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Fashion and lifestyle glossy showcasing the best of Northwest Ireland covering Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry/Londonderry, Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan.
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2 COVERwest
With such amazing feedback from our first everissue of COVERwest, we have put together yetanother great issue to feast your eyes on over theChristmas season and well into the New Year.
We feature the fabulous Bronagh Gallagher,who has been greatly involved with the DerryCity of Culture 2013 project. She chats about hercareer to date, and why she’ll always love Derry.We also meet one of Ireland’s best known professional golfers, Lynn McCool, who’s hadnumerous brushes with big name celebs on theprestigious Lough Erne Resort.
Tis the season to look your absolute best, andwith that in mind, we’ve set about sourcing the most
glamorous party outfits around, and give you our pick of the best make-up on themarket to ensure you’re dazzling when you hit the town.
With the new year come resolutions to live a healthier life...find out how ourtravel writer took her bad habits to task with her trip to one of Europe’s bestknown health spas. January brings its own delight - and dilemma. We all love thesales, but often we end up with useless bits that will never see the light of day. Webring you some top tips on shopping in the sales, ensuring you get a bargain thatyou’ll actually use.
Hope you enjoy our Christmas/New Year Special. Enjoy
Patrick ConlonManaging Director, COVERwest If you would like to feature your business in the magazine, contact me on [email protected] or 0044 (0) 28 66328157. Been to any glitzy socialevents recently? Send your pics to [email protected] to have the event featured in the magazine.
CoverPhotographer: Gail McGowen
Model: Zara ShawStylist: Delilah
Hair: Clive JohnstonMake-up: Keri Mc Kenna
Dress and Necklace from Style Boutique, OmaghLocation: Blessingbourne Country Estate
COVERwest IS PUBLISHED BY
Unit 4-6, Enniskillen Business Centre, Lackaghboy Industrial Estate, Tempo Road,
Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh BT74 4RL0044 (0) 28 66328157
COVERwestMANAGING DIRECTOR
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ADVERTISING & MARKETINGPatrick Conlon
ADVERTISING DESIGNJonathan Donegan
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www.goldenegg.ie
GOLDENEGG PRODUCTIONSMANAGING DIRECTOR
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EDITOR Jo Lavelle
ART DIRECTORLinda Galvin
CONTRIBUTORSEmer Donlon, Diane Day, Nuala Lilley,
Gordon Annan, Eamonn Campbell, Delilah,
Aoibheann McNamara
PHOTOGRAPHYGail McGowen, Fiona McGuire
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welcome
ROSE HOTEL & SPAWin a luxury spa break at the 4-star Villa Rose
Hotel & Spa, Ballybofey, County Donegal. Treat
yourself to pure indulgence in a sanctuary of peace
and tranquillity and surrender your mind, body
and soul to a deep sense of well being. Visit
www.villarose.net/spa to view the full range of
natural beauty and holistic therapies. Prize includes
two night's B&B and one evening meal in Fara’s award-winning restaurant,
together with an Indulgent Spa Package consisting of a one-hour session in the Spa
Thermal Suite, a Beauty Flash Facial, a Swedish Back Massage and Scalp Massage.
To enter, answer the following question: What is the name of the Spa at the Villa RoseHotel? Send your answer to COVERwest magazine, Villa Rose Hotel & Spa
Competition, Unit 4-6 Lackaghboy Industrial Estate, Tempo Road Enniskillen. BT74 4RL.
WATERMILL RESTAURANTWin one dinner for two, plus B&B for two nights at The New
Watermill Restaurant in Lisnaskea Co Fermanagh on the shores
of Upper Lough Erne. Just answer the question: Where is theWatermill Restaurant located. Is it A. Beside the LoughErne, B. Beside Lough Ness, C. Beside Lough Neagh? Send
your answer to COVERwest magazine, Watermill Restaurant
Competition, Unit 4-6 Lackaghboy Industrial Estate, Tempo
Road, Enniskillen. BT74 4RL.
THIS MONTH’S COMPETITIONSWinner of The Killyhevlin Hotel & Spa Fermanagh Competition: Lucy Flanagan, Mullingar Co Westmeath
27 54
contentsDEC/JAN 2011
30
42
24
FEATURES & FASHION6 What’s New
the latest from around the North West12 Fashion Fix
local fashion news for her16 Man, oh man
up your man’s style18 Style Spotting
we take to the streets20 Coat Covet
snap that perfect coat up22 Booty Call
it’s all about cosy comfort24 Gifts Glorious Gifts
our pick of the best27 Bronagh Gallagher
on her love for Derry30 Culture Central
Derry City of Culture 201332 The Definitive Guide to Sales Shopping
top tips34 Having a Ball
Lynn McCool38 Shimmer & Shine
hot embellished looks40 Magical Mercers
stunning jewellery42 Dedicated Follower of Fashion
fashion shoot53 How to Survive Christmas
our advice64 The Healthy Holiday
the Viva Mayr Clinic
BEAUTY55 Go for Gold
glistening beauty
56 Beauty Ed’s Choiceoverhaul your dresser
58 Party Perfectsparkle and shine
INTERIORS70 What’s New
stunning interior ideas72 Domestic Goddess
delightful kitchen accessories74 Illuminate Your Imagination
Gordon Annan
REGULARS60 Food
talk turkey62 Festive Wine
Eamonn Campbells’s top tips78 Motoring
top tips & best buys84 Out & About
social scene92 Tie the Knot
who walked down the aisle lately
6 COVERwest
Watch this space…19-year-old designer Oliver Doherty, a finalistthis year at the Goldenegg Fashion InnovationAwards, is already making waves stateside. The Donegal teenager was shortlisted in a USmagazine competition that offered designersfrom across the world the opportunity to submittheir design for a dress that will be worn bymusician Florence Welch. His stunning Grecian-inspired black gown landed him a position in the top five, whichmeans that his design will beshowcased in several US magazines. Only in hisfirst year of a textilescourse at the NorthWest RegionalCollege in Derry,Oliver is certainlyone to watch.
gossip from aroundthe North West
What’s New
NATURAL BEAUTYTierra Spa & Beauty Treatments in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, is a natural and organic salon offer-
ing top quality natural and organic treatments and luxurious spa rituals for men and women. Theservice they provide is globally inspired with products and treatments from places such as Morocco,
Tiahiti, Bali, Japan and the Brazilian Rainforest. At Tierra they have a strong environmental ethos andonly supply the best natural and organic products available to their clients. Relax, unwind and rejuve-
nate in the tranquil setting of their spa away from the hassle and stress of every day life. For more information or to book an appointment call Tanya on 028 68628884 and find them on Facebook.
CHRISTMAS WORKSHOPOn Saturday 11 December, head toBear Essentials in county Cavan fora family friendly day out. Spendthree hours decorating your veryown gingerbread house with sweets,chocolates and biscuits at theGingerbread House ChristmasWorkshop and then bring it home to enjoy. For more information onthis workshop and other party packages and gift ideas available at Bear Essentials go to www.bearessentials.ie.
The latest news and
Beautiful BlingThe Goldmine Jewellers have just added a fabulous newline of jewellery to their already extensive collection. ‘The Real Effect’ is a stunning range of sterling silverpieces set with high quality cut cubic stones in a varietyof ring, pendant, earring and cuff-link styles that are notonly exquisite, but also very affordable. The GoldmineJewellers, 22 New Street, Enniskillen 028 66329008 and 9 Prospect Court, Omagh 028 82247746
8 COVERwest
UPPER LOUGH ERNE LUXURYPascal Brissaud and partner Valerie Smyth recently opened the doors of the WatermillRestaurant with Rooms in Fermanagh. This is the first phase in the development ofKilmore Quay that will turn the area into an angler’s dream, a foodie’s delight and awonderful holiday destination for all. Approaching the restaurant you can’t help but wonder at the beauty of Lough Erne and find yourself enamoured with its tranquillity. Therestaurant’s décor has a distinct French feel with an open fireplace that helps to createthe perfectly welcoming ambiance. The open plan kitchen allows you to see the chefs attheir best as they prepare your meal, while you sit back and enjoy a cool beer or achilled glass of wine. Diners at the Watermill can expect top quality food from therestaurant, with locally-sourced produce being used wherever possible. After your meal,enjoy a leisurely stroll around the mature water gardens on the banks of Lough Erne andwatch the sun go down with an after-dinner digestif. Watermill Restaurant with Rooms, Lisnaskea, Co Fermanagh 028 67724369. Formore information on the restaurant and the angling packages available go towww.watermillrestaurant.org
what’s new
A LA MODEThe Linen Green complex now boasts a new contemporary furniture andaccessories store - Á La Mode. Stocking artwork from Zenith Arts, NadiaSparhan, Shira, Libra, Coach House and Karlsson, this luxurious furniturestore is stocked full of quirky items. A La Mode, Unit 5 a The Dye House, Linen Green, Moygashel 075 25536538
Craft TrailThe innovative new craft brand ‘Madein Sligo’ not only makes it easier to buythe wonderful products of Sligo craftbusinesses, but it also allows you, thecustomer, to see how these items aremade. Twelve Sligo businesses havecome together to showcase their workand to help promote tourism in theregion with the fascinating Craft Trail.Studios where goods such as jewellery,handbags and ceramics are produced arenow open for you to witness the skillinvolved in these crafts, meet the designers, share their stories and viewtheir latest collections. Keep an eye outfor ‘Made in Sligo’ products available forpurchase in hospitality and retail locations all over the Northwest.www.madeinsligo.ie
FASHION FIXLocal fashion news fromaround the North West
Colour Me HappyThe autumn/winter collection from St Martins is a funrange of colourful bright patterned pieces mixed withrich autumnal browns and greys. Get this Rizzo tunic(£54) from Walker Clothing, Main Street, Irvinestown,Co Fermanagh 028 68628707
Little Black DressThe LBD is a wardrobe essential that
will get you out of many a fashiondilemma. This ruffled number from Tia(€152) has just enough detail to make
it stand out but it’s still so versatile youcan wear it over and over again!
Sally West, Main Street, Cavan Town049 4373022
StunningAccessoriesThe perfect accessory tothat party dress - TedBaker satin shoes (£89)and a matching clutchbag (£59). Availableexclusively at GrahamWomenswear, High Street Enniskillen028 66322317
Modern StyleModissima Ladies Fashion is a long establishedfashion boutique were you will get expert adviceand personal service when shopping for that special occasion, mother of the bride/groom, guest and casual wear. Matching shoes, bags and accessories available in store, hat hire also available. Private appointments can be arranged. Modissima 55 main street, Fivemiletown, Co Tyrone 028 89521684
Pure GlamourA dress from City Lady is the embodiment of glamour and sophistication. See the latest collectionsin store at City Lady,Enniskillen 028 66322353 and Newry 028 302520726
fashion fix
The WOWFactorWhen you’re lookingfor a dress that willstand out in a crowd,Coco is the place togo. Specialising inweddings, race wear,debs dresses and partywear, Coco has anamazing selection ofdresses in all sizes, aswell as matching shoesand accessories.Coco, 39 BelmoreStreet, Enniskillen, 028 66325589
Lovely LeatherFor a winter accessories fix,head to Footsteps in Derrywhere they have a fabulousselection of leather bootsand bags in stock.Footsteps, 45 Strand Road,Derry 028 71369276
Couture at StyleCouture at Style is the new firstfloor studio offering outfits forspecial occasions in a private areawhere you will get expert adviceand personal service. An excitingcollection of exclusive fashions ofhigh quality that will satisfy eventhe most discerning tastes. In thisdepartment, you will find theirspring/summer stock 2011 withexclusive brands such as GinaBacconi, Gold, John Charles, KateCooper, Michel Ambers and VeraMont. To add to the exciting 2011collection, Style are now stockingIspirato and Presen. Style Omagh, 028 82247808
Most WantedThe new Monte dress from iBLUES captures the embellished trend perfectly. Sparkle your way throughthe party season in this royal blue sequinned beauty – a guaranteed head-turner.Vanilla Boutique, 33-35 Church Street, Cavan 0494372641 and Enniskillen 028 66327179
Alex Curran has just starteddesigning for funky
clothing label ForeverUnique and this red ruffled
number is ticking all thestyle boxes for Christmasparty wear. Available nowat Cuba Clothing, Omagh
028 82251211
mens fashion fix
Suit £450, Hold-allfrom £159Hugo Boss Black atGraham Menswear,Enniskillen
Man, oh manIt’s time to head to the shops and get
yourself this season’s must-have accessory…a well dressed man.
John J. Sloan, Enniskillen £44.95
John J. Sloan, Enniskillen £95
A/W 2010GANT collection available atArmstrong &Kingston,Enniskillen
Mulberry at Graham Menswear,Enniskillen £525
Full Circle at CubaClothing, Dungannon,Cookstown and Omagh£220
Full Circle atCuba Clothing,Dungannon,Cookstown andOmagh £60
River Island €87/£64.99
RiverIsland€29.95
Ted Baker at www.tedbaker.com
£85
Next€80/£61
Style Spotting
Loretta MylottCloone, Co Leitrim Dressm, Belt and Bag – New Look Jacket - Dorothy Perkins Bow - Penneys
COVERwest takes to the streets to check out the style on our streets
Photos by Fiona McGuire
Natasha Daly Carrick-on-ShannonCoat - New Look Dress – New LookTights – Top Shop Bag - Coast
Jenny JaniskovaCarrick-on-ShannonJacket - Penneys Jeans - CrescendoBag - Mulveys
Araceli SulajCarrick-on-Shannon.Jacket – Image Top & Leggings - Tesco Shoes - Striking ShoesScarf - H+M Bracelets - A/wear
Martina McKeonLeitrim. Coat – Asda Dress – Oasis Boots - Paul ByronsBag – Jewel Scarf - Dunnes Stores
Easily the most important part of your winterwardrobe, the time is right to snap yours up
Warehouse has some of the best choiceof coats on the HighStreet this season.
Create an hourglass silhouette with a waist-cinching shape
Inject a dash ofcolour this winter
The pretty faux furdetail ensures an instant style update
Next €61/£45
DorothyPerkins €95/£60
M&S €130/£99
Jane Norman €97/£85
Monsoon Fusion€250/£160
FrenchConnection€192/£160
Delilah is a qualified FashionStylist and Personal Shopper. Sheadvises individuals to choose lookswhich flatter each individual'scolouring and figure and help themto look their best day after day, irre-spective of their age or body shape. You can hire Delilah for a wardrobemakeover, personal shopping, shapeand colour analysis. Delilah hasestablished a reputation of excellentcustomer service at a price waybelow expectations.
Ask DelilahHi DelilahI've just had my thirdbaby a couple ofmonths ago and am having difficulty find-ing a pair of jeansthat hide it. Pleasehelp!Anne
Why don't you try the tummy tuckjeans; they're quite high on thewaist so they give you great supporton the tummy area helping to makeit look slimmer. They come inbootleg, straight leg and skinnies.
DelilahIf you have a style question you'd like Delilah to answer, email her [email protected]
087 6391956 www.delilahfashionstylist.com
New Look€55/£54.99
fashion by Delilah
Coat CovetWarehouse£117/ £90
Searching for the perfect winterboot? From chunky heels andfur to lace-ups and flats, it’s allabout cosy, comfortable andfierce this season.
Booty Call
Shoe boots are the perfectly stylish addition to your wardrobe this season
Fur boots are making ahit this winter. We love the Next andDebenhams versions
Go for a chunky heel forday-to-day comfort
Lace-up boots. Wearwith your favouriteskinnies or a dress.The ultimate stylishand comfy boot
M&S€96/£85
€136/£120by Faith atDebenhams
River Island€127.50/£89.99
€85/£65Next
M&S€79/£69New Look
€64.99/£49.99
River Island€127.50/£89.99
French Connection€250/£220
Schuh€110/£84.99
Next€56/£50
24 COVERwest
BejewelledCarino is bestknown for its selection of divinefootwear but the store also stocks a range of statementjewellery pieces. This Grecian-inspired neckpiece (£38) willjazz up any party dress. Of course, now you need to decide whether to give it away or keep it for yourself!Carino, Market House, 1C Market Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone 028 82252838
Something DifferentSpecially trained staff make & paint by hand each individual piece of the Forms of Life collection, ensuring that no two are alike and that everyone is imbued with a sense of life. Over 40 differentforms make up the complete range of birds, fish andnew quadrupeds in these beautiful glazes from Belfast-born artist Raymond Kinghan.Available at The Cat and the Moon, 4 Castle Street, Sligo 071 9143686
Too CoolFunky Kids retails a wide range of fun, funky and fashionable clothes and accessories for childrenfrom newborn to 12 years old. With lots of newstock arriving weekly for Christmas, you’re sure tofind the ideal presents to help the little ones inlooking cool and original! Stockists of the ‘name it’range of clothing.Funky Kids, Dungannon 028 87725961 and Cookstown 028 86769903www.funkykidsni.co.uk
giftsgloriousgifts
Stuck for ideas for gifts for yourloved ones? We’ve taken the workout of gift buying...
For the silver lover… Treat your loved ones to an exquisite keepsake from the NewbridgeSilverware collection – guaranteed to go down a treat on Christmasmorning.Newbridge Silverware, Linen Green, Moygashel, Dungannon, Co Tyrone 028 87729770
Stack ‘em up!Daisy Jewellery stackable rings are at the forefrontof this year’s personalised jewellery trend and havealready proved a big hit with celebrities such asSienna Miller and Ke$ha. There’s a huge selection of styles available – anything fromthin bands with cute flowers to chunky ringsthat boast titles like ‘Harley Dangerous’. Mixand match to suit your own personal styleand wear as many or as few as you like!Center Jewellers, Erneside Shopping Centre,The Point, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh 02866327121
26 COVERwest26 COVERwest
Pure LuxuryGive the gift of luxury this Christmas. GrahamMenswear stocks Mulberry’s finest quality vegetable tanned leather briefcases, belts and wallets alongside their exceptionally durablescotchgrain weekend bags and wash bags. Mulberry scotchgrain holdall £450 & washbag £99.Graham Enniskillen, 14 High Street, Enniskillen028 66322317 www.grahamsmenswear.com
Clearly ChicHow many times have you been blinded by the winter sun when driving at this time of year? If you want the best clarity and protectionon the planet, nothing comes close to Oakley’s High Definition Optics.Some sunglasses protect your eyes, others protect your image, but the
Oakley sunglasses protect both all year round. Starting at £65,this is a perfect stocking filler for those who deserve to
be spoilt.Oakley sunglasses range is stocked in
D McGovern Opticians at 17 High Street,Enniskillen, 028 66322550 and 38 William
Street, Cookstown, 028 86766696
Absolutely StunningThe Absolute Jewellery Design range is sure to add some sparkle to yourChristmas. For the full range visit Dowlers The Jewellers, Main Street,Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh 028 66721308
giftsgloriousgifts
Wine & Dine at GreensAn ideal gift for the food and wine connoisseur is a giftvoucher for Greens, the vibrant new restaurant andwine bar in the Linen Green retail outlet. Set in a stunning glass clad building, the restaurant serves up a delicious menu of chicken, meat and pasta dishesaccompanied with a varied selection of wines fromaround the world. A perfect gift and a perfect night out!Greens Restaurant & Wine Bar, The Dye House,Linen Green, Dungannon, Co Tyrone028 87722070 www.greenswinebar.com
interview
COVERwest 27
BronaghGallagher
Derry, UK City of Culture 2012...Many greatand wonderful things have come from Derrythroughout the years. One of its brightest stars,Bronagh Gallagher, being one of them. Despiteall the success that has come to Bronaghthrough movies like Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, and Sherlock Holmes, her affection for herhometown remains undimmed. Photos by Lorcan Doherty
Derry has always beenhome for Bronaghand acting andmusic has been in
her blood since childhood. The setting is Nazareth House PrimarySchool in the Creggan area ofDerry. A five-year-old girl takes tothe stage in the lead role of theGingerbread Queen. She looks outnervously at the audience andarrives at a life-defining moment.“Even now I remember the reaction I got,” Bronagh recalls. “Ialways loved to sing and dance andI was overwhelmed by that feelingof everyone looking at me. I wascompletely hooked.”
That sheer enjoyment of performance, ignited that day in1977, allied to her talent in bothacting and singing, has takenBronagh on an incredible journeyfrom her teenage debut in theCommitments to films like PulpFiction, Star Wars, SherlockHolmes, and most recently -Tamara Drewe - to be released laterthis year.
In between, Bronagh has wonacclaim for theatre work at theNational Theatre in London whereshe now lives, and the ground-breaking Théâtre de Complicité,released an album of self-pennedsongs and appeared in a myriad ofother films and television drama.But the seeds for her future careerwere undoubtedly sown in Derry.
28 COVERwest
interviewBronagh’s was a typical Derry upbring-
ing with a house full of music. “My parents had a huge record collection theywere always playing so we were broughtup listening to classic soul and Motownand country music like Johnny Cash andEmmylou Harris,” Bronagh says. “I’vealways loved that music and in a way,that’s been a template for everything that’sfollowed.”
Despite not having the patience to follow up her piano and violin lessons (shelearned to play the drums in her twenties),Bronagh’s commitment to singing anddancing was unquestioned and found anatural home in the Oakgrove TheatreCompany in the Long Tower area ofDerry, where inspirational people likeTony O’Donnell nurtured young talent ina variety of musical shows.
“There’s a huge history of performingarts in Derry,” Bronagh says, “particularlyof local music shows which are of greatquality. They might be deemed amateurbut the talent in the city is of the highestlevel, so many people who could have goneon but just didn’t want to leave Derry. It’s ahard wee place to leave. The education Igot from people like Tony, who created somany great shows, has stayed with me all my life. I’d go along after school or atweekends and we’d rehearse at local community centres and perform in localhalls and schools. There was so much hap-pening and it was supported right throughthe community. I remember we did a greatproduction of Grease with Nadine Coyle’sfather as Danny!”
Bronagh’s first break came out of theblue. Within two weeks of taking a place atthe National Youth Theatre in London tostudy drama, she got a call offering her thelead part in a television film. Still only 18,she had been babysitting for Margo Harkinwho ran Derry Film and Video, a Channel4 franchised workshop. When Margo wascontacted by Michael Winterbottom whowas making his first drama for ChannelFour, Strangers, about young people inDerry and Donegal, she suggested heryoung babysitter would be ideal.
When the role in the Commitmentscame up, Bronagh wasn’t particularilyinterested. “I told them I was about to dothis drama course in London, but peopletold me I was mad to turn it down and I’mglad I changed my mind.” Having made an
impact with her first appearance, Bronaghwas able to get an agent who brought herto the attention of the company about tofilm a Roddy Doyle book for the bigscreen, ‘The Commitments’. The story ofimpoverished young North Dubliners whoget together to form a soul band, the music- the kind of soul and Motown classicsBronagh had absorbed through her childhood – couldn’t have been more apt.
Today ‘The Commitments’, filmed atthe dawn of the Celtic Tiger era, seems todepict a bygone Ireland. A huge successaround the world, it was both a breakthrough for Ireland – helping to initiate the subsequent global fascination
in the country and its culture – and its talented young cast. “We were surprisedby its impact,” says Bronagh, who playedone of the three backing singers, “but people identified with the story. It’s a universal theme - people strugglingagainst the odds to make a dream happen. In those days it was much harder to getanything to happen in Ireland. It was anexciting time, to be only acting a year andto be in this amazing film. And the musicwas perfect for me. We actually played asa band at the three premieres and we wereresponsible for all the music in the film”.
Much more recently, Bronagh playedfor 16 months in the acclaimed ‘War
interview
COVERwest 29
Horse’ at the National, but she has alsoappeared in several high-profile films too,beginning with Quentin Tarantino’s 1994film noir classic, ‘Pulp Fiction’. “I knew itwould be special as soon as I metQuentin,” Bronagh says. “He was socharismatic, animated and passionate and you could tell just from the way heorchestrated things, and from the con-stant flow of ideas, he was going to be aremarkable director. It was a brilliantscript too. People forget this was hisbreakthrough movie and very low budget.Even John Travolta wasn’t seen as a bigstar at the time, though he had been in theseventies with ‘Saturday Night Fever’ and‘Grease’. It’s hard to believe now, but hewas a controversial choice at the time, andQuentin wasn’t allowed to choose himuntil he had a big name in place”.
In 1999, Bronagh would be part of aneven bigger film, ‘Star Wars Episode I: ThePhantom Menace’, where she playedCaptain Maoi Madakor. That appearancecame from a casual request to her agent,saying she’d like to be in it. “I got a call backsaying go along to casting on Friday. It was
that simple,” Bronagh laughs. “They werecasting in this big aircraft hangar miles awayon the outskirts of London. As usual I waslate, missing my train, but I redeemedmyself by bringing a big bag of the bestColumbian coffee, because I reckoned theAmerican casting agent was a long wayfrom the nearest Starbucks. I got the part soit must have worked!”
Among many other films, Bronagh wasin Guy Ritchie’s award-winning ‘SherlockHolmes’ last year. “It was great craic,” shesays, “and the period sets were unbeliev-able. It was recreated in the market area ofManchester and had been meticulouslybuilt down to the last detail for authentic-ity with over 500 extras in Victorian dress.I play an Irish fortune teller who tries toconvince Jude Law that his girlfriend is nogood. It was a really enjoyable experience.Guy Ritchie was great to work with andRobert Downey Junior was a lot of funtoo”.
Bronagh’s most recent big screenappearance was in ‘Tamara Drewe’. Basedon the Guardian cartoon strip by PosySimmonds, it’s directed by Stephen Frears,
who Bronagh had worked with on ‘MaryReilly. “It’s about a crazy bunch of peoplewho descend on a writers’ centre in theEnglish countryside”, she says. “It’s hys-terical, a very funny film. I play a lesbiancrime writer who isn’t very good. The castare superb. Tamsin Greig is fantastic as arethe lovely Gemma Arterton, who playsthe lead, and a brilliant American actor,Bill Camp, who’s making his debut.”
With happy memories of growing up inDerry’s vibrant cultural scene, she believesher home town will make the most of itsremarkable triumph in being named UKCity of Culture 2013. “It will be fantasticfor Derry, to have money pumped intothe arts and cultural projects for youngpeople getting more support,” she says.“There’s so much talent and activity here,so many ideas buzzing around, but weneed more resources. We should ask people which leaders in their field theywant to come in and do master-classesand workshops. The creativity is there, wejust need to support the incredible artisticexpression there is in the city”.
Courtesy of Derry City Council
“Guy Ritchie wasgreat to work with and RobertDowney Jr. was alot of fun too”
30 COVERwest
The city won the judging panel’svote, over the three other shortlisted cities Birmingham, Norwich
and Sheffield to take the prestigious title.The momentous win means that in 2013Derry/Londonderry will playhost to a year-long celebration of culture inthe city, opening its doorsto visitors from across theworld.
It is anticipated thatpeople will come in theirthousands to experiencethe cultural life that hasbeen at Derry’s heart forgenerations and this will in turn have animpact on the whole island of Ireland.
The people of the city and the surround-ing areas are still, and always have been, atthe heart of this campaign. That ethos is
continuing with a series of “cultural connections” information meetingsarranged for local communities to find outmore about the city’s year of culture 2013.
Winning the bid will obviously dramat-ically impact the Cityof Derry but also the surroundingareas throughout the country fromFermanagh andTyrone to Donegaland Sligo. Therewill be somethingfor everyone to
come and enjoy as the City of Culture willsee a cultural programme of joyous cele-bration leading up to and including 2013.
The year will open with a spectacularSons and Daughters event, a contempo-rary music and dance festival, an interna-
tional festival of contemporary visual artevents, cultural embassies programme,verbal arts programmes, and an out-doorwater based spectacular pageant on theRiver Foyle celebrating the return ofColmcille. The cultural programme willbe finalised by November 2011.
The city’s promise for 2013 is to connectand reconnect people through culture.There are four core programmes within thecity’s ambitious 2013 programme whichaim to deliver significant change: • Unlocking Creativity focusing on children and young people• Digital Dialogue as the UK DigitalCultural Champion• Creative Connections offering an international cultural programme of events• Telling a New Story which will createa cultural platform to explore issues ofidentity.
After months and months of hard work and effort, Derry/Londonderry was chosen to become the first ever UK City of Culture in 2013 this year.
Culture
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Mayor of Derry, Cllr Colum Eastwood,says that the city’s success will make animpact on the region and further afieldthat will reverberate positively for decadesto come. There is no doubt that the city ison the cusp of change with a new emerg-ing confidence and belief in its ability totransform. “City of Culture 2013 willincrease investment in the city and regionto enable culturally led regeneration togather momentum. Derry-Londonderryhas plans to invest more than £200m inits infrastructure to create a national cultural treasure at Ebrington and pursueWorld Heritage Status for the City Walls.”
“As far as job creation is concerned weexpect to create 1,300 net new jobs in thecreative industries by 2013 as a result of thedesignation. It will generate internationalappeal and the boost in tourism/economyterms will mean that for every £1 invested
we will lever at least £5. Theeconomic regeneration willmean 3,000 new jobs –2,000 at local level and 700in deprived neighbour-hoods. By 2020 the city willsee doubling of bed nightsand GVA of £100m.
“A wave of euphoria hasalready spread across thecity and surroundingregion following the outstanding achievementbut is just the beginning inthe telling of a new tale for the region. Thechapter in Derry-Londonderry’s historythat will be written over the next three andhalf years will provide glorious embellish-ment to an already fascinating story,”added Cllr Eastwood.
A good way to get a feel for the experi-
ence is to check out the shortfilm ‘City Voices’, which waspart of the bid. The movingsix-minute film encapsulatesthe campaign and the com-munity involvement that wasso vital to the city’s success. Itis available to view on the Cityof Culture website –www.city-ofculture2013.com. It featurespeople of all ages, colours,creeds and cultures fromthroughout the city, telling thestory of Derry in their ownvoices – hence the very appro-
priate name ‘City Voices’. Throughout thefilm, the song ‘Just Say Yes’ – which wasdonated to the bid by the fantastically tal-ented Snow Patrol – is playing, with somedifferent interpretations of what is sure tobe a modern classic.
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So now that we’re in the thick of it – faced withrails of choices and shopping centres full ofpotential mistakes – how can we reduce the waste
and increase the taste? How do we know when a bargain is really a bargain?
The first and most importantrule is that a bargain is only a bargain if you actually wear it. Thefloral cardi that would go with theperfect pencil skirt you don’t yethave, the sky high stilettos thatKate Moss rocked down the redcarpet have yet to be rocked out-side your front door, or rememberthose black leggings – the two pairsyou bought to go with your new
stylish casual winter ensembles only to pile them intoan already overcrowded mixed up jumble of mistakes.
When you’re braving the shops, think about itlogically. What were you looking for before the sales?What did you try on in November, love and didn’t buybecause it was too expensive? This is always a goodstarting point. One of the biggest mistakes womenmake is purchasing an item just because it’s reduced bya huge amount; we somehow feel an overwhelmingallegiance to the item purely based on the fact thatwe’ve discovered it.
If you do find something you truly love only to findit’s not left in your size, don’t fret. It wasn’t meant tobe. In fashion, just like in life – something’s are betterleft to chance. Unless it’s easy to alter and you knowyou won’t just leave it hanging in your wardrobe, leaveit back. Most things we buy with the intention of
altering rarely see the light of day again. And even ifyou do bring it to the tailor, more often than not, therejigged version is never like it was on the mannequin –so think twice. If it doesn’t fit, move on and find something that does! It’s like trying to change a man –it just can’t be done and usually isn’t worth the effort.
Really start to think about the reasons we buy ourclothes. We buy them because we love them! Theymake us feel good and allow us to tell a little part ofourselves to the world – they allow us to express ourselves. So we should expect each and every itemwe buy to fulfil its duty no matter how much it cost.Why then does this part tend to go flying out thewindow at the sight of a big red tag with the magicwords ‘marked down’ emblazoned across it? When westart buying clothes because they’re cheap, we need tostep away from the counter and start evaluating ourwardrobes… closely.
We’ve all made mistakes and impulse purchases; it’ssometimes part of the fun, but when our wardrobes areruled by a red tag rather than by a real reason, we needto stop. So to make the sales really work for you, startlooking at your basics – your jeans, your day dresses, your coats, your good boots etc. Sometimes ifwe’re not happy with this section of our wardrobe, thesales can be a good opportunity to fine-tune these moreexpensive items. It’s only when you’ve got the basicsright that you can comfortably have fun with the funelement of the sales – buying something we wouldn’tnormally touch, just because it is marked down!
Stylefish is Ireland’s first dedicated fashionschool for women. For more details log ontowww.stylefish.ie
THE DEFINITIVEGUIDE TO SALES SHOPPING It’s that time if the year again – in fact we’ve had an extra month to get in our training for the January Sales this year, we’ve seen plummeting prices in the shops since December!
BY STYLEFISH
“If it doesn’tfit, move on
and find something that does!”
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“One of the biggestmistakes women makeis purchasing an item
just because it’s reducedby a huge amount”
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HAVINGA BALL
Diane Day visited one of Ireland’s best known professionalgolfers, Lynn McCool, Director of Golf and Head Professional
at the prestigious Lough Erne Resort, Fermanagh.
As a highly successful amateurgolfer and professional com-petitor on the European,Asian and South African circuit, 37-year-old LynnMcCool has played with top
golfers and celebrities from around the world.But one playing partner was particularly
notable – and not for his winning shots, recalledLynn.
“We were supposed to be playing 18 holes butwe were still only on the third tee by the timethe others had finished,” she admitted. “I wasplaying with the comedian Norman Wisdom,who sadly passed away recently, and he made melaugh so badly we just couldn’t get on with thegame. It was a very special day and one I’llalways remember.”
One celeb able to give her a run for hermoney however was Justin Timberlake –although playing off a very creditable threehandicap, he seemed to impress Lynn more withhis golfing skills than his hunky good looks. “Atthe end of the day, these are just ordinary people when they get out on a golf course,” washer verdict (and it’s not often you hear ‘JustinTimberlake’ and ‘ordinary’ in the same sentence!).
Lynn, however, is so far from being star struckthat she has, on occasion, not recognised some
of the celebs she was playing with. “So manytimes I have walked up and introduced myselfto the wrong person - it seems to have happeneda lot with footballers!”
Amongst the famous visitors Lynn has playedwith in her current role as golf pro at the LoughErne Resort was ‘Lord of the Dance’ MichaelFlatley. “When people like this come to play golfthey want to relax and chill out. On the course,he talked to me about his career and experiencesand his story was amazing,” said Lynn.As for golfers, Lynn has played with many of thetop names. “My favourite is probably ArnoldPalmer. I met him at his golf resort in Floridaand he has real charisma and an aura. He invit-ed me back to play again and I hope to go inJanuary.”
There are definitely perks with the job then,but for Lynn, it’s very much the game of golfthat comes first. No stranger to success herself,her opponents have included golfers such asSweden’s former world number one AnnikaSorenstam.
Early startBorn in Strabane, Co Tyrone, Lynn discov-
ered golf at an early age, jumping over the fenceat her parent’s home to play with her friends andbrothers on the adjoining golf course. By the ageof eight her parents decided to ‘legitimise’ the
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arrangement by signing her up as a member, and with a strong club focus onjunior golf, it wasn’t long before Lynn’snatural talent was spotted.
“I won my first tournament at the ageof nine and that’s when I got reallyhooked,” said Lynn. Spending summerholidays in Donegal, she was more oftento be found on the golf course at Narin &Portnoo than on the beach and at the ageof 12, was spotted at Royal Portrush GolfClub and joined the under 18 Ulsterteam. From then on her life centredaround competitive golf, playing at Ulsterand Irish team level.
“I was always very sure that playing golfwas what I wanted to do in life andremember waving to my friends at theschool gate telling them I was going off tobecome a professional golfer. Luckily mycareers teacher saw it all and convincedme to go back and study for my examsfirst.”
It turned out to be sound advice andLynn was later rewarded with a golf scholarship at the University of Hawaii. “It was the best experience of my life. Oneweek I was flying to Vegas to play golf thenext week it was Washington or Arizona.I also learned a lot of life skills,” she said.
“I embraced the Hawaiian people andtheir way of life, finding it very similar toback home in terms of family values and alove of music.”
As a subsequent competitor on theEuropean, Asian and South African tours,Lynn finally made the decision to train asa qualified professional and with her aptitude for the business and develop-ment side of golfing, soon found work atthe Hilton, Templepatrick Hotel & GolfClub and the world famous K Club inKildare before being asked to join theLough Erne Resort as Director of Golfand Head Professional in March.“Nick Faldo has designed an amazing golfcourse here and although it’s quite new, ithas already been rated highly in the UKand Ireland. Everyone talks about havingspectacular courses but we actually dohave that here.
“We’re also proud to have Rory McIlroyas our Touring Professional. He’s a greatambassador for the Lough Erne Resortand has bought one of the holiday homeshere. The resort owner, Jim Treacy, had agreat vision and it’s wonderful to see it all come to fruition. “I have been overwhelmed by the beauty of Fermanaghand I’m very passionate about promoting
it to the world. For non-golfing partners,there’s still so much to see and do too –castles, the Lough Erne waterways, LoughNavar Forest - the scenery is just beautifuland it brings great joy to me when I hearguests commenting on it.”
Lynn’s top tipsI couldn’t let Lynn go without getting afew insider tips on the course at LoughErne Resort...” Be careful which tee boxyou choose,” advised Lynn. “There arefive sets from which to choose your levelof difficulty and you should look at thescore card before deciding which one isfor you. Also, pay attention to your clubsselection – some of the shorter holes aren’tnecessarily the easiest.” And finally, as onewho knows from experience, and whosecomplexion is a super soft creamy, despitebeing exposed to the elements on a regular basis, Lynn strongly advises someextra skin care to offer protection againstsun, wind and rain. “You mightn’t see anydamage for years to come, but to help prevent it you do need a good moisturiser,preferably one with a good SPF factor,and some skin barrier repair cream.Regular facials are good for a golfer’s skintoo.”
“I won my first tournament at the age of nine and that’swhen I got really hooked”
Image courtesy ofWallis
Accessorise€49/£32
www.asos.com€73/£65
Debenhams €85/£55
M&S€80/ £59
Next€31/£22
Monsoon€235/£150
River Island€54/£39.99
River Island€94/£69.99
Schuh €90/£69.99
Topshop €229/£150
AWear€50/£45
Monsoon€308/£180
D&G€440/£430
The embellishment trend has reached awhole new level for the party season with
sequins, studs and jewels appearing onevery item imaginable. Add a splash ofsparkle with a wow-worthy clutch or goglitz-heavy in a full on sequined number.
But be warned – head to toe sparkle is notfor the faint hearted! By Emer Donlon
Shimmer &Shine
Accessorise€8.90/£6
Amorri E BaachiExclusive beads from Italy.Available in a range ofcolours.
With a starting point of approximately£1,500.00 Mercers have created a wonderful range of diamond rings forthe contemporary lady. Each ring features a certified D colour diamond,this being the whitest diamond available in the marketplace today.“This colour leaves a lasting
impression on all our customers...onceyou have seen and fallen in love withone of our D colour diamonds youwon’t be able to look at anything else.”
TW SteelThe latest in oversized watches fromSwitzerland. Whether you are big, think bigor like big this is definitely the watch for you.
Breitling
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Exclusive Diamond Wedding Rings,Handmade For Your Special Day.
GIA D Colour1.50 Carats £8995.00
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GIA D Colour3.03 Carats £18350.00
Breitling As a specialist of chronographs and instruments for
professionals, Breitling have consistently pursued a thoroughquality policy on their products. What this means is that the
Breitling wrist watches you will find in Mercers are amongthe most technically advanced on the market. Distinctly
designed with a larger look, Breitlings can be seen on many afamous wrist. Mercers always stock the full range of new
models together with some interesting second hand pieces.
The TAG Heuer Lady F1 Tag Heuer is celebrating its 150 year
anniversary. The current range of watchespresent the very essence of avant-garde
Swiss watch making. Beautiful watches from £695.00.
The choice of champions ...ask Lewis Hamilton.
Montblanc
John RochaIconic silver jewellery. Withouta doubt one of themost successfulranges of silverjewellery evermade in Ireland.
OmegaOmega watches - the ultimate in exceptional Swiss design. Mercers Jewellers havebeen exclusive agents of this brilliant Swiss manufacturer for over 40 years. A fullrange of steel and gold watches can always be found in store, in styles with andwithout diamonds. Many new designs available for Christmas.
George Jenson
Rolex SubmarinerRolex Lady
Fope Flexit
Tel: +44 (0)28 6632 2119
Logines LadiesElegance, tradition and performance since 1832. Longinescontinues to offer the fashion conscious purchaser a range ofslim, refined but practical watches for today.
5 High StreetEnniskillenCo. FermanaghBT747DQ
Black and red chiffon dress with studdetails from City Lady Boutique,Enniskillen £160Shoes by Lunar from SloansBoutique, Enniskillen £35Diamante bracelet from StyleBoutique, Omagh £25.95
Take inspiration from past decades andmake this your season to shine
FASHIONDedicated follower of
Cream and black lace dress bySousourada from CocoBoutique, Enniskillen £300Feather shawl from VanillaBoutique, Enniskillen £185Diamante bracelet from CarinoBoutique, Omagh
Dress by Full Circle fromCuba in Dungannon £140 Black ankle shoes by TedBaker from Grahams,Enniskillen £109Faux fur coat by Armani from Grahams Boutique,Enniskillen £479Earrings from CarinoBoutique, Omagh
Royal blue dress fromStyle Boutique, Omagh£209.95Bracelet from CarinoBoutique, OmaghNecklace from StyleBoutique, Omagh £24.95
Dress by Snub from WalkersClothing, Irvinstown £65Ring from Carino Boutique,Omagh
Cream dress by John Charles fromModissima, FivemiletownPearl necklaces from StyleBoutique, Omagh £29.95 eachBlack Platform shoes from CarinoBoutique, OmaghFlower brooches from Sally WestBoutique, Cavan €5 each
Black and cream dress by Elabou fromSally West Boutique, Cavan €210Bracelet from Carino Boutique,OmaghBag From Carino Boutique, Omagh
Dress by Nougat from Vanilla Boutique,Enniskillen £218Tights from Vanilla Boutique, Enniskillen£20Neckpiece from Carino Boutique, OmaghGrey faux fur shrug from Style Boutique,Omagh £35.95Black gloves by Ted Baker from GrahamsBoutique, Enniskillen £49Shoes by Anne Michelle from SloansBoutique, Enniskillen £39.50 Headpice from Carino Boutique, Omagh
Dress with sequin details by ArmaniJeans from Grahams Boutique,Enniskillen £259Rasberry platforms shoes from CarinoBoutique, OmaghTights stylist’s own
THIS MONTH’SFASHIONSHOOTBEHIND
THE SCENES
Photography: Gail McGowen Cloonaveel House Letterbreen, Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, BT74 9AZ
0044 (0) 28 6634 1308 Mobile: (07866) 554359 [email protected] www.cloonaveel.com
Hair: Clive JohnstonClive Alexander Haircutters, Erneside Shopping Centre, The Point, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh BT74 6JQ
0044 (0) 28 6632 4999 www.clivealexanderhaircutters.com
Makeup Artist: Keri Mc KennaPamper Parlour Health & Beauty Salon, 11a Prospect Court, Omagh 028 82 252001 check Keri Mckenna (PamperParlour) on Facebook.
Model: Zara Shaw from The Alison Campbell Model Agency 0044 (0) 28 90 809809 www.alisoncampbellmodels.com
Location: Special thanks to Nick and Colleen Lowry at Blessingbourne Country Estate, Fivemiletown Co. Tyrone BT75 0QS Northern Ireland 0044 (0)28 895 21188 www.blessingbourne.com
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There might be financial worries and tensions withina family or some people are
just too busy to even think aboutthe festive season. So while stressmight be unavoidable for some,there are definitely some things thatyou can do now to ease the pain…
Be organised…Start thinking about presents now.While you might be trying to putthe thought of the silly season offfor as long as possible, before youknow it, every shop will bethronged with stressed shoppers –so now is the time. Make a list ofwhat you plan to buy for all yourloved ones and attempt to purchasethem as soon as you can. Also, theearlier you shop, the less inclinedyou will be to impulse buy. Suggestamong your siblings and friendsthat you do Kris Kringle… this is agreat stress buster in itself.
Buying online is also another wayof cutting back on stress. If you buyearly and the item is not suitable, youcan return it in time for Christmas.
Set aside one day to do yourChristmas food shopping, stick to it.There’s no need to bulk buy either –you will more than likely end up eating all the leftovers yourself.
Now is also the time to startorganising Christmas outfits –there’s nothing more stressful thanrealising on the evening of yourChristmas party that you havenothing to wear, and you proceedto tear around the shops picking upsomething which is more than like-ly unsuitable, and a total waste ofmoney. Think about nights out –your Christmas party, drinks intown on Christmas Eve, ChristmasDay dinner, a night out on StStephen’s night, New Year’s Eve.For a lot of us, there will also bedrinks out in between so see whatyou can salvage from yourwardrobe now and if necessary,start shopping for a couple of partyoutfits. If you can’t really afford tobuy more clothes, take what’s inyour wardrobe and be creative –accessories can turn a blah outfitinto wow in seconds.
Surviving ChristmasWhile Christmas is considered to be one of the most fun, happy and joyous timesof the year, it can also be one of the most stressful. So while for some, the biggestworry is about how to find the time to attend every party they are invited to, forothers, Christmas can be the most dreaded time of the year.
Be realistic…Don’t focus on the unattainable. Chances are, things are not going to go completely to plan over the festiveseason, so just deal with things as they come. And bepositive – a burnt turkey is not the end of the world. Ifyou stress and fret over it though, it might monopolisethe day, so take a deep breath, and have an alternativein place if all else fails.
Managing your finances…..Christmas is that time of year when most of us letour hair down, and blow a lot of cash in the process.So, in order not to wake up on 1 January 2008 witha splitting headache and an overdraft from hell, planyour finances ahead of Christmas. Firstly, keep a noteof everything you need to buy and do up a budget.Do up a realistic plan of what you will spend on par-tying…Chances are you’ll get a bit of a shock at justhow much you will spend, but you can then choosewhere exactly you want to spend your money. Don’tshop on Christmas Eve – you’ll more than likelyimpulse buy. Instead, spend the day chilling out andenjoying yourself.
Ease the hangover….For those of you who enjoy a tipple or two, there’s undoubt-edly going to be some over-indulgence throughout Christmasbut there are steps you can take to ease the pain (literally). Tostate the obvious, drink heaps of water for the whole daybefore your night out. It’s easy to suggest drinking waterwhile out but that doesn’t always happen – so prepare for thisbeforehand. Have your dinner before you go out and if thereare some low fat munchies around – tuck in. It will keep youfrom getting overly merry and will also prevent you frommunching into a McDonalds at 3am, which is much moredamaging. The morning after, drink a smoothie, fresh fruitor vegetable juice to stock up on vitamins. Go for a walk,which will help rev your metabolism up to burn off the alco-hol.
A glass of apple juice will give you an instant hit of glucoseto up your blood sugar levels and is easier on your stomachthan orange juice.
Avoid family feuds….For some, the thoughts ofspending Christmas withfamily is enough to put acomplete dampner on theholiday period. Clashing per-sonalities, bossy in-laws andconflicting ideas on how tospend the holidays can endup in a disaster for all the family.Unfortunatley, you can’t control others’ actions – youcan’t make your mother-in-law stop interfering, you can’tstop your brother having onetoo many and telling yourpartner what he thinks ofhim. What you can dothough is limit the effect itall has on you. Just make thedecision to detach yourselffrom any negative situationsand refuse to be involved –you’ll be glad you did whenthe holidays have passed andyour relationships with lovedones and not so loved onesare still intact.
Take time out for you…The great thing aboutChristmas is that for a day or two, everything slowsdown… shops close, businesses close, there’s littleor no traffic on the roads.For one time in the year, the whole country comes to a standstill. Take this timeto relax and unwind. Go for long leisurely walks in the woods or by the sea, takelong baths, eat great food andabove all… Enjoy yourself!
Go forGold
Adorn yourself with glitteringgolds for a touch of glamourthis season
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YSL Rouge PurCouture €31/£22
Clarins BaroccoShimmering GoldPowder €36/£29
Chanel SublimageEssential RevitalizingConcentrate€350/£290
Shiseido Zen50ml €60/£42
Aromatics Elixir CandleSet €29/£20
Estée Lauder Pure Color Five Color EyeShadowPalette in Extravagant Gold €45/£34
ArtDecoLoose PowderHighlighter€13.80/£9.30
ArtDecoBronze Eclat BronzingIlluminator€16.45/£10.95
ArtDecoPowder Eye Shadows€7.45/£4.40
beauty
ChoiceEditor’s
This month’s pick of the best beauty buys out there
Soaps are back again! After years of theliquid soap obsession, we’ve begun tomiss the simple pleasure of using a beau-tifully scented soap. These decadent100% natural soaps from The HandmadeSoap Company are our favourite. €4.50www.standun.com.
One of the best mascarason the market at themoment to elongate,define and lift lashesRimmel Lash Accelerator€10.95/£8.99
Aromatherapy Associates newIndulgence Candle will see youthrough the cool autumn eveningsand dark winter months. €32/£24www.aromatherapyassociates.com
Trilogy’s new AGE PROOF Triple-Action LineSmoother is a concentrated botanical linesmoother specifically formulated to targetdeep wrinkles and fine lines €37.95/£32
Matis Climatic Protection Balm helps torestore the skin’s protective film and actslike a real barrier against cold, wind, dryness and bad weather. Ideal for thistime of year. 50ml Jar €49/£36.30
Max Factor Smokey Eye Effect Eye ShadowThe smokey eye look in an instant without the make-up bagof brushes. €9.99/£7.99
Beauty
An intoxicating, seductiveand balmy scent - SpaceNK Laughter Nuit EDT50ml £45/€50www.spacenk.co.uk
YSL’s BelleD’Opium - add tothat Christmaswish list €72/£52
Suffer from sensitive skin? La Roche-Posay’s new Toleriane Teint MineralCompact (€21.50/£18) could beyour best buy this winter.
PartySparkle and shine this party season
Perfect
Mystikol™ Powder Eyelinersfrom Jane Iredale €22.75/£17.50 www.jiproducts.co.uk
ARTDECO Glam Art Ceramic Nail Lacquer€10.90/£7.35
Bourjois VolumizerMascara €13.99/£9.99 Superdrug
‘Pamper Me’ giftset from Vani-t€45
L’OccitaneLipstick 3.5g
€18.50
The 2010 Christmasrange from Chanel
Estee LauderDouble WearStay-in-PlaceLip Duo€23/£18 Debenhams
Body Shop EyePalettes €22.50
Max FactorMasterpiece
Glide &DefineLiquid
Eyeliner€8.88/£6.99
Boots
ClarinsBarocco RangeProdige No. 100€20/£16Erne Pharmacy,Enniskillen
Ask your butcher for a hen – the flesh is softer – and it has a nice plump breastso you have lots to go around.
A 10lb turkey is sufficient for six people when you are serving it with ham.You still have the legs left for turkey curry and sandwiches. Save space andwaste! You can always buy a boned, rolled and roast turkey. You need to baste itmore often so it doesn’t dry out. Buy your fresh turkey as close to Christmas aspossible and put it in the fridge immediately. Transfer a frozen turkey to thefreezer as soon as you get it home. Defrost it thoroughly on the bottom shelf ofthe fridge and put paper towel and a bowl underneath to catch the drips. Nevercook from frozen! Don’t wash the turkey – you will spread bacteria. Instead letthe oven heat kill everything. Wash your hands thoroughly after handling anypoultry. If you are using a temperature probe to check that your turkey iscooked, it’s a good idea to clean it with antibacterial wipes before you put itback into the tube. You can get them in a chemist or use antibacterial spray toclean it (away from the food please!). When the turkey is cooked, the juices willrun clear from the inside of the leg - there will be no pink or bloody juicescoming out. If you are in doubt, it is better to over cook the bird than to poi-son the family.
Turkey cooking timesThe following are approximate cooking times for turkeys in an oven which is at180ºC/350ºF/Gas Mark 4.Size of turkey Stuffed turkey Unstuffed turkey8-12lbs/3.5-5.5kg 3 hrs 20 mins to 4 hrs 40 mins 3 hrs to 4 hrs 20 mins12-14lbs/5.5-6.5kg 4 hrs 40 mins to 5 hrs 20 mins 4 hrs 20 mins to 5 hrs 14-18lbs/6.5-8kg 5 hrs 20 mins to 6 hrs 40 mins 5 hrs to 6 hrs 20 mins18-20lbs/8-9kg 6 hrs 40 mins to 7 hrs 20 mins 6 hrs 20 mins to 7 hrs20-24lbs/9-11kg 7 hrs 20 mins to 8 hrs 40 mins 7 hrs to 8 hrs 20 mins
Talk TurkeyChristmas is not the time to experiment saysAnne Kennedy from Greatfood.ie. Play safewith the turkey and add a twist to the sidedishes instead.
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wine
Festive WinesWhen guests or family arrive, stay away from thegin’s, vodka and beers. Instead, try a Cava.Bubbles always go down well and get the partystarted. A well-chilled, fresh vibrant Cava with acomplex lemony Chardonnay flavour is ideal!
Main Course - Turkey & HamIf you like red wine, it must be a Pinot Noirfrom New Zealand. The cherry and red berryfruit of the wine, along with vanilla and smokyhints of oak, are beautifully soft on the palate.
Should you prefer white, go for an oakedChardonnay. A wine like this will have greatlength, allowing peachy and melon charactersto come across with a little surprise of citrus.An Australian variety will have the oak barrel,adding that little sense of wood.
Main Course – GooseFor white lovers, here again go for an oakChardonnay. A big Merlot will be perfect forthe red wine drinker.
Main Course – DuckThis must be accompanied by a red. Try aPinotage from South Africa which will off-setthe high quality dark meat flavours. Anothersuggestion would be a French ‘Burgundy’ -big full bodied red using Cabernet Sauvignongrapes. Flavours of black berries and ripeplums, great length which complements duckexcellently.
SweetsGolden rule here…the sweeter the pudding,the sweeter the desert wine! As an alternative,try a wine called San Valentine or Esmeraldafrom Torres in Spain. Both have hints of pas-sion fruit, banana and roses.
Cheese BoardA good Port will go along way here. My sug-gestion would be Fonseca - late bottled vintageif possible. The port is blended from a singleyear and spends more time in wood.
After all of the above, you may want to sip ona little Cognac. After all the eating, I personal-ly enjoy a wee glass of Benedictine while kick-ing back on the recliner - heaven!
All suggested wines should be easily pur-chased at well under the £10 a bottle pricerange .
Eamonn Campbell on what wines tochoose for Christmas dinner.
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The
Holidays can sometimes leave you feeling worse than when you left home. Over-indulging in bread and wine, andovereating every day for two weeks can have you cominghome needing another holiday. Aoibheann McNamara visitsthe Viva Mayr Clinic in Klagfurt, Austria to find out just how ahealthy break away can have you feeling like new within days.
HealthyHoliday
“After a busy summer working and having just come too after 18months of breast-feeding, I felt like I needed a recharge. Feelingslightly uncomfortable in post-Celtic Tiger Ireland to do the‘spa’ thing, I came across Viva Mayr, a ‘medical hotel’ that offersthe chance to become as physically well as one could on aweeklong break in Europe.
Viva Mayr was established by Dr Harald Stossier, with itsbackground rooted in medicine and science. It’s ideally seen as aweight loss centre, but it’s so much more then that. The clinic’sethos is focusing on the whole body, using a symbiosis of natural healing methods with medical diagnostics and AppliedKinesiology, to create an enjoyable and completely individualtreatment plan. The overall aim of the clinic is to help peopleachieve improved and lasting health.
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”“Feeling slightly uncomfortable in
post-Celtic Tiger Ireland to do the ‘spa’thing, I came across Viva Mayr,
a ‘medical hotel’ that offers the chance to become as physically well as one
could on a weeklong break in Europe.
The clinic itself is stunningly situatedon the shores of Lake Worthersee, a picture perfect Austrian Lake, whichmakes for breath-taking surrounds. Allaccommodation rooms look out onto thelake and offer superb attention to detailand simple modernity. The most marked feature of the hotel is a sense of spaceand privacy; there was rarely anyone in
the pool or solar rooms on my regularvisits, so you get a great sense of peaceand quiet.
It is also state-of-the-art in terms oftreatments and facilities. Upon arrival,you’re medically evaluated and prescribedan itinerary for the week, alongside asupplement menu for any mineral orvitamin deficiencies you may have. You
then have an initial kinesiology test forfood intolerances (I discovered I was lactose-intolerant after a lifetime ofyogurt addiction), followed by abdomi-nal massage to ease the digestive tract,full body massages and skin brushes toremove toxins. Dips in the ice cold lake,followed by intensive sauna visits also actto cleanse the body beautifully.
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Supplementing all that is the morningdrink of Epson salts; very unpleasant, buta great facility to clean out. This is not ahealth farm, so there were three meals aday. I was one of the lucky ones and gota bump-me-up diet. For me, the foodwas wonderful as I was able to eat moreextensively then the others who werethere to lose weight. My diet includeddelicious avocado mousse with caviar,steamed monkfish and Soya desserts, allimpeccably presented with the finestorganic biodynamic ingredients and sup-plemented with the all-essential omega 3and 6 oils.
The essence of the Viva Mayr experi-ence happens in the dinning room whereyou have to chew every mouthful 40times and are given rye bread at mostmeals so that you can learn this chewingprocess. At Viva Mayr, they say it ismuch better to chew a hamburger wellthen wolf down a salad! Over the courseof the week, you learn to chew slowlyand thoughtfully, learning to stop beforeyou are full and be conscious of whatyou put in your body. The usual princi-pals also apply - no tea or coffee, nodrinking with meals, no raw food after5pm. Breakfast is your biggest meal,working down to eating very little later
in the day and nothing after 6pm and…chew chew chew.
The clientele were also very interesting,with the odd celebrity appearing, spicingup the some times mundane 40 chewlunchtime period. This is where peoplego to recharge, to re-wire. We are allstressed to a degree, most of us don’t eatat the optimal level we can and haveadopted practices that are damaging us -the results of which only become visiblelater in life when it’s almost too late. VivaMayr is not the whole answer, but DrStossier works from sound principals onlife and wellness that I believe could ben-efit us all. In conjunction with the writer,Helena Frith Powell he has written thebook the ‘Viva Mayr Diet’ which is notabout a diet per se, but a change in eat-ing patterns that will, in turn, reducestress, increase well being and help youachieve your correct weight.
We should try to see travel and holi-days as a way of pushing ourselvesbeyond the comfort zones of the bottleof Rioja on our Spanish holiday, to a hol-iday experience that leaves us feelingrevived and healthy. Viva Mayr achievesthis and very much extends that wellnessinto your life in the long-term.
Standard rooms from €160 a night,
plus taxes; this includes full board, sup-plements, water, teas and full use of thefacilities.
Ryanair flies from London Standstedto Klagfurt
”“At Viva Mayr, they say it is much better to chew a hamburger well then wolf down a salad!
AVENA SATIVA FOR CHRISTMAS STRESSAvena Sativa, an extract of oats, is a strengthening tonic forthe nervous system and it can help provide almost immediaterelief at times of tension and stress in our lives. This plantmay just provide the perfect antidote for an overwroughtmind in the weeks and days leading up to Christmas. So ifyou feel yourself becoming frazzled around the edges at thethought of preparing for Christmas, Avena Sativa might justbe the friend you need! Avena Sativa is free from side effectsand contra-indications and can be taken by all age groups.
A STOMACH BITTER FOR CHRISTMAS BLOATEating too much has become almost part and parcel of themodern Christmas experience but it comes at a price formany of us. The good news is that Christmas does not haveto feel like this! A stomach bitter such as centurium, dandelion, or yarrow will stimulate the flow of digestive juiceinto your intestines and enable digestion to take place muchmore efficiently. Taking a stomach bitter before meals, especially those that include rich and plentiful food, will helprelieve most of the symptoms of festive over indulgence.Meanwhile, we can get on with the business of enjoying thelovely foods of Christmas in peace and harmony!
MILK THISTLE FOR THE CHRISTMAS HANGOVERMost of us who drink consume more alcohol over Christmastime than at any other time of year. Needless to say, increasedalcohol can take its toll – especially on the poor liver! MilkThistle is well documented for its beneficial effect on theliver. This herb helps the liver to regenerate itself by stimulat-ing the production of new liver cells. It is also a potent antiox-idant which helps to protect the liver from the free radicaldamage caused by toxins such as alcohol. Milk Thistle mayhave a mild laxative effect in some people but this usuallyonly lasts for 2-3 days. People on drug medication, whichrequires careful blood level monitoring, are best to avoid milkthistle. This includes warfarin and other anticoagulant medication, epilepsy and anticonvulsive medication. MilkThistle is not recommended for long term use but should betaken instead in the short term over a couple of months.
FRANKINCENSE-A SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFTThe Bible tells us that frankincense was one of the giftsbrought by the three kings to the stable in Bethlehem and itplays an important role in many church ceremonies. The fragrance of frankincense has a great space cleansing effectand it induces on the mind a sense of deep calm. Burning thisoil in your home will help create a very welcoming and calming atmosphere for all your Christmas visitors.
Nuala Lilley is a pharmacist who specialises in the field ofnatural health. Contact her at Nature’s Health Shop inEnniskillen [email protected]
Festive Feel-goodStay on top this season withNuala Lilley’s top health tips
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gadgets
Tech-Christmas morning just wouldn’t be the same without a few newgadgets around the house for everyone to play with. Here’s our pic of the best new items available.
Did you know that the Blackberry isnow available on prepay fromVodafone? See in stores for details onthe full range available.
Blackberry Curve 8250 €169/£160Vodafonewww.vodafone.iewww.vodafone.co.uk
Creative Zen X-Fi 2 MP3 player €133.99/£99Argoswww.argos.iewww.argos.co.uk
Xbox 360 with Kinectand 2 free games€299.99/£249.99GAMEwww.game.co.uk
Sony E-Reader PocketEdition £199McElwaine Elecrical,Enniskillenwww.mcelwainegroup.com
DIVA LED lamp and combined docking station for iphone and ipod. Integral AM/FM radio. £380Annan Interiors, Enniskillen028 66 340055
Tastic
Samsung Galaxy Tab from €299/£399The Carphone Warehouse
www.carphonewarehouse.iewww.carphonewarehouse.com
The newly released Samsung Galaxy Tab is the firstcomputer tablet running on the mobile operating systemAndroid to truly compete with Apple’s iPad. The GalaxyTab is smaller and lighter than the iPad, has a front andrear camera and also supports Adobe Flah Player.Samsung are pushing it as a mobile PC-browser comemobile phone with apps such as the ‘Reader’s Hub’ coming as standard and giving users access to a wealth of literature and reference material. Available now at The Carphone Warehouse from €299/£399.
TomTom GO LIVE 1000 ROI,UK & Europe €299/£279Halfordswww.halfords.iewww.halfords.com
WD My Passport externalhard drive 320GB
€80/£44.99PC World
www.pcworld.iewww.pcworld.co.uk
Panasonic HDC-SDT750 3DCamcorder€1499/£1149.99Curry’swww.currys.iewww.currys.co.uk
The Panasonic HDC-SDT750 3D Camcorder is theworld’s first consumer 3D camcorder. The camcorder’s 3D conversion lens enables users to shoot powerful and true-to-life 3D video content. It also features a Time LapseRecording mode, which plays a scene such as a sunset or a blooming flower at an accelerated speed, similar to a fast-forward. A truly quality piece of technology.
70 COVERwest
All the latest top of the range domestic appliances nowavailable at Mullen Domestic, Enniskillen, Co.Fermanagh0044 (0) 28 66325278 www.mullendomestic.com
The Carrraig Mor boiler models are available in 20kw and30kw outputs with only 4kw and 5kw to the rooms respectively. The 20 kw heats up to 14 radiators and the 30kwheats 18 radiators. Both come with the usual Boru refinementssuch as a thermostatically controlled boiler, C02 burn technology and multi-fuel grate for wood and solid fuel. See in store at Mullen Domestic for the full Boru stove range.
The Carraig Beag is one of the biggest little stoves on the market. Big enough to heat a large room but small enough to sit on a standardhearth, this stove has a massive 8kw output that really energises eventhe coldest of rooms. As with all Boru stoves, it is fitted with anAirwash system for cleaner glass and C02 burn technology for a cleanerburn and it is also manufactured in Ireland. The full Boru stove range is available at Mullen Domestic.
Siemens range of A-rated condenser tumble dryers consume lessenergy than any other tumble dryer in the world and is also the first in the world to stay just as efficient for its entire working life. The tumble dryers come with sophisticated sensor technology, cutting edge engineering and a carefully designed range of programmes and options. A Siemens laundry appliance is designed from the ground up to help you manager the range and complexity of modern textiles. Check online at www.mullendomestic.com to see the full range of
Siemens appliances.
It’s a popular misconception thatwashing up by hand saves water.
The Siemens dishwasher range usesan incredible 50 litres less on average
per load than washing by hand and theenergy required to heat all that washing
up water is five times more than theSiemens dishwasher uses on an economy
50 degree wash programme. The entire Siemens appliance range is
available at Mullen Domestic.
InteriorsNews
interiors
DomesticGoddess
Whether you’re an aspiring domestic goddess or simply a fan of beautifulthings, these delightful kitchen accessories tick all the right boxes.
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Baking book,€33/£25 atEasons/Waterstones Coloured mixing bowl
(€12.50/£8) and spoonholder (€13.50/£10),Debenhams
Rolling pin, €20/£16 atwww.anthropologie.eu
Handmade felt doilyplacemats by DonnaWilson, €18 each atwww.nofixedabode.ie
Selection ofhomewaresavailable fromNext
AGA cooker in newPearl ashes colour,from €7,995/£7,400at The AGA Store/The AGA Shop
Jesse Steele polka dotapron, €34/£28 atwww.anthropologie.eu
Cath Kidston cake tins,set of 3 for £25 at Cross Sections, Sligo
Silicone cupcake cases,12 for €6 at www.kitchenessence.ie
KichenAid Artisan Mixer inYellow Pepper £389 atDowlers Homestore,Enniskillen
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Our human need for lightingAs our awareness of the need for good light-ing increases in the dark winter months, wemay also in these times of austerity, have thebasic desire to make our existing home andinteriors more effective rather than re-locatingor even extending. Lower energy consump-tion too might get more than a passive moralinterest if we could claw back some of theexpenditure on a lighting scheme by lowerrunning costs post-scheme in the longer term.
New builds with a clean slate approachhave much less of an excuse for not getting itright, since advance detailed planning pro-vides the ideal opportunity for a bespoke andwell considered lighting scheme.
Approach and research But how do we go about it in the existinghome where physical disruption and costneed to be kept to a minimum? Well, thefirst part of the answer might sound like acliché, but early and professional planning iskey. Designers who only do lighting designare scarce, besides you might identify morewith a design source which provides totalinterior advice of which lighting is a part of.It’s also a good idea to visit lighting showrooms and shops and talk to qualifiedelectricians – not just to see what productsare available, but to review first hand someof the techniques and effects.
However, not all interior design/décor outlets offer a lighting advisory facility. Manyof the places where light fittings are on salearen’t equipped to provide design or technicaladvice, so you will have to shop around. Thisexperience will help you build up a picture ofnot only what is on the market now, but alsohow certain possibilities might work well foryour home with its individual requirements.
The differing types of lightingBefore you try to comprehend what themany wall lights, pendants, ceiling lights etccan do for you, it would be a good idea tograsp the key differences between the varioustypes of lighting or lamp sources to give thecorrect term.
This appreciation is fundamental not onlyin building up one’s discernment, but sort-ing what would work where – so withoutblinding you with science, here goes:
IncandescentThis is the standard GLS ‘Bulb’ – twist orscrew in. Does provide atmospheric warmth,but due to relative energy inefficiency, is nolonger manufactured in the original standardform.
Low Voltage (Not to be confused with low energy)Usually 12V requiring transformer(s). Still a
Illuminate yourimagination
Gordon Annanlooks at lighting
and the key role itplays in creating
ambience
interiors
interiors
76 COVERwest
very effective mood setter since when usedas ceiling down lights, the beam is narrowand punchy. Runs hot at source andrequires quality product and goodinstaller to minimise the likelihood ofshort lamp life.
FluorescentLow energy and now made in a great variety of shapes and sizes, which in turn,enables them to fit into a huge range oflight fittings both free-standing and wallor ceiling-mounted.
Be aware though that most of theselamps are available in a choice of white,warm white or cool white in their render-ing with corresponding obvious effect onany interior.
HalogenHigh in output but often high in energyuse. One or two in a home used with adimmer can be a great feature pendant inthe stairwell and/or particularly over adining table and will have an attractivewarm appearance.
LED (Light emitting diode)Newer technology, very low energy andcool to touch.
It still can be relatively expensive andmost of them tend to be very ‘cool’ incolour appearance – a bit like the Zenonheadlamps in top of the range cars.They’re so white they appear blue and soare not everyone’s idea of atmosphericwarmth. Great for feature lighting anddenotation such as small ankle-level walllights in a hall or within stair walls or stairrisers. Their discretion can be good formiddle of the night toilet visits!
Lighting design and selection oflight fittingsHaving addressed some of the abovepointers, you should feel more equippedto talk to a designer or lighting advisor.Early planning for lighting is imperativein the sequence of things.
Your budget and subsequent extent ofworks will dictate whether or not drawingsare needed, but try a ‘walk through’ yourhome and note where you would ideallylike switches, such as at the bed head aswell as the existing beside the room doorand where you would like more than onecircuit, dimming etc and write these things
down. Of course, not everyone is preparedto put up with the ‘surgical’ disruption ofwall tracking, floorboard lifting, ceilingcutouts etc let alone the financial cost – butit is still possible to seriously improve yourlighting with professional advice and wellconsidered purchasing. Those of youembarking on a new build should considerit imperative to obtain a professional light-ing design.
BedroomsWithout giving away all my trade secrets,the predictable centre lighting outletoperated by a switch at the door of mostfirst floor bedrooms is easier to augmentsince there is usually access to the aboveceiling roof void above where criticallypositioned down lights can be inserted.Other areas in the house need specificattention such as:
Kitchen In this critical hub of the house, you needto avoid ‘general’ boring solutions like aregular grid of down lights. With this, youcould be preparing food in your ownshadow if you don’t balance the mainlighting with some lighting from the otherside. If your kitchen is open plan to yourliving area, then the kitchen lightingneeds to be planned to avoid looking likea disconnected black gloom when not inuse. Islands in bigger kitchens often warrant their own highlighting and integral lighting within extractors needs tobe taken into account.
LivingThink about TV watching, reading and soon and you will soon realise you will certainly be looking for choice and moodsettings, so a single centre light is unlikely tobe sufficient here.
Table and floor standing lamps are aquick fix but fumbling behind furnitureto switch on and off every time is not souser friendly. It may be possible to providepower to wall lights through the wall froman adjacent room.
BathroomLight fittings here need to be of a specificmoisture-proof design and don’t forget theshower cubicle as it also makes for an easier time during cleaning!
The feasibility of carrying out any designproposals can be examined by a registeredelectrician. The guy you meet in the pubmight well be capable, but may not have theaccreditation (NICEIC in Northern Irelandor RECI in the Republic of Ireland) orappropriate insurances to do the work.
We have only touched on the very vasttopic of lighting in these pages but do shoparound and seek professional guidance. Inmy 30-year career of changing trends, theone thing that has remained constant is theneed for a lighting design both for newbuild or renovation. This is inexpensiveand will prove to be money well spent.
Lighting brings an interior to life if it provides flexible solutions for mood setting.Done correctly, it makes a good interiorinto a great interior.
78 COVERwest
WESTERN CARSAt Western Cars, we can provide you with a full range ofnew and used cars and commercials. Recently we have extended our forecourt to improve layout, customer parking and display area for up to 100 used cars. As an official Toyota centre, we are committed to exceeding customer expectations and ensuring that all our cus-tomers are completely satisfied. We have recently cele-brated 25 years as a Toyota centre and pride ourselves inproviding all the services you expect on site. We havecontinuously been in the top 10% of Toyota centres inthe UK on sales, aftersales and customer satisfaction. We look forward to welcoming you to Western Cars soon.
It’s easy to overlook the fact that your tyresare the only part of your car to touch theroad and are therefore, critical to ensuringsafe motoring. So, together with LakelandTyres in Fermanagh, we’ve put together a
short guide on how you can ensure your tyres arein good nick for driving this winter.
When we hear the term ‘winter tyres’ many ofus are likely to think of snow ridden countriessuch as Norway and Canada, but winter tyres arenot just for snow. A normal tyre loses its elastici-ty below seven degrees, so road holding isreduced and braking distancesare greatly increased. Wintertyres on the other hand aremade of materials that workbest in temperatures belowseven degrees and this couldhelp save yours and your family’s lives this winter. Thetread is deeper with groovesthat are wider and remove farmore water than normal tyres,meaning you’re at less risk oflosing control of your car inwet weather conditions.
Even without changing them, caring for yourtyres correctly this winter will greatly improvetheir performance and safety. The first thing youcan do is make sure that your air pressures arecorrect. The recommended tyre pressure for yourcar will be found on your door panel or in yourvehicle handbook. You should always fill yourtyres to the optimum inflation level and never betempted to reduce the tyre pressure for driving insnow. Incorrectly inflated tyres can reduce yourbraking stability and grip, while correctly inflated tyres will increase your fuel efficiency.
Stay safe and save money…it makes sense.The minimum legal tread depth for car tyres in
Ireland and the UK is 1.6mm, but most roadsafety organisations recommend that motoristschange their tyres at a tread depth of 3mm. Thisextra tread depth makes tyres preform 25% bet-ter than at the legal minimum in wet conditions.That equates to an extra eight metres of breakingdistance. Many tyres feature tyre wear indicatorswithin the main grooves of the tyre, indicatingwhen your tyres are approaching the legal limit,but if you’re concerned about your tread depth,
then call into Lakeland Tyresand have one of their expertstake a look for you.
It is important for you tocheck the condition of yourtyres regularly as any damageor obstructions will greatlyaffect the quality and safety ofyour journey. Pay particularattention to the sidewalls ofyour tyres and look for anybulges or cuts in them; thiscould be the result of strikingan object obscured by snow or
striking a kerb following a skid. You should alsocheck to make sure that there are no signs of cracksappearing, which indicate ageing. Finally, makesure that all wheels have dust caps and are freefrom dirt around the valves. If you have anydoubts about the quality of your tyres then don’thesitate to ask a technician at your local tyre cen-tre. Damaged tyres aren’t just unsafe, they’re illegal.
Stay safe this Christmas by driving carefullyand looking after your tyres.
Lakeland Tyres, Lisnaskea, Co. Fermanagh028 67724291 www.lakelandtyres.com
WINTERTYRE CARE
There are three ways you can protect yourself from the elements this winter. Invest in a really good coat and some cosy winter accessories,change your moisturiser to suit the harsh weather, and last, but certainly
not least, check that your tyres are safe!
TOP TYRE CARE TIPS� Consider investing in
specialised winter tyres
� Check air pressure every
two weeks
� Keep tread depth above
legal minimum
� Inspect tyres regularly
� When in doubt, ask an
expert
Peter OHara, Ruth Griffith, Mary and Eddie Flynn
Derek Friel, Alma Kinnear and Stephen Dickson
Noleen Conlon with her father and mother Brianand Ann Cosgrove
The Lisnaskea Chamber ofCommerce in the DonnCarragh HotelPhotos by Donnie Phair
It was all glitz and glamour recently for theLisnaskea Chamber of Commerceannual dinner dance. Guests enjoyed asumptuous meal followed by speechesfrom Fr Brian D'Arcy C.P and outgoingChamber President Alma Kinnear. A nightof fun and partying was then had till thewee hours.
Ruth and Sam Blair
Father Brian D’Arcy C.P, Mary and PeterQuinn with Martin and Bernie Teague
Jenny and Ciaran Tracey, Clare and Marcus Hunter and John and Maisie McElwaine
Christine McVitty
Maria Flynn, Marie Brady, Janete Hetherington, Martina Lynch and Mary O Rourke
Eddie and Mary Flynn
out&aboutwith COVERwest magazine
For more check out www.facebook.com/coverwestmagazine to see who's been out and about this month
The team from McAleers in Dungannon who were awarded the Sunday Life Readers’ Choice Award at the Pub of the Year Awards 2010
Oonagh McGirr from Sally’s of Omagh with Sorcha Wolsey and David Sterling
Donal Martin from the Customs House Country Inn in Belcoo with Sorcha Wolsey
Donal Martin, Clara Martin, John Roche and JulieAnne Mullaly, Customs House Country Inn, Belcoo.
Pub of the Year Awards 2010Photos by Brian Thompson
The search to find Northern Ireland’s top pubscame to a dramatic conclusion recently withsome of the country’s finest pubs going head tohead at the annual Pub of the Year Gala Awardswhich were hosted at Belfast City Hall.
The event celebrated the best that the local pubtrade has to offer and presented awards to thewinning pubs in a range of categories, includingthe coveted Northern Ireland Pub of the YearAward which went to Sally’s of Omagh.
Derry/Londonderry Chamber ofCommerce Annual 53rd Annual Dinner
Over 400 guests gathered for the annual Londonderry Chamber of Commerce
dinner, which was held in The Everglades Hotel. The night began with a drinks
reception with keynote speeches from Phil Redmond and Martin McGuinness
followed by a sumptuous dinner. A glamorous affair, guests then enjoyed music from
local legend Bronagh Gallagher. Photos by Martin McKeown www.impresspics.com
Conor Gallagher and Clodagh Sammon
Ed Hoppitt, Jeff Hillis, Peter Ferris and Paul Gallagher
Helen O'Kane and Jane Quinn
Councillor Helen Quigley, Kathleen Gormley, Principal ofSt. Cecilia's College and Councillor Gerard Diver
Garvin O'Doherty and Professor DoloresO'Reilly
Londonderry Chamber of Commerce President Jim Sammon
Phillip Gilliland and Northern Ireland AssemblySpeaker, William Hay
Aiden Breslin, Dave Donaghy and Cathy Moran
Katarzyna Wypych, Anna Marie O Rourke and Mark Burke
Una Burke
Design by Ruth Duignan
Sinead Flynn and John Bohan
The Leitrim Design House:THE ART OF FASHION 2010Photos by Fiona Mc Guire
www.fionamcguire.ie +353 (0)87 9359927
The Leitrim Design House 4th “Art of Fashion”event took place recently to a full house at theDock Arts Centre. This exclusive Irish fashionextravaganza showcased new collections fromalmost 30 top Irish d esigners.
Marian Diffley and Marian Greene Zoe and Kali Dunne
Villa Rose Hotel’s Annual WinterBeauty & Fashion Event
The Villa Rose Hotel’s Annual Winter Beauty &Fashion event took place recently and was attended
by over 200 guests. The prestigious event raisedfunds for the Barretstown Children’s Charity and
featured an Ultimate Makeover and Catwalk showfrom leading designers such as Edel McBride and the
latest fashion lines from McElhinney’s DepartmentStore, Ballybofey.
Mariana McIntyre, Nicola Doherty, Noel Cunningham, Aoife Dohertyand Niamhanne McGarvey
Noel Cunningham from TV3 and Aoife Doherty
Susan Treacy andNicola Doherty
Modelling from the Promise Boutique at McElhinneys DepartmentStore, Ballybofey
Claire and Don Macfarlane
Fiona and Charles Plunkett Louise Ryan and Gavin Murphy
The WaterMillPhotos by Shane Smith
The Watermill, Restaurant with Rooms, inLisnaskea recently opened its doorsto the public. Minister Arlene Foster, along withChef Noel McMeel from Lough Erne Golf Resortwere among the VIPs who attended. Therestaurant is located on the shores of the upperlough, with stunning views from thedining room.
Pascal Brissaud with Maurice Kettyle
Terry and Mary McCarthney
Rodney and TessDickson
Pamela Ballintine, Chef Pascal Brissaud and Valerie Smyth
Kate Smith and Michael Dean
Liz and Andy Moore
Emily Mell and Karen McKeon
Samia Kamboua and Linda Kesraoui
Jana Phelan, Aiana Picken and Moira McIntyre
A Night of StylePhotos by Philip McCaffrey
+353 (0)87 6637374
A group of fashionistas from I.T. Sligo helda fashion show in aid of theIrish Cancer Society recently. Guestsarrived in style for the 'Turn YourSwag On' event, and enjoyed a night oftalent and style, all in aid of theIrish Cancer Society.
Suzy Short
Jackie Gallagher and Mary Gaffney
Ciara Comerford and Karen Keville
Hazel McCullagh and Emma Conlon
Clodagh Canlin, Karen Clancy and JoanneSweeney
Alan Keane, Sligo Rovers, Lisa Brady I 102-104 M.C. andMatthew Blinkhorn, Sligo Rovers
Rachel Jones Evans, Emma Campbell and Geri Sheerin
Lisa Brady, Toni Brady and Elisa McGee
Stephanie Kelly and Lucyna Katarzynska
Michelle Moffitt, Orla Doran, Marguerite Jennings and Aoife O Beirn
Kim and Ross tie the knotRoss and Kim Burns were recently married in Corick House. Photos by Conor Lunny, [email protected]
COVERwest 93
Oonagh & Richard tie the knotOonagh & Richard Smith married in Rathmullen Co Donegal.They held their reception in the Kee's in Stanorlar.Photos by Conor Lunny
94 COVERwest
Lisa and Sean tie the knotLisa & Sean on their wedding day at the Crover House Hotel, Cavan
Aideen and Sean tie the knotAideen & Sean were recently married in St Mary’sChurch, Crosserlough. The reception was held in theSlieve Russel Hotel, Cavan.
Natasha and Shaney tie the knotNatasha and Shaney were recently married at St Mary’s Church, Ballyhaise. Their reception followed in Ballyhaise House.
Annabelle and Dave tie the knotAnnabelle & Dave were recently married in St Aidan’sChurch, Buttersbridge, Co Cavan. The reception was heldat the Slieve Russell Hotel, Cavan.
Paula and Mark tie the knotPaula & Mark, pictured here following their ceremony atThe Church of the Assumption, Sooey.
Photographs by Finbarr O’[email protected]
COVERwest 95
Lily and Jonathan tie the knotChurch Bells rang at the wedding of Lilly & Jonathan.They celebrated afterwards at the Slieve Russell Hotel.
Collette and James tie the knotCollette at the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel, Cavan.
Collette and James tie the knotThe girls take a quiet moment as the bride is photographed at the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel, Cavan.
Eric and Ann tie the knotAnn & Eric pictured following their wedding ceremony at Kille-shandra Church of Ireland.
Photographs by Finbarr O’[email protected]
Model shown Verso TR 1.6 V-matic 7 seat manual £18,980.63. Metallic paint £410 extra. *Price is calculated by deducting a £750 customer saving from the manufacturer’s list price. **5.9% APR and £500 fi nance deposit allowance on new retail sales of Verso TR 1.6 V-matic 7 seat manual when ordered when ordered between 1 October and 15 December 2010 and registered and fi nanced through Toyota Financial Services between 1 October and 31 December 2010. Terms and conditions apply. Other fi nance off ers are available but cannot be used in conjunction with this off er. Indemnities may be required. Finance subject to status to over 18s only. Toyota Financial Services, Great Burgh, Burgh Heath, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 5UZ. Price correct at time of going to press & includes VAT, delivery charge, number plates, 1 years road fund licence and £55 fi rst registration fee. Subject to availability. The 5 year warranty is a 5 year/100,000 mile manufacturer warranty. To maintain the warranty, customers must service their vehicle in accordance with the standard Toyota service schedule for the full 5 year period. For more information on the terms and conditions please contact Toyota (GB) plc on 0844 701 6200.
Verso TR 1.6 V-matic 5 door 7 seat manual Official Fuel Consumption Figures in mpg (l/100km): Urban 32.8 (8.6), Extra Urban 48.7 (5.8), Combined 41.5 (6.8). CO2 Emissions 158g/km.
Western CarsSligo Road, EnniskillenTel: 028 6632 4323westerncars.toyota.co.uk
AccessToyota
Stress free driving for years and years at Western Cars.
35 Monthly Payments £299.00
Customer Deposit £2,132.03
Cash price £18,230.63
Less Finance Deposit Allowance £500.00
Amount of credit £15,598.60
Guaranteed Future Value/Optional Final Payment £7,118.04
Total Amount Payable £20,215.07
Excess miles over 30,000 7p per mile
7 seat Verso TR £18,230.63*
Beat the VAT increase in January, with 2010 prices.
Saving £750 off the list price. 5.9%APR TYPICAL**
Plus a further £500 fi nance deposit allowance when fi nanced through Toyota Financial Services.
Committed to quality
