Enterprise Spring 2014

YOUR GUIDE TO: RESTAURANTS • HOTELS • ATTRACTIONS

LINKING DUBLIN AND BELFAST VOLUME 11:01

KATIE TAYLOR

BOXING’S GOLDEN GIRL LOOKS FORWARD TO A MASSIVE 2014

RUGBY

WHY IRELAND ARE IN WITH A SIX NATIONS SHOUT

TOM VAUGHAN -LAWLOR

THE LOVE/HATE MAN SPREADS HIS ACTING WINGS

COLIN

FARRELL

THE HOLLYWOOD STAR ON FAME, FAMILY & HIS LATEST BLOCKBUSTERS SPOTLIGHT ON DUNDALK

& CELEBRITY TABLE WITH TV3 XPOSÉ’S MICHELLE DOHERTY

Enterprise Volume 11 Issue 1

6 ENTER HERE! A rundown of what's hot and happening at your next stop.

18 RAIL NEWS Up-to-the-minute news from Irish Rail and Translink.

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21 LIFE OF BRIAN Artist and musician BRIAN PALM heads for an art exhibition in the Ulster Museum and takes Enterprise along for the scenic train ride.

22 THE BANKS OF IRELAND As busy as ever, with A Winter's Tale and Saving Mr. Banks recently under his belt, former hell-raiser COLIN FARRELL explains how his only addictions these days are his work and fatherhood.

24 LADY OF THE RING Olympic gold medallist and Irish icon KATIE TAYLOR explains her decision not to go pro as she looks ahead to Rio and talks about the most nerve-wracking person she's ever faced: her hero Roy Keane.

28 NIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER The man who captivates and terrifies in equal measure as Love/ Hate's Nidge, TOM VAUGHAN-LAWLOR remembers the year he ruled Irish screens and looks ahead to the fifth series and his portrayal of Charlie Haughey.

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30 GOTH TO TROT The 'Godmother of Gothic', writer ANNE RICE talks about influencing the vampire genre, abandoning Christianity and her new werewolf series.

34 TRYING TIMES As the Six Nations looms large, we assess the Irish rugby team's chances of glory, as well as the competition...

39 X MARKS THE SPOT New Xposé addition MICHELLE DOHERTY joins Enterprise for a meal in Dublin's Zaragoza.

40 WINTER WONDER WEAR The hottest trends for the coldest time of year. Follow our guide to wrapping up well with style!

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44 ON THEE CREST OF A WAVE We meet BRENDAN O'DRISCOLL, co-founder and CEO of SOUNDWAVE, to learn how his Irish start-up's social media app is taking the world by storm.

46 THE LAP OF LIGURIA We head to northern-western Italy to tell you about the myriad delights the city of GENOA, the beautiful capital of Liguria, has to offer.

48 LOUTH AND PROUD Nestled between Dublin and Belfast, DUNDALK is a town on the rise. Here's our guide to the experiencing the best of the 'birthplace of Cú Chulainn'.

53 REVIEWS Our team reviews the latest books, albums and films.

56 ATTRACTIONS All the best places to eat, rest and visit in both Dublin and Belfast.

County Museum, Dundalk

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Enterprise – Editor’s Letter

Credits Editor:

Máirín Sheehy

Commissioning Editor:

Roisin Dwyer

Contributors:

Stuart Clark, Craig Fitzpatrick, Aoife Gray, Maeve Heslin, Marisa Mackle, Roe McDermott, Edwin McFee, James O'Brien, Séan O'Brien, Anne Sexton, Olaf Tyaransen

Design & Production:

Hot Press 13 Trinity Street Dublin 2

Design:

Monika Karaliunaite Niall Warde

Printed by:

Boylan’s Print

Advertising:

Trish Murphy

Publisher:

Niall Stokes

Enterprise is published for NIR ailways and Iarnród Eireann by:

Osnovina Ltd 13 Trinity Street Dublin 2

Telephone:

(01) 2411 500

Fax:

(01) 2411 538

Email:

enterprise@hotpress.ie

Letters:

The Editor, Enterprise Magazine, 13 Trinity St Dublin 2

While every effort has been made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, the publishers cannot accept any responsibilities for errors. The views contained in this magazine are those of the authors and not necessarily those of N I Railways and Iarnród Eireann.

All material © Osnovina 2014. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of material without permission of the publishers is strictly prohibited

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Saluting The Brave

Y

ou have to admire people with courage. Michael Deane has long been a food pioneer in Northern Ireland. He was among those who began the modernisation of the restaurant scene in Belfast, and eventually won a Michelin Star for his efforts.

He currently runs four well-known eateries in the city: the original Deanes, as well as Deanes at Queen Street, Deanes Deli and Deane & Decano. Now he has announced the opening of a new venture in what was once the fancy goods shop, Equinox. The planned investment is £500,000 and 30 jobs will be created.

There is an ambitious flavour to what Deane has in store. The plan will combine a new fine dining restaurant with a Billecart Champagne Bar and a temple to carnivorousness in the form of The Meat Locker. The latter will be inspired by Hawksmoor, the acclaimed steak house which has four outlets in London. The renowned Northern wine distributor James Nicholson will be involved in the Champagne Bar. It is just another indicator that Belfast is starting to become a happening city again. Niall McKenna, for example, has been going about things in the right way. In addition to the flagship restaurant, James Street South, the brand now encompasses Hadskis in the Cathedral Quarter, The Bar and Grill @ James Street South and The Cookery School @ James Street South, where people can learn to cook in style themselves.

The ability to make good things happen is often underestimated but it is a vital aspect of what makes any city, or indeed country, an interesting and satisfying place to live. In the context of the recession, people are fighting against considerable odds. But that they are fighting back so energetically is to be applauded.

In Dublin too, there are plenty of ambitious restaurants, cafes and bars opening, particularly in the emerging cultural quarter between Grafton Street and George’s Street. Some of the newcomers like the excellent Drury Buildings on Drury Street – associated with the nearby No Name Bar – have real scale. So too has Zaragoza, a new tapas restaurant that opened towards the end of 2013.

John Farrell, who already runs the successful 777 on George’s Street as well as The Butcher’s Grill and the refurbished Dillinger’s in Ranelagh, has also opened a new sushi and seafood place on Drury Street, under the Super Miss Sue’s banner.

The Cafe is already open, with the restaurant and Gin Bar to follow soon.

They are fighting back too in Dundalk, which is the subject of a special focus on page 48. The beauty of it is that change is inbuilt into the human condition, part of the cycle of life. It would be simplistic to suggest that the world is divided into people who let things happen and others who forge the path forward.

However, innovation in business takes a special kind of bravery, particularly in the context of the wider uncertainty over the past five years.

There are signs that we are coming out of that and entering a new phase of development. Let’s hope so – and salute those who are committed to making it happen, no matter how stiff the odds.

Máirín Sheehy, Editor

Enjoy a relaxing break in Dublin... ...with

NIR Travel is Northern Ireland’s leading operator of short break holidays by rail. Our ready-made packages make it easy to take a trip to Dublin; all our breaks are inclusive of rail travel on the Enterprise with an excellent choice of hotels on offer – ranging from 3* to 5* to suit all budgets. This is just a small selection of the fantastic hotel breaks we have on offer.

Dublin Theatre Breaks Seven Brides for Seven Brothers: 27 Jan – 01 Feb

For further information visit: www.translink.co.uk/nirtravel and browse online for the hotel and travel dates of your choice, then simply complete the online booking form. Alternatively call NIR Travel direct on 028 9024 2420 or pop in to the Travel Centre, Glengall Street, Belfast.

Midweek Deals 2014

Weekend Breaks 2014

Arlington Hotel Temple Bar 3*

Happy Days: 04 Feb – 07 Feb

1 night B&B + Celtic Nights Show & Dinner:

£95

Fiddler on the Roof: 18 Feb – 22 Feb

1 night B&B:

£65

Dance ‘Til Dawn: 04 Mar – 08 Mar

2 nights B&B

£105

Luxury

Shelbourne Hotel 5* Weekend 2 nights 01 Jan – 07 Apr 20 Oct – 31 Dec: 08 Apr – 19 Oct:

Subject to availability Sun – Thu only

Central Dublin

Dirty Dancing: 08 Jul – 26 Jul

Belvedere Hotel 3*

Midweek: £119 Weekend: £139 Children: £90 (7yrs & under £75 / over 7yrs)

Weekend 2 nights Jan – Feb : Nov – Dec: Mar – Oct:

May – Oct (2 nights):

War Horse: 26 Mar – 26 Apr

All rates are per person sharing.

Single room supplement £49.

A £50 non-refundable deposit secures.

3 nights for the price of 2: £89 (Jan - Apr / Nov - Dec, midweek only) £99

Crowne Plaza Hotel 4* Midweek 2 nights B&B + 1 Dinner Jan – Dec:

£89

Theatre Breaks include: • First Plus Return Rail Travel • Overnight stay at Grand Canal Hotel 3* + Full Breakfast • Pre-show 2 course dinner • Show Ticket (upper circle) • All breaks include return rail travel from any NIRailways station.

• All rates are per person sharing / single room supplements will apply.

• All offers are subject to availability and T&Cs and are subject to change.

Call us now on 028 9024 2420 or visit www.translink.co.uk/nirtravel

£195 £195 £220

Trinity Capital Hotel 4* £125 £125 £155

Beyond Dublin

Royal Marine Hotel 4* (Dun Laoghaire) Weekend 2 nights Jan – Apr: May – Dec:

£120 £135

Enter Here

A run down of what’s hot and happening by ROBERT HIGGINS

Crazy in Love Fresh from shocking the world when she released her self-titled fifth solo album without a word of warning in December, Beyoncé is ready to take those new songs on the road. She had plenty of live practice in 2013, with her acclaimed world tour retrospectively acting as fantastic promotion for her excellent latest album. It means her forthcoming four-night stopover at Dublin’s O2 is likely to be a pretty spectacular run of shows. You can catch the diva in action, performing hits from throughout her career, March 8-12. Her husband Jay Z might even be in attendance on the night, but really, it's all about The Queen B herself.

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Enterprise

20% OFF

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O LONG O T R A F

Going It Alone From the heady early days of Take That to the inevitable post break-up slump, it’s safe to say that Gary Barlow has had a career of ups and downs. However, few would argue that his current position is an unenviable one. Take That are as popular as ever and his role as a judge on The X Factor beams him into millions of households every weekend. Despite his busy schedule, Barlow has managed to find the time to release Since I Saw You Last, his first solo album in 14 years. You can catch Gary Barlow at Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on March 29 and Dublin’s O2 on March 31. Expect to hear material from the new album such as recent single ‘Let Me Go’ as well as some of the hits that have earned him six Ivor Novello awards over his illustrious career. Tickets for both gigs are available now.

OLE

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7

Enterprise

Whiskey In The Jar

The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival (JDIFF) will once again grace the city for its twelfth year. For ten days in early February, Dublin will become a hub for the film industry with dozens of premieres, special screenings, Q&As and public interviews with the directors, actors and producers behind the magic.

Expect to see a number of selections fresh from Tinseltown, along with plenty of indie selections that promise to keep things fresh and interesting. The films will be screened in the Savoy, Cineworld, Screen, Irish Film Institute and the Lighthouse in Smithfield. Ticket details can be found at www.jdiff.com

Lifting the Roof One of the most famous and beloved musicals of all time, Fiddler On The Roof will be playing in Dublin’s Bord Gais Theatre from February 18-22. This production will be directed and choreographed by Craig Revel Horwood, the Strictly Come Dancing judge of whom all the celeb dancers live in fear. The musical enjoyed one of the longest-ever runs on Broadway after its debut in 1964, running for 3000 shows over 13 years. The plot centers on Tevye, a father of five daughters, and his attempts to maintain his Jewish religious traditions while dealing with outside factors. Tickets are available now with general concessions (student, senior, kids) and groups 10+, 20+ and 40+ discounts available on select performances.

FRIEL– ING GOOD A fantastic chance to catch two meisterwerks from one the island's most respected playwrights this spring. Running in the fine environs of Belfast's Lyric Theatre until March 8, the Brian Friel Double Bill is a must-see for fans of Irish theatre in Northern Ireland. The 1964 play that made his name internationally, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, kicks off its run from February 6, bringing the tale of a young Donegal man preparing for a new life in America to modern audiences. From February 8, you can also catch Molly Sweeney. A two-act play from 1994, it is a rarely-performed gem experiencing something of a renaissance of late. A terrific venue as well – the new 500-seater Lyric was opened in 2011 by Friel himself. Go to lyrictheatre.co.uk for details and tickets.

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An tIúr agus Múrna

Newry & Mourne

Ballyma

ins Mounta Silent Valley, Mourne

cdermot Caírn ,S

outh Armagh

www.Facebook.com/NewryandMourneTourism www.Facebook.com/NewryandMourneDistrictCouncil For further information contact: Newry Visitor Information Centre, Bagenal’s Castle, Castle Street, Newry BT34 2DA Tel: 028 3031 3170 Email: newrytic@newryandmourne.gov.uk

www.VisitNewryandMourne.com

The Coca-Cola Visitors Experience, located at the Coca-Cola Hellenic bottling plant in Lisburn, Co Antrim, is a unique space blending education and entertainment, created to welcome schools, colleges, community groups, tourists, local guests and anyone who would like to explore, learn and have fun discovering the past, present and future of the world’s number one soft drink.

This popular attraction allows the local community and visitors from across the world the opportunity to take an interactive look at the rich history of Coca-Cola HBC on the island of Ireland, gain an insight into the complex production processes behind the company’s world famous brands and of course sample Coca-Cola’s wide range of refreshing beverages.

Coca-Cola Hellenic continues to actively invest in the local community, across the island of Ireland, working in partnership with many charitable and community organisations on meaningful initiatives that benefit others and demonstrate the company’s commitment to corporate social responsibility.

The Coca-Cola Visitors Experience offers FREE guided tours for groups of ten to forty people.

All parties must have one adult per ten minors and all visitors must be ages 12 years old and upwards. Tours are available at set times from Monday to Friday so PRE-BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. For more information on the Coca-Cola Visitors Experience or to book a tour, call +44 (0)28 92 642267 or email visitors.experience@cchelleneic.com.

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Enterprise

Brace for Impact Wresting fans are in for a treat this January, as TNA Maximum Impact lands in Dublin for a one-night stand at the National Stadium on January 29. Expect to see plenty of the franchise’s biggest names including Kurt Angle, James Storm and Bobby Roode, going head-to-head in a variety of matches. Since its formation in 2002, TNA has gone from strength-to-strength and is now the only true competitor to Vince McMahon’s WWE. TNA was built on a foundation of top class wrestling and a roster of seasoned pros and exciting new talent. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster from €76. VIP packages are also available which include Meet’n’Greet and photograph opportunities with some of the company’s biggest stars.

More Voices

Other Voices is back in Derry this February for more live performances from some of the best Irish and international acts in delightfully intimate venues. Actor Aidan Gillen will once again be the man presenting the show which takes place from February 7-9. Poliça, Bell X1, Little Matador and East India Youth are just some of the names set to grace the Glassworks' stage. Since it first appeared back in 2003, Other Voices has built a reputation for quality acts and has given many artists their first big breaks with national exposure. Tickets can be won through various online and media competitions, so be sure to keep an eye on www.othervoices. ie for updates.

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The Real Story Of The Real Thing A unique space that blends education with entertainment, the Coca-Cola Visitors Experience welcomes students, tourists and just about anybody with an interest in discovering the past, present and future of the world’s number one soft drink.

Located at the Coca-Cola Hellenic bottling plant in Lisburn, the Experience was officially opened to the public in 2010 by the Queen of England.

The Experience offers the opportunity for visitors to take an interactive look at the rich history of Coca-Cola on the island of Ireland – with about 600 people currently employed by Coca-Cola in Lisburn alone, the company has a strong relationship with the place and has been actively investing in the local community of late. It will also help you to gain an insight into the complex production processes behind the company’s world-famous brands and,

of course, sample a wide range of refreshing beverages.

Visitors will take in an informative short film in the Heritage Theatre, showcasing the remarkable 125-year backstory of Coca-Cola. The multisensory trip also updates the story, opening the doorway to one of the company's most modern and technologicially-advanced European production and distribution centres.

An extensive guided gallery offers a bird’s eye view

of the main production facility, detailing how the products are made, bottled, packaged and stored.

The Experience offers free guided tours for groups of 10 to 40 people. All parties must have one adult per 10 minors and all visitors must be aged 12 years old and up. The tours run at set times from Monday to Friday and pre-booking is strongly advised.

For more information on the Coca-Cola Visitors Experience or to book a tour, call +44 (0) 28 92 642267 or email visitors.experience@cchellenic.com

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Enterprise

Walking with Giants

Back the Underdog

Ice hockey might be a relatively new phenomenon on this side of the Atlantic, but it is growing at an alarming rate, particularly in Ireland. This is thanks in no small part to the Belfast Giants, who have developed considerably since their foundation back in 2000. Expect some fresh new talent mixing it up alongside big names you might recognise from their NHL days. The Giants attract an enthusiastic crowd, with close to 4,000 people coming to see them every week. Tickets are available from £15 with matches taking place at the Odyssey Arena.

Mixed Martial Arts has been becoming increasingly popular in recent years and fans will be glad to hear that they will be able to get up close to the action this March in Belfast. The Underdog Xtreme Championships is Ireland's fastest growing promotion for Mixed Martial Arts and has been carving out a real niche for itself. They will host their next event at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast on Saturday March 1. Alex Reid and Rodney Moore will headline the event after facing off at the last show in East Belfast UXC: Battle of Belfast.

Tickets are priced at £55 and £33.

The Plot Thickens

If you like your comedy jet-black and aren’t worried by a spot of the macabre being served up with your laughs, then get yourself over to The Gaiety to catch Martin McDonagh’s ‘A Skull in Connemara’. For one week each autumn, Mick Dowd is hired to

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disinter the bones in certain sections of his local cemetery, making way for new arrivals. As the time approaches for him to dig up those of his own late wife, strange rumours regarding his involvement in her sudden death seven years earlier begin to

resurface... Directed by the acclaimed Andrew Flynn, expect plenty of gory laughs from the man behind In Bruges and Seven Psychopaths. The play runs until February 2 and ticket prices are: €19.65, €22.65, €24.65, €28 and €33.50.

Spring In Your Step

MOURNE SEAFOOD BAR Bank Street, Belfast BT1 1HL. 02890248544 Main Street, Dundrum, Co. Down BT33 0LU. 02843751377 Millennium Tower, Charlotte Quay, Dublin www.mourneseafood.com

With brighter skies and the festivities of St Patrick's Day in its favour, March always seems like the month when we can finally give spring a warm well and celebrate the end of the winter weather. Running from March 11-17, Féile an Earraigh extends those celebrations to a full week of terrific craic agus ceol in Northern Ireland. The west of Belfast City will erupt with activity, with the very best live gigs, spoken word, debates and discussion taking place around the area. Not only that, music fans will be treated to three stunning, diverse headliners.

The godfather of reggae Lee Scratch Perry, iconic punk legends The Damned and Irish folk supergroup Beoga will be holy trinity of acts that could make this Féile Spring Festival the best yet, culminating in a Paddy's Day to remember.

For more information and to get tickets, head to feilebelfast.com

HOME RESTAURANT Wellington Place, Belfast, BT1 6GE 02890234946 www.homepopup.com

The Run Electric THE EAGLE AT GALGORM Galgorm Castle, Galgorm, Ballymena BT42 1HL 02825630173 www.theeagleatgalgorm.com

Tired of the same old thing every Saturday night? We assure you that the Electric Run will be worlds apart from your average night down the pub.

The world’s premier night-time 5k run blurs the lines between keeping fit and attending a late night rave. The Electric Run has been gaining in popularity across the globe and on March 22 it will arrive in Dublin for the first time. Participants will be jogging through “lands of light” to a booming soundtrack that will transport runners to an electric wonderland.

Bring all the glow sticks and LED gear you can find for this one-off experience. Registration is currently priced at €32. Make sure to register before March 18 if you are looking to take part.

BELFAST COOKERY SCHOOL 51-53 Castle Street, Belfast BT1 1GH 02890234722 www.belfastcookeryschool.com

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Enterprise

Happy Newry Year

Steeped in cultural heritage and alive with contemporary flavour, Newry offers plenty of room for exploration. For those interested in a spot of retail therapy, the exciting array of traditional, independent traders and multi-national retailers combine to provide the highest standard of shopping. Newry also has a wide range of activities and entertainment to choose from, with six golf courses, several cycling trails, many rivers and lakes for fishing and much more.

Beautiful undulating countryside awaits to the west in the Ring of Gullion, an area awash with Celtic mythology and numerous

mourne seafood

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early Christian sites. Popular attractions include Derrymore House, Slieve Gullion Forest Park and Adventure Playground, Kilnasaggart Stone, Moyry Castle, Creggan Church and graveyard and Ti Chulainn Cultural Activity Centre. A wide variety of accommodation is available throughout the area, from hotels to hostels, self-catering to B&B’s and guesthouses, caravan to camping.

Many festivals and events take place throughout the year reflecting the many cultural activities that Newry and Mourne have to offer. For more information, log on to www. visitnewryandmourne.com

All the Pretty Horses

One of the most successful plays of recent times finally comes to Dublin this March, when War Horse arrives at The Bord Gais Theatre from March 26 – April 26. Based on Michael Morguro’s beloved novel and adapted by Nick Stafford, this show has enjoyed sell-out runs on Broadway and in London’s West End. Watch as South Africa's Handspring Puppet Company bring breathing, galloping, full-scale horses to life on the stage before your very eyes. Don’t miss what Time magazine has described as a “landmark theatre event”. Tickets are available from €35.

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Ultimate

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St Patrick’s Day Fun

2 night Breakfast and One Days Unlimited Access to Funtasia Waterpark and 1 day in Tayto Park for 2 adults and 2 Children Sharing a Family Room

There’s no better place to be on St Patrick’s Day than in the capital, with Dublin sparing no expense when it comes to the celebration of Ireland’s patron saint.

The Greening of the City is not to be missed, wherein some of Dublin’s most famous buildings are illuminated in our island's most characteristic colour. There are a variety of amusements and funfairs around the city, offering plenty of thrills for all the family. There will be an Irish Craft Beer Village, which will also feature live music. Finally, it wouldn’t be St Patrick’s Day without the annual parade, which promises to be a spectacle to behold as always. Dublin truly is the place to be on March 17.

From

€148.00

per adult sharing

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Enterprise GRAHAM KEOGH

Six Nations, One Goal It’s that hope-filled time of the year! The RBS Six Nations is nearly upon us and right on cue, everyone is starting to believe a little once again. The action kicks off in February, and Ireland’s first hurdle will be a resilient Scotland team at the Aviva on February 2. Ireland’s second home game will be against Wales the following weekend, before the final home game sees Italy arrive in town on March 8. By that time, we will be going for a Grand Slam, or at least that’s the plan! Ireland will be keen to make amends this year following last year’s unacceptable fifth place finish and the still-fresh heartbreak of that last minute defeat against the All Blacks in November. Tickets are available from www. ticketmaster.ie, www.irishrugby.ie and all regular outlets.

New Boys in Green

Ireland v Scotland

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2014

Sunday 2nd February

Ireland v Wales Saturday 8th February

Ireland v Italy Saturday 8th March

FREE ENTERTAINMENT

Resident DJ James Sexton - From 6pm

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It is undeniable that the pairing of Martin O’Neill and Roy Keane has drummed up an excitement in Irish football that had been sorely missing since the disastrous 2012 European Championship fiasco. After a blistering start with a 3-0 victory over Latvia, it is time now to see how the teams fare against tougher competition, namely Chelsea midfielder Nemanja Matić’s Serbia on March 5 at the Aviva. The last time the two sides met was back in 2008, when the match finished 1-1 thanks to a late Andy Keogh strike. With both sides having missed out on this year’s World Cup, each team will be eager to get back on winning form. Tickets are priced at: €20, €30, €40 and €50.

More Good News Looking back, 2013 was a good year for Russell Howard. He made his US debut, his television show went from strength to strength and he was voted Heat magazine’s ‘Weird Crush of the Year’. Despite a hectic previous 12 months, Howard is ready to make 2014 even better, having announced that he will be bringing his Chatterbox show to Dublin’s Vicar St on March 5-7 before heading up to Belfast’s Odyssey Arena on March 8. The tour will be Howard’s first in three years and considering how well the last one sold, tickets will be flying out quickly for this one.

10TH - 17TH MARCH 2014 BELFAST FRIDAY 14TH MARCH DOORS 8.00PM TICKETS £15.0O

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Enterprise – Train News

Events in 2014

H

eading to see One Direction in Dublin this May? Why not take the train and get home safely again the same day? Translink are providing special late night return services for concert-goers.

Additional rail services will also be available for Six Nations rugby matches in February and March. Book online at translink.co.uk

Life’s better with Translink

T

ranslink has recently launched a new marketing and communications campaign promoting bus and rail services in Northern Ireland entitled – Life’s better.

The campaign focuses on the various consumer benefits that make customers feel ‘Life’s Better’ – encouraging more and more people to make the bus and train their preferred mode of travel.

Including more time to relax free from the stress of driving in traffic; more time to catch up on work or social activities; quicker journey times as well as money savings compared to paying for fuel, parking and car maintenance costs.

The brand new TV commercial showcases the consumer benefits using dominoes from the successful previous adverts to symbolise bus and train services. Alongside TV advertising, the campaign includes radio, outdoor advertising panels, bus shelters and bus sides across towns and cities, as well as Facebook and Twitter with a new hashtag: #translinklifesbetter.

To launch the campaign, Translink recruited celebrity champions – David Meade, Pete Snodden, Katrina Doran and Nuala McKeever (who are all bus/train users). Passengers are also being encouraged to become Ambassadors for their bus/rail service by sharing their own ‘Life’s better’ experiences amongst their friends, family and colleagues. A programme of roadshows is visiting the best spaces and busiest places across Northern Ireland to promote reasons why Life’s Better with Translink. At each event Team Translink will be engaging face-to-face with the public and challenging them to think about how travelling with Translink can make their life better.

For more information on the campaign and how to get involved visit: www.translink.co.uk/lifesbetter or join the conversation online at #translinklifesbetter

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Enterprise Enterprise

Want a challenge that you can tick off your bucket list?

W

hy not set yourself a goal and participate in the Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon on Bank Holiday Monday, May 5? The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is the largest sporting participatory event in Northern Ireland bringing participants from all areas of the globe to the streets of Belfast.

Translink is pleased to once again be the Official Transport Partner of this major event and is encouraging more people to use passenger transport as part of a healthier lifestyle. Why not find out more about all the ways Translink can help make your life better by clicking www. translink.co.uk/lifesbetter.

There are five different events to suit all

ages and abilities; Marathon Run, Wheelchair Marathon, Team Relay, 8 Mile Walk and the Fun Run. Close to 18,000 runners are expected to participate and you could be one of them!

Alternatively you could help us out as a volunteer at a water station, route marshal or start/finish marshal on race day and help every participant reach their goal by crossing the finish line safely.

The Deep RiverRock Belfast City Marathon is pleased to welcome CLIC Sargent Northern Ireland as their official nominated charity for the 2014 event. The organisers would like to encourage participants to raise money for this very worthwhile cause and all entrants will be forwarded sponsorship forms from CLIC Sargent Northern Ireland with their confirmation letter.

For further information on fundraising for this charity please contact: CLIC Sargent running hotline at run@ clicsargent.org.uk or alternatively phone 0845 602 4770 Due to the ever increasing scale of the event, the organisers have decided to have a final cutoff point for entries on April 18. No entries will be accepted after this date. Participants are urged to get their entries in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

If you are interested in participating in any of the fun events this year or would like to help out as a volunteer please visit our website: www. belfastcitymarathon.com, call us on our hotline +44 (0) 28 90 60 59 33 or email us at info@ belfastcitymarathon.org

Women in Business Event on Enterprise T wenty five of this year’s Women in Business NI Awards finalists took the Enterprise to Dublin for a motivational retreat and networking afternoon ahead of the awards ceremony. Roseann Kelly, Chief Executive of Women in Business NI said “We have found from previous WIBNI events that networking on the train journey to Dublin gave people time to really connect with one another and build on their networks”. Louise Scott, Brand Manager for Translink said “We were delighted to host the Women in Business finalists onboard our Enterprise rail service to Dublin as part of their retreat. We recently launched a new ‘Life’s better’ campaign to highlight the benefits of using passenger transport and certainly this event demonstrates the train’s suitability as an excellent business discussion platform – our carriage in 1st Plus was buzzing with the sound of ladies networking!”

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(L-R) Catherine Cahill Killarney Station Highly Commended Award, Small Stations Category. John Mc Loughlin Connolly Station Winner of the Large Stations Category. Jacqui Rogers Pearse Station Winner of the Metro Station Category, and Jackie Reid Heuston Station winner of Major Station Category

Iarnród Éireann Scores Hat-Trick At International Station Awards Pearse, Connolly & Heuston achieve wins as Killarney is highly commended.

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he eighth International Best Stations Awards ceremony recently took place at Cardiff Castle, Wales, with Iarnród Éireann proving to be a big winner.

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Sutton, Station Manager, was Iarnród Éireann’s representative on the adjudication panel.

The following Railway Operators participated in the Awards:

Three of the company’s stations walked away with top honours from the eight award categories.

Pearse Station was named Best Metro Station.

With high praise from the judges, Jacqui Rogers was on hand to collect the gong. Dublin’s Connolly Station, the busiest in Ireland, was also honoured. John McLoughlin from Connolly picked up the Best Large Station award. The hat-trick was completed with Heuston taking the Best Major Station. The busiest Intercity station on the network, it was praised by judges as Jackie Reid collected the award.

In addition, Killarney Station was Highly Commended in the Small Station category, won

by Chiltern Railways’ Ailesbury Vale Parkway.

Catherine Cahill, Station Manager, Killarney picked up the commendation.

Iarnród Éireann was instrumental in setting up the competition as a way of comparing best practice and knowledge sharing with railway colleagues across a number of different organisations, thus to improve overall standards. The panel of adjudicators were comprised of operations staff from all the participating companies. Karl

• Iarnród Éireann • Translink (Northern Ireland) • First TransPennine Express • Arriva Trains Wales • First Great Western • Arriva Chiltern Railways

The awards are an excellent opportunity to showcase stations and promote and learn from best practice. They encourage employee engagement and motivation to deliver the best possible service for rail passengers. The stations are judged on appearance, facilities, transport links, customer focus, staff commitment, pride in service delivery, investment and maintenance for the future. Speaking after the ceremony, Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, David Franks said: “I am delighted with the success that we have achieved at the International Best Station Awards. These awards are a tribute to all the hard working staff at Pearse, Connolly, Heuston and Killarney who go the extra mile to provide excellent customer service and keep the stations in pristine condition.”

THE WINNERS IN FULL Best Metro Station: Pearse Station, Iarnród Éireann Best Small Station: Ailesbury Vale Parkway, Chiltern Railways Highly commended: Killarney, Iarnród Éireann Best Medium Station: Bath Spa Highly commended: Portadown, Translink Best Large Station: Connolly Station, Iarnród Éireann Highly commended: Scarborough, First Transpenine Express Best Major Station: Heuston Station, Iarnród Éireann Highly commended: Chester, Arriva Trains Wales Heritage Award: Antrim, Translink Customer service award: Phil Cadwell, Arriva Trains Wales.

International Station of the Year Overall award: Bath Spa, First Great Western

Enterprise

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RAYMOND WRIGHT

Artist & Musician BRIAN PALM takes a leisurely train-ride from Dublin to Belfast and back, lapping up the scenery en route to a magnificent art exhibition...

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or the past three months, the Ulster Museum in Belfast has been the home of the Royal Ulster Academy of Arts’ 132nd Annual Exhibition. With less than 120 pieces of artwork selected from over a thousand entries, I was pleased to have one of my sculptures included in the show. The exhibition was a resounding success, the most popular exhibition of art in northern Ireland in 2013.

Artists exhibiting included Colin Davidson, Paul Seawright, Pat Harris, Barrie Cooke, Mick O’Dea, Basil Blackshaw, Donald Teskey, Rita Duffy, Diana Copperwhite, Nick Miller, Julian Friers, Joe Dunne and David Crone, and many other academicians and leading artists from Northern Ireland.

During the course of the show, the RUA introduced several new initiatives, including the ‘Artist Spotlight’, with several exhibiting artists invited to give lectures about their work in the gallery. I was invited to speak about my piece in the show, a maritime-themed Shadowbox Sculpture of a sinking ship titled: ‘St. Estephe’.

I decided to take the 1.10pm train from Dublin’s Connolly Station, so I could spend the journey working on my speech rather than concentrating on driving.

I hadn’t taken the train to Belfast for a number of years, and the first thing that struck me was how well-renovated the station had been since I was there last.

The platforms had been completely resurfaced with cut stone. The whole station seemed much brighter than I remembered it, and it was spotlessly clean.

I found a comfortable seat with a table and began to read my notes. As the train pulled out of the station, people around me began to order hot breakfasts, which looked very tempting even though I'd filled myself with porridge earlier.

Back at my notes, I read about my artistic influences, about my various techniques, my artistic motivations… until I found my mind drifting out to the fields and farms whizzing past my window. The scenery was too good to miss, so I watched cattle being herded down a country lane somewhere north of Drogheda, and I was surprised by the number of box castles and other interesting ruins visible from the train. Before I knew it we had passed Dundalk, and the Mountains of Mourne were indeed sweeping down to the sea.

At Central Station in Belfast, I enquired where to get a taxi to Queens University, as the Ulster Museum is right beside it. I found that I could get another train right to the museum stop, using my same ticket, for no extra cost.

I was there within a few minutes, checked in with the RUA to let them know I’d arrived, and retired across the road to an artist’s café for a few delicious tapas and a double espresso. Somewhere during the chorizo and caffeine, I took one last look at my notes and decided to toss them in the bin and just wing it. My lecture was very well-received and a lively discussion followed.

Less than an hour after I left the Ulster Museum, I was in a comfortable seat on the train speeding south as darkness fell. Passing Newry, I could see car tail lights snaking back in a traffic jam, and I closed my eyes and smiled at the end of a perfect day.

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Memories

Wild child turned devoted Dad COLIN FARRELL is as busy as ever, starring in Disney’s Saving Mr. Banks and taking the lead in the romantic fantasy A Winter’s Tale. However, as he tells ROE McDERMOTT, his career is no longer his priority. photo

To ny Kinlan

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nything for a quiet life. Colin Farrell, former Hollywood hellraiser turned devoted Dad, has slowly and gracefully left his rabble-rousing days behind him.

But life in Hollywood is never free from drama. Farrell has finished shooting A Winter’s Tale, a fantasy romance co-starring Russell Crowe, Will Smith and Jennifer Connelly. Due for release this spring, filming took place in Manhattan during the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, late last year, which made for an intense experience. Farrell says it was surreal.

“It was intense for a lot of people,” agrees Farrell. “I was up on 58th Street in a hotel, and it was weird. Whatever way the island was built and whatever way the system came in, the next day, from 38th Street down on the island of Manhattan, it was blackout, and there were bodies that were trapped.

And then from 38th Street up, people were shopping with poodles and stuff. It was really weird. There was like a socio-economic line drawn on the island and the To-Dos, who usually live Midtown and up were fine, and Downtown towards Long Island and stuff was brutal. But that city is just indestructible, it has such an amazing spirit.”

Based on the 1983 novel by Mark Helprin, A Winter’s Tale is the story of Farrell’s thief with a heart of gold Peter Lake, and his timetravelling journey through gangster feuds and epic romance. There’s also a flying horse, for good measure.

“The script just had a ton of heart,” says Farrell. “It has some very fantastical elements to it, and it’ll be interesting to see how they gel with the more practical aspects of the story. You know, me sitting atop a flying horse

over Manhattan might be a hard pill to swallow!”

But then, we never thought we’d see him play Emma Thompson’s dad in a film either, and he does so rather beautifully. Farrell is currently starring in Saving Mr. Banks, John Lee Hancock’s portrayal of Mary Poppins author P.L. Travers (Thompson) and the tumultuous journey it took to being her beloved characters to the big screen. Through flashbacks, we see Farrell play Travers’ father, a magically imaginative but alcoholic figure, whose passionate, celtic spirit is marked by a deep sense of melancholy.

Though there are obvious parallels to be drawn between the character and Farrell’s past struggles with alcoholism, Farrell has been sober for over eight years, and so thankfully felt distant enough from his character that it wasn’t an emotionally gruelling experience.

The role held a more far-reaching meaning for Farrell, who says he saw the part less as the struggle of his one individual character.

“Without having this largesse, I was representing so many dads – and maybe, per capita, more Irish dads – that just couldn’t turn up. They love their kids, and want nothing more in life than for their kids to be happy and be fulfilled, and just couldn’t do it. And for a myriad of reasons - it’s a million different reasons for a million different people – they ran to the drink. Escaped to the drink every time. And thereby created some pain down the road for the kids.”

And that is where the parallels between Farrell and his character abruptly end. Farrell’s transformation from wild child into the calm, sober and insightful man he is today can directly be attributed to his children, and his determination to be a good father. He reveals that while attending AA, it was his eldest son

James who became his constant source of inspiration.

“I wasn’t willing to make the leap into all the beliefs that I’m being told will make me a better person or a sober person,” says Farrell about AA’s infamous Twelve Steps. “But they did demand that you had a Higher Power, something that was greater than yourself, something that was outside of yourself, that you could align yourself philosophically and emotionally with. And they were saying ‘God is that obvious thing’, and at that stage I was just like ‘Ugh, whatever!’ So I made it James.

And he very much is a Higher Power. I look at him and I get a sense daily of the purity of that boy’s heart and his journey and the level of extreme kindness that emanates from him at every turn. So to this day, he could be construed as a Higher Power.”

Having children not only seems to have allowed Farrell to mature, but also to find a source of meaning and validation beyond the admiration of an audience. It’s a big transformation, as he admits that the start of his career was less about acting and more about answering the siren call of fame and excess.

“It was, I was just on the tear!” exclaims Farrell. “So much happened so fast, it was mental! And I mean, how does one get prepared for life, let alone life lived in the superficial extremity of what I went through?

And I’m not talking about hardships, but just existing as a human being for all of us is tricky.

To find your place in the world is tricky. And then throw on top of that this whole machine and the speed at which I found myself in Los Angeles and the chaos of success and the money – it was mental.

“And something’s happened in the last while. It seems like it should be a contradictory idea, but it’s not. I enjoy the work more than I ever did, and I'm less attached to it. I identify with it less. I more want the work that I do to find an audience or find people that maybe enjoy it, and less care about…”

You want the audience to like the work, rather than needing them to like you?

“Yeah,” he says, with a pensive laugh of selfrecognition. “Very well said.”

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Enterprise

WHAT KATIE DID NEXT Having decided against turning pro, 2014 finds KATIE TAYLOR firmly on the Road To Rio with European and World titles to defend.

Roy Keane, Jim McGuinness and football are also on the agenda as Ireland’s most celebrated sportswoman meets STUART CLARK. Photo GRAHAM KEOGH

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he's won four World Championships, five Europeans, the Olympics and the love and respect of the Irish nation, but they're small beer compared to what happened to Katie Taylor at approx. 10pm on November 15, 2013.

"I was at the Latvia game in the Aviva and afterwards got to meet Roy Keane, who was one of my childhood heroes,” she beams. “His passion, determination and how he played were incredible.

He was such a role model… maybe too big a one!”

What, did she storm out of gym class at school because there were no medicine balls?

“Instead of bending it like Beckham, I tackled like Keano and got red carded a few times!” laughs Taylor, who won an FAI Women’s Cup Final with Peamount United and was a Republic of Ireland regular under Noel King. “I tried to make up for not being the most skilful player by making life difficult for my opponents. My goals were few and far between, but there’s one from outside the box against Switzerland I’m proud of and I’m really grateful that I got to play football at the top level like that.”

Was there a question bottled up that she just had to ask Roy? “My mind went blank. My knees were gone weak and everything. He was just a complete gent and spent about half an hour giving me a bit of advice from his own career. He said there were times where he went too extreme and couldn’t enjoy it. That was the message really – make sure to enjoy your achievements. I’m delighted Roy’s back in the Republic of Ireland fold.”

Roy wasn’t the only man who made Katie’s knees

buckle last year.

“I met Daniel Day-Lewis at the Lincoln premiere in March. He’s one of the most humble people I’ve come across – really warm and friendly.”

Returning to footie and there was post-Olympics talk of Katie being offered a professional contract

by Arsenal Ladies, whose top players are reportedly on £1,500 a week.

“That much?” she proffers. “At the start of the Women’s Premier League it was something like £50 a game. I think they train daily like the men at Arsenal so it would need to be a liveable wage.

Three of the girls I was in the Irish squad with – Emma Byrne, Yvonne Tracy and Niamh Fahey – are playing for them and a couple more are doing well in America. There were some bits in the paper about Arsenal making me an offer, but I never had any contact from them. I’d have been flattered if they had but would have said, ‘No’ because I’m 100% focused on my boxing at the moment.”

Does that 100% focus preclude having a relationship and starting a family?

“Yeah, I’m not in the right place to start a relationship,” Katie confirms. “When I retire from the sport maybe. My priority at the moment is just boxing. Female athletes peak at 30 or 31, which is a bit later than the men – that’s what I’m saying anyway! I’m not going to get into the mindset of that whole ‘over the hill’ thing. I don’t go out at the weekends and abuse my body or anything. I live a very disciplined life and I think you can have great longevity in your career once you do that.

Just look at Ryan Giggs.”

Giggsy can still run around for 90 minutes, yeah, but I’m not sure his right hook’s up to much.

November’s two wins in 24 hours aside – Canada’s

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MICHAEL KELLY

Katie with Tinie Tempah & Travis Barker

Left to Right: Steven Spielberg, Katie Taylor, Fionnuala Britton and Daniel Day Lewis

I’M NOT IN THE RIGHT PLACE TO START A RELATIONSHIP. WHEN I RETIRE FROM THE SPORT MAYBE.

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Caroline Veyre and Finn Mira Potkonen were dispatched with nary a bother – it was a quiet 2013 on the boxing front for Taylor.

“It was nice to reflect on things after the Olympics and not have to worry about a big competition. Well, it was for the first half of the year and then I was itching to get back into the ring.”

Katie might heap praise on Roy Keane, but she has sporting admirers of her own. Donegal manager Jim McGuinness recently told Enterprise: “People like her are an inspiration. Last year when we were trying to win an All-Ireland, I should’ve just shown the lads pictures of Katie and said, ‘Look at her, she’s locked on.’”

“He said that about me?” says Taylor turning a delicate shade of beetroot. “Wow, that’s nice to hear. I have the utmost respect for Jim. Great coach and a very clever man. I was in my own little bubble over in London so I didn’t really realise what was going on and the sort of impact it had on people. The stories they tell me about where they were watching the fight… the support really is incredible.”

I’ve been told by people who’ve met them both that Jim McGuinness and Katie’s trainer dad, Peter, are similar characters.

“He is like Jim in that he’s very scientific with his training programmes and plans everything down to the minutest detail. They’re big on psychology too. Boxing is very much a mental sport. If you don’t genuinely think you have the beating of your opponnent, you’re not going to win no matter how hard you prepare for the fight.”

Part of Jim’s philosophy – and it worked well there until last season for Donegal – is to make yourself seem so invincible that whoever you’re up against has lost the contest before they step onto the pitch. Or in Katie’s case, into the ring.

“A lot of the time they can but it works the other way as well because people can raise their game against you,” she reflects. “I’ve been involved in really tough fights where I’ve thought of my opponent, ‘Where did this performance come from?’ They either really step it up or go the other way and bottle it.”

The header on Taylor’s website proclaims: “London 2012 – Rio 2016: Watch The Journey Unfold.” To guarantee her seat on the plane to Brazil, she first has to retain her European and World Championship titles.

“It’s a huge deal defending those. I still have to qualify for Rio, which people don’t really realise.

Doesn’t matter what I’ve done over the past few years. Your reputation doesn’t get you anywhere. I have to go and do well in those competitions.”

Katie’s hopeful that she won’t be the only Irish female competing in Brazil.

“Ciara Ginty was just one fight away from qualifying for the last Olympics, which was a bit of a disappointment. She’s a fantastic young boxer from Mayo who won a World Junior Title last year.

She has a great future.”

The Irish Independent ran a story last September which claimed that frustration with the way she’s been treated by the Irish Amateur Boxing Association could lead to Katie turning pro.

“I got a lot of offers after London, a few of which I considered, but my heart just wasn’t in professional boxing at that time,” she replies. “My love of amateur boxing and the Olympics hasn’t diminished at all. People think professional boxing is a step up from amateur, but to win a World title in amateur boxing is actually a lot harder. Me going pro is something that might happen in the future, but definitely not until after Rio.” Katie was speaking at the launch of AIB’s ‘Me2U’ App, an easy way of sending money between phones. See aib.ie/me2U

(clockwise from left) These three prove Phil's still got it. Philomena's trip down memory lane. The books in all their glory. Phil giving us the eye. Brian Downey looking up to his former singer.

Enterprise - Feature

Become A Part Of

Thin Lizzy History Go to pledgemusic.com to discover how you can help make the book Philip Lynott: Still In Love With You happen!

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f the last few years have proved anything, it is that the spirit of Philip Lynott is still very much alive and well.

The acclaimed exhibition, titled Still In Love With You: The Philip Lynott Exhibition, has been a key factor in keeping the flame of the late Thin Lizzy frontman burning in Ireland and abroad.

Running for an incredible eight months in the Creative Space at the Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre in Philo's beloved Dublin, it featured rare and precious items from Lynott's life – from childhood through to those heady rock star days – all gathered lovingly together to tell the story of Philip Lynott and the band he founded, Thin Lizzy.

Add to that, cutting edge multimedia exhibits and interviews from many musical heavyweights and you had a wonderful multi-sensory experience – and a fitting tribute to one of the greats of Irish

and UK music.

The exhibition also ran successfully at the O2 in London. It was widely praised as magnificent, with Today FM’s Tony Fenton hailing it as “the greatest rock exhibition ever”; Philip’s daughter Cathleen saying: “I found out things I didn’t know, some things I had forgotten – and enjoyed the experience profoundly!”; Damien Dempsey enthused: “It’s savage. Brilliant. You really get an insight into how hard Philip Lynott and Thin Lizzy worked, which is a revelation.” And Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy observed: "Comprehensive, informative and pure rock 'n’ roll, this is the definitive Phil Lynott story."

Now that story is to be told in book form. And Philip’s mother, Philomena Lynott, in association with Hot Press, has launched a special Pledge Campaign to make the book a reality, allowing fans to become a part of the Philip Lynott story themselves.

The book will be published in both a Luxury A4 Hardback and a Deluxe Large-Format A2 Hardback.

Both editions will feature a veritable treasure trove of Philo memorabilia – with many items that have never been seen before – and offer a powerful insight into the life and work of an extraordinary artist. From lyric books and guitars to stage clothes and Philip's personal diary, it will all come together to create a fascinating picture of Ireland's first bona fide rock star.

Pledgers who have photos of themselves attending either the Dublin or London exhibition can submit them for inclusion while, as an added bonus, fans ordering the Deluxe edition will have their names listed as a member of the Executive Producer team.

Find out more at pledgemusic.com/projects/ philiplynottstillinlovewithyou

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PUN I SHME N T Dublin star of stage and screen TOM VAUGHAN-LAWLOR tells ROE McDERMOTT about Love/Hate, Howie The Rookie and Playing PJ Mara in the imminent Charlie Haughey mini-series.

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ome actors make a point of never re-watching their finished screen work once they’ve shaken off their character, but Tom Vaughan-Lawlor spent a good chunk of the Christmas break totally engrossed in his Love/ Hate box sets. Nothing to do with vanity; the Dubliner was just gearing up to play psychopathic gang leader Nidge in the forthcoming fifth season of writer Stuart Carolan’s acclaimed crime drama.

“When you go back to a recurring character like Nidge, it’s important for me to make sure I’m consistent, so I need to look back,” the softly-spoken 35-year-old explains. “It’s very hard and strange looking at yourself so consistently, but I do it every year just to make sure I’m getting back into the energy of the character, and his tempo and accent.”

An utterly ruthless, immoral and deadly criminal, Nidge is one of the most memorable screen villains in Irish TV history. Is his paranoid energy tough to carry around?

“Yeah, it’s funny, there are some actors who push things off very quickly, and some who find things less easy to push off. I think it’s a combination of two things: one is playing a character that has a very specific kind of aggressive energy, coupled with the fact that we film very fast over 11 weeks. It’s a real kind of take a big deep breath and just go. You do find yourself being wired coming home after a day’s filming.

“Sometimes when I’m really wired, my wife tells me to go have a shower and calm down a bit, so yeah, it can get under your skin,” he continues. “I think playing someone who’s so relentlessly paranoid and relentlessly aggressive in high-octane, high-stakes scenes, it definitely takes its toll. By the end of the 11 weeks, I’m pretty exhausted. But it’s an amazing part to play and an amazing opportunity, so you have to grapple with those things.”

Has anybody ever mistaken you for Nidge in real life?

“No, people have a great sense of fun about it,” he laughs.

“People are shouting your character’s name from passing cars and people are saying stuff to you about your character, but in an often very witty way. People respond to Nidge in a very specific way, so I’m very lucky.”

As he speaks to Enterprise, Tom is just finishing playing a very different kind of TV role. “We’re doing this three-part mini-series about Charlie Haughey,” he explains. “We’ve been doing it for the last couple of months, but we finally finish up this week.”

Called Citizen Charlie, the €3.7million budget miniseries stars former fellow Love/Hate-er Aidan Gillen as the controversial late Taoiseach, while Tom plays legendary Fianna Fail spin doctor PJ Mara.

“I met Mara as part of my research,” he reveals. “I just asked him some questions about the period and he was very generous

with his time. He gave me great insight into that period of history, which was really valuable. I’m a history fan, but I wish I was more actively involved in politics. I only remember Haughey laterally, so it’s been amazing to go back and read about the intensity of the time, especially in the early ‘80s. A real joy to research.”

The drama will air on RTÉ next autumn. It was a satisfying way to end yet another extremely successful year for the Dundrumborn actor. Looking back at 2013, what was his high point?

“I suppose two things,” he says. “One was finishing the forth series of Love/Hate, and the other was the entire journey with Howie The Rookie, the Mark O’Rowe play. Both of those things together were the high point.”

O’Rowe’s terrifying double monologue – which recounts the stories of two Dublin youths who share a surname and intertwined destinies – was first staged in 1999, but the play was reimagined for a single actor. Tom’s intense performance as both Howie and Rookie earned him rave reviews when the play ran in Galway, Dublin and Edinburgh last summer.

Some of those performances had an interval, while others didn’t. Which did he prefer?

“Oh, that’s a good question,” he says. “They were very different experiences. In one way, doing it straight through was more and less exhausting. The tricky thing with having an interval in a show like that is that you kind of relax in the interval, you have to get your energy back up for the second half, whereas when it’s straight through, you just take a big deep breath and start and just go for it. I don’t know which I preferred.

“They both brought their own rewards and they both brought different readings of the play. We’re going to do it again in London and New York this year, and I think that’s still up for debate, as to whether we do it with or without the interval, so we’ll see.”

Does he prefer acting on stage to film?

“They’re both so different,” he muses. “I love stage and I love screen. I’m very lucky that I’ve been given the opportunity to do both. I flit between one and the other quite regularly.

Sometimes if you do a lot of film work or screen work you miss being on stage and the optics of the theatre. Similarly, if you’re doing a lot in the theatre you really long for the intimacy of screen acting. They’re both incredible skills and incredible disciplines and incredible forms. So I’m happy to do both, and pleased with being able to do both.”

Finally, does he have any advice for aspiring young actors?

“See as many films as you can, see as many plays as you can, be inspired by great acting, and work your arse off. It’s a very hard industry, but it’s also an incredible industry and an incredible craft, but you need to really put the work in and be very dedicated to it. If anything, it’s all about hard work.”

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THE WORLD IS A

VAMPIRE Best-selling author ANNE RICE’s Interview With The Vampire is often cited as the influence behind the recent pop culture resurgence of vampires. With Rice turning her attention to werewolves, she tells ROE McDERMOTT about her new take on the monsters, and escaping real tragedy through writing.

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on’t you dare mention Twilight.

Yes, a novelist who created sexy vampires is now penning works about attractive werewolves, but this is no Stephanie Meyer nonsense. This is Anne Rice, Godmother of Gothic, and she was here first.

The prolific American author has spent decades amassing fans and awards alike with her impressive bibliography of gothic fiction, Christian literature and erotica. She is perhaps best known for her popular and influential series of novels, The Vampire Chronicles, revolving around the central character of Lestat. Books from The Vampire Chronicles were the subject of two film adaptations, Neil Jordan’s Interview With The Vampire in 1994, and Queen Of The Damned in 2002. Now 72, and having sold over 100 books, you’d think Rice would be keen on taking a break – but not so. The New Orleans native has several projects in the pipeline, and has just released the second book in her new werewolf series, The Wolf Gift Chronicles.

“These were werewolves I could live with,” says Anne Rice, explaining how she came to interpret werewolves as conflicted, rapist-killing vigilantes in Wolf City and her latest instalment, The Wolves of Midwinter. “They weren’t four foot animals, they’re primates. Wolf men. They were conscious; conscious when prowling around and killing, and conscious when they turn back into human beings.

It’s been exciting trying to being my own gothic and romantic sensibilities into the 20th century, and that’s what drove me. Finding a new texture, a new atmosphere and a new cosmology.”

Growing up in New Orleans, “a city of beautiful old gothic houses, shadows, legends, darkness and ghost stories”, Rice discovered these romantic,

gothic sensibilities early. “I wanted stories with shadows and dramatic music; with beautiful women falling into the arms of beautiful men as sea crested on rocks. I understood ambience before I even knew the word ambience.”

Rice describes Great Expectations and Jane Eyre as huge influences on her as a child, embodying her love for the gothic genre. It’s surely no coincidence either that they are the stories of orphans who spend time in huge, lonely buildings. At 15, Rice’s mother died after a long battle with alcoholism.

Rice’s father sent his daughters to St. Joseph’s Academy, which Rice describes as “a dilapidated, awful, medieval type of place.” Rice admits it took her a long time to recover from that painful period, and she couldn’t even find solace in writing.

“I didn’t really write a lot during that period. I was just living life and suffering. It was later that I figured out a way to write about it. I wrote stories as a child and found it very exciting, but there was a huge period from high school to college where I couldn’t express what I was going through. It took me years to be able to write what I was feeling.”

But it was a later tragedy that inspired Rice’s most famous works. When her six-year-old daughter Michelle tragically died of leukaemia, Rice turned to writing to exorcise her grief. Perhaps attracted to the idea of endless youth, she turned an unpolished short story into a sensual novel about bisexual vampires, entitled Interview With The Vampire. The book notably featured a young girl, who is given the gift of mortality thanks to a vampire’s kiss. The novel and its subsequent film adaptation by Neil Jordan attracted legions of adoring fans, many of whom viewed it as an empowering portrayal of the disenfranchised LGBT community.

“It’s very rewarding, especially when people come up and say ‘Your books helped me get through school’ or ‘You helped me at the darkest point of my life’,” says Rice of the interpretation. “It’s the

best thing that can happen an author.”

What has supported Rice through the many dark moments of her life is less clear. Though Rice had loudly returned to Catholicism in 1998, even penning two books about the life of Christ, she says sadly that she didn’t find what she had been looking for. In 2010, she just as loudly distanced herself from all organised religion, posting a passionate message on Facebook: 'I quit. In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I refuse to be anti-feminist. I refuse to be anti-artificial birth control. I refuse to be anti-Democrat. I refuse to be anti-secular humanism. I refuse to be anti-science.

I refuse to be anti-life. In the name of Christ, I quit Christianity and being Christian. Amen.’

“I had assumed that the Church was honourable,” says Rice, “but what I found was sophistry, lies, and what I consider to be dishonourable theology. I had to leave.”

Following the death of Stan, her husband of 41 years, Rice also felt the need to leave New Orleans.

She sold not only her home, but the several properties she had amassed there, including the sprawling 19th century deconsecrated Catholic orphanage where she had thrown infamously elaborate Hallowe’en parties. But the ghosts of the city were now all too real.

“I had to move. My husband had died, and my son had moved to the West Coast. I was there alone, and I didn’t want to try to continue the kind of wonderful life we had had when we were all together. So I sold my houses and am living in California now. But I thrive on novelty, on writing about different settings. And the great Hallowe’en parties we threw in New Orleans are still going on; the Vampire Lestat Fan Club keeps them going, and people come from all over the world, they’re famous. I went back this year for the first time in eight years and I really enjoyed it. It’s a nice legacy to have there.”

And her legacy is set to grow, as the prolific author has several projects in the pipeline. “I have so many plans right now I don’t know where to turn. I want to write more about the wolves, and to write more about Tony O’Dare from my Angel series, which CBS want to turn into a series. I want to do an Atlantis novel too, and I have an idea about a ghost detective. I’m at a very happy crossroads – right now my challenge is choosing which way to go.”

Wolf City and its prequel The Wolves Of Midwinter are available now.

31

Enterprise – Feature

32

FOY

FOY

Enterprise

Bangor singer-songwriter FOY VANCE discusses the state of his art and his Northern Irish Music Prize triumph with CRAIG FITZPATRICK... photo MONIKA KARALIUNAITE

I

t has been a long time coming, but Bangor songwriter Foy Vance has finally clambered to the top of the musical heap…

Talking to Vance last summer, as he prepared to release his first solo album for over half a decade, the moustachioed Northern Irish songsmith seemed tentative, but quietly confident. On top of it all, he was simply not that bothered about how Joy Of Nothing would be received.

“If it didn’t have a single solitary sale,” he said with a fixed stare, “I’d still have the fact that it’s an articulate record.”

Now he's basking in the afterglow of six successful months, post-Christmas mayhem. Vance has watched Joy Of Nothing win fans and awards, and its songs play well to audiences as far afield as America and Australia. He sticks to his pre-album point. It was then and is now the piece of work he’d set out to create, and you can’t do more than that.

“No, you can't, man,” he affirms from his home in the Scottish Highlands. “That’s down and it’s out there now. I plan to promote it a bit this year. Then start focusing on the next one and aim to do exactly the same thing: just make a record that I’m proud of.”

Nice to hear work will commence swiftly on the followup: Foy Vance has previously spent plenty of time in the musical wilderness. His 2007 debut Hope had never stood out to him as an “articulate piece of work”, so the man from County Down kicked notions of a sequel on the head. In the intervening years, he performed everywhere, even prisons, and had fruitful collaborations with David Holmes, soundtracking Terry George’s Oscar-winning The Shore. But the absence of a new long-player betrayed how lost he felt inside.

Leaving a relationship and the “hubbub” of London behind, the “stillness of the Highlands” spoke to Vance. And then the songs came. Uplifting songs that nod towards the work of David Gray, coming from a voice on speaking terms with Paul Buchanan of The Blue Nile fame.

In November, Joy Of Nothing was honoured on his home soil. How did he feel when he was named as the inaugural winner of the Northern Irish Music Prize?

“I was delighted, it’s a lovely thing. Awards are funny aren’t they? Because it’s not like ‘who can do the most press-ups in 20 minutes?’ – it’s so arbitrary, judged on so many things.

They don’t make your work any better, and it doesn’t make your work any worse if you don’t get it. But it’s still nice to receive.”

So the gongs don’t interfere with the artistic process. Vance hasn’t been sitting down to pen a tune of late, thinking, ‘pfft, piece of cake – I’m an award-winning songwriter!’?

“No, no, no! The first thing I did when I got it home was use it as a doorstop in the kitchen. Because that’s where it belongs. You’re only good as your last gig."

Did he at least allow himself to enjoy the fancy ceremony in Mandela Hall?

“I wasn’t there,” he confirms, as expected. “I was drinking gin in my friend’s house in Aberfeldy. The bandmates went and got it. I’d literally just arrived back that day and then had a 10-hour drive from London up to Scotland with my daughter. Rather than leave her in the lurch for another while, we hung out.”

Something tells me that suited him just fine.

“It suited me right down to the ground. Give me an open fire and a glass of whiskey, and you can collect the award!”

Probably not something he could maintain in the long run.

This time, he had reason to cry off exhausted, having just come to the end of a demanding, yet ultimately rewarding, world tour.

“I did Australia on my own, the States with a three-piece, the UK with a five-piece full band and Europe with a twopiece. So it was a mixture. The sound kept changing, which kept me interested. It’s always interesting to see how songs grow when you play them live.”

How was the audience reaction?

“Better than I'd hoped for, to be honest with you. The gigs were all very well-attended. Really nice rooms. The only slog was in the States, where we had to travel by van. We didn’t have a sleeper bus. We travelled by day and some of the drives were absolutely brutal. When you’re sitting in the back of a van with four other farty blokes it can get a bit heavy after a month.”

You’re trundling along thinking, "I should have been done with this in my early ‘20s!"

“Y’know what I mean! I’m a 38-year-old single father here, I should be doing something different. I need to get a job, go back to carpentry or something!”

An unlikely move. Sanding down cabinets is hardly as thrilling as the huge reception he’s been receiving on stages around the world, either solo, or when supporting Ed Sheeran as the young English star toured America’s enormodomes. A close pal of the flame-haired singer, he used his vocals on Joy Of Nothing. With Sheeran preparing the release of his second album this year, did Vance return the favour?

“We did a bit of writing together but I wasn’t on the record.

He’s actually sitting in the kitchen singing as we speak…”

Right on cue, piano keys begin echoing in the background of Vance’s abode, high in the Scottish mountains. Before we let Foy Vance’s voice away, how much progress has been made on his third solo record?

“I always have at least an album’s worth of material but it’s never coherent,” he concludes. “Whereas there’s a batch of songs here that feel quite coherent. I feel like you can’t manufacture them, otherwise they sound contrived.

"I just happen to be writing stuff I’m happy with at the moment. More to the point, songs that feel coherent. Feel familial. There’s a definite bloodline through what I’m doing, so I’m going to keep on writing and hopefully we’ll get another one that makes sense.”

33

Enterprise – Sport

34

Enterprise

AND LET SLIP

THE DOGS OF WAR It’s SIX NATIONS time, and as last year’s final table demonstrates, anybody can beat anybody. So what should we expect this year, apart from bewitching back-play and bone-shuddering collisions?

Words ROBERT HIGGINS Photo MARK NIXON

IRELAND

New boss Joe Schmidt’s men go into this year’s Six Nations with the memory of that painful last-minute defeat against New Zealand still fresh in people’s minds, but while it was a tough blow to take, there were also many positives to be taken from that performance. For a while, the scoreline stood at Ireland 19 New Zealand 0, an astonishing sight. For those eighty minutes, Ireland were back playing the spirited and organised rugby that had been missing in the dying days of Declan Kidney’s regime, most notably in last year’s competition. If Ireland can reproduce that level of performance, they will be a formidable foe for anyone in the tournament and wholly credible contenders to win it.

However, one potential spanner in the works is the injury to ‘The Tullow Tank’ Sean O’Brien, who will not be easily replaced in the back row. Chris Henry, Tommy O’Donnell and Shane Jennings have been some of the names mooted, but whoever is given the task will have big shoes to step into.

While there is plenty of young blood in this team, the headlines will once again be centred on Ireland’s long-serving talismanic centre Brian O’Driscoll.

This will be BOD’s final Six Nations, he has a major point to prove after being dropped for the Lions’ deciding Test match in Australia last summer, and a win would represent a fairytale ending to the great man’s glittering career.

FRANCE

Historically the perennial heavyweights of the Six Nations, there’s no denying that France are coming off the back of a year they’d rather forget. Last year’s Six Nations was a car-crash for the French, who managed to finish bottom of the table, a wholly untoward state of affairs that caused much gnashing of teeth among pundits back home.

The summer tour of New Zealand was no better, with three more resounding losses appearing to confirm that this is one of the worst French vintages in living memory. This is all relative, of course, and the depth of talent available to coach Philippe SaintAndre would still be the envy of most Six Nations bosses. Saint-Andre is seeking to inject some youth into this team ahead of the 2015 World Cup, much in the manner of his predecessor Marc Lievrement, who prioritised building for the long-term and was very nearly rewarded with World Cup victory in 2011. Saint-Andre’s 30-man preliminary squad contains four uncapped players and has some unexpected omissions, notably star out-halves Freddie Michalak and Francois Trinh-Duc. The French also have a number of injuries to contend with: Morgan Parra is set to miss at least half of France’s fixtures, and Florian Fritz will miss

the entirety of the tournament after breaking his arm in a motorcycle accident. Vincent Clerc is returning from a long-term injury, and it is uncertain whether he will be called upon. It is never wise to bet against the French, but it is equally difficult to anticipate which France will turn up. Will we get high-flying, flowing France or their drab, sloppy, half-interested alter-ego? As the cliche has it, they can be either the best or the worst team in the world depending on whether the mood taks them.

ENGLAND

England go into the competition in fine health.

They are coming off the back of an impressive set of results in the autumn internationals, where they managed to defeat the Wallabies and Argentina as well as giving the All Blacks a particularly stern test.

Stuart Lancaster will be hoping that his men can go one better than last year’s second-place finish this time around, having overseen a pretty impressive campaign in 2013 until the last day, where his team completely collapsed in the title decider in Cardiff and were taken to the cleaners 30-3 by a rampant Wales.

One obstacle that will stand in their way will be the absence of Louis Deacon, who has been ruled out for the competition with a torn hamstring.

England may look to blood some young players ahead of the World Cup in 2015, with 20-year-old fly half George Ford being considered following an excellent season with Bath. Much will hinge on their opening match in Paris, but after an underwhelming decade since their World Cup win of 2003, England are now finally starting to resemble an elite force once again, and this could well be their year.

WALES

Last year saw Wales retain the Six Nations title for the first time since 1978/79, following on from 2012’s Grand Slam win. It would seem that Welsh rugby is in rude health, and the national team undoubtedly is (having supplied the vast majority of the summer’s triumphant Lions team) but there is trouble behind the scenes. Over the past year, civil war seems to have erupted between the Welsh rugby union and its four regions. The question is now whether the dispute, which is centred on control and funding of the domestic game, will carry over and affect Wales’s performance in pursuit of a third consecutive title.

Other than that, Warren Gatland also has some injury problems to contend with. Cardiff Blues flyhalf Rhys Patchell will miss the tournament with a long-term knee injury, as will centre Jonathon Davies who is suffering from a chest injury. Despite these

setbacks, Wales have repeatedly proved that they have the class and the composure to go all the way, as well as a rabid army of fans who are without doubt the most vocal and passionate among the six competing nations.

ITALY

The Azzurri have been taking strides forward in recent years under Jacques Brunel - hell, they beat both France and Ireland last year en route to a respectable fourth-placed finish - and the question is now whether they will continue to build on that foundation or take another step backwards?

One major boost for the Italians will be the return of experienced winger Mirco Bergamasco, who was named in Brunel’s preliminary squad having recovered from a long-term knee injury.

The Italians kick off with a stern test on February 1, when they face defending champions Wales in Cardiff. A severe beating there could damage morale; a respectable defeat wouldn’t be the end of the world; a victory would announce that the Italians have finally arrived as serious Six Nations contenders. If you fancy them to win the whole thing, the bookies will accommodate you at 150/1.

SCOTLAND

Scotland are currently in a stage of transition. A new coach will arrive later this year in the highlyrated Vern Cotter, and they have plenty of young talent making their presence. Ten new faces were blooded by interim coach Scott Johnson over the autumn internationals, including burgeoning talents such as Matt Scott, Alex Dunbar and Tim Swinson, and there’s a sense that Scotland have some cause to be optimistic about the future. Mind you, they’ve been talking about ‘the future’ since their last Championship triumph in 1999 (when there were only Five Nations) and, as yet, the promised land seems as far away as ever.

That said, they finished third in last year’s competition - some distance behind Wales and England, but nonetheless an indication that they’re doughty if less than intimidating opposition. The weakness, as it has been for years, is a very leaden, plodding attack which simply doesn’t put enough points on the board and often takes all day to do so: on the other hand, they are very respected for their defensive qualities and physical approach. On the injury front, it looks as though they could be without veteran prop Euan Murray for much of the competition, having been ruled out for at least a month with an Achilles injury (a devout Christian, Murray also refuses to play rugby on Sundays, which would have rendered him unavailable for their opening match in Dublin had he been fit).

35

Enterprise – Celebrity Table

Enterprise

46

Enterprise

FOOD,

GLORIOUS FOOD Over tapas and apple crumble in new Dublin eaterie Zaragoza, new TV3 Xposé presenter MICHELLE DOHERTY chats to ANNE SEXTON about juggling life in Dublin and London, the pressures at the frontline of celebrity TV and how lucky genes have given her licence to eat as she fancies... photos RUTH MEDJBER

“I

’m starving!” exclaims the former model and DJ Michelle Doherty as she sits down. We’re at Zaragoza on South William Street, Dublin’s newest tapas bar, so hunger shouldn’t remain a problem for long. Zaragoza’s menu is extensive with plenty of options for flesh, fish, fowl and veggies.

We decide to have a bit of everything and order the evening platter, which comes with a selection of six tapas each.

Best known for her musical sensibilities after years on our radio waves, Michelle has been enjoying the challenge of live television since joining TV3’s popular showbiz round-up show Xposé covering for Aisling O’Loughlin who is on maternity leave.

“I’ve done TV before," she reflects. "You’re pretty much in charge of every package that goes back to the office. You’re in charge of the form and content and making sure everything has been taken care of. On top of that, you have to edit it so it's been a massive learning curve for me.

“It’s been amazing though. I’m loving every minute and enjoying how frantic it can be. I have lots of drive, I like throwing myself in there and you do feel quite chuffed when you see your package up on screen. I’m not saying I’m that brilliant yet but I’m getting there!”

Presenting is far harder work than you may suppose, Michelle explains.

“I have so much respect for the girls. People think you turn up and do a bit of presenting and that’s your job done for the day but it’s not. You go

back, you have to ingest all the footage, edit it all down, put music underneath it, put visuals on top.

I’ve always heard that the girls worked hard and you kind of go, ‘Yeah’ but oh my God — I did not realise!”

Hard work it may be, but there are some bonuses that no fashionista would sniff at.

“There’s a girly side to me and I love my fashion so I'm enjoying that part of it. Warehouse have been sponsoring my clothes and it’s really nice to wear something new everyday. When I moved to London it was really tough. When you have a job it’s fine, but if you’re not earning you can’t spend money and I hadn’t bought clothes for a year. So this is lovely!”

Michelle had moved to London when she was offered the job with TV3 and since then has spent the last few months commuting.

“They do say that when you move away, that’s when you’ll be offered a job in Ireland! I’m here Monday to Friday and then back on Friday evenings.

It’s crazy, but it's only for six months. The travelling is quite tough but if something else comes up in Ireland I wouldn’t knock that.

“I'm very lucky because I didn’t burn my bridges here. So many people do that. And after months and months of going to casting calls and auditions it's really great to be working again. I think I needed that time off though to recharge my batteries.”

Given that she's on television, should she be watching what she eats? Michelle rolls her eyes in mock indignation and laughs.

“Not a chance!" she laughs. "I probably should

be, but thank God my mother has very high metabolism and passed it on to me. I get away with murder! By rights I shouldn't be able to fit through the front-door.

“I love my food. I don’t generally go for tapas because there's never enough food. There's nothing worse than leaving a restaurant hungry. This is great though. I’ve been concentrating on my meatballs.

They’re lovely and the sauce is delicious!”

The meatballs are indeed delicious. My favourite has got to be the prawns. Prawns can be bland and rubbery, but these are full of flavour and flaky rather like Dublin Bay prawns instead of shrimp.

Michelle misses music — particularly gigs — and her “radio husband” Richie McCormack with whom she used to co-present the breakfast show on Dublin rock station. Phantom 105.2. She felt the time had come to try something new and headed to London with an acting career in mind, having played Liv in well-received Irish film, What Richard Did. “I love music but you don’t want to get pigeonholed. That’s not all I know — I’m not a one-trick pony. The last gig I went to was the Electric Picnic.

That’s shocking! I don’t miss the early morning starts. I’m not a morning person but I did it for a year. I’d have to be in bed by nine and it kills your social life. My sister would phone me and ask what I was doing and I’d be in my pyjamas at six o’clock and she’d say that her kids were still up! The only thing that got me through was Breaking Bad — I’d watch three or four episodes and go to sleep.”

Besides working regular hours, Xposé offers

37

xxx

Michelle Doherty and Zaragoza's Daragh Monahan

a change to interview a wide range of different kinds of people.

“I had to do the cast of Anchorman — the four of them together — and it doesn’t get bigger than that. They had their own in-jokes — interviewing someone one-onone is fine, but four people together is hard anyway and when they have their own in-jokes it’s a bit, ‘Arg, I’m a little bit lost!

What’s going on?’ That was challenging.”

Has she ever said or done anything on air that she's embarrassed about?

“Oh, all the time!” she laughs. “I’m not perfect. I make mistakes or I say something stupid but I just laugh at myself when that happens.”

What has Michelle planned for when she wraps up her stint on Xposé?

“I don’t really make plans!” she laughs.

“It’s been working for me so far.”

THE DAMAGE

Chef Nourdine

The sumptuous Evening Platter

The evening platter is €16.50 and is a selection of six tapas. On the night we were there, these were tiger prawns with garlic and chilli; honey-glazed spinach and goats cheese filo triangle with apple compote; patatas bravas; Iberico ham and manchego cheese; spiced veal and pork meatballs in a tomato and garlic sauce; and a portion of marinated green olives.

For dessert, Michelle had the warm apple crumble with vanilla ice cream and I had the banoffi jar. All desserts are €5.50 To drink we had a super-premium cava, the Segura Viudas Brut Reserva ‘Heredad’ NV Cava. This costs €9.50 per glass or €56.95 for the bottle.

Hispanic on the streets of Dublin: Zaragoza

38

Enterprise Enterprise – A Food Awakening

To The Manor Mourne Recipients of a runners-up gong in the recent Observer Food Monthly Awards – personally we think they should have won but, hey, we’re biased! – the Mourne Seafood Bars in Belfast and Dundrum are famous for the freshness of their wares, which include such delights as smoked mackerel pate, organic smoked Glenarm salmon, beer battered fish & chips with mushy peas, crab claws, a seafood chowder that never fails to bring a tear to Enterprise’s eye and oysters, mussels and cockles sourced from shellfish beds at Ballyedmond in Carlingford Lough. They also do a mean chargrilled Irish ribeye and equally delicious vegetarian specials.

Ideal for washing these down is the 4.2% ABV Mourne Oyster Stout that’s produced in association with the

famous Whitewater Brewery.

Mourne Seafood Bar co-owner Andy Rea has brought all of these elements together in the new Mourne Seafood Cookbook, which also allows you to access a series of ‘how to’ videos.

The broader Mourne Seafood family includes the Belfast Cookery School – the first of its kind in the city – its near neighbour, Home Restaurant and The Eagle at Galgorm in Ballymena.

With a new Dublin restaurant opening in the spring – check mourneseafood.com over the coming weeks for details – it’s never been easier to enjoy fresh, locally sourced seafood served with dedication and love.

Food To Thai For We usually steer clear of the f-word in Enterprise, but they’ve got the fusion of modern Thai and Vietnamese flavours spot on in Opium (26 Wexford Street, Dublin 2. Tel. + 353 1 526 7711. opium. ie), which adds to its USP by having a clubby vibe and live DJs at the weekend when the large circular cocktail bar – more of which anon! is thronged with the capital’s pretty young things.

Which isn’t to say that, er, older more rugged things like myself aren’t made to feel welcome by the staff who rather refreshingly know the food and drinks menus inside out. The star performers when we dropped in for dinner recently were the Baby Back Ribs and Panko Crab Cake starters; Claypot Lamb and Szechuan Pulled Pork mains and the Japanese Sazerac and Porn Star Martini cocktails, which display a real deftness of touch in the mixology department. Probably not the place to take your hard of hearing Great Aunt Biddy to, but if you like your Asian food with a sideorder of razzle dazzle, Opium is a winner!

Don’t Worry, Be Hoppy!

Beer lovers should make a beeline to the Convention Centre for the second annual Alltech International Craft Brews & Food Fair, a global gathering of what is an increasingly vibrant industry.

Along with the trade-only conference, the event will be open to the public from 5pm on Friday February 7 and noon the following day with dozens of world class tipples to try.

Included in these will be a healthy contingent of Irish craft beers, some of whom will be in the running for the Dublin Cup that was won last time out by Belfast’s Hilden Brewing Company whose Twisted Hop really is a thing of beery beauty. See alltechbrewsandfood.com for more

Making A McMeel Of It information.

Make sure to factor in a visit to the Conference Centre’s near neighbour the MV Cill Airne, a floating bar and restaurant that does an especially mean Almond & Goats Cheese Croquet. Book at mvcillairne.com

Enterprise followed in the footsteps of the G8 leaders by visiting Fermanagh’s 5-star Lough Erne Resort where the fabulously named Noel McMeel is hosting leisurely cookery masterclasses every Sunday night. Specialising in what he describes as “modern Irish cuisine”, Noel is big on seasonality and local produce with the Roast Crown of Dromoland Estate Quail, Fillet of Dry Aged Kettyle Beef Bourguignon and Baked Blackrock Stone Bass three of the reasons the Catalina Restaurant he presides over is garlanded with awards. The 600-acre resort is similarly spectacular with The Thai Spa, a 101 Select Whiskey Bar and not one but two championship golf courses adding to the ‘wow’ factor. A night’s B&B with dinner costs from just £89.50 per person sharing. lougherneresort.com has all the details.

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Enterprise

Enterprise – Wear House

In

L i v i n g

Colour From pastel pinks to crisp bright white, delicate lace to ready-to-play sportswear, this season’s trends are a mix and match delight.

ROE McDERMOTT tells you how to clash and combine trends to make one fabulous Spring wardrobe.

Pretty In Pink This season, the catwalks are teaming with pretty pastels, but there’s one colour to rule them all: pink. Whether cherry, fuchsia, candy floss, rose, dusty, salmon, shocking, Persian or puce; the flirty and ultra feminine shade is dominating this season. This season’s Rochas collection combines several trends, with their light ruffled numbers combining sheer panelling, lace detailing and pastel hues for a gorgeous summer garden party look. BSportmax brought pink to the huge new sportswear trend, bringing a touch of cheeky rose and polka dots to their light, wide-legged pants and casual tops. Meanwhile, fashion heavy-hitters Lanvin, Burberry and Christopher Kance embraced the fabric of the season, highlighting the intricacy of ornate and embellished lace by sticking with light, delicate hues of lilac, mauve and baby pink.

Lovely In Lace Tis the season of ultra delicate, intricate, ornate and overt femininity, and it’s not just the pastel pink palette that’s hitting the fashion high notes. When it comes to fabrics, you can’t get more feminine than lovely lace. And designers took notice, with lace appearing in the collections of Stella McCartney, Burberry Prorsum and Chanel. Sheer lace brings an incomparable delicacy to any ensemble, and can be either worn over light slips for a dress that’s daring without losing the fabric’s innate sense of romantic innocence. The season’s delicate palette emphasises the intricacy of lace designs, so light hues of candy floss, lilac and mint can make the fabric even more striking.

Crisp, doily-style lace designs can be layered with chunky knits and monochrome pieces for a more structured take on the trend, that brings the historically adored fabric into a modern milieu.

Crisp Bright Whites Though monochrome never goes out of style, this Spring is all about the freshness of whites, nudes and champagnes.

The light, bright palette allows the cut to shine, so look for voluminous shaping and proportional variety, infused with a feminine flair. Crisp, oversized shirts can be worn as a daring dress that combines the masculinity of buttoned-up structure, with a suggestive flash of leg, while voluminous, strongly

40

shaped cropped tops can add a modern edge to high-waisted pencil skirts. Multi-layered fabrics or white-on-white stripes can add interest and texture. If all white is too stark for you, use the freshness of the white as a base upon which to layer other trends. Add whimsy by teaming with pink accessories or layer delicate lace over your whites for an intricate but seasonally light look. Clashing whites with bright easily evokes this season’s sportswear trends, proving that our old reliable colour is the most versatile.

Sleek Sportswear Gone are the days when sportswear meant ketchup-stained sweatpants and your ex-boyfriend’s baggy old tees; this season sportswear has been given a chic makeover. The trend transcends the athletic and travels far beyond the playing field, instead focusing on slouchy tailoring and upscale casual pieces.

Silk bomber jackets, punchy prints, glamorous backpacks and sporting fabrics all combine to bring a playful, comfortable but still sleek and strong look. For inspiration, look to Hilfiger’s classic polo cuts, Prada’s tailored sports jackets and Sachi’s canny combining of heavy cotton tops with sheer underlays, for an ensemble that combines the slouchy with the sensual.

High tops with studs lend a rock chic edge to footwear, while perspex bangles nicely replace the traditional sweatband.

Abstract Geometry With bold, abstract prints, the emphasis must be on luxurious, quality fabrics. Bold colours in gorgeous textiles brings a contemporary edge to classic, elegant design, while masterful, painterly strokes add a vibrant and artistic flair to graphic prints.

Fresh, vivid shocks of contrasting colours like deep oranges, sorbet yellows and midnight blues dominate prints, where kimono-inspired patterns and bold blooms lend a floral focus to loud and proud graphics that will carry you right through to Summer. Geometry is also influencing both print and cut this season, as monochrome stripes and sharp tailoring make a riproaring return. Victoria Beckham and Chanel led the way on the catwalks with this trend, displaying an abundance of structured skirts, cropped tops and daring slits, which all highlighted the asymmetry and daring slashes of this season’s tailoring. When in doubt: stripe it, slash it, clash it.

Enterprise

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Enterprise Enterprise

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Enterprise

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Enterprise – Business

MAKING

WAVES

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Brendan O’Driscoll

Enterprise

Soundwave Team

A revolutionary social media app that lets you monitor what your friends are looking for is taking the tech sector by storm – and it’s all the work of a plucky Irish start-up. words COLM O’HARE

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hey say the best business ideas can happen by accident. Soundwave, a smartphone app that tracks the songs people are listening to, is one such brainwave.

Available on iPhone and Android, it allows users to play music as they normally do, or via streaming apps such as Spotify. The Soundwave app will then instantly update their profile, allowing friends, family and “favourites” (whether musicians, professional athletes, celebs etc) to see what songs they are listening to, and to discover new music along the way. A unique “music map” feature allows users to draw a circle with their finger on a map over any country, city, street or building in the world and instantly see what songs are playing there.

Brendan O’Driscoll, co-founder and CEO of Soundwave, says the idea grew out of a mixture of curiosity and necessity. “I spent a few years working away in Sweden and I used to chat regularly with a cousin of mine over Facebook and Skype,” he explains. “We’d talk about all the usual stuff including the weather. We would regularly ask each other, ‘have you found a new band?’ or ‘could you recommend some new music or a new song that I should be listening to?’ We used each other as a source of information that way.”

Around the same time, O’Driscoll, a Corkman who graduated from UCD with a mechanical engineering degree, noted that there was a resurgence of “big” headphones among mobile music listeners. “You’d see people walking around the streets with these huge headphones plugged into their smartphones. We used to say to each other jokingly, that these smartphones are the most connected devices in the world and the technology inside them could bring a man to the moon. However, there isn’t a way for one smartphone to tell another smartphone what song is playing. We thought if we were both listening to music on our phones, wouldn’t it be great if I

could see what you’re listening to and vice versa?

O’Driscoll and his cousin (Aidan Sliney, who holds a BSC in computer science) embarked on a period of research, mainly by going online and looking around at music forums in particular.

“Almost every one of them would have a thread titled, ‘what are you listening to now’ and people would be sitting on these forums all day, manually typing in the songs they were listening to. At around the same time there was a viral video on YouTube where this guy in New York would take a camera down to Times Square and walk up to people with headphones and ask them what song they were playing. The conversation we were having was recurring and we thought it would be cool if we could solve it. I suppose the best way to find a business idea is to identify a problem that you have in your own life. It all spiralled out from there, really.”

Fast forward to 2014, and the result is an Irish start-up success story. Founded by O’Driscoll and Sliney, now Soundwave chief technoloyg officer, the app launched in June 2013, the project funded

by Mark Cuban and ACT Venture Capital. The Soundwave app was downloaded 750,000 times in its first hundred days and has tracked over 35 million songs, growing by 250,000 per day. Apple featured it as the coveted “Editor’s Choice” after being live for only six hours with Google following a week later. Celebrity fans include Stephen Fry, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak, rugby stars Jamie Heaslip, Cian Healy, and Irish bands Kodaline and The Coronas among many, many others.

One reason for the runaway success of the Soundwave app is that it comes with the imprimatur and close co-operation of Apple – a crucial element in the success of any such venture.

O’Driscoll: “There are millions of apps being developed out there at any given time, yet we managed to capture the attention of the right people. We’ve been delighted that they have been so responsive. I think it comes down to the strength of the idea and the execution of the product.”

O’Driscoll is no stranger to startups; in college, he set up a Dublin-based “Rickshaw” company and later moved to Sweden to join Minesto, an innovative tidal energy technology company based in Gothenburg. Soundwave operates with a team of twelve from their Rathmines, Dublin office. “It takes a lot of work just to maintain the product and to build new versions of it as well as responding to the users, for example when they say they like one feature but don’t like another feature.”

The Soundwave app is, he says, now showing potential far beyond its original intent.

“As well as people finding out what other people are listening to, we discovered that Soundwave was a good way of people finding out what they themselves were listening to – almost like a music diary. It has endless possibilities in other ways,” he says. “We have a sharing facility and we found that couples would court each other by sending suggestive song titles.”

It also has business applications and could, he says, be used by the music industry to predict trends in particular territories. “We’re giving an objective overview of what people are actually listening to, not what they’re purchasing or talking about. Record companies and bands, as well as radio stations, don’t have access to this kind of data – so it can inform them what’s going on in their markets.”

He sees future expansion of the concept taking it beyond tracking music.

“Right now we’re focusing on music and not getting distracted from that, but down the line we would be keen to explore what other kinds of media we might track – whether it’s allowing people to see what movies or TV programmes their friends are watching or what books they’re reading or even what podcasts they’re listening to.

We’ll be very much led by feedback and response from our users.” www.soundwave.com

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Enterprise – Travel

GORG E OUS

G E NO A EAMONN SEOIGE reports on the sights and sounds that set the coastal city of Genoa apart from other Italian destinations.

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enoa boasts a rich history and exquisite architecture and offers a whole world of surprises. There's lots of magic to be uncovered down its narrow streets. On top of that, it has some of the finest wine, food and culture in all of Italy (a boast to be sure).

The best place to start is Genoa’s ‘old town’. Here, you’ll find the kind of Italy that exists in old films.

There is much pleasure to be found in ambling through the narrow streets, known locally as caruggi.

These connect the various squares. Hours can be frittered wandering around, pretending you’re in an old Fellini feature.

In the summertime, lots of sandy beaches are within reach by public transport. They're perfect for lounging around in the sun if you’re not feeling up to hardcore trekking.

If you’re looking for something a little different, head over to the Biosfera at the port. The Biosfera is a humid ecosystem, in a giant glass greenhouse and home to many species of butterfly, birds and tropical flora. It’s fascinating – something for the whole family to enjoy.

Genoa is the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.

One of the city’s most popular tourist attractions is undoubtedly Columbus’ restored home on Piazza Dante. There is plenty of architecture to admire.

The remnants of the ancient city’s walls are still visible in some parts. Also worth a visit is the Lanterna, the world’s oldest lighthouse, built in approximately 1126. For something more modern, head over to the vast aquarium, built for the

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1992 Expo to commemorate, if not celebrate, the 500th anniversary of Columbus’ 'discovery' of the Americas. The aquarium houses a massive collection of marine life and is also an important scientific research facility.

There are plenty of options when it comes to eating out. The local cuisine is somewhat different to that which you might expect from a port town in northern Italy. Local legend goes that when the fishermen had returned home after weeks at sea subsisting on nothing but fish, they would demand variety in their diet. Whether true or not, there are a range of culinary delights for you to feast on: you owe it to yourself to try some of them. Pesto is believed to have its origins around the area. This world-famous sauce, made from locally harvested basil, garlic, olive oil and pine nuts, is an enduring favourite.

Another classic dish to emerge from the Ligurian seaport is ravioli, originally a food of the poor, prepared using leftovers. Today, ravioli (folded pasta stuffed with a variety of different ingredients) is served on practically every menu where you can order it with the stuffing of your choice.

In terms of wine, you’re most certainly in the right place. The Chianti from nearby Tuscany is revered across the world while Liguria itself produces a number of fine wines, amongst them Cinque Terre, a white wine that originates from the cliffside vineyards of La Spezia. If you’ve eaten quite a lot of dinner, why not sample one of the region’s digestivos? Some of the most famed stomach settlers include Limoncello and, of course, Grappa.

If you’re not worn out at this point and are looking for a few after hours drinks, head over to Piazza Delle Erbe, Porto Antico and Piazza Fontane Marose where you’ll find most of the city’s pubs and nightclubs. Many of the city’s late bars offer live music and many stay open until the small hours, but be prepared for your share of cheesy pop tunes.

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS For excellent atmosphere and authentic local cuisine, dine amongst the locals at Scalvini. Perfect for romantic evenings and special occasions, Scalvini also offers fantastic service and value for money.

Visit their website - www. ristorantescalvinipontedecimo.com Price range €19-58 If you’re looking for a sweet treat, look no further than J’aime les Crepes. This atmospheric little French creperie is great for getting a dessert after dinner elsewhere, grabbing a quick breakfast/brunch and dining with the kids.

Visit their website - www.jaimelescrepes.eu Prices €5-9 Eating out in a group? Can’t decide on a cuisine?

The large, modern IT Fusion offers fantastic variety, with everything from Brazilian to Japanese and Fusion as well as traditional Italian food.

Visit their website - www.itfusion.it Prices €8-30 GETTING THERE There aren’t any direct flights between Ireland and Genoa, but you can fly from either Belfast or Dublin to Milan and then get an internal flight or Trenitalia train to the city on the Med. They’re only seventy miles apart and the comfy train journey takes less than two hours. trenitalia.com

Enterprise – Feature

D U N D A L K

On the Up Located on the coastal sweet spot between Dublin and Belfast, DUNDALK has a host of its own unique delights to offer. It boasts stunning scenery, intriguing local attractions and some of the finest shopping in the country. And with growth in high-tech industry and sporting success of which to be proud, Dundalk is an historic town with a big future.

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he birthplace of a plethora of heroes, from CĂşchulainn to The Corrs, Dundalk is steeped in Irish history. But its attractions also have a modern hue, recent developments ensuring that it is a vibrant town just waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

Known as the culinary capital of Louth, its restaurant business is thriving. Meanwhile, it continues to maintain its name as a shopper's paradise. Plus, when you're finished with the retail therapy, there are loads of things to see and do in the town and the surrounding areas.

The Oriel Centre (located on the site of the age-old Dundalk Gaol) is a centre-piece, consistently hosting cultural and artistic events of great note. Casting your gaze a little further, the views of the Cooley and Mourne mountains have the ability to take the breath away and nearby Carlingford is a wonderful spot to spend some time. There's also very fertile live music scene, with the award-winning Spirit Store a focal point for musos and fans alike.

With all that on offer, there is a sneaking feeling that you might never want to leave!

As a place to call your permanent residence, it is a great option, with American tech giants Paypal and eBay being just two of the global companies that have decided it's an ideal place to set up a base. In 2012, PayPal announced plans to create 1,000 jobs, soon followed with a further 450 from eBay. Test Development Solutions, an off shoot of Prometric, have also based their HQ in the town and are expected to have created some 100 new positions by the end of this year.

It means even more people can now legitimately adopt Dundalk's very proud sporting

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Dundalk native, Andrea Corr

Musicians performing at the Oriel Centre

history as their own! Steve Staunton, former player and manager of the Republic of Ireland’s soccer team, grew up here, as did current Leinster and Ireland rugby star, Rob Kearney.

The town is also the home of Dundalk FC, the second most successful Irish football team ever. After a period in the doldrums, the team is currently in rude health again, having secured second spot in the Airtricity League last year. With the highly-rated Stephen Kenny as manager, in 2014 Dundalk FC are a team with vast

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Cooley Distillery

potential and a big and passionate local following. Kenny has recently reaffirmed his belief that, with the expansion in their youth policy, he can produce some senior Irish international at the club – which is the right way to be thinking!

It's an attitude that taps into the current optimistic spirt of the town itself. Here is just a small sample of Dundalk's reasons to be cheerful – and your reasons to visit this thriving town...

One other, more poignant thought.

Enterprise Magazine is joining in the appeal for the recovery of two watches belonging to two local children, Senan Carroll (10) and Keelan Carroll (8). The watches were gifts from their father Stepphen Carroll, a local businessman, who tragically died of cancer before Christmas and are of huge sentimental value to the children. Anyone with information is asked to contact gardaí in Dundalk on 042-9335577 or you can find Kerrie Carroll on Facebook.

Finally, watch out for the 'Dundalk

10k' run, which will happen on the DIT campus, on Wednesday, April 2.

Better get training now!

SHOPPING

Dundalk is one of the hottest retail spots in Leinster – and indeed on the island of Ireland. The variety is amazing, with High Street fashion sitting snugly alongside local boutique outlets. The Marshes Shopping Centre and Retail Park is the current stronghold, a self-styled "mecca for aspirational shoppers." It's relaxed

Enterprise atmosphere, superb facilities and sheer range of outlets – including Dorothy Perkins, Eason, Holland & Barrett, New Look and River Island – means that it's always bustling with contented natives and visitors alike.

Heading towards the town centre, the Market Square is well worth a visit and has never looked better following an ambitious €3 million regeneration scheme. With its lined trees, raised planting beds and ample seating near the fountain, it is an inviting spot at any time. Add free Wi-Fi, pavement cafes, street art and a beautiful new lighting scheme and you have a must-visit spot.

Fridays mean The Farmers' Market, continuing the town's fond tradition of street markets and stalls. To end each working week, the Square opens itself up to an eclectic range of stalls between 10am and 2pm. Look for the freshest fruit and veg, local cheese, beautiful fish, rare pork and an assortment of cakes and baked goods. At different times of the year, The Square also plays host to events and open air concerts, so keep your ear to the ground for news...

FOOD, DRINK & NIGHTLIFE

Dundalk offers plenty of choice for those in search of quality evening entertainment. To get things going, there is no shortage of excellent eateries in the heart of town. One of the finest is the acclaimed Eno Bar & Grill. Located on Roden Place, opposite St. Patrick's Cathedral, it is informal but genuinely classy. The warm and welcoming environment makes you feel right at home as soon as you enter and a sumptuous Mediterranean menu and their wellearned Certificate Of Excellence seal the deal. Superb.

No 32 on Chapel Street is also a great choice. Very fine cuisine, a lovely, generous atmosphere and plenty of live music means a night there is always going to be memorable.

Meanwhile, The Monasterboice Inn is a hugerly well-regarded spot that offers high quality, locally sourced artisan food. Originally a coach house, it has been servicing those taking a trip along the road between Belfast and Dublin for 200 years. A real treat for travellers, it makes an ideal stopoff for breakfast, lunch or an evening meal, especially for visitors enjoying

the rich heritage trail of the Boyne Valley Drive – go to monasterboiceinn.ie for more.

If you fancy a terrific show after your eats, your best bet is The Spirit Store: the comings months see the likes of David O’Doherty, Lisa O ‘Neill and Peter Hook all playing the venue.

Dundalk is a college town and so it also boasts a vibrant after-hours scene, thanks in no small part to local DIT. Look no further than Brubaker’s or The Office if it’s nightclubbing that you are after. Also, don’t forget that you’re in the home of Harp lager, so make sure to order a pint before you leave!

LOCAL ATTRACTIONS

When visiting a place so richly steeped in history, why not uncover a little about the town's past? The visitor attractions in Dundalk rank among its highlights. Located at Dundalk Gaol, which opened in 1884, The Oriel Centre has proved to be an excellent base for cultural events and is widely regarded as the best traditional music venue in the NorthEast. Over the past few years, they have also played host to literary events and RTE radio broadcasts. The Oriel combines the roles of resource centre,

visitor attraction, and social and performance space – and provides facilities for teaching, archives, recording, rehearsal, performance and sessions. The former Male Wing of Dundalk Gaol now houses a Regional Centre for Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann, with the promotion and development of traditional Irish arts and culture at its core. Go to orielcentre.ie to discover more.

The County Museum is well worth a visit, chronicling in fascinating fashion the historical development of Louth, stretching right back to the Stone Age. Located in a restored 18th century warehouse in Jocelyn St, the museum offers an extensive programme of exhibitions, temporary displays, drama presentations, music recitals, lectures and films.

Meanwhile, The Cooley Whiskey Visitor Centre, adjacent to Martin's pub on the Carlingford-Dundalk road, has a real buzz about it. It offers unique, hands-on guided tours and demonstrates the process of whiskey production, all the way from raw materials to bottling. The excellent tour guides have years of experience in the industry and the Master cooper is one of the last in Ireland. You'll also have the chance to taste the product,

Dundalk Institute of Technology Dublin Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth t: +353 (0)42 937 0200 e: info@dkit.ie

f: +353 (0)42 933 0201 w: www.dkit.ie

ARTS & HUMANITIES Digital Humanities, Social Care, Sports, Exercise and Enterprise, Performing Arts, Community Youth Work BUSINESS Accounting & Finance, Marketing, Public Relations and Online Communication, Business Studies, Business and Management, Business and Technology HOSPITALITY Hospitality Management, Event Management, Culinary Arts, Hospitality Studies

2))(5,1* &2856(6 )520 '(*5(( 72 0$67(56 $1' 3267*5$'8$7( /(9(/ NOW ACCEPTING APPLIED A-LEVELS AND BTEC’S AS WELL AS STANDARD A-LEVELS

COMPUTING Computing in Games Development, Computing, Computing with French, Computing (incorporating 3 award options - Networking, Software Development, Application & Support) CREATIVE MEDIA Interactive Application Design & Development, Communications in Creative Multimedia, Video and Film Production MUSIC Applied Music, Music and Audio Production APPRENTICESHIPS Motor Mechanic, Plumber, Carpenter/Joiner, Electrician ENGINEERING Building Surveying, Energy Engineering, Electrical & Electronics Systems, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Construction Technology SCIENCE Science - Applied Bioscience, Science - Pharmaceutical Science, Veterinary Nursing, Agriculture NURSING General Nursing, Intellectual Disability Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, Midwifery, Early Childhood Studies, Health & Physical Activity

Oriel Centre

Carrickmacross Rd

Dundalk Gaol

Dundalk

St Dominic’s Place

Phone/Fón: 042 9328887 info@orielcentre.ie www.orielcentre.ie

Ionad Oirghialla

Príosún Dún Dealgain

Plás Naomh Doiminic

Bóthar Carraig Mhachaire Rois

Dún Dealgain

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SIGHTSEEING

David O'Doherty plays the Spirit Store soon & (above) The Spirit Store

One shouldn't forget how attractive a place Dundalk truly is.

Aside from its town centre being rich in character, those in search of something a little more bucolic will not be disappointed. If sightseeing is your bag, there is no shortage of natural beauty in and around Dundalk. The local Cooley and Mourne mountains offer plenty in the way of spectacular views, while the lovely village of Carlingford is less than 20-minutes away, and is often referred to as the “jewel of the north-east”. Its seafood restaurants also provide fresh culinary delights to savour, so a quick trip there, from Dundalk, is a must-do, if you are in the area for a few days.

ACCOMMODATION

sampling the delicious and rich Cooley Whiskey range for yourself.

For further info, call (042) 937 6377 or mail cooley.visitor.centre@gmail. com

If you’re looking for top quality accommodation at attractive prices, Crowne Plaza Dundalk Hotel is an excellent place to relax overnight.

The elegant 14 storey building offers 129 superbly designed en-suite bedrooms, as well as a breathtaking rooftop restaurant. There are also plenty of highly-rated B&Bs in the area, as well as hotels that are available for very reasonable prices.

Giro d'Italia Intermediate Sprint through Dundalk Sunday May 11th 2014

SPORT

Dundalk is rightfully proud of its sporting heritage. Dundalk FC is the finest example of this. Not only does the football club have one of the best records in League of Ireland history, they're currently riding high, rejuvenated by the nous and enthusiasm of manager Stephen Kenny. It has meant huge attendances at their ground, Oriel Park, and plenty of entertainment to be had when they're playing at home. If your visit coincides with a home game, make sure you see them in action.

On May 11, the Giro d'Italia will make its way through Dundalk Town Centre, watched by an expected global audience of 250 million viewers. This is a very big deal indeed.

Having run for over 100 years, the annual stage bicycle race is one of the most prestigious cycling events in the world and, in the 2014 model, Dundalk will host the only southern sprint of the Giro. It comes at a time when Irish cycling is in its healthiest state for decades – there will be plenty of Irish interest, as the likes of Dan Martin, Nicholas Roche (son of Stephen), Philip Deignan, Sam Bennet and Martyn Irvine are all set to race.

OTHER EVENTS Brigid of Faughart Festival Taking place from January 29 – February 2, the festival celebrates Brigid of Faughart as well as the Celtic Festival of Imbolc, through music, poetry, dance, story, landscape, folklore and much more.

The goal is to revisit and reclaim the richness of the traditions associated with Brigid of Faughart, in ways which are relevant to our lives in the 21st century. There will be lectures and workshops offering the opportunity to expand one’s knowledge of Brigid and get into the true spirit of the festival. The theme this year is Challenging Convention.

The Táin March and Festival One of the staples of the Dundalk summer is the Táin March, a familyfriendly celebration of the Cattle Raid of Cooley and all its heroes and villains, which takes place from June 7-9. There will be fun, music, games, battles and diversions, with something for all the family. This year, the main events will centre around Ardee, Dundalk and Carlingford.

Come and join the fun and meet Cúchulainn, Maeve, Ferdia and all the other characters of Ireland’s greatest legendary saga. Perfect for a day of family fun.

Vantastival Vantastival is a family-friendly music festival that runs from May 2-4 at Bellurgan Park in Dundalk, Co. Louth.

The festival is set to feature as many as 70 live acts across 3 stages and has been nominated for various Irish and European festival awards. It is boasts gourmet food stalls, arts and crafts and specific children’s activities – with kids under 14 allowed in free.

Revellers can also bring their own beer as long as there are no glass bottles. The lineup for 2014 has yet to be announced. Watch Hot Press for updates...

MUSIC TO STUDENTS’ EARS

Facebook : Dundalk Tourist Office Twitter: @dundalktourist For further information contact: Dundalk Tourist Office, Market Square, Dundalk, Co Louth Tel 042 9352111 Email: info@dundalktouristoffice.ie

www.louthholidays.com

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A lecturer in Music and Audio Production at Dundalk Institute of Technology since the course’s inception in 2011, Niall Coughlan travels from Belfast to work every day via the Enterprise service.

“Thanks to the WiFi access, I get a lot done,” he laughs. “It’s a great service, so convenient. It saves me a fortune on petrol.

"I’ve even been able to work on tracks on the train,” he adds. "One of the advantages of technology is that you can work quickly with a digital audio workstation or a laptop and develop something to take into a studio. I’ve yet to fully produce a track on the train, but maybe in the future.”

Though relatively new, DKIT’s Music and Production course is a winner. The facilities are state of the art.

“I don’t mean that lightly!” Niall says. "One of the things that makes us different is the focus on production. Until last year, we were the only college to focus on that aspect of music as opposed to the technical side of things like sound engineering. Music production has a significant creative component.”

The course is part of a burgeoning creative scene in Dundalk.

“The Spirit Store has contributed a huge amount to the profile of live music in Dundalk,” Niall reflects. "There’s a very vibrant scene now. We have an applied music degree in DKIT which gives our students access to a ready pool of talented musicians, but we also encourage students to seek out bands that they’re keen to work with. What we want in our students is a passion for music – and you really see that coming through.”

Read All About It

Four highly-anticipated new novels from Irish and international literary talent alike get the Enterprise once-over...

THE GOLDFINCH DONNA TARTT [LITTLE, BROWN] If you're a world-renowned writer whose debut novel sold tens of millions of copies and caused critics to swoon, chances are your editors tend to treat you with kid gloves.

Understandable, but a pity, because Donna Tartt’s long-awaited third novel The Goldfinch would have been much better with some ruthless editing. Tartt herself seems to be trying to recreate her beloved debut The Secret History and the opening of The Goldfinch is uncannily similar. The protagonist Theo Decker has shot someone and is in hiding in a hotel in Amsterdam. Having dangled this titbit, Tartt takes us into Theo’s past. At 13, Theo survives a museum bombing which kills his mother. In the aftermath he removes Carl Fabritius’ 1684 masterpiece, ‘The Goldfinch’. This incident becomes the defining moment of his life. Tartt is an excellent storyteller and keeps you engaged, but The Goldfinch is something of a wellwritten mess. Between the bombing and the shooting there is a lot of well-written padding, but padding nonetheless. The climax, when we get to it, feels tacked on and the resolution is disappointing. The Goldfinch is overly long and unbelievable, but despite that, it's hard to stop turning the pages.

EVERY SINGLE MINUTE HUGO HAMILTON [FOURTH ESTATE]

IN THE MORNING I’LL BE GONE ADRIAN MCKINTY [SERPENT’S TAIL]

THE FREE WILLY VLAUTIN [FABER AND FABER]

It is something of a crime that Hugo Hamilton is not as famous as some of Ireland’s big literary names.

Hamilton may be critically acclaimed and he has picked up more than a few awards for his work, but compared to Colm Tóibín or Anne Enright, he remains relatively unknown. This is unfair; he is an excellent writer whose prose is a joy to read. Every Single Minute is his ninth novel. Úna is an Irish writer dying of cancer taking a final trip to Berlin with her friend Liam. Úna’s renown is largely based on her memoirs, particularly of her father who was a famous journalist and moverand-shaker. She is still struggling to come to terms with the death of her younger brother, for which she holds her parents responsible. Liam, a father himself, believes in putting the past behind him, so much so that he claims to have few memories of it. Every Single Minute is a beautifully written and compassionate novel about the influence of family, personal history and how we can allow the past to define our present, about forgiveness and letting go, and about the bonds of friendship.

With every novel, Adrian McKinty gets better and better. Now In The Morning I’ll Be Gone should cement his place as one of Ireland’s most interesting and satisfying crime novelists.

The third novel featuring Catholic RUC detective Sean Duffy, like the previous two, it mixes fact and fiction. The novel opens in 1983 with a mass breakout of IRA prisoners from HM Prison Maze. One of the escapees is Dermot McCann, a former schoolmate and friend of Duffy’s – and the man who turned him down when a younger Duffy wanted to join the IRA in the aftermath of Bloody Sunday. Duffy is sure their paths will across again, and this being fiction, they do, especially since Special Branch second Duffy to help find him. Witnesses are reluctant to speak; McCann’s mother-in-law may be willing to help, but only if Duffy looks into the death of her daughter, which was ruled an accident by the police many years previously. McKinty writes with a sure hand and In The Morning... captures the paramilitary, economic and cultural tensions of 1980s Northern Ireland without sacrificing plot or pacing – this is a crime novel that will keep you turning the pages.

Richmond Fontaine frontman Willy Vlautin surprised many when he published his debut novel The Motel Life in 2007, but what was generally assumed to be a once-off flirtation became an awardwinning best-seller which has been adapted for film (currently doing the rounds on the festival circuit). The book spawned the equally wellreceived Northline and Lean On Pete.

His fourth novel, The Free, deals with the stories of the staff and inmates of a hospital and revolves primarily around nurse Pauline Hawkins. The lives of the patients, including Iraq vet Leroy Kervin and a young female runaway Joe, in addition to the tribulations of fellow worker Freddie McCall, comprise the remainder of the compelling narrative.

The title of the book is drawn from Leroy’s story, through which Vlautin explores the topic of freedom and the futility of war. As with his previous outings, he displays a unique ability to empathise with the tales of the downtrodden everyman struggling to make ends meet and cope with life’s pitfalls. He writes skilfully and with great humanity, revealing the beauty in the commonplace and the strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity. Another triumph.

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Listen To This

James Vincent McMorrow stakes his claim for world domination while two girl groups make their mark. And there’s Bruce…

JAMES VINCENT McMORROW POST TROPICAL BURNING ROPE/FACTION RECORDS It’s time to start thinking of James Vincent McMorrow as a bona fide star. Four years ago, the Dublin native quietly ambled onto the scene with the folksy Early In The Morning, a record that garnered praise and won fans at a steady rate. Not exactly earth-shattering, but the album revealed itself in time, much like McMorrow’s soulful style. Post Tropical could easily have been a straightforward

WARPAINT WARPAINT [ROUGH TRADE] Also making a mockery of the ‘difficult second album’ tag are Los Angeles post-punks Warpaint. Having set hearts and minds aflutter with debut album The Fool back in 2010, the all-female outfit finally return with an early contender for the best record of 2014. Yes, it’s that good. With long-term Radiohead associate Nigel Godrich handling mixing duties and U2/PJ Harvey/ Nine Inch Nails producer Flood behind the desk, the dreamy soundscapes are richer than ever but so too is the songwriting. Lead single ‘Love Is To Die’ is nothing short of astonishing, an infectious, clever and unpredictable slice of dark pop. Warpaint have been accused of perhaps being a little too aloof, but if their stage presence and moody image speaks to such criticism, the songs that populate Warpaint let the listener all the way in. If anything, Warpaint have gotten quieter in the four years since their breakthrough. This sophomore effort never feels the need to scream yet is constantly alive with a fierce heartbeat. ‘Hi’ and ‘Biggy’ introduce an electronic undercurrent, something every band seems to be doing these days, but here it sounds organic, the natural next move from a group who have earned the right to be too cool for school. Simply put, they are.

SEPTEMBER GIRLS CURSING THE SEA [FORTUNA POP!] Warpaint aren’t the only all-girl group making waves as 2014 unfolds. Here at home, September Girls, a band with notable pedigree, finally make their bow with Cursing The Sea.

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With former Chalets singers Caoimhe Derwin and Paula Cullen on hand, this five-piece come armed with a knowing pop sensibility, although the mood is heavy. Further comparisons to Warpaint would be fair, as would Dum Dum Girls, as September Girls eschew bright harmonies (even with four of the five contributing vocals) in favour of sludgy shoegaze. Indeed, the vocals are buried quite deep in the mix, the emphasis squarely placed on atmosphere. This decision turns out to be somewhat of a shame once you’ve wrapped your ears around the vibrant ‘Heartbeats’, the driving ‘Talking’, the impressive guitar assault of ‘Left Behind’ and the dreamlike ‘Another Love Song’. All four are instantly catchy and fun. The remainder of Cursing The Sea concerns itself with distortion and drama. Eventually, it all becomes a bit of a chore.

Tracks like ‘Money’ and ‘Secret Lovers’ are little more than garage-by-numbers and while the likes of ‘Green-Eyed’ and ‘Ships’ have moments that punch through the malaise with gusto, the overall narrative feels bogged down. This could have been a real tour de force. Instead, the listener ultimately rues the bands’ choices.

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN HIGH HOPES [COLUMBIA] You’ve got to hand it to Bruce Springsteen; he goes for it. Even when tackling that age-old staple of any successful career, the B-sides/ outtakes compilation.

Recorded on and off through 2012/13’s mammoth Wrecking Ball tour, High Hopes catches The Boss mixing old and new, revisiting obscurities and long-time favourites while tackling several unlikely covers. The E Street Band play their part, with Rage Against The Machine guitarist Tom Morello stepping up to the plate in the absence of Steve Van Zandt, who was busy filming his Norwegian crime show Lilyhammer at the time. Incidentally, Van Zandt has described High

collection of MOR singer-songwriter travails, the odd gem thrown in to keep things interesting. In truth, it sounds like the work of a totally different artist. Amazingly, not a single one of its ten songs was written on guitar. Self-produced and recorded close to the Mexican border, Post Tropical bursts with colour. If McMorrow felt boxed in, he has well and truly broken free of his confines.

Across this gorgeously-produced LP we encounter harps, horns, mandolins, pianos and drum machines, but it’s that voice, that magnificent, natural sound, that rises above it all. Anyone who has heard lead single ‘Cavalier’ and its quirky R&B shuffle will understand, but Post Tropical is wall-to-wall with magical moments, from the haunting self-reflection of ‘Red Dust’ to the ingenious arrangement of‘The Lakes’. McMorrow shines bright throughout, as any star should.

Hopes as “the best alternative Greatest Hits you’ve never heard”. Lofty praise, but is it worthy? As you might expect, it’s a little from column A, a little from column B. Morello brings the requisite amount of electricity to a lively take on ‘The Ghost Of Tom Joad’ while an earthy reading of Suicide’s ‘Dream Baby Dream’ is an impressive standout. Alas, High Hopes occasionally feels thrown together. The lead track, a cover of a cover, aims for the usual Springsteen working-class optimism but feels clumsy and strangely empty.

Meanwhile, ‘American Skin (41 Shots)’ is nowhere near as aggressive as the sentiment demands. High Hopes is many things. At its best, it’s an ambitious take on a record most acts take little care over. It lacks a little identity, but High Hopes is super-charged and sure to please the diehards.

SPRING SCREENING

What better way to beat the New Year chill than cosying up with a great DVD about life and love? Luckily January through March is a veritable treasure chest of great stories about relationships and romance – and the disaster that inevitably dogs them. Roe McDermott picks her favourites.

LE WEEK-END [CURZON FILM WORLD] A rom-com for adults, Le WeekEnd is a witty, bitter and bristling drama about a couple in their ‘60s struggling to find a reason to stay together. Roger Mitchell’s film is laden with thorny truths and bitingly funny banter, featuring two powerhouse performances from Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan. As a weekend in Paris fails to reignite

the romantic idealism and naiveté of youth, the problems plaguing Meg (Duncan) and Nick (Broadbent) are thrust to the fore. Nick, for all his hangdog commitment, has a desperate need to be loved, which has led to infidelities. Meg, on the other hand, is full of vicious selfdoubt and restlessness. Railing through life with a deeply cutting tongue, she almost dares people to leave her. The Parisian cityscape is filled with metaphors; spiral staircases

ABOUT TIME [UNIVERSAL]

About Time

Get out the hankies, because Richard Curtis is back, and he’s determined to make you sob. The incredible Domhnall Gleeson easily overtakes Hugh Grant as Richard Curtis’ most effortlessly charming muse, playing the foppish if awkward Tim. The radiant Bill Nighy plays his erudite father who passes on his unique ability to travel through time. The power is limited; better suited to changing small, personal moments than the history books. And so the time-travelling conceit becomes merely a way for the characters to chase their modest, wonderfully relatable desires. To fall in love. To not mess it up. To be happy. Spanning ten years, this isn’t a film just about romance; but family, love and growing up.

Nighy and Gleeson share a divinely warm and witty chemistry, while Lydia Wilson is stunning as Tim’s kooky but troubled sibling. The relationships are the most beautifully observed and gut-wrenching that Curtis has written in years, and Gleeson is wonderful as a husband, father, brother and son, just trying to make each day count. There may be tropes and schmaltz, but underneath is a heart that will kick your teeth out. Let it.

BLUE JASMINE [WARNER]

Blue Jasmine

Woody Allen’s beautiful, biting homage to A Streetcar Named Desire captures the best of both tragedy and comedy. Blanchett plays Jasmine, our modern day Blanche, whose loves lie not in gentleness and honour, but money and appearances.

When her wealthy, swindler husband (Alec Baldwin) loses everything, she moves to San Francisco to live with her estranged sister Ginger (Sally Hawkins). As the two sisters try to discern what happiness and settling means to them, Blanchett’s performance is

charting the cyclical elevation of their fights; and apparent shortcuts and quick fixes that lead them right back to their problems. The two leads are incredible; complicated, funny, intelligent and emotional, they create an honest dynamic with a real sense of a history. They more than compensate for the script’s occasional veerings into theatricality and explore jealousy, sex, parenting, infidelity and ambition with the grace and force of a violent tango.

mesmerising, imbuing the potentially insufferable Jasmine with a desperate pathos. Hysterical, selfabsorbed and falling apart at the seams, there’s an inescapable vulnerability to her. As ever, Allen’s cityscapes are sumptuous; the sweaty, artfully dishevelled San Francisco emphasising how out of place the gilded Jasmine feels, and how affected she is compared to the blunt authenticity of Ginger’s working class lovers (Bobby Cannavale, Louis CK and the magnificent Andrew Dice Clay).

But despite the often hilarious dialogue, there’s a heartbreaking elliptical feel to the piece, as Jasmine and Allen wonder how you can start over somewhere new, when you can never leave yourself behind?

DRINKING BUDDIES [SONY]

There’s a refreshing, toast-worthy simplicity to mumblecore guru Joe Swanberg’s largely improvised, observational dramedy about two intersecting relationships.

The striking Olivia Wilde and New Girl’s irresistibly unkempt Jake Johnson play Kate and Luke, best friends who, over time, have built a magnetic, wildly flirtatious chemistry, layered with innately understood shorthand, duet-like riffs and a palpable attraction. Swanberg’s brilliance lies in understanding the real emotional complexities that exist in life – but don’t necessarily look strong up on paper, or in film pitches. Though Luke and Kate seem perfect for each other, it’s because they’re identical, stuck in childish banter, partying, drinking and adventure. Meanwhile, Luke’s relationship with his quieter, vulnerable fiancée Jill (Anna Kendrick, charming as ever) holds a subtler beauty; one that brings out a softness and maturity, the potential for marriage and fatherhood and growth. Johnson navigates the two relationships beautifully, and as well as being hilarious and personable, his dramatic scenes with Wilde brilliantly explore the anger, betrayal and jealousy that aren’t officially allowed in friendships, but are sometimes inevitable.

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Enterprise Enterprise

Attractions DUBLIN

BELFAST THE LYRIC THEATRE 55 Ridgeway St., Belfast BT9 5FB lyrictheatre.co.uk Since reopening its doors in May 2011, the Lyric Theatre has gone from strength to strength. The brand new £18.1 million building forms a cultural hub at the heart of Northern Ireland’s capital. The world class facilities enable the theatre to continue its role as the country’s only full-time producing theatre, creating performance work of the highest standard to entertain audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

Between February 8 and March 8, the Lyric celebrates the work of one of Ireland’s greatest living playwrights with a Brian Friel Double Bill.

THE MAC ARTS CENTRE 10 Exchange St. West Belfast BT1 2NJ Tel: +44 (0)28 9089 2960 themaclive.com With its eclectic mix of theatre, dance and art, the very best of local and international acts come together under one roof at the Metropolitan Arts Centre.

Located in Belfast’s Cathedral Quarter, the huge venue holds numerous theatres and art galleries.

It has something for everyone with education and workshop rooms, art studios as well as dance studios and a café and bar if you’re peckish.

From February 8 –April 28, the centre celebrates the work of one of the most famous pop artists in the world; Andy Warhol. Alongside an

Science Gallery

exhibition of his works in the venue, the centre has also created a whole host of Warhol-inspired events.

From a Studio 54 disco night to live theatre, this is an exhibition that art fans won’t want to miss.

The centre is open seven days a week from 10am – 7pm.

TITANIC BELFAST Queens Road Queens Island Belfast BT3 9DT Tel: +44 (0)28 9076 6399 titanicbelfast.com Over a hundred years after one of the world’s most famous ships was built, the signature building, Titanic Belfast has become a major new tourist attraction in Northern Ireland.

The venue holds nine galleries of exhibition space, and includes an underwater exploration theatre along with re-created versions of the ship’s decks and cabins that produce the largest Titanic exhibition in the world.

When you visit Titanic Belfast you’ll experience the Titanic tale in a way like never before. The tours begin with the conception of the ship in Belfast in the 1900s, and moves on to tell the story of the contraction and launch and the renowned maiden voyage that made history. The journey takes you even further, past the sinking of the ship to the discovery of the Titanic and continues to the present day.

The tours are priced well with adult tickets only £13.50 and child tickets just £6.75. It is an experience not to be missed.

SCIENCE GALLERY The Naughton Institute, Pearse St, Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0) 1 896 4091 sciencegallery.com Opened in 2008, the Science Gallery, housed in Trinity's Naughton Institute, has quickly become a favourite among both tourists and locals. The public science centre hosts various exhibitions and lectures with a view to education, science outreach and art-science collaborations.

Exhibitions run from 12 noon, Tuesday - Sunday.

NATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE Snugborough Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 Tel: +353 (0) 1 6464300 nationalaquaticcentre.ie If extreme thrills, raging water adventures, flumes, slides and wave pools are your kind of thing, then a day at Aquazone at the National Aquatic Centre will definitely float your boat. There's fun for all the family, with special deals avaliable.

Admission is €14 for adults and €12 for children while under 3s are free.

NATIONAL WAX MUSEUM PLUS The Armoury, Foster Place, Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0)1 671 8373

The Lyric Theatre

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waxmuseumplus.ie Bigger and better than ever, Dublin’s National Wax Museum Plus is home to some of the world’s most famous faces – only these ones won’t shoo you away if you get too close! A stone’s throw from Temple Bar, the museum is housed over four floors and offers an interactive experience like no other. A potent mix of Irish and international culture, the museum has many unique highlights including an exciting children’s zone of discovery. There’s also a writer’s room – a tribute to Ireland’s literary greats, the only dedicated celebration of our top scientific inventors, a green screen video room, and, of course, all the exceptional lifelike waxwork characters you can expect, from Batman to the Simpsons! Music lovers won’t want to pass up the chance to spend some time in the museum’s special, Irish-themed grand hall where you can find doppelgängers of all the greats including U2 and Thin Lizzy.

The museum also boasts a fully functioning recording studio, offering visitors the chance to use equipment sampled by the likes of REM, Snow Patrol and The Blizzards. Tickets cost €12 for adults and €8 for children under 12 years of age.

Enterprise Enterprise

Restaurants BELFAST

DUBLIN

Deane's & (below) Hadskis, Belfast

DEANES Belfast-wide. michaeldeane.ie/deanes

Ely Wine Bar

MULBERRY GARDEN Mulberry Lane, Donnybrook, Dublin 4 Tel: +353 (0)1 269 3300 mulberrygarden.ie The proposition on offer at Mulberry Garden is essentially very simple.

Open only when there’s a likelihood of a good crowd. Offer a set menu with just two options per course.

Make the food special and the price reasonable. And support all of that with an interesting selection of cocktails and wines. The cooking in Mulberry Garden is both inventive and adventurous. By keeping things tight, they have worked out a way of delivering top-quality dining at accessible prices.

ELY WINE BAR 22 Ely Place Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0)1 676 8986 elywinebar.ie Just off Stephen’s Green, Ely Wine Bar is a Dublin bistro with “country” sensibilities. Opened in 1999 by Erik and Michelle Robson, Ely has been shortlisted for the Irish Restaurant Awards five times and has more than fulfilled the duo’s vision of establishing “the best Dublin wine bar serving the finest in wholesome slow food”. The restaurant offers

locally sourced food, organic where possible, and has a formidable wine menu with lots of great stuff at affordable prices. Meats are sourced from the family farm in Co. Clare and cooked to perfection in Ely’s impressive Georgian setting. The Ely group have expanded and now have two sister restaurants in the IFSC and Dublin’s Grand Canal Square.

FIRST LIGHT COFFEE HOUSE Connolly Station, Dublin 1.

Tel: +353 (01) 636 0612 A gem of a coffee shop and deli, First Light Coffee House is as convenient as it is comfy. Located just beside the escalator on the ground floor of Connolly Station, First Light offers an enormous range of mouth-watering sandwiches, paninis, ciabattas, gourmet soups (a choice of three each day), salads and breakfasts. Alternatively, you can create your own sandwich and see it prepared in front of you. A large selection of pastries are baked in-house each morning and gluten-free food is to the fore.

First Light also boasts a warm, cosy and friendly atmosphere with free Wi-Fi and pleasant background music. The perfect stop-off whether you’re waiting for a train or have just hopped off one.

The holder of a Michelin star for 12 years – a record in Northern Ireland – Michael Deane is a name that has become synonymous with providing the best local food, cooked with flair and imagination and served to perfection.

Just this year Michael Deane has reinvented his flagship premises Deanes on Howard Street in Belfast City Centre. It now houses Meat Locker, a beef driven brasserie with a feature grill, Love Fish, an extended Seafood Bar and the restaurant, Eipic, symbolising the epic journey from Deanes small beginnings more than 20 years ago in Helen’s Bay to the newly refurbished state of the art premises in Belfast. Eipic serves the finest food and wine in sophisticated surroundings, complimented by a Billecart Champagne Bar. Around the corner in Bedford Street is Deanes Deli Bistro & Vin Café, serving food morning, noon and night. In the University Quarter there’s Deanes at Queens Bar & Grill and on the trendy Lisburn Road, Deane and Decano, which has a distinctly Italian flavour.

Each has its own unique character and atmosphere, but the same common Deanes commitment to

excellence and value for money.

For example, there’s a lunch menu in Deanes Restaurants for just £6.50, which will tempt your taste buds and please your pocket!

HADSKIS 33 Donegall St/Commercial Court, Belfast BT1 2NB Tel: +44 (0) 28 90325 44 www.hadskis.co.uk Brought to you by the same people as James Street South, Hadskis has been borne out of one man’s love for making pots and pans – all will be explained when you get there!

– and another’s love for cooking great food.

Located in the heart of Belfast’s vibrant Cathedral Quarter, the eclectic dining-room serves up an ever changing menu of daily specials alongside some classic European dishes.

Star performers when Enterprise dropped in recently included Ham Hock, Bacon & Chickpea; Blackened Duck with a side of Truffle Chips & Parmesan and a wickedly decadent Chocolate Pot, Pistachio & Brittle.

Big on seasonality and locally sourced ingredients, Hadskis’ spirit of adventure extends to its Drink Menu which, along with a superb selection of wines, celebrates the recent explosion in craft beers and cider.

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Enterprise Enterprise

Hotels REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

NORTHERN IRELAND

The d Hotel

Harcourt Hotel

THE MORRISON Ormond Quay Dublin 1 Tel: +353 (0)1 887 2400 morrisonhotel.ie This recently refurbished four-star rock ‘n’ roll themed hotel, situated along the quays in Dublin’s city centre, has a distinct ‘artistic’ aurora. The theme can be seen and felt throughout the hotel with the decor in many rooms featuring famous Irish song lyrics. The Morrison is also home to the stylish Morrison Grill as well as Quay 14, the hotel’s destination bar where the cocktail menu is inspired by classic Irish songs.

HARCOURT HOTEL Harcourt St. Dublin 2 Tel: +353 (0)1 478 3677 harcourthotel.ie Set across a number of old Georgian Houses, one of which was a former home of legendary Irish poet George Bernard Shaw, the Harcourt Hotel offers value for money in an excellent location, just beside the heart of Dublin’s buzzing nightlife. The hotel features Little Caesers Italian restaurant, a sports bar with a busy beer garden and their nightclub (d|two) below.

Bar-food is served daily with sports shown on the big screen and drinks served well into the night.

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THE d HOTEL Scotch Hall Drogheda Co. Louth Tel: +353 (0)41 98 77 700 www.thedhotel.com For a fun-filled getaway, the d Hotel offers the perfect family retreat right in the centre of Drogheda.

Only an hour and half from Belfast and an hour from Dublin by train, the d Hotel overlooks the River Boyne, and offers access to Scotch Hall Shopping Centre.

The d hotel is ideally located for Funtasia, Ireland’s largest indoor family entertainment centre and waterpark and Tayto Park in Ashbourne, Co Meath. The Ultimate Family Package includes a 2 night B&B stay for 2 adults and 2 children and family entry to Funtasia Waterpark and Tayto Park for only €296 total.

Family rooms will cater for two adults and two children and for larger families, interconnecting rooms are available. New to the d and opening in March 2014 is De Lacy’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant which opens onto riverside terraces and a promenade along the River Boyne. Wm Cairnes & Son Gastropub offers local produce, craft beers and over 50 world whiskies and late night entertainment for when the kiddies are in bed.

Malmaison Boutique Hotel

MALMAISON BOUTIQUE HOTEL 34 – 38 Victoria St. Belfast Tel: + 44 (0)84 46 930 650 malmaison.com/locations/belfast This former seed warehouse is now a funky boutique hotel, just minutes from the River Lagan. Upon entering Malmaison, guests will be taken aback by its exquisite design and stunning attention to detail. The hotel is also home to the Malmaison brasserie, where traditional dishes are prepared with a modern twist and washed down with one of the many choices on the Malmaison wine list. For an elegant setting in which to socialise with Belfast’s elite well into the wee hours, look no further than the Malbar. Here guests can enjoy a mixture of classic and quirky cocktails. The Malmaison also features a private dining mezzanine serving excellent food in intimate and comfortable surroundings.

THE MERCHANT HOTEL 16 Skipper St. Belfast Tel: + 44 (0)28 90 234 888 themerchanthotel.com Built in 1857 as the headquarters of Ulster Bank, the Merchant Hotel is in Belfast’s beautiful Cathedral Quarter and, like its historic surroundings, has a rich and vibrant history.

The hotel underwent extensive renovation in 2010 and behind its historic exterior you’ll find the latest in modern and stylish décor. The hotel now encompasses a state of the art gym and luxury spa, offering a wide range of treatments.

The hotel is a popular choice for weddings, with a Rolls Royce Phantom available for hire and several elegant private rooms, one with an exquisite roof top garden overlooking the city. The Merchant is also home to Bert’s Jazz Bar and the glamorous Veuve Clicquot Champagne Lounge.

TARA LODGE 36 Cromwell Road Belfast Tel: + 44 (0)28 90 590 900 taralodge.com Located in the Queen’s Quarter, the bohemian university area of South Belfast, Tara Lodge is just a 15-minute walk from the city centre, as well as being within close proximity to plenty of great restaurants and bars. Tara Lodge offers large contemporary and stylish bedrooms, free car parking, high-speed wi-fi and outstanding breakfast. The Bed & Breakfast also prides itself on its wonderfully helpful and friendly staff, so guests are always certain to feel comfortable and well looked after.

THE HARCOURT HOTEL Hens/Stags or just a good time get away Breaks in Dublin with NIR Travel

Staying at the Harcourt Hotel, centrally located in one of the most fashionable parts of the city centre, close to the shopping mecca of Grafton Street.

Includes

2 nights Bed & full Irish Breakfast Return rail from any NIR station Free admission to D-two nightclub January & February £80 March to October £97 November / December £80 Excludes certain dates. One night packages also available.

Rates based on a minimum of 4 travelling, multiple rooms will be allocated based on the hotel’s availability.

NIR travel, 10-12 Glengall St, Belfast. 028 902 42420

ely Enterprise ad Dec 2013 ART.indd 1

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