Tú Magazine April May 2020

no. 1

TĂş The 'No Frills' Women's Magazine

Women in Business | Wellness | Food & Drink | Fashion | Creative | Education | Technology | Culture

Editor's Note

The First Issue EDITOR

ELKE

O'MAHONY

This magazine has been in the making for a long time. Saying I am proud to have the first issue published is a slight understatement. Bringing something from an idea to a final product is not only an achievement but a journey completed.

Finding the right people to work with wasn't as challenging as I feared and you will see in our articles how interesting, creative and awesome all contributors are. This magazine is for women by women. No frills, no gossip, no celebs instead real stories, real women, real articles covering everything from business, technology, food & drink, wellness, fashion, home & garden and education.

We hope you enjoy reading TĂş as much as we did creating it just for YOU. Elke & the team

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TABLE

OF

CONTENT

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01

Editor's Notes

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The Team

05

Business

07

Wellness

10

Food & Drink

14

Creative

17

TechEd

18

Fashion

20

Home & Garden

23

Travel

25

The Last Page

Our Team Elke is a food writer, event manager, business consultant for the food & tourism industry, recipe developer and trainer for Social Media for Business, Time Managment, Microsoft Office, PR & Marketing amongst others. She has worked with corporates as well as artisan producers and start up companies. When she doesn't write or talk about food she can be seen in her attic craft room creating gifts for friends. www.biasasta.ie

Bethan is the Counsellor & Psychotherapist at the Blarney Wellness Centre and has over 15 years experience working closely with people to make and sustain changes in their lives. Bethan also facilitates Understanding Children Courses and offers Parenting Support - a safe place to work through how best to support children, their emotions and behaviours. http://blarneywellnesscentre.ie/

Judy Wilkins is the General Manager of the award-winning Rising Sons Brewery. She has over 30 years experience in the hospitality industry and has a particular interest in beer - from its history to its production. Judy has hosted many successful food & beer pairing events. Her motto: If you dont like beer, you just haven't found the right one yet. www.risingsonsbrewery.com

Hi, I’m Jacqui. I’m originally from Wexford and living in Cork for the past six years. The move from my home county to the rebel county was exciting, stressful, expensive but very much worth it. I turned my hand to upcycling to ease stress initially, then discovered it is a very economical and fun way to really make your home your own. I am now an avid upcycler and would love to share my experiences with you.

Imelda loves fashion but doesn't follow trends, creating her own unique style. She is known to be always dressed for the occasion as her credit card bill can attest to. In her fashion column she shares her style with, creating outfits for today's women from leisure to gala as well as wardrobe staples to create your unique look.

Pat is a clinical reflexologist, yoga & meditation teacher at Blarney Wellness Centre. She has over 22 years experience working with all ages from babies to the elderly, utilizing proven therapies and techniques to help with anything from stress to sleep issues, fertility, pregnancy and so much more. She’s passionate about the power of the mind/body connection and our ability to heal ourselves. http://blarneywellnesscentre.ie/

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Business E L I F O R P S e i S r E a N I UB S n M s

nA ewi L

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BUSINESS

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Bu sin es sN ew s

e t o u Q e h t f o h t n o M

BUSINESS NEWS Germany to reduce VAT for restaurants to 7% in an effort to support the industry.

RAI CEO Adrian Cummings has submitted a proposal for the government outlining measures needed to help a struggling industry Local Enterprise Office is offering online vouchers with only 10% matching fund needed dmg media is offering free marketing for small businesses up to €5,000 each.

Industry organisation are calling for a nationwide plan of action to re-start the Irish economy

TO DO LIST Seek government support if needed. Local Enterprise offices are open Mind your mental health stress can lead to rush decisions Use this downtime to upskill Revisit your business plan does it need adjustment?

QUOTE OF THE MONTH SUCCESS USUALLY COMES TO THOSE WHO ARE TOO BUSY TO BE LOOKING FOR IT.” – HENRY DAVID THOREAU

MEET: ANN MARIE LEWIS Your Name: Ann Marie Lewis Your Business: Dramarama Tell us about you: I’m 52 years old and have been involved in the performing arts from the age of four. Love the business. I have performed, produced and directed shows. Performed Stand up Comedy in Caroline’s on Broadway, a registered Equity Stunt woman. Performing High falls and fire stunts.

(Can’t do a forward roll now) How long have you been in business: Opened up my premises four years ago Was it a start-up: No Your ideal client/customer: I’m based in Mount Oval Village, which has a huge catchment area of 900 houses.

Biggest challenge for you: Texting, constantly answering texts Biggest Reward for you: Taking time off when I want.

Best Tip: Never take anything for granted and never take your foot of the pedal.

Best habit to have: Enjoy your work.

How do you relax: Bikram yoga. Couldn’t live without it!.

Future Plans: To branch out into corporate businesses.

Any advice for fellow Women in Business: Do your research, location, location, location.

What would you be if not this: I’d work on a farm Dramarama is Ireland's first drama school with a sensory room.

Mount Oval, Rochestown, Cork, 087 975 5764 www.dramaramacork.com

Wellness

is t a h W ? s s e Str w o h And at it! to be

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Liv e W ell EV

ER

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DA

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Laugh x a l e R &

WHAT IS STRESS?

by Bethan O'Riordan

Stress is something we all experience. But what is stress and what can we do about it? Exploring stress from a therapeutic perspective is helpful as it helps us to develop the skills of observing how something impacts our thoughts, feelings and behaviours. And with stress, this all begins with understanding what happens in the body.

"I TRAVEL NOT TO GO ANYWHERE, BUT TO GO. I TRAVEL FOR TRAVEL’S SAKE"

As a species, our main function is to stay alive. We do this by instinctively knowing not to do things that are dangerous (such as step out infront of traffic) because there is a process that takes place within the body even before we think that alerts us to danger. This is easier to understand when there is a physical danger, but what happens when that threat or danger is emotional?

Robert Louis Stevenson

Before the thinking part of our brain (pre-frontal cortex) comes on board, the threat detection part of the human brain always switches on first - constantly scanning our environment to let us know if we are safe or not. This then sends messages through our central nervous system, increases stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol and triggers reactions in the body. You may notice your heart beating faster, shaking of body parts and sweats. It is after these body sensations that we being to have (our often racing) thoughts. And this happens to us all.

So what is stress? Stress is a system within the body and brain that is designed to let us know if we are ok. But this system cannot regulate itself. It needs us to take time to figure out what it needs to counteract is so it doesn’t try to run the show! We can help ourselves by watching what we fill our environment with will help to regulate the stress system.

Taking time to work out what calms and helps you, what makes you and feel connected with others will help to counter balance stress. Have fun and be creative with what works for you. I love gardening, reading, music, talking with friends and tea.

How we begin the day is especially important as our stress levels are high at this time, so take time to make the mornings work for you by doing something soothing. An obvious one is to not switch on social media straight away.

The world can wait till you’ve filled your senses with things that let you know you will be ok.

Wellness is the complete integration of body, mind, and spirit - the realisation that everything we do, think, feel and believe has an effect on our state of well-being.

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It’s also really important to develop a part of us that can talk to ourselves with kindness and support. If you’re interested in developing an internal support system, rather like an ally who is always on your side explore this website www.compassionatemind.co.uk/resources or follow #365daysofcompassion on Twitter.

A daily reminder that although we really are up against it with the internal workings of brain and body there is also a part of us that can tolerate emotional suffering and stress.

And it’s in all of us for cultivating.

Breathe in ... Breathe out 27

THE PHRASE “WE ARE LIVING IN EXTRAORDINARY TIMES” HAS NEVER BEEN MORE APPROPRIATE. THE WORLD AS WE KNOW, OR SHOULD I SAY KNEW IT, HAS BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF FEAR AND ANXIETY FOR A LOT OF US, WHERE OUR DAILY LIVES AND FREEDOMS ARE CURBED FOR THE GREATER GOOD.

BY PAT MURPHY As a result, it’s never been so important to help ourselves and our families to step out of the crazy, noisy and busy world of “information” regularly to help bring our body and minds into a state of calm. We owe it to ourselves to find something everyday that works for us as individuals to reset our stress reactors, to create a sense of balance within the brain and body.

And that’s when these ancient therapies shine! So today, I’ll share 5 proven and simple techniques to pop into your wellness toolbox as it were, to take out daily, even one at a time.

Breathe: Sit on a supportive chair. Feet flat on the ground, hands on your lap or tummy, close your eyes and begin to

breathe through your nose very slowly (count to 5) then exhale slowly through your nose or mouth (count to 7 if possible).

Continue for 10 rounds and notice your body responding.

Your goal is to feel your tummy expanding as you inhale and deflate as you exhale. When we’re stressed our diagram muscle becomes rigid and it needs to be exercised just like any other muscle.

Stretch: Stand up tall, take a deep breath in (theres the breath again). Reach your arms overhead as high as you can, feel the stretch in your arms, armpits, ribs, hips, thighs, calves and feet. Then exhale and relax.

Repeat 10 times or more .

TAKE TIME FOR YOURSELF TO DO WHAT YOU LOVE, WHAT MAKES YOU HAPPY AND GIVES YOU ENERGY

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Turn off social media. Just for a while. Stay informed and only listen/read information from sources who research facts and not herd opinion.

Food: Eat more plant based food. 80% of your bodies serotonin (happy hormone) is created in the gut and if we’re eating too many processed foods throughout the day, this puts our digestive system under enormous pressure thus decreasing its ability to create the good stuff as it were. Why not eat a salad everyday?

Touch: My absolute top favourite method of soothing is a short sequence of acupressure.

Wash your hands, sit in a comfy chair, feet on the ground. Hold your left thumb with your right hand as if your giving it a hug.

Feel for a pulse which may be subtle or not. Hold for a minute or more. Breathe Now hold your right thumb. Feel for the pulse.

Breathe Now hold your left index finger. Continue alternating from one to the other until you’re holding your right little finger. Note how each pulse may vary with some pulses racing and others are almost imperceptible. Breathe slowly and mindfully throughout. This therapy is wonderful for children too.

And finally, you’re doing a great job, keep going and mind yourselves.

Food Food & & Drink Drink

Drink of the Month t osse on P m e L e nad emo L h Fres

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New Online Program Set to Grow Irish Food Business BY

ARTHUR

WILLIAMS

An innovative new online food programme, from

The programme includes contributions from

the Local Enterprise Offices, is set to boost the

trade buyers in Supervalu, Musgraves and Spar

number of Irish food start-ups. The Digital

along with the likes of Domini Kemp of ITSA

School of Food is the first of its kind in Europe

Food Group and food producers who have been

and gives food entrepreneurs expert advice and

through the system. Entrepreneurs who

guidance, from their home, office or kitchen.

complete the Digital School of Food are then

The new Digital School of Food was piloted in the

primed to move on to take part in Food Starter

Dublin region in conjunction with Enterprise

programme offered by the Local Enterprise

Ireland and Bord Bia. Following the successful

Offices and subsequently Food Academy, which

pilot, it is now available nationwide to qualifying

gives producers the opportunity to get their

applicants, run by the Local Enterprise Offices.

product on retail shelves.

The online programme is an e-learning initiative that brings producers from idea right through to start-up and grow stages.

The programme will give food entrepreneurs an education in planning a product journey and route to market, through thinking about finance and how to grow sales, right up to expanding the business. It includes support from experts in the field as each course has a real producer who contributes tips and advice throughout.

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The Digital School of Food is the latest support established for food entrepreneurs in Ireland by the Local Enterprise Offices, following on from Food Academy and Food Starter. For more information on the Digital School of Food go to www.DigitalSchoolofFood.ie

Lemon Rosemary Posset A different take on the classic dessert.

600ml Cream handful of rosemary leaves 150g Caster Sugar 3 Lemons, juiced and zested Ensure that the rosemary is free from insects and clean. In a saucepan, over a low heat, warm the cream (don't bring it to the boil). Add the rosemary, stir and leave to infuse off the heat for 30 mins.

Strain the cream into a clean pan (discarding the rosemary) and add the sugar. Bring just to the boil, stirring until the sugar has dissolved. Leave to cool.

Whisk in the lemon juice and zest. Pour the mix into four serving glasses and chill until set.

If you don't like bits of zest, strain the mix into the serving glasses.

Traditionally, the lemon posset is served with shortbread biscuits.

Fresh Lemonade

With the weather getting warmer, we all love nothing more than to sip away on a cool lemonade. There is no need to buy the commercial stuff - simply make it yourself in seconds.

Lemons Caster sugar (100g per lemon)Water (100ml per lemon – more to top up later) Cut the lemons into 8 pieces (it still works if you cut it into 7 pieces ;-) and place in a food processor with a metal blade. Add the sugar and blitz until the lemons are ‘shredded’. Now add the water (be careful not to overfill the bowl of the food processor as the water will spill over) and blitz again. Sieve the lemon mix into a jug, top up with more water (also tasty with sparkling water) and enjoy.

Note: you could also add some mint leaves to the lemon mix, giving you a slight different note to the lemonade. I also added it to gin which was very tasty indeed.

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Summer Beers BY

JUDY

WILKINS

As the seasons change, so do the habits of most of us beer drinkers. The rich roasty beers of the winter, the stouts, the porters and the dark ales are relegated, and thirsts for lighter, more refreshing “summery” beers emerge.

On a warm summer’s evening, my first choice is always a Weiss (wheat) beer.

Not so much a German Weiss beer, although I do enjoy them, but rather its Belgian cousin, the refreshing, light and beautifully tart, Witbier.

The origins of Witbier (Belgium), Biere Blanche (France) or White Beer are firmly rooted in the Flemish region of Belgium since the Middle Ages. Brewers of the time had access to both cereal grains grown by local farms, and to exotic spices shipped in from the Far East and the Caribbean, by Dutch sailors. Unlike German Wheat beers which are made from only malted wheat, malted barley and hops, the White beers of Belgium add unmalted wheat, spices, and sometimes oats. They are pale in colour (“white” refers to the chalky sheen from yeast and proteins left in the beer) with a white cap of foam. Citrussy and fruit flavour notes come from the traditional Belgian yeast and a blend of spices. Witbiers are tart with a slightly sour flavour, but a combination of cleansing bubbles and a smooth mouth-feel leads to a dry satisfying finish. The alcohol content can lie between 4.5%-5%.

The popularity of Belgian Witbiers declined in the early 1900s, mainly due to the advent of lager, a style that swept the globe, driven by mass consumption.

The last white beer brewery in Belgium closed in 1950. Pierre Celis, a Belgian milkman revived the style from near obscurity in the mid 1960s. Having worked in a white brewery in his youth, he lamented the style that reminded him of the beers of his hometown near Brussels. He purpose built a brewery in the town of Hoegaarden, that dedicated itself to brewing a white beer of the same name.

Hoegaarden is one of, if not the most recognised commercial example of a Belgian Witbier, and has been emulated by brewers worldwide. Often considered to be the benchmark of a Belgian white style beer. Made from traditional ingredients of malted barley, unmalted wheat, hops and spiced with coriander and curaço orange peel. Hazy and pale in colour, Hoegarden pours with a billowing frothy white head. Aromas and flavours of zest, fruits and spices, coupled with a snappy bitterness. Light-bodied well-balanced and mild in strength at 4.9% makes this beer a perfect summer choice. For the foodies, pair with salmon, poultry, or my own particular favourite, goat’s cheese.

We make great beer in Ireland and Irish breweries have produced their own great examples of the Belgian white beer style. The Rising Son’s, Grainu Ale is their take on a Belgian Witbier. A three times country winner at the World Beer Awards, this light easy drinking ale is one of their best sellers. Wit Woo from Rascal’s Brewing and White Hag Brewery’s Fionnabhair Wit Beer are also a must.

Happy tastings!!

Hoegaarden Beer is available in off-licenses like Number 21 Rising Sons Brewery is currently closed due to the Corona Virus - opening hopefully soon again.

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Creative g n i l c y c p U with i u q c Ja Make It

Artis t Profi le

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Upcycling with Jacqui So it’s, April 2020,Cork Ireland, and who would have thought it? The

country is in lock down fighting an invisible enemy and here we are, fully accepting of our new reality battling it out behind closed doors.

In so many ways it is such a time of wonder, the sun is shining, the air is clean, I can hear the birds louder and smell the salty air.

But it is also a time of stress, grief and anxiety. Upcycling is my go to for when my world has been turned upside down. I love the idea of taking an everyday object that is seemingly past its best and making it beautiful.

Today I am going to concentrate on the humble glass jar.

Meet Tara

Tara Prendergast is not your typical artist.

After two weeks in Art College, she decided at the tender age of 19 to open a cafe in Cork's McCurtain Street. This could have been where her story ended but her love for art and its creators lead her to become a mentor to the many struggling artists in Ireland and beyond. CEO of Bite the Biscuit, Tara is on the quest to put business into the arts. She runs mentoring workshops and hosts one of the most successful Facebook Groups. If you are an artist - you want to be in Bite the Biscuit. But it is not only talk this power woman is offering - she also created an online market place where artists can sell their ware.

Tara has embraced technology and uses apps and tools to bring her message across.

Her advice comes straight from the heart coupled wiht a business brain.

Tara offers direct mentoring in her Biscuit Factory with only limited places each run to ensure that her clients are getting the best possible support. She doesn't hold hands, she gives you tasks to complete with her motto 'Feel the Fear and do it anyway'. www.thebiscuitfactory.ie Facebook Group: Bite the Biscuit

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From jam jars, pickle jars, mayonnaise jars, to my favourite, yogurt jars, we can turn these ordinary items into really cool candle holders or make a collage or for storage. What you will need are some glass paints. I use Vitrail glass paints but there is an array of different brands of glass paint in The Range and online.

Your next item is a glass outliner, this will be for your decorative work when you have your base coat on, again Vitrail do one in silver, gold, copper and black. You will need a bog standard fairly thin paint brush for your base coat and a kid's sum copy. Paint your jar in the glass paint. I would advise you to do this either outside or in a well ventilated room as the glass paint is quite strong in the fume department.

Leave your jar to dry. It usually takes a couple of hours but outside it dries quicker. Get the sum copy and cut a length that will find inside and hug in around the jar. You are going to use this for whatever pattern you choose to put on it, using the marking of the squared paper gives a nice even pattern. Use outliner to draw or dot your pattern onto the jar. Voila! There you have it a beautiful candle holder. There are so many different patterns and shapes just let your creativity take over . It is quite addictive and if you have a few jars in different colours, the sun shining through them will brighten your heart and in these times, that's a positive.

CRAFTING WITH KIDS Paper Flowers Creating flowers from old newspapers is a great way of keeping little hands occupied. Grown up can cut out the shapes and boys and girls can go crazy on colouring the petals

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Cut out flower shapes in different sizes. No need to be exact

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Paint the flower shapes in different colours - we used paint testers from the DIY shop but watercolours work just as well. Why not add some glitter.

Let dry

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Now arrange the different sizes by layering them up. Crunch the paper to achieve a 3-D effect.

04

When you are happy with the shape, sew a button through the layers.

Use the paper flowers to decorate gift bags etc.

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App of the Month With so many people forced working from home, Zoom has experienced a rise in new registrations. Acting quickly to security issues, the online meeting software is now password protected. We have tried the software and loved that two people or more can host the meeting. Sharing the screen makes it easy to show presentations etc.

Free for 40 mins for more than 2 participants - unlimited use is affordable if the application is used regularly. Zoom.us

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Gadgets

we love

Sleep is important - we all know that but what if you can't sleep? Philips has taken it on themselves to help us go to sleep easily and to wake up refreshed.

Take the sleep test and get your perfect sleep plan designed incl. a headband to increase the quality of your sleep. The Smart Wake Up Clock from Philips simulates a sunrise, making waking up a breeze. www. philips.com

Technology & Education

TechEd TechEd

Fashion Fashion with Mel B

Cailin Deas FASHION 18|

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FOR

NICE

GIRLS

CAILIN

DEAS LOOKS

BY MEL B fashion I thought who is my audience. I am a strong advocate of being dressed for the occasion so if we are relaxing, doing household chores or popping to the shops/schools we should be comfortable and stylish without blowing the budget. Overall Fashion for me is a challenge to create and co-ordinate my look before I begin my day. So, how is this achieved in homes & apartments all over Ireland.

VOGUE Editor-in-Chief, Anna Wintour sported literally the Sporty Look of Sweatpants and runners recently for the comfortable home look and this was met with serious awe from her fans so I decided there is a way of wearing this look and not just in the Gym, which would always have been my feeling on this style but I am being swayed in a different direction. I am a big fan of making an effort to get the look right at all costs but I have to admit for comfort leggings/ sweatpants once co-ordinated with comfortable/trendy runners, T-shirt/Top is a very acceptable look and works very well.

FASHION

and very easy to co-ordinate a casual and easy wearable look. Keeping it simple and versatile is probably the answer to solving the home fashion dilemma women face.

Depending on the nature/business of your day, a look that can get you from busy household

As I started to write this article on comfortable home

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Of course Jeans are forever the favourite of a lot of women

chores/Garden/Shops/Schools/Office without too much altering is fantastic. Therefore leggings with a top and pumps/wellies are so easy to co-ordinate. I believe leggings/jeans as the staple garment and changing the shoes/wellies/boots/sandals is key to creating the look for the home comfort factor. Marks & Spencer, Dunnes Stores & Penneys provide great variety and choice of fashion options for creating this look.

As Irish women we are definitely able to invest the money and create the look as good as our fellow Europeans. I also think being dressed for the occasion is good for our energies and gives us the feel good factor. Fashion definitely will always be part of our lives and give us the opportunity to illustrate how we are feeling and showcase our individual style at all times. Seasonal fashion is a question with the Irish climate and I do not like to see women wearing flip-flops unless at the beach but is the reality that - like I earlier mentioned - the “Gym look” anything works. So whatever your budget there is definitely a look out there for you that allows the flexibility of doing multiple tasks and still looking AMAZING Cáilin’s.

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Home Home & & Garden Garden Colour Colour of of the the Year Year TRANQUIL

T T H H E E

BY

DULUX

G G A A R R D D E E N N

in may

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Soft colours bring calm into your lifer

DULUX COLOUR 2020: TRANQUIL

by Elke O'Mahony Photos by Dulux

Deciding on a colour theme for a living or bedroom space can be challenging.

Should you be following trends, choose your own favourite colour, match the wall colour to your curtains or should you go for a colour clash.

Paint manufacturers like Dulux create new colour shades every year (and indeed season) and trying to help us decide with attractive colour books.

The 2020 Colour of the Year by Dulux is called Tranquil - a mix of green, grey and blue it can be used on its own or as a combining colour.

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The tone is soft and warm and lends itself to either living or bedroom - places where you want to relax.

Matching it with pastel shades with keep the balance of harmony while it can be calming with harsher colours.

Look around you and decide on the feel of the room. What is already there, will the new colour clash with your furniture or curtains? One factor people might forget to consider is the light of the room - grey can look great in a sunny room but cold in a dark room.

Painting a room is a big job, make sure to choose wisely - sometimes less is more.

2020

“Simplicity is the ultimate form of Sophistication

”

Leonardo da Vinci

THE GARDEN IN MAY Gardening in Ireland can be a challenge with its temperamental weather and strong winds.

Growing herbs is a great way of introducing children to gardening, receiving results in a relatively short time. May is th month where herbs are showing their delicate blossoms which are a great addition to any salad.

Rosemary - very hardy plant that can grow into a strong bush, beautiful soft lilac flowers, strong aroma. Classically paired with lamb Thyme - also a hardy plant, giving you leaves almost all year around. Different varieties include lemon thyme with a lovely citrus flavour Chives - after dying off in winter, spring sees the bright green stalks coming back with delicious purple flowers.

Leave in the ground as it will re-surface every year Parsley - no herb garden is complete without the most versatile herb.

Mint - delicious with lamb and makes a lovely refreshing tea. Can be a bit invasive.

Fennel - delicate plant, needs a bit of space. Lovely with fish.

No worries if you don't have a garden - a window box is just as good and you have your herbs nearby when needed.

Don't be over-ambitious when starting your garden I have a pomegranate tree in my greenhouse for the last three years. Last year, the first blossom appeared and I saw myself already sipping on some cocktails with my very own Grenadine. Deep dissapoinment took over when the blossom vanished. Our weather is too cold and not sunny enough for a pomegranate to florish.

Read the growing requirements of your plants to ensure that you have the right environment. Basil needs a lot of sun and heat to grow into a strong plant, it is best kept in a greenhouse or sunny windowsill.

Trim Hedges Set out seedlings but be aware of late frost Sow a wildflower patch for the bees Carefully remove weeds - be careful of young seedlings

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REISE | PAGEÂ 4

Garden Tasks in May

Travel Travel

WHERE TO GO IN

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2 0 2 0

HOLIDAY IN 2020: STAYCATION PLEASE

BY ELKE O'MAHONY

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only the first page St Augustine

2020 is the year our travel habits will change. Lockdown is still in full swing by the time of writing and all holiday plans went out the door.

Planning a holiday gives us something to look forward to, makes our daily life that bit easier knowing new adventures are lying ahead.

Although most of us have been at home for quite a while now, we still need a holiday - a change from the normal life.

TOURISM IN IRELAND Ireland depends largely on international tourism and businesses are worried that the lack of foreign tourists will result in closures. Talking to tour guides it becomes clear that 2020 is the scariest year for most of them. But all is not lost...

STAYCATION PLEASE With the right attitude, tour guides can offer different experiences to domestic tourists. And we all can rediscover Ireland either by road, bike or train. Become a tourist at home and avail of all the offers normally designed to attract foreign travellers.

Why not explore Ancient East and the Wild Atlantic Way this year?

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TRAVEL LIGHT Ireland has beautiful beaches, stunning landscapes and handsome mountains - everything on your doorstep. There are so many options to explore.

Irish Rail offers monthly tickets.

Plan your route ahead and calculate the best option Travelling by bike doesn't only benefit your fitness level but also your credit card. Plan ahead to book your hotel etc in advance Get your camping guide, hire a comfortable camper van and drive the roads less traveled.

Ireland has now its own Centre Park in Co. Longford Check out websites like visitballyhoura.com for some ideas for the whole family.

City Breaks are an excellent option for a short trip. Galway, Limerick, Wexford have a lot to offer.

Island hopping - did you know that Ireland has approx. 80 islands? Go and discover

REDI SCOVER I RELAND

The Last Page Thank you Tú would not have been possible without the support of some amazing women who have contributed their expertise and feedback.

Judy Wilkins who has been on board from the beginning when Tú was only an idea in my head. Her beer expertise is second to none. Jacqui Murphy didn't hesitate when I told her about the magazine at a craft fair after we had only met. Imelda who is more than just a fashionista.

Bethan O'Riordan & Pat Murphy who are doing amazing work at the Blarney Wellness Centre. And last but not least Ann Marie Lewis who I know from another life in broadcasting who sent her CV within minutes after I asked her to be the first Business Profile.

Thank you to all these amazing women Love Elke

Tú (You) is a monthly online magazine for women by women, published by Bia Sásta Editor: Elke O'Mahony elke@biasasta.ie Photos by: Judy Wilkins, Jacqui Murphy, Imelda Barrett, Elke O'Mahony, Dulux, Hoegaarden, Philips US, Bite the Biscuit, Ann Marie Lewis. Stockphotos by GraphicStock.

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We welcome submissions but don't guarantee inclusions. Please email your submission to elke@biasasta.ie