Sligo Now

July 2015 • €2.00 • Issue 33

ISSN 2009-5422

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JULY

Your critical guide to events, culture, attractions and going out in Sligo

T

he countdown is well and truly on to what promises to be one of the the best Fleads to date. Record numbers of visitors will get a taste of what Sligo has to offer the discerning traveller and and receive a genuine warm welcome from the locals. Hopefully the Nestor cup will makes it way here also.

This year, the internationally renowned Blue Raincoat Theatre Company celebrate twenty five years of innovative and progressive practice in county Sligo.

Founded by Niall Henry, John Carty, Fionnuala Gallagher and Malcolm Hamilton, ‘The Raincoats’ as they’re affectionately known, have become one of the cultural jewels in the crown of the North West. Niall Henry tells Kate Winter some of the story so far.

This month Zara McDaid caught up with Sligo native Bernice Guckian to discuss her new venture called ‘Celebrate The Tree’. This exciting new chapter for Bernice allows her to pursue her passion for the ancient art of Pyrography, or ‘Drawing with Fire’. In this interview Zara finds out about her passions, inspirations and what the future holds for her new business ‘Celebrate the tree’.

You won’t find Michael Quirke posting pictures of his work on Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram. Nor will you see a degree in fine art hanging on his wall, advertising his qualifications. Instead, you will find him happily carving wood, most days, in his converted butcher shop on Wine Street, sparing time to chat to anyone who might wander through the door, and delivering some of the finest, most authentic pieces of work available in Ireland today, each with its own unique story. Here, Michael tells his to Sligo Now. Last month saw the launch of The Dare To Be Different Style Awards in conjunction with Bulmers Live at Leopardstown Racecourse. Triona O Donnell caught up with fashion stylist, author and hotelier, Lisa Fitzpatrick at The Beacon Hotel, where they talked style, beauty and summer racing. Lisa has just finished her hugely successful Fashion Fix Roadshow.

Martha Quinn is renowned for her ability in taking a piece of stone and manipulating it into an extreme piece of beauty. Every day, from her purposely built workshop and gallery, situated next door to her beautifully landscaped cottage, you will hear Martha carving out someones story, chipping away at the marble or rock, until she is content that the end result will make happy, the hearts of those it is meant for. This month, local artist Oonagh B.McCann talks to the amazing sculptor, and gets an extremely interesting insight into the path that has gotten her to where she is today.

Also inside this months issue Carolanne Rushe tells us the story of how she came to open Sligo’s premier raw food experience, Sweet Beat Cafe.

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OUT AND ABOUT

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OUT OF THE BLUE This year, the internationally renowned Blue Raincoat Theatre Company celebrate twenty five years of innovative and progressive practice in county Sligo. Niall Henry tells us some of the story so far.

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EATING WELL WHILE EATING OUT with Deborah Sherlock of Proactive Nutrition

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ARTOPIA: by Zara McDaid Celebrate the Tree by Bernice Guckian

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YEATS 150TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

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THE MONTH IN REVIEW

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THE SWEETEST BEAT IN THE STREET Carolanne Rushe tells us the story of how she came to open Sligo’s premier raw food experience, Sweet Beat Cafe.

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THE WOODCARVER You won’t find Michael Quirke posting pictures of his work on Facebook, nor will you see a degree in fine art hanging on his wall, iInstead, you will find him happily carving wood, in his converted butcher shop on Wine Street, sparing time to chat to anyone who might wander through the door...

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WHATS ON IN SLIGO

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CREATIVE HANDS, INSPIRING MINDS Local artist Oonagh B.McCann talks to the amazing sculptor, Martha Quinn.

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ANGELSCOPES with Fiona Faery

44 54 58 60 64 68 70

FROM GARDEN TO TABLE MODAFIX FASHION With Tríona O’Donnell GOOD FOOD AND WINE GUIDE PUBS AND RESTAURANTS HEALTH AND WELLBEING DIRECTORY SERVICES DIRECTORY WINTERS NEW LEAVES

contact us Editor: Seamus Casey seamus@sligonow.ie Design: Stephen Finney steve@sligonow.ie Sales: Alan Gaffney alan@sligonow.ie Sales: Lisa Gilmartin lisa@sligonow.ie

Editorial: Kate Winter Leonie Cornelius Zara McDaid Tríona O’Donnell Muireann O’Connor Deborah Sherlock

Photography: Anna Leask Klaudia Gierak Elish McGowan Aaron Gorman Oonagh McCann

Published by: IBS Publications Limited Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo Tel/Fax: 071-9154538 Web: www.sligonow.ie Email: info@sligonow.ie

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Out of the This year, the internationally renowned Blue Raincoat Theatre Company celebrate twenty five years of innovative and progressive practice in county Sligo. Founded by Niall Henry, John Carty, Fionnuala Gallagher and Malcolm Hamilton, ‘The Raincoats’ as they’re affectionately known, have become one of the cultural jewels in the crown of the North West. Niall Henry tells Kate Winter some of the story so far.

T

hirty five years ago, a group of theatre enthusiasts known as the Sligo Drama Circle came together with some local powers and opened the first official theatre space in the town, The Hawkswell.

According to Niall Henry, artistic director and founding member of the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company, this was a defining moment in the development of the rich cultural environment we now

enjoy here in Sligo.

“You could all of a sudden go somewhere and see theatre coming in from Dublin, which created an atmosphere in the town out of which the Sligo Arts Festival sprung, started by John O’Dea, Malcolm Hamilton, Charlie Kelly and Rory O’Connor. Out of that came the Blue Raincoat Theatre Company and The Model Arts Centre and then from those came Cairde and Tread Softly and many more...

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 8

That’s an amazing example of a small town with an extraordinary arts infrastructure that all started with one amateur theatre company wanting somewhere to perform. That’s their legacy - it became possible for everybody else because of them.”

Today, Blue Raincoat is a highly lauded and accomplished theatre company, both in Ireland and internationally.

Niall Henry

Working from their own performance space, The Factory, a 100 seat, multipurpose venue developed from a derelict 1800s dockland warehouse, the group put on an average of four to six professional productions per year locally, as well as touring.

They’re best known for their interest and expertise in experimental theatre, particularly physical and visual forms, but as Niall explains, the company has always strived to explore a variety of styles.

“Finding what we wanted to do and how to do it our way took a number of years... The idea somewhere at the back of our minds was to have our own theatre company, but a theatre company that was able to, over a series of many failings it must be said, develop a capacity to operate in many different styles of theatre.”

With a repertoire which

includes original works by writer-in-residence, Malcolm Hamilton, classics by Synge and Beckett, and an array of others such as Eugene Ionesco and Jocelyn Clarke, all infused with the very unique Blue Raincoat magic, it’s clear that this aim has been achieved in spades. Last year, two groundbreaking outdoor performances made a huge impact on audiences. WB Yeats’ Purgatory was performed atop Knocknarea mountain, with audience members paying no ticket price other than the physical trek up to the cairn, and Cummeen Strand was the location chosen for another Yeats play, On Baile’s Strand.

For the year that’s in it, the Raincoats are putting on three more free outdoor productions of Yeats plays this summer season, on Streedagh Beach, Benbulben and O’Rourke’s Table. In fact, these are just

part of an ambitious and suitably celebratory festival of events put together by them for the Yeats 150 celebrations in Sligo. The A Country Under Wave festival includes talks, exhibitions, readings and one particularly impressive endeavour to perform all 26 of Yeats’ plays in 26 different locations over 2 days. For a company which is well known for the immersive and intense work they do on each and every piece of work they bring to the public, this is a huge undertaking and a marked departure from their usual mode. When questioned on this, Niall is speculative, rather than apprehensive, saying only “We usually do project by project. We’ve never done anything like this before, so it’s going to be interesting...”

With a team of acclaimed actors and creatives around him, most of whom have been a part of Blue Raincoat for

many years, if not since its inception, there is sure to be no doubt in admiring onlooker’s minds that whatever challenges they turn their hands to will be golden.

Audiences have flocked to see plays in The Factory over the years, from the sublime to the ridiculous, the original to the classic, the absurd to the moving. And these audiences contain familiar faces and new enthusiasts in equal measure each time. But Niall has a distinctive outlook on success and failure when it comes to the process of putting on each play.

“There are a lot of ways to fail.

An assessment of success or failure could be if the play is any good and if anyone comes, or it could be the case that it’s a play people like, loads of people come and it’s received well, but it just hasn’t been a good experience for the group...

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 9

If you work well doing the project and you communicate reasonably well with everyone involved, the project will evolve into something that’s a good representation of the work everyone has put in and people can see and appreciate that. That’s a good project... Sometimes the best way to gauge the success of a play is simply to see if everyone is willing to work together again when it’s all over!”

With key members of the ensemble like John Carty and Ciaran McAuley involved since the earliest years, Sandra O’Malley and Joe Hunt for well over a decade and many other exceptional contributors featuring regularly throughout, it seems to the outside eye that by this logic there must have been far more successes than failures. And there are many factors behind that success. Not least of which is the Blue Raincoat’s commitment to the local arts infrastructure, and to helping maintain and grow exciting new and existing projects and plans within that. As Niall says, “One of the advantages of living in a town that’s not

exactly Barcelona is that you can set these things up quite quickly and that you don’t need massive resources to create something and get people interested and get them up and running.”

The Sligo Youth Theatre, Cairde Arts Festival, Jazz Festival and Tread Softly Festival are all among those which have benefitted from the support and collaboration of the company, with the aim to getting them to a state of independence as quickly as possible. The youth theatre here in Sligo garners great acclaim and is one of the true success stories of such projects, with a purpose built performance and rehearsal space of their own within the grounds of The Factory and an assortment of excellent shows already trailing behind them like stardust. Niall is impressed with their achievements, stating that “If we don’t have the best Youth Theatre in the country, we certainly have one of the best. The standard of their shows is astonishing.”

The Cairde Festival, enjoying its twelfth year this year as our own boutique and brilliant arts festival, is another one of Blue

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 10

Raincoat’s early projects. Tara McGowan’s creative baby, Cairde runs in early July and brings an impressive array of music and culture gigs to the venues and streets of Sligo. In Niall’s opinion, this is a hugely important local event, sadly lacking in funding.

“What would be great to see would be Cairde getting proper funding from the local authorities and the Arts Council. It’s an excellent arts festival and it’s doing really well, but it just doesn’t have the funding it deserves. We have such a good arts infrastructure in town, there’s no reason it can’t be better.

Can you imagine if we had a really well funded arts festival?

That would be amazing. It would be the very thing the town needs most.”

Aside from the collaborative projects, the spectacularly innovative productions and the great undertaking of the upcoming theatre festival, The Factory plays host to some world class workshops as part of its Theatre Academy programme too, offering masterclasses in voice and movement with some of the most respected teachers in

Europe.

“One of the great things about living in a city like London or Paris is that you have access to the highest standard of workshops all the time. But it’s the type of thing it’s very hard to get in Ireland, even in Dublin... We bring in the best teachers to the academy.

Who they are is very important - not in the sense of being famous, but what they’re famous for.” Says Niall.

This season Sligo gets to see more of our homegrown, critically acclaimed, Blue Raincoats than ever before.

There are countless performances running throughout June, July and August and the programme is out now. Each and every one of these will be once in a lifetime experiences, because as the man himself explains, “Unlike other art forms, when you do a play, be it good, bad or indifferent, when it’s over it’s gone. Nobody can go and see it any more, it’s completely transient.”

I can’t think of a better reason to track down a copy of the programme and make it your business to catch some of this transient magic while you can.

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A Guide to Milk Alternatives F

or hund reds of years the only type of milk known to us was milk derived from animals be it cows, sheep or goats.

Now there is a huge variety of milks available in the supermarkets with their own nutritional profile, texture and taste. In Ireland our diet relies heavily on dairy products but a lot of us do not tolerate dairy well. The reason for most seeking dairy alternatives is most commonly allergies, food intolerances, lactose intolerance or those following a vegan diet but also many people choose to include these milks in their diet for health reasons and the taste of course. In this month’s column I will give a breakdown of the different milk alternatives available on the shelves.

Soya milk is probably one of the most well known alternatives. It is made from the soybean and comes sweetened and unsweetened and flavoured. It has a similar nutritional profile to cow’s milk and tastes quite similar.

Because it is derived

by Deborah Sherlock

from plant source it is free from dietary cholesterol and is low in saturated fats.

Rice milk is the most hypoallergenic of the milk alternatives.

People with lactose intolerance or casein allergy cannot have dairy, and those with soy or nuts allergies cannot drink soy or almond milk so rice milk is a good option. It is made from brown rice.

Drinking rice milk supplies you with many essential nutrients via the bran and germ of this whole grain. It’s high in carbohydrates and low in protein compared to cow’s milk. Rice milk is also cholesterol free, and therefore it works well for people with dietary restrictions on fat and cholesterol. Rice milk may not be suitable for diabetics as it is high in carbohydrates and may cause a sudden sugar spike therefore cow’s milk or nut milks may be more suitable for diabetics.

Oat milk is made with presoaked oats. It features a mild, slightly sweet taste. Much like these other milk alternatives it is naturally low in dietary cholesterol and saturated fats. It is rich in cholesterol lowering beta glucan and is beneficial for those following a low

cholesterol diet. Oat milk is naturally low in calories.

Nut milks are nut containing milks made out of filtered water nuts and possible flavour additions. Nuts milks have grown in popularity along with the raw food movement. They are a rich protein source and also popular with athletes and those on weightloss programmes . Nut milks are probably the most pleasant tasting of milk alternatives. The most common nut milks are almond and hazelnut milks. They are indisputably nutritious with little or no saturated fat. The calorie content is lower

than cow’s milk and soy milk. There is less calcium than cow’s milk but most are now fortified with calcium.

Nut milks are easier on digestion, cheap, environmental sustainable, taste great and are easy to make.

Here’s a simple almond milk recipe: Almond Milk Recipe Ingredients Raw almonds, 1½ cups Filtered water, 4 cups Soak almonds in water for minimum six to eight hours. Drain the water, and blend the almond with 4 cups of water, until it reaches a milk like consistency. Strain it to remove almond skin and granules. You can store almond milk in an air-tight jar in the fridge

for four to five days. If you want it to be sweeter, then blend in a few soaked dates as well.

There are many alternatives available to us now. These alternatives are a great way to enjoy the versatility of cow’s milk without the dairy proteins involved which are the typical cause of inflammation and allergic reaction. It has never been easier to explore dairy free options. If for any of these reasons you choose to eliminate dairy altogether you need choose an alternative that is fortified with the vitamins and calcium that the body needs.

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ZARA MCDAID

Celebrate the Tree by artist Bernice Guckian “Drawing with fire as nature’s Canvas”…... on a series of themed table number designs for Shells Cafe and Little Shop in Strandhill.

For this project I was given free reign on design and wood choice to express their message, which is very encouraging creatively”.

Where do you work?

“I work from home - my workspace is perfect because it is well ventilated, bright, three meters from the kettle, and has a stunning view of the sea”

T

his month I caught up with Sligo native Bernice Guckian to discuss her new venture called ‘Celebrate The Tree’. This exciting new chapter for Bernice allows her to pursue her passion for the ancient art of Pyrography, or ‘Drawing with Fire’. In this interview I find out about her passions, inspirations and what the future holds for her new business ‘Celebrate the tree’.

Tell us about the medium you work with?

“I burn my images onto salvaged Irish wood using a collection of hot-wire pens.

Each wood canvas is unique and tells its life story through its grain. Some wood is more forgiving than others but this forces you to slow down, relax

and be respectful of the wood. Pyrography is an art form whereby you scorch designs onto a natural surface. It is thought to have first taken shape as cave art, using charred sticks by our early ancestors, and evolved across the ages to the use of modern pyrography machines” explains the artist.

What’s your favorite piece of work that you have created and why?

“This is a tricky question as I love them all, but one of my favorite pieces is a portrait I burned of my daughter on Lime wood. It was a chance to re-learn every detail of her little face.”

What are you working on at the moment?

“I am delighted to be working

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 16

Who inspires you?

“My husband Neil with his positivity and passion for his business (and manages our crew when I am burning late); My family who are ‘Can-Do’ people - I have learned so much from their advice and watching their careers develop; My children who reassure me it’s ‘okay to colour outside the lines’; My wonderful friends who gave me the gentle push I needed to launch, and finally all whose ears I burn when advice is needed”

What is your dream project?

“One where I learn something new but also fine-tune existing skills, one which will surprise not just the audience but myself, one without a deadline and where coffee is handed to me regularly”.

What’s next for ‘Celebrate the Tree’?

“When my current project commitments are complete I plan to build a collection of portraits and landscapes”.

Where can people contact you?

“I can be contacted through my Facebook page ‘Celebrate The Tree’ which is

a blog of my wood-burning adventure. My new website www.celebratethetree.ie and I will also be building an Instagram presence to detail project work.

Do you have any tips or inspiring words for others thinking of launching a creative business?

“Thankfully I still have a lot to learn about this art form - but what I have learned is when pursuing your craft or choosing a project ‘follow your bliss’ - If you love what you do it shows in your work and ultimately keeps you happy”.

What I love about ‘celebrate the tree’ is not only that Bernice is using nature as her canvas but the attention to detail that she puts into every piece of work she makes. I wish Bernice every success with her new business and applaud her for pursuing her passion in life.

Contact Bernice: Email: celebratethetree@gmail.com Website: www.celebratethetree.ie Facebook: Celebrate the Tree

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 17

Terri O'Brien, Keith Higgins and Norrie Kivlehan in The Yeats Memorial Building

Deirdre Kenny and Helena Boland at The Yeats Room in the Sligo Museum

Rob and Lorely Forrester. Lorely won Gold at Bloom and created the Yeats Garden opened by Joanna Lumbly at The Model

Patricia Carolan and Mae McComish in Yeats Memorial Building Exhibition who travelled on the Yeats Carriage from Dublin

Bernard McGee for The Sligo Men's Shed

Catherine Bell reading a poem #181 at the Digital Hub for the Yeats Marathon

Workhouse Studios and Luxe performance company

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Lucy Robus and Dubhán Gray enjoying The Yeats Street Party

Minister Alex White, Senator Susan O'Keeffe and WB Yeats Grandaughter Caitriona Yeats cutting the cake for the 150th Yeats Birthday Celebration

Joanna Lumley with Colin Scott from Easky, artist, who created the sculptures in the Yeats Garden at The Model

Clare Heslin and Charmaine Button from the Volunteers Centre Sligo

Cormac McGowan and Vanessa Clarke with the Yeats 150th Birthday Cake

North West Simon Community are looking for a team to represent the charity at this year’s Wild Atlantic Run on Sept 12th.

Lorely Forrester creator of Yeats Garden at The Model with Caitriona Yeats, WB Yeats Grand Daughter

Jackie Meenaghan from Ballina

Actor Street Performer and Model Maker Cillian Rogers as WB Yeats

Where: Strandhill to Rosses Point via Coney Island. When: September 12th, 2015 at 10:00am Distance: 1/2 Marathon : All grades of runners welcome. Why: Because it’s the world’s wildest run!

Register at http://wildatlanticrun.com/#register Registration is €50, but only if you make yourself know to the fundraising team at North West Simon Community will the registration fee be refunded to the homeless charity. If you are interested in doing this run and wish your registration fee to go to North West Simon Community please contact Mary on 087 7708865 or e mail sligoleitrimfundraising@northwestsimon.ie You can leave a message on the North West Simon Community facebook also.

Month in Review The

June Highlights with Kate Winter

I

t was a devastating blow for the whole Sligo community, especially the music fans, when the shock news broke that Barry’s in Grange was to close its doors. The first weekend of June saw a very special final Fireside Sessions take place as well as an open mic gig led by house band The Firesiders on Saturday night. Tears were shed, memories were shared, and a true celebration of one of Sligo’s finest ever music venues was had, prior to those magic doors closing one last time... From one of the longstanding legends to a new one, The Draft House has hardly opened its doors and already the music offering is sensational.

Boxty rocked the house on their opening weekend, but on the other end of the scale, Daniel McGarrigle and team are hosting the most wonderfully chilled Sunday afternoon music sessions called DCM Sundays. 4-7pm every week, musicians like The Teresa Galvin Band (who are akin to having Nouvelle Vague crooning in your ear gently, while you enjoy your afternoon pint) play down -low, easygoing tunes to a crowd who just want to kick back and soak up the Strandhill atmosphere.

Amazing... Among a myriad of other gloriously cultural and literary events going on around Sligo for the celebration of Yeats’ 150th birthday, a wonderfully spooky exhibition called Psychic Lighthouse opened in The Model on Friday 12th, with an intimate and fascinating Candlelight Salon taking place afterwards, and gentle music floating into the wee hours of the night.

It was such a pleasure to see The Model buzzing with such a great crowd and a fitting way to toast the great WB... Further toasting was done at the beautiful Lissadell House the next day, with a plethora of special guests including Senator David Norris and Anne Doyle gathering with huge crowds of local and international Yeats fans for a full day of celebrations right in the heart of his own ‘Land of heart’s desire’. No better place to be on a summer Saturday then roaming through the historically rich environment that is Lissadell house and gardens... Some even started their day with one of Shells Seaside Cafe’s best summer ideas, their Yogi Breakfast and Yoga on the Beach event.

Stretchy, healthy, salty peace of mind was found by all participants. Frankly, I

think they should do this every weekend of the year, rain or shine! ... There’s a new Thursday night special in town and it’s at 5th On Teeling. Billing themselves as the “Best unofficial band in town”, local musicians Hugh O’Neill, Rory O’Dowd, Paul Wehrly and Keelan Kelly may well be Sligo’s rock n roll version of a hot new boy band!

Bounce in any Thursday night over the summer to catch their drift... Mid-month saw a huge treat for Shakespeare fans hit The Hawkswell Theatre, and when I say huge, I mean HUGE: Six hours of the condensed versions of Richard II, Henry IV and Henry V spread over two nights (or one day for the exceptionally committed) performed by the famous Druid theatre company.

Rave reviews followed from all who came along to witness this epic story of the rise and fall of great men and those who dared oppose them, in this ambitious production...

Aidan Strangeman, musical comedian and all round lovely human being, returned to McGarrigles on Fri 19th, with a sneaky preview of his Edinburgh Fringe Festival show, Horsey.

His usual combination of lusty lyrics and heartfelt sentiment, coupled with his ‘lovable loser’ stage

persona, once again charmed an audience of die hard comedy fans at this monthly Spike Sligo event...

And now for something completely different, Sligo grungers old and new dusted off their lumberjack shirts and sloped in to Fifth On Teeling on Saturday 20th for a bit of an epic 90s revival, with Nirvana Tribute band Negative Creeps rocking the house.

Nothing like a whiff of Teen Spirit to bring the headbangers out of the woodwork! ...

Something even more different was a wonderful Summer Solstice ritual offered by the amazing minds and hearts out at SUP For All, with their Fire on Water SUP safari and BBQ at their base in Trawnee Bay. Led by adventurer extraordinaire, David O’Hara, a night time swish through the waters of the River Bonet and Lough Gill ended with fire and pagan style celebrations, with the lucky participants connecting with nature and the elements in a special and soul-stirring experience like no other... On the 21st, this month’s featured theatre company The Blue Raincoats put on the first of three outdoor performances scheduled for this summer as part of their A Country Under Wave festival. On

Baile’s Strand attracted hordes of Yeats fans and families to Streedagh beach, where the weather played ball and a spectacular show was witnessed by many...

Friday Night Social is always a great event at The Model, and the June soiree was no different. Leitrim-based artist Johnny Lawson and Mind Calm coach John Graham explored the theme of mindfulness and the fun of letting go, with tasty treats and craft beers a-flowing. At 10pm, the party moved to Fureys, where Turn It On kept the vinyl spinning... The local mini-festival that is Dunes Day in The Dunes Bar in Strandhill was a great afternoon in the village, with loads to keep the little kids and the big kids entertained before stretching into the evening and the wee small hours with loads of live music and craic, not to mention a delicious BBQ. Acts like Red Ellen, The Oddsocks & In Bloom kept the audience entertained in true style... The summer is surely in full flow, now all we need is that heatwave they keep promising us..!

This Month: Sarah Crummy, The Cedartones and Jessie Whitehead.

We’ve all been away at college but we will be making an appearance at this year’s Dunes Day in Strandhill, which we’re all looking forward to. Bands, BBQ and beer. Where could you go wrong?

Tell me who and what The Cedartones are, to start off with?

Gavin Murphy and myself decided to put together a semi acoustic 2 piece combining male and female vocals with Gavin on acoustic and electric guitar/vocals and myself on keyboards/vocals. We put together a set list of some of our favourite songs of all time and put our own slant on the songs live. We also have plenty of our own original material that we are slowly starting to include into the set too. Some of our main influences would be Crowded House, Fleetwood Mac, The Smiths and Neil Young.

Are you still involved in other musical ventures alongside this one? And is Gavin?

Gavin formed and plays guitar with the acclaimed tribute to The Smiths and Morrissey “These Charming Men” and also plays with wedding/covers band The Jukebox Kings. He also writes and records original material, which he slots in at our gig in Fureys. I’m in the process of recording my own songs and hope to play these for the first time this summer in various venues around Sligo.

The originals that I’ve played over the past few years have received a good response which encourages my to start playing them regularly at gigs. I’m also a member of Red Ellen with Deirdre Farrell

You’ve had a lot of success, personally, with the world of online performing, can you talk us through that?

YouTube has inadvertently given me a good bit of work.

I started putting up videos of dodgy quality when I was about 16. In the same year I got my first gig. I started to get to know how to develop and maintain a certain audience but I didn’t want to get too absorbed into online performing. Though YouTube has been amazing for meeting and collaborating with people, playing a song in front of a camera can sometimes give you a false confidence. You need to experience the nerves and teamwork that come with a live gig.

Why did you choose Furey’s and Thursday nights as your residency and what do you think makes a good residency?

Myself and Jessie Whitehead played Sunday nights there last Summer and it went down well. We both enjoyed the response we got.

Fureys is a lovely intimate venue and is well known for its live music. You can tell the regular punters are big music fans as they are a very appreciative crowd to play for.

How’s the music scene in Sligo these days, in your opinion?

Every time I talk about how amazing the music scene in Sligo is to people who don’t live here, they think I’m being overly biased... It’s really no word of a lie when I say there are musicians coming out of the walls! There’s nothing more satisfying and heartwarming than entering a pub, hearing a session and feeling like you can join in if you feel like it.

Muireann’s Here to Help…

Do you have a Hair, Beauty or make up question you would like answered.

E-mail Muireann and the team at The Hair & Beauty Quarter thequarter@outlook.ie Q: Brushing my daughters hair is such a trauma for me and my child, how do I tackle it?

Tracey

I suggest a hair detangler spray or leave-in conditioner after washing and a Tangle Teezer hairbrush. These brushes are palm held and with the range of bright colours not as threatening as the bristle or paddle ones. When you wash your child’s hair try not to rub too vigorously instead gently massage the shampoo through the hair. Towel dry the hair and try to avoid rubbing, instead pat and squeeze the hair inside the towel. Apply detangler when hair is wet. The brushing techniques are the same on wet, damp or dry hair, remember you can work with either wet or dry strands but it is less stress on the scalp for your child if the hair is moist.

Depending on the length you can take the hair in your hand like a pony tail and spray the middle and ends, the motion of brushing from the middle down to ends helps spread the detangler. Try not to drag the brush down the hair, more a gentle bouncing off your hand with a downward motion. This motion helps loosen tangles.

When these sections are tangle free start moving up towards the scalp adding a couple of inches at a time whilst continuing to go over the already tangle free hair. Lastly I suggest keeping your child’s hair a shorter length as it will be more manageable and hopefully there will be less tears when brushing.

Carolanne Rushe tells us the story of how she came to open Sligo’s premier raw food experience, Sweet Beat Cafe.

Always A Foodie My first food memories are definitely my mum’s baking, when we used to live in Dublin.

We’d come home from school and there was always homemade soda bread and soup and banana bread. Banana bread always stood out to me, it was such a treat at the end of the day. We were raised in a family in which everybody was really into cooking and food, from when we were really, really young. I fell in love with home economics in secondary school... I would come home and analyse every single thing on everyone’s plate, I was a little bit fundamental about the whole thing, probably quite annoying. But I was obsessed with the idea that you become what you eat, and how food affects your skin and your hair and even your moods.

Blogging Marvellous I studied languages at college, but I kept Food Science as a module, almost like a hobby.

The passion was always there. I was living with my sister, Denise at the time, who was studying digital marketing, and she was always going on about blogging, while I was always cooking stuff at home that wasn’t your stereotypical student dinners. So she encouraged me to start blogging and I did - my first blog was called Spuds & Cheddar, such a terrible name!

But I discovered you can build up a lovely relationship with other food bloggers, especially on other social media platforms and attending bloggers events and stuff like that. Some of my posts were featured in online publications and magazines too.

Flavours Of The World I was in Qatar for two years teaching English after graduating, and blogging became more of a thing that I used to show my family and friends what I was doing while abroad. I fell completely in love with Middle Eastern food, travelling around Jordan and Lebanon and Egypt and Morocco and from there also India, Sri Lanka, Nepal... It became more and more obvious to me, the more I travelled, that this was what I wanted to do with my life. I think it was when we moved to Australia that it really started to happen though. At that stage I was blogging almost full time, with tons of followers and it was all really exciting. The lifestyle over there is just incredible too, everybody is really outdoorsy and really into food, and the

produce is just amazing. I think Australia was where I properly got into healthy eating, proper eating. I discovered raw cacao and superfoods and I was just blown away by the difference it can make.

I hated leaving Australia but my ex-partner was an engineer, and like all the other moves, we were following his job. But then I got to go to South Africa, which I would now describe as my second home. When I was moving there, people were like “You’re going to get murdered, it’s Johannesburg” and I was scared what I was setting myself up for, but that wasn’t the Johannesburg I saw, I absolutely loved it! I was there for just six weeks before I flew home to do Ballymaloe (Darina Allen’s famous cookery school), which I had been saving for throughout the time in Australia.

From Ballymaloe to Market Stalls Ballymaloe was amazing, I’d do it all over again if I could. It was an incredibly educational and fulfilling three months. To be honest I would have stayed in Ireland at that stage if I hadn’t been heading back to my partner in South Africa.

Before I did fly back though, I ran a couple of supper clubs out in Barry’s in Grange, which was enough for me to know that yes, I would love my own place eventually.

I went back to South Africa and within a few weeks got a spot at a farmer’s market. I moved on to bigger markets and I met great people and my stall (which was called Carol Anne’s Kitchen, after the blog) was doing really well. At that stage, I thought I wanted to be a

baker, so I was making breads and pastries and all that kind of stuff. But then when I was baking all the time I found myself horrified at all the sugar and the butter and the flour going into everything, thinking “I don’t want to eat this, why am I making it for other people to eat?!” What I realised I really wanted to do was a salad bar.

The Raw Revolution In Australia I had tried a raw degustation menu and it just completely blew my mind; it was not in any way what I expected. Not a carrot stick in sight! It was the most amazing food... A whole other way of cooking (or un-cooking!) that I had never even been aware of. And then I came across it again in South Africa and I really just thought this is how I want to eat. You eat raw food and you just feel totally satiated for the entire day, and happy, and energetic.

There was no vegetarian stall at the market, no real vegetarian options, in fact. So I approached the woman who ran the market and she gave me the go ahead to change over. As soon as I started doing it, people were just queuing up for it, it was an instant success.

So much so that when I left a year later there were fourteen vegetarian stalls at that market!

Home Sweet Home I came home for the summer one year, and I arrived just about a week before the Strandhill People’s Market was launching. I managed to snag a stall at that, and I just couldn’t get over how great it was. The backdrop to my stall was the ocean! I just didn’t want to leave. So when the

time came, I broke up with my boyfriend and came home for good - I just needed to be home and be doing my own thing. Then I launched Green Warrior as a product line and the re-branded stall and it went from strength to strength... I kept getting requests from Cork and Galway and Donegal, but I didn’t have distribution. At that stage, it was long, long days in the kitchen, really backbreaking work. I probably couldn’t have done more even if I’d wanted to. And then this perfect premises in town came up out of the blue and a sort of a snap decision was made!

A Dream Come True We (with business partner Simon Hunt) just decided to go for it.

We got the keys in February but we spent a while getting everything right. Watching it all unfold was an amazing experience... It’s what I always wanted, but maybe four years earlier than I had intended! But we have an amazing team here, I love them so much. It’s been crazy since we opened Sweet Beat Cafe on the 8th of April, people’s enthusiasm has been so cool. Both our food and our coffee are seasonal, which means that year round the flavours keep changing according to what’s going on in nature and people are loving things like the raw pizza we had on for the food festival. One of my staff came back to me the other day and said “The lady on table 2 wants to marry you for that pizza”. When you hear things like that, you know you’re doing something right!

Follow Sweet Beat online @SweetBeatSligo / Facebook.com/SweetBeatSligo

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 23

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Photos: Sarah Townsend Photography • www.sarahtownsendphotography.com

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Y

ou won’t find Michael Quirke posting pictures of his work on Facebook, or Twitter, or Instagram. Nor will you see a degree in fine art hanging on his wall, advertising his qualifications.

Instead, you will find him happily carving wood, most days, in his converted butcher shop on Wine Street, sparing time to chat to anyone who might wander through the door, and delivering some of the finest, most authentic pieces of work available in Ireland today, each with its own unique story. Here, Michael tells his to Sligo Now’s Kate Winter.

As one enters the curious little shop on Wine Street, with the scent of fresh sawdust and the echo of a hammer tap-tapping against wood drifting out the door, there is always a slight sense of mystery to be found. The layout of this traditional space is unmistakably that of a butcher’s, with the vast window display and the cashier’s booth still in situ.

There’s the butcher’s block and there’s the butcher’s saw... But instead of cuts of meat and poultry, one sees only art and the various stages of its creation in the shop the frontage of which reads ‘M. Quirke’.

A chunk of sycamore sits clamped in a vice on the butcher’s block. A cube of beech awaits cutting by the saw. Rough-hewn sections of wind-felled trees litter the entrance space, providing welcome seating for visitors to Michael’s workshop, while carvings, sketches and greeting cards from all over the world decorate the walls.

In the famous window, which has displayed his favourite pieces for well over forty years, beautiful and instantly recognisable carvings rest against purple fabric.

So, how did young Michael Quirke, destined to take over his father’s butcher shop back in 1957, become one of Sligo’s master craftsmen instead? Well, as the man himself tells it, with typical modesty, it’s simply because “I wasn’t much of a butcher.

And I wasn’t getting any better, in fact I was getting worse all the time.”

But the truth is, he was a born artist, unable to stay away from the medium of sculpture, which was his calling from a young age, when he discovered that magical substance of Irish youth, mála.

“We all played with mála when we were kids. I was mad about it. By the time I was 9 or 10 I could do anything with the stuff. John Wayne, Sligo Rovers football team, lions and tigers, whatever. And so I never needed toys, I just wasn’t interested, because I could make anything I wanted with the mála.”

Michael continued playing with his favourite childhood playstuff right up until adulthood, but starting work in his father’s shop he ran into difficulty and had to change his medium to wood. As he explains, “When I started as a butcher, I was still working away with the mála. But butchers are always nicking their fingers, and there’d be all these small cuts and healing scars that affected the making with mála. So in around 1968, I started carving instead.”

Once he discovered this new art form, he was hooked. It was never a hobby for Michael, nor was it work. It was a passion and an obsession. “This isn’t work. If this was work it would exhaust me. This never tires me...

Nothing makes me as happy as doing this.”

Despite the long hours he worked as a butcher, for more than twenty years, he would still find time to do his

carving at home, painstakingly laying out a display of his work in the butcher shop window each evening when he had finished cleaning away the meat and debris of a day’s work. And right from the start, people would pop into the shop and ask him about his pieces. When asked how the steady flow of visitors and fans that are peculiar to this little shop began, Michael can’t quite recall, saying that for as long as he can remember he has had people stopping by for a chat. He certainly is renowned for having what the Irish call ‘The gift of the gab’, with a seemingly endless knowledge of myth and folklore and lots of engaging and absorbing tales to tell of local characters from eras gone by. But how does it suit him to have people constantly interrupting his flow of work?

Just fine, he says: “I know it wouldn’t suit everyone. There’s a lot of people can’t work with others around. But it suits me fine, I discovered that as soon as I started work in here. At home in my shed, the only company I’d have was the odd spider. In here, I might be working on a piece and I’d get into a conversation about it and by the time the conversation’s finished I might have had several new ideas for the piece. The spiders couldn’t give me that.”

When he made the switch from shed to shop, and gave up butchery completely (he confides that it was Christmas time that proved to be the defining factor in throwing in the towel, telling me “the turkeys were the last straw. I’d have a hundred naked vultures glaring at me from the walls...”) it was 1988. His decision was met with a mixed response, with his firm fans and collectors delighted, but a certain amount of concern from closer to home.

He says, with a trademark chuckle, “My father thought I was an eejit and my mother knew I was an amadán.”

But in truth, Michael had a steady business built up already, with regular commissions and a good trade in purchases off the shelf, too. This business never faltered, and the woodcarver found his bliss knocking beautiful shapes out of wood and entertaining thousands of visitors over the years with his never-ending well of philosophy and storytelling.

Today, the business still thrives, against all the digital marketing and online shopping advice out there.

This is the workshop/playroom of a very skilled and personable artist, in the centre of a medium sized town in north west Ireland. To order one’s goods, or to browse the shelves, one has to walk through the door and have a look, a smell, a feel of what’s on offer. In doing so, one is treated to the privilege of a chat with Michael Quirke himself, the very nature of which imbues any piece of his work with extra special meaning. This is a unique and exceptional business, run with all the heart and authenticity of genuine passion and truly natural talent. And this is all he ever wanted to do, which gives the whole experience of a visit to M. Quirke’s converted butcher shop that extra glimmer of mystery and magic.

Just before I left my perch on a chunk of tree, at the end of this interview, I asked if the seventy five year old artist might consider retiring from this, his chosen trade, at any point. He gave me a sharp, twinkly look and replied, “Oh I’ll retire alright.

Someday you’ll come in and find me like this...” (Slumping over his vice and rolling his eyes back in his head) “...That’ll be me, retired!”

Plenty of time yet, then, to pop in and visit a master at work right here in Sligo town.

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 28

yurodny & no crows - sligo cairde arts festival @ the model Yurodny Founded in Dublin in November 2007 by saxophonist, composer and producer Nick Roth, Yurodny perform contemporary interpretations of traditional music from around the world and work collaboratively with performers and composers who share their passion for the re-imagining of tradition and the vitality of the present. Described by the international press as ‘triumphant…vibrant and irresistible’, ‘music sans frontieres… breathtaking elegance’ and their recorded work as ‘surely one of the most significant releases to come out of Ireland in decades’ (AllAboutJazz).

Nick Roth (sax), Kate Ellis (cello), Oleg, Ponomarev (fiddle), Colm O’Hara (trombone), Cora Venus Lunny (violin, viola), Franceso Turrisi (Accordion, Piano Percussion), Dave Redmond (Double Bass), Phil Mac Mullan (Drums)

No Crows This multicultural line up defies categorisation, displaying a myriad of musical influences and cultures in a captivating, original and eclectic live show. With members from Russia, Switzerland, Catalunya and Ireland displaying virtuosity and inventiveness across many genres, the result is often breathtaking. Expect elements of Gypsy Jazz, Balkan, Latin American music, Irish traditional and American folk songs with a tinge of Bluegrass.

Felip Carbonell (guitar, vocal), Anna Houston ,(cello, mandolin, vocal), Eddie Lee: (double bass, vocal), Ray Coen: (guitar, fiddle & vocal), Oleg Ponomarev: (fiddle).

Moll

by John ?B. Keane

The Parish Priest, Canon Pratt, and his two curates have resided together in the parish presbytery in relative happiness for years. However, the previous housekeeper has passed away and the priests have to find a new one which is no easy task! After Moll Kettle is given the job, life in the presbytery will never be the same again. A great night’s entertainment, this play is full of laughter. Takes place at The Hawkswell Theatre, Tues 7 - Sat 11 July, 8pm €15/12conc./45 family Tues all tickets €10

Thy Will Be Done

The ever popular Beezneez return to The Hawks Well with a cracking production of Michael Carey’s hit, Thy Will Be Done.

This is the story of two brothers, Jack and Peteen who live side by side but haven’t spoken in 40 years. Bridie, the home help, has been acting as a gobetween. Peteen has had a failed marriage, with a wife emigrating to America just before their son was born, never to return. When she dies in America, her son returns to Ireland and is torn between his love for his uncle and his respect for his father. Thy Will be Done has become an international favourite. An evening of laughter and tears, in equal measure. Takes place at The Hawkswell Theatre, Mon 20 July, 8pm. €17/15conc.

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 30

Liane Carroll and Friends

Award winning UK jazz vocalist and pianist, Liane Carroll has recorded with Paul McCartney, headlined in Glastonbury Festival. She will be joined on this intimate concert by a variety of SJP 10th anniversary faculty members.

Sligo Jazz Project celebrating 10 years of world class jazz performance and education. Fri 24 July, 8pm €18/15conc./ 9 u18s @ The Hawkswell

SJP ALL STARS

with Ernie Watts, Chuck Rainey and many more.. One of the most highly anticipated SJP All Star concerts ever, this year’s stellar line up of 15 world-class musicians including the great Ernie Watts (below), Chuck Rainey (above) and many more in what promises to be an unforgettable night of stunning music.

Sat 25 July, 8pm €18/15conc./ 9 u18s At The Hawkswell Theatre

the model music: bog bodies A Model Residency featuring cross genre musicians & composers Robert Stillman, Sean Carpio, Anders Holst and film maker Ben Rowley supported by The Arts Council of Ireland (Music Project Award). These multi disciplinary artists will develop compositions collectively that incorporate music, sound design and live 16 mm film projections.

An audience is invited to share the initial results of this ten-day collaboration on Wednesday 15 July from 4pm.

Robert Stillman is a composer and saxophonist from the northeast United States whose music juxtaposes the archaic with the futuristic, “lending an avant-garde shimmer to pre-modern American sounds” (The Observer). He has performed at festivals and venues internationally, and has released 5 albums of his own work. He has

also collaborated with such artists as Grizzly Bear, Luke Temple (Here We Go Magic), and Kit Downes, www.robertstillman.com.

Seán Carpio is a multiinstrumentalist from Dublin, Ireland who’s practice incorporates song, sound and improvisation. Since 2005 and has been active as a soloist in Europe and the USA, and to this date he has featured on sixteen recordings. In 2013 he released his first album WoWos “a determinist streak of nature loving excitability” (DIY Mag) featuring long time Danish collaborators Mikkel Ploug, Jeppe Skovbakke and Anders Holst. Sean has collaborated with visual artists and practices in a number of contemporary art contexts and has performed, exhibited and undertaken residencies in a number of prestigious art venues including the Mattress Factory Art Museum in Pittsburgh, the Serpentine Gallery London

and the MAC Belfast.

“Seán Carpio may be the finest drummer ever produced here” – The Irish Times.

Ben Rowley is a film maker who works mostly with 16mm film, predominantly interested in analogue/hand processed, painted, scratch/collage 16mm films as well as photographic film making.

His work has been exhibited in cinemas, exhibitions and festivals around Europe and America, most recently one of his painted films was screened in Reykjavik as part of the International ‘Punto y Raya’ abstract film festival. With Bog Bodies he will be attempting to bring 16mm projection, experimental film and optical sound (sound generated from the films surface in projection) into a creative working relationship with live music performance.

6-16th July at The Model

Cairde arts festival @ parkfest This month The Model is collaborating with Cairde Sligo Arts festival for an epic Sunday celebrating arts, craft, culture, food, music, circus and fun!

Sligo’s Peace Park is once again the venue for a host of entertainment where this year’s theme is ‘Secret Garden’. Come find our tent in the Secret Garden. There will be a range of arts and craft stalls to browse and a great range of food stalls where the emphasis is on fresh, home made produce. Bring your picnic blanket and prepare for an incredible day out! - 12th July 2015 @ 7pm

Sligo Jazz Festival 2015 The Sligo Jazz Project (SJP) is one of the highlights of Ireland's annual jazz calendar. A festival of education and performance, the SJP attracts some of the world's most established and promising jazz acts from the world music scene. This year the festival runs from 21-26 July.

Dhafer Youssef: Birds Requiem Tunisian-born Dhafer Youssef is a highly-praised virtuoso of the oud, the Arabic lute, as well as a singer and composer. Dhafer developed an interest in jazz at an early age and later moved to Europe to progress his jazz career. He has released six albums, the latest of which is Birds Requiem which he brings to the Hawk’s Well during Sligo Jazz Project this summer. Dhafer will be joined by pianist Kristjan Randalu, double bass player, Phil Donkin and Ferenc Nemeth on drums for what promises to be one of the highlights of the festival.

Sligo Jazz Project Festival Ticket €80 (covers all concerts at the Hawk’s Well Theatre)

Bernie Mc Gowan, Jalal Madden, Brian McGowan

Maureen Costello and Deirdre Folan

Emma and Conor McCann

Ann Fox, Mary Banks and Nora Teague

Hugh Kelly and D. Doyle

Michael and Geraldine Mc Kinzie, Esther and Cyrill Jinks

Imelda Fitzgerald and Mary Lipsett

Caroline and Niall Gray

Alaine Murray, Colum Glendon, Ann Murray and John Barry

Ronnie and Jacinta Dunne with Elanor and Noel O Shaughnesey

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Located in the stunning scenic beauty of South Sligo by the shores of Lough Talt and its surrounds, Wild Wet Adventures will provide visitors with an introduction to Water based activities in a safe and enjoyable way.

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‘Creative Hands, Inspiring Minds’

by Oonagh B.McCann @ CeltoiCroi Studio

M

artha Quinn is renowned for her ability in taking a piece of stone and manipulating it into an extreme piece of beauty. Every day, from her purposely built workshop and gallery, situated next door to her beautifully landscaped cottage, you will hear Martha carving out someones story, chipping away at the marble or rock, until she is content that the end result will make happy, the hearts of those it is meant for.

This month, local artist Oonagh B.McCann talks to the amazing sculptor, and gets an extremely interesting insight into the path that has gotten her to where she is today.

'Sun Seeds', Carrara Marble, Royal Hospital Donnybrook

raised with an appreciation of nature and the natural world, hiking up mountains to refrains of just over the next hill while having how glaciers shaped the landscape explained to us whether we liked it or not.

We were frequently brought to historically significant sites, old castles churches; for example, my first Holy Communion special outing was a visit to the medieval buildings of the Rock of Cashel. Living in Italy and Switzerland as a child also were formative experiences in terms of food, culture and landscape.

Have you carried this through to your designs today?

Yes, I appreciate and am attracted to the very same things now as when I was a child and many of these things can be directly traced to these early years, though of course my understanding and connection would have deepened considerably in the intervening time.

Can you tell us briefly what you were like as a child?

I was a quite serious and intense child. I was also busy and had lots of energy and had to be constructively occupied to avoid getting into trouble. I had the ability to focus for long periods of time on single projects; I loved drawing, lego and building huts. I didn’t like imaginary or play pretend games. I had no interest in organised sport. We moved around a lot when I was a kid, fourteen different houses by the age of fourteen, seven different pre secondary schools- so I was quite self reliant.

Did you come from a creative background?

In retrospect I realise I did, my two aunts went to art college and were working in the creative sector, my own mum ended up following in my footsteps and going to art college too as a mature student, but I did not grow up in a bohemian or arty environment. Our home was very ordered almost clinical as both my parents were of the academics, orderly and systematic type.

What inspired you growing up?

Experiences shaped me more than people or things. I was

June July 2015 2015••Sligo SligoNow NowMagazine Magazine••Page Page38 38

You have a lot of sculptural pieces in and around Sligo County, can you tell us a little about your favourites in your collection.

I have several smaller works dotted around Sligo but the most significant pieces would include one of my first public commissions of the ‘Riverseats’ located on Kennedy Parade, a collection of little seats with flora and fauna carved in relief which was then later followed by a second installment of seat/ mooring bollards at Riverside on the theme of fish.

In the grounds of Sligo IT there is a very large granite monument dedicated to deceased members of staff and students.

This piece was designed to be contemporary response to the ancient cairn form. Although installed a number of years ago

the final finishing of the site and the landscaping have yet to be completed by the college before the piece could be considered finished. I am very fond of this piece as it also incorporates specially written bilingual words of respected poet and Aosdana elected Paddy Bush. His beautiful text, four lines of English and Irish sit beautifully on the upper ring of the cairn and wrap themselves around the visitor as they are seated within the monument from where they can look out at the magnificent views of Sligo.

Most recently, I have installed a monument on the N59 SligoBallina road in commemoration of the renowned historian, genealogist and scholar Dubhaltach MacFhirbishigh who died in 1671. This piece reflects my on going love affair with this period.

You have been commissioned nationwide also, can you name your three favourite pieces? The piece that makes you most proud?

I have two favourites in Co. Limerick both inspired by the

small organisation the LSC delivers a huge remit and as a publically funded body we as directors and trustees of the organisation have to ensure that it is run in the leanest, most efficient and effective way possible. It is generally recognized that the LSC punches way above its weight given our funding and staffing levels.

'10 x 10 Au', Paper and Gold, Private collection

local medieval heritage of their locations, One, a massive set of arches in Kilmallock and another huge four legged vaulted structure in Abbeyfeal.

My absolute favourite though is a large marble piece consisting of two hemispheres carved with an intricate pattern that I made for the Royal Hospital in Donnybrook. I am proud of it because it has been met with such a hugely positive response from the staff, visitors and patients of the hospital. It changed a lot of people’s opinions about abstract art. In this commission I also undertook as part of the project to completely transform the entire courtyard area in which the sculpture stands and created, from a grey dismal space to a beautiful, colourful garden. The sculpture and the garden together are a joy to behold for the many people who can view it from their windows and from the warmth of the sunlit window in the foyer, it has elevated the environment for all, I am told.

You have tutored in the Leitrim Sculpture Centre for two years, and now have the position of director there, what does this consist of?

The centre is a terrific establishment that offers a wide range of facilities to artists both local and national, it also hosts international art and cultural residency preprograms. For a

You graduated from DLIADT with a distinction in Sculpture and Print, but seem to be better known for you sculptural work. Was this a decision made for you or by you?

Sculpture was my major subject and print my minor subject in college. When I left college I focused solely on sculpture not only that but even more particularly on stone. I am and have always been interested in so many things, but I didn’t want to be a jack-of-all-trades and master of none. I still love print when I am old not fit for the rigors of stone carving I may return to the production of ‘flat’ art.

Tell us about your paperwork’s I view my works in paper as being very similar to my stonework, I play with similar themes, I often say of my work that I make two-dimensional sculpture and threedimensional paper works. They really are an extension of my sculpture work.

You’re a mother of three, would you like to tell us a little about your family?

Just that its busy being a mum of 14, 12 & 10 year old children with active social and sporting lives and that living in the ‘sticks’ is much to the dismay of hive minded socialite teenagers and so requires endless tedious and boring driving.

Being a mother is a job within itself, and being a working mother has it’s added strains,

'Newgate Rivergate', Limestone, Kilmallock Co. Limerck

but being a self employed creative with three children (dependants) is an extremely admirable position to hold can you let us know the secret on how to achieve such great success in the creative field while juggling motherhood?

Firstly I am flattered by the question, because I rarely view what I have accomplished as any great achievement. Most of what I have done has seemed more like really hard work than creative endeavor, I am simply a sculptor and this is what I do, I don’t try to be creative I just try to do the job as best as I can, the fact that it is in a creative field is often immaterial to me though just as an accountant has to be good with numbers I have to be good at what I do.

Have you any advice for others working within the creative field, that find it hard juggling both parenthood and creativity?

Grit and determination. My advice is ‘If you have another talent find it and develop that’, I wouldn’t recommend this life to anyone but the truly dedicated with strong stomachs. I don’t mean to sound negative here, but making a living from art is precarious at the best of times and when you have family and responsibilities it can be stressful.

It is however very rewarding in other ways, it has also meant that I have been able to be with my children a lot as they grow up and have had the flexibility to cater to their needs, however this presents its own challenges in that family members can sometimes take it for granted that you are always available to them in ways they wouldn’t that if you had a 9-5 job outside the home.

You participate in the “Secret Gardens of Sligo”, can you tell us a little about this?

I love Sligo, I find it truly the most beautiful place on earth, every day I marvel at our landscape, I adore beautiful places. I think it’s so important to cherish where we live at the macro and micro level. Whenever I have lived in town or country in a flat or a house I have always created gardens to satisfy this need to be surrounded by beauty. When I was a student it was in pots and since 1997 when I bought a derelict cottage and a plot of dauby clay covered in briars it has been a slow, a very slow process to transform it in to what I can now call a garden.

The secret gardens is my way of trying to give something back

'Arch', Limestone, Abbeyfeale, Co. Limerick

and share the wonder of where we live with others, all donations I collect go towards the North West Hospice. My dates this year are July 26th and August 9th open from 12-5, details and directions on the secret gardens website.

You have achieved a lot in your career already, have you any goals you want to achieve that you haven’t yet?

Zillions! I feel I am only getting started. I have acquired many skills along the way; I feel I have a lot to share- my love of stone, of carving, of good design of professionally delivering in a whole host of contexts and situations. And to that end I would like to develop a business, one that utilises these skills and benefits others too. I would like to be able to not only offer my own family the benefits of secure employment but also to encourage others and create training and job opportunities to support another generation of stone carvers and to help keep the tradition alive in a vibrant and meaningful way.

So for the future I will be focusing on becoming Martha Quinn Memorial Sculptor. I want to do headstones and memorials, hand carved in Irish limestone, uniquely designed and specifically tailored for their recipients. This is after all a very traditional and reputable form of employment for a stone sculptor, it is one where I have a lot of experience and feel I can bring out the best of what I have learned for the benefit of others. I am very excited about this as I haven’t considered that it would be possible to run a real business in what I do up until recently - I must be a slow learner!

Has Sligo been good to you?

The best!

Its home to me and my family and I love it, my friends are here and finally I have roots.

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 39

Angelscopes for July F

iona Faery is an Irish Psychic Medium who unites people regularly with their loved ones in spirit & also offers psychic guidance with her Faery oracle card readings. She is a regular on Irish radio & has monthly columns in various publications. Fiona is known for her optimistic no-nonsense approach to life. She teaches workshops on mediumship and helps 'baby' mediums build their confidence & step into their power. Her spiritual poetry has found a home on her Facebook page; Fiona Faery where she posts a daily poem. Her poetry is aimed to motivate & empower, as Fiona believes in helping people connect with their soul purpose. She reads internationally through her website www.fionafaery.ie

Aries Angel of spiritual growth It's time to set your affairs in order Aries. Now is a good time to assess your finances and goals for the autumn period.

Take time out for yourself to assess your needs, sycronisities and lucky coincidences are spirits way of guiding you in the right direction.

Lucky Day: 10th of July Lucky colour: Gold

Leo Angel of new love Love is in the air for single Leo's. A chance meeting at an outdoor event leads to a coffee date outside. For Leo's in relationships, it's time to make plans, pack a picnic, make a date and spend some time in the summer air with the one you love. A holiday abroad rekindles and old spark.

Lucky Day: 30th of July Lucky colour: Pink

Sagittarious Angel of Retreat Time to clear your head and visit a place such as a lake or a mountain walk. It's time to gather your thoughts and clear your head. Slow down and listen to your inner voice which can only be reached in quiet moments of stillness.

Lucky Day: 26th of July Lucky colour: Blue

Taur!s Taurus

Angel of forgiveness Taureens are known for their stubbornness. When we harbour a grudge, the only person suffering is you. It's time to let go and move forward, if you can't forgive the person then try and forgive the act as this angel brings healing around you.

Lucky Day: 15th of July Lucky colour: Green

Gemini

Angel of harmony It's time to kick up your heels Gemini and allow music and laughter fill the air. Stressful periods come to an end, now it's time to let your hair down and enjoy the summer. An unexpected evening out leads to happy memories and a rekindled friendship.

Lucky Day: 25th of July Lucky colour: Orange

Cancer Angel of power

There is no nonsense with you this month Cancer. Be mindful of your words as you are cutting through all obstacles that may come your way.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly and make sure your personal boundary line is clearly defined.

Lucky Day: 28th of July Lucky colour: Black

Virgo

Libra

Scorpio

Angel of Enchantment Try not to lose hope, Virgo. Sometimes you may feel as if you are banging your head against a brick wall. This summer sees a breakthrough coming your way.

Slow and steady will surely win the race. Don't give up on your dreams.

Lucky Day: 26th of July Lucky colour: Blue

Angel of Focus Physical health may need to be addressed. You have been pushing yourself too hard as of late. It's time to look after mental/physical health. It's time to focus on yourself, allow this time of calm to restore your equilibrium Lucky Day: 17th of July Lucky colour: Orange

Angel of ideas and inspiration That niggling voice your refusing to listen to is simply going to row louder. It's time to act on your haunches and pay attention to your intuition. It is your angels way of guiding you in the right direction. Lucky coincidences or sycronisities will follow.

Lucky Day: 19th Lucky colour: green

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

Angel of Guardian Angel Guardian angels give us signs such as a feather, a white butterfly to let you know they are near and are listening.

Have you asked your guardian angel for a sign recently? Know you are loved and are never truly alone. If you are waiting for a sign, this is it!

Lucky Day: 13th of July Lucky colour: Red

Angel of truth and integrity This is the angel of legal matters.

Exercise caution and discernment in all legal documents/correspondence. A fantastic card if you are looking at changing job or moving home.

Lucky Day: 24th of July Lucky colour: Brown

Angel of playfulness It's time to let the hair down and bring on the summer! Make time for play, get out in a park, have a walk along the beach, enjoy the taste of an ice cream. It's really important that you make time for some fun. Contact with an old friend that makes you laugh will truly enhance this summer.

Lucky Day: 11th of July Lucky colour: Pink

Fiona Faery gives private 1-to-1 sittings at The Sligo Park Hotel on the last weekend of every She is also available for private consultations or One Question readings on her Junemonth.

2013 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 38 website www.fionafaery.ie You can contact Fiona to Book a Private Reading @ 0863736143

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SLIGO JAZZ FESTIVAL CELEBRATES 10 YEARS S

ligo Jazz Project, now a world-renowned international jazz summer school and festival, celebrates ten years in 2015, running for six days from July 21 to 26, with lots of free live music in Sligo venues and a quality international concert series at the Hawk’s Well Theatre. The 2015 programme (downloadable from www.sligojazz.ie) is literally bulging with live music performances from renowned international jazz and world music stars and some of Ireland’s top jazz performers.

You will need stamina however, as there will be continuous live music from 4:30pm till late all week long from Tuesday 21 July and continuous sessions and concerts from 11am till late on Saturday plus a whole host of Sunday events from 1pm on July 26, including the now legendary SJP Big Bash at the Sligo Park Hotel, a free four-

Dhafer Youssef

hour-plus marathon performance by the entire SJP summer school in its various ensembles.

This year’s Sligo Jazz Festival will be launched in Hargadons pub at 4:30pm on Tuesday 21 July with music by Ciaran Wilde and friends, and the concert programme opens with world music star Dhafer Youssef’s highly acclaimed Birds Requiem Quartet in Sligo’s Hawk’s Well Theatre. Tunisian Oud virtuoso and singer Youssef recently had jaws dropping amongst a stellar cast of Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Annie Lennox et al, with his extraordinary vocal performance on the International Jazz Day concert in Paris. His Hawk’s Well Theatre concert truly promises to be one of the highlights of Sligo’s year.

Since its inception in 2005, it is the inclusion in the Sligo Jazz

Chuck Rainey

Festival bill of performers from its summer school faculty that makes Sligo Jazz the unique event that everyone wants to witness, full of one-off world premiere concerts pairing Irish musicians with top international names such as US saxophonist Ernie Watts, a major coup in SJP’s Guest-ofHonour, American bass legend Chuck Rainey and UK jazz singer/pianist Liane Carroll – to name just a few of this year’s stellar 18 strong summer school faculty. One obvious highlight will see Dublin City Jazz Orchestra host Ernie Watts in the latest of a series of historic Sligo Jazz appearances for Ireland’s leading big band on Thursday 23 July at the Hawk’s Well.

SJP has been inundated with bookings for its 10th Anniversary summer school event. SJP’s artistic director, Eddie Lee is delighted with the level of interest: “With six weeks to go we had already exceeded last year’s participant figures and fully expect to be turning people away from our summer school, with over 100 participants.

Participants at this wonderful week are aged 9 -75 and from a wide range of backgrounds and nationalities. That core audience of the 100+ summer school participants will make for a really festive concert atmosphere – one that I believe is totally unique in

Ireland.”

By day Sligo Jazz Project 2015 involves ensemble workshops, masterclasses, a Youth Academy in association with Music Generation Sligo and evening jam sessions at The Model. By night there are concerts at the Hawk’s Well Theatre and late night jam sessions plus a festival club programme at 5th on Teeling.

All summer school participants gain admission to every concert in a truly world-class jazz festival. Eddie Lee describes an action packed week: “Our workshops take place from 10am-4pm each day, with twice daily jam sessions at 6 and 10pm till late and an 8pm festival concert each evening too, so it’s pretty full-on. The week culminates in a Sunday afternoon concert by all participants, we expect between 80 and 100 onboard”.

The core audience of summer school participants of all ages from 9-74 makes for a very unique atmosphere at the festival concerts every year, so the 10th anniversary concerts should be the most exceptional yet. For the full faculty, festival line up and booking infor, see sligojazz.ie See the video “A decade of Sligo Jazz Project” See the video highlights from 2013 Facebook.com/sligojazz Twitter.com/sligojazz

THE TOFFS COCKTAIL MIXOLOGIST TEAM - RORY, MITKO AND COLIN

Amaretto dream Ingredients 40 ml Gin 30 ml amaretto 30 ml fresh lime juice 40 ml cranberry juice

A

t Toffs Nightclub we find the consumer has becoming increasingly selective in their choice of drink and cocktails have really shot up in popularity. We have adjusted to the change in the market and now have two bars in the club with another in the Belfry that specialize in making cocktails. We have a team of cocktail mixologists that are fully trained and constantly work together in formulating new mouth-watering recipes for our customers. Mitko has won two Connaucht competitions and was runner-up in a national competition. He has been working on cocktail mixology for over 7 years now and flairing of cocktails for over a year. He loves thinking 'outside the box' making cocktails and recently came up with the very unique Rihanna cocktail presented on a dry-ice base - a really breathtaking cocktai.l

Article & Photographs by Leonie Cornelius

FROM GARDEN TO TABLE Award winning garden designer and Interior Architect Leonie Cornelius explores some edible garden petals to decorate a stunning iced-cake.

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 44

A

t this time of the year many gardens are looking really great.

Colour is finally spreading through the borders and gardens seem to be exploding with vibrancy.

Interestingly many of the flowers in the border are actually edible. Flowers can be used to make all sorts of delicious treats from lollipos to lemonades and even for savoury cooking. This month I decided to use some edible flowers to decorate a lovely white-iced sponge cake.

I am always drawn to colourful mixes of flowers and the plants I have chosen for this cake decoration are a really vibrant mix of shades.

We have deep oranges of calendula petals, striking violas ranging from an almost black purple to light violet shades. The deep maroon red tones and oranges in nasturtiums are offset by the lovely blue of the cornflower and small dots of lilac purple are brought by tiny buds of allium.

Here are the plants we used to decorate the delicious cake.

Violas One of my favourite plants to use, particularly in baking, is the pretty little viola. This delicate plant, which is considered a good luck gift, has pretty heart shapes leaves and has many uses in the kitchen and beyond. The plant in its simplest form, can be picked and just added to salads, onto soups or on cakes. There are so many varieties and colours to choose from, making them the perfect finishing touch to any homecooked meal.

The wild growing purple Viola odorata, which is native to Europe and Asia, can even be used to make candied sweets, such as the famous Violettes de Toulouse as well as syrups and delicious purple liquors.

Violas are also very healthy and are used in many medicinal cures. Many contain anti-oxidants and are said to strengthen blood vessels. Viola herbal remedies stimulate the immune system

and they are used to make cough syrups, their antimicrobial properties making them useful in the treatment of acne.

Historically the Greeks and Romans treasured violets and made wine out of the flowers.

There are some wonderful recipes out there for making your own violet syrups and wine if you fancy getting creative. If you do decide to make the wine then it will be handy to know that the Romans also believed that the flowers could prevent drunkeness and even cure hangovers!

Cornflower Cornflowers is a common wildflower that is originally native to the Near East but has naturalized in many European, scandinavian and North American regions. The common cornflower, Centaurea cyanus, is an annual plant which can be grown as an ornamental plant in gardens. It is widely used in florist bouquets and is grown in many colours in pastel shades such as pink, white and lavender but also in striking shades such as black.

Cornflowers have been used for centuries to create a deep blue dye and you can even

make a homemade food dye out of them as they are edible. The taste of the pretty common cornflower is a very delicate sweet spicy mix that goes well in salads for both taste and visual appeal.

The Centaurea cynus is also used as an addition to some tea blends such as fine Earl grey teas and the petals can be picked and added to salads, the colour creating a tasty visual feast. As a herbal remedy the cornflower is used by herbalists to treat eye ailments.

Calendula The calendula, or marigold, is another edible plant that is very useful in salads. These pretty flowers are native to southwestern Asia, western Europe, Macronesia , and the Mediterranean. The petals of these flowers are perfect on this cake to give a touch of that deep orange. The colour, when extracted from these flowers, has even been used to dye cheese!

The romans and Greeks used to wear the Calendula as crowns and garlands and in India they are considered sacred and are used to decorate the statues of Hindu gods. Calendula are often used in beauty products

aswell and you will find the ingredient of c.officinalis, which is healing and detoxing in many creams and potions.

Nasturtiums These flowers originally from South America are very peppery in taste-almost like watercress. Both the leaves and the flowers can be eaten and the unripe seeds can be put in spiced Vinegar to make delicious Nasturtium capers.

The flowers of this plant are so pretty and are amazing in salads and stir fries. They have very large amounts of Vitamin C so are incredibly healthy.

They are also often used in herbal medicine due to their antiseptic qualities. We have used just the petals of the flower for this cake and they give such a great pop of colour.

This beautiful limited edition cake is available to order from Shells Surf Cafe in Strandhill throughout the month of July.

Shells SurfCafe - 071-912 2938 For more inspiring ideas for the home, garden and living visit Leoniecornelius.com Leonie Cornelius Blume Design House +353877552159 corneliusleonie@me.com

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 45

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Paula Moran, Frances O Brian, Marie Mc Cann, Frank O Brian and John Mc Cann.

Ailbhe Gunning and David Donnelly

The Ross Family, Ollie, and Patsy Ross and Diane and Trevor Lougheed

Derek Vincent, Loraine Pearson, Anthony Vincent & Charlotte Smith

Maria and Kieran Keeney

Clare McCaffrey and Dooreen McCaffrey

AN INTERVIEW WITH STYLE GURU LISA FITZPATRICK

@moda_fix with Tríona O’Donnell

FITZPATRICK

STYLE to describe herself she shared: ‘I'm proud to say that I know I'm a very good mum; our kids are great.’ I felt like she would have sat there all evening with me. What’s her favourite thing about her job? ‘Meeting new people, who are, like me, honest and open and like to share stories with me. We really do a have a laugh on the road. Every day is different, which I love.’

L

ast month saw the launch of The Dare To Be Different Style Awards in conjunction with Bulmers Live at Leopardstown Racecourse. I caught up with fashion stylist, author and hotelier, Lisa Fitzpatrick at The Beacon Hotel, where we talked style, beauty and summer racing.

Lisa has just finished her hugely successful Fashion Fix Roadshow. During the months of April and May, she visited Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Kilkenny and Galway for a series of fashion styling events, which included hair and make-up masterclasses, fashion shows, styling workshops and surprise celebrity guest appearances.

Speaking of the experience, she said: ‘It has been the best part of my career to date. I did them ten years ago, but I'm actually enjoying them more this time round.’

Lisa is a positive woman who instils confidence and understands women. She lives by her very own quote: ‘Dream the dream, but action it to make it a reality’. When asked

Personal style and Beauty Secrets: Lisa describes her style as comfortable when chilling out, but loves dressing up when given the opportunity. When asked about Irish design, Lisa revealed that her favourites include Simone Rocha, Zoe Jordan, Helen Cody and John Rocha. She also likes Lucy Nagle’s knitwear. ‘I absolutely love getting my hair and make-up done by professionals.’ Whenever possible, Lisa has make-up free days and drinks plenty of water - her top two beauty secrets revealed!

3 Top Styling Tips: 1.Buy the right size clothes always!

2. Work your good areas, hide the bad.

3. Change your groove! Dress to suit you and your personality and don't get stuck in a look.

Fashion Fix workshops: Lisa is planning to launch more dates for her Fashion Fix Roadshow soon, so keep checking www.fitzpatrickstyle.com for full details. The launch will take place end of September.

Contributors include Rosanna Davidson (Nutrition), Marissa Carter (Cocoa Brown Tan) and Brown Sugar Hairdressing.

According to Lisa: ‘The celebrity guest is a fun part to the event and the fashions shows have been amazing too.

It’s such a great day of positive energy. We all love it!’

Dare 2 B Different Style Awards New to this summer’s Bulmers Live at Leopardstown is the Dare To Be Different Style Award 2015 in association with The Beacon Hotel, part of Fitzpatrick Lifestyle Hotels.

Coinciding with the year of Irish Design 2015, they are inviting contestants to showcase their individual, unique, innovative style and dare to be different!

They are not looking for classic race day fashion, but alternative concepts outside those that are traditionally associated with best dressed race day fashion. Celebrity judges will be on hand each week to provide their expertise in selecting the winners. Weekly prizes include: 2 night stay in The Penthouse Suite with breakfast, lunch and dinner (Prize Value €1,000). For full details visit: www.leopardstown.com For collaborations and enquiries, contact: modafixblog@gmail.com or keep up to date on www.modafix.ie, Twitter: @moda_fix, Facebook and Instagram: @modafix

‘Dream the dream, but action it to make it a reality’.

- Lisa Fitzpatrick

Lisa wears: skirt (H&M), top (Bastyan)

Lisa wears: shoes (Zara), jumper (Zara), culottes (Havana)

Lisa wears: skirt (Fran&Jane), top (H&M)

Keelin and Jackie Gavagan

Deirdre Murphy, Ailish Murphy and Catherine Walsh

Marie Hughes and her 3 daughters, Michelle, Sarah and Karen

Luke Pearson, Tim Pearson, Sinead Mc Dermott and Sean Vincent

Elaine Clarke, Brian O’Brian, Karen O’Brien and Gemma O’Brien

Frankie Mulrone, Trevor O Donnell, Conor Clerkin and Grezegorz Gawlk

A Group of Local Appalachian Musicians

Louise Kearns, Laura Kearins, Delia Kearns, Adrian Kearns and Alan Murphy

Mike and Una Heenaghan

Ciara O Brien and Rachael O Rielly

Clare Mc Caffrey and Dooreen McCaffrey

Rathedmond Road, Finisklin, Sligo 071-919 2011

General Hardware, Sliding Door Gear, uPvc Door & Window Fittings, Kitchen & Bedroom accessories Fitting Service Available

BUY ONLINE @ www.silvershardware.com

Tom and Rosleen Nolan

Mary, Larry and Deirdre Melvin

Wesley O Duinn, Margaret Mc Auliffe, Peter Daly, Maeve Mc Gowan, John O Brian, Ronan Phelan, Dierdre Melvin.

Kate O Keefe, Sheila Clancy, and Sean O Keefe Michael Wheelan, Marty Marren, Grace Whelan and Gill Hewitt

Ashling Keenan, and Paula Mc Fetridge

Eithne Hard, Emer Mc Gowan, and Verona Coburn

Maria Flemming and Avril Ryan

David and Mary Willis

Maeve Mc Cormack and Mary Heffernon

FOOD&DRINK

MARINATED CHICKEN

A

marinade guaranteed to make your chicken breasts tender and juicy! This one has a little bit of everything in just the right proportions."

Ingredients 1/4 cup distilled white vinegar 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/3 cup soy sauce 1 lime, juiced 1/2 lemon, juiced 1/4 cup sherry 2 tablespoons ground mustard 2 teaspoons honey 4 cloves garlic, crushed 1/3 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons lemon pepper 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1 teaspoon rosemary 1 teaspoon salt 6 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves Directions In a large glass bowl, stir together the vinegar, oil, soy sauce, lime juice, lemon juice, sherry, mustard, and honey. Mix in the garlic, brown sugar, lemon pepper, oregano, rosemary, and salt. Place the chicken in

the mixture. Cover, and marinate in the refrigerator 8 hours or overnight.

Preheat the grill for high heat.

Lightly oil the grill grate.

Discard marinade, and

WINE GUIDE

place chicken on the grill. Cook 6 to 8 minutes per side, until juices run clear.

Our deatured wine this month is Swartland d’VINE Red Grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot Colour: Dark garnet red

Tasting Notes: This red wine blend is medium to full bodied with a fruity and hint of spice. In the mouth it is rich with ripe plumminess and a hint of blackberry. Full lingering, clean finish with smooth tannins.

Food match: Grilled meats and barbecues.

The history of Swartland Winery dates back to 1948 when the Swartland Co-operative was founded by 15 member farmers in the Swartland region which got its name from Jan van Riebeeck’s description of the land on seeing the indigenous vegetation, ‘renosterbos’, appear black in colour Swartland Winery boasts a unique style of wine making, utilising the dry soil and bush vine growth of the Swartland region. The award winning wines are made from smaller berries to produce wines with a concentration of fruit flavors, offering a diverse selection of products to suit every taste !

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 58

ZUCCHINI BOATS ON THE GRILL D

elish zucchini stuffed with your favorite ingredients and finished on the hot grill.

Great side dish or as a light meal on their own."

Ingredients 2 medium zucchini 1 slice white bread, torn into small pieces 1/4 cup bacon bits 1 tablespoon minced black olives 1 jalapeno pepper, minced 3 tablespoons diced green chile peppers 1/4 cup minced onion 1/4 cup chopped tomato 6 tablespoons shredded sharp Cheddar cheese 1 pinch dried basil seasoned salt to taste ground black pepper to taste

Directions Prepare the grill for indirect heat.

Place the zucchini in a pot with enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook 5 minutes. Drain, cool, and cut in half lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp to about 1/4 inch from the skin. Chop pulp.

In a bowl, mix the zucchini pulp, bread pieces, bacon bits, olives, jalapeno, green chile peppers, onion, tomato, and Cheddar cheese.

Season with basil, seasoned salt, and pepper. Stuff the zucchini halves with the pulp mixture. Seal each stuffed half in aluminum foil.

Place foil packets on the prepared grill over indirect heat. Cook 15 to 20 minutes, until tender.

Refreshing red wine cooler A lighter, sparkling alternative to regular red wine This refreshing red wine cooler is like sangria’s slightly ghetto cousin. But what it lacks in sophistication it makes up for in terms of ease and speed- the only additions to the wine are a fresh lime juice syrup and some sparkling water. You’ll easily be able to make a batch in minutes.

Mexican Red Wine Cooler with Fresh Lime 6 servings Ingredients 3/4 cup fresh lime juice 3/4 cup sugar 1/4 cup water 3 cups red wine 1 cup sparkling water ice

slices of lime for garnish (optional)

Directions Combine the lime juice, sugar and water in a pitcher and stir until the sugar has dissolved. Add the red wine and sparkling water and stir gently to combine. Pour over ice and garnish with a slice of lime, if desired.

GRILLED BACON-WRAPPED STUFFED JALAPEÑOS Ingredients 5 strips of bacon 5-6 Jalapeños 4 oz. cream cheese 1/2 cup cheddar cheese Directions Preheat grill to medium-high heat. Wash and cut the jalapeño into halves, scoop out the ribs and seeds with a spoon (leave some in if you like it spicy). Mix together the cream cheese and cheddar cheese. Stuff each half of the jalapeño with the cheese mixture. Cut the bacon strips in half. Wrap a slice of bacon around the jalapeño and secure it with a toothpick. Place foil on the grill and then put your jalapeños on the foil. Cover the grill. Let the poppers cook for 10-15 minutes, checking every 5 minutes. When the bacon is cooked, take the poppers of the grill. Let them cool for a few minutes before enjoying.

Revlon Professional Revue Wave Equave Detangler

2 for €14

5 Thomas St, Sligo Tel: 071-9143523

July Special

Cut, Blow Dry and Shave for only...€25 July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 59

WB’s Coffee House & Deli Bar Shells is the perfect beach cafe, bright & airy with fabulous fairtrade coffee.

Brunch is a must and includes eggs benedict & freshly baked bread.

11 Stephen Street, Sligo • 087-9757475

Sweet / Savoury Crépes Sandwiches Paninis Ice Cream Smoothies Coffee

TAKEAWAY COFFEE AND FRESHLY MADE SCONE ONLY €3 With wonderful wines and an organic Prosecco, this is a real gem. The Shells Little Shop, next door, is a treasure trove of jewellery, gifts, art and of course our Homemade range of deli delights.

Beachfront, Strandhill Tel: 071-9122938 www.shellscafe.com

Hargadon Bros. is situated at 4/5 O’Connell Street in the centre of Sligo and comprises a traditional Pub and Restaurant with a modern Wine Shop attached as part of the Johnston Court Shopping Mall. Pop into the wine shop and let our helpful staff help you choose from the widest choice of wine for any occasion.

Live Music Every Thursday & Friday from 10.00pm Good Food Ireland Awards 2013 - Hargadon's Sligo awarded 'Best Food Pub In Ireland' See you in Hargadons for a Pint O’Connell Street, Sligo. www.hargadons.com Michelin Eating Out In Pubs Guide 2013

Open from 8.30am every morning Serving freshly baked scones, freshly made gourmet sandwiches, homemade soup and delicious coffees

Quayside Shopping Centre, Quay Street Mall, Sligo

Tel: 087-9125783

The

Snug

Stephen Street Car Park

Experience what Sligo’s smallest bar has to offer • A traditional style Irish Bar located in the town centre •Traditional folk session every Tue, Wed & Thur Nights • Live music every Friday & Saturday

THE

Irish

HOUSE

Live Music Every Saturday & Sunday Live Games on TV

Parties Catered for Tel: 071-9142003 O’Connell Street, Sligo

PEKING HOUSE

Pearse Road, Sligo (Opposite Garda Station) Tel: 071-9171731 • 071-9169831 • Open 4pm-1am

Delivery Service Available

Find us on Facebook: PekingHouseSligo Find us on

e Fox'sPubDen ThGastro

High quality pub food is served each Sunday between 12.30pm-5.00pm and from Thurs to Sat from 5pm to 9pm.

The Fox's Den is a Family run Bar & Lounge with a Convenient Store located in the Village of Keash at the Foot of the Famous Keashcorran Hill. Established in the early 1840 the Bar is steeped in history as is the location of the bar which gives it a warm friendly atmosphere

Keash, Co Sligo Tel: 071-9183408

Sligo's singing priest - Fr Kevin Fallon Concert @ Molly Fulton's Pub

Marian Flannery, Majelly Melly, Mary Dolan McLoughlin & Rose Gallagher St

Maureen Rooney, Mary Keegan, Roisin McHugh, Sean McHugh, Michael Rooney & Jimmy Keegan

Eugene Fallon, Phil Feehily, Margaret Walsh & John Fallon Carraroe

Fr. Kevin Fallon

Angela Kerins & Maureen McDermott Dromard

Mary Bruen, Carmel & Joe Moran

Mary & Niall Davey, Nuala & Seamus Flanagan

Owen McLean & Pat Benson

July 2015 • Sligo Now Magazine • Page 62

Nancy Flaherty, Ester Devanney & Sean Fallon

Wavesweeper Sea Adventures now in Mullaghmore!

W

avesweeper Sea Adventures - one of the activity providers that made the headlines with The Irish Times 'best place in Ireland go go wild!' award in Erris, Co. Mayo - is now providing watersports activities and adventures in Mullaghmore, Co. Sligo.

Wavesweeper's head office base - the Erris region in Co. Mayo - is an ideal watersports location which shares many similarities with the Wild Atlantic Way Signature Point, Mullaghmore: small seaside communities, a large Atlantic coast peninsula, well-known surfing spots (with a few hidden gems), rocky cliffs on one side, sheltered beaches on the other.

It is only fitting that Wavesweeper is now providing activities in the two places - both are picturesque places and are two of the best watersports locations

in Ireland! Wavesweeper (which is named after the legendary Manannan Mac Lir's boat, Scuabtuinne) is a family-run adventure company set up by David Tyrrell and his wife Deborah in 2013. The company is fully equipped, licenced and insured to provide activities such as coasteering, snorkelling, kayaking sessions to children, families, individuals and groups, as well as seasonal camps for kids. David and Deborah, and the Wavesweeper team, continue to provide safe and responsible adventure, and to promote safety on the water.

In the short space of time since Wavesweeper has been set up,

the family company has already garnered rave reviews: "the best day's craic for a long time", "excellent activities for a family", "the most amazing afternoon I've ever had", "I felt very safe and well looked after", "it was brilliant, we had a fantastic time!", "brilliant laugh and professional instructors, all round awesome day!" David says, "I am privileged to be able to live and work along the Wild Altantic Way, and I am so excited about working in Mullaghmore — it is an incredible location which has achieved international fame for its big waves, and deservedly so.

I cannot wait to dive in and share its beauty with others!"

To book an adventure with Wavesweeper in Mullaghmore, contact the office on 087 3459551. Website: www.wavesweeperseaadventures.com Find wavesweeper on Facebook or contact us via Twitter @WaveSweeper

CASTLE STREET, SLIGO • OFF LICENCE TELEPHONE: 071-9138900 Stocking premium Irish, Scotch and world whiskeys, Armagnac, Quality Rums and Liqueurs Award winning wines ranging from €5 to €80 Excellent variety of quality Cuban Cigars Craft and World Beers stocked

WATCH LIVE PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALL & ALL IRELAND FINALS IN THE BAR Speciality Beers and Wines

Our friendly Staff can help you choose from our extensive range of wines and spirits Traditional Music Every Friday & Saturday

Ver! few off licences will capt#re your imagination like Foleys, with its breathtaking range!

HAIR & BEAUTY

Summer is upon us! It’s time for ice cream, sundresses, sandals and short hair. Beat the heat this summer by changing up your look. If you’ve tossed around the idea of going short, summer is the perfect time to experiment with your hair and try some of these hot short hair trends. This article will definitely give you some ideas to take with you to the salon this season!

ASYMMETRICAL SIDE SWEEP

Here is a little flare and femininity on short hair. This cut can be styled many ways, so here is a softer look for this edgy cut.

SMOOTH LAYERED CROP

Here is a soft and flirty short style that can be worn in a variety of ways. This is an easy style to maintain and also easy to dress up!

LADIES POMPADOUR

This is a very posh style that be worn out day and night. This pomp could even work out for longer hair if you tie the back up. Big volume = big attitude!

UNDERCUT SIDE PART This undercut style is wildly popular with short hair this summer. Some go so far as to shave in a little shape into the side. Go for it!

SLEEK BOB

Here is another modern spin on our classic bob Sleek and chic, this a very polished look for work or play this summer season.

MONSTER BALL HALLIE BERRY

Here is a very clean yet feminine short style that is easy to maintain at home.

SOFT SWEPT DRAMA

This style can be an easy entry for women who haven’t had short hair before. This cut is still long enough to tie back into a tiny ponytail if need be, and you get the full effect “short” look while still having some length.

SLEEK ASYMMETRICAL BOB

This a very chic and modern look for the polished professional as well as the stylish diva.

Asymmetrical short styles almost style themselves as they have have such distinct shapes.

PIXIE FAUX SIDEPART

This look is for bold and confident! This is a ladies version of the oh so popular men’s side parted style. This may be among the easiest looks to style as it mostly does all the work itself!

CURLY CROP

Here is a very playful and vibrant style that exudes confidence. Shorter styles like this one are easily enhanced with a little pop of hair colour.

COIF TOP

This is a very chic look for anyone looking to make a strong first impression this summer season!

SOFT FEMININE BOB

Vintage looks are here to stay for a while. Here’s a throwback of one of the most classic shapes — the bob!This is among the most universal looks out there and it works well on most everyone. Curlier, wavier, thicker hair types may want to opt for longer variations of this look.

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Pictures by Noel Kennedy/PinSharp Imagery

County manager, Kieran Hayes get a selfie with Joanna Lumley

Joanna poses under a WB Yeats painting with Senator Susan O'Keefe.

Joanna Lumley officially opens the WB Yeats Garden

Old flames from their college days, Joanna Lumley with photographer Mike Bunn

Joanna Lumley with Jackie Lynch

Joanna has to put on the necklace straight away!

Joanna poses under a WB Yeats painting

Joanna Lumley with Val Robus

orely Forrester, Joanna Lumley and Lucy Brennan.

Cat and Moon proprietor Martina Hamilton presents Joanna with a necklace made by her

SERVICES DIRECTORY

INSTALLERS OF INSULATION SEI Approved Grant Installers

Installers of

For a professional service in planning applications for: Private houses, extensions (any size), small scale commercial, also cottage renovations etc. Timber frame and low energy dwellings a special interest.

CAVITY WALL & ATTIC INSULATIONS SPRAY FOAM SPRAY INSULATION For Attics, Dormers, Commercial Buildings and Agri Sheds

Tel/Fax: 071-9166277 • Mob: 087-2817620

www.brusnaenergysolutions.com

Contact Martin McGloin Bunduff, Cliffoney, Co. Sligo casarcser@hotmail.com

ENNISCRONE, CO. SLIGO Contact Noel at 087-7445555 • Tel: 096-74980, 087-3521327 Gerry Email: noel@brusnaenergysolutions.com

SERVICES DIRECTORY Mother Earth Garden Services

Residential & Commercial property • Full garden maintenance solutions • Garden renovation • Annual maintenance programme

• New garden construction • Power washing • Trees & shrubs supplied and planted

FREE NO OBLIGATION QUOTE Tel: 071-9310131 • Mobile: 086-2720169 Email: tonykeaveney@me.com

T&R CONSTRUCTION • 1st & 2nd Fix • Bathroom Renovations ! Timber Floors • House Renovation Work • Keen Rates

Call Tommy: 086-1678044

Cleaning and Maintenance Services Ballintrillick, Co. Sligo Sunday Nov 12-6 or 071-9842542 Tel: Alan on 23rd 087-2362433 Monday Nov 24th 10-6

“Fast Reliable Service”

Lynns Dock, Sligo • Tel: 071-9157830

BEDS • SANDING • FLOORING

• Computer & Laptop Sales and Repair • Custom PC Builds • Software repairs / Virus removal • GPS Systems • Games Consoles • iPhone / iPod, iPad and iMac Mon-Fri 10am - 5pm / Sat 10am - 2pm Call Us on 087-6452450 or 087-3232439 2 Stephen Court, Stephen Street, Sligo www.repairzone.ie

Laminate Floors Only €5.99 sqyd

Aluminium & PVC Repairs To windows, doors and patio doors

Expert patio door repairs!

Counselling for people with addictions eg. Drugs, Alcohol, Gambling • ALSO COVERS GENERAL COUNSELLING Counsellors are professionally trained • Relapse Programme and are fully accredited or working • One-to-one Counselling towards accreditation.

• Referral system for private clients to White Oaks Rehabilitation Centre For appointments ring: 087-2879707 OR 074-9723822 • Addiction and General counselling available Afternoon, evening and weekend Email: tabourhouse2004@eircom.net Tabor House, Drimark, Donegal Town appointments available

• Rollers • Tracks • Hinges • Door Realignment • Locks • Multilocking systems etc Over 20 years experience servicing Irish windows and doors. Fully insured GLASS PARTS ETC REPLACED

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• Domestic Drain Cleaning • Emergency Service Call Out • Commercial Drain Cleaning • Man Hole Covers Replaced • Odours Investigated • High Velocity Water Jetting • Annual Maintenance Contracts • CCTV Drain Inspection

• Septic Tank Cleaning

Contact Damien: 087 297 4842 or 071 916 8086

Matt McGowan

Sligo Ci!zens Informa!on Service Providing a free, confiden!al and Independent Service Have you ques!ons about your social welfare en!tlements, employment rights, medical card en!tlements etc. For informa!on, Advice and Advocacy on all your rights and en!tlements contact Sligo Ci!zens Informa!on.

We operate from the following loca!ons • Rockwood Parade, Sligo • Teach Laighne, Tubbercurry • Family Resource Centre, Ballymote For further details contact 0761076390, email sligo@ci!nfo.ie www.ci!zensinforma!on.ie

Rathedmond

• Home Maintenance • Landscaping • Grass Cutting • Hedge Trimming • Decorating • Green Waste Removal

Tel: 071-9146858 • Mobile: 087-2069031

• 1st and 2nd Fix • Kitchens • Flooring • Roofing • Decking • Wardrobes • Conservatories • A#c Conversions • Bunk Beds

CRASH REPAIR

Rathedmond Road, Sligo • 071-9150066 Mobile: 086-8885349 Upcoming July Courses in Sligo Area For more information on upcoming course or to make a booking call 071 9130742 or email jenny.wall@cmd.ie The Gateway Building, North West Business Park, Collooney, Co.Sligo.

For queries or Bookings - contact Caroline / Claire on 071-9300886 or training@safetech.ie

For all your carpentry needs at keen rates

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086-8365444 • www.kdg.ie Like usTel: on Facebook @ Grange Fuel Oils and Coal Distributors for news and special offers Kieran Davey Groundworks

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Domestic & Commercial Fully Insured & Guaranteed All work carried out efficiently and effectively Call: 087-7822059 / 071-9138330

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Follow Kate on Twitter @katicut This month, I had a ready-made new leaf. One I had been looking forward to for quite some time, which I combined with my birthday to make a very special treat. At the start of June, I went along to my very first writing festival. Which is quite ridiculous, because I’ve been writing all my life and I seem to have only just realised that there are inspiring, interesting and a million times more successful people out there, ready and willing to share their expertise and knowledge with little fledglings like me.

I had my tickets and accommodation sorted at the start of the year. And I was looking up the speakers and their work for weeks beforehand. But nothing, no amount of research or preparation, could have prepared me for the awesomeness of this adventure. I had no field of reference, either, having rarely gone to even small music festivals, and avoiding the bigger ones like the plague. I didn’t know what to expect, toddling off on my own to the Borris House Festival of Writing and Ideas, in the gorgeous little town of Borris, County Carlow. I didn’t even know how to find Carlow on a map.

But find it, I did. And as soon as I walked through those gates, onto the grounds of the stately home that is Borris House, perched on a gentle rise that overlooks miles and miles of rolling fields and forestry and river, as soon as I saw the tiny caravans dotted about selling wine and coffee and delicioussmelling food to roaming word-lovers, as soon as the programme of events was in my sweaty little hand, I knew I was in heaven.

The first talk I went to was, fittingly, on Yeats. I sat up the front and revelled in the familiar words, delivered in unfamiliar accents from an impressive panel of actors, writers and journalists.

Several hours later, completely walking on air and with a head already buzzing with ideas and inspirations, I met my first hero of the weekend (there were many). Giles Duley is a photographer, who moved from the glamorous world of fashion and music into conflict and war photography. After stepping on a land mine in Afghanistan four years ago, Giles has had to adjust to life with catastrophic injuries robbing him of all but one of his limbs, his right arm. Still, he travels the world and photographs people, their stories, their tragedies.

He was most recently in Gaza three weeks ago. A mind-blowingly emotive and inspiring speaker, I was shy (but inescapably driven) to speak to him, but when I did, I was delighted to discover that he was funny and warm and brilliantly fun too. I had a friend!

We drank whiskey together and he introduced me to several other amazing people along the way. This was the festive bit.

In fact, the festive bits were actually the most unexpected elements. I can’t say I was anticipating the wine

and whiskey soaked stories by candlelight, the wild rides on haytrailers destined for mysterious barges moored at the riverside, the bonfires and kleptomaniac comedians, the feasts in the marquee, the music and song, and the generally raucous level of craic... That said, none of that was actually included in my ticket, it just transpired that the fates were shining on me and everyone thought I was a participant in the festival, because why else would I be wandering around on my own looking all whimsical and happy? Also, because if anyone asked me “And what are you speaking about?” or “And when is your talk on?” I would just reply with the most beaming smile I could muster “IT’S MY BIRTHDAY!” Of all the lectures, talks and exhibitions along the way, I can genuinely say, none stood out much brighter than the rest. The standard of content, delivery and style was varied and no matter what the subject, I was enthralled. I watched musicians like Lisa Hannigan and Cathy Davey performing intimate, deeply thoughtful snippets of their songs, and speaking about their own experiences of writing. Pink Floyd legend David Gilmour was only feet away from me with his wonderful novelist wife, Polly Samson, discussing in depth their lyrical collaborations. Tommy Tiernan and Kieth Barry, hilarious divvils that they are, had an informal and genius banter-chat onstage for our entertainment. Amazing, internationally acclaimed film-makers Neil Jordan and Rick Stroud spoke about their craft and authors like Pulitzer Prize winning Michael Cunningham were a huge inspiration to behold. Adorable mischief-maker and acclaimed New Zealand comic, Danny Dunning bounced around the entire estate bringing sunshine and occasional chaos to everyone’s days.

Off-stage, I bumped into every one of these incredible people (and delivered my birthday line, of course, that opens so many doors!) and guess what? They’re all incredibly nice, too.

To the point where that same Pulitzer Prize winning author called me a Goddess of abundance, and that same chaotic comic kept telling me he loved me from the first moment we met.

So the moral of the story is this: Be brave and go to something big and brilliant alone. The potential for learning, for being inspired, for finding kindred spirits and discovering quite how much fun such events can be, is a million times multiplied when you step into that vulnerable space and talk to strangers.

I have never done anything so simultaneously challenging and pleasurable in my life and I will absolutely be returning next year to repeat the experience. Except, next year, I’ve promised myself, I’ll be speaking at the festival. Watch this space!

Wonderful Walks in County Sligo This Month: Garavogue River Doorly Park Distance: Roughly 4km Difficulty Level: An easy peasy little urban ramble, with glimpses of Mother Nature at her best.

Directions: In the centre of Sligo town, head to Bridge Street, and from the Embassy Rooms at the corner of the aforementioned bridge, follow the road alongside the river as it unfolds into more and more greenery. Enjoy the peaceful surrounds of Doorly Park before looping back the way you came when you reach the pier. If you want to make it a shorter, less urban walk, just park in either of the Doorly Park car parks and walk only in the designated park area.

Description: Doorly Park must be one of the prettiest and best appointed resources in Sligo town centre. With a fully equipped and well maintained playground, outdoor video/digital games point, nature trail and an excellent (if exhausting looking) fitness circuit built in to the walk, there truly is something for everyone here. The walk along the Garavogue river offers pretty town views as one takes in the promenade, with the swooping bridge at the Riverside hotel reminiscent of the architecture usually found in much bigger cities, and the welcome sight of leafy trees and grassy verges meeting the eye as Doorly Park appears in the distance. Once in the park, rambling along in the peace and quiet right beside the water, one could easily forget there lies a bustling town and busy main roads only metres away. Beautiful old trees line the walk, with lots of benches and viewpoints along the way for those who like to take a breather now and then. Joggers, dog-walkers and tourists pass by, most with a friendly wave or word. Benbulben and his craggy neighbours loom in the distance, and the spire of the cathedral still within sight if you look back towards the town. There’s a pretty little bridge spanning a small inlet of water about halfway, and if you keep your eyes peeled you’ll spot lots of little birdhouses dotted through the foliage along the route. By the time you get to the pier at the end of the loop, you have a decision to make, go back the way you came, or follow the path up to the road and walk that way, taking in all the torturous looking exercise machines for the outdoor fitness circuit.

Once back at the entrance to the park, all that remains is to stroll back to town along the riverside again, maybe stopping just once to treat yourself to a well deserved coffee or pint in one of the bars along the way...