prostate cancer.

8. Oral Cancer Screening – Unfortunately there is no

10. Eye Tests – An eye test can pick up early signs of conditions including diabetes and glaucoma. Have your eye tested regularly by the age of 40 and every two years hence forth and every 6 to 12 months after the age of 65. Two routine eye tests are tonometry where the inner eye pressure is measured and ophthalmoscopy which examines the shape and colour of the optic nerve. Your ophthalmologist may recommend other tests as well – Perimetry to examine the complete field of vision, Gonioscopy to check the angle in the eye where the iris meets the cornea, and Pachymetry to measure the thickness of the cornea.

Why wait till its too late for you to do anything? Get the life saving tests done and take control of your life.

T

his month Mature Living has teamed up with the Newly renovated 5 star Glenlo Abbey Hotel, to offer one lucky reader a 2 Night Break with Dinner aboard The Orient Express.

To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply answer the question below and send your answer on a postcard, along with your name, address and telephone number to us ar: Glenlo Abbey Competition, Mature Living Connacht, Office 3, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo - alternatively you can email your details and answer to competitions@matureliving.ie

Q: Name the Famous Train from which the Pullman Restaurant Carriages originated.

The Hotel is set on 140 acre estate with a stunning Connemara backdrop, and is loacted just 2 miles from Galway City Centre.

Challenging Lake side 9 hole golf course, Designed by Jeff Howes,is set in one of the West of Ireland’s most scenic locations.

The Glenlo Abbey Hotel offers superb dining the Oak Cellar Bar, and three elegant Receptions Rooms in the Main House which exude Old World Charm, where guests can enjoy a relaxing drink, afternoon tea, or take time out to relax and read the newspapers.

The PULLMAN RESTAURANT

at Glenlo Abbey Hotel is truly unique dining experience, As guests dine ABOARD 2 of the original carriages of THE ORIENT EXPRESS

Terms and Conditions apply - Dinner aboad the Orient Express is Subject to availability - Closing Date 25 November 2014

Call: 091-519600 • info@glenloabbeyhotel.com • www.glenloabbeyhotel.com

DISCOVER FUN AND Welcome to the World of Poker!

F

or years, poker has been a popular hobby with plenty of books, poker supplies, local games, video poker, casino play, and tournaments for fans to enjoy. But over the last few years, the popularity of poker has exploded due primarily to the televised poker tournaments and the emergence of online poker rooms. Poker has a number of unique characteristics that makes it such an enthralling hobby.

Statistics, odds, and incomplete information challenges your decision making skills. Psychology factors in with bluffing, intimidation, decoys and traps. Poker is easy to come up to speed on the basics but yet will keep you learning and challenged for years to come. The pressure and excitement increases when real money betting begins. Small tournament buy ins, give you a shot at winning big money stakes from a small stake. Poker is a social activity with local home games with friends. For the do-ityourself types, equipping your rec room to handle the weekly or monthly poker game will offer you some fun to-do projects.

For the collector, poker offers unique opportunities for collecting vintage poker chips, cards and poker books from over the last hundred or so years.

And for holiday ideas, poker adds nicely to any destination which has casinos or card rooms.

If poker sounds like something you would like to consider, here is our roadmap that we suggest you follow. First, come up to speed on the basics of poker.

Learn the rules, types of play and players, get comfortable with the poker terms, rules and determine if this interests you.

Next, start to play poker either online or against the computer in free games. This will give you the chance to test out what you’ve learned and give you some practical experience.

As you begin to play, you need to continue your education.

There are a number of excellent advanced poker resources to help you to take your poker skills to the next level. Learn, learn, learn, it’s part of the fun and necessary for you to compete, and not lose your money!

Soon, you’ll be ready to test you game against others in casino and tournament poker play. The excitement of sitting down at a table raises the fun to another level. Do your homework first, be prepared, but then the game becomes a blast! You’ll soon crave the poker action on a regular basis and you’ll find yourself organizing a regular

poker game with your friends.

For this you’ll need to outfit yourself with the right poker supplies. Depending on your budget, creativity, and available space at your house, the options are endless for how you can setup a poker room to suit your games.

Now, you’ve got your game improving on a regular basis.

You’re playing online, in tournaments, and in local games with friends. Finally, you may want to turn back to the history of the game and become a collector of poker memorabilia.

Chips, books, cards, and other

Volunteering As A Hobby Have you ever considered helping others as a hobby?

They say in order to help yourself, you should do something to help others. But sometimes you don’t want to commit to a long-term obligation. Your excuses may range from not having extra money to donate, not enough time in your busy life, what with family, jobs, and travel. In some cases illness or age may be holding you from committing

to long-term projects. There are, however, many ways to give back to your community on your own terms, as little or as much, when you are available.

Here are a few suggestions.

Start slowly with these and before you know it, you’ll find yourself doing more and more and loving it. Here are some tips we got from www.findmeahobby.com Go to a local hospital and read to the elderly. Distribute books,

newspapers, and magazines.

Work a few hours in a Food Pantry.

Tutor a child.

Bring your pet to visit at a Nursing Home.

Donate blood.

Help host a meal for the homeless.

Knit or crochet for charities.

There’s always a need for warm blankets, hats and gloves.

Love kids? Be a scout leader, Sunday School teacher, or

aspects of poker history may take on a new light of interest for you.

And finally, you may now find your poker holiday schedule looking to include poker tournaments and casino play as part of the fun. Remember, as with all forms of gambling, poker is only fun when controlled with moderation, so don’t bet the family farm and rely on poker to pay the monthly electric bill!

Somewhere along this path, you’ll hear stories about the guy who won a online poker tournament with €25 buy in. This led to a seat at a major tournament where he placed in

coach. Don’t want to make a full commitment? Volunteer to be an Assistant, filling in only when needed.

Shop for a homebound neighbor.

Save can labels and coupons for local schools trying to purchase school equipment. Every little bit counts and it‘s an easy way to “give” without feeling the pinch.

Make a weekly phone call to check on a sick or elderly neighbor.

the money and is now playing poker for a living.

Yes, that could be you! But, remember that you’ll probably be turning a great fun hobby into a job with its own grind.

Poker is a game of decisions based on incomplete information.

At times it is a game based on mathematical odds, pot odds and risk vs reward. At other times its a game of psychological warfare where you must dominate the table and intimidate your opponents with aggressive play.

Understanding and mastering the subtleties make this simple card game a lifetime passion for many.

Bake a cake for a local Bake Sale.

Still not sure how you can help?

Try volunteermatch.org, a nonprofit organization that matches people with opportunities in their area. Just enter your zip code and find out who needs a helping hand.

Did you Know?

The 4th Saturday in October is Make a Difference Day, a national day of helping others.

Yoga Fitness Yoga Fitness is a bright, uplifting place, with a caring, relaxed and fun atmosphere.

It’s exceptionally well equipped and is in a great location right in the centre of Dun Laoghaire Feel and look healthy and confident Learn how to relax and release stress Yoga - Pilates - Zumba •Yoga for Men- Body Toning • Yoga for Sports and Runners • Yoga for Active Retirement • Restorative Yoga (stretch and relax) Pregnancy Yoga • Join today and receive an instructional DVD for free!

79 Georges St. Lower, Dun Laoghaire • Tel: 085-7637981 info@yogafitness.ie - See more at www.yogafitness.ie

Call for a golf lesson today with Brendan McDaid in Dublin on 087 243 6805 or email info@brendanmcdaidgolf.com www.brendanmcdaidgolf.com

EXCITING HOBBIES

How is Beer Made?

B

eer dates back to the earliest recorded times. It is an alcoholic beverage where sugars from barley, wheat, other grains or rice is used to produce sugars which combined with yeast ferment to produce alcohol. Flavoured with different hops and variations in brewing techniques, beer is as unique and distinctive a beverage as any.

Beer enthusiasts can enjoy and participate in the process through Home Brewing.

Most beers are made from malted barley. Barley is a type of grain which is then soaked in water allowing it to begin to

germinate. It is then quickly dried out producing malt which can then be crushed and mixed providing beer with its distinctive flavour.

Other grains such as wheat and rye as well as rice can be used with each having a unique flavour. Hops are used for flavoring, often adding a bitter taste.

Yeast, when mixed with the natural sugars from the malted barley, causes fermentation which produces alcohol.

Different types of yeasts produce different types of beer. Dark, stout beers often use yeast that

floats to the top and forms a thick layer on top of the beer.

Whereas certain lagers are produced using a yeast which ferments at lower temperatures and settles to the bottom.

Water is the final, and many times, critical ingredient.

Beer Types and Terms Ale: Usually a dark gold to reddish in color, more fruity flavored, beer made from topfermenting yeasts which is yeast rises to the top of the beer vats during fermentation.

Draught Beer: Any beer served from a keg. Usually contains less carbonation than bottled beer so it tastes slightly different and usually has more flavour.

Dry Beer: Usually golden in color, this beer has little or no after taste since most of the sugars are converted into alcohol during fermentation.

Lager: Most popular type of beer based on using bottomfermenting yeasts where the yeast settles to the bottom.

Light in color and often highly carbonated.

Ice Beers: During the brewing process, the beer is reduced in temperature until the point

Get Hooked on Crocheting I

remember learning to crochet when I was 5 years old. I hadn’t started school yet, so I didn’t know how to print or write, much less how to hold a pencil.

However, holding a crocheting needle came easy – 3 or 4 easy stitches and you’re on your way.

In those days (and we’re going back a

long time ago), doilies were in. Do you remember the pineapple doilies and the popcorn stitch? Every table, couch, and chair was decorated with a doily. From there we advanced to crocheting doll clothes.

Since then, imagination has brought us to a variety of beautiful (and very useful) items. Aside from the relaxation

achieved in the quiet time of crocheting (as we all know, it can be done in front of the TV, long rides on an airplane, train, or bus, waiting in the doctor’s office and I’m sure a conscientious crocheter can think of a dozen other places) we’re now finding a lot of useful ways in which we can share this pleasant hobby.

We’re finding so many people in need of, and appreciative of, handmade items.

Newborn babies in hospitals in need of

Ranald Milne Bridge Classes • For Beginners • For Improvers • For Intermediates • For Masters Telephone: 086 3868480 dublinbridge@iibi.ie (www.iibi.ie/dublinbridge

where it begins to crystalize in ice. These ice crystals are then removed, thereby removing extra water, leaving behind a higher alcohol level.

Malt: By-product of grains after first soaking them in water starting the germination process, then drying out producing a powdery substance.

Mash in: Mixing malt with water, then raising it to boiling tempertures begins to turn the starches into sugars that will be used in fermentation.

Stout: Dark beers usually from roasted malts.

blankets and caps Chemo patients in need of hats The elderly in nursing homes in need of warm afghans for cold nights Gloves, scarves and hats for the homeless Crocheted Teddy Bears, Smiley Faces, and Angels for a child in need of a toy If you want to put your hobby to good use, check out a really great web site called Crochet N More. You’ll find worthwhile organizations across the country. Good Luck and Have Fun!

The Bands of our Showband Era Memories

T

here were hundreds of them. Irish bands of every size, description and musical genre travelling the roads and borheens of Ireland. They travelled the length and breadth of the country from the 1950's through the mid 1980's.

Although "officially" the term showband was coined in the late fifties and was used to describe bands that played a wide variety of music and usually included a "show"

during the night, the term was gradually applied to all the bands that played in the 1960's. As the Irish music scene splintered in the late sixties into pop, country bands, the term was dropped but we still find it the best overall description of the bands of the "ballroom" era.

In the early days, they travelled in whatever they could find...bread vans, hearses, and even cars (roof racks and all). In later years, many (if not most) of them travelled in converted Ford Transit vans (like the one pictured right) that were normally used for delivery services. After a couple of windows were popped into the

centre panels, a row or two of old airplane seats were installed and the band was ready to travel "in style."

Although style was a matter of opinion...if you're stuck in the back of a van on a cold and rainy winter's night, it may seem like "a long way to Tipperary," but it's even further to Castletownbere, Co. Cork!

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

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

The Magic Band (1974-81) formally Known as the Swallows (1970-74) J

ohnny Carroll started his career in 1958 with the Ballintubber, Roscommon based Pioneer Showband (so named because all of the band were non drinking Pioneers). They soon changed their name to The Premier Aces and became one of the best known bands in rural Ireland. In 1969, the Aces called it quits.

At that time Johnny, Jimmy O'Neill and Sonny Ward decided to form their own band. They approached Glenamaddy's music mogul, Joe O'Neill (Jimmy's brother), to help finance the band and Joe agreed. The first lead singer the band had was Jim Nash, a 6'2" country crooner from Tipperary. They released a record, Just Between You and Me, and hit the road.

Page 44 Mature Living

Article and Photos courtesy of Gerry Gallagher www.irish-showbands.com However, Jim didn't last long with the band and they soon needed a new lead vocalist and Joe suggested local cabaret singer, Margaret Murphy and Murphy and The Swallows was born.

During the early 70's, the Swallows did very well on the growing country circuit.

Still not satisfied, Jimmy and Johnny started over yet again and switched from country to pop in 1974.

The first hint of the new band's existence came on August 22, 1974 when a couple of small adverts which simply said "Magic" appeared on page 30 of Spotlight magazine.

The following week, the magazine was peppered with three images of the new lead singer, Kevin "Magic" Walsh. A week later, eight adverts announced "Magic Are Coming." Finally in the September 12th issue, the magazine sported a half page advert for the band's first single, "Calendar Girl" which had been recorded before the band was even ready to perform.

The band brought together musicians from all around the country including Joe Bernie (Leaders Showband and Swingtime Aces) from Castlebar on sax, Gerry Gallagher (Ritchie Fitzgerald Ceili Band and Sandy Duskey's Easy Listenin) from Sligo on guitar, Frank Clancy (Stylos Showband and Gerry and the Ohio) originally from Sligo but living in Tuam, on keyboards, John McKenna (Silver Pennies) from Kingscourt on bass and Kevin Walsh, younger brother of the Nevada's Willie Walsh from Drogheda on vocals.

Mickey Belton, drummer with The

Swallows, and Johnny himself were the only musicians kept from the old band. At this point Jimmy O'Neill retired from performing, but stayed with the band as their road manager.

The band came together in the Fall of 1974 and released their first record, Neil Sedaka's Calendar Girl, which became a hit and reached number four on the Irish Charts. The Magic idea was thought up by Johnny and Joe O'Neil, who financed the design of a ÂŁ2,000 "magic" suit, which was actually some 12 volt twinkling lights hook up to a battery back. Magic also employed one of the country's first wireless microphones, allowing him to roam the hall showing up in the most "magical" places during the night, often down in the crowd.

The band did well on the dance circuit serving up a mix of danceable pop as well as classics from the fifties by Sedaka, Fats Domino and Paul Anka among others. The band was featured on RTE's Ken's Club in early 1975 and continued to do well. They released a second single, Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen, another Sedaka classic, which was on the Irish Charts for 7 weeks and reached number 5.

For almost a year, the band remained unchanged, but then the lineup began to change regularly.

The first to leave was John

McKenna, who was replaced by Finny Thomas (RIPCraughwell) on bass, a couple of month later Gerry Gallagher left to return to Sligo and was replaced by Mike Mannion (Glenamaddy) on guitar.

Around 1976, two more original members, Joe Bernie and Frank Clancy left the band.

Frank was replaced by John Murphy on keyboards, but the band did not add a sax player and went to a six piece for the rest of its history. Also in 1976, Finny Thomas left the band and Mike Mannion moved over to bass when they added Gerry Kelly on guitar.

During the mid to late seventies, other musicians came and went including Dean Lane (Castlerea - bass), Padraig Crehan (Athboy - bass), Don Woods (Drumshanbo guitar), Eddie Keating (Portlaoise - guitar), Joe Beggy (guitar) and Gabriel Donohue (Athenry - guitar).

Although the band continued to change its lineup throughout the seventies, the powerhouse vocal style of Magic (a.k.a Kevin Walsh) kept the band growing and moving forward. More chart singles followed including Run Samson

Run (No. 11), Lend A Hand this Christmas (No. 6), and Reaching Out (No. 9).

Finally, in late 1979, after five years on the road, Kevin called it quits and moved to local cabaret in Galway.

In his place, the band drafted Cornelius "Con" Ward, an eighteen year old from Donegal to step in and fill Magic's shoes, which he did admirably. In fact, the singers had quit similar voices. Cornelius had previously played with Geraldine and the Cufflinks from Co. Donegal.

Around 1980/81, the band packed it in. The ballroom scene had finally succumbed to the discos and hotel extensions and Johnny Carroll went on the road as a solo act. As "The Man With The Golden Trumpet," Johnny enjoyed a great deal of success over the next 20 plus years and still performs today.

Kevin Walsh still performs locally around Galway as does Joe Bernie, who released a CD a few years ago.

Frank Clancy runs a company in Tuam.

Gerry Gallagher is still gigging around Sligo and runs the website irish-showbands.com which very kindly supplies these articles to Mature Living. John McKenna is living in his native Kingscourt and performs regularly in the area with his one man show. Mickey Belton continues to be one of Galway's top session drummers and performs regularly on the jazz scene.

Top singles - 1969

1. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - The Lonely Woods of Upton (Dolphin) 2. Joe Dolan - Make Me An Island (Pye) 3. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - The Joys of Love (honey) 4. Real McCoy - Quick Joey Small (Target) 5. Joe Dolan - Teresa (Pye) 6. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - When the Fields Are White With Daisies (Dolphin) 7. Margo & Keynotes - The Road By the River (Target) 8. Muriel Day & Lindsays - Wages of Love (Dolphin) 9. Real McCoy - Many the Memories (Target) 10. Sands - Bubblegum Music (Tribune) 11. Sean Fagan - My Lovely Rose and You (Tribune) 12. Dreams - Casatchock (Dolphin) 13. Larry Cunningham - Pretty Little Girl From Omagh 14. Times - Hitching To Miami (Dolphin) 15. Times - Dozey (Dolphin) 16. Freshmen - Just To See You Smile (Target) 17. Real McCoy - Round the Gum Tree (Target) 18. John McNally - Mary In the Morning (Cbs) 19. Two's Company - Eileen McManus (Honey) 20. Roly Daniels - Angel She Was Love (CBS) 21. Joe McCarthy & Dixies - All Together Now (Honey) 22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Emily (United Artists) 23. Mike Feeney & Virginians - Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder (Dolphin) 24. Tommy Drennan & Monarchs - Come Home Rolling Stone (Columbia) 25. Michael O'Callaghan, Eleanor Nodwell & Big Band Cuando Sali de Cuba (Honey) 26. Red Hurley & Colours - Poor Man's Roses (Target) 27. Smokey Mountain Ramblers - The Little Folk (Dolphin) 28. Tommy Drennan & Monarchs - Where Were You (Columbia) 29. Emeralds - The Golden Jubilee (Release) 30. Martin Codd & Herdsmen - Whisper Your Mother's Name (Release) 31. Larry Cunningham - The El Tigre (Release) 32. Peter Law & Pacific - Ruby (Tribune) 33. Terry Connolly & Trixons - Cinnamon (Release) 34. Art Supple & Victors - The Boys of Kilmichael (Honey) 35. Dreams - Baby I'm Your Man (Dolphin) 36. Nevada - Gimme Gimme Good Lovin' (Target) 37. Don Duggan & Savoy Showband - Under Your Spell Again (Pye) 38. Big Tom & Mainliners - Flowers For Mama (Emerald) 39. Terry Connolly & Trixons - Show Me the Way To St. Louis (Release) 40. Brendan Hutchinson & Navaks - The Lightning Express (Release)

Page 45 Mature Living

10 Myths about Breast Cancer basic precautions such as using a headset instead of holding the phone next to your ear, not carrying your phone next to your skin (e.g. an armband or your bra), and consider texting instead of talking.

MYTH #7: Radiation by mammography causes breast cancer FACT: Research suggests the risk of harm from radiation exposure by mammography is extremely low. In fact, experts say that radiation would need to be delivered to the breast tissue at 100-1000 times higher than the amount used for modern mammography in order to have a statistical increase in breast cancer risk.

I

t’s the top cancer affecting women worldwide, yet there are still common misconceptions about the causes and detection of breast cancer.

From deodorant to underwire bras and radiation, we debunk some prevalent myths. Breast cancer affects about 1 in 7 Irish women during their lifetime, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer. Yet new studies and medical advice reported in the media are often confusing or contradictory. Here, 10 common misconceptions about the causes and detection of breast cancer.

MYTH #1: Antiperspirants or deodorants cause breast cancer FACT: Several studies have looked into a link between antiperspirants or deodorants and breast cancer, and there is still no conclusive evidence that using these products increases risk. However, since some deodorants contain aluminum, avoid wearing it when you go for a mammogram since it could lead to an inaccurate screening result by making cancers and other abnormalities more difficult to detect.

MYTH #2: Abortion and miscarriage cause breast cancer FACT: Studies have shown no association between breast cancer and spontaneous abortion (miscarriage) or

Page 46 Mature Living

induced abortion. These findings are supported by reputable organizations such as the National Cancer Institute (U.S.), Society of Gynecologic Oncologists of Canada and the World Health Organization.

MYTH #3: Breast implants cause breast cancer FACT: Research has shown that having cosmetic breast implants does not increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. Implants do, however, make it harder to see breast tissue and abnormalities on mammogram images. Women with breast implants should continue to have regular mammograms, experts say, but they should make sure to alert the screening facility about having implants when booking the appointment. A technique called implant displacement views can be used to more effectively screen women who have implants.

MYTH #4: Wearing an underwire bra causes breast cancer FACT: Despite a common misconception, wearing an underwire bra — or any other kind of bra — does not raise your risk of breast cancer, researchers say.

MYTH #5: Bruising the breast causes breast cancer FACT: Similarly, science has not shown that bumping or bruising your breast increases risk of breast cancer.

MYTH #6: Mobile phone use causes breast cancer FACT: At this time, there is no clear link between cell phone use and increased risk of breast cancer. In 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer said that radiofrequency fields, such as those from cell phones, might cause cancer — but more research is needed before this is confirmed. If you’re concerned about cell phone use and a potential association with cancer, experts say to take

MYTH #8: Thermography is an effective screening tool for breast cancer FACT: Experts say that thermography is not an effective way of detecting breast cancer. To date, there are no credible studies suggesting that the imaging process can detect breast cancer earlier or indicate a person’s risk of developing the disease. As such, thermography is not recommended by any leading cancer organization or medical authority as a substitute for regular screening mammograms.

MYTH #9: Eating soy increases risk for breast cancer FACT: Soy foods like tofu and miso have not been linked to breast cancer in humans. In fact, research suggests soy may even lower risk. When it comes to soy supplements, however,

more research is needed on how they could affect breast cancer risk since supplements contain much higher isoflavone concentrations than found in food. Health officials say that until we have more information, soy supplements be avoided.

MYTH #10: Men don’t get breast cancer FACT: Men can develop breast cancer, but their risk is very low, with less than 1 per cent of all breast cancer cases occurring in men. Still, many experts are calling for more awareness for male breast cancer, since it is often stigmatized and misdiagnosed, or diagnosed at a later stage.

Be ‘breast aware’ The Breast Cancer Foundation recommends that everyone — women and men alike — to practice what the organization calls being ‘breast aware’. This means checking for any unusual changes on a regular basis — and if you do find a persistent lump or other changes in breast tissue, consult your doctor immediately.

Try not to panic, however; medical experts say that 8 out of 10 breast lumps turn out to benign, and that sometimes people avoid seeking medical care because they fear what they might find.

Earlier detection of breast cancer, along with regular mammograms, advances in screening technology and improved treatments, have led to decrease in breast cancer mortality rates in Sources: World Health Organization and Mayo Clinic

Motoring

Luxury Fleet E

ntrepreneur Stephen Hung has purchased the largest Rolls-Royce Phantom fleet in the world, placing an order for 30 Bespoke Extended Wheelbase Phantoms for his Louis XIII hotel in Macau.

This transaction represents the world’s single largest order of Rolls-Royces ever. Two of the fleet will be the most expensive Rolls-Royce Phantoms ever commissioned.

“Macau is rapidly evolving

into the luxury capital of the world and we are honoured to have the opportunity to add to Macau’s many distinctions, the world’s largest fleet of RollsRoyce Phantoms, including the two most luxurious vehicles Rolls-Royce has ever built. Louis XIII and Rolls-Royce Motor Cars share the same philosophy: to deliver the perfect experience to the world’s most discerning customers,” said Louis XIII Chairman, Stephen Hung.

AWD Volvo V40 Volvo's Drive-E powertrain with a 245hp petrol turbo T5 engine (that was made available earlier this year in the V40) is now being introduced for the V40 Cross Country - with the added capability of AWD. Volvo’s Drive-E powertrain with a 245hp petrol turbo T5 engine (that was made available earlier this year in the V40) is now being introduced for the V40 Cross Country - with the added capability of AWD. “Volvo Cars is continuing to evolve the V40 Cross Country with this powertrain upgrade. The combination of the Drive-E T5 engine with AWD will give adventurous customers the power to explore, and all the control they need to be confident in all road conditions,” says Dr. Peter Mertens, Senior

Vice President Research & Development at Volvo Cars.

With 350nm of torque, the V40 Cross Country delivers power that will please most drivers.

Adding to the car’s refinement and fuel-efficient driveability is the 8-speed automatic gearbox with optional paddles on the steering wheel for manual gear shifting. Irish customers can place orders from January.

“We at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are delighted and honoured that Mr Hung has commissioned Rolls-Royce to provide the largest single order of Phantoms in history.

The Louis XIII fleet of Phantoms promises to be one of most impressive sights ever seen in Macau when they arrive at the Louis XIII hotel in 2016.

Mr Hung’s commission reaffirms Phantom’s pinnacle position as the motor car of choice for

those seeking to experience the finest luxury the world has to offer,” commented Torsten Mueller-Oetvoes, Chief Execu

tive Officer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars. The Phantom fleet will chauffeur the guests of Louis XIII, located on the Cotai Strip in Macau, when it is opened in the first half of 2016.

Extra Fuel Economy Following hot on the heels of the just launched C4 Cactus (€17,795 - €23,845), Citroën is applying its creativity and technology to a new challenge with the C4 Cactus AIRFLOW 2L concept, which will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show.

Following hot on the heels of the just launched C4 Cactus (€17,795 - €23,845), Citroën is applying its creativity and technology to a new challenge with the C4 Cactus AIRFLOW 2L concept, which will be unveiled at the Paris Motor Show. Citroën says the C4 Cactus AIRFLOW 2L is packed with advanced technologies that illustrate the ambition and ability of the brand to develop innovative responses to the

automotive challenges of the present and the future.

With the C4 Cactus AIRFLOW 2L concept, Citroën delivers breakthrough fuel consumption of 2l/100 km (over 141mpg), using an optimised design with a 20% improvement in aerodynamics, lower rolling resistance “tall & narrow” tyres, lighter parts to reduce overall vehicle weight by 100kg and 'Hybrid Air' technology in its PureTech 82 engine, which cuts fuel consumption by 30%.

AIRFLOW 2L lightweight design is achieved using highperformance materials including carbon fibre, aluminium, high-yield steels, composite materials & translucent polycarbonate.

Opel Safety Recall

O

pel Ireland release safety statement find out more

here.

The following is a recall statement from Opel Ireland: Opel Ireland is reaching out to customers of ADAM, Corsa and Corsavan models delivered since May 2014. These vehicles have been manufactured with a steering system part that did not meet specification.

To avoid any risk, these cars should not be driven prior to inspection. In Ireland, 43 ve-

hicles are affected.

Customers will be able to find out if their vehicle is affected by visiting www.opel.com or following the instructions below. If their car is affected, customers can contact their local Opel dealership, details of which can be found at www.opeldealersireland.ie.

Opel puts its customers first, and as this condition concerns their safety, the company is taking immediate action. The company became aware of the

condition during routine quality controls at the vehicle production plant. The company is not aware of any accident or injury related to this condition.

How to check if your vehicle is affected: Your vehicle will have a Vehicle Identification Number located at the lower end of the windscreen or on your Vehicle Registration Certiicate under the vehicle name. Your Vehicle Identification Number will start with ‘W0L’.

For ADAM customers,

your vehicle is only affected if the last 8 digits are between E6077301 – E6113446 F6000001 – F6006544 For Corsa Customers, your vehicle is only affected if the last 8 digits are between: E6071016 – E6118738 E4181031 – E4308122

Opel Ireland concludes by stating: If you vehicle is within this range, please contact your local Opel dealership, details of which are available at www.opeldealerireland.i e. If your vehicle is not within this range, your car is not affected.

Page 47 Mature Living

Mystical Guidance

Agony Angel

with Susan Hughes

W

e all feel stuck on occasion so it is good to get help where we can. Susan Hughes is a spiritual psychic medium and working with her angelic guides and psychic intuitions she can provide guidance and hope. Susan is based in Dublin where she carries out private one to ones. Add Susan Hughes Spiritual Medium on Facebook for information on classes and events or call 087 6771352 if you would like to arrange a private sitting.

SPIRITUAL PATH

Q

Dear Susan, I'm looking to see what lies ahead for me on my spiritual path and my personal life if that's possible,thanks Vivette, Dublin

A

Hi Vivette, This question is actually two but your spiritual and personal life are always entwined so I will look at it with that in mind. It appears to me that you are getting some psychic and spiritual insights but are not quite sure what to do with them.

This is a good time for you to associate with others who have a knowledge of these matters and ask your questions out straight as you are open to receiving new information. However I am also getting that you are in an emotional time at present so it can be hard to tie ends or make sense of things going on and I will say that because of this what you are thinking is happening may not be how your are interpreting which is why it is a good idea to go to a trusted source. Have a look around in your area and see if there are any courses or seminars that you can glean information to assist you on your path. On a deeper personal level I know that you are in a significant time where questions are being asked and answered which lead to doors opening to a future that is more in your control. Please keep a watchful eye on your emotions and try to not get too fiery and do not rush to make decisions that can wait for a few more thoughtful moments.

Colour card:Watermelon is a colour that reminds you to have fun. It also brings gentleness, compassion and a rising of selfesteem and affection. Be happy with who you are and be kind to yourself!

Q A

WILL I EVER FIND PEACE WITHIN MYSELF? Dear Susan, my question is will I ever find peace within myself again? Kate, Cork

Hi Kate, Such a short and simple question that can have a long complicated answer! However I do like to keep things simple and easily understood. Looking at what is causing the ‘non peace’ I see that you are a worrier, worry worry and hey lets worry some more! I often share with others that the best relationship we can build is the one with self and yet so often we neglect it. I hope it makes sense to you that you need to take some time out for this and I want to encourage you strongly to not worry, to not beat yourself up with that long stick you have but to just let life be, by releasing the control you can let great things happen for you. Whatever it is you are doing now needs to change. I see that you are basically (away from those worries) you are an upbeat and peaceful person by nature so it will be interesting for you to look at what bothers you most and let it go. I find meditation often helps with the seeking of personal peace and calmness as it helps us release the worries that to be honest don’t help anything. Years ago as a young novice starting out on my spiritual journey I was given a few words that were a key to my personal peace and these were ‘if you do not go within you will go without’. Kate you absolutely deserve your peace and it is there within waiting for you to go within and touch, live and be it. Colour card: White is such a pure colour and aids the clearing of toxicity around us.

White represents integrity, clarity and understanding and I love that your helpers in spirit world and surrounding you with abundance in this light.and bringing peace to your soul.

Q A

WILL MY RELATIONSHIP GET BETTER? Dear Susan, I am just wondering if my relationship will get better with my partner and if marriage and children are part of my future? Cathy, Balbriggan

Hi Cathy, Your question tells a story without me having to turn a card but I will anyway to see what comes up for you. I can tell you that this relationship needs work but you know what that can be said about all relationships even if they look like they are perfect! I like that I am being shown with diligent work your partnership is extremely enjoyable and rewarding. It would seem that both of you have busy schedules so make a point of taking time out to be a couple and remember why you chose each other. I am being shown that with dedication this is a successful relationship, it can be one that others would like to have. The big point here Cathy if you want this relationship to succeed it will take work but it is work that si well rewarded so I hope you choose it. I feel marriage

plans were there at some stage but dwindled away for some reason but it can be brought back to the table as it needs more discussion, I also feel family life which includes children is already in process and I would say to you that balance is required and a deeper connection through communication with your partner is possible and when that happens I can happily say yes to all your questions, As I was moving away from this question I got a sense that you have been a little under the weather recently and I know that you are not quite out of it yet. When we are feeling weaker than normal all tasks seem enormous but I need you to know that the work you give this relationship is going to be literally a labour of love for you Colour card: As I shuffled these cards I was given the understanding that there is a lot of confusion with you and you are jumping at everything for the quick fix. I love that the colour that came for you is Pink which is the universal colour of unconditional love. You are being assisted in releasing of emotional challenges and permitting the love in your heart to be felt and worked with.

Life is good when we learn the need to release the fear of success and also of failure and then let be what needs to be. Suebh

WILL MY PARTNER GET OVER HIS INSECURITIES

Q A

Dear Susan, I wish to know if my partner will ever get over his insecurities and trust me or if I should just cut all ties once and for all. Siobhan Westmeath

Hi Siobhan, The card that jumped out in reply to this question is all about trust but it shows me that you have the power to make or break this situation. As I feel into this situation I sense that you already your answer and want to see if I get the same thing? I feel this relationship is trapped in the past and neither of you are looking to the future which is not progressive within a relationship, it is like you are both

resigned to things staying this way. However I also see that if you decided to make this work the energy you can bring will alter the energy within you both, I am being shown that you need to start again, bring the romance back and become friends again. It will take courage and commitment but I know you have this.The relationship as it stands show that the energy to maintain does not really exist to be honest so the new updated version must come in, if not it wont have the strength it needs to past into the future.

Colour card for you:Cyan-this colour is all about building your self confidence and strong communication which is very apt in this situation as it can fine tune all communications. It also helps to release stress and brings peace.

Send all your questions into Susan - susan@matureliving.ie

Breakaways Explore Wicklow, Experience Dublin

T

• Afternoon Tea for two on arrival (scone, sandwich, pastry, tea/coffee) • Two nights B&B and 2 course dinner on one evening of your choice • Bottle of House Wine with Dinner • Complimentary morning newspaper • Full use of The Merrill Leisure Club facilities • Concessions for Royal Bingo (one evening) • Bring the grandchildren, up to two children (u12years) share complimentary accommodation.

Complimentary Merrill’s Activity Camp starts July 1st

he Royal Hotel, set in seaside resort of Bray, offers guests the best of both worlds, only a short distance to the heart of Dublin city (30 minutes by DART) and on the border of Wicklow County guests are spoilt for choice with a range of activities, walks and places to visit.

Boasting 128 bedrooms , the hotel offers a choice of standard rooms, the recent addition of over 30 deluxe rooms which are contemporary and spacious in their design & we also have several family rooms to accommodate a family of up to five compliment the make up of our rooms.

The Quinns Bar with its olde world meeting modern day in its décor offers a sumptuous dining with our bar menu and live music every weekend with locally renowned musicians, the Quinns Bar is the perfect place to meet old friends and new.

The Heritage Restaurant serves a selection of carefully chosen Menus to suit all appetites using the finest locally produced ingredients. The Heritage Restaurant is the perfect venue for all occasions from an intimate meal for two to a family celebration.

Our recently refurbished and extended Merrill Leisure Club, exclusive to guests and members comprises of a 14 metre swimming pool, Children’s Pool, Sauna, Jacuzzi. Steam-Room, a fully equipped Gymnasium. The Merrill Beauty Rooms offers special discounts on massage and beauty treatments exclusive to our guests. Merrill’s Activity Camp, which is a complimentary service offers a wide range of activities to children aged 4 years and above.

The camp takes place daily from 10am – 1pm and 6.00pm – 9.00pm each evening, during all school holidays.

Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB

Over 55’s Special Offer 3 B&B + 3 Dinners From

€150pps

4 and 5 Night Breaks also Available

Subject to Availability Available on Selected Dates

Pearse Road, Sligo • Tel: 071 919 0400

www.sligoparkhotel.com • Email: Sligo@leehotels.com

A

warm welcome awaits you at the fourstar Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club, On the outskirts of Sligo Town in the Heart of Yeats’ Country set in quiet parkland and surrounded by some of the most scenic countryside in Ireland ranging from the majestic Benbulben to the gentle waters of Lough Gill. In the heart of Yeats’ country for over 40 years, the Sligo Park Hotel is a well established favourite.

Relax in the spacious lobby; take a stroll into town or venture to the nearby ancient sites including Carrowmore, Slish Wood, Dooney Rock & Knocknarea or an abundance of woodland retreats.

Wherever your interests lie, Sligo is sure to have something to offer.

Stroll along Atlantic shores taking in some stunning scenery. Why not try your hand at pottery, take a walk up Knocknarea mountain or go surfing in Strandhill?

Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa

O

ffering one of the best locations in and around Dublin, Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa has become known as one of the finest hotels in Ireland. The best of both worlds allow you to easily access all that Dublin city centre and surrounding shopping has to offer and yet the tranquillity of Dunboyne Village is on the doorstep.

Seiod Spa has 18 treatment rooms and a luxurious hydrotherapy pool.

The Terrace Lounge is a delightful conservatory area overlooking the magnificent gardens and is a perfect setting to unwind with a pre-dinner drink. The 2AA Rosette Award Winning Restaurant – The Ivy, where the journey through your taste buds takes over and for wine lovers a special treat is in store. Any visit to Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa would be incomplete without a visit to the Sadlier Bar, where locals gather and mingle with guests in a

friendly festive setting.

Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa features 145 oversized modern guest rooms; 2 junior suites featuring separate bedrooms and living room areas and two presidential suites that must be seen to be believed.

Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa – a must visit hotel with great service and stunning facilities.

Visit www.dunboynecastlehotel.com and see the amazing special offers.

After a days exploring, sit back and relax in the jacuzzi before savouring the atmosphere of the Rathanna bar and Garden Terrace and enjoying the creative delights in the Hazelwood Restaurant.

Sligo is surprising !

Breakaways ...With so much to choose from, what better way to spend a day or so than at the beautiful Royal Marine Hotel…

A

short drive along the South East coast will bring you to Dun Laoghaire, where overlooking the bay you will find the Royal Marine Hotel. Steeped in history, and a favorite with the locals, this landmark hotel is an impressive sight on the Dun Laoghaire skyline. A hotel has stood here since 1828. Many celebrities, and even royalty have passed through its doors over the decades. In 2004 this magnificent old building closed for restoration, a painstaking labour of love by the present owners.

Situated in an elevated site on 4 acres overlooking Dublin Bay, the hotel has stunning views that on a clear day stretch as far away as Howth; and yet is still only a short journey from down-town Dublin. The original hotel has been extensively but sympathetically renovated with precise attention to detail.

Discover the Mount Falcon Estate, Ballina

And it is just this same attention to detail, we extend to you as our guest – whether overnight or simply joining us for a drink in our bar or dining in our restaurant.

The large bay windows and high ceilings of the Bay Lounge highlight the grandeur and historic feel that is central to the hotel style. Lavishly furnished it is a comfortable and ideal venue to meet friends and family for coffee, lunch or perhaps to enjoy the age-old tradition of afternoon tea whilst overlooking the gardens, with spectacular views of the harbour. Our resident pianist completes the ambience every Saturday afternoon.

Or perhaps dine in relaxed style in our Dún Bistro where the delights of the Restaurant are matched only by the professional friendly service and stunning views over the harbour. Serving an Early Bird Menu, Table d’hote

and a la Carte Menus.

Try out lively Hardy’s Bar for a local drink (named after the famous actors and world famous partners Laurel & Hardy who stayed in the original Royal Marine Hotel). Food served every day until 10pm. Live music every Saturday night.

The Pier Health Club offers state-of-the-art cardio and resistance equipment, free weight area and a luxury 18 metre swimming pool. We are proud to offer our members a spacious, relaxed and welcoming environment in which to exercise. Or simply retreat into the hushed tranquillity of the sansanaSpa (the only Failté Ireland ‘comprehensive’ spa in Dublin) and choose pampering delights from our extensive treatment menu.

With so much to choose from, what better way to spend a day or so than at the beautifully restored Royal Marine Hotel…

Golden Years at Mount Falcon Estate €239 pp

3 nights Bed & Breakfast with 1 Bistro Dinner €25 Spa Credit (valid towards any 1 Hour Message or Facial) Complimentary use of the Estate Golf Driving Range Complimentary use of our leisure centre with 17m heated pool 100 acres of Estate woodlands, walks & river Moy Connaughts Best Restaurant 2013 (RAI)

T

he fascinating history of one of Irelands finest surviving Anglo Irish grand houses awaits visitors to Mount Falcon Estate outside Ballina in County Mayo. After exploring 100 acres of mature forest and walkways, discover the archaeological remains of a 4,500 year old court tomb. A quick stroll around our 3 acre lake with resident ducks and then a few lengths in the 17 m indoor heated swimming pool, relax in our sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room and build up an appetite for traditional afternoon tea; served in opulent lounges in front of roaring open fires. Mount Falcon……something for everyone.

Transfers to local Bus & Train Station on request 10% discount at Foxford Wollen Mills Mayo on our Door Step

MOUNT FALCON, FOXFORD ROAD, BALLINA, CO. MAYO TEL: 096-74472 • FAX: 096-74473 EMAIL: EVENTS@MOUNTFALCON.COM • WEB: WWW.MOUNTFALCON.COM

Active Breaks at The Villa Rose Boutique Hotel and V-Spa

I

Donegal Golden Breaks

Ballroom Dancing Holiday October 27th - 30th

4 Nights B&B + 4 Evening Meals Dance Tuition & Nightly Dancing to Live Bands

Price €239pps

Contact us for a 50+ Active Breaks Brochure Competitive Group Rates Available

SPECIAL OFFER 3B&B+2Dinners (2-course meals, valid sun-thur) €139pps €159 Single

4 Star, Family Owned, Town Centre hotel

Reservations: 074-9132266

Ballybofey, Co Donegal Email: reservations@villarose.net • www.villarose.ie

t’s time to get those dancing shoes on and head to the Villa Rose Hotel in Ballybofey, County Donegal for their autumn Ballroom Dancing Holiday. This event takes place over four nights from Monday October 27th and is guaranteed to be an unforgettable week. Priced at €239pp and including 4B&B, 4Dinners dance tuition daily and dancing nightly to live bands, the week is finished off with a champagne reception and Gala Ball for all to enjoy.

Experience a relaxing midweek Getaway at the 4 star Donegal hotel with 3 nights B&B and 2 Evening Meals (2-course) for only €139pps from Sunday Thursday this autumn/winter. The Forge bar hosts live music every Sunday & Wednesday Night. Treat yourself to some retail therapy at McElhinneys Department Store where you can avail of 20% off as a Villa Rose Guest.

The Autumn Active Break is back from Sunday September 28th with 2, 3 or 4 nights to choose form and featuring a range of activities during the day and nightly entertainment to take part in during your stay. Enjoy 3 nights B&B, 3 Evening Meals (4-course) and activities & entertainment for only €159pps, (2

Nights €115pp, 4 Nights €189pp).

Set in the heart of Donegal in the busy town of Ballybofey, the Villa Rose is an ideal base to tour around or stay put and relax for the week, they also have competitive group rates available. Call Leona on 00353749132266 today to receive a 50+ Active & Dancing Brochure.

Travel Technology

10 Reasons why almost every internet article is a list B

y now, you’ve probably noticed a growing number of web articles are broken down into bullet points like 10 Ways to Wear an Ascot on a Beach. Not since memes involving cats and Sad Keanu has an Internet trend been so pervasive. Unlike other online trends, however, the “listicle” (List + Article) phenomena is hardly an accident. In fact, as any reader of Cosmopolitan or The 10 Commandments knows, listicles are nothing new. Below, however, are 10 reasons why they’ve soared in popularity of late with no signs of slowing down.

1. Less Strain on the Membrane With the average human attention span seeming to be less than that of a goldfish, readers prefer information in organized “chunks.” That’s one conclusion in a study recently published in the Journal of Consumer Research, noting “the top-10 effect that we demonstrate in these studies is based on the mental tendencies to use categories and to exaggerate the differences between them.” The study also showed lists that end with zeros (e.g., “20 Reasons Why” versus “13 Reasons Why”) are read more.

2. Clickbait Listicles usually come with eyecatching headlines like 27 Politicians Who Resemble Martians that clearly tell us what to expect, encouraging the reader to click. Clicks are the lifeblood of the online publishing business, whether readers finish articles or not. Those headlines, by the way, are not nearly as random as they look. Online publishers like Buzzfeed, Distractify and Upworthy obsessively iterate headlines, using data analytics and testing to see which wording generates the most clicks.

3. Shareability Because of their captivating headlines and easily consumed content, listicles are naturals for sharing. No one will spam their friends with a 3,000word treatise on The Doctrine and Practice of Three-Crop Rotation but 5 Miracle Plants That Offer Immortality is an easy share.

4. Doesn’t Require Sustained Reading Unlike a typical magazine column, a listicle can be “paused.”

In other words, a reader can stop reading anytime and pick up where they left off without

missing a beat. And a bonus: you always know how close or far you are to the end.

5. Empathy Listicles are tailored to resonate on issues specific to the readers. Think 10 Ways to Get Over a Bad Divorce. To that effect, Buzzfeed maintains its Golden Rules of Shareability: “Content should reflect your own identity, not anyone else’s” and “You can be too clever, and focus on IQ instead of EQ.” 6. Curation The best listicles often contain Internet gems, unearthed from the vast wastelands of cyberspace. A perfect example is a recent viral piece on The One Thing You Never Noticed in Back to the Future. While the format isn’t numbered, it’s still very much a listicle with a unique revelation too good to spoil here but worth Googling.

7. A Picture Is Worth a Thousand Clicks Optimized for ADHD web surfers, listicles are often mostly photos. Or even better, animated GIFs. Again, given the shrinking state of the average human attention span, photo

essays are far easier to consume than polysyllabic sentences like this one.

8. Funny Nothing engages readers like LOLZ. As such, headlines like 31 Historical Hotties Who Will Make You Want to Build a Time Machine or 10 Ways to Eat Your Way out of a Broken Heart are hard to resist.

9. Short Studies show under 30 per cent of Internet readers complete an

entire article. While there hasn’t been research on completion rates of listicles, it’s a safe bet they are more likely to be finished than standard articles.

10. Easy for Lazy Writers Just as they are for readers, listicles are easy for writers. If you can’t come up with 10 reasons for the topic at hand, it can easily be nine – as long as it’s funny, short and easy to follow. The YouTube Era in Literature has finally arrived.

Don’t be tricked by online spooks and scams A

long with the ghosts and goblins running around town this month, there are also some spooks lurking online, seeking out ways to spread viruses or part you from your cash or personal information.

Here, 5 tips to keep your computer safe.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and The U.S. Department of Homeland Security have these Halloween-inspired tips that will help you stay safe while you work, play and shop online.

Don’t trust candy from strangers.

Anyone with an internet connection can write and publish anything they want at any time, but that doesn’t make it true.

Never accept any statement or advertisement as fact — instead

do your research. Many online scammers spoof email addresses so they appear to be coming from your bank or online payment service, so be suspicious of anyone asking you to verify account information. (I was nearly fooled by an email that I thought was coming from Paypal, when it turned out to be a fake email address.) Do not give your financial information to anyone over email, and refrain from opening attachments from someone you don’t know.

Don’t be tricked into falling for an offer that is too good to be true.

This happens all the time. You get an email that seems like a great deal but in the end it will still ask you for your credit card information ‘just to cover shipping costs’. The ‘free’ product will then be shipped and

charged to you every month after the first order, at cost – not free at all. There are also those emails and pop-ups that offer incredible prizes like a new iPad just for taking their survey, from rich strangers offering to send you money, or ‘companies’ claiming you won a sweepstakes – they are all after your account information.

These are never legitimate and you should mark them as ‘spam’ or ‘phishing scam’ in your email so your provider can report them and put a stop to the emails. Stay away from pop-ups that advertise free software downloads as well. These are where viruses come from.

Don’t advertise that you’re away from home.

Many email accounts have an ‘Out of Office’ auto-reply system for when employees take

vacation time and are not able to immediately respond to email. It is helpful in the office, but unnecessary on your personal account, and you should always be careful about what the reply says. Do not provide details of where you are or your itinerary. It is best to leave it at the dates you will be unavailable to respond, and when you will be returning. Try to restrict the message so it only replies to those within your organization.

If the away message replies to everyone who emails you, it could increase the amount of spam emails you receive.

Don’t leave “treats”” out in the open.

It is a smart practice to protect your personal data by always locking your computer when you are away from it, using anti-virus software and fire-

walls, installing appropriate software updates and using strong passwords. Hackers and viruses are always scanning for available computers to target, so don’t leave yours vulnerable.

When you are not online it is a good idea to disable your wi-fi connection, turn off your modem or computer, and even disconnect the cables. If there is no way for crooks to find your computer, they can’t break into it.

Don’t throw caution to the wind.

In the event of an equipment malfunction, error or cyber attack, all your information could be lost instantly. Avoid this by always backing up your work.

Regular backups on a simple external hard-drive will ensure you always have access to your files.

Page 51 Mature Living

Puzzles

Answers on page 47

Services Directory Puzzles

E&M Window Systems Unit 3A, Stadium Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15

Telephone: 086-3239679

PVC Back door supplied & fitted

€760

Front & back door supplied & fitted

Come and join us for a Superb Cruise (May to October) and Enjoy a Splendid Meal while you Cruise

Grant information available T: 01-4130556 • ercommunitycare@eircom.net

€1650

• Doors • Windows • Conservatories • Sunrooms • Pvc Fascia & soffit • Guttering

www.emwindowsystems.goldenpages.ie emwindowsystem@gmail.com

Bawnogue Enterprise Centre, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

Medical Alarms From Spring to Autumn the classic Galley Cruiser plies the beautiful and smooth three sister rivers for which the South East of Ireland is famous worldwide. Meanwhile, delicious meals, prepared from fresh local produce by our own chefs, are served aboard.

Call 051 421723 or visit our website www.rivercruises.ie

A1shutters & doors Manufacture & Install all kinds of Garage Doors, Roller Shutters and Industrial Doors

GARAGE DOORS €550 Installed Eric: 01-8497399 • Mob: 087-7654979 Email: a1.shutters@hotmail.ie www.a1shuttersanddoors.ie

The Biggest & Best Value Fireplace Showrooms in Ireland

Save €€€s by calling to us • Fireplaces • Stoves • Gas • Oil • Solid Fuel • Electric • Granite Worktop Specialists

Sligo Road, Enniskillen.

Phone: 048 66 326 327

Working with the Community for the Community

Unit 6, Castlepollard Shopping Centre, Castlepollard, Co.Westmeath Phone:044 966 2721 • Mobile:087 7375221 marius@lakeshorehomestore.com

Large Selection of Rise and Recline Chairs and Orthopaedic Chairs Very Competitive Prices on all products Orthopaedic Chairs available in black or brown

Buy online @ www.lakeshorehomestore.ie FREE DELIVERY ON ALL ORDERS

Emergency Pendants

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke Alarms

Services Directory

Addiction Treatment Centre "Our mission is to provide a dedicated centre of excellence delivering a quality client centred approach with compassion and dignity while respecting the values and beliefs of all our clients"

Fit Radiator Panels & Improve the comfort of your home, and reduce the heating bill up to 30%

Grave Maintenance Service • Headstones • Grave Maintenance • Grave Renova!ons • Wooden Surrounds

nior unt for Se vert o c is d % 25 ith this ad Citizens w

Who can come to the Centre?

Anyone who is concerned about their own or someone else's alcohol, gambling or substance use. A doctor's referral is not necessary

BEFORE

Martin Quinn MIAAAC Accredited Professionally Qualified Counsellor Available for Private Consultations

An Average 4 Bedroom cost approx €300.

Fitting time 2 hours approx

Gulladoo Centre, Cornafest, Co. Leitrim, Telephone: 049-4339605 Mobile: 086-8638842 Email: info@gulladoocentre.com

Energy Saving Systems.

Coolarane, Athenry, Co. Galway • Ph: 091-797131 or 087-4172228 • Email: energysavingsystems@eircom.net

AFTER

It is important to all of us that the final res!ng places of our loved ones are looked a"er and cared for at all !mes. Due to age, distance, lack of !me or transport, you may not be able to keep family graves and their memorials well looked a"er as you would have wanted.

Grave Maintenance Service Ltd. Unit 4b Eklad Park, Malahide Road Ind Estate, Coolock, Dublin 17 Phone: 01-8904466 • Mobile: 087-2261943 Email: info@gmsireland.ie • www.gmsireland.ie Associate Member of Irish Associa!on of Funeral Directors

CHIMNEY FIRE RELINE • REBUILD • REPAIR

National Guild Of Master Craftsmen CALL PAT: 087 250 0636 091 789 836 CALL GABRIEL: 087 226 6236 093 287 75

• All Work Certified • Minimum Disruption • 30 Years Experience • Nationwide Service

info.damchimney@gmail.com

Damaged Chimney Repair Contractors

Axis Business Park, Clara Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Steel Garden Sheds, Garages & Tegkon Custom Steel Buildings

• 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.

I offer you insight in any area of your life from love life to Tel/Fax:family 048-66386338 • dgwindows@btinternet.com finances, life and work.

There is not an area of life where I have not been able to help and give what has often proven to be invaluable insights.

Visit www.dg-upvcwindows.com

Tel. 05793 – 51277

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

MULTIPURPOSE GARDEN SHEDS & GARAGES All the main supports of our garages are constructed of heavy duty box section steel for strength and durability and are hot dipped galvanised for longer Life.

Our Units are built to withstand the harshest weather conditions.The sheeting is hot dipped galvanised and pvc coated to the colour of your choice.

• 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

“You tell us the size you want and we will price on that exact size” Sheds delivered & Erected Nationwide For no extra cost

SPECIAL OFFERS

3M X 3M (10’ X 10’)...............................................€850 2M X 2M (7’ X 7’)...................................................€750 2.5M X 1.8M (8’ X 6’)...................................€450 6M X 9M (20’ X 30’).............................................€3900 CALL US TODAY FOR MORE SPECIALS!

Contact: Ray Lynch Corlis, Castlerea, Co. Roscommon Clare Office " Contact Eugene at the Indoor Market " 085"2188506 Phone: 086"8943034 or 094"9621938 AGENTS REQUIRED

Services Directory

New Curved Stairlifts starting from as little as €4300 plus vat

New Straight Stairlifts from €1499.00 plus vat!

(VAT Fully Refundable)

Expert representatives based all over Ireland operating from our Cork & Dublin offices.

Client assessment and joint surveys with occupational therapists.

• ACCESS LIFTS • STAIR LIFTS • BATHING SOLUTIONS • MOVING & HANDLING Acorn Business Campus, Mahon Ind. Park, Blackrock, Cork

Tel: 021-4614221 Mob: 086 - 8343533

Visit us online @ www.abbeymobility.com

• New & Reconditioned Stair Lifts • Repairs • Servicing • Grant Information T: 01-8390262 / 087 807 9993 E: kevin@ableplus.ie A full Price List for our products / services is available on our web site www.ableplus.ie

• Domes!c Garage Doors • PVC Coated Roller garage Doors • Insulated Sec!onal Garage Doors • Fire Doors • Remote or Manual Auto Gate Systems & Barriers

Tel: 090-6627907

PETITE DUBLIN LADY Likes reading, travel, dancing, walking. Would like to meet a good man for friendship and companionship. Replies with a stamped envelope to box number 1107 at the address below.

BLUE ISLAND Single male mid 50’s, would like to meet single professional lady.

Foreign ladies can reply too!

Replies with a samped envelope to box number 1103 at the address below.

INDEPENDENT DUBLIN LADY (64) Would like to meet an honest, respectable, non smoking gentleman, My interestes are Dancing,

Cooking, gardening and having a good chat with a nice person.

Replies with a stamped envelope to box number 1060 at the usual address.

DUBLIN WOMAN 56 would like to meet a good man for friendship and companionship and fun. I am great company, independent, single, just stuck in rut at present, can you dig me out? If you can just get in touch and we can meet and see. Replies with a box number 1042 at the usual address SLIGO LADY 50 BUT LOOKS 10 YEARS YOUNGER Would like to meet nice, respectable, loving, genuine, honest

FREE DATING* CLASSIFIED

man for fun and dancing and see what happens. Replies with a box number 1023 at the usual address.

SHY SLIGO LADY lakes cinema, concerts and DVDS, Music etc. Would like to hear from a Gent 60+ with similar interests for a friendship maybe leading to a relationship Replies with a box number 998 at the usual address.

SLIGO LADY SEEKING MALE Late 50’s, likes music, dancing, walking and travel. N/S, S/D, profrssional l;ady, loving, caring, and honest. Interested in friendship maybe leading to a relationship. Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 1012 at

the usual address.

GENTLEMAN WIDOWER 54 yrs. Landscape gardener W.L.T.M. female professional, not married. In the northwest for friendship and craic. 6ft 1', blue eyes, hair salt & pepper. Looking for lady 40 -47yrs. Longtime relationship. Replies with a blank stamped envelope to Box number 975 at the usual address.

SLIGO MAN WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM LADIES age 50 years onwards, my age is 55 years, friendship and romance. Replies with a box number 1011 at the usual address.

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:

(MAX 30 WORDS) - *Phone numbers will not be included in these adverts.

ADDRESS: Post the completed form to Mature Living Magazine, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo

TELEPHONE NUMBER: EMAIL:

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 55 Mature Living

Spoiling yourselves or your family?

15% off all below offers for our over 55 guests Call 1800 501 901 or book online using Promo Code ML2014 (When booked by November 30th)