Enterprise winter 2016 vol 13 no 3

YOUR GUIDE TO | RESTAURANTS | HOTELS | ATTRACTIONS | SPORT | MUSIC

volume 13:03

LINKING DUBLIN AND BELFAST

Captain fantastic

Colin Farrell on film & family

THE FALL

TWO DOOR CINEMA CLUB

EMMA DONOGHUE

Bronagh Taggart On A TV Winner

Playing To Win With Their Stunning New Album

The Wonder Years & Her Big Hollywood Adventure

S I X N AT I O N S P R E V I E W

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B U S I N ES S F O C U S –T H E H E N N ES SY STO RY

ENTERPRISE – V O L . 1 3 / N O . 0 3 / 2 0 1 6

CONTENTS R E G U L A R S

14 06 ENTER HERE A rundown of what's hot and happening at your next stop.

12 RAIL NEWS F E A T U R E S

14 ROWLING IN THE DEEP

Up to the minute news from Irish Rail and Translink.

Colin Farrell discusses his role in the blockbuster Harry Potter prequel,

32 LISA CANNON

Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.

We break bread with the TV3 star and talk about her exciting new role at the station.

22 SHOW TIME Sam Halliday of County Down rock trio Two Door Cinema Club reveals how the band learned from the pain of previous mistakes.

2 6 A F A M I LY A F F A I R

3 6 T R AV E L Eamonn Seoige takes a closer look at the all-American state of Oklahoma.

Model turned singer Pixie Geldof talks to Olaf Tyaransen about the pros

41 REVIEWS

and cons of being from a famous family.

From the latest book by crime author Conor Brady to the new album from pop icon Robbie Williams.

1 8 WAT C H I N G T H E D E T E C T I V E The Fall star Bronagh Taggart on why the crime thriller has captured the public imagination.

4 4 AT T R A C T I O N S Markets, bars, restaurants and hotels, and the best in shopping both North and South.

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ENTERPRISE – EDITOR’S LET TER

CREDITS EDITOR: Máirín Sheehy COMMISSIONING EDITOR: Roisin Dwyer CONTRIBUTORS: Stuart Clark, Roisin Dwyer, Peter McGoran, Roe McDermott, Paul Nolan, Colm O'Hare, Olaf Tyaransen, Ed Power DESIGN & PRODUCTION: Hot Press 13 Trinity Street, Dublin 2 GROUP ADVERTISING DIRECTOR: Conor White ADVERTISING MANAGER: Catherine Madden

PUBLISHER: Niall Stokes ENTERPRISE IS PUBLISHED FOR N I R A I LWAY S A N D IARNRÓD ÉIREANN BY: Osnovina Ltd 13 Trinity Street, Dublin 2 TELEPHONE: +353 1 2411 500 EMAIL: enterprise@hotpress.ie LETTERS: The Editor, Enterprise Magazine, 13 Trinity St, Dublin 2 PRINTED BY: Boylan’s Print

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 2016.

All rights reserved.

Reproductionofmaterialwithoutpermission of the publishers is strictly prohibited

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The Irish rugby squad in training

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TWO HALVES People all over Ireland were swept up in the excitement of Ireland’s recent heroic rugby performances. But looking on, a mother has to feel for the young men who put their bodies on the line in what is a fiercely physically demanding sport...

Sport has a remarkable capacity to bring people together. You don’t have to be a diehard fan to get swept up in the excitement when things start to go well for Irish sports men and women.

The progress that Ireland has made over the past five years in rugby is as good an example as you could find of that halo effect. Even a mother who has watched her teenage son going down in a scrum at schoolboy level and thought “I’ll have to stop him playing the game – it is too rough” can have her head turned!

One of the beauties of rugby here is that the governing body is an island-wide association and, as a result, all four provinces are represented in the national set-up. Players who came through the great rugby-playing schools along the north eastern coast, in Northern Ireland, put on the green jersey with players from Munster, Connaught and Leinster and battle together against the best that the rest of the world can throw at them.

The development structure is island-wide too. And the encouraging thing is that it has been working extraordinarily well. Who would have predicted that Connaught, for so long the Cinderella province of Irish rugby, would win the Pro 12 Tournament, which ended in the early summer of 2016? While they are not pitted against the best from England and France, the Irish provinces are currently dominating a league

that includes teams from Scotland, Wales and Italy, with Leinster (1st), Munster (2nd) and Ulster (5th) all featuring strongly – and Connaught bouncing back after a rocky start to the new campaign.

All of that good work at provincial level has resulted in a huge improvement in the national team. This was highlighted with the victory over the All Blacks of New Zealand in Soldier Field in Chicago recently, which broke a hoodoo that had lasted since the teams first met in 1905 – all of 111 years ago. With a subsequent victory over Australia under their collective belts, Ireland have climbed to No.3 in the world rankings, up from No.6. That is an achievement of which the entire country can afford to be proud.

It is a status that will give everyone considerable heart going into the Six Nations championship, which begins early in 2017. But guess what? Catching a glimpse of the action in a big game, that same mother can see all too quickly that the physical demands of rugby are becoming greater all the time, with the risk of injury an ever-present factor. And besides, with England also performing very well and holding down the No.2 slot in the world rankings, things are not going to be easy over the next few months for the young men of Ireland.

_MAIRINSHEEHY | EDITOR

Real creamy butter with only half the fat.

Definitely not what you’d expect to find in a tub.

E NT E R |HER E

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by Paul Nolan & Peter McGoran

The Light

FANTASTIC NYF Fest at Custom House Dublin Dublin City December 31 – January 1 6

For years, NYF Fest Dublin has been the go-to place in the city to ring in the New Year. This December, the organisers are bringing us more events than ever over the three day festival.

December 30 will see the Luminosity Lightshow turning The Custom House into a spectacular visual and video lights exhibition which will last until the New Year. Then the big event on the 31st will be the Countdown Concert at the 3Arena, where Walking on Cars will ring things in with a little help from reunited rockers The Blizzards, as well as soul sorcerer Brian Deady and break-through band Little Hours. The next day, 2017 will kick off on the right note thanks to the Dublin Gospel Choir and the Garda Band. For good measure, there will also be walking tours, poetry slams and pop-up events throughout the city.

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OFFSET 2017 Bord Gais Energy Theatre, Dublin February 17 – 19 Grads and students alike will want to get themselves to Offset’s yearly creative event, which takes place at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from February 17-19. Since starting in 2009, Offset has become a hugely popular vocational conference for the design industry, with upwards of 2,500 attendees per year. Offset’s speakers are key figures in their field, masterminding everything from huge global campaigns to smallscale personal projects. A highlight this year will be the appearance of Dan Perri, the film title designer behind the iconic openings of Star Wars, The Exorcist and Raging Bull. In addition, there will be lectures and conversations on everything from illustration to sound and graphic design. Students get a considerable discount, so this is not to be missed.

THE GOVERNOR’S BALL NYE PA RT Y Belfast Crumlin Road Gaol, December 31 Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style at the long-running Governor’s Ball held at Crumlin Road Gaol. Under the commanding presence of the now-historic former jail, you will enjoy a drinks reception, followed by a four course dinner. There will be also live entertainment throughout the evening and plenty of dancing at this black tie event. At only £49.50 per person, book a ticket early and avoid the annual scramble to find plans for New Year’s. You can go to crumlinroadgaol.com to find out more.

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AS L A N TA K E O N V I C A R S T R E E T Vicar Street, December 30

Aviva Stadium, February 25

Christy Dignam and the boys are back in a big way and they’ll be taking themselves to Vicar Street this December so that you can rock out in the depths of winter. The Dublin-based rock band have already sold out the initial two nights of their “Made in Dublin: Revisited” tour and tickets for the third night are likely to go fast. Get in early to see one of Ireland’s legendary rock groups. Tickets are priced at ¤35 and can be found at ticketmaster.ie.

Following a disappointing performance at 2016’s Six Nations, Ireland will be out for revenge at the Aviva Stadium as they take on the French 15 during their first home match of 2017. Bolstered by their recent international victory against New Zealand, there’s a lot of potential in the current Irish team and Joe Schmidt will no doubt be thinking hard about who he wants in his opening line-up. Tickets are priced at ¤72.

WINTER SKATE AT BELFAST ARENA Belfast SSE Arena, December 22 – January 2 The SSE Arena will be Belfast’s hub for a family friendly Christmas this year as the famous Belfast Giants ice-rink opens to the public for the two weeks around Christmas.

As well as getting a chance to skate in the arena, the SSE are also offering tailor-made family packages, so that people can watch a Belfast Giants game and explore the arena’s W5 Discovery Centre.

See ssearenabelfast.com for more details.

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I N T E R N AT I O N A L R U G BY : IRELAND VS FRANCE

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IMMA COLLECTION FREUD PROJECT 50 works by Lucian Freud

BREAKING TRAD Temple Bar, January 25 – 29 A firm favourite on the Irish festival calendar, the Temple Bar Tradfest – taking place from January 25-29 – pulls together some of the best acts in Irish traditional music. Highlights this year include sonic adventurers Afro-Celt Sound System at the Button Factory, the unstoppable Maria McKee delivering her haunting folk melodies at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and multi-platinum folk act Turin Brakes. Noted for its lively and fun-filled atmosphere, the Tradfest is the perfect way to banish the January blues.

Use code ENTERPRISE to avail of a limited 2 for 1 discount — Booking now open

Admission by timed ticket only — Wed-Sun: €8/5 Tue: Free — WWW.IMMA.IE

SUPPORTED BY THE FREUD CIRCLE

FUNDED BY

MEDIA PARTNER

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A N N A K A R E N I N A AT T H E A B B E Y Abbey Theatre, December 7 – January 14 Marina Carr (pictured), one of the finest playwrights of her generation, brings a new perspective on classic love story Anna Karenina. Tolstoy’s story documented Russia in the midst of extraordinary change. Through the impact of one woman’s decision, it looks at the troubling cost of love on the human soul. Wayne Jordan (Oedipus, Twelfth Night, 16 Possible Glimpses) reunites with Carr to bring this story to life. Find out more at

C R E AT I N G H I S T O RY : S T O R I E S OF IRELAND IN ART

abbeytheatre.ie National Gallery, Dublin October 8 – January 15 This ongoing exhibition represents the Gallery’s main contribution to Ireland’s Decade of Centenaries, and brings together over 50 paintings spanning the seventeenth century to the mid-twentieth century, depicting every stage of Irish history. Featuring artists such as Jack B. Yeats and Francis Wheatley, this huge exhibition will showcase paintings from the National Gallery collection, as well as private collections, to bring you the full scope of Irish history. More details at nationalgallery.ie.

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C I N D E R E L L A O N S TA G E

L E O PA R D STOW N C H R I ST M AS F E S T I VA L

Belfast Grand Opera House, December 3 – January 15

Leopardstown Racecourse, December 26-29

The yearly Christmas pilgrimage to the panto is always a family treat even when the stories feel as old as the holiday itself. This year, Cinderella sees ex-Pop Idol winner Gareth Gates team up with Belfast pantomime stalwart May McFettridge for a show that will please both kids and adults alike.

McFettridge’s irreverent lambasting of current world events is sure to be a highlight seeing as 2016 has given the actor enough material to work with…

Tickets can be found at goh.co.uk/cinderella.

The Leopardstown Christmas Festival offers an exhilarating day out for sporting fans, socialites and thrill-seekers alike. Held over four days in December starting on St. Stephen’s Day, an impressive racing programme guarantees the best of National Hunt racing while Leopardstown’s extensive facilities have become traditional hotspots for post-Christmas get-togethers. Individual day tickets start from ¤55 and can be found at

leopardstown.com.

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OUT TO LUNCH Belfast, January 6-29 Out to Lunch festival offers audiences a chance to blow off the Christmas cobwebs, banish the New Year blues and feast on an array of culinary and cultural delights. Musical highlights in the 12th Out to Lunch programme include the supremely gifted James Vincent McMorrow (pictured) at the Ulster Hall and the multi-Grammy winning Mary Chapin Carpenter at St Anne’s Cathedral. To add to this, Out to Lunch will close with an epic gig with Billy Bragg and Joe Henry, ‘Shining a Light’, which takes place in the Ulster Hall. Other Out to Lunch treats include Phil Hammond – NHS doctor, BBC broadcaster, Private Eye journalist and whistle-blowing comic, who combines both of his 2016 sell-out four star Edinburgh fringe shows in one hilarious, unforgettable evening. For full programme information visit cqaf.com

DRAKE – THE BOY MEETS WORLD TOUR Belfast, January 6-29 Dublin, February 19-20 Translink are running a special coach service to Dublin this February so that Belfast fans can travel in convenience down to the 3Arena to see Canadian superstar Drake. The online service will allow you to avoid the hassle of planning on how to get to Drake’s sold out concert, with the bus offering to drop you off at the arena and pick you up within 30 minutes of the concert ending. This is a designated event and can only be booked online. For more details go to translink.co.uk/specialoffers.

WIN the ‘Have It All’ break Half Fat Butter

Now, put your feet up while you are reading this because if you win this prize you’re going to the west of Ireland on a break that redefines the meaning of the word ‘pamper’.

To win this fabulous prize (oh, did we mention a free Connacht Gold goodie bag as well?) simply log onto:

You and your partner (or BF) will be invited on an overnight break at the award-winning Kilronan Castle Estate & Spa. You’ll also be cordially invited to join style and beauty blogger Pippa O’Connor on December 1st for ‘a fun & fabulous evening with the girls’ at the castle. Aside from the fun there will be lots of practical fashion tips.

www.connachtgold.ie/ competition

Pippa will be joined by celebrity chef Joe Shannon (TV3 Ireland AM). To get you in the mood, your evening will commence with a Champagne and Canapes reception.

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TR A I N| NEW S

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NEW £10 FARE OFFER FOR 60+ PASSENGERS In an effort to promote social inclusion and make travel to Dublin more affordable, Translink has launched a new £10 Dublin return fare for 60+ SmartPass holders on its Enterprise service.

60+ SmartPass holders can currently avail of free bus and train travel across Northern Ireland, but the pass does not include travel to the Republic of Ireland.

Claire Vaux, Brand Manager, Translink said the purpose of the new offer is to encourage people of all ages to enjoy a Dublin day out without having to worry about car travel and parking stress.

“We don’t want cost to be a barrier for passengers 60+ when it comes to travelling to Dublin, so our new £10 Dublin return fare is an example of how we make every effort to make sure all passengers can avail of public transport,” Claire said. “There’s no better time to enjoy a fun day out in Dublin, and we are confident this new fare will make it easier for people to make travel plans.

“Our recently refurbished Enterprise trains have free Wi-Fi, top catering options and brand new comfortable seats for a relaxing journey.

We encourage all 60+ SmartPass holders to plan a Dublin day and leave the car at home.”

Translink recently partnered with Age Sector Platform to announce a new £10 Dublin return fare for 60+ SmartPass holders. Pictured are Anne Watson, Chair, Age Sector Platform, and Francis Hughes, Chair, Age Sector Platform’s Transport Campaign Committee.

FAMILY & FRIENDS SPECIAL OFFER Don’t forget Translink has fantastic offers available for everyone with a great range of web fares, plus now you can make a stress-free family trip with a difference with the great value Family & Friends offer to Dublin. Family tickets are valid for up to two adults and four children for just £50 return after 9.30am. So let the adults relax and kids enjoy the journey – start your family adventure as soon as you board the Enterprise!

For more information about Enterprise fares from Belfast, visit translink.co.uk/enterprise/ .

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TRAIN|NEWS

PHOENIX PARK TUNNEL LINE OPENS

Irish Minister for Transport Shane Ross on the Phoenix Park Tunnel Line

The introduction of the new Phoenix Park Tunnel Line service follows an investment of ¤13.7 million in upgrading the Phoenix Park Tunnel route, funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority.

Seven new morning peak trains serving all stations from Newbridge/Hazelhatch to Grand Canal Dock (including Drumcondra, Connolly, Tara Street and Pearse), and eight new evening peak trains from Grand Canal Dock are being provided, with limited stop services in the opposite direction. Full details are available at irishrail.ie. They will not serve Heuston Station – customers for Heuston should use existing trains between Newbridge/Hazelhatch and Heuston Station.

Services will also ensure connections at Hazelhatch/Newbridge for customers travelling

on longer distance commuter services to/from stations such as Kildare, Portlaoise and others.

The new services give a new direct public transport connection between stations in southwest Dublin and north Kildare and the central business district between Connolly and Grand Canal Dock.

This is the first phase of services to operate via the tunnel. Iarnród Éireann and the National Transport Authority plan to expand services in the future to include off-peak and weekend services.

Welcoming the new service, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross TD said, “I’m delighted to announce the opening of this key piece of our public transport service.

The Phoenix Part tunnel line is a vital part of our rail infrastructure and I know that it will prove to

be of immense benefit to the travelling public, as will other transport projects such as the Luas Cross City line which will open in 2017. As Minister for Transport I am very proud to be one of the first commuters to travel this line and I heartily encourage others to do so.”

Anne Graham, Chief Executive of the National Transport Authority, said, “The NTA is delighted that services have now commenced through the Phoenix Park Tunnel, a project that the Authority promoted and funded. Together with city centre re-signalling, the new services ensure we will exploit the full potential of existing rail infrastructure at minimal cost and will offer more rail travel options for public transport customers.”

David Franks, Iarnród Éireann Chief Executive, said, “We’re delighted to welcome new and existing customers to the new services launched today via the Phoenix Park Tunnel line. By offering direct connections from stations between Newbridge and Parkwest to the south city business district, which were not previously available by public transport, we will encourage more commuters to switch from our congested roads to a fast and efficient rail transport alternative.”

The ¤13.7 million investment in the tunnel route, funded by the Department of Transport through the National Transport Authority – together with recently completed resignalling works – have facilitated the new services.

The Project included: • Cutting, stabilisation, drainage and vegetation clearance • Tunnel upgrade – cleaning, masonry repairs, lighting, signage, telecoms • Renewal of sections of track, points and crossings and components • Signal relocation • Station works – upgrade works at Drumcondra to include new ticket gates, and upgrade works at Tara St station to include new southbound lift shaft

ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS! As a student living away from home for the first time, life can be exciting, chaotic and expensive.

Here are a couple of tips to help keep you on track. Firstly don’t forget to go home to see the folks, before they come to see you, unannounced!

Secondly, take the train – all you need is a valid college ID to get our discounted Student Tickets, which are easy on the pocket. Thirdly, the train affords you the luxury of space on board, to do some study, get sociable with friends or even catch up on some sleep. Travel in comfort and style, travel with Iarnród Éireann.

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Colin Farrell

Rowling In The Deep One of the many Irish stars currently enjoying success in Hollywood, Colin Farrell talks to Roe McDermott about his latest role in the blockbuster Harry Potter prequel, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them.

Colin Farrell

t’s been three years since I last interviewed Colin Farrell, and for some reason I’m shocked to see that he – like my own mere mortal self – has aged. On the previous occasion we met, we were curled up in armchairs in a Dublin hotel over tea. His hair was long, his manner effusive.

Now, in a swanky LA suite with the AC blaring, our Colin’s hair is short and graying, and his demeanour is more subdued. At 40, he’s no longer a boy, nor trying to be – he’s definitively, happily, all grown up.

Not that being older has eliminated his desire for magic and joy. Farrell is currently starring in Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, a prequel to the Harry Potter stories. Directed

by David Yates and written by JK Rowling, the film takes place in New York in 1926. The city is becoming increasingly dangerous, with battles between wizards and non-magical people (known as ‘No-Majs’) brewing. Oscar winner Eddie Redmayne plays Newt Scamander, a curmudgeonly wizard whose magical creatures are set loose across the city, escalating the tension and the fun.

Farrell plays Percival Graves, a man struggling to keep things under control after Newt’s actions highlight the stark divides in society.

“Percival Graves is the Head of Magical Security at a place called MACUSA, or the Magical Congress,” explains Farrell. “So I uphold the law, basically, in the society of wizards in the North of America. But MACUSA is also a centre of international dealings in the wizarding world, because in North America there’s a greater divide – greater than there is in the Potter world back in Britain – between those who are born with magical attributes and those who are mere mortals. So there’s a veil of secrecy around my work, and if there is any dark arts or black magic performed, I investigate that.”

Percival Graves is Farrell’s first feature role since he starred in Yorgos Lanthimos’ affecting satirical drama, The Lobster. Addressing loneliness and control, Farrell’s character was awkward and obviously overwhelmed with sadness and a lack of self-worth. Farrell loved working on the project, but it seemed both emotionally an physically gruelling, as he put on over 40 pounds in eight weeks to play the role. In contrast, acting in Fantastic Beasts was a dream.

“It’s kind of hard to method act or do research on wizards,” he laughs. “You can only twirl your wand in your hotel for a few minutes before you start to feel ridiculous!”

Farrell hasn’t starred in an unapologetic blockbuster like this in years, but the finely drawn characters and intricate world of JK Rowling’s script drew him in.

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“It was all on the page,” he enthuses.

“JK Rowling wrote such a beautiful, incredibly descriptive screenplay, it was so perfectly formed. The characters are all so finely drawn and the world itself is New York, albeit a New York of a bygone era. It’s a New York that is not familiar to me experientially, but is familiar from film. Yet she tilts the perspective a little bit by imbuing it with this sense of magic.”

Farrell, who has worked with a lot of CGI over the years – don’t mention the flying horse from the dodgy 2014 fantasy A New York Winter’s Tale – was delighted to see that director David Yates brought as much magic to the filming process as possible.

“One of the great things about shooting this film,” says the actor, “was that even though the sets were huge, they were also practical. Our work was physical and grounded. There were things that were added in after – the magic, how big the city needed to be – but everything we needed was there. They built the most incredible sets, they were just astounding. I’m 40 and have been doing this for 20 years, and even I was like, ‘Wow.’” As well as marking the first clear blockbuster and possible – probable – franchise film Farrell has done since the 2012 critical flop Total Recall, it also sees him tackle yet another role we haven’t seen him play before: the rule-keeper.

Previously Farrell has played the straight man in Seven Psychopaths, Alexander and The Recruit; wayward characters in Intermission, In Bruges and Dead Man Down; emotionally fragile figures in Ondine, Saving Mr. Banks and Crazy Heart; and unabashed lunatics in Horrible Bosses and Fright Night. But never before have we see him play an authority figure.

“I try to play different characters,” agrees Farrell.

“It’s not just for the sake of doing something different. When I’m choosing roles, it’s more fun when you change it up. It’s more challenging, and it staves off any apathy that may creep in.

I mean, this is an amazing job, but you can get apathetic about anything. So for me it’s nice to play characters who are from different periods and different socio-economic backgrounds.”

It’s both this attraction to the new and challenging, as well as Farrell’s raw talent, that prevented him from becoming the straightforward leading man that Hollywood expected him to be. Eschewing offers to be a romantic lead or action hero, Farrell focused on balancing large Hollywood productions with independent films. He says that he was rarely attracted to generic leading men roles, and was more drawn more to characters who are emotionally conflicted.

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“It’s kind of hard to method act or do research on wizards!”

Magic hour: Farrell in Fantastic Beasts and (left) with co-star Jon Voight and journalist Natalie Morales

“Some characters are closer than others,” he muses. “You may feel an echo of something that you’ve done before, which is natural enough, but you can’t get away from yourself.”

It’s thus unsurprising that Farrell’s latest films have reflected on his most important role in life: being a father. His sons James and Henry are now 13 and 7, respectively. Raising them has made Farrell acutely relate to films that address fatherhood, family, and loneliness – as well as making him more eager to embrace the innocence and whimsy that his children embody.

“I think it’s very easy to get bogged down in the negativity and discord in the world,” he remarks. “Yes, there are terrible things happening, but there are also beautiful things – they’re just not reported on as much. You don’t want to be foolishly optimistic or in denial, but you need to maintain a balance.”

However, Farrell denies being over-protective of his sons, assuring me that he’ll never turn into a helicopter parent.

“I just let my boys be boys,” he says. “Often times with kids, if you just stay out of their way, they’ll be fine. Of course you need to guide them, but trusting them is important too. Perhaps an even bigger fear than something happening them, is them not knowing that I love them. One of my guys actually told me, ‘Stop saying you love me!’ If that’s the worst we go through, that’s not so bad.”

He’s also learned the hard way not to make films just for them.

“You hope that they’ll be able to enjoy it,” says Farrell. “But you can’t count on it either, because they might not, and that’s fine. I did do an animated film and they weren’t big fans of it, which was depressing – it really was! They were just like, ‘Yeah, whatever, can you put on Wreck-It

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Ralph again?’ When I was working on Fantastic Beasts, one of my little men got a wand and was happy with it for about two minutes, before he moved on!”

One of the hottest topics in Hollywood at the moment is gender equality, and it's a subject Farrell has found himself reflecting on of late.

“There is one thing that I was thinking about recently,” he notes. “I’ve only worked with one female director, and I don’t know who to blame for that. But there’s no doubt that it would be harder for a female director to get financing for a film, just by the virtue of the fact that most financiers would be male and would be suspicious.

They would have some ingrained, sexist belief that a woman would not be as strong or as capable as a man. That is something that’s societal and needs to be weeded out over generations, starting yesterday.”

In terms of his personal outlook, promoting empathy and equality is something particularly close to Farrell, as his eleven year old son James was born with Angelman Syndrome, a developmental disorder. Raising James inspired Farrell to become an advocate for many charities and awareness groups. He is a supporter of the Foundation of Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics, and was on the panel of the Special Olympics in China. His experience raising a son with a disability and working with others with similar challenges have cemented for him the need to teach acceptance.

“It all has to start at home and in the schools,” he asserts. “Because any storyteller or artist was brought up in a family or orphanage or group environment, and had some form of education, informal or formal, from the adults around them.

This is grassroots stuff, stuff I’m talking to my kids about every day.”

EMPLOYER, WORKER, JOBSEEKER? EURES CROSS BORDER Partnership can HELP you with FREE Recruitment Services, Information and Advice.

WHAT IS THE EURES CROSS BORDER PARTNERSHIP?

The EURES (European Employment Services) Cross Border Partnership was established to facilitate the free movement of people who wish to commute daily or weekly across the Ireland/Northern Ireland border. The Partnership aims to make life easier for employers wishing to recruit workers and people who travel across the border for work purposes. A network of specialist EURES cross border advisers provides information, advice and placement services for employers and jobseekers interested in cross-border recruitment or working.

WHO ARE THE PARTNERS? There are seven organisations, from both sides of the border, represented on the Partnership:• • • • • • •

Confederation of British Industry (CBI) Department for Communities (DfC) Department of Social Protection (DSP) Dundalk Chamber of Commerce Irish Business and Employers’ Confederation (IBEC) Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) Londonderry Chamber of Commerce

WHAT REGION IS COVERED BY THE PARTNERSHIP? The Partnership covers all of Northern Ireland and the counties of Louth, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Sligo, and Leitrim in the Republic of Ireland.

For a copy of our mobility pack, to contact an adviser or for more information please visit our website: www.eures-crossborder.org

This publication has received financial support from the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation “EaSI” (2014-2020). For further information please consult:www.ec.europa.eu/social/easi

EASI Programme

Bronรกgh Taggart

Watching The Detective Serial killer drama The Fall went out with a terrifying flourish, with career best performances by Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan. Enterprise talks to one of the show's stars, Bronagh Taggart, and asks why this chilly thriller became such a word of mouth hit.

INTERVIEW: Ed Power

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Bronágh Taggart

“Was Jamie Dornan intimidating? Not at all, he’s the sweetest guy, so polite and unassuming.”

Element Of Truth

n the third year of the BBC and RTÉ series The Fall, writer and show-runner, Allan Cubitt, decided to take things in a very different direction. In what was a very daring move in TV terms, he switched from a focus on the noir-ish streets of post-Troubles Belfast, to somewhere exponentially more chilling: the diseased recesses of the mind of The Fall’s central criminal character, Paul Spector, played by Jamie Dornan.

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Uniquely, then, here was a serial killer romp that was serious about the motives of the murderer. What could turn an apparently stable and successful family man – the face Spector presented to the world – into an homicidal maniac with a soaraway strangling fetish?

The result: a gripping psychodrama that combined the starkness of a Beckett play with the gloss and grit of the best Scandi noir. This was, hands down, one of the most stunning television moments of 2016.

“It took a while for me to get my head around just how popular the series was,” says Bronágh Taggart, who plays Detective Constable Gail McNally, a steely foil to DCI Stella Gibson, played by the extraordinary Gillian Anderson. “You’d turn up on set and see all these people queuing outside. And they weren’t from just down the road – they had come from all over the world. It’s a sign of how good the show is that it had carried so well.”

What was most impressive, however, was how The Fall cast aside the tired tropes of the serial killer genre. The action in the third series picked up seconds after Spector had been gunned down by vengeful gangster James Tyler, who believed the Belfast Strangler was having an affair with his wife (his anxieties were misplaced: Spector was more interested in throttling women than sleeping with them).

“We’re losing him,” shrieked Gibson as she cradled her quarry – though, in fact, Spector’s ultimate fate was far less straightforward. As he recovered in hospital, Spector claimed, with conviction, not to have any memory of the crimes of which he was accused. Cubitt had lead us into a moral maze, as we were invited to consider whether a person could or should be held accountable for deeds of which they have no recollection and which they appear honestly horrified by.

In parallel with Spector’s recovery, DCI Gibson and her crew delved into the strangler’s back history and uncovered further horrific evidence of his depravity. This made for uncomfortable viewing – exactly as Cubitt intended. He had, after all, initially conceived of The Fall as a riposte to all those glossy thrillers in which men inflect endless horrors upon women, the violence amped up for our titillation.

The objective, he has stated, was to strip away the glamour and explore the psychological forces that fuel violent misogyny. The irony was that Cubitt was himself accused of misogyny.

“Being accused of misogyny when you’re not a misogynistic person, and indeed your entire raison d’être is the reverse of that, feels like an artistic failure,” Cubitt told the Radio Times. “But at the same time I’m long enough in the tooth to know that you have no way of controlling the responses. People will bring what they will bring to bear.

“There has been one female death in The Fall across the first 11 episodes. The other ones are reported, but I only showed the murder of one woman on screen, which I needed to do to show what it was that Paul Spector [Jamie Dornan’s character] was about.

“I don’t expect to be applauded for my restraint, but I do think that compared with a great many other dramas I could mention, The Fall has never indulged itself in that way. The most violent thing we did was to show Spector kill a man [Joe Brawley] in series one.”

Cubbitt feels that The Fall has been a victim of ‘guilt by association’, with a number of other shows graphically depicting violence against woman.

“I watched the first season of [French zombie drama] The Returned, which I liked in many ways,” Cubbitt observed, “but there’s a [scene with] a woman who’s walking and wearing a PVC cat suit because it’s Halloween, and she’s attacked. It’s a zombie drama on some level. So I think one of the things is that The Fall disconcerts – because hopefully there’s an element of truth.”

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Bronágh Taggart Crime scene investigation: Jamie Doran and (insert) Bronagh Taggart.

Slow-Burn Menace Given the subject matter, the atmosphere on set was understandably serious. However the cast and crew did their best to lighten the mood.

“With something so heavy and dark, people tried to pull themselves out of it as soon as possible,” says Taggart. “It’s not something you want to carry around with you all day. We can still have light-hearted moments. It’s harder for the leads: they were dealing with really difficult stuff.

My character was on the police task force, so I was working a lot with Gillian – that was great.”

Anderson puts in a career-best turn as the buttoned-down Gibson, a vacuum-sealed control freak, who signals her distance via pastel blouses and chilly gazes. Was it intimidating to act opposite such a world class performer ?

“Gillian was a hero of mine, even before The Fall,” Bronagh says. “She is someone I would have looked up to. Of course you want to make sure you are at the top of your game when you are in company like that.”

What of Dornan, who imbues Spector with a slow-burn menace, so that your blood runs cold as he cranks his neck or narrows his eyes?

“Was Jamie Dornan intimidating?” she half laughs. “Not at all, he’s the sweetest guy, so polite and unassuming.”

Alongside the mesmerising psychodrama, The Fall doubled as a showcase for Belfast. Cubitt gave us the city as moody futures-cape: all glittering skyscrapers and slate skies. The old Troubles cliches were mercifully absent.

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“Allan loves Belfast – he knows more about it than I do and I was born there,” Taggart chuckles.

“He really captured what outsiders are struck by when they come to Belfast. It was something we had never seen on TV before. Everything was always Troubles-related. The Fall wasn’t embedded in that.”

For the benefit of those who have not yet caught up with the season, we will refrain from spoiling the ending. Suffice to say that The Fall won’t be returning in its present form, though Anderson had indicated she is open to revisiting the character of Stella Gibson in a few years.

In the meantime, Taggart has plenty on her plate. She works both as actress and screenwriter, with filming about to start on Guard, a Belfastset short she has penned, which is set amid the city’s boxing community (her director husband, Jonathan Harden, will oversee the shoot). The budget was raised via a crowdfunding campaign – a process Taggart found gruelling, but ultimately inspiring.

“I wrote it about a year ago,” she recounts. “I mostly write for television and act in TV and film.

I’ve always fancied making that transition into writing for film. A short tends to be the stepping stone. This one is about a young Belfast woman who becomes obsessed with boxing.

“Her world is thrown up in the air when the father who had been out of her life walks back in.

He can’t believe the transformation and becomes her trainer. It’s about a father and daughter trying to connect. Towards the end, we discover this isn’t as straightforward as they believed.”

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Show Time After a pair of hit albums, County Down rock trio Two Door Cinema Club hit the wall. Back with third LP Gameshow, guitarist Sam Halliday reveals how the band learned from the pain of previous mistakes. By Colm O'Regan

y all accounts, the first chapter in the career of Two Door Cinema Club didn’t exactly end well. It was decidedly rosy in the garden for a long time, of course; two massive albums, an international reputation beyond the dreams of most young bands, and the world truly at their feet. At which point, the trio of Alex Trimble, Sam Halliday and Kevin Baird raised a collective leg and booted the world as far from TDCC as they possibly could.

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So as we catch up with guitarist Sam, Enterprise is sneaking glances for scar tissue or residual damage from the rather abrupt application of the brakes back in the summer of 2014. “There were no punches thrown,” he reports. “Though it probably would have been better if we’d just got it out of the way, climbed into a boxing ring or something! It was easier to be passive aggressive than to have bustups, because you knew you were going to have to see that other person for the whole of the next day – or, as the case was, the whole of the next year!”

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Until, of course, they didn’t see each other at all.

“Alex had anxiety and stress, and he was suffering from depression as well as any issues we had interpersonally. When that manifested as a physical illness, and Alex had stomach problems, it was a red flag for all of us. We had to take time off, and cancel a few shows, and that’s when we realised it had gone too far. It had all gotten a bit too important, and we needed a break to have a life outside the band.”

There were warning signs, of course – though with the illuminating effect of hindsight, they seem a lot more obvious than they did back then. “It was a situation where we didn’t know anything else. For five years we hadn’t done anything other than the band. We lived together, worked together, and went on tour together for far too long. When we drifted apart, we did so quite naturally.”

From some of what the band has said since their glorious comeback began in April with a handful of barely disguised ‘secret’ shows across Ireland – Tudor Cinema Club how are ya? – it doesn’t

Two Door Cinema Club

“The thing we all realised was that this band isn’t the most important thing in the world.” seem unreasonable to deduce that Sam had an easier time of it than his bandmates. While bassist Kevin has spoken at length on his mental health struggles, and frontman Alex shared the addiction issues that arrived with his own depression, most mentions of Sam’s downtime seem to centre around a new-found passion for cooking and DIY. Are we missing something?

“I just tried to keep busy,” he says.

“Depression is not something that everyone suffers from, it affects people differently. It might help that I’ve always had a girlfriend through the time with the band, so I feel I have someone I can share the experience with – and sometimes take a step back and get out of it. But then I was affected in another way, having to see my two friends go through something really horrible.”

The recovery took time. The band barely spoke for six months, and fully two years had elapsed before their reappearance on the live stage. But it was time well spent – for reasons other than Sam’s culinary progression – as some important truths began to reveal themselves.

“The thing we all realised was that this band isn’t the most important thing in the world,” he reasons. “The thing is, though, for a while it really was, because it was the only thing that we had in our lives at the time.

We didn’t realise that nobody wanted to tour as much as we were doing, but we each went along with it because you didn’t want to upset anybody else. Once we had the distance from it we realised that all the silly things that we got worked up about before aren’t actually that important after all.”

Having taken some time to recuperate and gather their thoughts, Two Door Cinema Club have reinvented themselves in hugely impressive fashion on their third LP, Gameshow. Tempting as it must have been to go for a hat-trick of high-octane, don’t-bore-us-get-tothe-chorus efforts, the new album has far more in common with ‘80s funk and synth-pop than their own patented brand of pedal-to-the-metal indie disco.

Aside from a notable Prince influence – ‘Invincible’, for instance, sounds like their love song a la The Purple One – there’s also hints

of everything from Nile Rodgersesque disco to brooding Krautrock.

Reasons for the reversion to styles of yesteryear might be hinted at within the lyrics, which make no secret of a disdain for social media, the internet age, and the general pace of modern life.

“From Alex’s point of view,” notes Sam, “the lyrics come from having a chance to observe from outside of his own world a bit more, and consider how he doesn’t quite fit in.”

Of course, among the legion of bands whose excitement to tour can scarcely be contained, the trio don’t quite fit in either. Other groups can’t wait to hit the road; are the new, sensible TDCC just looking forward to coming off it again?

“I don’t know if we’re at that point quite yet,” Sam laughs. “We definitely felt the effects after the summer festival run. I mean, it’s hard to say no to these things – whether it’s touring South America or Australia – because they all sound like so much fun on paper. It’s the little things, though, that we’re more aware of this time; to look after your body, look after your mind, and look after each other.”

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Emma Donoghue

Beyond Belief Irish-Canadian author Emma Donoghue has just published her latest novel, The Wonder. She tells Olaf Tyaransen about the phenomenon of 19th century “fasters�, her love of Ireland, and how easy it was working with Lenny Abrahamson on the film version of her bestseller Room.

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PHOTO: KATHRIN BAUMBACH

Emma Donoghue

’ve never been a full year away from Ireland,” declares writer Emma Donoghue. “I’ll always come back. I still have lots of friends and family here. Things like making the Room film, making a play with my friend for the Dublin Theatre Festival. I really like having working relationships with the Irish as well as personal ones, you know?”

A warm, chatty and enthusiastic type, the IrishCanadian author is an easy woman to like. We’re meeting in the trendy environs of the Morrison Hotel to discuss her fourteenth book, a novel entitled The Wonder.

Based in Canada for two decades – where she lives with her academic wife, Christine, and their two young children – she’s just flown from her home in London, Ontario, via a reading at the Irish Centre in London, England, to be home in her native Dublin this afternoon.

The Wonder is a psychological thriller set in post-famine rural Ireland. A young English nurse, who’s been trained by Florence Nightingale, is despatched to an impoverished village on a mission to expose a strange hoax involving an 11-year-old girl, who is said to have eaten nothing for several months yet is miraculously thriving.

The story is very loosely based on real events. “About twenty years ago, I came across some of these cases of fasting girls,” Donoghue recalls. “I filed them away, thinking, ‘These are fascinating’. None of them were quite right to write about. Some were too sad, some were too silly. There’s obviously a huge spectrum with young people who were committed who went on to die after fasting, and others who were clearly just frauds.

“Some were self-publicists. It covers that whole spectrum from religious mystic to freak show artist. Some of them literally went around to fairs showing themselves off – typically male ones. They’d be famous fasters.”

This bizarre form of anorexia wasn’t a particularly Irish phenomenon.

“What’s funny is that I’ve been interested in this for two decades,” notes Donoghue, “but it was only a couple of years ago that I thought I could write my own story and set it in Ireland.

Only a few of the fasters were in Ireland, but I thought Ireland was the perfect location for this story, because we define ourselves as the people who have hungered, and the people who continue to hunger in some ways. That’s part of our natural identity. It’s the idea that we’re poor, but we’ve thrived.”

In the book, the nurse meets much hostility and resistance from the uber-Catholic villagers who see the starving child as a potential future saint (something which could generate much tourist revenue for themselves).

Despite the historical context, in many ways The Wonder could be considered an attack on contemporary Catholicism.

"I

“I find if you’re writing historical fiction,” says Donoghue, “you will always put the thoughts aroused by your own era into the work, even if you’re scrupulous to speak in terms of the arguments of the day. It’s very critical about certain aspects of Catholicism, but you could also say Catholicism has given these very powerless, poor peasant characters not just a creed to live by, making their lives feel meaningful, but gives them a great sense of status. I think a character like the child in this book, she’s hugely empowered by a sense of her Catholic belief, even if other aspects lock her into this room where she’s starving.”

Did Donoghue try any fasting herself as part of her research?

“I’ve never skipped a meal in my life,” she smiles. “I did think, ‘Maybe I should try fasting a little’, but missing one or two meals does not tell you what it’s like to be long-term fasting. I thought, ‘No, I’ll just have to use my imagination, as with everything else I’ve written about.’ Similarly with Room, there was no problem with getting somebody to lock me in a room for three hours. But that doesn’t tell you what seven years feels like.”

Well-written, compelling and suspenseful, The Wonder would make a great movie.

Following the success of Room, is Donoghue now deliberately writing novels with an eye on an eventual film version?

“No, I don’t,” she says. “This one I can see as a film. But of all my books in the past or any I’m planning for the future – some books are very internal, very psychological. A film wouldn’t work with them.

And others have a strong enough storyline.

They’re visual novels. But I would never write fiction as a means to a film.”

It’s quite unusual for a novelist to be allowed adapt their own book for the big screen, but Donoghue was actually creatively involved throughout the entire production of Room.

“Amazingly so!” she laughs. “I’ve met many screenwriters who say things to me, like, ‘You were allowed to contact the director?!’ ‘You had his email?!’ It was a very intimate little circle and it was a completely un-Hollywood film.

They very willingly partnered with me. I trusted them enough that I didn’t freak out when things needed to be changed. It was a model of how to make a film of a book.”

Donoghue shakes her head in disbelief.

“It amazes me that so many novelists are willing to sign away their texts in a helpless way,” she sighs. “They’re all, ‘Oh, it’s so mysterious!’ Screenwriting is not rocket science; it’s a genre like any other. I think a lot more novelists should have a bash.”

The Wonder is out now, published by Picador.

"You will always put the thoughts aroused by your own era into the work."

25

Pixie Geldof

A Family Affair

Former model Pixie Geldof has just released her debut album, I’m Yours. She tells Olaf Tyaransen about the pros and cons of being from a famous family.

Pixie Geldof

"I like beautiful little love songs, and that's what I wanted to write." lthough she was born and raised in London, Pixie Geldof considers herself half-Irish. “I absolutely do,” the 26-year-old brunette enthuses. “I often identify as Irish. I don’t get over here as much as I would like, genuinely. I used to come out for my grandpa’s birthday and such, but not so much anymore. Such a shame.”

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Her Irish grandpa was the father of the legendary Bob Geldof. While she has hitherto been known as a fashion model, Pixie has just released her debut album, I’m Yours. As the offspring of a Boomtown Rat, she always had plenty of encouragement in the rock ‘n’ roll department. “My father loved it,” she recalls. “If he had told me horror stories, and I’m sure he would have, I might have felt differently, but he loves it, and I can see it. Growing up, you felt that, how much excitement he had when he did gigs and things like that. So, no, he was great.”

A seemingly decent sort, she’s friendly, chatty and refreshingly unpretentious. Whatever about her colorfully monikered sisters (Fifi Trixibelle, Peaches Honeyblossom and Heavenly Hiraani Tiger Lily), Pixie is actually very well-named. A successful model since her late-teens, she isn’t what you’d describe as classically beautiful, but there’s something incredibly striking about her angularly elfin features. She has a serious presence.

Although she’s been the face for major campaigns by the likes of Levi’s, Diesel, Razzle and Agent Provocateur, modelling was only ever really a way of making some easy cash. Her childhood dream was always to be a singer. “Well, I also wanted to be a lawyer, and then I wanted to be a marine biologist. But really, first and foremost, I wanted to be a singer-songwriter.”

While she was always a fan of grunge, it took Pixie a while to realise that it wasn’t actually the kind of music she wanted to write herself.

“There was a period where I wanted to do a certain type of music that didn’t come naturally, completely, to me,” she admits. “And I think the songs suffered for it. And then I kind of gave in to the fact that really I like beautiful little love songs, and that’s what I want to write, and that’s what I did.”

Recorded in LA in late 2015 with legendary producer Tony Hoffer (Goldfrapp, Beck, Air, Ladyhawke), I’m Yours is something of a surprise.

It’s not just Pixie’s beguilingly husky vocals and the depth of some of her lyrics. While it’s a left-field pop record, with hints of Mazzy Star, Warpaint and Lana Del Ray, the predominant influence is quite obviously country music.

She claims that her all-time musical hero is Kris Kristofferson.

“It’s an odd choice, I know, but I love him,” she smiles. “For me, the words and the stories are the thing. Obviously, in country music, that is what

it is. That’s what identifies country music is the storytelling. He tells stories with a simplicity that I don’t find in many other people.”

Largely dealing with love, life and loss, her own material is obviously deeply personal. “I’m Yours represents every single human I’ve ever loved in my life,” she says of the album. “Songs of love in every form, platonically, family, in romance. I’m a part of these people’s lives… and I’m theirs in any capacity they need me.”

Does she write the songs herself?

“I write all the lyrics and the melodies and that sort of stuff. But my guitar isn’t great. It’s enough to write the basics and things like that, but that’s about it. So I do the lyrics and melodies, but the guitar is not me.”

Pixie is the third daughter of Geldof and the late Paula Yates (who passed away in 2000). Two years ago, following in the tragic footsteps of their mother, her beloved older sister also passed away. Pixie addresses Peaches’ untimely death on the hauntingly beautiful ‘Twin Thing’: “Into the wave where you’re going/ I watch you falling down…/ Wish I’d known you like my own skin/ So I could feel the hurt you were in/ Wish we had that twin thing…”

Understandably, it’s not a subject she wants to delve too far into. “Loss has happened to everyone I’ve ever met,” says Pixie. “Every single person on this Earth understands that when the person’s gone, in any capacity, divorce, a death, you wake up and you are smacked with it every day for the rest of your life. You just are.”

Was the song difficult to record?

“It wasn’t so much that it took a long time,” she says, after a lengthy pause. “It took a lot of precision. Luckily, everyone, being as talented as they are, that I worked with, it was great, and there wasn’t much twiddling about there to do. But… I have to live with it for longer than the others.”

Is she worried that people will have preconceived notions about her because of her family background?

“I’m sure people have a preconception of the music. Like you said to me earlier, you were surprised [that the album was so good].

Pleasantly so, thank god. But, of course, not everyone can be pleasantly surprised, and some people will go, ‘Well, I knew it!’ But what I hope is that when people don’t like it, they don’t boil it down to, ‘Because there’s someone famous in your family, therefore you can’t also be good.’

“It’s very bizarre to me,” she continues.

“Realistically, you don’t like it because you just don’t like the songs, and it’s not because my father is that person. The reason it’s not good is because it’s not for you. So preconceptions aren’t something I think about too much.”

I’m Yours is out now on Stranger Music

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Business | Elaine Cullen

That's the Spirit Elaine Cullen began her career in Waterford Crystal and has gone on to become one of the drinks industry’s most successful marketers. Now with Edward Dillon & Co., her portfolio includes exemplary brands like Hennessy, Glenmorangie, Dom Perignon and Krug.

Interview: Colm O’Hare

rowing up in the shadow of such an iconic brand as Waterford Crystal, it’s not surprising that Elaine Cullen chose a career in marketing. Earlier this year the Waterford native started in her new role as Market Development Manager with Edward Dillon & Co Ltd., the long-established distributors of premium spirit brands, working across the Moet Hennessy portfolio.

She began her marketing career with the company that once dominated her home city.

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“It wasn’t so much the global brand I was aware of,” she says, “but more the manufacturing plant, which was such an iconic feature of the city growing up. Marketing was always something I was interested in, but I was quite keen on tourism too. I found the dynamics of how the city tourism developed from the Waterford Crystal brand fascinating.”

Having studied business and tourism at college, she jumped at the chance to join Waterford Crystal when the opportunity came knocking. She started in the Visitor Centre and when promoted to Waterford Brand Manager, had responsibility for everything from product development to packaging, design and PR. “It was a great learning experience and a really smart team,” she says.

In 2008, she joined Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard as brand manager on West Coast Cooler. She recalls that while it was a new departure from luxury to FMCG, she was doing something she knew very well, having come from a New Product and Communications role in Waterford.

“My greatest learning from Waterford,” she says, “was understanding the challenges of launching a new product, while working in a live factory environment. At IDPR, I was charged with launching West Coast Cooler

28

Rosé in Ireland. It was supported by a strong bar activation rewarding our customers, a TV ad and the brand’s first digital campaign… we could not keep the product on the shelves!”

Promoted to Senior Brand Manager, Cullen worked on a range of other brands, including Havana Club. “My understanding of the business developed hugely through the work I did on Havana Club,” she notes.

“Our marketing strategy was clear; it’s not only about what is in the glass, but the brand experience you create that unlocks the hearts of consumers. We worked closely with key bars across the country and brought Havana Club to partner with creative and fun events, such as Body & Soul Festival and Galway’s Latin Quarter. That opened us up to Cuban culture and exploring the music, dance and rum.”

In relatively recent times, Cullen has seen dramatic changes in consumption patterns and consumer behaviour in the drinks industry. “I think as we travelled more as a nation, we became more sophisticated,” she says. “Exposed to other cultural experiences and rituals, our expectations were raised. And the bar industry has shifted too. The choice and types of bars have changed. Things are now taken into consideration that wouldn’t have been a factor before. For example, the beer taps are no longer blocking the back bar and this opens up opportunities for promotion of spirits brands at bar level. Also the art of mixology and bar-tending has become a profession rather than what was traditionally a stop-gap job. These highly skilled people have influence over consumer purchasing choices.

It has almost become a sales role, with customers asking for drinks recommendations.

At Edward Dillon’s brand education has become vital.”

Business | Elaine Cullen

“It’s not a 9 to 5 job.

You’re switched on all the time.”

Hennessy Portrait Prize 2016 winner Gerry Davis and below Richard Hennessy

The proposed Government Alcohol Bill and any restrictions it may introduce on alcohol marketing is something that will pose a challenge to Elaine, and the whole industry.

“The truth is that it is becoming a more challenging environment every day, regardless of the Alcohol Bill,” she says. “There is a huge amount of competition. But our view is that in framing the Alcohol Bill, the Government has to consider the impact it will have on jobs, and on the industry as a whole. If any proposed bill cuts sponsorship altogether, which is said to be potentially on the cards, it affects sponsorship of all platforms, "These are more commonly music and sporting events, but also any event where there is currently alcohol sponsorship. We’re not a ‘dark’ market – but there are already restrictions in place, in that we can’t advertise spirits on TV in Ireland. So event sponsorship is fundamental to reaching consumers.”

Cullen’s latest role with Edward Dillon & Co – which celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2017 – marks a new departure for her, even in an industry that she knows very well. “The Moet Hennessy portfolio gives me a world class opportunity to work with lots of different brands at different stages of the life cycle,” she says.

“They are brands of real prestige and quality that revere creativity and honour tradition.

These include the likes of Krug, Ruinart and Dom Pérignon champagne, Hennessy and Belvedere Vodka. I’m lucky here at Dillon’s in that the brands I work with are well established.

They are brands that people call by name rather than by category. People won’t ask for a cognac, they’ll ask for a Hennessy or a Hennessy and ginger. The same applies to the other stable

brands within the Edward Dillon portfolio, Bacardi and Jack Daniels. It shows the power of each brand within the Irish market.”

Steeped in 250 years of history and heritage, Irishness is in the very DNA of the Hennessy brand, which makes it a natural for this market. “Richard Hennessy, originally from Cork, fled the country in the 1700s to Cognac and founded the Hennessy brand there,” Elaine says.

“Throughout the world Hennessy is known for its passionate philanthropic support of the arts, including visual art, music, literature and so on. Here in Ireland, we have a long heritage of supporting the arts and Irish culture through our sponsorships.

“Our strong annual sponsorship programme includes the Hennessy Literary Awards, with the Irish Times, to support new Irish writing.

That goes back over 45 years and has launched the careers of the likes of Joseph O’Connor, Michael Harding and Siobhan Mannion. Last year, meanwhile, we developed The Hennessy Art Fund in partnership with IMMA, which enables IMMA to purchase stunning pieces of contemporary Irish art for the nation’s Contemporary Art Collection. We also launched the Hennessy Portrait Award in partnership with the National Gallery of Ireland, which celebrates our very talented portrait artists. In music, we also host gigs in the unusual surroundings of an art gallery, the RHA in Dublin, working with some of the most cutting-edge bands and DJs around, including Nialler9, David Holmes and

King Kong Company. Through all our sponsorship, we want to celebrate the incredible wealth of creativity and cultural talent across the country.”

As for Edward Dillon & Co’s upcoming 150th anniversary celebrations, there are some exciting plans in the pipeline.

“We’ll look to celebrate this amazing milestone with our customers at an event during the year,” says Elaine. “We’ll take a look back through the decades at how all of our iconic brands have developed in Ireland. We believe that we have the best portfolio of premium spirits, wine and champagne brands in Ireland, of which we’re very proud.”

With ambitious growth targets and a busy marketing plan, Elaine is rarely off duty. But then that is what is involved in being at the top of the game in marketing. “It’s not a 9 to 5 job, you’re switched on all the time,” she says. “I’m probably in the office about 70% of the time and then you’re out at events, meeting with the trade and agencies. You’re constantly looking for opportunities, whether it’s while you’re doing your weekly shop or out with friends.

"While everyone else is relaxing on the night, you’re scanning the bar, looking at what consumers are buying and drinking, as well as what’s happening on the back bar. I always liked watching how people interact with brands as part of their everyday. Actually, it’s what drew me into marketing in the first place: the intrigue of why people behave in a certain way. That still fascinates me and it’s why I still love what I do.”

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Business | Elaine Cullen

A Cognac Moment As long-standing patrons of Ireland’s creative industries, Hennessy have been championing visual artists, writers and musicians throughout the country for many years now, as well as providing platforms, prizes and new initiatives to working artists.

Here are the current initiatives over which Elaine Cullen presides, as the brand’s Irish marketing guru...

Hennessy Literary Awards This 50 year-old concept – which has featured work by the likes of Joseph O’Connor and Patrick McCabe, among many more, over the years – found a new home at The Irish Times back in 2015 and has continued to publish emerging writers ever since.

The Hennessy Portrait Prize Now in its third year, the Hennessy Portrait Prize was launched with the aim of encouraging interest in contemporary portraiture and raising the profile of the National Portrait Collection. The award regularly receives over 400 entries, encompassing a wide range of media and materials, from artists living in Ireland and Irish artists abroad. An exhibition of the shortlisted portraits then goes on display to the public in the National Gallery of Ireland. Gerry Davis was awarded the Portrait Prize in November and received a prize of ¤15,000 for his work Seán.

Lost Fridays

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In July 2016, Hennessy Ireland and IMMA (Irish Museum of Modern Art) came together to celebrate the launch of a new art fund. The Hennessy Fund for IMMA enabled the museum to purchase work for the National Collection of Contemporary and Modern Art for the first time since 2011, with four works from four different Irish-based artists being selected in 2016. These artists’ works were then put on display in an exhibition entitled IMMA Collection: A Decade. Featuring video, performance and new media installations, this exhibition – and the continuing partnership between IMMA and Hennessy – seeks to ensure that Ireland’s contemporary, experimental artists have a platform for their work.

David Beattie, The Impossibility of an Island (2016)

Beginning at the start of this year, Hennessy launched Lost Fridays at the Royal Hibernian Academy, showcasing some of the most innovative creative talent from Ireland’s diverse arts scene.

Featuring a mix of collaborations between some of the country’s leading visual artists and musicians, Lost Fridays became a marriage of culture, cocktails and creativity. During the Lost Friday events, each part of the RHA gallery is opened up to the public, with art, music, literature, performance and food on offer.

Then earlier this year, Hennessy invited acclaimed tattoo artist Scott Campbell – one of the brightest new voices in contemporary art – to create the design for their Hennessy: Very Special Limited Edition brand. In a hook-up with Hot Press, the new design was presented by Irish band The Hot Sprockets, at a one-off event in Dublin back in September...

The Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA

EURES HELPS WORKERS

TO CROSS BORDERS The European Union facilitates the exercise of the free movement for workers and intraEU labour mobility by supporting EURES, the network of European Employment Services...

WHAT IS EURES? It is a co-operation network on job search between the European Commission, Public Employment Services (PES) of the Member States, trade unions, employers’ organisations and other labour market actors. Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein (EEA countries), as well as Switzerland, also participate in EURES. WHAT ARE EURES’ MAIN OBJECTIVES? The main objectives of EURES are: - to guide and provide advice to potentially mobile workers on job opportunities as well as living and working conditions in the European Economic Area; - to assist employers wishing to recruit workers from other countries; and - to provide advice and guidance to workers and employers in cross-border regions.

WHAT IS A CROSS-BORDER REGION? EURES has a particularly important role to play in cross-border areas in which there are significant levels of cross-border commuting. More than 1,000,000 people who live in one EU country and work in another have to cope with different national practices and legal systems. They may come across administrative, legal or fiscal obstacles to mobility on a daily basis. EURES Advisers in these areas provide specific advice and guidance on the rights and obligations of workers living in one country and working in another.

IS THERE A EURES OFFICE IN IRELAND? Yes. There are currently 12 EURES cross-border partnerships, spread geographically throughout Europe involving 19 countries. Aiming to meet the need for information and coordination connected with labour mobility in the border regions, these partnerships bring together public employment services, employers and trades union organisations, local authorities and other institutions dealing with employment. EURES cross-border partnerships serve as valuable points of contact among employment administrations, both regional and national, and the social partners. They are also an important means of monitoring these crossborder employment areas, which are a key element in the development of a genuine European labour market. The Ireland/Northern Ireland EURES Cross Border Partnership is one of those partnerships within the European network.

The network is grant funded by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation with additional support provided to the Ireland/Northern Ireland Cross Border Partnership by the Department of Social Protection in the Republic of Ireland and the Department for Communities in Northern Ireland.

WHERE CAN I LEARN MORE? The Ireland/Northern EURES Cross Border Partnership can be accessed by visiting their website at eures-crossborder.org To know more about EURES operations at the European level you can also visit ec.europa.eu/eures.

CE L E B R I T Y

TA B LE

The Secret

of her Success Presenter Lisa Cannon sits down to a delicious meal at Peploe's and discusses her exciting new role at TV3. By Anne Sexton

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isa Cannon comes through the door of Peploe’s like a whirlwind. It may be the TV3 star’s day off but she is fielding phone calls and dealing with crises.

Things have been all go since it was announced that Lisa is moving from Xposé to Saturday AM and Sunday AM, replacing Anna Daly who is on maternity leave.

This is lovely!” she says. “I haven’t been here for ages.”

It is rather. It’s a miserable autumn day outside but inside Peploe’s it’s warm and cosy.

The danger is that once ensconced you may never want to leave. And of course, the menu has a tendency to cause difficulties — it all sounds good and neither Lisa or I can decide what to eat.

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“I think I’ll go fish and fish,” she says as she orders the mussels to begin and the seafood paella to follow. “I love fish but I don’t trust myself to cook it. I don’t want to poison myself!”

Cooking, she says, is not really one of her talents.

“I’ve been told that I’m ‘okay’, which is a slight insult but I’ve decided to take it as a compliment!” she laughs.

After ten years on the entertainment show, Lisa is keen to try something new. Plus she has set herself some challenges.

“I am hoping to start playing the drums,” she notes. “For a feature I am going to learn them over an eight week period and perform with a band in a studio. I love to do crazy things and I hope this will be an ultimate challenge for me

because I’ve always wanted to play the drums.

I’m sure Simon Delaney will jump in for a set!

He’ll probably grab the microphone!”

Her new anchor slot will also give Lisa the chance to pitch features – something she is very excited to do.

“When I brought them the idea of learning the drums and playing in a rock band, they were delighted,” she enthuses. “We’re hoping to go to Disneyland Paris and we’d love to do something with Bear Grylls. I am very excited to see what we might do. I believe I’m also going to learn to do The Rocky Horror Show dance too. There’s a lot of stuff that I would have never done before so it’s a whole new world. I’m up for anything — whatever they throw at me!”

Lisa will still be covering some entertainment news and is hoping to head to the 2017 Oscars.

“I’ve done so many red carpets that I think it’s my forte and I would like to bring some of my strengths to the show,” she says. “I’ve done the Oscars twice before and we have good contacts over there. I think it would be great to do it, especially if we’re championing Irish film.”

After having done the red carpet repeatedly, Lisa no longer gets nervous meeting the great and good of the film world — but like any movie buff, Lisa is happy to fan girl over her heroes.

“One of my favourites because I was so mad to meet him was Brad Pitt,” she beams. “I was as

excited to meet him as any red-blooded female would be! He did not disappoint in the flesh. It was for Fury so I got to speak to him about war.

I also showed him a picture of my grandmother who was alive at the time — she was 103 and she’d lived through two world wars. He loved that. He is very charming and very beautiful — he’s hypnotic, a beautiful specimen of a man.

“I also loved meeting Robert de Niro and Al Pacino – they were special for me – and The Rolling Stones. The red carpets that stand out are the ones who are my heroes – just huge names that I have always wanted to meet.”

Her dream interview, she says, would be Martin Scorsese.

“He is an incredible filmmaker, I just adore him.

The level of detail he brings to his films… but he is always wanting to learn. I have watched all his films, I have read so many books about him. My favourite movies are Goodfellas and Casino – I just love those films. He has never made a bad movie as far as I am concerned.”

Directing is something Lisa would like to try her hand at some time in the future.

“I’d love to get a chance to direct,” she says.

“It takes years, but that’s an option I’d like to explore at a later stage. I am not ready to hang up my mic just yet. I have been in television for ten years and that’s a privilege. I feel very lucky.

Long may it continue.”

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CE L E B R ITY

TA B LE

A FOOD AWAKENING The latest dining news from resident foodie Stuart Clark

Hang Dai

THE DAMAGE Peploe’s does a great lunch offer of two courses for ¤29 and three courses for ¤35. Lisa and I had three courses each.

To begin Lisa had the mussels with pancetta, cider, herbs and cream. This is a generous portion and would be plenty of food by itself. The mussels were fresh and perfectly cooked.

I had the grilled quail salad with radish, pomegranate, poached pear and truffle dressing. The sweetness of the poached pear was a lovely complement to the richness of the quail.

Lisa and I are seafood fans and for our main courses we both choose the seafood paella. Although this is normally served with sea bass we had ours with monkfish. The paella also comes with octopus, prawns, clams and squid in a romanesco sauce. Monkfish can be tricky to get right, and in inexperienced hands it can be tough and chewy. Ours was firm but soft and full of flavour.

To end Lisa had the chocolate fondant with honeycomb ice cream and I opted for the profiteroles with milk chocolate mousse, praline ganache and vanilla ice cream. The fondant was gooey and decadent, while the profiteroles were light and fluffy.

Lunch was washed down with a glass of the house white wine – Côtes de Duras, Dom. des Allégrets, Sauvignon.

A bottle of this will set you back a very reasonable ¤26.50.

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THE ULSTER TRY Wiehahn Herbst’s Slow-Cooked Thai Beef, Tommy Bowe’s Turkey Chilli and Charles Piutau’s Perfect Porridge are just some of the performance-enhancing dishes to be found in the recipe book Ulster Rugby has put together in association with Slim’s Healthy Kitchen, and which will benefit the Include Youth charity.

“We’ve been working closely with the team and coaching staff on their day-to-day nutrition for the past two years and it’s fantastic to now be able to help create recipes that are simple, healthy and nutritious for Ulster Rugby fans,” enthuses Kate Magill from Slim’s Healthy Kitchen. “From the most advanced cook to a novice, there’s a recipe for everyone to get into the kitchen and have a go!”

Order your copy for £5 from slimshealthykitchen.com or pick it up from one of the chain’s eight Belfast outlets.

THE WORLD ON YOUR PLATE Already a big hit in Belfast where it’s to be found on Level 2 of Victoria Square, COSMO World Kitchen is now also up and running in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. With separate Japanese, Indian, Chinese, Italian stations, a carvery and over 70 deserts including a chocolate fountain, all your “where are we going to eat?” dilemmas will be solved in one foul swoop.

The help yourself buffet ranges in price from ¤9.99 to ¤20.99 depending on what time of the week it is. Check out the menus at cosmorestaurants.

GET TING THE HANG OF THINGS The latest addition to Camden Street, Dublin 2’s already thriving restaurant scene is Hang Dai, a Blade Runner-ish modern Asian joinwvt that does its wood-fired Skeaghanore Duck three ways – in a broth served with Chinese pickles, chopped on the bone and drenched in Cantonese-style Soy Sauce, and thinly sliced with pancakes and Cherry Hoi Sin. The Exploding Prawns in Fermented Chilli Sauce lives up to the name – and then some! – with the Ma Po Tofu a great option for the non-carnivores among us. Seats are always at a premium, so book in advance at hangdaichinese.com.

Meanwhile, down the road 100 metres or so on Wexford Street you’ll find Bourke’s, a new bar annexed to the Whelan’s live music venue, which specialises in Irish craft beers and spirits. Along with its own IPA, we strongly recommend the Wicklow St. Kevin’s Red on draft.

HOPPY TALK Sticking with matters of a hops-ian nature, the Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair returns to the Dublin Convention Centre from February 23-25.

Along with the chance to check out over 300 beers and spirits, there will be live music and Six Nations Rugby on three of the biggest screens the capital has ever seen. Pick tickets up at eventbrite.ie.

The action then switches to the RDS in Ballsbridge from March 16-18 with the launch of Secret Session, a boutique beer festival, with lots of games, a silent disco, barbershop, indoor picnic area and loads of cool digital stuff.

Sport | Six Nations Preview

Grounds For Six Nations Optimism After that unforgettable autumn win against the All Blacks, Irish rugby heads into the New Year on a high.

David Lynch assesses the team's chances ahead of an eagerly anticipated 2017 Six Nations campaign.

arely have Ireland looked forward to a tournament as much as the 2017 Six Nations. The optimism stems from a wondrous autumn campaign, during which Joe Schmidt’s charges completed a hat-trick of wins over southern hemisphere opposition, including that never-to-forgotten victory against New Zealand in Chicago.

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Coming hot on the heels of the Cubs’ triumph in the World Series, the landmark result certainly ensured the Windy City was the centre of the sporting universe for that incredible weekend. The usual Irish grit was in evidence during the recent outstanding performances, but the new attacking flair on display, allied to the emergence of fresh talent like Tadhg Furlong, Garry Ringrose and Joey Carbery, means the Irish rugby fraternity are feeling particularly buoyant as we head into 2017.

It’s certainly a very different mood to that which prevailed earlier in the year, when spirits were at a low-ebb. After winning the Six Nations outright in two consecutive years, Ireland headed into the 2015 World Cup with considerable optimism, but after suffering a glut of injuries – including to the talismanic Paul O’Connell – the team bowed out tamely in the quarter-finals to Argentina, who produced a stunning attacking display.

There was much discussion about the standard of northern hemisphere rugby in the aftermath of that tournament, and it seemed as if many of the naysayers had their views confirmed in the spring of 2016. Certainly, after an underwhelming campaign by Ireland, which saw them finish third after losing to France and England and drawing with Wales, there was plenty of soul-searching to be done.

But then came those electrifying autumn performances and the attendant lift in supporters’ mood. So where do Ireland stand as we head into the New Year? The bookmakers have Ireland as second favourites behind England, and there is a feeling in some quarters that the teams’ climactic St Patrick’s Day clash at the Aviva could even be a Grand Slam decider.

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Undoubtedly, Ireland will have their work cut out wresting the Six Nations title away from the old enemy, who have been in simply imperious form since the start of 2016. Having made a disastrous exit from the World Cup, the RFU made the inspired decision to offer the job of head coach to Australian Eddie Jones, the man who had guided Japan to their famous victory over South Africa in the group stages of that competition.

Since then, it’s been non-stop success for Jones, including a Six Nations title and a first ever threetest series win away to Australia in the summer, which even featured a record 23-7 victory on Australian soil.

Of course, there’s a long way to go before the Ireland-England clash, and the Irish campaign will actually commence on February 4 against Scotland at Murrayfield. The general view is that Joe Schmidt has never before had such options at his disposal, with the young guns who emerged in the autumn supplementing a core of proven performers such as Rory Best, Robbie Henshaw, Conor Murray, Johnny Sexton and Simon Zebo.

The usual Irish resolve and the team’s more potent attacking threat should be enough to see off the Scots, although Vern Cotter’s men have put in some improved performances of late, including a victory over Argentina and a onepoint loss to Australia, which underlines their perennial ability to spring a surprise.

Next up for Ireland after that is a February 11 trip to Rome to take on Italy, now under the guidance of Irishman Conor O’Shea. The Italians had a mixed autumn campaign, having endured a 68-10 trouncing against New Zealand and a scarcely believable two-point defeat to Tonga, although a landmark first victory against South Africa highlighted their potential.

Nonetheless, were Ireland to take the expected four points from their opening two games, it would leave them in nice shape going into their February 25 game against France at the Aviva.

The French will be looking to build on their win against Joe Schmidt’s men in the 2016 Six Nations – their first victory over Ireland in nearly five years – and Les Bleus have looked impressive in the autumn internationals.

With the likes of Wesley Fofana and Camille

Lopez in fine form, the team played with traditional French flair as they dismantled Samoa and narrowly lost out to the All Blacks.

If they continue to build in the same manner, Guy Noves’ charges will be a threat to anyone in the spring.

Ireland’s penultimate game is a March 10 trip to the Millennium Stadium to take on Wales, with whom we have had some titanic struggles in recent times. It will certainly be a hell of a month on the sporting front for both countries, with the crunch soccer World Cup qualifier between the two nations taking place a fortnight after the Cardiff encounter. Warren Gatland’s boys always fancy their chances against Ireland and underlined the threat they present with recent wins over South Africa and Argentina. Which just leaves that mouthwatering clash with England…

Despite the disappointing Six Nations, Irish rugby ultimately enjoyed a bumper 2016 thanks to that legendary win over New Zealand, Connacht’s stunning Pro 12 triumph and Leinster’s excellent end-of-year form. It all suggests another rollercoaster ride is on the way in 2017. Buckle up your seatbelt and enjoy!

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Travel | Oklahoma

Oh, What a Beautiful State!

Big, beautiful and fond of a barbeque – Eamonn Seoige takes a closer look at the all-American state of Oklahoma.

olloquially named ‘The Sooner State’, in reference to the 19th century pioneers who settled there from the south, Oklahoma is located in the south central region of the United States. Despite being part of the ‘Great Plains’ of America, Oklahoma is characterised by its geographical diversity, meaning that any discerning traveller is likely to encounter prairie lands, highlands, wonderful lakes, multiple mountain ranges and large expanses of forest. Indeed, Oklahoma is a snapshot of the great American west, with everything from large scale farming and roadside diners to rodeos and music festivals. Most importantly, the Okies are super-friendly and the food’s hearty!

Boasting the longest stretch of Route 66 in America, the best way to see all of Oklahoma’s wonderful ecology is to rent a car and drive across the epic landscapes. Starting from the state’s northeast, you’ll take in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, the red earth prairie lands, wildlife reserves and umpteen old-world gas stations and curios that line this legendary American route. The city of Lawton is home to two great cultural institutions, the Museum of the Great Plains, which details the lives and struggles of early pioneers, and the Comanche National Museum, which commemorates the rich history of this famous native tribe. The massive 4,000 acre Woolaroc ranch is a great place to see some of the region’s native fauna at close proximity, including bison, elk and longhorn cattle. On top of this, considering the region’s annual battle with formidable tornadoes, it’s convenient that the National Weather Centre is based in Norman, Oklahoma.

From the weather centre, you’ll also want to stop at JM Davis Arms & Historical Museum, which brings to life the infamous history of the ‘Wild West’. It contains countless arms, artefacts and a vast collection of Native American treasures.

Then if museum exploring starts to feel a bit dry, there’s plenty of outdoor activities to sink your teeth into. Aqua-parks, wilderness hiking, college sports and a myriad of other exciting attractions will let you experience the majesty of Oklahoma’s ‘big country’. The state’s vast prairie lands and atmospheric highland regions contain its rich

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Native American history, with stunning wildlife and farming on a truly industrial scale. Animal lovers can witness bison in their natural grassland habitats and maybe catch a glimpse of a wild coyote or bobcat…

For those thinking of spending their summer months in Oklahoma, the annual Woodie Guthrie Folk Festival takes place during mid-July in the town of Okemah. The legacy of this iconic folk troubadour is celebrated with countless concerts and impromptu jams. The ‘This Land is Our Land’ singer inspired a generation of politically and socially aware songwriters, ranging from Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen to Joe Strummer and Jeff Tweedy. Music lovers looking to take something away from their trip can pick up specially-crafted CDs and vinyls by the Okie legend, as well as purchasing something from everyone’s favourite oddballs and Oklahoma City natives, The Flaming Lips.

A note of warning on the warm summer weather – these months tend to be hot, sticky affairs with regular thunderstorms. Go back a few months to the spring/early summer period and you may also encounter ‘twisters’, which can wind their way through the state wreaking havoc. Oklahoma is smack bang in the middle of ‘Tornado Alley’ and is on the receiving end of over 50 storms every season. So if you really want to avoid all that meteorological drama, autumnal Oklahoma – with its forest canopy colour and milder temperatures – is the ideal time to visit.

When you’ve finally settled into things, you’ll want to try some of Oklahoma’s local cuisine. Remember, indulgence is the key to enjoying American food!

If you’re on some kind of weight loss programme then it’s probably best to give Oklahoma a wide berth… (pun intended). Okies love their hearty food, so be prepared to pile on a few extra pounds.

Some of the classic dishes native to Oklahoma include cornbread and grits (the calorific breakfast favourite). Barbeque is also hugely popular in this neck of the woods and normally features sausage, pork ribs and corn-on-the-cob. Then you’ll find the ideal accompaniment to a few cold beers in the form of the famous “fried onion burger”, a burger so iconic that it even has its own festival in El Reno. For something exotic, try the calf fries – also

"Oklahoma is a snapshot of the great American west."

Travel | Oklahoma

Hotels TOP END

referred to as Rocky Mountain oysters – which are breaded bites made from sheep or calf testicles…

Fried catfish is another widely served staple, as is striploin steak, which can be found at any of the many traditional steakhouses dotted throughout the state. To round things off, how about a generous slice of pecan pie with whipped cream.

Be prepared for everything to be high on calories, but also very high on taste…

When it comes time to wash all this food down, there’s no shortage of drinks to choose from. Oklahoma is rapidly becoming a beerlovers’ paradise, with numerous craft breweries springing up throughout the state. The majority are based in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, with local favourites including Elk Valley, Prairie Artisan Ales and Redbud Brewing. The major brands are also widely available, of course, but it’s certainly worth checking out the numerous local tipples. For those not fond of beer, Oklahomans are big fans of cocktails; and while the fiery, eye-watering Bloody Mary didn’t originate in the state, it will come highly recommended as a dinner accompaniment in any restaurant you’re likely to step into.

Unsurprisingly, Bourbon whiskey is also a local favourite, especially when the prairie farmers arrive in town…

Don’t be surprised to find yourself falling in love with the Okies and that world-famous southern hospitality. These are famously friendly people who occupy a vast, expansive state with loads to do for every type of traveller.

The Skirvin Hilton Hotel 1 Park Ave, Oklahoma City +1 405-272-3040 This historic three-towered building, originally designed in 1911 and renovated in the 2000s, is Oklahoma’s premier hotel, and also its oldest. Built in an art deco style, the hotel stands out against the metropolis backdrop and is right in the heart of the city. Amenities include an art deco style grill restaurant serving American and Southern dishes, and a chic cocktail bar with live jazz, plus a heated indoor pool and fitness centre.

Restaurants

MEDIUM-PRICED

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Ramada, Tulsa 8175 E Skelly Dr, Tulsa +1 918-921-5053 Straight off the main highway which connects Tulsa to Oklahoma City, the Ramada Hotel (always a trustworthy choice) is the perfect place to stay if you have a car or plan on travelling around the state. From the Ramada, you can venture into Tulsa City and explore its industrial history or its vibrant nightlife. Then real explorers can head up to the Osage Reservation and see the natural beauty of the surroundings, as well as learning about Native American history.

Cheever’s Café 2409 N Hudson Ave, Oklahoma City +1 405-525-7007 Serving daily and nightly specials, Cheever’s offers a full bar and excellent selection of wines to complement its outstanding contemporary comfort food. The ambience is as appealing as the menu – casual elegance in a charming historic building. Go all out with the Boneless Beef Short Rib Stack or the Grilled Ribeye. If you’re looking for southern meat cooked perfectly, this is where to find it.

MEDIUM-PRICED

GOOD VALUE Aloft Oklahoma City Downtown Bricktown 209 N Walnut Ave, Oklahoma City +1 405-445-6880 Located in the heart of the entertainment district, Aloft Hotel is comfort and convenience at an affordable price. You’ll enjoy the close proximity to popular attractions such as the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, Bricktown Canal, Cox Convention Center, and the Myriad Botanical Gardens, all of which are just minutes away.

Jazmo’z Bourbon Street Café 100 E California Ave, Oklahoma City +1 405-232-6666 Famous for its Cajun food, live music and Michael Murphy’s Duelling Piano Bar, Jazmo’z is the kind of place where punters are encouraged to raise the roof by singing along to the live music. Mixing Cajun with Creole cooking, Jamzo’z also has an extensive bar with all the best in domestic and imported beers.

GOOD VALUE Chuy’s Union Public Schools, 10808 E 71st St, Tulsa +1 918-252-0405 If you’ve gone this far south in the States, you’d be doing things wrong if you didn’t check out a Tex Mex joint. Chuy’s is a Tex Mex chain that started off in Texas and made its way across several states in the southern region. Get yourself one of their 12” flour tortillas (handmade on the spot), stuff it with your choice of filling and smother it on the top with cheese. Or for those who are severely famished, try the enormous stacked enchiladas, which are sure to leave you feeling full and happy.

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Fashion

Short ShortMilitary Military Jacket Jacket €49.40 €49.40 Littlewoods Littlewoods

Puffer with fur hood €160 Topshop

Wearing Winter Well!

As we make our way into the New Year, may one of our resolutions be to always look fabulous – even when the weather is not! Roe McDermott picks out the hottest looks for the cold winter months, and shows you how to remain on-trend while staying wrapped-up.

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All Puffed Up ne surprising return to fashion grace is the humble puffer jacket, rescued from the attic of couture cast-offs, and returned to its former ’90s glory – with a chic twist. The puffer has run the gamut of fashion favour, once possessing a hiphop inspired street cred, before rapidly becoming the sartorial sign of practicality over poise, an emblem of giving up.

But behold, fashion designers and pop stars have brought the puffer back into the catwalks. Marques Almeida rocked oversized, full-length puffers in bright orange, while DKNY’s gigantic offerings featured shiny features and red laces.

Elsewhere, Raf Simons’ Fall collection featured shiny metallics, while Ella Boucht’s oversized baby-pink velvet puffer got the ultimate seal of approval: being worn by Rihanna. Wear falling off one shoulder and team it with a baseball cap for that carefree, cool look.

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Fashion

Blouse €15 Trouser €8 Shoes €14 All Penneys

Crushed Velvet Exploding all over the catwalks this winter, velvet is making sure that its return to favour is showstopping. Velvet made a comeback in deepest blue at Prada, Ralph Lauren and Vanessa Seward, where we saw slinky gowns spotted with gold constellation effects and ’70s-style tuxedo suits. And no wonder it’s the new IT fabric – it’s sumptuous, sensual, tactile, and oh-so-festive!

(Another benefit is that velvet is delightfully cosy to wear, so even tiny party dresses will have some hidden warmth.) We’re loving Yuletide shades such as rich crimsons and greens, while royal blue tones also look stunning on every skin tone. Velvet chokers, meanwhile, act as the crowning bow on your ensemble. If you prefer to keep velvet to your accessories, velvet shoes and boots are an amazing statement piece – just avoid the seasonal slush. If you need any further convincing, remember – Santa’s suit is red velvet.

How can you question that it’s a must-wear Christmas trend now?

Military Style If you’re looking for a more formal, polished look, you can never go wrong with a classic military-style coat. Unlike previous iterations of this trend, which seem plucked directly from the army surplus store, this season’s coats are inspired by 18th century Britain and France. Strong and sharp, these coats are not only tailored to a point, but they’re also beautifully embellished with epaulettes, brass buttons, rope trim and even some crystal bling.

The military coat can be paired with literally anything. Dolce and Gabbana teamed their bejewelled jackets with silk track pants, while Christopher Bailey layered his over a glittery party dress, so go nuts mixing and matching.

Aiyana heels €99 Dune Floral dress, Floral dress, Coming soon Coming soon to Topshop to Topshop

Pink Perfection As we move into January and February, pink makes its return to the catwalks, acting as the perfect antidote to the seasonal gloom. From Prada’s pretty in pink gowns, to Jil Sander’s lamé dresses and Gucci’s all-over pinks, no opportunity for fabulous femininity was left unexplored!

From blush rose to bright magenta, all hues are welcome, though bubblegum pink is tipped to become a favourite, with its air of teenage whimsy.

If you want to fully commit to the trend, look for elaborately feminine gowns with floral patterns or Victorian silhouettes to highlight the sweetness of the colour. Soft, balletic hues are also in fashion, and with that comes the classic tutu and ballet pump. Contrast styles by adding a sharp blazer to a flowy tutu skirt. Or if you’re still in party mode, go all out with some flashy sequins and bling. Pink sparkly playsuits can be dressed up or down, or a shiny pink blazer looks incredible over skinny jeans and a plain white vest. Or if you want to inject just a hint of pink, look for bags to add a splash of perfection to your existing wardrobe.

Dark Floral With poinsettias, wreaths, berries and roses all ubiquitous Yuletide motifs, it’s no wonder that this year’s winter glad-rags are also embracing dark floral trends. This sharper, edgier look is just the right combination of gothic romanticism, film noir and punk-tinged femininity.

Combining dark ebony tones with bright prints gives these blooms a sophisticated edge, which can take you from the office to the bar courtesy of a quick change into some killer heels. Or if you just can’t do without your light and bright prints, look for body-con styles and black accents to take your look from sweet to sexy and show that your fashionista flowers are all grown up. Also, search out classic black dresses with beautiful floral embroidery – small and delicate patterns give a wistfully romantic look, while larger prints make a bolder statement. Accessories can also feature florals, such as clutch bags bedazzled with blooms, or hair accessories that will make you look fresh as a daisy.

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one of The first ever songbook from riters Ireland’s most revered songw Diverse vinyl DIV052LP (180 grm) ALBUM REVIEWS: VINYL ELEANOR McEVOY

NAKED MUSIC

The pioneering collaboration includes: • • • • •

In February, the CD of this lost out to Tony Bennett for Album of the Month... the LP has no challengers. As you’ll recall, this is undiluted, lean McEvoy with sparse use of an electric piano, acoustic or electric guitars, tapping on an acoustic guitar and singing a cappella, the songs self-penned or co-written with Lloyd Cole or Rodney Crowell. Heady stuff for that alone, but this has even more resonance for me. I heard her play a selection of the tracks armed only with guitar, at a gallery showing paintings by the artist who inspired them. Rushing home to hear it on my system, hell, yeah- it’s as close to ‘real’ as you can get, short of seeing her live (which I recommend).

Unbridled, intimate gorgeousness.

— Ken Kessler, HiFi News

Lyrics and melodies from Eleanor McEvoy’s acclaimed Naked Music album 15 songs including Please Heart You’re Killing Me, Deliver Me and Whisper a Prayer to the Moon 22 stunning paintings by Chris Gollon, inspired by the songs Starkly intimate photographs by Shane McCarthy Introductory essay and interviews by bestselling author Jackie Hayden

“Eleanor McEvoy is one of those artists who can do no wrong... what a voice!”

– Alex Lester, BBC Radio 2 “A clutch of fine songs... there seems to be nothing this girl can’t try her hand at” – Acoustic magazine “A master craftswoman at work, her songs as evocative as ever.” – The Irish Post “Nothing short of a classic” **** - Maverick magazine “Eleanor at her best... a treat.”

– Rock Society magazine “Naked Music is an excellent album from one of our finest performers” **** – R2 magazine

In selected bookshops or order online at hotpress.com/shop

€16.95 / £16

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Pop icon Robbie Williams leads the way as we run the rule over the biggest new music releases.

LADY GAGA Joanne (Universal)

R O B B I E W I L L I A M S The Heavy Entertainment Show (SONY) Although The Heavy Entertainment Show is Robbie Williams’ eleventh studio album, the now 42-year-old pop star recently claimed that he personally views it as his sixth – the one that should rightly have followed 2002’s Escapology. If you disregard 2013’s Swings Both Ways, that mega-selling release was his last serious creative collaboration with multi-award-winning songwriter Guy Chambers, with whom Williams had worked from the very beginning of his solo career post-Take That, but ultimately had a very public falling out with.

Thankfully, several relatively lukewarm albums later, that rift is now obviously well-healed, and Chambers has co-written and produced the bulk of this new release. Williams has had lyrical and vocal assistance from some other notable heavyweights as well – including Ed Sheeran, Brandon Flowers, Rufus Wainwright, John Grant and Stuart Price. He’s even had help from beyond the grave, with the late Sergei Prokofiev and Serge Gainsbourg also credited.

Heavy Entertainment kicks off with the hugely energetic title song – in which he blatantly sets out his stall – and doesn’t really stop thereafter: “Good evening children of cultural abandon/You searched for a saviour, well here I am/ And all the best ones are dying off so quickly/ While I’m still here, enjoy me while you can.”

Later he sings. “Welcome to The Heavy Entertainment Show/ Where the more you see, the less you know/ Welcome to The Heavy Entertainment Show/ Where Eminem meets Barry Manilow.”

While the overall musical feel is pulsing hi-energy pop, there are some slower, more poignant moments. Also addressed to his children, the gorgeous ‘Love My Life’ is a lot more tender: “Tether your soul to me/ I will never let go completely/ One day your hands will be/ Strong enough to hold me/ I might not be there for all your battles/ But you’ll win them eventually.”

Throw in some great numbers penned by Ed Sheeran (‘Pretty Woman’) and Brandon Flowers (‘Mixed Signals’), and fine duets with Rufus Wainwright (‘Hotel Crazy’) and John Grant (‘I Don’t Want To Hurt You’), and the result is Robbie Williams’ finest album in well over a decade.

With 2014’s Artpop selling a comparatively miserable 2.3 million copies, Lady Gaga risked becoming the forgotten woman of outrageous chart music. Set against Taylor Swift’s girl next door affability and Beyonce’s glitter-ball feminism, Gaga seemed neither sufficiently relatable nor culturally important enough to warrant her place on the podium.

Gaga understood the wind had turned. And so, the savviest massmarket chameleon of them all set about rebooting her image via Cheek To Cheek, her 2014 covers collaboration with Tony Bennett.

Now, the overhaul continues on the sometimes stripped-down, often rollicking Joanne.

She has described it as her “without make-up” record. There is certainly no lack of grit, with Mark Ronson contributing unfussy production and cameos by Beck, Queens of the Stone Age’s Josh Homme and Tame Impala’s Kevin Parker.

How strange, then, that Joanne’s standout moments are those that most unabashedly recall the artist’s original incarnation as purveyor of bonkers arena escapism. Opener ‘Diamond Heart’, for instance, is a gale-force power ballad, while single ‘A-Yo’ demonstrates her mastery of the instantly catchy hook.

It’s when she tries to upend the formula that Gaga brushes up against the limits of her talent. ‘Sinner’s Prayer’, a faux-country co-write with Father John Misty, is a hokey misfire and she arguably plunges to a career nadir with ‘Just Another Day’, a honky-tonk piano jam that shoots for Randy Newman-meets-Elton John, but lands closer to Gilbert O’Sullivan meets a drunken wedding band.

Ultimately, Joanne is halfway to a triumph. With the avant-garde clutter that tripped up Artpop dispensed with, Gaga has rediscovered her propulsive irreverence. It’s too bad she undermines the good work with po-faced excursions into “proper” songwriting.

LEONARD COHEN You Want It Darker (Columbia) The late Leonard Cohen’s You Want It Darker is one of year's most acclaimed albums, and a fitting swansong for one of the greatest artists in the history of popular music. Released shortly before the singer’s death in early November at the age of 82, the album was met with widespread critical praise.

Much like Blackstar, the final album from Cohen’s fellow icon David Bowie, the allusions to ageing and mortality on You Want It Darker mean we now listen to it with different ears following its creator’s passing. Similarly to Bowie, the Canadian singer straddled different musical eras with remarkable ease, and the utterly contemporary sound of the record is testament to his creative restlessness.

Produced by his son Adam Cohen, You Want It Darker is also replete with religious themes and biblical imagery. It’s not all doom and gloom, however. The gorgeously seductive ‘If I Didn’t Have Your Love’ is one of the more upbeat tracks – a jazzy torch song one could imagine Norah Jones singing in that sultry way of hers. ‘On The Level’, meanwhile, is a vintage Cohen number.

The final track, ‘Steer Your Way’, blends a country-ish rhythm with a spellbinding lyric. Overall, the utterly compelling You Want It Darker ranks among Cohen’s finest ever work, making it a fitting finale to a glittering career.

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The latest effort from crime author Conor Brady is among the highlights of our winter book round-up.

A HUNT IN WINTER Conor Brady (New Island) Former Irish Times editor Conor Brady has enjoyed considerable success as a crime novelist, with the previous entries in his Detective Joe Swallow series – A June Of Ordinary Murders and The Eloquence Of The Dead – earning plenty of critical plaudits.

There are certainly many enjoyable elements to the latest Swallow book, A Hunt in Winter.

The novel is a murder mystery set in Dublin in the winter of 1888. A young woman is brutally attacked and dies. Across the water, the Ripper is plying his trade, and when two women are attacked in Dublin, Swallow wonders if Dublin has a copycat. Brady is a skillful writer — the streets and politics of 19th century Dublin are both brought vividly to life and the story rattles along at a fair pace.

However, the novel is let down by a disappointing resolution.

Brady was bringing the story to a satisfying conclusion, only to add a twist in the tale that doesn’t make much sense. Having said that, A Hunt in Winter is still a cracker of a book and very enjoyable.

CO N C L AV E Robert Harris (Penguin) Best known for his works of historical fiction, including the Chinatown-influenced Roman epic Pompeii, English author Harris turns his attentions to papal intrigue in his latest effort, Conclave.

Following the sudden death of the pontiff (whose frugal lifestyle has echoes of Pope Francis), the race is on to succeed him. At the centre of the action is the Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Lomeli, who has to negotiate his way through the shady politicking of the succession process. Among those competing for the papacy are an African cardinal, a media-friendly Canadian, a reforming liberal and an Italian arch-conservative.

Portraying the Vatican as the ultimate place of Machiavellian manoeuvring, Conclave is gripping stuff.

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I R E A D T H E N E W S T O D AY, O H B O Y Paul Howard (Picador) Best known as the author of the celebrated Ross O’Carroll-Kelly columns, Paul Howard has now turned his attention to writing the biography of the late Guinness heir Tara Browne, who grew up in the same county – Wicklow – where Howard himself now resides.

Having enjoyed a supremely privileged upbringing, in his adolescence and young adulthood Browne became a fixture amongst high society in London and Ireland, before dying tragically young in a car accident – an event which famously inspired the opening lines

of The Beatles’ classic ‘A Day In The Life’.

Opening with a lavish birthday party for Browne held on the family’s enormous Luggala estate in Wicklow, where the Rolling Stones listen to the musical entertainment provided by the Lovin’ Spoonful, Howard goes on to paint a fascinating picture of a young man whose whirlwind life was dominated by excess, and who had his fair share of relationship trouble and emotional turmoil.

Overall, a compelling look at one of the more unusual Irish rock and roll stories.

Z A D I E S M I T H Swing Time (Hamish Hamilton) Zadie Smith’s fifth novel is a frustrating read. It’s not bad: Smith’s natural prose style is too downright readable for that. It just feels a bit bloated and could have done with one more edit to shave some fat from the fillet.

Written from the point of view of a pop star’s personal assistant, Swing Time is essentially about about power in relationships and how that power is rarely distributed equally. Being a Smith novel, it’s also about so many other things,

touching on family, race, fame, poverty, charity work and, of course, love. Compared to the wonderfully rounded inhabitants of NW or On Beauty, the protagonists of Swing Time, aside from the nameless narrator herself, feel more like characters in a book than Smith’s creations usually do.

The story zips along at pace, but never really engages the way her previous novels manage.

Indeed, it ultimately proves a little unsatisfying, which is a real shame.

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S A T I R E

A satirical take on modern American gang culture leads the way in Roe McDermott's round-up of the best new DVD releases, which also includes the acclaimed drama Little Men and the latest installment of the celebrated Bridget Jones series.

BRIDGET JONES’ BABY (UNIVERSAL)

Bridget Jones was always there for us as we made our New Year’s Resolutions, and this year is no different. On January 30, everyone’s favourite single woman is back, and in Bridget Jones’s Baby, she has found herself pregnant at forty, with two men who could possibly be the father.

One is her erstwhile love, Mark Darcy (Colin Firth), who Bridget has broken up with since last we saw her in 2004. The other is a dishy American (Patrick Dempsey), whose affectionate good nature provides Darcy with real competition – and Bridget with some serious confusion.

Director Sharon Maguire plays to the strengths of her veteran cast and their unrivalled gamesmanship when it comes to slapstick and farce.

Madcap dashes to the hospital, awkward attempts at glamping and Bridget’s charming klutziness are all elevated into joyful and unapologetically broad set-pieces.

Though fuelled by farce, they are elevated by the bottomless well of empathy and charm Zellweger naturally exudes. Similarly effective is seeing Bridget grappling with her increasingly techheavy and youth-oriented workplace, which lends the film an unexpectedly contemplative tone.

These tonal shifts could do with more rigorous editing, however, as sometimes the pacing shudders and halts. But overall, this is all about good ol’ Bridget, and you can’t help but love her

CHI-RAQ

LITTLE MEN

H E L L O R H I G H WAT E R

(LIONSGATE)

(SPIRIT LIMITED)

(STUDIOCANAL)

There are some films that could only be made by one director. Chiraq, Spike Jones’ satirical rewrite of Aristophanes’ 411 BC anti-war comedy that tackles gun violence on the South Side of Chicago, is one of them. Teyonah Parris stars as Lysistrata, a young woman sick of the bloodshed in Chicago.

Witnessing the endless violence between two Chicago gangs, the Spartans and the Trojans, Lysistrata encourages Chicago women to band together in a sex strike, where they’ll withhold sex form their men until there is peace. With cries of “Negotiate to Copulate”, they watch the power dynamics in the city change.

Written in verse and populated by posturing men and sexually empowered women, Chi-raq is unapologetically outrageous.

But amidst the uproarious humour, the film packs punches too. There are references to real mass shootings, police brutality and apathetic politicians. Activist mothers of murdered children appear as extras. And actress Jennifer Hudson, who lost her mother, brother and nephew to a shooting in 2008, is heartbreaking as a mother forced to wash her daughter’s blood off the street. A simultaneously entertaining and affecting political satire.

In Little Men, Ira Sachs explores relationships against a backdrop of gentrification, but with an empathy and nuance that avoids cliché and easy villains. Sachs’ leading men are 13-year-olds Tony and Jacob, who become instant best friends when Jacob moves to Brooklyn.

Jacob’s grandfather has died, leaving an apartment and store to his son, Brian (a wonderful Greg Kinnear). The store is run by Tony’s Chilean mother Leonor (Paulina Garcia), who has lived in the neighbourhood for a decade. Her survival is dependent on Brian not raising the rent to market value, and she’s ready to fight. But Brian isn’t a typical greedy yuppie; a struggling actor, his family has been living off his wife’s (Jennifer Ehle) salary for years.

As Brian takes on Chekhov’s most iconic male role, Trigorin, in a middling production of The Seagull, and it’s hinted that Jacob may be gay, Sachs again subtly examines our evolving ideas of what it means to be a man – and a good one, at that.

Sachs’ writing and directing is subtle and poignant, capturing the personal stories behind gentrification, as well as the feverish beauty of young friendship.

In Hell Or High Water, nothing is quite what it seems. With the structure of a western and protagonists that seem familiar, director David Mackenzie (Starred Up) pulls a subtle baitand-switch. As his thoughtful, sunbaked cops-and-robbers tale plays out across economically ravaged towns in West Texas, Hell Or High Water uses small moments to address big issues.

Chris Pine and Ben Foster, suitably careworn and jowly, star as brothers embarking on a series of bank heists across the state.

Children from a broken home, the adrenaline of their crime spree is undercut by a haunting thread of melancholy, history and fate. Pine and Foster put in career bests as brothers who are different but unerringly loyal to each other. Foster’s sociopathic Tanner softens around his wellintentioned brother, but his ferocity and hot-headed nature can easily boil over, putting their plans in jeopardy.

The constantly twisting plot evolves into a layered examination of how capitalism and corrupt bankers exploit the poor. When poverty forces rural Americans into a no-win game, do the terms “thieves” and “crime” lose their meaning?

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Dublin & Belfast

ATTRACTIONS

A TA L E O F T W O C I T I E S

IMMA

DUBLIN IMMA Royal Hospital, Military Rd, Kilmainham, Dublin 8 Tel : (01) 612 9900 imma.ie As the name suggests, the Irish Museum of Modern Art hoses the country’s largest collection of contemporary art. A current highlight at the museum is an exhibition featuring the work of German– born British painter Lucian Freud, renowned portraitist and one of the leading practitioners of the figurative movement in British art. His painting Last Portrait from 1976–77 is pictured above. Admission to the exhibition is by timed ticket only and there is a special discount if you use the code ENTERPRISE when making your booking at imma.ie. (See page 9 for more info).

CHESTER BEATTY LIBRARY Dublin Castle, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 407 0750 cbl.ie Described by Lonely Planet “as not just the best museum in Ireland, but one

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of the best in Europe,” the Chester Beatty Library has become one of the most popular cultural institutions in Dublin. The library is home to rich collections from Europe, Asia, the Middle East and North Africa.

The extensive collection brings the viewer closer to the artistic treasures of the great cultures and religions of the world. With tours in multiple languages, free admission and priceless manuscripts and artwork to examine; there are worse ways to spend an afternoon.

THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF IRELAND Merrion Square West, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 661 5133 Nationalgallery.ie First opening its doors in 1864, The National Gallery of Ireland is located in the heart of Dublin city centre and holds the largest collection of European and Irish fine art, with 2,500 paintings and approximately 10,000 other works in different media including watercolours, drawings, prints and sculpture. Every major

European school of painting is represented in the gallery. While the J.B. Yeats room is a particular highlight of the museum, the current winter exhibition, Creating History: Stories of Ireland in Art, gives a fantastic, extensive insight into the history of art in Ireland.

ST. PATRICK’S CATHEDRAL St. Patrick’s Close, Dublin 8 Tel: (01) 453 9472 stpatrickscathedral.ie Constructed between 1191 and 1270, this 800 year-old building has a rich history supposedly dating all the way back to St. Patrick. It was here that Saint Patrick allegedly baptised the local Celtic chieftains. The cathedral is still active today and offers morning and evening prayer services. The largest church in Ireland, it boasts stunning stainedglass windows detailing moments such as the life of St. Patrick and the Guinness family (who provided money to restore the cathedral) as some of its main attractions. Its vast array of tombs and busts honour

impressive alumni such as Turlough O’Carolan (blind harper), Douglas Hyde (the first President of Ireland) and Jonathan Swift of Gulliver’s Travels fame.

THE GPO/ THE MILLENIUM SPIRE O’Connell Street Lower, Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 705 7000 heritage@anpost.ie As the historian Donal Fallon explains, the pillars in front of the GPO contain bullet holes from the 1916 Easter Rising. The rebels of course, seized and used the GPO as their headquarters. A monument of Irish history, it is home to the fantastic GPO Witness History Exhibition which was launched this year to commemorate the 1916 centenary (see below). Just across from the GPO’s pillars is the Millenium Spire. The 120-metre silver edifice was unveiled in 2003. High above, small LEDS illuminate the spire’s tip after sundown (it’s official title is ‘Monument of Light’, or in Irish, ‘An Túr Solais’).

Dublin & Belfast

ATTRACTIONS

A TA L E O F T W O C I T I E S

Titanic Belfast

BELFAST TITANIC BELFAST 1 Olympic Way, Queen’s Road, Titanic Quarter, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9076 6386 titanicbelfast.com “It’s really quite phenomenal. It’s a magnificent dramatic building, the biggest Titanic exhibit in the world,” says Titanic director James Cameron, and we’re not about to disagree with him. The Titanic Belfast is an unmissable experience and since opening, thousands of visitors have thronged to the centre to learn about the history of the world’s most famous shipping disaster. Titanic Belfast is open daily.

ULSTER MUSEUM Botanic Gardens, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9044 0000 nmni.com/um The Ulster Museum is Belfast’s one-stop-shop for all things art, archaeology, zoology, geology and history. Since opening its doors more than 80 years ago, it has gathered one of the most extensive collections of Irish art on the planet.

The exhibits don’t stop at artistry; the museum also houses a vast

Chloe Brennan

collection of natural history pieces from specimens of birds, mammals, insects, plants and even dinosaurs.

No trip to Belfast would be complete without a visit to this cultural and historical hub; opening hours are 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday and with free admission, it’s an unmissable day out.

DINE AROUND DEANES 537 Lisburn Road, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9066 3108 Dine Around Deanes is a unique opportunity to sample the delights of Belfast’s most famous restaurant by visiting each of its four locations throughout the city.

Originally created in 2013 to mark Belfast Food Week, the idea was so popular that it was extended into a weekly event. Beginning the night at Deanes and Decano, in the heart of the city centre, you will be ferried around the city in Deanes’ own double decker bus, stopping at each location for a different course – including a stop at the Michelinstar Deanes at Howard Street – and learning about the city’s cuisine along the way. Book early as tickets get snapped up fast!

CATALYST ARTS GALLERY 5 College Court, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9031 3303 www.catalystarts.org.uk Formed in 1993 as a response to Belfast’s cultural vacuum, the Catalyst Arts Gallery has become Belfast's primary artists-led collective. This non-profit, volunteerrun organisation seeks to promote contemporary work by a large

selection of artists and projects from the widest possible range of disciplines. Primarily a gallery, Catalyst Arts can also morph into a 24 hour cinema, a recording studio, a publishing house or a wrestling ring when the occasion calls for it. The Gallery’s newest exhibition “Trickster” runs throughout December and features work from contemporary artist Chloe Brennan.

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Dublin & Belfast

MARKETS

BARGAIN BUYS

Howth Market

DUBLIN HOWTH MARKET Harbour Road, Howth Weekends, 9:00 – 18:00 This market is perfect for a spot of shopping in the sun. With over twenty different stalls, shoppers are spoilt for choice with baked goods, vintage clothing and antiques – but even on days when the full market isn’t trading, five permanent units are open everyday.

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BELFAST you simply cannot go wrong with Moore Street. From Monday to Saturday, dozens of market traders set up their rickety stalls, plying their specialities of fruit, veg and flowers, with the odd fishmonger thrown in, just for that special smell.

You’ll know you’re there when you here the ringing cry of “Fresh Straaaahberrs ... only a Euro!"filling the street. This market is a real slice of Dublin living.

MOORE STREET MARKET

TEMPLE BAR FOOD MARKET

Moore St, North City, Dublin Moore Street Market, tucked away just minutes from Dublin’s O’Connell Street thoroughfare, is one of the Irish capital’s hidden gems. If you're looking for something "typically Dublin",

Meeting House Square, Dublin Soutside Held every Saturday in Meeting House Square, the Temple Bar Food Market is a foodie’s paradise cosying up to Dublin’s worldrenowned cultural quarter.

DESIGNER MART

BELFAST FLEA MARKET

Cow’s Lane, Temple Bar Saturday 10:00 – 17:00 If fashion is what you crave, Cow’s Lane has a wealth of delightful handmade textiles and ceramics.

Peruse the stands for a handcrafted bag or bracelet and take in some of the creative artworks along the way.

Union St, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9023 2474 Launched in 2015,the Belfast Flea Market is the place to go to find bargains, collectables, vintage clothes, art, records,food, drink and occasionally some sunshine.

Taking place on the first Sunday of every month in the artsy beer garden of the Sunflower Bar during the summer and in the cosy confines of the Black Box during the winter, the Belfast Flea Market has taken off in a big way in the last 12 months.

Situated in some of Belfast’s best loved bars, having a pint and listening to some live music is a must after you’ve found all your shopping needs.

Dublin & Belfast

SHOPPING

BEAUTIFUL BUYS

Rhinestones Nowhere

DUBLIN RHINESTONES 18 Andrew Street, Dublin 2 Tel: (01)6790759 facebook.com/dssupplies While tweaking and tailoring your your wares are always important, nothing adds as much impact to an outfit as perfectly chosen jewellery.

In which respect, Rhinestones on Andrew Street is one of Ireland's finest outlets. This charming retailer offers a huge and wonderful range of antique, vintage and modern pieces, including early Victorian brooches, Edwardian keepsake lockets, Venetian glass beads, and one-off '60s studio creations.

Inside you'll find fantastic sales assistants who know the history of each piece and are eager to help you find the perfect item.

ARTICLE 22 Powerscourt Townhouse, South William Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: (01) 679 9268 articledublin.com A must for lovers of stylish design, Article offers a beautifully curated range of decorative home accessories and contemporary table wear. The owners have a great eye for quirky yet functional furnishings, and their unique

BELFAST selection often offers personal items that have been specially sourced from international designers, or merely amassed on world travels. The perfect destination for the house-proud host, these homewares are surefire talking points, and perfect gifts.

Article also has a host of stylish and wittily designed stationary, fashion books, and charming maps of Dublin.

hats and mittens. The Irish Design Shop also hosts craft workshops, such as weekend events teaching you how to work with metal, and design and create silver jewellery.

They also run special workshops for couples looking to design and make their own wedding rings, which would make a perfect engagement present for a lovedup couple.

IRISH DESIGN SHOP

11-17 Exchequer Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: (01) 472 1010 A foodie heaven just minutes from Grafton Street, this award-winning food hall has an incredible restaurant upstairs and a charming wine bar in the basement. But to explore those you’ll have to pull yourself away from their remarkable food store – and trust us, it’s not easy. The place to go for all your home cooking needs, Fallon & Byrne have a full grocer with fresh fish, vegetables and meat as well as unusual and artisan ingredients for brave and experimental cooks. We adore the seasonal Wicklow wild garlic. They also stock some of Ireland’s finest and most irresistible handmade chocolate. Delicious.

41 Drury Street, Dublin 2.

Tel: (01) 679 8871 A love of Irish craft and good design led jewellers Clare Grennan and Laura Caffrey to establish their gorgeous craft store in the heart of Dublin. Promoting not only Irish wares but the talented designers behind them, the four-storey building contains both a retail space and a metalwork studio, emphasising the relationship between design and product.

Clare and Laura hand-pick the covetable pieces which include homeware, stationery, jewellery, accessories and fantastic wall prints. Tourists and fashionistas alike will love their modern take on Aran knits, which include stylish

FALLON & BYRNE

LIBERTY BLUE 19-21 Lombard St, Belfast www.facebook.com/ LibertyBlueBelfast Priding itself on stocking independent designers, Liberty Blue is the perfect stop for finding unique Christmas and birthday presents. A treasure trove of vintage clothing as well as vintage inspired designs and jewellery, the store has always been a firm favourite for students, fashionistas and selfstyling musicians. Stating very clearly that they “try to stay away from mass production and all it generally stands for”, Liberty Blue offers customers the chance to choose their own distinctive approach to styling.

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Dublin & Belfast

BARS

LIQUID REFRESHMENT Sale of the century: Titanic Belfast

Grogans

DUBLIN GROGANS 15 South William St, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 677 9320 Grogans may well be the least judgemental pub on the planet, welcoming all with open arms. This is in no small part thanks to the magnanimous nature of co-owner and shamanic bar man Tommy Smith. Grogan’s core crowd are primarily refugees from the arts, and its walls provide an ad hoc gallery for their works, but on busy nights when the bar spills out onto Castle Market, the diversity of characters is just astonishing.

No wonder then it was a favoured haunt of Patrick Kavanagh, Flann O’Brien, JP Donleavy and Liam O’Flaherty. The bar offers expertly poured pints and a gimmick free drinks list. The menu is toasted ham and cheese, served in plastic and prepared at the bar: the Grogan’s toastie is a culinary legend, one of this wonderful bar’s many mysteries.

BOURKE’S BAR 25 Wexford Street, Dublin Tel: (01) 478 0766 Part of Dublin’s premier music venue, Whelan’s Bar, Bourke’s replaces what was once the Whelan’s off-licence. A cosy bit of calm away from the storm of

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Muriel's

BELFAST the main Whelan’s bar, Bourke’s offers craft beers on rotation taps, as well as the best local spirits and wines. “Bourke’s” takes its name from the bar which preceded Whelan’s, offering a clear nod to the Irish pub tradition. The bar will be open to the public in December.

THE PALACE 21 Fleet St, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 671 7388 Perched precariously on the edge of Temple Bar, The Palace is a class act: an immaculately maintained early Victorian pub that has been a meeting place for the city’s newspaper men and women since the 1940s. The Palace’s interior is a dark wood and stained glass wonderland, and although trilbywearing news hounds are thin on the ground these days, you’ll still find folks in conspiratorial huddles over pints of plain and copies of The Irish Times and Hot Press. Three generations of the Ahern family man the bar, all of whom are more than happy to recount the history of the establishment, with justifiable pride. The pints they pour are as near perfect as scientifically possible, and though consistently rammed on weekends, it never feels stressful or claustrophobic.

MURIEL’S CAFÉ BAR 12-14 Church Lane Belfast’s newest gin bar reflects the changing character of the city centre. Mixing its classy setting with a decadent décor (lingerie hangs brazenly from the roof ), Muriel’s is part of a number of emerging bars which have made Belfast’s city centre a hub for nightlife and tourism. Offering some of the best cocktails you’re likely to find anywhere, the “Bee’s Knees” cocktail with Hendrick’s gin and a slab of honey to garnish is the right concoction to get you through the wintry months.

CROWN LIQUOR SALOON 46 Great Victoria Street Belfast Tel: +44 28 9024 3187 One of the most beautiful bars in Ireland, this is a perfect example of a Gin Palace. Built in 1826, and renovated to its current glory in 1885, its tile and wood interior is stunning. With a baroque lavishness that is gloriously over the top, it really is, to use a very overused word, unique. Some of its most beautiful features are the snugs, replete with handcrafted Italian panelling and gun metal plates that were used to strike matches. There’s also a button

in each of the ten snugs, which, according to the owners, “alerts the staff to your liquid needs.”

THE BELFAST EMPIRE 42 Botanic Avenue, Belfast Tel:+44 28 9024 9276 Located in a former church, the Empire is a mainstay of the city’s live music and comedy scene.

With three floors of bars, a cavernous live music space and some wonderful period touches, it’s a must for those out on the town. Originally a Victorian Church, the venue was opened in 1987 and quickly became a must-see for revellers from around the country.

Everyone from Sigur Rós to Nanci Griffith has performed here, and it also has a great house band that keeps the crowds moving during the week.

Dublin & Belfast

RESTAURANTS

DINING OUT

Pichet

DUBLIN PICKLE 43 Camden Street Lower, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 555 7755 picklerestaurant.com Presided over by Sunil Ghai who previously made a massive splash out in Dundrum with Ananda, this superb Indian restaurant offers dishes like Kid Goat Mince braised with Onion, Garlic & Black Cardamom and Jumbo Prawns with Java Pepper, Buttermilk, and Mango, Basil & Lime Salad that you won't find on any other menus in the capital. There's also an amazing selection of street food starters – make sure to try the Venison Keema Roti – and a Kulfi Pista that will have dessert fans whimpering with delight.

PICHET 14 Trinity Street, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 677 1060 pichet.ie Along with the main dining-room where Stephen Gibson's modern takes on bistro classics continue to impress, Pichet has a new latenight, Parisian-style bar where the tunes are every bit as cool as the

BELFAST cocktails and other libations. Duck Rillettes with Brown Butter & Toast and Buttermilk Chicken with Korabi Slaw head up the tasty bite-sized menu, and being just round the corner from Grafton Street it's a perfect refuelling depot for weary shoppers.

THE WINDING STAIR 40 Lower Ormond Quay, Dublin 1 Tel: (01) 872 7320 winding-stair.com A brilliant showcase for Irish cooking, this riverside eatery – ask for a table overlooking the Liffey below – uses local ingredients to create imaginative dishes such as Spanish Point Seaweed Cake with Runner Beans, Sunflower Shoots, Roasted Hazelnuts & Saffron Mayo. The bookshop of the same name beneath it has been a local landmark since the 1970s, with titles not normally stocked by larger chains.

1837 Bar & Brasserie

EIPIC 28-40 Howard Street, Belfast.

Tel: +44 28 9033 1134 michaeldeane.co.uk Part of the peerless Michael Deane empire, EIPIC took a mere 18 months to bag its first Michelin star under the stewardship of head chef Danni Barry, who takes diners on a thrilling culinary journey.

Just 29, her food is bold and distinctive but never overly fussy, with the Baronscourt Venison Baked with Beetroots, Greens and Miso & Black Garlic one of the many reasons we keep coming back for more.

GRAZE 402 Upper Newtownards Road, Belfast.

Tel: +44 28 9065 8658, grazebelfast.weebly.com A casual dining experience in the heart of East Belfast, Graze is all about strong flavours, quality ingredients and a relaxed atmosphere. Lunchtime mains like the legendary Graze Fish Pie come in at around a tenner while the Smoked Oxtail Ravioli

with Woodland Mushrooms and Chestnut & Horseradish Veloute gives you an idea of the innovative goings-on at night. They're also big into their craft spirits – ours is a Bathtub Gin, thanks! – and are open seven days a week. Graze are one of 20 local restaurants contributing to the Belfast On A Plate cookbook, a great Xmas pressie that can be bought at reception.

THE MUDDLERS CLUB Warehouse Lane Cathedral Quarter, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9031 3199 muddlersclubbelfast.com Hiding down a quite laneway, this superlative newcomer has former OX sous Gareth McCaughey in the kitchen. While they share the same local and seasonal philosophy, The Muddlers Club is no mere copycat with a £15 Two-Course Lunch that includes such wondrous delights as Lamb Carpaccio, Turnip & Mustard and Sea Trout, Cauliflower, Mussels & Dulse. It's early days yet, but don't bet against them bagging a Michelin star as well.

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Dublin & Belfast

A C C O M M O D AT I O N

S TAYI N G O V E R

Bullitt Hotel Belfast

BELFAST

DUBLIN HARCOURT HOTEL

THE CLARENCE

BULLITT HOTEL

60 Harcourt St, Dublin 2 Tel: (01)4783677 harcourthotel.ie A central hotel set across eight Georgian houses, one of which was the former home of the dramatist George Bernard Shaw, the Harcourt Hotel won't leave too big dent in your bank balance, but it will ensure that you're never too far away from Dublin city's nightlife. Enjoy casual dining at the 1900 restaurant, while the Black Door piano bar is one of the city's most glamorous hangouts. If you want to make a night of it, basement club DTwo continues into the small hours

6–8 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2 Tel: (01) 407 0800 theclarence.ie Located on Wellington Quay, the Clarence was one of Dublin’s first boutique hotels. All the furnishing has been designed and crafted

by Irish artisans, including the comfortable super kingsize beds.

The Octagon bar is not to be missed – the art deco-style watering hole so impressed Bono and The Edge they decided to buy the entire hotel. Equally impressive is the Liquor Rooms, a basement venue dedicated to cocktails; perfect to unwind in after a long day

40a Church Lane, Belfast Tel: +44 28 9590 0600 bullitthotel.com Named in honour of the classic 1968 movie starring Steve McQueen, Bullitt Hotel is the latest in a series of hotels and bars that are giving a facelift to the Lagan riverside. Straddling Victoria Street and Ann Street, the hotel has 43-rooms, a courtyard garden, a private events space and three bars, one of them being the imaginativelytitled ski-themed ‘Baltic Bar’. On top of this, the hotel’s new restaurant Taylor & Clay features a bespoke modern interior with open kitchen planning. Each item on the menu is carefully chosen and hand-picked from local farmers and suppliers.

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Suite 6, The Clarence

THE MERCHANT 16 Skipper Street Belfast BT1 2DZ Tel: +44 28 9023 4888 info@themerchanthotel.com Housed in a former bank, this art-deco hotel’s style is a mélange of ‘70s lavishness and Victorian decadence – the kind of establishment where guests can book a resident Rolls-Royce

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Phantom for the afternoon. The Champagne Lounge is one of four bars that guests have to choose from, while The Great Room Restaurant offers a five-star finedining experience. The spa and roof-top gym combine to make this one of the most stand-out stays in northern Ireland.

TEN SQUARE HOTEL 10 Donegall Square Belfast BT15JD Tel: +44 28 9024 1001 tensquare.co.uk Located in the heart of Belfast, in a Grade 1 listed building, Ten Square is a boutique hotel with a distinctively chic vibe. Just a step out of the door will take you to the historic City Hall, Waterfront Hall, the business district and the Victoria Square shopping district. Facilities within the hotel include comfy over-sized beds, free WiFi, power showers and in-room entertainment. If that’s not quite enough for you, you can enjoy excellent dining in the Grill Room Restaurant & Bar – a vibrant joint that offers fresh northern Irish beef along with seafood and vegetarian options.

Rates per room begin at €91.

DUBLIN CITY CENTRE

Midweek Breaks

(Sunday to Thursday inclusive) With NIR Travel Staying at the Harcourt Hotel Fashionable City Centre Hotel close to Grafton St and St. Stephen’s Green.

Your break includes:

Return rail from any NIR Station. 2 nights Bed & Breakfast. 3 Course Early Bird Dinner on one evening in the elegant 1900 (Nineteen Hundred) Restaurant.

January / February £ 109 • March / April £129 certain exclusion date but you will be advised at the time of booking.

For reservations contact NIR Travel call 028 90 242420 (office hours Monday to Friday & Saturday Morning) NIR Travel 10-12 Glengall St. Belfast. www.harcourthotel.ie