Ulster Tatler June 2021 by Ulster Tatler

NORTHERN IRELAND’S NO1 GLOSSY

Ulster Tatler JUNE 2021

£3.20

A ROYAL VISIT RECIPE FOR A GREAT KITCHEN UT TALKS TO BELFAST’S LORD MAYOR, KATE NICHOLL IN FOCUS MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES 14th

14th VOTING NOW OPEN! At £3.20 (€4.55)

Vispring at Sound Asleep Beds OPEN 9.30AM – 6.00PM MONDAY – SATURDAY. 1 Glenford Road, Newtownards BT23 4AU TEL: 028 9182 2544 WWW.SOUNDASLEEPBEDS.COM

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B E L F A S T

Experience Enniskillen and Win Big!

The Island Town of Enniskillen has always been a top choice for day trips and short breaks. With great shopping provided by the many independent retailers including one off boutiques with brands such as Marella, Max Mara, Ted Baker, Ralph Lauren, Armani, Sisley, Want and Maison Scotch, plus stylish home interior shops sitting alongside family run shoe emporiums to provide that personal touch. Enniskillen is renowned for its excellent food choices - from fine dining to numerous coffee shops with

Osborne & Co, a stylish, unique home interiors wonderland.

Elaine Godfrey, Osborne & Co

Graham Enniskillen women and mens wear for the discerning shopper.

lovely homemade offerings. Delis with chef to table offerings provide another option for those on self catering breaks. Add an outstanding town Food & Drink tour plus a tour of the local Gin Distillery into the mix and you have the perfect recipe for a short break destination.

Erne Boat Hire to book your self steer little red boat and enjoy a tour round the island town and beyond.

With Enniskillen surrounded by water, activities including private water taxi, boat hire, hydrobikes, kayaking & canoeing allow visitors to make the most of their trip to the picturesque county town.

£1

Rewarding shoppers for choosing Enniskillen Sign up to Enniskillen’s new loyalty scheme www.mi-rewards.com/enniskillen Scan for more information or download the Mi-Rewards app

www.experience-enniskillen.com

Fermanagh Cottage Industries, specialised gift, craft and wool shop.

Win £1,200 of Enniskillen Shopping To complement the attractions of the Island Town, a loyalty rewards programme has been launched in Enniskillen. Mi-rewards offers an initial outstanding prize draw for £1,200 of Enniskillen Gift Cards, plus ongoing monthly prizes such as a private food and drink tour for you and five friends with Enniskillen Taste Experience

Between the Bridges Artisan Deli, stocking food, craft and wellness products from around Northern Ireland.

Enniskillen at the website below. Each time you use that card you will receive a point for every pound spent in a participating business. Once you accumulate 10 points you will gain entry into the monthly prize draw. Register online at www.mi-rewards.com or download the Mi-Rewards App. Gourmet Bros chef to table deli, stocking restaurant quality serve at home food and wine.

Sign up with “Mi-Rewards” and each time you make a purchase at a participating Enniskillen business, from hotels & pubs to independent retailers, you will automatically be in with a chance of winning fantastic monthly prizes. To have a chance of winning all you have to do is register your debit or credit card with Mi-Rewards

Visit www.experience-enniskillen.com for information on all things Enniskillen. www.mi-rewards.com /enniskillen Karisma Boutique - stockists of European clothing and jewellery brands.

THE ART OF FACIAL THREAD LIFTS WITH TWEAKMENT REQUESTS ON THE RISE THREAD LIFTS CAN HELP TO ENHANCE AND LIFT THE FACE. HERE’S HOW.

f overblown lips and chipmunk cheeks spring to mind when you think of facial rejuvenation, it’s time to look at Thread lifts. Cosmetech Clinics are focused on creating subtle results using Thread lifts making them the perfect choice for those looking for a natural look. “This approach has become increasing popular within the practice“ says Mr Smith, Senior Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon at

that a good practitioner should always encourage an assessment of the whole face before preparing a treatment plan to rejuvenate the face. Product selection is also key, he adds. In his clinics he favours a combination of Passive and Active Threads to create the best results.Threads can be used for a number of Cosmetic purposes from contouring the jawline to lifting the brows and defining the shape of the lips. It can also be used Consultant Maxillofacial Surgeon Mr Gerard Smith BDS, MBChB, FDSRCS(Eng), FRCS, FRCS (OMFS)

READER OFFER Quote Tatler 12 when booking to redeem your £50 voucher off your Thread lift. Valid until January 2021.

BEFORE MID FACE AND BROW THREAD

AFTER MID FACE AND BROW THREAD

Cosmetech Clinics. Rather than plumping up the face with dermal fillers the aim is to add definition with Threads and then to restore lost volume if required. Of course this requires an expert eye and advanced knowledge of the anatomy of the face, the Thread lifts are tailored to each individual to achieve the best results.

to tighten the skin under the eyes. One of Cosmetechs most innovative offerings is the Active Cog Lift which uses Active Threads to lift and reposition sagging skin to reshape the face. This is a great procedure for patients who don’t have the downtime for a surgical face-lift.

Other services available at Cosmetech include:

Cosmetech are leaders in their field pioneering a new approach to facial rejuvenation at their Holywood, London and Sligo Clinics. Our Consultant Surgeons and Doctors also work within the NHS.

Cosmetic Surgery is available at Kingsbridge Private Hospital Belfast. For surgical enquiries, please contact 028 9066 7878 or visit www.kingsbridgeprivatehospital.com.

Mr Smith says that jawline contouring, tear trough rejuvenation and lip enhancements are the three types of most requested procedures by his patients, he emphasises

Cosmetech Maypole Clinic 5-7 Shore Road Holywood BT18 9HX

T: 028 9042 3200 E: frontdesk@cosmetech.co.uk www.cosmetech.co.uk

Anti-wrinkle injections, Dermal Fillers, Thread-lifts, Aqualyx (Fat Dissolving injections), Skin Tag and Mole Removal, Viveve (incontinence treatment), Semi-permanent Make-up.

(Cosmetech is a partner company of Kingsbridge Private Hospital, Belfast.)

(or £46.63 per month APR 0%)

Contents

June 2021

116 FEATURES 16

COLUMNIST – KATHY CLUGSTON Magic Potion

INSIDE TRACK Our top picks of local beauty brands

ARTS ROUND-UP

BOOK EXTRACT Nora: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

GIRL ABOUT TOWN UT’s columnist Nuala Meenehan

MY TOP 10 Also throughout the magazine

TOWN FEATURE Lisburn, Hillsborough & Moira

SOCIETY WEDDINGS

ULSTER TATLER AWARDS Voting now open

RECIPE FOR A GREAT KITCHEN

107

TOWN FEATURE Saintfield and Ballynahinch

115

A ROYAL VISIT

JANE HARDY INTERVIEW Belfast Lord Mayor, Kate Nicholl

STAYCATIONS

UT STYLE

STYLE WATCH

STYLE RULES Fashion inspiration for local trendsetters

GIRL ABOUT TOWN UT’s columnist Nuala Meenehan

JOANNE REVIEWS The Ordinary Skincare

Full Colour

This month’s front cover features an Aurora diamond engagement ring from Gardiner Brothers Jewellers.

Keep In Touch With Ulster Tatler At:

44-46 Waring Street, Belfast T: 028 9023 4271 www.gardinerbrothers.co.uk follow us on twitter @ulstertatlermag or like us on facebook CIRCULATION VERIFIED BY THE AUDIT BUREAU OF CIRCULATIONS

ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION UK - £30.00 RoI - £60.00 Overseas - £60.00 ULSTER TATLER ISSN 0049 5107 39 Boucher Rd, Belfast BT12 6UT Tel: (028) 9066 3311 www.ulstertatler.com e-mail: info@ulstertatler.com Ulster Tatler Groups is a name used by Ulster Journals Ltd. Company registered in Northern Ireland, registration number NI005037, registered office as listed.

Black

Reverse

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Editor’s Letter

Duty Calls In this part of the world we tend to take so much for granted; sometimes we don’t appreciate how much we have until it’s taken away. For instance, although I’m no longer a regular pub goer I have really missed the fact that I have been unable to go for a drink on a Friday or Saturday evening to catch up with friends. It is one of the small pleasures in life that we have been unable to enjoy for nearly half the year. When pubs and restaurants opened their outdoor areas a few weeks ago I tried to go but the weather was so bad and the queues were so long that I just didn’t manage it. It seemed like more of an

EDITOR: Christopher Sherry DEPUTY EDITOR: Joanne Harkness

endurance test than an enjoyable experience. Thankfully, the weather has improved (for the time being anyway) and pubs and restaurants are able to serve customers indoors. They have had an incredibly uncertain and difﬁcult time. I feel the onus is on us now to support them. I for one am going to go for dinner this weekend. It’s a tough job, I know, but I think I can manage it. This month we are also launching the voting in the 14th 2021 Ulster Tatler Awards. More details will be revealed over the coming months but at this point our main priority is to get your vote. Voting is open now and doesn’t close until mid-August so you have plenty of time to make your choice. Turn to page 37 for full details or go to ulstertatler.com. Lastly, I would like to thank our title sponsor Keens of Belfast and indeed all of our category sponsors for their continued support.

EDITORIAL MANAGER: James Sherry SALES & MARKETING MANAGER: Lorraine Gill Gerry Waddell COPY CONTROLLER: Gemma Johnston EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Michaela Colgan PRODUCTION MANAGER: Richard Sherry PHOTOGRAPHER: Ian Campbell PRODUCTION/DESIGN: Tatler Type

Only NI based social magazine audited by ABC.

QUOTE FOR THE MONTH

“When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose.” Bob Dylan American singer-songwriter (1941- )

Room for more Start your fostering journey with us

Contact our friendly Fostering Team today: 028 9046 0500 fostercareni@actionforchildren.org.uk actionforchildren.org.uk/fostering @AFCNIFostercare Registered charity nos. 1097940/SC038092. Company no. 4764232. © Action for Children 2020 © Action for Children 2020. 1555.

THE NUMBER ONE WIG SPECIALIST IN IRELAND

HAIRPIECE BOUTIQU

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NEWRY:

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34 Upper Water Street. Tel: 028 3026 7925 ROI (048)

Proprietor: Therese Hughes, MBE

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BELFAST: • THINNING HAIR • ALOPECIA 64 Lisburn Road. • C H E M O T H E R A P Y • L A D I E S H A I R T O P P ETel:R028S9033 2221 • TOUPEES FOR MEN NEWRY: 34 Upper Water Street. Tel: 028 3026 7925 ROI USE (048) BELFAST: 64 Lisburn Road. Tel: 028 9033 2221 ROI (048) www.wigs-ireland.ie E: info@wigs-ireland.ie Before Propreitor: Therese Hughes, MBE

Proprietor: Therese Hughes, MBE

After

COLUMN COLUMN / LIFE & TIMES

Kathy Clugston Kathy Clugston is a freelance radio presenter. She chairs the long-running BBC Radio 4 programme ‘Gardeners’ Question Time’ and presents the weekly entertainment show ‘The Ticket’ on BBC Radio Ulster.

MAGIC POTION This month, Kathy Clugston discusses the allure to cure and revitalise wth all sorts of concoctions. One of the perks of my job as a sayerof-things-out-loud on radio is that I am sometimes asked to read things aloud for other people. You never know where this is going to take you. When I lived in London, a Radio 4 listener sent in a poem about the Shipping Forecast and I travelled to a beautiful town in Oxfordshire to read it live in a tiny candlelit theatre. At the other end of the scale, I was one of a group of newsreaders enlisted to shout into megaphones during John Tavener’s symphonic poem The Whale at the Royal Albert Hall. I used to read out texts and emails from listeners on The Scott Mills Show on Radio 1 and when Scott and the team went to the Edinburgh Festival I ended up performing the song Lady Marmalade in a live cabaret. Listeners’ correspondence turned up again when Radio 4’s Gardeners’ Question Time invited me on to a special Christmas edition to read out some of the oddest letters they’d received; it was the start of a beautiful friendship that has resulted in me now hosting the programme. This month I was asked to do some reading aloud in a not-so-glamorous location: my own back garden. However, the request came from one of my favourite broadcasters, Peter Curran. (Peter and the playwright Patrick Marber host a radio curio called Bunk Bed. The two of them lie under the covers and have sleepy chats. Seriously. It’s brilliant, you’ll find it on BBC Sounds.) Peter lives in England but comes from Belfast and often returns home to make programmes. If there’s a bit of voiceover required and not much money available, he knows exactly who to call. He’s currently making a podcast series about life in Northern Ireland in the 1920s focussing mainly on social history - what we were wearing, what we were buying, how we spent our time. My job was to read out a

selection of advertisements from the 1921 Londonderry Sentinel, which, as you can imagine, were fascinating. There were ads for coal: “Brown Ash Coal lengthens leisure and saves toil”; government blankets “as issued to British and colonial troops”; cloth made from the lining of army uniforms, ladies’ tweed suits and services for binding pianoforte sheet music. My favourite ad was for a potion called Clark’s Blood Mixture which claimed to cure everything from eczema, pimples and boils to piles, rheumatism and gout. These ailments, the makers claimed, were caused by “impurities in the blood”, which could be expelled by a few swigs of this wonder potion. In 1909 the British Medical Association had determined that this “cure-all” was mostly water with a bit of sugar, a tiny amount of alcohol and traces of ammonia and chloroform. However it, unlike asthma cigarettes, cocaine toothache drops and arsenic toilet soap, continued to be sold until the late 1960s. It’s easy to sneer at the naivety and gullibility of our forebears, but are we really any the wiser these days? Modern-day quackery is alive and well, the marketing just got more sophisticated. “Detoxing” is a catch-all term bandied about to sell us juices, teas, supplements and diet plans. It’s not clear what these “toxins” we’re supposed to be accumulating are, or why our liver and kidneys can’t deal with them. The beauty industry lures us with an endless stream of must-have skincare ingredients - vitamins, acids, ceramides, peptides, bakuchiol for goodness’ sake - and while our bathroom shelves creak under the weight of expensive serums and essences, experts shout into the void that most of these things have no discernible effect. Social media influencers promote dangerous weight-loss tablets; a famous Hollywood actress extols the virtues

of bee-venom therapy and vagina steaming; a former US President thought injecting disinfectant might be a cure for Covid 19. (It isn’t.) In fact, the world is awash with a frightening array of Coronavirus cure scams, ranging from antiviral misting sprays to cow urine to volcanic ash. All of which makes the Clark’s Blood Mixture claims seem touchingly benign. The unfortunate truth is that as long as we continue to crave youth and beauty, and - naturally enough - worry about our health, there will be people ready to exploit our vulnerabilities. Working in media doesn’t help. I have a photo shoot next week so if you’ll excuse me I have a some snail mucin cream, a bottle of anti-breast-sweat lotion and a slimming cheek mask* to order. *all actual real things. Illustration by Jacky Sheridan

THIS MONTH’S OBSESSIONS: The Northern Bank Job – An audio series about the infamous Northern Bank Robbery in 2004. Hosted by the Belfast writer Glenn Patterson, it’s a fascinating blow-by-blow account of events as they happened, and the aftermath.

Ludovico Einaudi - The Italian composer and pianist’s music features on the soundtrack of the Oscar-winning film Nomadland. I’ve been exploring his calming, lyrical collection of albums called Seven Days Walking.

Hummus & Pesto - You are, I’m sure, familiar with these as solo items, but layering them together is magic. I use this combo instead of butter in sandwiches, under cheese on crackers or toast, and to dunk vegetables in.

Inst Musicians ‘Escape From (Covid!) Reality’ Into Glorious Technicolour of Performance What do you do with 100 choral and 60 instrumental musicians when lockdown prevents them from performing live? You take one of the most iconic and challenging songs of all time and give it a unique choral and orchestral makeover.

Running the gamut from piano ballad to heavy rock, with a bit of opera in between, this piece was recorded, ﬁlmed and edited exclusively by current pupils, under the leadership of Inst’s Director of Music, Philip Bolton MBE.

Principal Janet Williamson MA OXON NPQH CF congratulated members of the Choir and Orchestra on their outstanding performance calling the

A Level music students and producers of the music video Rhys O’Mahony-Truesdale, Michael Hurst, Nick Thomas, Robbie McCammon and Ethan Gilchrist present Director of Music Mr Philip Bolton MBE and music teacher Mrs Harshaw with a poster and vinyl copy of the track.

standard of singing, orchestration, sound and visuals ‘most impressive’. She added “The talent of the boys was showcased and they did a fantastic job. Grateful thanks to Mr Bolton MBE, Mrs Harshaw, our peripatetic tutors and to colleagues and pupils involved in the ﬁlming and visual editing, particularly Michael Hurst and Robbie McCammon.”

high quality headphones. Check it out on our Facebook page, the RBAI Music Channel on YouTube or in the Latest News section of our website.

The piece, featuring 160 individual recordings and ﬁlmed during lockdown, is best viewed on a large screen with cinematic sound or listened to through

The Royal Belfast Academical College, College Square East, Belfast, BT1 6DL T: 028 9024 0461 www.rbai.org.uk Check it out on our Facebook page, the RBAI Music channel on YouTube or in the Latest News section of our website.

InsideTrack

This month Ulster Tatler gives you our top picks for local beauty brands that are making waves in the beauty scene.

BE ALMAÍ

WE ARE PARADOXX

INSANITY

It’s time to embrace voluminous curls and bombshell bounce with Be Almaí, pronounced BE (Bee) AL (The AL from almond) MAÍ (May), the newest, Irish owned brand to hit the market. The brainchild of top Irish hairstylist Caroline MacMahon of Hidden Hair in Co. Tyrone, Be Almaí is the results of years working in the industry, yearning to create a product that satisfies both client and stylist alike, putting the peerless power of a professional, salon-approved styling tool in the hands of discerning women across the country, and afar, making it an undisputed, beauty industry gamechanger. The brand puts haircare and quality first and foremost.

WE ARE PARADOXX is the plastic free beauty company with sustainability at its core. Offering natural, vegan and crueltyfree hair and body products that really deliver. The multitasking collection comprises an essential edit of all you need for lightweight, soft and glossy hair, and smooth, nourished skin. The gender-whatever brand was founded by Yolanda Cooper who was determined to develop high performance formulations with clean, sustainable ingredients in eco-conscious, plastic-free packaging. The collection is housed in infinitely reusable aluminium and each product is infused with powerful Irish extracts including whiskey, hops, seaweed, moss, nettle and Celtic salt.

Luxury Northern Irish tanning brand Insanity has unveiled an exciting new look as part of a rebrand that includes the addition of new products and a reformulation of some of their best-sellers. Insanity products are made using the finest organic ingredients and their kind-to-skin formulas are suitable for even the most sensitive skin types. These luxurious tans nourish and calm the skin and are infused with antioxidant-rich white tea extract and soothing aloe vera to ensure a long-lasting, streak-free tan with a perfect fade. All Insanity products are free from alcohol, parabens and fragrances and are vegan-friendly and animal cruelty-free.

www.bealmai.com

www.weareparadoxx.com

www.insanitytan.com

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DERMATOLOGY AESTHETICS VASCULAR

PLASTIC SURGERY LASER RHEUMATOLOGY

For more information or to book a consultation call Belfast Skin Clinic on 028 9066 7077 or email info@belfastskinclinic.com

BELFAST SKIN CLINIC www.belfastskinclinic.com

THE SCENE

. The McQuillan family Laura, Alec and Joan McQuillan and Catherine Laverty.

Ryan Cumins, Paul Cumins, birthday girl Kim Cumins, Kathryn Cumins and Dawn and Tom Lee.

Leeanne Brownlie, Caroline Best and Pamela Ward.

. Pamela and Eugene Marron.

RABBIT HOTEL The revamped Templepatrick hotel is Northern Ireland’s latest luxury boutique venue and has taken dining outdoors to their terrace restaurant and botanical garden. Families and friends enjoyed meeting up again for long awaited celebrations and some overdue dinner dates in the spring evening sunshine. Ildy Vasile, Blanka Lednicka and Ella Mizia.

Alex Parke and Glenn Harrison.

Stuart Harron and Paul Clarke.

Ali Bell and Sheila Towﬁghi.

Allison Matthews, Tracey Manson and Samantha Taylor.

Mad About Fabrics 16 - 18 Dargan Crescent, Duncrue Ind Estate, Belfast Contact T. 02890 370 390 E. hello@madaboutfabrics.com Shop Online madaboutfabrics.com Social Media Facebook Instagram

Mad About Fabrics Curtain Fabric Upholstery Fabric Jacquards . Silks . Faux Fur . Knitting Wools Linen . Craft Fabric . Curtain Lining Cotton Prints . Velvets . Satins . Fleece Tweeds . Leatherettes . Pure Wools Sheepskin Throws

GIRL ABOUT TOWN

EDITED BY NUALA MEENEHAN

Nuala Meenehan works in the media and is a leading model.

BLOOMING MARVELLOUS

ou can imagine the excitement when I received my first invitation to attend my first event since lockdown! Girl about Town has been Girl about the House for the last 12 months. The joy! The anticipation! And what an event! The award-winning floral and plant emporium, Memento on Belfast’s bustling Ormeau Road has just had the most fabulous store refurb and to celebrate re-opening, yours truly was invited for a sneak peek. The smell of beautiful blooms, the sight of terrific terrariums, and fabulous foliage at every point in this gorgeous shop will lift your heart. The award-winning, family-run flower and plant store, founded in 2005 is led by the multi-talented husband duo Gary and Nigel Connolly-Close, who’ve been busy over lockdown. A World Skills UK Gold Medal Winner in Floristry and a Chelsea Flower Show Finalist, Nigel knows a thing or two about delightful dahlias and marvellous monsteras. The Memento mission is clear! Delivering premium luxury flowers, and plants at affordable prices. They offer the most fabulous floristry and plant workshops in their new creative hub in East Belfast so you and your friends can learn how to properly propagate, make your own terrariums and learn clever tips on how to style your home with plants. But there’s so much more to Memento than fabulous flowers that set them apart. The Memento annual random act of kindness event saw the team take to the streets of Belfast to give unsuspecting strangers a gift of roses. During lockdown, they launched a campaign to nominate an NHS Frontline Worker to receive a bouquet. A staggering 10,000 nominations were received and 350 bouquets were hand-delivered as gifts across Northern Ireland. Now that’s something to celebrate!

Gary Connolly-Close and Nuala.

Visit www.mementofloraldesign.com

Q Radio DJ, Jordan Humphries.

Cathy Martin. 22

Owners, Nigel and Gary Connolly-Close.

BORN UNDER A LUCKY STAR LATEST LIFESTYLE BRAND

Born Under a Lucky Star is a lifestyle brand handmade & designed in Donaghadee by Interior Designer Andrea Graham. Born Under a Lucky Star will create a piece of art for your home and transform your interiors in one quick move. All the designs are based on ancient astrology with four different collections: - The Elements collection: Fire, Earth, Air & Water - The Star Sign Collection - The Planets & Moon collection - The Day you were born collection. A beautiful range of lifestyle products including luxury cushions, throws, scarves and robes. So you can look fabulous while lounging on your super soft sumptuous cushion. The orange & teal colour palette is the perfect combination for autumn 2021. Each Element has its own story Are you Air Girl? Do Cherry Blossom trees make you smile? Do you love to curl up with a good book? Do you dance like no one is watching? Are beach walks & exercise

Air Girl Cushion, from £39

your down time? Then our Air girl cushion is for you. What about water girls they are the life of the party and they love to entertain. Music is their passion but they know how to relax. Happy with a paintbrush in their hand or watching their favourite box set. They are equally happy having a good scroll on social media. Maybe you are Earth girl. Do you love being outdoors? Do you love listening to bird song? Does music just make you feel good? Is family time your favourite time? Fire Girl is happiest being active. Sport of any description is her bag. After an active day she loves to unwind lighting her favourite candle and soaking in a warm bath. She likes the finer things and can be seen enjoying great food and great company. Transform your sofa and liven up your bed with these hand drawn pencil designs. Your home should reflect your personality and be filled with designs you love.

Mondays Child, from £39

In your Element Robe £225, handmade to order.

Star Sign Cushion, from £39

Earth Girl Cushion, from £39

T: 07921901007 www.bornunderaluckystar.co.uk Follow on Instagram & Facebook

ISSUE: JUNE 2006

LOOKING BACK ULSTER TATLER

Pictured at the musical extravaganza Night of 1000 Voices are Lorna McStay, Dee Lewis, Carmel McCann and Jacqui Watson.

Pictured at DVLNI charity ball are Lyndsey Smyth, Gillian Faulkner, Stephanie McCutheon, Lynn Carson and Jenna Bell.

Pictured at The Young Farmers Clubs of Ulster Arts Festival Gala are Robin Swann, Alyn Hicks and Joy Scottt.

Pictured at the Titanic Anniversary Dinner are Chris Power and Jasmine Edgar.

Pictured at the Institution of Electrical Engineers annual dinner are Colm Kelly, Christine Hill, Joan McAleerand Mark Breen.

Throughout 2021, Mid and East Antrim Borough Council is hosting a number of events under the #NI100MEA umbrella as part of its Northern Ireland Centennial Programme, which is being co-ordinated by Council’s Centenary Working Group. To mark the Centenary of Northern Ireland, Council held a tree planting and flag raising ceremony in the towns of Ballymena, Carrickfergus and Larne. In addition, three beacons were lit to mark this historic milestone. Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Peter Johnston said: “A century ago, the people of Mid and East Antrim witnessed the establishment of Northern Ireland as a result of the Government of Ireland Act 1920. “To contribute to that history, we planted a tree in each of our three main towns. This will be a living and lasting legacy of this centenary year and as we look back to the roots of Northern Ireland 100 years ago, we can look forward to the growth of this tree and earnestly hope that it will symbolise our borough as a place of continued growth, development and prosperity. Chair of the Council’s Centenary Working Group, Councillor Cheryl Johnston added: “It was a pleasure to welcome Her Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell KStJ to officially hoist Mid and East Antrim’s Centenary Flag at the Braid Town Hall in Ballymena with two further flags placed at the Town Hall, Carrickfergus and Smiley Buildings, Larne.” As Monday 3 May marked 100 years since the formation of Northern Ireland, Council lit three beacons in each of its towns, to mark this centenary year here in Mid and East Antrim Borough. For the latest information on Council’s Northern Ireland Centennial plans, visit: www. midandeastantrim.gov.uk/ni100

NI100 centenary celebrations take root in Mid and East Antrim

THE SCENE

Margot and Tom Craig.

Ernie Ritchie and Irene Malseed.

ORMEAU PARK Belfast’s oldest municipal park was originally home to the Donegall family who moved to the park in 1807, setting up home in Ormeau Cottage until they sold the estate to the Belfast Corporation in 1869. The city’s largest park now boasts a variety of horticulture, woodland, wildlife and sporting facilities, is popular with walkers and joggers with eco trails, orienteering routes and sports facilities.

zzzz Stewart and Sandra Roulston with Lily.

. Yvonne McHugh and Ann McBrien.

Denise Byrne and Nuala Crawley.

Andrew Elder and Davey Devlin.

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of modest exercise and has been a wonderful companion, making more sense than most of my two-legged friends! 6. Do you have any tips for staying positive during this time? I’ve lived on my own for a long time so the current regime of isolation hasn’t meant much of a change for me. I’m not a great fan of Zooming and things like that, but I like blethering away on the phone to my closest friends on a regular basis, and as long as my television is working, I’m happy.

JIM NEILLY MBE

7. What do you think is the best thing about living in Northern Ireland? Despite the frustrations of local politics, which I ﬁnd annoying and embarrassing in equal measure, it’s a great place to live. Some of the scenery, especially the Antrim Coast, is spectacular and the sense of humour of the Northern Ireland people is second to none.

Sports commentator and broadcaster

8. What is your mantra or favourite quote that you live by? I’ve always related to what the great heavyweight champion Joe Frazier said in reference to the importance of roadwork as the basis of all preparation: ”If you cheat on that in the dark of the morning, you’ll get found out when the bright lights come on” 9. Who has been your biggest influence? My mother. Clever, witty, supportive and critical in a positive way. When I was piling on the pounds, she observed:”I notice that every stitch seems to be doing its duty!”

1. What do you love most about your job? At the end of my very ﬁrst rugby international commentary in January 1979, the great Peter West, with whom I shared a microphone, said, “Its not a bad life, Jimbo. Here we are in the best seat in the house, talking about the game we love, and someone’s paying us to be here!” – Sums it up! 2. What has been your career highlight to date? Rugby-wise, Ireland’s Grand Slams in 2009 and 2018 and, of course, Ulster’s European Cup Final victory in 1999. Lots of great boxing memories, especially Michael Carruth and Wayne McCullough winning Olympic gold and silver respectively within an hour in Barcelona in 1992. 3. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work? I’ve no particular hobby, but I’m an avid movie fan though that’s been totally missing from

my life for the last while. When asked which I prefer, rugby or boxing, I always say “Neither - what I’m really good at is going out for lunch or dinner”. I’ve missed the social contact with close friends over the past ﬁfteen months or so but intend to make up for it! 4. What is your daily routine? Unless I’ve a reason to get up, I never set an alarm. Whenever I’ve a commentary to do at the weekend, I start thinking about it in the middle of the week and begin formal preparation on Thursdays. It probably seems very laborious, but I get a lot of satisfaction from going through the familiar routine and it wouldn’t be the same unless I put it all together even though my team notes are pretty indecipherable to anyone but me. 5. Do you have a specific fitness regime? It’s been a long time since I ran or went to the gym, but I walk every day with my dog who has been a godsend since I got her as a puppy seven years ago. She means that I get plenty 28

10. FAVOURITE Movie: The Last Picture Show directed by Peter Bogdanovich Band/Musician: Steely Dan/Bob Dylan Book: Cannery Row and it’s sequel Sweet Thursday by John Steinbeck Restaurant: Mother India in Glasgow and Shu and James Street South in Belfast Holiday Destination: Loved the couple of visits I had to Barbados but getting to my little retreat in Donegal is hard to beat. Drink: A slow poured pint of Guinness/Jameson Crested Ten Meal: Rare Roast Rib of Beef. Hardest thing in the world to get right!

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Aaron Irvine, Stacey Lynn Orr and Jessica Burton.

Bill Robinson and grand children Lucie and Daniel.

Linzi, Daniel and Rosie Gillis and Chris Green.

CASTLE ESPIE The award winning Castle Espie Wetland Centre on the shores of Strangford Lough recently reopened its tranquil and friendly visitor centre for all the family.

Michelle Long (2nd left) with Katie, Zoe and Katie Beth.

The centre where almost the entire world’s population of Brent Geese resides during the winter months was recently selected as a brand new live location to host Springwatch, BBC Two’s popular and long running wildlife programme.

Andrew and Rachel Crothers with daughters.

Jennifer Courtney with James and Isaac Bell.

Katie and Nicky McMeekin.

Ashton Mark and Rebecca Lafﬁn.

. Nikita and Mac Hill.

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THE SCENE

Sisters Aileen Gardner and Catherine Reilly with grandaughter Eva Reilly and Caroline Palmer.

Artist Richard Kerrigan.

Velvet cupcakes bakers Rebecca Holmes and mum Louise Hull.

URBAN MARKET AT CONNSWATER The Urban Market is brand new to Connswater and made its debut on May Day bank holiday located on the car park roof of Connswater Shopping centre,

. ‘Where to go NI’ bloggers Michelle and Rick Bridge with Fred.

Chris, Meredith and Rachel Graham.

Families and shoppers enjoyed browsing the outdoor market safely with lots of local suppliers producing fantastic foodie delights.

Maxine and Emily Black.

Mum and son Margaret and Keelan McRoberts.

Electric pup at the rooftop market at Connswater.

Stephen and Jacky Higgon.

Jean Duggan and Lorna Kennedy.

N I FAV O U R I T E S ON THE MENU WITH EXCLUSIVE THE CHEF RANGE

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The CHEF range of prepared favourites, created in partnership with SPAR and local Chef Carl Johannesson, marries Carl’s 25 years’ experience in restaurants around the world, with ingredients such as beef from Ballymena butcher McAtamney’s and fish from Lisburn’s Elmore Seafood to make up every meal.

June, pick up a promotional leaflet at a participating SPAR, EUROSPAR, ViVO, ViVOXTRA or ViVO Essentials store for a £2 coupon off any of the range.

The range of over 30 lines, available in 190 SPAR, EUROSPAR, ViVO, ViVOXTRA and ViVO Essentials stores across Northern Ireland, is made by a team of cooks in Carl’s Kitchen in Co. Antrim, using quality ingredients to create handmade mains and sides, meals for one and wellrounded Under 500 calorie options. Carl says, “Good food should be available to everybody. The CHEF range is wholesome and homecooked, we all know, recognise and love the dishes, but maybe we don’t have the time to

cook them ourselves. Northern Ireland produces some of the most delicious ingredients from our shores to our soil, so we use everything we can to pack flavour and local produce into our meals.”

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balance of sauces and pasta.” Joris Minne, Food Writer, Belfast Telegraph

Carl finished; “It’s now even easier to taste The CHEF range; our top selling dishes are available in hundreds of stores across the country, we have even more recipes being cooked up in our kitchen and we have a fantastic promotion running from 7 – 27 June which brings further value to our shoppers. Shoppers can also follow the story of The CHEF on Instagram @thechefni for all the latest recipes.”

The all-new-look CHEF range includes new dishes in the Under 500 Calories line including beef strips with mushrooms, mustard, crème fraiche, rice and green beans as well as a luxurious roast chicken with bacon and Pick up a leek sauce and baby potatoes. promotional The popular Meals For One have leaflet in-store four new additions including and save £2 roast pork and leek sausages with champ and onion gravy, macaroni cheese with cooked ham and chicken with creamy tomato sauce and penne pasta. Carl continued; “When you buy The CHEF, you’re buying delicious, restaurant quality meals that have been made by a team who love cooking international flavours with a taste of home.”

Chef Carl Johannesson

If you still haven’t tried The CHEF range, now is the time! Throughout

AVA I L A B L E E X C L U S I V E LY AT S E L E C T

THE SCENE

David and Michelle Stirling.

Mid and East Antrim Mayor Cllr Peter Johnston with wife Victoria and children Lucas and Jacob.

CARRICKFERGUS ARTISAN MARKET

. Sisters Beryl Patton and Pamela Cushley.

The historic Market place in Carrickfergus was home to the Urban Market NI team who were happy to welcome back all their artisan food and non-essential traders to the outdoor market on the May Day bank holiday weekend.

Gail Kelly (Mid and East Antrim Council) and Thomas Ferris (Urban Markets NI).

zzzz Connor Kerr and Becky Bellamy from humanitarian charity Another World Belfast.

Blackﬁre sauce maker Tim McCarthy.

World Superbike Champion receives Freedom of the Borough

World Superbike racing champion Dr Jonathan Rea MBE has been conferred with the Freedom of the Borough at a special ceremony held by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council. To mark this special occasion a ‘perpetual’ bursary has been launched by Council in Dr Jonathan Rea’s name. The purpose of this is to provide additional support to sporting individuals within the Borough who will act as effective ambassadors for Mid and East Antrim in their chosen sporting activity, with funding up to £2,000 per individual. Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough, Councillor Peter Johnston said: “The Freedom of the Borough is the highest accolade that Council can award and it was an honour to present it to World Superbike Champion Dr Jonathan Rea MBE.” A past pupil of Larne Grammar School, Dr Rea has won the Superbike World Championship a record six times. He is the first rider in the history of the Championship to achieve six world titles consecutively from 2015 until 2020. Cllr Johnston continued: “Jonathan’s career to date has been nothing short of incredible. He is one of the greatest sports people our country has ever produced. He is a wonderful ambassador for our area and an inspiration to so many throughout Northern Ireland, and around the world.” While it is customary to have an exchange of gifts at Freedom events, Jonathan asked that rather than presenting him with a gift, to explore options which would assist individuals within our Borough who excel in individual sports so that they can enhance their sporting development. This bursary is a fitting tribute to Dr Jonathan Rea and we thank him for this lasting legacy, which will benefit many recipients from across Mid and East Antrim.

MY two jobs, one as a farm labourer during the day and the other as a cleaner of people’s homes at night, just to make ends meet and put a loaf of bread on the table. I’m proud of my up-bringing and although it was tough it has stood me in good stead for times like this. But always remember if you’re feeling lonely or depressed that it’s ok not to be ok. I am an ambassador for the Samaritans and they do a fabulous job, so please just call if you need someone to talk to.

LIAM BECKETT MBE

Football pundit and radio presenter

1. What do you love most about your job? I am a plumber by trade and I loved the people in the building industry, from the labourers to the tradesmen – all good people. Nowadays I am kept busy with corporate work and of course the BBC Sport N.I. Radio Ulster SportsSound team and the Sunday Life sport team. Sport, in my opinion, is this country’s greatest asset and it’s great to be a part of it. 2. What has been your career highlight to date? Probably my first ever senior medal in football, winning the Irish league with Crusaders in 1972/73 season and also scoring the first goal for Coleraine in the 1977 Irish Cup Final when we beat Linfield 4-1. As most people know my other love besides football is motorcycle road racing and being with my late great friend Robert Dunlop when he won the 1996 Isle of Man TT after he almost lost his life there in 1994, when the rear wheel of his R.C.45 disintegrated, that was special. Robert was the toughest sportsman I’ve ever known and over our 20 years together as a team he gave me countless great memories. 3. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work? My favourite past time outside of work is a game of golf with my friends. I have been a member of Galgorm Golf Club, Ballymena, for several years now and there is nothing more I enjoy than a few hours on the golf course. I’m also lucky that I get invited to several golf corporate days all over the country so I get to play all the top courses in the country. Most of my best friends are golfers so the craic

is mighty even if the scores are sometimes manure. 4. What is your daily routine? Most days are different. I still do plumbing and heating for the family, plus other building works when the need arises, which is usually non-stop. I do my Sunday Life sports page column, which takes me a considerable time because I’m slow and pretty rubbish at typing on a laptop, my deadline is a Thursday which is difficult as you are hoping to make sure no-one else repeats your stuff before Sunday. Then most weekends are taken up by BBC Radio Ulster Sportsound, either on commentary at the football or at the motorbike races. After dinner speaking or hosting events, yes even for a countryman like me, keeps me busy as well – so my days and weeks are pretty hectic most of the time. 5. Do you have a specific fitness regime? Not really, but I do try to do a brisk 4-mile walk every day, when possible, plus the golf. I don’t smoke and I never was any good at drinking, a couple of pints of ice cool beer once a month would be plenty for me. I’ve never drank spirits in my life, I’d much rather have a big mug of tea most of the time. 6. Do you have any tips for staying positive during this time? I do appreciate the past year has been really difficult for many people, but personally I haven’t had a problem because I had a tough childhood. My father Jim died suddenly with a brain haemorrhage when I was only 2 years old (he was only 27 years old) and my mother Maud was left to rear my big brother Lawrence and I with very little. My mother had to take 36

7. What do you think is the best thing about living in Northern Ireland? Northern Ireland is the country of my birth and I am always proud to say where I’m from, the vast majority of the people are just honest and genuine, plus the North Coast in particular is just one of the world’s most beautiful and spectacular coastlines. Thankfully for such a small country we continue to produce world class sports people and that continues to bring the proper type of global headlines to Northern Ireland. 8. What is your mantra or favourite quote that you live by? I have a couple, “Dare to Dream” which the world-famous Manchester United and Northern Ireland goalkeeper Harry Gregg swore by. No harm whatsoever in following your dream, Harry did and the rest, as they say, is history. Also, I like, “total respect, but no fear”. As a footballer player, manager or motorcycle mechanic/mentor to Robert Dunlop I always felt the need to show “total respect” to all opponents, but have “no fear” for any of them. Simple sayings but crucial if you aspire to succeed. 9. Who has been your biggest influence? Firstly, my mother who taught me good manners and to show respect to those who earned it. My mother also taught me not to want anything I couldn’t aﬀord, and to always live within my means. In later years if I needed guidance or advice, I talked things over with the late Harry Gregg. Harry always gave me good advice regardless of whether it was what I wanted to hear or not, he was like a father in many ways.

10. FAVOURITE Movie: I don’t really watch ﬁlms but honestly, I really enjoyed “Paddington” Band/Musician: UB40 and Bruce Springsteen Restaurant: I’m not one for these “designer” type meals or restaurants, so my favourite eating house is Longs Fish & Chip shop, Belfast – it’s class Holiday Destination: Orlando, Florida Drink: A big mug of hot tea Meal: My number one meal is my porridge for breakfast, it is without doubt my favourite.

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7 year old Ellie Murphy and her pony Wait with destiny. Sisters Caitlyn Wells with Blossom and Tori Wells with Phoenix at their ﬁrst pony show together.

ARD NAC AS H E L SPRING FE S T IV AL The equestrian spring showing festival for ponies recently took place at the family run yard in the beautiful County Down countryside outside Comber. Young competitors had the chance to show their equestrian skills and win a range of rosettes and prizes that were up for grabs.

Elizabeth Swift with her multi rosette winning pony Izzy.

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GRADUATIONS

Danielle Totten daughter of Andrew and Nicola Totten from Tandragee graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a Bsc 1st class honours degree in adult nursing. Danielle is a former pupil of Tandragee Primary school and Banbridge Academy and is currently working in Belfast city hospital.

Jo-Anna Berry daughter of Bryan and Alex Berry from Banbridge recently graduated with a BA( Hons) in Geography and Planning from the University of Liverpool, Jo-Anna is a former pupil of Edenderry PS Banbridge and the Royal school Armagh.

Lisa McMillan daughter of Alan and Jean McMillan from Templepatrick recently graduated from Queens University Belfast with Bsc 1st class honours degree in children’s nursing, Lisa is currently working in The Royal Belfast hospital for sick children.

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INTERVIEW

Jane Hardy is a feature writer who has interviewed a few of the big names from Arlene Foster to Mrs Thatcher.

OUT OF AFRICA Belfast’s Lord Mayor, Kate Nicholl tells Jane Hardy that although she was born and raised in Zimbabwe, she regards Northern Ireland as home.

hen Kate Nicholl (33), Belfast’s new Lord Mayor sworn in this month at Stormont, was growing up in Africa, she never considered politics as a career. The Alliance councillor really wanted to act. Ms Nicholl, speaking down the line says with a laugh: “I always thought I’d be a famous actress. I’m not sure what roles but I had this performance streak.” She agrees that the ability to take the stage also helps in a political career. “It’s about being onstage, being able to project your ideas in a way.” Veteran Alliance politician Anna Lo was Ms Nicholls’ mentor when she went to work as her researcher after graduating from University College, London. She’d studied anthropology, undoubtedly a fascinating subject but not one that automatically ties in with any particular career. “I came home, got the job and Anna Lo encouraged me to consider politics.” Ms Nicholl says she was slightly nervous when the Alliance Party co-opted her onto Paula Bradshaw’s old council seat. “They were big shoes to fill, but in the end I topped the poll.” It’s clear Kate Nicholl wouldn’t want any other job and agrees politics is the big drug. “It gets into your bloodstream.” Nicholl’s early life, though, took place in a fairly idyllic part of southern Africa. “You’ve been to Africa, Jane, you know that big sky. It gets under your skin.” Not totally idyllic, however, as this was the ‘90s and President Robert Mugabe was in charge of Africanisation and what turned out to be an economically justified variant of ethnic cleansing. The white community, and Kate Nicholl regards herself, like fellow Zimbabwean Richard E Grant (“I always forget he comes from the same place.”), as African, were hounded out.

Nicholl’s parents separated during this period. She recalls her mother Helen facing life as a single parent in an increasingly hostile environment. “I was away at boarding school and she was alone in our home in the country outside Harare. One night she said she returned to our house. The electricity cut out, then she tried to ring a neighbour but the phone lines were also down.” With a South African mother and Northern Irish father, Kate’s family headed to Great Britain. Although she missed the African landscape, it was a relief. She always wanted to revisit, although didn’t until after she’d settled in Belfast and was in a relationship here. Eventually her now husband Fergal Sherry, an accountant, revealed his emotional side. He produced the engagement ring when he and Kate were visiting her birthplace. “He said we had to go back as he wanted to see where I was brought up. We saw my school and where we’d lived.” It was a surprise, Nicholl reveals. “I

really didn’t expect it, no, but of course I said yes.” They had met a couple of years earlier during a chance encounter outside the Duke of York pub, Belfast. As Kate Nicholl recalls, she thought she was grabbing someone to help take a photo and mark the moment – in fact, she was gaining a life partner. “I was having a drink with my friend and we wanted a double selfie. I turned round, asked Fergal and he recognised me as we already followed each other on social media.” The rest is personal history. Yet the troubled side of life in the dark continent also shaped Kate Nicholl. In Zimbabwe, she says she went to school with the children of the first (white) farmer murdered in the country after the land seizure policy was implemented in the country in 2000. As a young, attractive woman operating in a world still largely dominated by men, Ms

Kate pictured with a friend during her school days in Zimbabwe. 43

INTERVIEW

Nicholl says that she has experienced the tough side of public life. “I was trolled and when I took my new baby Cian into Stormont and was breast feeding, he actually attended his first meeting at four weeks, some people had problems with that. Yet it’s the most natural thing in the world.” Although she remains active on social media, Ms Nicholl has disabled direct messaging on her Facebook account because of this. “If people need to get in touch, they know they can email me.” We touch on the importance of the #MeToo campaign and Kate Nicholl says she feels times have changed for the better. “Fortunately, I think things have improved which is good.” Talking to Ms Nicholl, you sense optimism. Our new Mayor is a bit of a Tigger and refreshingly sees a bright future both for Belfast as a city and Northern Ireland generally in spite of the challenges we’ve experienced in the COVID-19 and Brexit eras. Her term of office coincides with the centenary of the formation of Northern Ireland and she aims to visit as many organisations as possible. “June is also refugee month and I’ll be supporting that. I’m an outsider and I know it’s important for people to see figures like them in power. At

“June is also refugee month and I’ll be supporting that. I’m an outsider and I know it’s important for people to see figures like them in power. At Belfast City Council, we should be leading the way but we don’t have enough people of colour working here and so we are appointing a race champion who will see there is proper representation from all sections of society and that we get more people elected from diverse backgrounds.“

Kate pictured with her husband Fergal and their son Cian.

Belfast City Council, we should be leading the way but we don’t have enough people of colour working here and so we are appointing a race champion who will see there is proper representation from all sections of society and that we get more people elected from diverse backgrounds.“ Belfast City Council will also encourage its employees to learn about other faiths and cultures. Ms Nicholl adds: “Often people feel they can’t take time off to do this but we aim to arrange visits to the Islamic centre, say, in work time.” Brought up Church of England in Africa, Kate Nicholl reveals that although she doesn’t have faith herself (“I am agnostic.”) she almost envies those who do. “It’s impressive, something I envy in a way, and I am interested in religion. My father Kenneth is similarly agnostic and my mother is almost atheist although she was brought up high Church.” Ms Nicholl’s parents, although separated, both live in Holywood. That helps with babysitting and it’s somewhere she and her husband enjoy socialising. “I love eating out and in Holywood we go to the Bay Tree. When in Belfast, I go to the General Merchant for their breakfast. It’s always the broken eggs and avocado with chorizo and it’s just delicious. Now they use bacon, but I miss the chorizo.” The Lord Mayor also eats porridge every 44

day. We discuss variations on this theme and Ms Nicholl explains how she zhooshes up the oatmeal dish. “Oh, I add Greek yogurt, honey, granola.” She has an inclusive vision for her adopted home. “Anna Lo always used to say racism and sectarianism were two sides of the same coin. But we need to tackle sectarianism and as I said, make sure everyone is welcome.” Kate Nicholl wants to start the campaign young and she is calling for Belfast’s children to write her letters expressing what they want from their city. It’s an inspired and inspiring idea. The Mayor reads something at the start of sessions, and Ms Nicholl, new holder of the 129-year-old office, aims to use the youngest citizens’ contribution to remove some of the historic pomp. She says: “Usually people read a piece of scripture or something historic but that’s not really my style. I’ll use some of the children’s ideas.” Regarding the political culture here, Kate Nicholl says generously that all Northern Irish representatives work hard. “If you look at their case work, they do. And there’s talent in different parties, also looking back, some very brave people. It could be the same-old but it’s not.” And certainly won’t be in 2021-2022 with the new Lord Mayor in charge.

ULSTER TATLER

STYLE

Style Watch EACH MONTH ULSTER TATLER SHOWCASES OUR FAVOURITE LOOK SNAPPED OUT AND ABOUT.

Alex Parke and Glenn Harrison pictured at The Rabbit Hotel, showing how to make al fresco dining a stylish occasion. 45

U T

S T Y L E

STYLE RULES Go-to Makeup Pr o d u c t - Ayu, To t a l L a s h mascara

Fa v e haircare product Vo y a S i l k y by Nature Shampoo

Fa v o u r i t e Skincare - Image Skincare Pr e v e n t i o n + Daily Moisturiser

Cliona O’Brien

Owner Moon + Mellow sleepwear

How would you describe your style? My style is casual with a rocky edge. Over the last 2-3 years I have made a conscious decision to invest more in everyday pieces that I feel good in and I know I will wear to death. I live in high waisted flared jeans and I love to pair them with an oversized knit. I am all about little details that elevate everyday pieces like an unusual tuck or fold or a little bit of something extra like studding. If I do buy dressier pieces I think about how I can dress them down with runners or boots and a slouchy cardigan so that I can maximise the number of wears. What are your wardrobe staples that you can’t live without? I couldn’t live without my Tomorrow Kersee Jeans. I discovered this brand in Emporium Kalu last summer and bought their vintage look denim flares, which I have worn on repeat since. They fit perfectly and are really soft and comfortable. Now my sister and my mum

have them too and I have bought a second pair in black. That says it all really – true love! Do you have a favourite designer or high street brand? I am so lucky that Moon + Mellow are stocked in some of the best stores in Ireland. So I am constantly following them and the brands that they stock. I pick up really nice pieces when I call in to see them. I tend to go for pieces that I ﬁnd on the day rather than following a particular brand religiously. In saying that I have been staking the Isabel Marant website over the last few months. I love her style and ﬁnd that when I admire styled shoots in magazines and check the credits it is very often Isabel Marant pieces that I fall head over heels for. I have also been coveting Colin Burkes knitwear for the last year and I always love Sportmax, Veja and Anine Bing. 46

Brand to Wa t c h Moon + Mellow

Do you have any style icons? I love admiring what other people wear even if it might not be what I would choose for myself. I think it’s all about individuality and wearing what works for your style, figure and complexion. At the end of the day anything goes and a huge part of what makes a look stylish is the confidence of the person wearing it. I do love Isabel Marant’s style. She has a real natural beauty and a distinctive style all of her own. Do you have a skincare regime? I am a big fan of La Roche Posey, Pestle and Mortar and Image Skincare. I developed adult acne after the birth of my son. So I have to be really careful with my skin and am regimented about keeping to a daily skincare routine. If I use a product that doesn’t agree with my skin I can have massive flair ups which can take weeks/ months to get back under control. I use the La Roche Posay Effaclar cleansing gel and

FASHION

toner, Pestle and Mortar Hyaluronic Serum, Vitamin C Serum and Retinoid Night Oil and Image Skincare Prevention + Daily Matte Moisturiser with SPF 32 products. What is your signature scent? I love perfume and apply it after my skincare routine day and night. I always go to bed with a little spray. The two that I keep going back to are Alchimista Enapay from Olori and Liz Earle Botanical Essence No. 15. I also really love the scent of fresh cotton sheets and pyjamas and always use a Comfort softener in my wash. That’s deﬁnitely something I picked up from my mum. Are there any haircare products you recommend? I have a really sensitive scalp and ﬁnd a lot of products can make it itchy. I have been

using Voya Silky By Nature Shampoo and Forget me Knot Conditioner recently. They use essential oils blended with organic seaweed and other calming anti oxidant ingredients and am ﬁnding them both brilliant. What is your go-to makeup product? I have been using Armani Luminous silk foundation since I was in college and wouldn’t be without it. My sister introduced me to Ayu’s undereye concealer about a year ago. It is a game changing little tube of magic for brightening and evening out the skin around my eyes. Then it’s always a pinky/ nude lip ( I love Up Cosmetics, Perfect Nude or Charlotte Tilbury, Pillow talk). I also love a little smudge of Armani A-Blush on my cheeks and Ayu’s total lash mascara to ﬁnish it all off.

How do you keep ﬁt and healthy, are there any exercises or health foods your swear by? I really enjoy my food and I love to cook. I eat everything, but do try not to lose the complete run of myself with the goodies. My general feeling is that if I am cooking meals using natural ingredients and keep my diet varied then I don’t have to worry about fad diets. After a holiday or Christmas I do consciously reign it in a little but I have never been a believer in completely cutting food groups out – life is too short! I walk for an hour everyday with my golden retriever Rosco and when I’m not in lockdown I do hiit training at the gym 2-3 mornings a week. I am a big believer in the power of a great night’s sleep. When you are well rested anything is possible.

...AND RELAX Shirt, £40, shorts, £35 and sliders, £35, River Island.

Cassia top and Cane shorts in sand, KNITTS.

Khaki hoodie and joggers, N ex t .

Artisan Studioprinted kimono, Monsoon, £60.

Lemoney sandals, Dune London, £75.

GIRL ABOUT TOWN

EDITED BY NUALA MEENEHAN

Nuala Meenehan works in the media and is a leading model.

C R O C S OF G OL D

Love them or loathe them, the much-maligned Crocs are being heralded as the footwear to have this summer. The plastic clogs are in such demand they’re giving trainers a run for their money. Famously referred to by the fashion elite as the ‘ugly clogs’, there has been a 70% spike in average resale prices this year. In one of the greatest brand comebacks, last month celebrity fan Nicki Minaj posted a picture of herself wearing a pair of hot pink bedazzled Crocs, customised with Jibbitz (charms made by Crocs), the post caused the website to crash and saw 4,900% spike in searches for pink crocs. They have been seen on the runway at Christopher Kane and Balenciaga. The biggest ‘moment’ however was being the ﬁrst ugly shoe on the Oscar’s red carpet after musician and DJ, Questlove arrived wearing a pair of gold Crocs. If you thought you would NEVER wear them, you might need to think again!

DANCE FLOOR GLAMOUR RETURNS From Bianca Jagger’s dresses at Studio 54, to Jackie Kennedy’s pillbox hat and Liza Minnelli’s glittering stage outfits, the fashion designer Halston was the last word in American glamour in the late 60’s and 70’s. Now with the help of the new fivepart Netflix series Halston, the legendary fashion designer, immortalized by Andy Warhol will be on the radar for a new generation. Magnetically charming, Halston lavished flattery on clients, cleverly downsizing his clothes so customers thought the size 14 they were slipping into was a size 10. Amongst his iconic designs, he created his signature look of a black polo neck, slicked-back hair, and sunglasses. All Hail Halston! Get ready for some serious dance floor glamour!

SLEEP ON IT

Dreams can be bafﬂingly bizarre and at times darn right weird but apparently, that’s the point! A new theory suggests by injecting some random weirdness into our sleep state we’re left better equipped to cope with the unexpected. I must be bloomin’ superwoman if my latest dreams are anything to go by! 48

BEAUTY

GET ‘NIGHT-OUT’ READY 1 2

1 . Po l i s h e d L o n d o n – Te e t h w h i t e n i n g gift set, £54.99.

2 . K I S S – Fa l s c a r a fake lash starter kit, £24.99.

4 5

3 . Ke v y n A u c o i n – T h e Vo l u m e M a s c a r a , £ 2 2 .

4 . AY U – Pe r f e c t S k i n Fo u n d a t i o n , C o o l C o n t o u r, L i q u i d L i g h t Highlighter and Sheer Cream Blush.

5. Kash Beauty –Crystal Nights eyeshadow palette, £26.96.

6. Note – Mattever Lip-Ink, £7.95.

Deborah Elwiss-McNally

Jackie Donnelly

Deborah is an advanced aesthetic nurse practitioner.

Jackie Donnelly is proprietor of The Clinic on Belfast’s Lisburn Road.

Life after lockdown With lockdown restrictions easing, The Clinic is glad to welcome back our clients (while still adhering to all COVID-19 rules to keep you and our staff safe). After being stuck indoors, lack of our usual routines and the added stress caused by the pandemic, our skin can take a huge knock. Now is a great time to dedicate time to our skin again and book a rejuvenating treatment. VOLUX If you want to tone up and firm your jawline, then Juvéderm VOLUX is the treatment for you. a specifically formulated gel which promises to restore the shape of the jawline for 18 months or more. This noninvasive jawline enhancement procedure works by restoring lost volume in the face, filling lines and wrinkles and hydrating the skin, leaving the neck refined, defined and smoother than ever. Taking only minutes to complete, any possible swelling disappears 1-2 days after the treatment meaning recipients can enjoy minimal downtime and maximum results. VOLIFT A non-permanent, reputable dermal filler such as VOLIFT will help to achieve a more alluring look without the need for invasive surgery or a long recovery time, leaving you ready to smile with a new-found confidence.

Book a one-to-one consultation with our advanced aesthetic nurse practitioner Deborah, who has over 20 years of experience and 19 of them at The Clinic. She will discuss and advise on the most suitable treatment for your skin type and requirements before you embark on your skin journey.

PROFHILO PROFHILO is moisturiser in a jab. The product is injected into several areas across the skin, leaving it plumped out, ﬁlled and with a glow that comes from within. This treatment can be used on the face, neck and décolletage.

Anti-wrinkle injections A course of anti-wrinkle injections can smooth out unwanted lines and deep wrinkles. A safe and virtually pain-free method, these injections relax the facial muscles, reducing excessive facial movement on speciﬁc areas of your face, including frown lines, forehead and crow’s feet. Results are visible within three to seven days, lasting anywhere between four to six months, revealing a softer, more revived look.

For more information please contact Jackie Donnelly: T: 028 90 663063 E: info@thecliniclisburnroad.co.uk 184 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6AL

Dermal fillers One of the most popular fillers offered by The Clinic is Juvederm, a hyaluronic-based gel, that, when injected into the targeted area, such as the lips, it acts like a natural hydrator, volumizer and cell protector by replacing the hyaluronic acid that the skin has lost over time A range of dermal filler treatments are available at The Clinic: JUVEDERM VOLUMA is excellent for cheek enhancement. It adds contour to the face, replaces volume and reverses the sagging that we get with weight loss. Its smoothness allows it to be injected with a relatively small needle that minimises bruising, giving an immediate effect.

The Word

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY ORAL CARE HABITS To celebrate World Environment Day on the 5th June Jordan Oral Care are sharing their top tip’s for environmentally friendly oral care habits. Sustainable oral care is as necessary as a conscious beauty routine, when trying to save the world. 4.7 billion toothbrushes are manufactured across the world every year, 99% of which are plastic-made and will eventually end up in landﬁlls. When faced with the choice of planet or plastic, it’s a no brainer. Turn off the tap Turn off the tap whilst you are brushing your teeth to save water. This is an easy way to cut down on your water usage. The same tip applies when washing your hands. Turn the water off whilst massaging the soap into your hands. Imagine how much water you will have conserved after only a few days. Make environmentally friendly choices when shopping The next time you buy a new toothbrush, why not go for a more sustainable option such as the Green Clean toothbrush? The handle is made from 100% recycled and FDA-approved plastic. The source of this material is food containers such as yoghurt cups, making it safe for use in your mouth. Disposal of oral care products When you have used up one of your dental products make sure to check how they should be disposed of before throwing it away. Mixing unrecyclable plastic and recyclable plastic may result in it all being burned along with regular waste or sent to a landﬁll. Different countries and cities have different rules, so check with your local area for guidance. Pass your environmentally friendly oral care habits onto your loved ones Why not include your loved ones in your effort to make more conscious choices. Share your great tips and encourage them to try them out too. We can all work together to make more choices with the environment in mind, so why not pass these habits on to little ones with the Green Clean Kids Range. JORDAN ORAL CARE GREEN CLEAN RANGE is available from Gordon’s Pharmacy.

COSMETIC SKIN TAG AND MOLE REMOVAL Consultant Plastic Surgeon Mr. Chris Hoo specialises in the removal of cosmetic moles and skin tags. In the vast majority of cases all of these lesions are benign. But if there is any clinical concern about the nature of the lesion it can be sent off for testing.

Q: Does it hurt having these removed? “Since these are treated under local anaesthetic it shouldn’t! The worse bit is having the injection of anaethetic, which many patients describe as a mild stinging sensation. Cryotherapy does not even need an anesthetic.”

Q: How are skin lesions removed? “In most cases these can be done under a local anaesthetic. If there are no concerns about its nature they can be either shaved off, or excised. Some skin lesions can also be treated by freezing the skin – termed cryotherapy. All options are discussed with the patient beforehand.”

Q: How long does the procedure take? “This depends on what’s being done, but most procedures take between 15 and 30 minutes or so.”

Q & A with Chris Hoo

Q: Can I drive home afterwards? “That depends on you! If you are the sort of person who can drive home after a filling at the dentist then there should be no reason why not. But if you are a bit squeamish, best to bring someone with you. They can at least tell you how brave you were, even if they don’t need to drive!” Q: What about aftercare? “If stitches have been necessary these are generally removed after 5 – 7 days. For best results a combination of steristrips and scar massage are required and which you need to do will be discussed.” Q: Will I have a scar? “Scarring is an inevitable consequence of surgery in anyone’s hands, so yes. But of course the whole point is to be cosmetic and so everything is designed to minimise this. It’s best to consider this as replacing one cosmetic blemish with another one, which should be much better. But it is unrealistic to expect an invisible scar no matter who your specialist is.” For further information or to book a consultation please call Cosmetech on 028 90423200 or visit www.cosmetech.co.uk 52

50 Molton Brown proudly celebrate 50 years by reflecting on their rich heritage and how it lives on today. In 1971, the British fragrance makers began as a hair salon on South Molton Street, London, by forward-thinking founders who had a conscious care for the environment.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS Luxury bath, body and beauty connoisseurs, Molton Brown have been established in Belfast for many years and have recently relocated from Donegall Square North, Belfast to its new store at 5 Arthur Square, Belfast. This new store is perfectly situated close to Victoria Square and has launched just in time for shops re-opening after lockdown. Molton Brown are pleased to warmly welcome you back instore, with reduced hours and new hygiene measures in place to make everyone feel at ease while they shop. The store is open and ready to welcome customers from Monday to Saturday from 9:30 to 18:00 and Sundays from 13:00 to 18:00. “We at Molton Brown have been passionately investing in our stores over the last few years, ensuring that they evolve to stay relevant. That’s why we’re always reviewing our locations to make sure they’re easily accessible and moving to new homes that suit our customers best.” Steve Clark, Retail Sales Director

MOLTON BROWN, 5 ARTHUR SQUARE, BELFAST

Duality Health in Newry has evolved from a local Private GP Clinic to now provide a range of services commonly found in major cities of the UK & Ireland. Opened in 2017 by Dr Declan Morgan, the clinic provides seven day access with a range of GP, Out-of-Hours and Nursing Appointments for those patients in need of quality and accessible care.

No matter your clinical need, the clinic provides rapid access to appointments via telephone and an easy to use online booking system. What additional services does Duality Health provide? Joint injections; minor surgery including cryosurgery & cyst removal; contraceptive services & women’s health; sexual health; audiology including hearing tests, aids & wax removal; nursing services; driving medicals & visas, and travel vaccinations. Medical Health Screening Duality Health also provides a range of bespoke health screening assessments. Dependent upon budget, up to 150 pathophysiological parameters can be checked across a range of key health areas, providing a detailed picture of your current health and identification of risk factors for the development of disease. How does Duality Health differ from other providers in the health screening market? Duality Health’s ‘Executive’ and ‘Complete’ packages are inclusive of a clinical appointment with an experienced GP to explore your report booklet, discuss highlighted areas and to address any of your individual concerns. This robust and bespoke follow-up ensures a quality assessment of your health via further examination, investigation and referral as appropriate to complete this process of preventative medicine. What is preventative medicine? Attending your doctor with a medical symptom results in reactive medicine, this is investigating the cause of symptoms to find pre-existing disease. Health screening is the identification of disease before it causes symptoms and risk-factors for illness before disease occurs. Why choose Duality Health? The answer is quality, follow-up and continuity of care. Our business is general practice, and as general practitioners we are best placed to assess the needs of our patients. Our principal concern is the health of our patients and the addition of health screening to Duality Health is a natural addition to our primary care services and supports our goal of preventative medicine.’ If you would like to avail of Private General Practice, look no further than Duality Health Newry.

Duality Health Private GP Clinic 9 Monaghan Street, Newry BT35 6BB | Tel: 028 3083 3666 | Email: mail@dualityhealth.co.uk

6. Do you have any tips for staying positive during this time? Don’t focus on the wrong decisions or things that maybe didn’t go to plan, we all have to make mistakes in life so that we can actually learn from them. Instead of mistakes I like to call them life lessons. Surround yourself with good like-minded people and make sure you do something each day that makes you smile. “Tough times don’t last but tough people do”. 7. What do you think is the best thing about living in Northern Ireland? I lived in Perth/Australia for over six years so I would deﬁnitely say that living at home now for me is all about being close to my family. After being away for so long you really appreciate the Irish culture and how people are just so welcoming and friendly. There really is no place like home. 8. What is your mantra or favourite quote that you live by? “The older you get the more you realise you have no desire for drama, conﬂict or stress. You just want a cosy home, food on the table and to be surrounded by kind, caring people who truly make you happy.”

CAROLINE MACMAHON Founder of Be Almaí, Ireland’s newest hair styling brand. 1. What do you love most about your job? I love that every day is different in my job and the fact that I get to make so many people instantly feel so good about themselves. 2. What has been your career highlight to date? My biggest career achievement to date is becoming a finalist in the Behind The Chair One Shot Hair Awards. From 311,000 entrants I was listed as one of the 24 finalists. I flew over to San Antonio, Texas for the award ceremony, being the only representative from Ireland and the UK. I was so nervous but extremely grateful and proud that I made it to the finals. 3. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work? Outside of work I really look forward to enjoying good food. Especially at the minute my weekends practically revolve around what and where we are going to eat. I don’t think this really counts as a hobby, but at the minute I would say eating and online shopping are my current favourite activities.

4. What is your daily routine? In the mornings I wake up early to get on top of any work that needs to be organised for Be Almaí. I could be contacting suppliers/ manufacturers or simply replying to emails. I find having these jobs done first thing means that I feel organised for the day ahead. Running both businesses can be a juggle, but secretly I just love the busyness. I am very lucky to have my salon Hidden Hair situated at my home so I can just get dressed and walk out my door to work. I look forward to nothing more than the simplest of things when I finish my day. Spending some quality time with my daughter Alara, followed by the usual dinner, shower and ready for bed. The best part of my day is watching a good series on Netflix along with a cuppa and some sneaky chocolate. 5. Do you have a fitness regime? I kind of hope I am like everyone else in the world right now with all the lockdowns and changes. I just haven’t quite yet found the motivation to get back into properly exercising. But I do love it once I get into a good routine, there definitely is no better feeling. 56

9. Who has been your biggest influence? I would deﬁnitely have to say my biggest inspirations are my parents, they brought me up to be strong, taught me to never be afraid of failure and always encouraged me to take that risk. I look at them both with absolute admiration, with everything they have been through they still get up everyday and continue to be the best support to me, my husband and the most incredible grandparents to my daughter. They believe in me and all of my crazy ideas, no matter what they encourage me to keep going.

10. FAVOURITE Movie: The Green Mile Band/Musician: Chris Stapleton Book: I have to be honest and admit I that I don’t read any books but it is on my list to start Restaurant: House of Zen in Belfast Holiday Destination: Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. From all the places I have travelled to it has to be the most scenic/picturesque place that I have ever seen. Drink: Cosmopolitan Meal: Depending on how I’m feeling at the time it’s deﬁnitely between a Chinese takeaway or a good steak.

BEAUTY

CORRECT & PERFECT 3

1 2

2. Thalgo – Lifting, correcting day cream.

1. Neostrata – Correct Antioxidant Defence Serum.

3. Dermalogica – Retinol clearing oil, £69.

4. Caudalie –Vinoperfect glycolic peel mask, £22.

5. Chanel –Le Lift Lotion for anti-ageing, £70.

6 . Pa t c h o l o g y – Pe r f e c t Te n s e l f - w a r m i n g h a n d a n d cuticle mask.

The Word

SUN AWARENESS 2021 WITH BELFAST SKIN CLINIC

Logan Wellbeing and Medical is the only combined naturopathic and medical clinic in Northern Ireland and is led by fertility consultant Ruth-Ellen Logan.

HELPING COUPLES START A FAMILY

The past year has been a strange one, lives were put on hold and many things came to a standstill. For those struggling with fertility this was one area that did not switch off, and neither did we. At Logan Wellbeing & Medical we are dedicated to helping couples hoping to start a family.

Medical Director, Dr Pamela McHenry

Sun Awareness is the British Association of Dermatologists’ annual campaign to raise awareness of skin cancer. At Belfast Skin Clinic we believe in prevention and early detection to reduce your chances of getting skin cancer. Here are some skin safety tips.

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Logan is a team of Naturopathic fertility specialists, nurses, acupuncturists and massage therapists. Offering a combination of Medical IV infusions and complementary therapies to support and assist couples with an array of fertility struggles. All treatment programmes are developed following an extensive consultation with RuthEllen Logan.

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Tanned skin is damaged skin Never let your skin burn, whatever your skin type. Every time you use a sunbed you damage your skin. This damage ages the skin causing wrinkles to appear and can lead to skin cancer. Using a sunbed once a month or more can increase the risk of skin cancer by more than half. Children burn more easily. Sunburn in childhood can lead to skin cancer later in life. Protect them with a hat, t-shirt and factor 50+ sunscreen.

View Tanorama on the BBC iPlayer now. www.sunsmart.org.uk

Offering male and female protocols, that are bespoke and client focused. We have successfully assisted couples with unexplained infertility, secondary infertility, and those going through IVF/ICSI.

For more information or to book an appointment visit www.belfastskinclinic.com or email: info@belfastskinclinic.com

For more information on any of Logan’s services or to book a male or female fertility consultation please call us on 02890 687467

Logan Wellbeing and Medical 354 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6GJ Tel: 028 9068 7467

BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY VIRTUAL IMPLANT CONSULT* TODAY

ACCIDENTS HAPPEN REPLACE A MISSING TOOTH WITH CRANMORE DENTAL IMPLANTS

When you have to replace a missing tooth or teeth, we are here for you. We accept nothing less than the best for our patients. Talk your decision through with us, book a complimentary virtual dental implant consultation today on 028 9038 1822.

15 Windsor Avenue Belfast BT9 6EE 028 9038 1822 www.cranmoredental.com *Non clinical consultation with Patient Care Coordinator.

TRIEDCOLUMN & TESTED

“APEX HEADACHE CLINIC CLEARED MY CONSTANT MIGRAINES” 29-year-old Natasha Brown from Bangor, suffered with constant migraines which affected every aspect of her daily life. After thinking migraines and headaches were something she would have to live with, she visited Apex Headache Clinic in the hope that she could get even a little relief. Here, she shares how the clinic’s unique regime of specialist manual physiotherapy treatment for migraines and headaches, called The Nelson Headache Approach™, cleared her migraines, meaning that she could finally get her life back on track. Natasha, when did your migraines begin? I had suffered with migraines for years and I had learnt to live with them. I would have had one migraine per week and I would have just gone to bed early and after sleeping, I would have been fine. Last year my migraines began to get worse and I had to go to my GP and they gave me medication to try to help them. I then started to take severe migraines to the point where I took them for 60 days in a row, without a break. During this time I was put on more medication and was sent to hospital to investigate what was causing this. I was in an awful way.

What advice would you offer someone suffering from migraines? I would say do not prolong it. If you can, make an appointment at Apex Headache Clinic. I have recommended Apex to friends who suffer from migraines and they have seen how it has changed my life. If anyone suffers from headaches or migraines I would say, go to Apex Headache Clinic. You will not regret it. To book an appointment at Apex Headache Clinic, call 028 9048 4153. No GP referral is necessary.

How did the pain affect your life? I couldn’t do anything. When working in the office I was having to come home early nearly every day. I couldn’t sit or work in the office due to my migraines being so severe. I was very lucky that my boss allowed me to work from home but I was still suffering with migraines and my GP recommended taking time off work. I took a full month off work and the headaches and migraines were no better, even taking the medication that the doctor had given me. During this time I couldn’t leave the house as the pain was agonising. What led you to Apex Headache Clinic? My mum had read an article in the Ulster Tatler and she sent it to me. The article was about a teenage girl who had migraines and headaches while at school and during her exams and how Apex Headache Clinic had helped her. I thought I would give it a go as at that stage I was willing to try anything. In March 2020 I made an appointment at Apex Headache Clinic and within a couple of weeks I started to feel that my headaches were easing off and I was only having a migraine on 4 days per week rather than on 6 or 7. How has your life changed since having treatment? It is like day and night. I am now headache and migraine free for 90% of the time. I don’t worry about getting a headache or migraine now. I don’t have to worry about going to bed with a migraine knowing I would wake up with a migraine. I am back exercising and I don’t have problems at work anymore. Having a headache or migraine used to be my number one worry but now it is the least of my worries. I now only have to attend the clinic for maintenance treatment with my specialist physiotherapist.

apex

™

clinic

headache clinic

physiotherapy

podiatry

chiropody

massage

Ireland’s leading physiotherapy & sports injury clinic info@apexclinic.co.uk www.apexclinic.co.uk

info@apexheadacheclinic.co.uk www.apexheadacheclinic.co.uk

5-11 Summerhil Avenue Belfast BT5 7HD

COLUMN

Rebecca Nelson

Rebecca is founder and Director of Physiotherapy at Apex Clinic and Apex Headache Clinic.

DON’T LET YOUR SUMMER STAYCATION CAUSE YOU BACK PAIN

At Apex Clinic, Belfast we are specialists in treatment of all spinal problems. Every summer we hear numerous times how back pain has ruined people’s holidays. What should be a relaxing and fun time is often ruined by pain from long periods traveling, uncomfortable mattresses and more time spent sitting than usual, all of which may be doing more damage than you realise. With many of us planning on having a staycation or going on day trips this year, Apex Clinic founder and Spinal & Headache Physiotherapy Specialist, Rebecca Nelson, shares some valuable advice on keeping your back pain-free this summer. Sitting comfortably? Long periods of time spent sitting in the car can be one of the major triggers of lower back pain, but thankfully this can be reduced, by reclining your seat back. Positioning your seat at the optimum reclined angle of 35 to 40 degrees from the vertical is perfect for reducing the load through your back discs, making it less susceptible to injury. It is also important to stop every hour or two, to walk for just a few minutes as this will really help to reduce the ill effects of prolonged sitting on your spine.

Don’t overdo it on arrival When arriving somewhere new it’s your first instinct to want to explore your new surroundings straight away, but in the first 24 hours after a long journey, your back is most vulnerable to injury so it is crucial to take care of it at this time. Upon arrival, minimise the lifting of heavy suitcases and avoid running or walking uphill where possible as these activities can increase the risk of lower back injuries, so are best avoided for 24 hours. Stay on level ground If your back is prone to injury I recommend minimising walking/running uphill throughout your holiday to avoid placing a high load on your back discs, which can lead to extreme pain. Keeping to flat surfaces such as the beach or on grass where possible for walking or running is great because it offers shock absorption, reducing the risk of injury. Your mattress matters If your mattress or pillow on holiday is too soft and you experience back pain or neck pain in the morning, ask if a firmer one is available. If this isn’t an option, it is better to move your bedding to the floor and sleep

there in order to reduce the risk of waking up in pain. I designed a travel pillow in The Apex Sleepwell Pillow range, to take with you on holiday. It is almost half the size of a normal pillow and provides the optimal neck support to help prevent the onset of neck pain or reduce existing pain. These can be purchased by phoning Apex Clinic on 028 9048 4153 or calling into our Belfast clinic. Apex Clinic can clear spinal pain and sciatica in most cases At Apex Clinic, Belfast we have an extremely high success rate in clearing spinal pain, even when patients have had many unsuccessful treatments or failed surgery in the past elsewhere. We offer a unique specialised manual treatment regime called The Nelson Spinal Approach™ which isn’t available at any other clinics in Ireland or the U.K. If you suffer from back pain, neck pain or sciatica, help is at hand. Book an appointment with one of our specialist physiotherapists to clear your pain. If you would like to book an appointment at Apex Clinic, contact us on 028 9048 4153. No GP referral is necessary.

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Ireland’s leading physiotherapy & sports injury clinic info@apexclinic.co.uk www.apexclinic.co.uk

info@apexheadacheclinic.co.uk www.apexheadacheclinic.co.uk

5-11 Summerhil Avenue Belfast BT5 7HD

6. Do you have any tips for staying positive during this time? Make time in the day to spend with the ones you love. I love catching up with my three girls and my husband at the end of the day and spending time outdoors. It clears the head and sets you in the right frame of mind for the next day. 7. What do you think is the best thing about living in Northern Ireland? Northern Ireland’s biggest perk is that you are never short for anything to do. I could take my family anywhere and still have the best day being out and about, despite what the weather might be like that day! 8. What is your mantra or favourite quote that you live by? “A successful woman is one who can build a ﬁrm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at her” – I remember hearing that when I ﬁrst started Bellamianta and still use it to push myself today to strive for only the best in my business.

LINDA STINSON

9. Who has been your biggest influence? One of my biggest inﬂuences would have to be my mum, Collette. She taught me from a very young age that determination, drive, stubbornness and self-belief are key things in life you need to have to succeed, and she reminds me of that every single day with how she carries herself and helps others. She is a huge inspiration to me, and she is very much involved in Bellamianta. She actually is the Managing Director of the company!

Founder of Bellamianta Luxury Tanning

1. What do you love most about your job? The fact that no two days are the same. I love how with my job there’s so much diversity in terms of what goes on, be it a new product, collaboration or campaign. 2. What has been your career highlight to date? One of my biggest career highlights so far is working with the amazing Maura Higgins to launch the ‘By Maura Higgins x Bellamianta’ tanning range. It was a big milestone for the business, and for myself. It showed me that my determination and hard work pays oﬀ, with the help of the amazing team I have behind me. 3. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work? I love to spend time with my three girls. We are very lucky where we live. We are surrounded

by nature, so I always take time out form my schedule to spend quality time with them exploring the gorgeous sights we have on our doorstep. 4. What is your daily routine? I get up around 7am and get myself ready for the day, then I get my girls ready for school. Once I leave them off, I drive to the Bellamianta main office and start my hectic workday, which is usually filled with meetings! I usually head home around 5pm depending how busy the day is, make some dinner for the family and then unwind and get myself ready for the next busy day. 5. Do you have a specific fitness regime? I usually go to local gym classes 4/5 times a week, usually with a few girls in work which makes it a lot easier as I know it will be a bit of fun! 62

10. FAVOURITE Movie: Great Gatsby Band/Musician: Adele Book: The Secret Restaurant: Brewers House Holiday Destination: Dubai Drink: Red wine (Malbec) Meal: Cannot beat a Sunday Roast!

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SUMMER OF STAYCATIONS

With lockdown restrictions easing, we chat to some of our Ulster Tatler Awards sponsors about why Ireland is the ultimate staycation location this summer.

Sarah Kilgore The Lobster Pot, Strangford and The Mariner, Newcastle As a family we often go abroad at the end of August. Throughout the year we try to ﬁt in a few mini breaks with friends, love Ibiza for a chilled out weekend in the sun, and France for the Superbikes! This year we have no plans to travel far. We are keeping it very local as I am pregnant and due at the end of July, so we’ve booked a beautiful renovated church- Quarry Hill Church in Strangford. I’ve always admired it when passing, and just thought it would be a lovely vacation for the kids, and my parents who often join us. I’m going to book paddle boarding and aquarium for the kids, and a boat trip up the Lough to explore the area more! Sometimes the best places are on your doorstep, especially if the weather is good!

Quarry Hill Church, Strangford

Gerard Curran So Good Juice

As the country reopens, we are getting excited as we plan our family staycation at Tullagh Bay Co. Donegal. It has been a ﬁrm family favourite summer destination for the past ten years! Located on the Inishowen peninsula it is somewhat of a hidden gem! Even before we were married and had our three boys, Catherine and I spent many happy summers there. I think the fact the boys are now with us enjoying the exploring and with it the sense of freedom as much as we did makes it even more special for us now. We will spend most of our time there outdoors: Swimming, surﬁng and taking walks on its beautiful golden sandy beach at the foot of Binnion Hill. It is also great for taking hikes & bike rides through the many surrounding ‘hills of Donegal’ and taking in the breathtakingly beautiful views below. Close by to Tullagh Bay is also ‘Glenevin waterfall’. Our boys enjoy the long and windy paths and the many mythical ‘fairy doors’ scattered throughout the woods towards the amazing sight and sounds of the waterfall! Cannot wait now for this year’s summer adventure to begin!

Gerard Curran with his wife Catherine and their boys Shea, Oisin and Conor.

Tullagh Bay, Co. Donegal

Caroline Purdy Beauty Culture Last July my business had only reopened again after the first lockdown so we planned a very last minute family break for a few days. We have two young children so wanted to go somewhere that would have things to do and see. We decided to head up towards Strangford near the Castle Ward National Trust, and stayed in one of the Slievemoyle cottages. Warmly greeted by the farm and cottage owners Greer and Maureen (and of course Max the dog) on arrival, we stayed for there three nights.The panoramic views of beautiful green fields, Strangford lough and the Irish Sea from the property were amazing. We even had our very own picnic table sitting at the bottom of our garden to admire them from. We spent the first day at Castle Ward, walking one of the trails and seeing the different areas including were the Game of thrones was filmed. We also spent a morning heading over to the Aquarium in Portaferry. The children had much excitement getting the boat over to it and seeing all the fish and sea lions. We felt very safe and we had plenty of time to explore the Aquarium.

Jasmine and Caleb at Castle Ward country park

Our favourite restaurant to eat was the Artisan Cookhouse in Strangford. The main course and the dessert were both lovely and service was excellent. We have so many hidden gems of places to stay and things to go in Northern Ireland.

THE SCENE

Peter and Zola O’Loan and Frankie.

Michelle Wilson from Crawford’s rock, Kilkeel.

Neil, Sean and Oriana Fogarty with Obi the dog.

WARRENPOINT ARTISAN MARKET

Musicians Dan and John Rooney.

The Artisan Market returned to the beautiful Municipal Park in Warrenpoint recently. Traders welcomed visitors to the market and provided a fabulous range of food & craft products, all of which proved popular with shoppers.

Sisters Mary and Eileen McGrath.

Polly, Elisaveta and Alex with dog Archibald.

Colin and Belinda Stevenson.z

Seamus and Olivia O’Reilly from Freedom Cosmetics.

. David and Emily Coffey.

Out & About

VISIT THE WILD ATLANTIC WAY Book your staycation along the Wild Atlantic Way in Donegal Town. Let the Central Hotel be your “home away from home” with guestrooms overlooking Donegal Bay, all within steps of the hotel. Enjoy strolls along the pier, the bank walk, tour Donegal Castle, visit Triona to see how Donegal tweed is made. Cruise along the bay on Donegals Waterbus and receive shopping discounts in Donegal Town. Explore the 1134KM of rugged Wild Atlantic Way during your stay, ensure you visit the highest seacliffs in Europe, Sliagh Liag – the views are sure to impress. A boat ride with Sliagh Liag Boat Trips is highly recommended, and sail in the Wild Atlantic Way looking up at the cliffs. Donegal Golf Club is just 10 minutess away from the hotels with a fantastic 18 links golf course. Donegal has 12 blue ﬂag beaches, so ensure you bring your camera to capture the magical memories. Enjoy culinary pleasures during your stay with a choice of dining options from Gourmet Burgers in Blazers Burger Bar, Thai fusion at Chapman’s Restaurant in addition to casual dining in the Central Bar. For outdoor dining check out Central Alfresco, where you can dine on the Central Hotel Terrace sipping Cocktails as the sun sets over Donegal Bay. Donegal Town was recently awarded foodie destination in Ireland.

Multi Award Winning company dedicated to producing the finest free range eggs in the industry

Check out room only rates in addition to bed & breakfast online www.centralhoteldonegal.com

• Multi award winning, including Great Taste, Irish Quality Food Awards and Blas na hEireann Gold awards • Family run business • Farm to fork • All hens are free range • High welfare standards • British Lion accredited

Cavanagh Free Range Eggs Ltd. 58 Clonkee Road, Cavanagh, Newtownbutler Co. Fermangh, BT92 8FH Website: www.cavanagheggs.co.uk Email: hello@cavanagheggs.co.uk Facebook: facebook.com/cavanaghfreerangeeggs.co.uk Twitter: @cavanagheggs Phone: 028 6773 7889 Mobile John: 078 5796 4436 Mobile Eileen: 078 5796 4468

Arts Round-up NI MENTAL HEALTH ARTS FESTIVAL

Noelle McAlinden with Tommy Long, visual artist and arts facilitator.

The NI Mental Health Arts Festival (NIMHAF) took place from 10-16 May 2021 (to coincide with Mental Health Awareness Week). As a response to the call for a Loneliness Strategy in Northern Ireland, this year’s festival included a specially commissioned publication on the theme of ‘Loneliness’ which linked to artworks, soundscapes and dance pieces on the NIMHAF website. This year’s festival was officially launched at Framewerks Gallery, Belfast. In attendance were artists EG Dunne and Wee Nuls, and Noelle McAlinden, NI Mental Health Arts Festival board member, artist, curator and arts activist. This year’s programme contained varied, vivid arts events which created a platform for high-quality artwork that deals compassionately and intelligently with mental health. Events included: The Art of Conversation with Noelle McAlinden, a series of authentic conversations with fellow creatives across NI; and The Art of Loneliness Panel Discussion which saw artists and performers reflecting on the theme of loneliness. Hosted by Noelle McAlinden and Frank Liddy, the panel also featured invited guests: Joe Nawaz, Nuala McKeever, Lorna Smyth, Siobhan Ferguson, Mel Bradley, Matt Deery and John Deery. For more information: www.nimhaf. org

The Art of Loneliness Panel

ENLIGHTEN EXHIBITION Hambly & Hambly is a unique gallery and multi-purpose space for the North West designed around a core belief in the value of arts, culture, conservation and education. Situated in the Grade II listed Dunbar House in Enniskillen, the gallery celebrates art of all mediums with a strong vision of progression, development and collaboration. In June the Gallery will run “At Home With Hambly & Hambly”, a special feature which will extend from the basement gallery throughout the house and include exhibitions, interviews and discussions of works by Wolfgang Buttress, Eamon Colman, Gary Robinson and Anna Hryniewicz. Part of the programme will include the launch of Hambly & Hambly’s new exhibition, ENLIGHTEN 14, which profiles the activities and outcomes of an exciting year for this innovative gallery and cultural hub. ENLIGHTEN features winning pieces of art from the fortnightly callout the gallery have been making to artists of all mediums. Hambly & Hambly are delighted by the huge number of artists participating in the initiative which is a response to other artists’ works in a visual art

relay. Gallery owner and director Ciara Hambly, said: “The quality of the work submitted in response to the ENLIGHTEN challenge has been superb, exceeding all our expectations. We look forward to showcasing the winning and highly commended pieces in the ENLIGHTEN exhibition alongside a feature of works by our long-standing represented artists and some welcome newcomers who are creating bodies of work specifically for this innovate show.” Hambly & Hambly are particularly thrilled to welcome a new collection of paintings from the internationally award-winning sculptor Wolfgang Buttress who fully endorses the gallery’s initiatives: “I am delighted to be presenting new work at the unique and innovative Hambly & Hambly gallery in June 2021 for the ENLIGHTEN exhibition. The new pieces have been informed by the landscape of the north of Ireland which inspired the sculpture Rise.” The ENLIGHTEN exhibition opens on the 19th June 2021. For more information on the gallery, visit: hamblyandhambly.com

Profit & Loss Oil on canvas Laurence O’Toole.

Carlo Gebler reads his writing at Hambly & Hambly.

THE ULSTER HALL CELEBRATES ITS 159TH BIRTHDAY! The Ulster Hall, which has been the pulse of Belfast’s live entertainment scene and night-time economy, has recently celebrated its 159th birthday. If walls could talk, they would tell stories of Charles Dickens’ famous Christmas Carol reading, guitar melodies by rock-legends Red Hot Chilli Peppers and stunning performances by the Ulster Hall gig, photo: Ulster Orchestra. Although still closed due to the Tremaine Gregg COVID-19 pandemic, the Ulster Hall still celebrated its birthday and iconic identity with an online campaign reminiscing past events, emotional connections and incredible #IWasThereWhen moments. After the revolutionary Live from the Ulster Hall digital series, the prestigious status of the Ulster Hall is not slowing down with the top artists wanting to play the iconic venue in 2022 and beyond. Check out what’s coming up at www.ulsterhall.co.uk 68

Duke Special

BELFAST PHOTO FESTIVAL RETURNS

REVIEW: DUKE SPECIAL GRAMOPHONE CLUB By Kellie Burch Lockdown did not stop Accidental Theatre from launching an exciting virtual programme of events over the spring months. Accidental Awakening saw the theatre bring fantastic new gigs, workshops and theatre to audiences far and wide. One such event was the Duke Special Gramophone Club. The show, which was streamed live on Friday 30th April, the day outdoor hospitality resumed, opened on a very positive note. Filmed on location in the Accidental Theatre on Shaftesbury Square, Belfast, Duke Special gleefully exclaimed, “There are people outside!” This session of the Gramophone Club kept up the lively atmosphere as Duke Special and Temperance Society Chip Bailey were joined by a range of unmissable guests including: songwriter and poet FRMR, research associate in the creative industries department at Ulster University Dr Hyojung Sun and singer/actress Camille O’ Sullivan. The Gramophone Club, which is currently being run as a series of shows in association with Accidental Theatre, is very much like a modern-day variety showcase. In addition to the special guests, there was musical shenanigans, such as songs from the

extensive Duke Special back catalogue, “another 78 for the gramophone” from Greg’s Greats, Chip’s wonderful world of instruments and tintinnabulations, exploring old sheet music, unearthing and dancing along to hidden gems of the 7RPM world and newly written songs. Whilst Covid-19 has meant that we have been pining for live shows, this exceptional event was a fantastic substitute. Duke Special and Chip are superb hosts who complement each other perfectly. The recording is extremely professional - whilst it may look slick it retains an intimate quality. There was also a question and comment feature; the audience were warmly encouraged to participate and so at times you could almost forget you weren’t all in the same room together. The quality and diversity of the music showcased was sublime whilst the stories of the guests interviewed were fascinating. The result was an unforgettable experience that you will be eager to repeat. The Duke Special Gramophone Club took place on 30th April. The next session will take place on 2nd July. For more information visit: accidentaltheatre.co.uk 69

Belfast Photo Festival, Northern Ireland’s premier visual arts festival, is set to return in June with a vibrant online and offline programme of immersive exhibitions and large-scale outdoor art works to be showcased in galleries and public spaces throughout Belfast. Running from 3 – 30 June, the festival will be one of the first of its kind to facilitate a largely in-person festival experience following the recent easing of lockdown restrictions. Alongside its physical exhibitions, the festival will also host an extensive programme of online talks and events. Taking “Future(s)” as its theme, this year’s festival tackles issues as diverse as climate change, migration, the advancement of technology, government surveillance and the power of protest, to explore how the future is shaped by our actions in the present. Festival highlights include: American artist Davion Alston; the first solo exhibition of renowned artist Zanele Muholi on the island of Ireland; Mandy Barker’s impressive LUNASEA; Simon Norfolk and Klaus Thymann’s ‘Shroud’; Swiss artist Marcel Rickli asks how we might warn future generations about sites of toxic nuclear waste; and David Vintiner and Gem Fletcher’s exhibition on transhumanism, at University of Atypical. Belfast Photo Festival takes place online, in public spaces across Belfast and in partner institutions: Belfast Exposed, Golden Thread Gallery, Cultúrlann, University of Atypical, and The Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University. For more information on this year’s festival, visit belfastphotofestival.com David Vintiner and Gem Fletcher - I Want to Believe

EXTRACT

NORA: A LOVE STORY OF NORA AND JAMES JOYCE

Below is an extract from NORA: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce by Dublin author, Nuala O’Connor. This extract comes from the chapter; Melancholy – Trieste, July 1905.

Nuala O’Connor

Jim hates his job. He wants nothing more than to leave it. And, after the refusals from Richards, the publishers, and the other crowd, Lane, he was sure the one called Heinemann would bring out his book of poems, but he has heard now that they will not. Jim grows weary of waiting for the time when he’ll actually have a book of his own; his poems are wonderful and he deserves that accolade like no other, it’s what he dreams of. Tonight we’re both as morose as two ewes robbed of their lambs. Nothing cheers us. We don’t even talk of home comforts, or of Irish food that we miss, or of any plan or scheme to move to Paris. Jim sits at the small table, his ink bottle and pen to hand but he writes not poem nor letter nor story. His pince-nez dangles on its chain and he stares ahead of him at nothing at all. The sweat rises on his forehead faster than he can dab it away and he has a second handkerchief tucked into his collar to protect it. I’m in chemise only, for the heat presses on me like a clothes iron, but even the lace neckline annoys my skin. “It was an experiment to move here, Nora. Have we failed?” I could give him a maudlin reply but, instead I say, “Of course not, Jim.” I push out my belly. “Look what we’ve managed.” He smiles but it’s a wan attempt, made with effort. “And you’ve written those three new stories and all those pages on the novel. And you teach eight classes a day.” “Also, let’s not forget that I’ve swindled a tailor.” He pulls at his lapels. “And acquired glasses and a watch.” Jim pouts his lip. “Still, Nora, my salary is only fit for a stoker and I’m afraid this damnable heat will turn us both stark mad before long.” I rise from my misery bed and go to stand

behind Jim; I put my hand to his shoulder and he covers it with his own and sighs from a place of deep melancholy. It’s bad enough that I’m low in myself without Jim being dragged to the same place; it hurts my heart to see him so downside-up. One of his poems, that I’ve taken pains to memorize, comes to me and I recite a bit for him: O’ Sweetheart, hear you Your lover’s tale; A man shall have sorrow When friends him fail. But one unto him Will softly move And softly woo him In ways of love. His hand is under Her smooth round breast; So he who has sorrow Shall have rest. The last words seem to hang in the air between us so I say them again: “He who has sorrow shall have rest.” When I bend to look into Jim’s face his eyes are wet. “For the first time in a long time, I feel like a poet,” he says. “Thank you, Nora.” “You’re a beautiful writer, Jim,” I say. And he is, though truly some of his stories baffle me as much as the Moore fellow’s ones. But, it seems, some of my own stories live within Jim’s writing. It’s a queer feeling, but is he not entitled to take parts of me and mold them for his good use? Especially if it will get him a book published and move us along in this life. Jim turns and lies his head on my belly. “Lovely babby-house,” he says. “It’s like a big egg,” I say. “It is.” He lifts my chemise and kisses my bare skin. The baby shifts inside as if in response. “Look, she knows it’s you, her daddy.” “Hello, baby, this is your babbo,” Jim coodles into my stomach. “We’re waiting for you, little one. Will you be Lucy or will you be George?” Jim has chosen these names—Lucia for light and George after his poor dead baby brother and I’m happy to let him do the choosing. He sighs again. “Is there a way, Jim, that you could leave the job at the Berlitz?” I ask. He stands and leads me to the bed and we both sit up on it. “Not until I secure something else, Nora. Not until I get a publishing contract for either the poems, the stories, or the novel.” He lies back and shuts his eyes; they’ve been bothering him more lately. “It’s not the students I dislike, though some are stupid, it’s the way we’re supposed to teach them, the speed of it, the crudeness. 70

I get bored and angry, enunciating daft sentences in English like some mad school cleric. All I’m missing is the twitchy stick. Even without it I’m afraid I’ll clout one of the students someday out of pure boredom.” “But you’re glad we’re not in Dublin, Jim?” He’s silent for a few moments. “I am, I suppose, though sometimes I wonder. I left Ireland to get away from convention and here I am, a conventional teacher barely able to live on my conventional pay.” His voice rises. “All I want, Nora, is to dip my pen and write tiny little sentences. All I want is for you to be happy and comfortable too.” “I’m a burden to you, Jim, with all my lamenting and moaning.” “No, no. It is I who complains the most. But would it suit you better to go home, Nora? Not west to Galway but to Dublin, maybe? I’ve been thinking that Stannie might share a little cottage with us, to defray costs. A little place in Chapelizod, perhaps, by the river.” “We could eat leg of mutton every night, Jim, with buttery carrots and turnips. And I’d put a black kettle over the fire and watch it boil. I’d love that—to watch a normal kettle at its work.” “And Stannie and myself would talk the way we used to, not in the irritating, circuitous way that letters afford.” “You lack good company, Jim, and I’m sorry for it.” “I do and I don’t,” he says, squeezing my hand.

NORA: A Love Story of Nora and James Joyce by Nuala O’Connor is published by New Island Books.

UlsterTatler

FOCUS ON

Museums & Galleries W

ith museums and galleries across the province just starting to reopen after our long lockdown, Ulster Tatler takes a look at the vibrant and extensive arts scene across Northern Ireland. With a focus on museums and galleries. As cultural and educational hubs, museums and galleries are home to rich displays of history and art, both traditional and contemporary. Galleries allow us to immerse ourselves in the unique, spectacular minds of artists, while museums place us in historical contexts, giving us perspective on past eras and historicallysigniﬁcant moments. In this feature, Ulster Tatler hears from industry experts and takes a look at some upcoming exhibitions as museums and galleries begin to re-open again. Don’t miss the special Northern Ireland centenary exhibitions!

Golden Thread Gallery, 84-94 Great Patrick Street, Belfast. BT1 2LU

Across and In-Between Suzanne Lacy 12th June to 14th August 2021

Image by Helen Sloan SMPSP and Ross Mulhall

www.goldenthreadgallery.co.uk 71

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES SPECIAL FOCUS

Q&A

Historical Connections Describe a typical working day for you. It’s probably a real cliché but there is no typical day for us. The Ulster-Scots Community Network is a charity operating in the community sector tasked with promoting Ulster-Scots culture in all its forms, so a large portion of our work is helping groups on the ground across the 9 counties to promote and engage with the culture. We provide assistance around funding, information about various aspects of the culture and we also manage the Discover Ulster-Scots Centre in Belfast so our work can be very varied. In the Belfast centre we deal with enquiries from people looking to find their ancestors, reconnect with their roots or even just find out more about what Ulster-Scots entails. We welcome community groups from across Ulster, as well as visitors from further afield. Pre-Covid we had one US Tour company bringing 55 tours a year to us. We also deliver presentations both through the centre and out in the community. The centre serves as a cultural hub with music and dance performances as well as other cultural events including poetry, literature and food. What’s happening at the Ulster-Scots Community Network at the moment? After such a long time closed to the public we’re delighted to be open again and we’re starting to explore the options for when we

can start hosting real-world events again. We try to keep our displays relevant as well as showcasing various themes across the year. At present we have a display on the archaeological dig that took place at Dunluce Castle and have a number of the artefacts found as part of that dig on display in the centre. We have a large gallery, given over to the connections between Ulster and the United States and the role played by people from these shores in making America the country that it is – and not just the Presidential links, but links to music, literature and commerce. We’re working with partners in the wider cultural sector too, to see how we can start to deliver musical performances again and planning for events to mark US Independence Day on 4th July. Tell us what will be happening over the summer months. We’re hopeful that as restrictions ease we’ll see more people taking the opportunity to explore local as foreign travel might still be out of reach for many. We’ll have a number of themed exhibitions – around the US Connections, some on local history and a push on family roots and exploring your family tree. We hope that as summer moves forward we’ll get a chance again to host some musical events in some form and ﬁnd ways to highlight cultural activity in a way that meets

Ulster Tatler talks to David Gilliland Operations Director Ulster-Scots Community Network the requirements we currently operate under. We’re also hopeful that we’ll get a chance to take some of our events outdoors as another way of engaging the public.

VISIT THE DISCOVER ULSTER-SCOTS CENTRE

VICTORIA STREET, CATHEDRAL QUARTER, BELFAST

MONDAY–FRIDAY, 10AM–4PM www.DiscoverUlsterScots.com Tel: 028 9043 6710

FREE ADMISSION

E X H I B I T I O N • L I T E R AT U R E • G I F T S DUS UT 190mm x 132mm.indd 1

20/04/2018 07:09

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES SPECIAL FOCUS

Belfast’s Linen Hall Library (since 1788) and cultural centre welcomes you back. We have reopened our iconic Donegall Square doors. Now in our 233rd year, the Library remains one of the most treasured institutions in Northern Ireland and further afield. There is no fee to enter and explore our Victorian-listed building, search our world-renowned archives, enjoy our cultural events and relax in our newly refurbished café with stunning views over Donegall Square. Come in and experience an oasis of calm.

17 Donegall Square N, Belfast BT1 5GB www.linenhall.com The Linen Hall Library is a charity and depends on donations to continue its great work.

ASSITANCE FOR YOUR ART Belfast Print Workshop & Gallery is a fine art establishment in the heart of the Cathedral Quarter in Belfast. For over 40 years they have offered a resource for artists working with screen-printing and all its associated forms. Our member artists are well established in the art world exhibiting across the globe. Artists, training, exhibits, talks, master classes!

Open for Membership Courses Exhibitions Demonstrations Gallery

ur fine art atelier hosts 50 artists and has been around for over 40 years. Specialising in all things screenprint, etching, lithography and relief printmaking and many other forms of print.

30-42 Waring Street, BT1 2ED office@bpw.org.uk | www.bpw.org.uk | Tel 028 9023 1323 73

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES SPECIAL FOCUS

HISTORY’S THREAD: MULLARNEY AT HIGHLANES GALLERY

The Maurice Williamson Boys’ Brigade Heritage Museum

One of the finest spaces on the island, Highlanes Gallery opens with a homage, or ‘femage’ to artist Janet Mullarney, who died last year. Elements of Mullarney’s critically acclaimed 2015 exhibition My Mind’s i, recently acquired to the collection is presented with other sculptural, installation and collage work from across her career. In the exhibition, small fragile sculptures are placed against simple backdrops within a heightened lighting scheme, allowing mysterious theatrical scenes to unfold. The juxtaposition of these small seemingly insignificant figures against large open spaces evoke a sense of anarchic independence as well as alluding to the subversive interior of the artist’s mind. My Minds I seeks to express an inner vision suggesting the vastness of experience and the aloneness of each individual in their journey through life.

Situated within a tranquil setting of The Boys’ Brigade’s Ganaway Training and Activity Centre in the Ards Peninsula between Millisle and Ballywalter, the Museum is open every Tuesday and Wednesday and at other times by appointment. The façade is designed to replicate the Charlotte Street Mission Hall, Donegall Pass Belfast, where The BB was formed in Ireland in 1888. Among the array of BB artefacts and memorabilia, the gallery space features displays that depict significant times in the context of The BB since its formation and is open each September as part of the European Heritage Open Days.

ganaway.co.uk

The Boys’ Brigade (Belfast Battalion) Boys’ Brigade House 14 May Street BELFAST BT1 4NR belfastbb.org.uk 74

Highlanes Gallery gratefully acknowledges the on-going ﬁnancial support from Louth County Council, the Arts Council of Ireland, as well as Patrons, Benefactors & Friends. Janet Mullarney: My Mind’s i 2 – 12 June 2021 Highlanes Gallery is open Wednesday – Saturday, 10.30am – 4.30pm Pre-booking advised, but walk-ups facilitated. Visitors details are taken for contact tracing.

MUSEUMS AND GALLERIES SPECIAL FOCUS

BOYS’ BRIGADE AT HOME AND ITS FUTURE

Ulster Tatler talks to Chief Executive of The Boys’ Brigade Belfast Battalion • What does a typical day look like?

I try to maintain a focus on developing programmes and activities and providing relevant resources to support our volunteer leaders. I can go from answering a query on safeguarding to liaising with other youth work sector colleagues to engaging with funding bodies about potential projects that seek to provide additional opportunities alongside BB Programmes. Working with my staff team and other BB colleagues, we engage with volunteer leaders on a daily basis to provide guidance and support in their work with young people so that we can increase the personal development and life skills of members.

• What’s happening at The Boys’ Brigade at the moment?

With Covid restrictions, our engagement with young people and their Leaders has changed dramatically as meeting face-to-face has largely not been possible. BB has continued, albeit in a very different way than what we have been accustomed to, through a blend of virtual meetings using online technology to regular postings through social media. One big success over the past twelve months has been the introduction of ‘BB AT HOME’. We introduced a number of online competitions such as fantasy football, creative arts and crafts along with virtual competitions such as musician of the year, bake off, BB Pop Star, to name but a few.

• Tell us what will be happening over the summer months.

Traditionally, the summer period is when we have summer camps, weekend trips and day visits before taking a well-earned break. Last year, due, these were largely paused so we are looking forward to restrictions being sufﬁciently eased that will allow these to take place this year. The BB recently launched its ‘Go Wild Challenge’ that aims to get young people out into the great outdoors. A series of challenges such as forest gyms, twig towers, nature games, mini beast trails, den building, wildlife photography, survival shelters, water sports will compliment normal BB outdoor activities such as pioneering and orienteering. We also look forward to re-opening our BB Heritage Museum to visitors and plan to take part in the European Heritage Open Days in September.

EXHIBITION: SHIRTS, SINGERS AND SEWING The Tower Museum and Guildhall in Derry have reopened, with an array of new exhibitions and content for visitors and full COVID-19 health and safety measures in place. In the Tower Museum permanent exhibitions have been refreshed with new captions and displays and a new tour guide app will be introduced in multiple languages for the museum’s Story of Derry exhibition. The Tower Museum’s new exhibition Shirts, Singers and Sewing is also open to the public, telling the story of the shirt industry in the Northwest and the role of a predominately female workforce supplying the ﬁnest shirts to the world whilst contributing to the rapid growth of the city and a strong community. In the exhibition visitors can see some original artefacts from the shirt factories as well as stories form those who worked there. Another major exhibition, Colmcille: Man and Myths launched on Thursday 27th May and looks at the story of the foundation of the settlement of Doire and the stories surrounding St. Colmcille and his legacy around the world.

Tower Museum Derry - Londonderry - Doire

Explore, Experience and Enjoy the Tower Museum towermuseumcollections.com @towermuseum towermuseumcollections.com

The Tower Museum is open Monday to Sunday 9am to 5.30pm, and the Guildhall is open 9am to 8pm, Monday - Friday, and 9am to 6pm, Saturday and Sunday. 75

UlsterTatler FOCUS ON

Lisburn, Hillsborough and Moira

he Duchess of Cornwall recently visited Hillsborough Castle and the workshop of silversmith

Cara Murphy, who created the Grand National trophy. Hillsborough is within the Lisburn and Castlereagh District Council area and the historic centre of the village contains significant

amounts of Georgian architecture. Sitting south-west of Belfast and along the river Lagan, Lisburn is a lively retail and arts centre and the third-largest city in Northern Ireland. The city is regarded as the birthplace of Ireland’s linen industry,which is celebrated in the Irish Linen Centre. With a car-free city

centre, Lisburn is an ideal shopping spot. The city’s picturesque parks are also a definite go-to! Also part of the Lisburn and Castlereagh District Council area is Moira, a village located in Co. Down. The village hosts a stunning 40 acre parkland known as Moira Demesne and incorporates historical trees, picnic sites and a children’s play area.

COLUMN / HAIR MATTERS

Hair Matters...

with Shauna McAuley

Shauna McAuley Hair has been in business for four years now and Shauna has been hairdressing for over 20 years. Shauna has built a reputation for creating beautiful modern hair and is a L’Oréal education partner. Her salon is situated in Lisburn and is the perfect place to relax while getting the ultimate hair experience. Shauna has won many awards including Ulster Tatler Hair Salon of the year in 2018.

FIRST CLASS EXPERIENCE

As Covid-19 restrictions ease, we are still doing everything we can to ensure your safety here at Shauna McAuley Hair. On top of the regular precautions, we also have just one of us to take you through the entire process. This consistency also helps provide the best for our customers and includes a one-to-one consultation to fully understand your needs. Lockdown gave us a chance to reﬂect on how we could further enhance your experience at the salon. We have introduced massage chairs at our basins and offer massaging head treatments and aromatherapy oils.

HAIR TRENDS

70’S ARE BACK

After years of long styles, The Haircut seems to be making a comeback. Mullets, bangs and so many layered shags – the 70’s are back and they’re taking over hair! For summer 2021, we ‘ve got our eye on the haircut style and colour trends that have swept TikTok and celebrities.

SUMMER COLOUR

Hit pause on your purple shampoo/ toner repeat cycle. Golden honey blonde is quickly becoming a favourite and I couldn’t be happier. 90’s but make it modern! Yes, chunky highlights have returned, but this time they’re a little more subtle and blended, creating a seamless transition into eye-catching colour!

IT’S ALL ABOUT THE TEAM! Create ,cultivate, educate is what we are about! Working with like minded stylists helps us evolve. We all have the same ethnic which makes working together a dream! Gemma McCalmont hair and Lesley Thompson hair are both so creative and create top notch hair! Our studio is not only somewhere for our artists to create but for clients to enjoy the pure bliss and magic that is held within the walls.

Shauna McAuley, Gemma McCalmont and Lesley Thompson.

20 Castle Street Lisburn BT27 4XD shaunamcauley.co.uk shauna.mcauley@hotmail.com

WINNER! SALON OF THE YEAR

MY schedule of practical cookery sessions, wine tasting classes and amazing demonstration afternoons with Darina and Rachel Allen and Rory O’Connell. 3. What was your first job? I started working in the Bar and Grill at James Street South in March 2015 and took over the larder and pastry section. I really enjoyed my time working there and learnt a lot while having endless craic with the rest of the team in the kitchen. However, after just over a year of working the long hours, I realised I would need to rethink things if I was going to be able to commit to the other aspects of my life that I was missing out on. 4. How did you come up with the name and brand? I knew I wanted to call my cake business BENNINGTONS as I knew that if I ended up using it for years, I couldn’t go oﬀ it as it’s just my name! I knew I wanted a special kind of ‘B’ as it was always my favourite letter to pipe when writing ‘Happy Birthday’ on a cake in chocolate. Now I am not satisﬁed with any item that doesn’t have some form of the B on it!

KAREN BENNINGTON Owner of Benningtons

1. When did you start baking? I used to make traybakes with my Granny B when I was little but it was really while I was at Methody that I started baking properly and trying to make new things when it was my turn for bun rota. My friends used to joke that bun rota was my catwalk and made it my turn much more frequently than everyone else! This might have been why I once had no homework to hand in but plenty of cakes and treats to share with the teachers to make up for it! 2. Where did you train? When I ﬁnished upper 6th at Methody, I had the A Level results to go on and study Music at university, but I had my heart set on going to Ballymaloe Cookery School in Cork. I started the 12-week course in September 2014 and it remains the most amazing experience of my life to date! It’s an incredible place set on its own 100-acre organic farm. As a student I was able to use the freshest produce grown right there on the farm, and learn how to milk the cows, make butter and cheese and bake so many diﬀerent types of bread! We also had extra gardening and butchery classes on top of the busy

5. What are your best selling products? When it comes to celebration cakes, the most popular ﬂavour is lemon and raspberry. I make my own raspberry jam and lemon curd which is what makes this so special. I also do a cream tea package which is very popular for celebrations and gatherings. Each package for two people includes scones, mini sponge cakes, brownies, mini traybakes, mini cupcakes and petit fours along with a jar of Benningtons Raspberry Jam, a pot of clotted cream and two Punjana tea bags. 6. What do you love most about your job? I put so much love and care into the packaging and presentation of my bakes and I love seeing how my cakes and treats can absolutely make someone’s day. I love knowing that I’ve made someone’s birthday, anniversary, wedding or weekend so much more delicious. It’s a lovely way to contribute to someone’s celebration. 7. Have you always wanted to have your own business? When I was 16 I said I wanted to have a cake shop by the time I was 25. I remember in my careers meeting at Ballymaloe with Darina, she said, “Why 25, why not now?” I was a bit taken aback because I thought, well surely I’m too young…? However, I 78

still feel very young now at 25 and I have had the experience of working in a busy restaurant kitchen, working in cafes training adults with learning difficulties and autism and teaching cookery classes in the NOW Group. I am so glad I explored different jobs and environments as it shaped the way I wanted my business to operate. I have my professional bakery in Wallace Village and I have time slots Wednesday-Saturday for customers to collect their online orders. This allows me to bake everything fresh to order and be available to chat to the customers when they arrive to pick up their cakes and treats. It’s a very satisfying way to work and guarantees that every order placed on my website is made by me personally. 8. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work? I am incredibly grateful to be a member of Jonathan Ireland’s choir Concentio. When I’m there it feels like I’m back at rehearsals with the Methody Chapel Choir! I also direct and choreograph a pantomime each year for Lambeg Players which we perform in the Island Arts Centre in Lisburn and we do a play each summer. Obviously these things have been put on hold for now, but I am so looking forward to getting back! My other favourite things are going to Reform pilates classes on the Lisburn road and going to the cinema to see anything and everything! 9. Who has been your biggest influence? Definitely my family. My parents have run their own business since finishing art college in 1982 and they are so supportive and have shown me how to do what I love, and do it well. My sister Christina is the most determined and driven person I’ve ever met and is a perfect example of someone doing what they love most and going after their own success by working incredibly hard. I love watching her perform on stage and screen and cannot wait to see her performing again once theatres reopen. My hilarious brother John always reminds me that there’s no point doing something unless you’re going to believe you’re the best at it. If you’re not first, you’re last!

10. FAVOURITE Movie: All the Marvel Avengers ﬁlms Band/Musician: Kate Rusby Book: Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince Restaurant: Deane and Decano Holiday Destination: Disneyland Paris or Ballymaloe! Drink: Fortnum & Mason Christmas Spiced Tea Meal: Homemade pizza with my siblings

Benningtons launched online in November 2020, allowing customers to order cakes and treats for collection and local delivery from its professional bakery in Wallace Village, Lisburn. Every delicious order from Benningtons is a handmade experience brought to you by Karen Bennington.

Karen is a passionate baker with years of experience making delicious cakes and treats. She trained at the world renowned Ballymaloe Cookery School under the watchful eye of Darina and Rachel Allen, and cake goddess Pamela Black. Her expertise, delicate touch and attention to detail is clear in every bite. Karen is an active part of the community and has a passion for spreading joy. A delightful shared moment with food, family and friends is an irreplaceable memory that she is thrilled to be a part of.

“Karen made us the most incredible vegan chocolate Oreo cake for my partner’s birthday. Honestly the best cake we have ever had, vegan or not (and we’ve had a lot of cake).” ZAYA DAVISON

“Most delicious lemon and raspberry cake for my daughter’s 18th, so light and full of flavour. It was a big hit. You provided a first class professional service from start to finish and the very personal touch of bringing the cake to my car at collection. It’s ★★★★★ from me.”

“Karen’s cakes look fabulous and most importantly taste fabulous too! Great range of flavours. My go-to now for any celebratory occasion!”

MARIA MCALLISTER

@BenningtonsCakes www.benningtonscakes.com

CLODAGH FOGARTY

LISBURN SPECIAL FOCUS

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LISBURN SPECIAL FOCUS

Visit our showrooms or order online bathline-bathrooms.com

The Soda Popz Matthew and Michelle Forsythe playing dance hall tribute songs in the online Mayor’s festival.

L&CCC Mayor Cllr Hon. Nicholas Trimble and Lady Mayoress Sarah Trimble with Emer Maguire and the Soda Popz.

MAYOR’S FESTIVAL AT HOME Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council delivered an alternative Mayor’s parade this year. The ﬁnale featured the Soda Popz playing a fantastic tribute to those lively dance hall days to take you on a well-deserved trip down memory lane. Local four-time TEDx speaker Emer Maguire added a feelgood, unique vibe to the day! This year, the Mayor’s chosen charities are the Lisburn and Dundonald Foodbanks whose important work provides a lifeline to many people in the Lisburn & Castlereagh area. 81

L&CCC Mayor and Lady Mayoress with the organising team from MayWe Naomh Galloway, Lois Kennedy, Sara Jane Montgomery and Paul O’Shaughnessy.

HILLSBOROUGH SPECIAL FOCUS

Year 10 enjoying a PE lesson in our Outdoor Fitness Area.

BEECHLAWN SCHOOL Beechlawn School is a Co-educational Controlled School catering for pupils with Additional Educational Needs (AEN), this includes MLD (Moderate Learning Difﬁculties) and ASD (Autism). The school, is situated in a pleasantly landscaped seven-acre site on the outskirts of the historic village of Hillsborough, Northern Ireland. At Beechlawn School we offer a range of qualiﬁcations at Entry level, in areas of the following: Literacy, Numeracy, Art, Technology, ICT, P.E. Science, Motor Vehicle and Road User Studies, Horticulture, Performance Skills and Life and Living Skills. There are also some GCSE and A level equivalent courses available. We work closely with a range of awarding organisations for accreditation which include CCEA, OCR, City & Guilds, Ascentis and WJEC to attain the most suitable course to suit our learner’s individual needs. Pupils also have to option to complete a Level 1 course at Lisburn SERC in Vocational Studies. The school also offers, competitions and courses in the form of the John Muir Award, Duke of Edinburgh Award, Scouts, New Horizons and Travel Training along with varied projects.

. Jodie McGrogan came 55th Lewis Cain, a year 12 student on the schools moped.

in the UK and 396th in the world, Max Helferty was 59th in the UK 426th in the world in Mathletics.

zzzz Charlie Irwin, Caleb Dickson and Blake Shaw in

Aisling, Danny and Amelie Hillen Dr with Teddy the dog. the Eve, Science lab with the Principal Atkinson.

Year 14 Duke of Edinburgh students with their Certiﬁcates after completing their Skills Environmental Project through Grassroots Challenge.

. Beechlawn School have received their Forest Schools Accreditation. The picture shows Mr Clarke and students engaging in activities.

. Harry Weatherup, Year

12 student in our fully equipped Sensory room.

All pupils in Year 12 have completed a qualiﬁcation in Art and Design. In the picture are some GCSE and Entry Level students with a sample of their lovely colourful batik work.

The year 15 students working in their Sensory Garden in the school grounds Pallets donated by Stanﬁeld NI were made into furniture at SERC. A restful area, created to help stimulate the 5 senses and utilised by the whole school. The pupils have handcrafted games and planted herbs and colourful plants.

HILLSBOROUGH SPECIAL FOCUS

Why I Love

Hillsborough Ulster Tatler speaks to architect, Barrie Todd.

SHAW& COMPANY SOLICITORS

How long have you lived in Hillsborough? I have lived in Hillsborough for 35 years.

Your local company providing all the legal services and advice you need

What do you like most about living in Hillsborough? The variety of available facilities e.g. shops; restaurants; bars; schools; health and dental clinics; churches; community halls; parkland; tennis club etc. all in a close-knit architectural and historic setting plus frequent public transport services to Lisburn and Belfast.

Our services

• LITIGATION • FAMILY MATTERS • ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES • WILLS • EMPLOYMENT

Does Hillsborough have any hidden gems? Yes. The 17th century Fort; early 18th century Parish Church; Hillsborough Castle and grounds; The Forest Park centred around a lake with miles of walks through different routes. Where do you like to dine and socialise in the local area? The restaurant / bar and beer garden known as The Parson’s Nose. Barrie is one of the founders of Ask an Architect for further details visit: askanarchitect-ni.com

Q&A

• DEBT RECOVERY • COMPANY LAW • MATRIMONIAL & DIVORCE • HOUSE SALES & PURCHASES

6 Ballynahinch Street, Hillsborough BT26 6AW Tel: 028 9268 2500 Email: info@shawandco.org www.shawandco.org

His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales and the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Brandon Lewis.

. The Duchess of Cornwall

signing the visitors’ book.

The Prince of Wales signing the visitors’ book.

ROYAL VISIT AT HILLSBOROUGH CASTLE The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall visited Hillsborough Castle and met with the Northern Ireland Secretary of State Brandon Lewis.

Hiszzzz Royal Highness The Prince of Wales with First Minister Arlene Foster. 83

LISBURN/HILLSBOROUGH/MOIRA SPECIAL FOCUS

Why I Love

Moira

Ulster Tatler speaks to Kara-lyn Macaulay from Karan Francis Health and Beauty Clinic.

How long have you been in Moira? I opened my business, Karan Francis in Moira 15 years ago. What do you like most about Moira? Moira is bursting with independent retailers, award-winning restaurants and speciality food stores. A really accessible village on foot making it a hugely desirable place to live and visit. Does Moira have any hidden gems? There are so many hidden gems, but I couldn’t reveal them all! I think my favourite is the demesne. It’s a stunning park with phenomenal views, great play park , beautiful green spaces and wooded areas. It’s such a treat to have it on our door step. Where d you like to dine and socialise in the local area? I have two young children, Evie Belle age three and Finlay age seven, so eating out has to be child friendly. My favourite has to be the Fat Gherkin, accommodating for kids and enough room for prams with boutique outdoor dining. The coffee is awesome and their varied menu features many local suppliers. Such friendly staff and the peanut butter slice is like a party for your mouth!

New arrivals

A fun and lively colour palette which creates a fresh and contemporary aesthetic for your home.

To advertise in the

Ulster Tatler

JACKSONS

KEEPING YOU IN THE PICTURE

call us now on 028 9066 3311 or email: sales@ulstertatler.com.

OF MOIRA

100 Main Street T. 028 9261 3660 Free parking at rear

IN N E W V O LO K D C O L

SOCIETY

WEDDINGS

Duggan & Cunningham Miss Joanne Duggan, daughter of Damien and Ann Duggan from Castlewellan, married Declan Cunningham, son of Francis and Karen Cunningham from Dundrum. The wedding took place on 11th September 2021 with a reception at Canal Court Hotel, Newry. Photography by William Studio Ballynahinch

SOCIETY

WEDDINGS

LO LO CK VE DO IN W N

Taylor & Gilmore

Miss Jennie Taylor, daughter of Deirdre Taylor and Dr George Robin Taylor from Dunraven Park, Belfast, married Chris Gilmore, son of Melanie Jane Gilmore and Stevie Gilmore from Sandhill Parade, Belfast. The wedding took place on 25th March 2021 at Leighinmohr House, Ballymena. Photography by Jervis Wedding Photography

INTERVIEW

Love After Lockdown Ulster Tatler speaks to Gardiner Brothers’ Michael Warke about how the family-run business adapted during the strange times of the Covid crisis and how they can provide the perfect diamonds for lovers after lockdown. Gardiner Brothers is open for business again after lockdown, how can your customers go about visiting the store? We are currently working on an appointment basis only, this is very much for the safety of our staﬀ and customers. With the social distancing restrictions in place we are restricting the number of customers in store at any one time, it

As an established business of over 80 years, how did you keep positive and adapt during what was an uncertain time? I think we have come through this a lot more positively than many other businesses. A combination of a large customer base and strong online presence has meant we have been able to keep working to a certain extent during the crisis. Our customers know the extremely high quality they will receive from us, which has given them the conﬁdence to continue to purchase online. It has also given us time to work through bespoke designs with customers who are planning ahead for proposals in late summer.

Our Aurora Diamond range has been extremely popular recently. We are constantly bringing out new styles and increasing the range to keep up with demand. We are ﬁnding that when they see the unique sparkle from the Aurora Diamond they instantly fall in love with it. People who were unable to buy birthday, anniversary gifts etc over the past few months can now do so, what products do you think would make the perfect present?

always gives us time to clean rings and jewellery between customers. As guidelines are constantly changing we would advise any customers to phone our showroom ﬁrst, just to check on current procedures and book an appointment.

Everyone’s taste is completely diﬀerent so it is hard to specify one style. We have an extensive range of jewellery instore which is specially selected to meet everyone’s

What measures have you put in place for social distancing? We have had to make a number of changes to our showroomand how we work. We have protective screens up in all sales oﬃces and till stations. There is a limit for the number of customers in store at any one time and we are cleaning stock each morning and between customers.

What style of rings are on trend at present?

With restrictions now lifting do you feel that there will be a surge in engagements? Yes, we have already been extremely busy in the short time our showroom has been back open. During the lockdown we have been spending a lot of time advising customers on diﬀerent designs and diamond options for rings. I think there could be an end of summer boom for proposals.

taste. We also oﬀer a completely bespoke design service, this is a great way to design something completely unique for any occasion.

The Aurora Diamond is designed to be visibly brighter than any other diamond. Its brilliance explodes with light, catching the eye and sparkling with life. You can visually see the difference. No other diamond has been cut like this before. It’s simply… More Brilliant. More Beautiful.

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WWW.GARDINERBROTHERS.CO.UK #TheAuroraDiamond

THE SCENE

Jasper Castel from ‘Hellbent’ and Maurice McLean (Olive tree bakes and preserves).

David Catherwood and Natasha Hadley with schnauzer Rory.

The Armstrong family from Guillemot deli are Rosie, Rachel, Oli, grandad Ashley and dad Ricky.

BANGOR MARKET The sunshine was out for the weekly Bangor market. It is one of the largest open-air markets in Northern Ireland and meets every Wednesday morning with stalls offering a wide selection of the freshest fruit and vegetables, a fantastic range of ﬁsh, irresistible home-baked cakes and much, much more.

Lesley-Ann McGrath, Mya and Amy Erikson.

Jamie Clegg, Susie Clegg and Conar Macleod with dogs Callie and Cooper.

Phoenix and Laura Baxter.

Joan and David Jamison with Bruno.

NEW IRISH LITERATURE

SUMMER MUST-READS

Here we look at some of the latest releases which are sure to make it onto your spring must-read list.

DINO DARKO: THE DINOSAUR WHO WAS AFRAID OF THE DARK Published by Across & Down Publishing and written by Belfast author Darren Walsh, Dino Darko tells the tale of one brave boy’s quest to battle the dark and make it through the night without his night light. Inspired by his twin sons, Coen and Rylee, this ‘roarsome’ childrens book will capture the imaginations of kids and adults alike with its heartwarming story and striking illustrations. This paperback book is perfect for bedtime stories and can be bought online at all good bookshops and outlets.

BREAK THE CHAINS Jenny White, a nurse from Newtownards, has taken the time in lockdown to write and publish her ﬁrst novel. She describes Break The Chains as a romance with a dark twist. Jenny says that the main character, Jane is inspirational because she remained positive despite all the trials and tribulations she had experienced throughout her life. “These range from child abuse, bullying, to having an abusive partner, and when things started to look good for her sge had a miscarriage and met another abusive partner. At the end of the book she is still ﬁghting, still strong and still wants a better life for herself despite meeting hurdle after hurdle.” Jenny believes people will be able to relate to the strength of people and especially the strength of women encapsulated in the book. Break The Chains by Jenny White Published through Amazon

A SHORT, HOPEFUL GUIDE TO CLIMATE CHANGE This is the story of humans and ﬁre and how we’ve changed the world. It’s a story about our civilisation and our environment, about wildﬁres and glaciers, war and wilderness. It’s about tiny ocean creatures, giant machines, and teenagers protesting on city streets. It’s about climate change, and the millions of people who are already taking action to do something about it. Written in a conversational style with a narrative arc, and illustrated with cartoons, A Short Hopeful Guide To Climate Change is, above all an expression of Oisín McGann’s fascination with how the world works. Published in collaboration with Friends of the Earth Ireland, this might be the most eco-friendly children’s book ever published! Vegan inks, no plastic components and all fully recyclable: this book is part of the solution. A Short Hopeful Guide to Climate Change by Oisín McGann Published May 2021, Little Island Books

NEWS

SPREADING THE NEWS We look at some of the stories making headlines this month.

RESERVE2SERVE

Ross Porter and JonJo Power.

Hospitality Ulster is pleased to appoint Reserve2Serve as an official Hospitality Ulster Partner. The Reserve2Serve system delivers an endto-end solution that will help operators across the hospitality industry coordinate and execute their reopening plans while helping build back customer confidence. Reserve2Serve is a great example of cross sector collaboration based on consultation and innovation and is reflective of the grit, resilience and ingenuity across our hospitality industry and its robust supply chains. This system can play a key role in reopening hospitality when restrictions allow, while the built-in functionality of the system will help businesses to predict, react and adapt to the inevitable challenges ahead. As we chart a course to economic recovery from the devastating pandemic, few industries face as daunting a challenge as the hospitality sector which has suffered more than most as a result of several lockdowns and the continued turbulence presented by ongoing mutations of

LADIES FIRST

the deadly virus, growing vaccine scepticism and disrupted vaccine supply chains across the continent”. JonJo Power, Founder R2S says; “As the hospitality industry eyes a return to trading in the shadow of COVID (which has exposed the industry as vulnerable) we will be operating in a new environment of regulatory framework and altered consumer behaviours. R2S was conceived, developed and brought to market in order to boost consumer confidence and help encourage footfall across all hospitality businesses with compliance, confidence and traceability at the forefront. Ross Porter, Founder R2S, Podium Apps comments; “Locally developed and uniquely Northern Irish, R2S operates as a multi-platform booking system, a covid compliance rating feature, full track and trace functionality and a ‘kitty’ generator for the customer which creates a guaranteed minimum spend for the operator, turning expensive no shows into profit.”

ON CLOUD NINE

Lough Erne Resort has become the ﬁrst 5-star venue in Northern Ireland to boast an all-female General Manager and Deputy Manager team following the recent appointment of Roisin McFadden as Deputy General Manager. With guests now booking even longer stays this summer, the resort’s leadership team has been working hard to ensure that there is so much more to help guests to recharge and enjoy a relaxing escape in the countryside when the time is Roisin McFadden and Joanne Walsh. right. Joanne says: “I think that good old female attitude of rolling up the sleeves and making it happen took over after the initial chaos in March and we’ve been very busy planning. Roisin adds: “2021 is set to be the year of the staycation and our goal is to create a guest experience that is second to none. “As well as all the activities in the resort there is lots to explore in the local area with Enniskillen Castle, the ‘Stairway to Heaven’ at Cuilcagh Boardwalk plus many more attractions on our doorstep.”

Northern Ireland digital accountancy specialist Exchange Accountants has achieved Platinum Partner status with market-leading cloud accountancy software provider Xero. Lisburn-based Exchange was the Exchange Accountants director, Conor Walls. ﬁrst accountancy practice in Northern Ireland to be recognized as a Xero Gold Partner and the company has now been awarded the highest level of partner status, having introduced more than 500 clients to Xero’s groundbreaking software system. Conor Walls, Director of Business Development at Exchange Accountants, believes that the company’s elevated Xero status will beneﬁt both the practice and its clients. “We recognised at a very early stage where accountancy was headed digitally and made a company decision to enhance our digital and cloud accountancy offering to clients,” said Mr Walls. “That decision is now standing us in good stead as world events have rapidly accelerated the uptake of digital and cloud services - not to mention the further roll out of Making Tax Digital for Income Tax which is due in April 2023.

Summer prices for self-catering in one of the resort’s luxury lodges start from £995 for 3 nights, £1,475 for 5 nights and £1,995 for 7 nights. Hotel accommodation this summer starts from £199 per room.

For further information check out: www.exchangeaccountants.com

Kitchen Design /

A RECIPE FOR A GREAT KITCHEN THIS MONTH ULSTER TATLER IS GIVING YOU A COMPREHENSIVE KITCHEN DESIGNERS GUIDE, PACKED WITH THE INDUSTRY’S BEST SUPPLIERS TO HELP YOU CREATE YOUR DREAM KITCHEN.

Image courtesy of Sub Zero and Wolf.

he kitchen has always been the heart of the home, and now more than ever we appreciate our kitchen spaces and what they have to offer – not only for practical and domestic use, but for a place to socialise and interact with friends and family. With more time at home, it has been the ideal time to re-vamp and re-think our living spaces, not to mention with less opportunity to spend money on holidays, we have a bit of extra to spend on home improvements instead. It is important when choosing your next kitchen that you find the perfect balance between creating a timeless, yet striking aesthetic – but also take into consideration the practical elements, such as storage and space. Kitchens have never been as stylish and innovative as they are now, so there are certainly some key design elements to consider when you go for your kitchen design consultation. New technology is a big part of emerging trends in 2021, whether it be boiling water on demand

taps, hidden extractor fans or touch screen refrigerators – life is being made easier with these forward-thinking details. Colour is always top of the list when it comes to kitchen design. Everyone has different tastes when it comes to colour, but for 2021 and beyond it looks like grey and neutral tones are being replaced with darker tones, which have especially become popular for worktops and furnishings. Pops of colour are always a great way to break up the room and add a quirky twist – green and blue shades are particularly stylish for 2021. If you want to keep up with trends, the ‘industrial’ look is ever-present, with combinations of metal and concrete features, giving your kitchen a stripped back appearance. No matter what your budget, or style, leading kitchen suppliers will be able to advise you on the right kitchen for you and will guide you through the process from the first consultation to completion.

Touchscreen Built-in Oven

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The Word

RECIPE FOR THE SUMMER Jet-setting might be off the cards this year – but on the bright side, the stay-at-home order has finally been lifted, and summer is fast approaching. So get your friends and family together, grab a blanket and a bottle and prepare for some serious alfresco dining in any one of this country’s beautiful green spots. No self-respecting picnic would be complete without a generous helping of the mighty hummus – right? Not only is it incredibly quick and easy to whip up a delicious batch of this Middle Eastern summer staple – it also happens to be incredibly good for you. Research has linked the ingredients of hummus to a variety of impressive health benefits, including the reduction of inflammation, improving blood sugar control, better digestive health, lower heart disease risk and even weight loss. It’s not often you can say that about something that tastes so delightfully decadent and moreish. Plant-based nutritionist and foodie influencer Holly White has shared her favourite hummus recipe, using Roasted Red Peppers and Tahini from the Frontier Foods product range. Roasted Red Pepper Hummus Ingredients • 1 x 400g Tin of Chickpeas - drained and rinsed (save the water to make aquafaba mayo)

PLAN AHEAD

• 1 x Jar of Frontier Foods roasted red peppers • 3 x Tablespoons of Frontier Foods tahini • 1 x Garlic clove - crushed • 2-3 x Tablespoons of filtered water, depending on the consistency desired • Juice of half a lemon • Salt and pepper to season • A slug of olive oil Method • Blend all the ingredients, except the red peppers, until a silky-smooth consistency is achieved. • Pulse in the red peppers. I like a little texture, so I don’t over blend them. • Drizzle with olive oil and serve immediately. Your hummus will keep for up to five days stored in an airtight container in the fridge. If it lasts that long! The Roasted Red Peppers (RRP €2.59 / £2.00) and Tahini (RRP €3.99 / £3.00) from Frontier Foods are available in stockists nationwide, including Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Super Valu, Fresh Stores & Eurospar. For more information visit www.frontierfoods.ie

First things first, ask yourself how you intend to use the room. What type of cooking do you do, how many people are in the household, what styles do you like? Then be sure to see what’s available, designing a kitchen is rarely a routine thing to do so few people know what they want before the exploration and research start. Different appliances will let you design the room in different ways. Range cookers will use wall space while downdraft hobs can be placed anywhere on the worktop. Different styles of kitchen will affect what layout you can achieve. Traditional styles may not suit a raised oven for example. Figure out where your priorities lie - do you want to put more of your budget into the solid worktops, or would you rather upgrade the cabinetry or appliances? The first visit to the Alwood showroom can be exciting! There is usually something new or different that you may not have considered or ever heard about. Often you will leave with more ideas to think about than before you come in! Take your time, enjoy the design stage, and don’t worry. They’ll not let you get it wrong. For more information visit www.alwoodkitchens.com

DESIGN INSIGHT

Striking Encaustic black floor tiles. Porcellana Tile Studio www.porcellantilestudio.com

A sleek kitchen design by Alwood Kitchens. Alwood Kitchens www.alwoodkitchens.com

Neptune’s Charlecote cabinetry with Ludlow bar stools. Neptune www.neptune.com Black and white dinner set from Next. Next www.next.co.uk 98

The kitchen sink collection A subtle introduction of modern metallics to match kitchen handles and trims

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Concrete

IN PROFILE:

MICK SMITH HAFELE IRELAND

How has Hafele coped throughout the pandemic? Have you had to diversify in this ever changing market? We’ve been very fortunate, as an ‘essential business’ we have been able to remain open throughout the pandemic. We are hardware wholesalers, home appliance distributors as well as having a large range of safety and PPE products. Last March and April it felt like hand sanitiser was all we sold! With a product range as large and diverse as ours we sell into multiple channels and don’t depend on one particular industry so this has also helped. Hafele has been the cornerstone supplying much of the kitchen and interiors industry for many years now how do you see the next 12 months panning out for the interiors sector? Everyone has been locked up at home for 12 months now. They’ve been unable to travel or socialise. I think a lot of people have taken a good look at their surroundings and decided to put money into their homes. The end of last year was as busy as I can ever remember it being. Ireland – North and South – is experiencing a home improvement boom and we are happy to be here to help out! Our customers are reporting full order books and I think we will be busy well into next year. With all the normal trade shows and travel being cancelled over the past 12 months how have you kept up to date with the latest trends in the industry? We are not the only ones who can’t go to exhibitions – none of our customers or suppliers can either. This has forced us to all become a little more creative with our communication and we’ve probably spoken to our key suppliers more over the last year than we would in a ‘normal’ year. Zoom has replaced international travel. Our biggest trade fair is Interzum held bi-annually in Cologne, Germany. It was scheduled to take place this May but instead we will be hosting an online exhibition called Hafele Discoveries. This will showcase all of our latest ranges and developments. Have clients’ expectations changed in the past 12 months? We’ve all been on a difficult journey over the last year. First of all COVID hit China and had a huge impact on our supply chains. Everyone was still working and running out of everyday essentials such as hinges and drawers is not a great way to make friends and influence people. Then in the spring we got over our stock issues but no one needed it. From June onwards we experienced unprecedented demand, which, at times, we found it difficult to keep up with. None of our suppliers expected such a wave of orders

after lockdown and it took us all a while to change gear. Our customers came with us on this journey. There was a six-week period where I spent more time calling people to apologise for letting them down than I did actively selling to them! But we all got through it in the end. Our customers now have a deeper understanding of our business and the expertise they can call on here when needed. Has there been a shift in product popularity since the start of the pandemic? PPE has always been in our range, mainly workshop masks and latex gloves, but now it’s an important product group for us. Masks, gloves, sanitisers, dispensers, wipes, disposable boiler suits – all have gone from being small niche sales to items almost everyone now buys. What are the main trends going to be for the remainder of 2021 in the kitchen industry? The biggest trend is going to be catching up on all that lost time! The most noticeable trends from a fittings point of view is a move to slimmer drawer profiles and sleek handle-less design is now mainstream. Smart technology is finding its was into the 100

kitchen and our lighting systems can now be integrated with mass market products such as Alexa. Register for Hafele Discoveries and you can see these items and all our new products in a digital exhibition setting. Is there any new exciting product launches from Hafele this year? Our product range is constantly evolving and with the large stable of brands we have at our disposal we always have something new to introduce. The way we all work is changing and people who would not have considered working from home to be a viable proposition a year ago now can’t imagine ever going back to the office. We have a new home office desk called ‘JobTisch’ (which sounds much better in German – in English it translates as job table!). It’s an electronic height adjustable sit/stand desk with 4 integrated sockets and 2 USB ports. As people are realising the whole working from home thing is something they’ll be doing for some time to come they no longer want to work on the corner of the kitchen table. This desk allows you to work sitting or standing and comes supplied complete and fully assembled on a single pallet in a wide range of colour options.

A R EC I P E FOR A G R E A T K I T CHE N

A. ROBINSON INTERIORS

Robinson Interiors has been voted ‘Kitchen Retailer of the Year’ on five occasions. Mark Robinson heads up one of the most talented kitchen design teams in the country. Established over 30 years ago, Robinson Interiors is a multi award-winning company, driven to the top by Mark and his brother Stuart. Mark holds prestigious accolades such as the first Irish kitchen designer to win the coveted No.1 U.K. Master Kitchen Retailer Award. The design team at Robinson’s includes five professional designers including architectural graduate Mike Grant. Modern techniques are used for designing, and are prepared using both ‘hand drawn’ and Computer Aided

techniques. The team at Robinson’s are a group of professionals that are not only technically astute but are also highly creative. “A dedicated interest in the entire cooking process is critical to achieving a safe and ergonomic environment,” Mark believes. “As kitchens are increasingly part of open plan dining and living spaces, Robinson Interiors’ full interior design skills are even more sought after. We bring added value to the client with advice on lighting, flooring and general décor,” says Mark. DESIGN PASSION Here, every designer is as passionate about food as they are kitchen design

and this matters. It provides real insight into the purpose, form and function you desire. It’s not simply about kitchens, rather creativity and detail. It’s about ensuring storage and food preparation areas work together, about the precise integration of ‘multi-purpose’ cooking, dining and living spaces – including flooring and lighting. Above all, it’s about your experience, about giving you a space that looks great and performs equally well – every day! BUSINESS EXPERTISE As you’d expect, Robinson Interiors has perfected the home transformation process. From first consultation, to final install, each step is a carefully co-ordinated, tried and tested process offering you total peace of mind, reassurance and minimal disruption. Don’t take the company’s word for it! Look at the industry recognition backing its claims. These awards prove exceptional quality standards and offer you absolute confidence in Robinson Interiors’ financial strength, professionalism and management expertise. Mark’s award-winning showroom at 10 Boucher Way has over 5,000 square feet of life-sized contemporary and classical kitchens on view. The smell of freshly brewed coffee and the sound of light jazz in the background help clients relax and focus on choosing their dream kitchen design. A Robinson Interiors 10 Boucher Way, Belfast, BT12 6RE design@robinsoninteriors.com www.robinsoninteriors.com 028 9068 3838

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conTemporary german kiTchens

c r e at i n g t h e d i f f e r e n c e

TradiTional handmade kiTchens

Supplier of

4 Falcon Road, BoucheR Road, BelFast Bt12 6Rd tel: 028 9031 2083 l WeB: WWW.cReativelivingni.co.uk

THE COMEBACK OF THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL KITCHEN AS WE USE THEM NOW MORE THAN EVER The Covid-19 pandemic has forced us to spend more time at home, which inevitably means that our kitchens have never been have been used, probably more than ever in our lifetimes. People are changing the way they live, work and socialise within their kitchen space. Kitchens have become home offices, classrooms and restaurants. New clients at Mode German Kitchens are more focused on functionality and practicality but also the aesthetics of the whole room. Previous clients, meanwhile, are enjoying their kitchens more than ever before – baking their own breads, cooking meals and eating together. Lockdown has reminded families of the importance of spending quality time together and we have found different activities to differentiate between the days and weeks while we are ‘staying home’. Spending more time in the home has meant that open-plan kitchens have been used extremely well. We have needed multi-functional spaces, which facilitate cooking, dining and living as well as the new office or schoolroom, which has arisen in recent months! For the past few years, we have been linking the kitchen, dining and living furniture in open-plan houses to create unique and multi-functional spaces. At the beginning of the pandemic, it seemed like everyone simultaneously thought ‘let’s make banana bread or our own pasta’ because it created a family activity as well as meeting a need due to the lack of supplies in shops. As our recipes changed and we bought more mixers, our kitchen storage needed to adapt. At Mode German Kitchens, they think deep drawers are one of the ultimate storage solutions and regularly add an internal drawer with a cutlery insert to 104

allocate spaces for all your necessary utensils. Their deep drawers, larders and corner units are much more efficient storage spaces than regular cupboards as you can see and access everything so much more easily and nothing gets lost for a decade at the back! Maybe you are also thinking of continuing with the baking and cooking when the restrictions are lifted and are considering updating your kitchen to suit your new lifestyle? Mode German Kitchens 162 Lisburn Road, Belfast, BT9 6AL www.modegermankitchens.co.uk E: studio@modegk.co.uk T: 028 9066 0011

F R E E C O N S U LTAT I O N A N D D E S I G N P R O C E S S We will design your kitchen to meet your brief, lifestyle and budget. Our 3D design program will allow you to see your kitchen in screen and virtually walk around it before making any final decisions. No job is too big or too small. We have an amazing team of tradesmen, or can work with yours, to transform your house into your dream home.

162 Lisburn Road, Belfast BT9 6AL | 028 9066 0011 | studio@modegk.co.uk www.modegermankitchens.co.uk

UlsterTatler FOCUS ON

Saintﬁeld, Carryduff and Ballynahinch T

he County Down village of Saintfield lies halfway between Belfast and Downpatrick and features the stunning Rowallane Garden, a National Trust site. Carryduff is nearby and is known for its having been awarded Best Kept Small Town twice by the NI Amenity Council. Nearby Ballynahinch was originally a market town. The town lies on the main A24 Belfast to Newcastle road, 15 miles south of Belfast. Ballynahinch includes a leisure centre, trendy shopping boutiques, bridal boutiques, interior design showrooms and a host of delicious restaurants and quaint cafes.

Ballynahinch

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Saint Mary’s Primary School, Saintfield: A Caring School, Serving the Community our approach to give extra classes and learning time when needed. We can offer small-group or one-to-one learning. SCHOOL HISTORY St Mary’s Primary School is approaching its 150th anniversary; we have been educating the children of Saintfield and the surrounding area since 1873. The school was originally located on Comber Street in the town, and its first teacher was a Mr Terence Monaghan. The school relocated to its current site in 1964. LOCATION AND AMENITIES St. Mary’s Primary School is conveniently located – easily accessible from Crossgar, Downpatrick, Belfast and Lisburn. MISSION AND VALUES St. Mary’s Primary School is a caring school, serving the community. Our mission is to enable each child to reach their full potential. We encourage our children to: • Be loving, kind, and charitable • Have a growth mindset • Confidently develop their unique gifts and talents • Become resilient, responsible citizens • Learn how to make reasonable and informed decisions in life, based on an appropriate awareness of global events, and an understanding of their rights as children; and • Develop a lifelong love of learning – and have fun whilst they learn. OUR APPROACH TO LEARNING At St. Mary’s Primary School, we pride ourselves on encouraging each child to explore their interests and maximise their own unique talents. Our staff are highly qualified, motivated, caring, and professional. We believe every child should have access to education in a safe environment where they can be supported in reaching their full potential. With Christian values at the heart of our children’s education, we deliver a broad, balanced, skills-based curriculum. We provide a supportive environment for the children in our care, tailoring

The school enjoys an attractive elevated site on the outskirts of Saintfield, close to Rowallane Gardens. School accommodation is wheelchair accessible and comprises: three classrooms, a multi-purpose gym assembly hall/dining hall, a designated library/computer area, staff room and administration block. Visitors are assured a warm welcome and will see children’s work showcased throughout the school. Spacious playgrounds are surrounded by fields and mature trees and amenities available to the children include a

climbing frame, balance beams, sensory garden, and pond. We look forward to welcoming children to our nurture room. We offer tuition in violin, keyboard, and flute from visiting tutors. Children can avail of a range of extra-curricular activities including arts and crafts, sport, and ICT. A community playgroup is located onsite. The school also provides a Breakfast Club which runs from 8am and After School Care for children until 5pm daily – something that has proved invaluable to parents! ST. MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL IN THE COMMUNITY We at St. Mary’s Primary School are proud of our links with the local community, particularly our long-established relationships with Saintfield High School and the Academy Primary School. St. Mary’s Primary School contributes richly to community events such as Saintfield’s Summer Fair and Christmas Fair - and we regularly welcome visitors from local government, businesses, and charities to share in the life of our school. CHOOSE ST. MARY’S PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR YOUR CHILD We would be delighted to welcome your child to join our school. To make enquiries about sending your child to St Mary’s, please contact our Principal, Ms. Catherine Downey on 028 9751 0578 or cdowney732@C2ken.net. In the meantime, we invite you to enjoy a virtual tour of our school at www.stmaryssaintfield.co.uk.

St Mary’s Primary Introduce A New Sensory Room

www.stmaryssaintfield.co.uk 27 Old Grand Jury Road, Saintfield, Ballynahinch BT24 7JD

SAINTFIELD SPECIAL FOCUS

SPRING DAYS OUT Friends and family enjoyed days out at Saintﬁeld Market, Montalto estate in Ballynahinch and Ardnacashel Equestrian spring festival!

Stephen and Emma Scott with Ben and Grace.

New arrivals

A fun and lively colour palette which creates a fresh and contemporary aesthetic for your home.

19 year old Megan Dumigan and Rhyd Ddu Buster.

JACKSONS OF SAINTFIELD

Jacksons of Saintfield T. 028 9751 1429

. Emily McGowan and Alex Connolly. 110

BALLYNAHINCH SPECIAL FOCUS

WHY I LOVE BALLYNAHINCH

Q&A

Ulster Tatler speaks to All Play’s Hollie Dowling.

What do you love most about your job at All Play Ireland? I love the variety, every day is different and every scheme we deliver is unique. How do you like to relax outside work, do you have any hobbies? My 18-month old keeps me pretty busy, but I enjoy going to the gym and the cinema when I can!

Watsons Wedding Specialist

What do you love most about living/working in Ballynahinch? I grew up in the Ballynahinch area and have been at Allplay for almost 10 years. I also sit on the board for ‘The Edge’ youth centre so it is great being involved in the community in that way. I try to support local businesses where I can – including our Friday work breakfasts from Holly’s!

• Friendly efficient service • Wedding specialists •Bespoke design service • Venue styling • Chair cover, candelabra and fairy light backdrop hire • Complete floral package

Main Street Ballynahinch

Telephone Louise: 028 9756 1444

Are there any hidden gems in the area? Montalto Estate has some beautiful walks and does some great food.

www.watsonsweddings.com | watsonsweddings@outlook.com

Site: The Ark Open Farm

Allplay 12 Crabtree Rd Ballynahinch BT24 8RH NI 072650

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T +44 (0)28 9756 5129 E info@all-play.com @Allplay

all-play.com

Naomi’s of Ballynahinch, Ballynahinch’s bridal wear specialist, is one of Northern Irelands Longest Established and most succesful Bridal Salons

2 Belfast Road, Ballynahinch BT24 8DZ 028 9756 1899

THE SCENE

Gareth and Joanne Kidd celebrating lockdown baby Amber’s ﬁrst birthday.

Andrew and Tracy Tindle and son Harry from Bangor.

Nuala McMorrow and Colette Roberts.

. Frank and Muriel Martin.

CLANDEBOYE LODGE We’re good to go! Clandeboye Lodge has reopened its Coq & Bull restaurant for dining again and couldn’t be happier to welcome you back for long lunches, dinner or cocktails on the terrace. Leave all the cooking or clearing up behind at yours, make a date to relax and soak up that special blend of Clandeboye Lodge hospitality. Irene Davidson, Joan Henderson, Liz Hall and Rita Boyd.

Pam and John Megarry.

Moira and Alan Kennedy.

Kathleen Blair and Jim Taylor.

Mum and daughter Tina and Rachel Thompson.

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THE SCENE

ROYAL VISIT The Prince of Wales is pictured during his visit to Harland & Wolff, Belfast.

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit to Northern Ireland where they stopped off at Hillsborough, Bangor, Donaghadee, Caledon, Horses For People in Comber, Harland & Wolff and the Education Authority HQ in Belfast.

The Prince of Wales meeting a stall holder at Bangor open-air market.

Their Royal Highnesses in Bangor. Image credits: Presseye, Michael Lowther and Simon Graham

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THE SCENE

The Prince of Wales meets with school children.

Their Royal Highnesses meet stall holders at Bangor open-air market.

Hiszzzz Royal Highness at Bangor open-air market.

Duchess of Cornwall greeted by pupils from Bangor Central Integrated Primary School.

Hiszzzz Royal Highness meeting staff in the Fabrication workshop.

His Royal Highness touring Harland and Wolff’s shipbuilding site to commemorate 160th anniversary.

Prince Charles meets with school pupils.

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THE SCENE

The Duchess meets the founder of Horses For People, June Burgess, along with staff and people undertaking the courses and the horses themselves.

June Burgess and the Duchess of Cornwall.

zzzz Their Royal Highnesses view displays at the Education Authority HQ.

The Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales at the Education Authority HQ in Belfast.

The Duchess of Cornwall pictured at Horses for People in Comber.

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THE SCENE

His Royal Highness unveils a plaque to commemorate the Bicentenary of the Royal Charter of Donaghadee Harbour and the laying of the harbour’s foundation stone.

The Duchess of Cornwall visits Horse for People, Comber.

zzzz Their Royal Highnesses view displays at the Education Authority HQ.

His Royal Highness Prince Charles with Deputy Lord Lieutenant of County Down Amanda Brownlow and Cllr Trevor Cummings, Mayor of Ards and North Down.

Prince Charles meets members of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.

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THE SCENE

His Royal Highness greets the crowds at Bangor.

The Duchess of Cornwall takes to time to meet local residents and their four-legged friend.

His Royal Highness viewed stones which line the harbour walls and were decorated with messages of hope by local people during the pandemic.

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THE SCENE

. Ian Glasgow, Roy Wilson, Heather

. Brenda Rebbeck, Eddie Rebbeck.

Jenkins, Margaret Glasgow.

Violet Grifﬁths, Megan Grifﬁths.

ROYAL VISIT TO DONAGHADEE

The glorious weather drew a large crowd, to welcome Prince Charles to Donaghdee Harbour, as part of a recent two day visit to Northern Ireland.

Nadia Cates, Owen Getty.

Aine O’Kane and Andrew Benson.

Susan Burns, Aimee Little, Lisa Little, Alexander Little.

Helen Johnston, Sandra Smyth, Loy brown, Elma Porter.

Alan Kennedy, Moira kennedy, Carol Topping, Gordon Topping.

Betty Orr, Rob Andrews, Jane Andrews, Margaret Waterworth.

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DONAGHADEE SPECIAL FOCUS

bluedot art & antiques art jewellery silver etc. (Bought & Sold) Samuel Parkinson 4 The Parade, Donaghadee, Co. Down BT21 0AE Tel: 028 9188 3436 Mob: 07805 218417 www.bluedotantiques.com Nicola Montgomery, Regan Montgomery.

Marty Looney, Michael Moore.

Dawn Graham.

DUNN’S FOOTWEAR

TREATS AND ANTIQUES Bluedot Art and Antiques have been successfully trading since June 2002, at their seaside premises in picturesque Donaghadee. Their range includes; contemporary Irish art, jewellery; both antique and vintage, small pieces of Victorian and Edwardian furniture, quality ceramics and glass and hallmarked silver items. It is fantastic for gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas or just a special treat. They aim to provide a quality, professional and friendly service to all of their customers both new and returning.

Shoes for All Occasions

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Ulster Tatler

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KEEPING YOU IN THE PICTURE

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THE SCENE

Peter Keys and Katie Brashier.

Jennie Murphy and children Eva and Ezra.

BANGOR SEAFRONT Joe and Edith Craig.

Bangor’s picturesque promenade was basking in spring sunshine and attracted sun seekers and Tatler readers to the town centre, coastal path, past the prestigious marina and Pickie Funpark.

Jacqueline Rea and Christina Irvine.

Amy Woo, Ailish Thompson and Chloe Turtle.

Chris Brown, Jacob Ogle, Sophie Arnold and Eve Arkins.

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THE SCENE

Eilis Phillips and Jackie Rainey.

Lesley, Julie and Heather Crowe with children Suri, Connor and Lola Crowe.

Chrissie, Dave and Ryan ready for some paddle boarding.

Matt Brett and Indy the labradoodle.

Maureen and Jack Patterson.

Megan, Eleanor and Paul Robinson.

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The Word

LIDL NORTHERN IRELAND LAUNCHES SIZZLING SUMMER FOOD RANGE Lidl Northern Ireland is beefing up your BBQ with its scrumptious and super affordable summer food range, available now in all 41 Lidl Northern Ireland stores. Featuring a bounty of succulent 100% Irish beef burgers, tasty tropical tipples and a brand new selection of reduced meat alternatives, there really is something to suit everyone’s taste and budget. Nothing says summer more than the mouth-watering smell of burgers blazing on an open BBQ, and Lidl Northern Ireland’s premium Quality Assured 100% Irish Deluxe Dry Aged Angus Ribeye Steak Burgers (£2.29 per 2 pack) are the perfect centre piece for your BBQ banquet. For an extra burst of flavour, Lidl’s new line of Deluxe Cheese Topped Beef Burgers will have your mouth watering with a selection of Cheese, Jalapeño Cheese or Gherkin & Mustard Infused Cheese toppers to choose from. Made with 100% Irish beef, these loaded burgers are exceptional value at just £2.59 per 2 pack. If you prefer a less meaty feast, Lidl Northern Ireland’s new reduced meat Inisvale Beef Koftas with Garlic & Herb Sauce (£2.99) are the perfect flexitarian solution for those looking to reduce their meat intake without missing out on any summer BBQ thrills. Offering a fabulously flavoursome taste, these koftas are made with a delectable blend of

60% beef and 40% non-beef ingredients. For a fully vegan feast, Lidl Northern Ireland’s delicious Plant to Plate vegan line features their original Plant Based Quarter Pounders (£1.49 per 2 pack) as well as Sweet Potato & Chilli, Beetroot & Chickpea, Curried Cauliflower plant based burger options for just £1.39 per 2 pack. Serve alongside Lidl’s new and convenient ready-to-serve Meadow Fresh Grain Salad Pots (£1.45) with a choice of delectable Mint Pomegranate or Miso dressing, Deluxe Rice & Quinoa or Wheatberry & Chickpea Nutri Salads (£1.59), Meadow Fresh Chipotle Coleslaw (£1.19) or Meadow Fresh Spicy Cous (£1.49) to add an extra wow factor to your summer feast. Cool down with some delicious desserts, whether you fancy a fruity pavlova filled with Lidl Northern Ireland’s new ready-prepared Meadow Fresh Tropical Fruit Mix or Melon Fruit Mix (£1.99), some handy Gelatelli Vegan Ice Cream Sticks (£2.99) in Dark Chocolate or Dark Chocolate Almond flavours ready to pull straight from the freezer, or go the extra mile and impress your BBQ guests with an easy-to-make Doughnut Ice Cream Sandwich! Simply slice one of Lidl Northern Ireland’s new and fluffy chocolate-topped Salted Caramel Doughnuts (£0.50), freshly baked in-store each morning and oozing with mouther-watering salted caramel filling,

in half and add a disc of Lidl’s luscious and creamy Dairy Farm Sea Salt Caramel Ice Cream (£2.39) before pressing the second half of the doughnut back on top.

PASS ON THE GIFT OF A QUEEN’S EDUCATION TO A NEW GENERATION In 2018, Queen’s University Belfast launched The Pathway Opportunity Programme. Its purpose is to work with schools across Northern Ireland to provide an entry route to Queen’s for talented young people who have the ability to thrive but need additional support and encouragement to fulfil their potential. This initiative unlocks access to higher education and helps to meet the cost of accommodation, books, equipment, and the expense of studying. Law student, Hannah, said; “It has been a tough year but with the support of QUB staff I’m starting to see my hard work pay off. Thanks to the Pathway Opportunity Programme I’ve gone on to become a ‘Lloyds Scholar’, a ‘Linklaters Scholar’, and was awarded the JMK Solicitors Prize for the highest mark in Tort law in my second year. The Pathway Opportunity Programme can open up so many doors to students like me. Without this programme I would not have been given the support I needed to succeed, it’s really changed my life!” From a modest pilot of 12 students three years ago, over 100 additional students have joined the University, studying across eight subject pathways. And each year the number of applications to the programme rises. An annual bursary of £1000 can make a huge difference to students like Hannah - helping to relieve financial stress and allow them to focus on their studies and make the most of their university experience. If you can, please consider supporting talented young people from disadvantaged backgrounds in Northern Ireland to achieve their true potential. Queen’s law student, Hannah.

Contact susan.wilson@qub.ac.uk for more information. 124

6. Do you have any tips for staying positive during this time? That can be diﬃcult because there is so much negativity about this place. At certain times the air is so poisonous, I sometimes wonder if we shouldn’t all be issued with gas masks. But look around. There is still a lot to be grateful for, and our family has some seriously momentous events coming up! 7. What do you think is the best thing about living in Northern Ireland? BT9; the North Coast, especially Portstewart; the golf courses; long lunches with colleagues in the Reform Club; walking in the Mournes; the Irish Times weekend edition and having some brilliant, very loyal and extremely tolerant friends who’ve had to put up with a lot.

DERIC HENDERSON

8. What is your mantra or favourite quote that you live by? “If the music is still playing, why stop dancing?”

Journalist

1. What do you love most about your job? Everything. I got my dream job as a cub reporter on the Tyrone Constitution in Omagh in 1968 and since the days sitting on the Press bench at the local magistrate’s court, I’ve had a front row media seat the world over. There have been one or two lows in my career, but it’s also been a hugely privileged one. I’ve been lucky. The journalistic landscape has changed dramatically – not all of it for the better - but the years spent working in Belfast, Dublin and London was an unforgettable time, the arguably the best journalistic era ever. 2. What has been your career highlight to date? Getting my ﬁrst Belfast Telegraph front page by-line (November, 1973); being appointed Ireland Editor of the Press Association (April 1998); writing a best seller called Let This Be Our Secret, (2011); watching the awardwinning ITV series, The Secret (2016) which was based on the book; and co-editing with Ivan Little another great book, Reporting The Troubles (2018) and the setting up my media consultancy business (2014). 3. What are your favourite hobbies/ activities outside of work? Reading; Netﬂix; I’ve been trying to play golf at Royal Portrush since 1993 and as the former

North of Ireland Boy’s champion (City of Derry YMCA 1967), I came out of retirement after 50 years to play for Lowe Memorial (Presbyterian Church, Finaghy) in Division 4 of the Belfast and District table tennis league. 4. What is your daily routine? The newspaper clippings are always checked on my iphone before the call to breakfast; emails which need answering; there are usually calls to clients; Ivan Little, a life-time colleague and I are working on a new book due out early next year and that’s taking up quite a bit of time; an argument with Eamonn Mallie over coﬀee once a week on the Lisburn Road, and currently getting ready for the launch in the United States of an audio edition of the book I wrote 10 years ago about how dentist Colin Howell and his lover Hazel Stewart murdered their respective partners in Coleraine in 1991. The public interest in this book never ceases to amaze. 5. Do you have a fitness regime? I walked more or less daily during lockdown and discovered areas of south Belfast, like the Lagan Meadows, I never knew existed. I go to the gym three or four mornings a week. Nothing too strenuous. Forty ﬁve minutes on the steps and treadmill is enough, and even though it might not do me an awful lot of good, it’s a great discipline. 125

9. Who has been your biggest influence? Clare and I celebrated our 43rd wedding anniversary in June. It is marked every year by awarding each other a long service medal, wondering how we got this far. Before completing this questionnaire, she warned me: “Don’t be claiming I’ve been the biggest inﬂuence on your life….Do you hear me?” So, I’ll leave it there.

10. FAVOURITE Movie: Once Upon a Time in the West, the 1968 Spaghetti western, especially the Ennio Morricone soundtrack. Band/Musician: There are a few, but as renditions go, they don’t get much better than Billy Connolly giving Van Morrison’s Irish Heartbeat the full works, or maybe Brothers in Arms by Dire Straights. Book: Ten Men Dead. The story of the 1981 Republican Hunger Strike by the late David Beresford who worked for The Guardian is the BEST book I’ve ever read. A good friend back in the day. Restaurant: A toss-up between Chapter One (Dublin) or Shu (Belfast). Without some of the bars and some great eating establishments, Belfast would be a rather dull and uninteresting city. Holiday Destination: The Canaries Drink: The ﬁrst after 18 holes of golf, and a family sized gin (Bombay Saphire) and tonic before dinner. Meal: Whatever Clare’s cooking.

The Word

FOSTER CARERS URGENTLY NEEDED IN NORTHERN IRELAND Action for Children have made an urgent call for potential foster carers to come forward in Northern Ireland. Avery Bowser, Fostering Services Manager, explained: “The need is very great in Northern Ireland at the moment but the numbers coming forward have been too small. “We know that there are lots of people who have the space in their home to foster but they are often put off by myths about fostering. They think it’s only for certain types of people. “We need people from different backgrounds and communities to become foster carers because our children are all so different. “At Action for Children we provide foster families that have the warmth and stability that enable children to cope with the changes that life brings them. We do that by recruiting ordinary people, from all walks of life, who do something extraordinary – become a foster carer.” Avery is asking readers to think about fostering or encourage someone else who could foster. “All kinds of people can foster. You have to be over 21, have a spare room, the ability to work with children and have the time in your life to give. “So please give our friendly fostering team a call. The need in Belfast is very urgent and I am appealing for your help.” If you are interested in becoming a foster carer or would like to find out more, please contact Action for Children’s fostering team on 028 90460500 or email fostercareni@actionforchildren.org.uk

READY TO WELCOME YOU BACK

GARDEN UPGRADES FOR OUTDOOR LIVING

Creations has re-opened its doors! They have lots of new products on offer such as dining tables and chairs, sofas, pictures and giftware. Their fantastic clearance is now on, with lots of bargains and 24 months interest free finance to spread the cost. Browse the huge selection of furniture at Creations’ spacious newly extended and revamped showroom at Boucher Crescent. They’re bursting with ideas and unique pieces to redecorate your room, or just that finishing touch that you need. Creations offer everything from bedroom, dining and living room furniture to mirrors, pictures and giftware. They also have a fabulous new divan section offering great space saving divans, and mattresses from Silentnight, Sealy, Respa and luxury brand Hypnos. Many pieces are in stock and ready for immediate collection or delivery so you don’t have to wait. Strict cleaning guidelines are in place to make you feel safe and happy while browsing their beautiful store. As a small run family firm, Creations prides itself on having been around for 35 years. They provide excellent customer service to help every customer find what they need. Creations Boucher Crescent really is a destination you don’t want to miss out on!

Urban Choice Design Ltd based in Belfast has fast become the ‘go to’ place for exquisite, beautifully styled and designed outdoor living products in Ireland. It is a Design Centre rather than a walk-in shop, where visiting is by appointment only. Clients are welcome to bring their drawings or just their thoughts, to view products never available before in Ireland. Urban Choice Design Ltd is a family-run business with Kathryn and Norman McNaught at the helm, offering a personal service and displaying in ‘real garden’ settings, but all under one roof concepts, which can be incorporated in your outdoor garden or patio area. Their goal is to provide the discerning client with the best designed and manufactured products available from across Europe and right here in Ireland. For more information contact: norman@urbanchoice.co.uk kathryn@urbanchoice.co.uk T: 079 8098 3708

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TEL: 00 44 28 9187 2798 Direct cremations remove the most expensive elements associated with a traditional funeral cremation. Our caring approach allows you to celebrate your loved one’s life in a way that meets the needs of you and your family.

Celebrate your loved one’s life in a way that suits you and your family from £1,150.00 We cover the whole of Northern Ireland. www.directcremationsirelandltd.com

Email: enquiries@directcremationsireland.com

www.skeaeggs.com

On page 83 of the May edition of Ulster Tatler, Janice McKee was referred to as the Lady Captain, she is in fact the current Lady Vice Captain of Dunmurry Golf Club. 127

ISSUE: JUNE 1994

LOOKING BACK ULSTER TATLER

Pictured at the INST. Formal at the Culloden Hotel are Jonathon Cooke, Julie Sturgess, Jonathan Cowan, Natalie Hall, Rebecca Girvan, Gavin Armstrong. Photographed at the PHAB Annual Ball at Belfast City Hall are The Lady Mayoress Mrs. Stella Empey, Paul Moffett, Karen Moffett, Pat Thompson, Johnie Millar, Jane Thompson, Katherine Dougan, Michael Dougan. Pictured at Belfast High School Formal att Stormont Hotel are Ashleigh Tyndall, Angela McMenimey, Emma Hunter, Heather Wallace, Julie Parkhill, Anne Phillips, Tara McKim. Pictured at UTV Ulster Grocers Ball are Paul Hutchinson, Shane McLoy, Desmond Smith, Mike Johnston, Lynn Hutchinson, Valerie Johnston, Pamela Ballintine, Cathy McLoy, Irene Smith.

Pictured at Iberia Airlines/Cool FM prize presentation Joanne McMullan, Charles Fulton, John Kearns and Patrick Scanlon.

Vispring at Sound Asleep Beds OPEN 9.30AM – 6.00PM MONDAY – SATURDAY. 1 Glenford Road, Newtownards BT23 4AU TEL: 028 9182 2544 WWW.SOUNDASLEEPBEDS.COM 128

Ulster Tatler June 2021

Articles inside

RECIPE FOR A GREAT KITCHEN

SOCIETY WEDDINGS

TOWN FEATURE

MUSEUMS & GALLERIES

ARTS ROUND-UP

MY TOP 10

GIRL ABOUT TOWN

STYLE RULES

JANE HARDY INTERVIEW

STAYCATIONS

GIRL ABOUT TOWN

INSIDE TRACK

COLUMNIST – KATHY CLUGSTON