WW8 2023

FAMILY, HOME & WELLNESS OUR BL MIN’ LOVELY SPRINGTIME SPECIAL BEAUTY PICKS Jacqui SALAD DAYS GROW YOUR OWN SELF-CONFESSED MESSER & SPORTS LOVER MADE IN IRELAND Lowdown €2000 PLUS Prizes to Win 52 WORTH IT DELICIOUS LAMB ALL THINGS SPRING FLOWER POWER AT HOME Jacqui Sunny Style SPRING CLEAN FOR THE MIND FACE CONTOUR Ye ow Jacqui SELF-CONFESSED MESSER HURLEY TREND ALERT SHOES & BAGS Ye ow VIBES WASHINGTON DC UNCOVERED Issue 8 April 10th 2023 €3.50 (NI stg £3) WW8 Cover Jacqui KOTCCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 17:02

CONTENTS ON THE COVER Online... womansway.ie Subscribe... 01 4569872 Email... [email protected] Facebook... facebook.com/womansway Twi er... Womans_way Instagram... Womans_way WIN WIN WIN HOME & GARDEN FOOD & DRINK TRAVEL 38 On the Radar: We round up the places to see and be seen around the country. 39 More Than Cutting the Mustard: The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge, Co Limerick reviewed. 40 Washington Wonders: Carissa Casey visits the capital of the United States. 54 Lamb Season: Cheffy ways to cook tender meat. 56 Korean Food: Try your hand at these tasty Asian recipes. 34 Feeling Blue: Decorating with cool shades of indigo. 36 Floral Finds to Give Your Home a Spring Refresh: Without the twee. 62 Salad Days: Vegetable growing tips. 64 Six jobs for Spring: Get garden-ready. 66 Love Bugs: How to support biodiversity in the garden. 20 Bondi Sands: Get your hands on one of two tanning hampers worth €250 each. 70 Green Angel: Win one of two Irish-made beauty hampers worth €250 each. 72 Dr Bronner’s: Four beauty hampers worth €125 each are up for grabs. 90 Oxendales: Bag a €500 voucher to spend online. 4 Jacqui Hurley: The RTÉ sports presenter talks about what it’s like to be a trailblazer in her fi eld. 21 Beauty Faves: What the WW crew use on repeat. 22 Fresh-Faced Finish: Applying foundation with a light touch. 24 How to Contour Your Face Like a Pro: Tips for the over-40s. 26 Sunshine in Your Pocket: Moodbooting yellow fashion buys. 28 Five Spring Shoe Trends: From ballet slippers to runners. 30 Bag it Up for Spring: Retro styles for the new season. Korean Food Page 56 Jacqui Hurley Page 4 Feeling Blue Page 34 FASHION & BEAUTY Washington Wonders Page 40 Bondi Sands Page 20 24 How to Contour Your Face Like a Pro: Tips for the over-40s. 26 Sunshine in Your Pocket: booting yellow fashion buys. 28 Five Spring Shoe Trends: slippers to runners. 30 Bag it Up for Spring: the new season. 11 Floral Finds Page 36 Oxendales Page 90 2-3 WW8 Contents KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 06/04/2023 09:34

Contact us: Subscriptions, email [email protected]; telephone hotline, 01 465 9872. Woman’s Way queries, email [email protected]; website womansway.ie. Published by Harmonia Limited, printed by Boylan Print Group, distributed by Newspread. Woman’s Way is now a fortnightly magazine. Subscription rates for the Island of Ireland are: Annual €91.00,; Six Months: €45.50; Monthly Payments: €7.58. Woman’s Way Subscriptions Dept, Units 2&3 M50 Business Park, Ballymount Avenue, D12 HP11. © 2022 Harmonia Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior permission of the publishers. The publisher cannot accept responsibility for errors in advertisements, articles, photographs or illustrations. All information is correct at time of going to press. SUBSCRIBE TO WOMAN’S WAY & DON’T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE To subscribe online log on to womansway.ie or call the Subscription Hotline on 01 465 9872 FEATURES REGULARS THE WW TEAM HEALTH & WELLBEING Cari a x Hello, Welcome to our Spring Special Issue. And what an amazing season spring is. The grand stretch is fi nally with us and, being Irish, our thoughts automatically turn to whether the weather to come will match our expectations. But come rain or shine, there’s the inescapable scent of something lovely in the air as around us nature surges forth leaves and fl owers and lawns that need mowing again. In many ways the new year begins here. I often suspect we make as many resolutions around now as we do on January 1 because this is a great time of year to fi nally nail that healthy habit. Somehow the brighter days make it easier to take better care of ourselves. In this issue, the WW crew tried their hand at a mental spring clean by turning just one of the things we tell ourselves we should do into things we actually do. In my case I’ve managed to get back to walking and I’m loving it. Niamh decided to call a halt on the midnight scroll of social media, Aisling found a way to fi nd space for a much-loved reading habit and Astrid reminded herself that busyness is not all it’s cracked up to be. Perhaps you too have a habit you’d like to develop or a bad habit you’d like to crack. Let us know how you get on because we always love to hear from our readers. In the meantime, enjoy this amazing new season. And, if you’re that way inclined, say a prayer for a long hot summer ahead. Editor in Chief: Norah Casey Editor: Carissa Casey Staff Writer: Niamh O’Reilly Copy Editors: Astrid Madsen, Aisling Keenan Art Director: Karl O’Toole Designers: Áine Duffy and Susan Conley Subscriptions: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Woman’s Way, April 24, 2023 Vol.61 Issue 8 14 Spring Clean for the Mind: Hit refresh. 16: We Share: The WW crew try some mental spring cleaning of their own. 32 Nature’s Way: The benefi ts of forest bathing. 44 Killing It: Irish crime writer Gaye Maguire on why 60 is the new 40. 74 Clean up Your Act: Turn your spring clean into a family affair. 88 Being Vogue: Vogue Williams on fi nding ways to relax. 86 Leading From the Top: Anna Williamson opens up about mental health in the workplace. 76 Spring Fever: Why does the new season make us feel so good? 78 Immersive Coaching: Walking and talking therapy. 80 Menopause at Work: How to start a conversation with your boss. 82 Ovarian Cancer: What the symptoms are and how to get them checked. 84 Hear Hear: Dealing with irritating noises. 9 We Love: The WW team shares what they’re loving - and what they’re not. 10 MoodBoard: Beautiful serandite. 16 We Share: Decluttering the nind. 46 The Hot List: Check out our top entertainment picks. 50 You Said It: Reader’s letters and pictures. 52 Timeout: Take a break, try our quiz and Prize Crossword. 68 Knitting: Spring beanie. 71 Horoscopes: What’s in the stars for you? 73 Ask Fiona: Our columnist answers reader dilemmas. 91 Lend a Hand: Ways to give back. 92 Quick Fire: Lorna McCormack of Wool in School. 93 We Tried: Shampoo bars. 94 Why Is This a Thing: GP appointments. MoodBoard Page 10 Being Vogue Page 88 Spring Fever Page 76 Lend a Hand Page 91 2-3 WW8 Contents KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 06/04/2023 09:37

4 WOMANSWAY.IE game Sports presenter Jacqui Hurley tells Andrea Smith about her exciting new job. money,” she says. “I found, particularly between having my children, that I didn't take enough time for myself. If I'm not exercising, I don't feel good about myself. I need to be active because that’s how I get my head space.” Jacqui will turn 40 next year and feels fit and healthy. As a woman on TV she faces inevitable scrutiny around her appearance, so does that aspect of the job bother her? came about after that, and while Jacqui will be covering the European Rugby tournament, Irish rugby and GAA, she won’t be doing URC Rugby anymore. She is delighted that the restructuring of her working week has enabled her to give more time to her family and still work at the job she loves. “I've been doing this job for 17 years and it’s amazing,” she says. “It's a dream job, but that doesn't mean that there isn't a huge sacrifice that comes with it as well.” Jacqui strongly believes that everyone needs to have balance in their lives. She goes to the gym every morning after the school run and plays basketball and golf. “These things are hugely important to me and I wouldn't give them up for love nor I n 2014, Jacqui Hurley made history by becoming the first woman to host Sunday Sport in the programme’s almost-40 year history on RTÉ Radio One. She has now taken the helm of The Sunday Game on RTÉ2, which has been on air since 1979. “It's incredible to be given such an enormous show,” she tells Woman’s Way. “Everybody in the country feels they own the show, so I definitely feel a sense of pride that I’m the one who gets to do it.” After 14 years, Jacqui made the difficult decision to leave Sunday Sport in January. Although she loved presenting it, the mum-of-two found that there was just too much to juggle. “I could be in Belfast on Friday, Limerick on Saturday and on the radio on Sunday,” she says. “The URC Rugby was 25 weekends of the year and then there was Six Nations on top of that, European Rugby and the Rugby World Cup. I was also doing a bit of soccer and realised that something had to give. My husband is incredible, but I wanted to claw back a bit of weekend time with my family because my kids are small.” Jacqui says that her bosses at RTÉ were “brilliantly supportive”, and vowed to find something that worked for her. The Sunday Game A of twohalves 4-7 Jacqui Hurley KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 06/04/2023 09:40

IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 5 continues overleaf >> “Some people are going to tune in just to see what you're wearing and will comment on your appearance but I'm okay with that,” she says. “I've never been incredibly hung up on having to look a certain way. It’s not that I don't worry about it, but I’m more hung up on what I say during the gig than how I look doing it.” ENJOYING LIFE Jacqui has learned to tag her wardrobe on social media because she came to realise that women are interested in where she got various items of clothing. While she never imagined that she would enjoy that aspect of the job, she really likes interacting with followers about her wardrobe choices. “My style has changed over the years,” she says. “A couple of years ago, I probably would have thought, ‘Ah Jaysus, I’ve a pain in my arse going into town to do all of this,’ but working with stylists to pick out my wardrobe is actually a fun part of the job.” Jacqui comes across as jolly and lighthearted on air and feels she is the same person on TV as in real life. “It's a case of let’s have the craic and see where this thing goes,” she says. “It's sport - it's not life and death. If you ever turn on the television, there's a very good chance that I'm wearing bright colours, and I'm probably laughing and smiling and trying to have the craic. It’s important to me that I look and sound and feel on the telly like I do in real life.” While she lived in Cork from the age of 10, Jacqui’s formative primary years were spent in Canberra, Australia as her family moved there in 1987. Her parents eventually decided to move home to Cork to be closer to Jacqui’s grandparents. She and her siblings weren't thrilled initially and experienced a massive culture shock when they landed here, not least because 4-7 Jacqui Hurley KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 06/04/2023 09:41

6 WOMANSWAY.IE sports presenter, Triona is a pilot with British Airways, and their younger brother Seán, who sadly passed away almost 11 years ago, was poised to become a semiprofessional motorcycle racer. Seán was 25 when he tragically lost his life in a car accident on a stormy night on the Kinsale to Bandon road. Jacqui misses him deeply. “It was awful,” she says. “Seán was the biggest character and the beating heart of our home. It’s very difficult any time you lose someone in the family, but when you lose the person who's larger than life and knits everybody together, it becomes even more difficult and leaves a big hole.” Seán sat down with their mother Mairéad and wrote a bucket list two nights before he died, which included items like running a marathon and running a pub. Completing items on the list gave his grieving family and friends a sense of purpose and a feeling of connection to Seán. “I think that people sometimes don't really know what to say to you and of the weather. They missed the barbecues and parties at their house as their parents were very sociable. “My mum Mairéad was a nurse and my dad Dave was an electrician and they went there during the recession for a better life,” she says. “I was there from three to ten and it was a phenomenal experience for us. We loved a very happy, healthy life and sport was always a prominent part of our lives. We were always outdoors, always at matches and always on the go.” “When you're in fifth class and your parents tell you they're moving you across the world, you don't care that it’s your home. You just feel they're ripping everything you know from underneath you. We were horrible for a year and so difficult to deal with, because we didn’t want to come home. Of course, now I say it was the best decision they ever made, and even though it was very, very hard to leave my friends, I knew that my mum and dad had thought all that through and knew it was the right thing to do.” Jacqui came back to Cork as “the foreign kid who talks funny” and found that becoming involved in sport helped her to forge bonds. She was playing sports every day of the week, basketball and camogie most prominently, but also Gaelic football, soccer and athletics. She ended up playing basketball for Ireland, as did her sister Triona who is 16 months older and was an inspiration to Jacqui growing up. “Sport made it easier for me to make friends and helped me move from being a complete outsider,” says Jacqui. “That's probably why I have such a healthy relationship with it.” FAMILY LIFE Jacqui is very close to her parents, who have always been incredibly supportive. She describes them as “amazing” and “incredibly selfless” and says they taught her that nothing was out of reach. She suspects that this is why she became a they're worried about saying something that sets you off,” says Jacqui, reflectively. “The bucket list gave so many people a chance to roll in behind us in a really simple way and not have to feel like they were intruding. It was like a gift that Seán left for us and knew somehow that we needed it.” When she was 17, Jacqui was paralysed for several days after she and another player crashed into each other playing basketball. It was a very scary time as her injuries could have been life-altering. “I broke my neck,” she recalls. “It was a total freak accident and, thankfully, I was fine. I look back now and see the damage that I did, and appreciate that I was lucky enough to have made a full recovery. I have some legacy back issues, but I’m still playing basketball and I'm fine.” Jacqui studied media communications and English at Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, and naturally was on all of the college teams. She was also playing on the Irish national basketball team at that point. “Playing for Ireland is one of the greatest privileges a person can have,” she says. “I feel like I probably didn't appreciate it enough at the time as I was chasing jobs and having the craic. It’s only when you stop doing something that you think, ‘God that was great. I'd love to go back and give it another crack.’” Jacqui admits to being “incredibly competitive” and jokes that her friends would describe playing board games with her as “torture”. How did she handle disappointment when games didn't go herself or her team’s way? “Listen, if you lose often enough, you get used to it,” she laughs. “I think you're built one way or the other and I’ve always been competitive by nature and like a challenge. It probably would have been torture when I was younger if I lost, whereas now I'm like, ‘Whatever. It’s only a game.’ I think the younger Jacqui probably didn't have the same reflection that the older Jacqui has.” 4-7 Jacqui Hurley KOT2CCAMAK.indd 4 06/04/2023 09:41

IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 7 CAREER GOALS As part of her degree, Jacqui’s third year was spent off campus and she interned at a CBS affiliate in Mississippi. She worked unpaid from Monday to Friday in the newsroom, and then got a paid gig at the station at weekends running cameras, doing autocue and reporting on matches. By the time she left, she was on air and also got a job in a local radio station. That amazing experience helped Jacqui to get a gig on the local radio station upon her return. She and Muireann O’Connell, who now presents Ireland AM, worked together driving Limerick Live 95FM’s jeeps around, doing traffic reports and presenting their own show on Saturday evening. When she heard RTÉ was looking for contributors for its Young People department, Jacqui sent in an audition tape and got in. She then successfully applied to work in RTÉ Sport. Her transition to presenter came after former footballer and commentator, Ray Houghton, told her boss that she was really good and he should consider putting her on the other side of the camera. While the sports broadcasting industry is male-dominated, Jacqui found the reaction to her debut as a broadcaster to be “generally pretty good”. “Some of my best mentors were people like Jimmy Magee, Bill O’Herlihy and Michael Lyster, and they didn't care that I was a girl,” she says. “I guess the biggest change was when I started presenting Sunday Sport in 2009, as there had never been a female presenter in the 40-odd year history of the show. I probably didn't really think about what the impact was going to be at the time, because I was only 25 and was worried about making a hames of it. Being the first woman to present the show is something I’ve only come to appreciate more fully in recent years.” Jacqui met her husband, Shane McMahon, when she was in fourth year in college in 2005 and he was living next door. They’re pretty similar in outlook and values and she thinks they complement each other. An accountant by trade, Shane has a varied career and also plays rugby and is chairman of his rugby club. “He’s like me - he’ll play until his body won’t let him anymore,” says Jacqui. Jacqui and Shane moved to Dublin to chase their respective dreams, and were married in 2012. They now have two children, Luke (9) and Lily (5). “Lily is like my doppelganger in the way she looks and acts, and Luke is just like Shane,” says Jacqui. “We have such fun with them and feel so complete when they're around. They're really, really good craic and we have such a blast. Being a parent is like nothing else you will ever experience, and it’s hard to explain the love to people who don't have kids. You can really love someone and can’t imagine your world without them, but with kids, there is no love like it because they’re so connected to you.” Jacqui’s children are at that nice age where she doesn’t have to worry that they’re going to stick nails into the plug sockets, but they’re also not mortified by their parents’ very existence. “Although to be fair, when I’m walking them to school, they’re still like, ‘Okay Mam, bye, bye, bye, don't embarrass me,’ when we’re 100 metres from the gate,” she laughs. Although Jacqui and Shane made a decision not to force it on them, Luke is playing GAA and Lily is playing soccer. They are very sporty, which delights their parents. It has always bothered Jacqui that there's a lingering assumption that boys will want to play football but girls won’t. This inspired her to write a book, Girls Play Too, in 2020, which features compendiums of stories for eight- to 14-year-olds about Ireland’s most accomplished sportswomen. The book was so well-received that Jacqui brought out a second book of stories in 2021 and it’s a subject that she feels passionately about. After years of being outside in the wind all the time, the presenter now has a “fairly dedicated” skincare regime. She also tries not to wear makeup when she is off screen, and her days of jumping into bed without taking it off are behind her. “I was a demon for that when I was younger,” she laughs. Could she see herself trying Botox or enhancements like that in the future? “It's not something that would appeal to me right now but I would never say never,” she says. “My outlook on life is that I'm not perfect but I'm grand. If I got to the point where it was something I felt like I had to do, I definitely wouldn't rule it out.” Jacqui is “pretty meticulous” about her diet during the week, but is much more relaxed about it at weekends. She is very keen on balance in life, which includes making time for herself and letting her hair down. “I need to let loose, see my friends, go out and have a drink of wine,” she says. “I like all of those things in life and wouldn't be the same person without them. A mad weekend here and there isn't going to kill me.” WW Catch Jacqui on The Sunday Game, Sundays at 9.30pm on RTÉ2. “Some of my best mentors were people like Jimmy Magee, Bill O’Herlihy and Michael Lyster” 4-7 Jacqui Hurley KOT2CCAMAK.indd 5 06/04/2023 09:41

MADE IN IRELAND TERMS & CONDITIONS: Price includes P&P and is correct at time of going to press. Your subscription contract will be fulfilled by Harmonia Limited ([email protected]) together with its agents. See www.harmonia.ie for full terms and conditions. Prices quoted are for postal delivery to Irish addresses only. Please allow up to six weeks for delivery of first subscription issue via An Post. Buy online at: womansway.ie Or phone our Hotline on: 01 465 9872 Tired of reading from a tiny screen? Take time out from your busy life and rediscover the joy of fl icking through a beautifully designed magazine. Woman’s Way is the leading Irish women’s magazine, one of the few left on the market. We are a voice for Irish women and support Irish brands, large and small. Packed full of fabulous beauty, fashion, interiors, gardening, recipes and more, along with great stories and interviews with our favourite celebrities. You’ll see euro prices for all our product recommendations and they are all available here in Ireland. We support Irish women, support us. Stop scrolling, start flicking Take time out, Take Woman’s Way Our six monthly subscription is ONLY €45.50 or, even better, pay monthly for JUST €7.58 Subs Ad NEW 2023 KOT2CCRS.indd 2 05/04/2023 17:06

We Love PASSION • CRAVES • MOOD PASSION WE LOVE WOMANSWAY.IE 9 Cari a l es Hanging out with the glam squad. Had a fabulous day at Breast Cancer Ireland Race for a Cure race day at Leopardstown Ireland, rubbing shoulders with amazing women. Pictured here are the lovely Una Healy, Ann Nolan and Zaineb Elguzouli. Tulip time. Mine are really late this year and not sure if it was that long dry patch we had. Anyway the fi rst crop is fi nally up and I’m loving them. Astrid l es Duck eggs. It's funny how long it can take to get used to something new but now that I've switched to the farmer's market duck eggs, there's no looking back. They're much bigger than what hens can lay, and the yolks don't disintegrate when you crack the surprisingly hard shells. The fl avour they add to a quiche is just yum. Ireland-France matches. I've been to quite a few of late and, being half French, I love the feeling of not caring who wins. The Euro 2024 qualifi er wasn't the best, but the atmosphere was unreal. Niamh l es Packing cubes. I'm a compulsive overpacker, so I'm hoping these nifty little space-saving packing cubes will help me. I picked up this cute hot pink set from Dust + Rock which are made from recycled PET bottles. Now I just need a holiday to use them. Irish humour. It's got to be one of the best in the world. There is nothing better than a full-on belly laugh and this TASA print I spotted at a local market had me in stitches when I saw it. So Into... Using leftover Easter eggs (yes there is such a thing) to bake fudgy brownies. Championing native foods. Irish chef JP McMahon was on the radio recently talking about local fare; for him it harks back to our early ancestors and — hold on to your seat — potatoes don't feature on his list. The Work/Life Balance Act. We fi nally have legislation that supports women's rights in the workplace and beyond. The act also includes a working from home provision. Putting the kids to bed when it's bright. "But mummy it's the middle of the afternoon, not bedtime." Ugh. Sticky fl oors. The fl ip side of the glass ceiling, it refers to women being bogged down in low-paid jobs, much of it due to lack of time because of household chores and childcare. Russian spyware. First there were the bots trolling the internet, then balloons over American airspace. Now we've Russian boats in Irish waters. You can't make this stuff up. Lunatic coaches. Nothing's going to change on the sidelines if underage coaches don't stop arguing with the referees. News fl ash: it's not all about winning. WW So Over... 9 WW08 We Love SC2CCAMAK.indd 3 06/04/2023 12:09

MOODBOARD CREATE • CURATE • INSPIRE SHADES OF SERANDITE From muted, calming coral tones to punchy vibrant orange shades, the colour spectrum of this calming and nurturing rare mineral has been popping up on interior and fashion forecasting for spring/summer 2023. The joyful, refreshing, zesty oranges, hues of salmon pink and beige undertones bring a fl ourishing energy to fabrics and accessories and much like Serandite crystal brings an undertone of soothing softness. The spring spirit of revival has nudged it into the spotlight as the ‘it’ colour for the year ahead. There are many ways to blend Serandite into your life and as this is as much a mood as a colour palette, start by refl ecting on the tones that refl ect your own emotions and needs. For bedrooms, the dreamy and delicate paler shades bring meditative energy rays that promote tolerance, acceptance and soothe the soul. Whether worn or weaved into living spaces the deeper terracotta colours bring vitality and strength while the spritzy orange shades evoke feelings of exuberance and joy. The Serandite crystal palette promotes harmony so start from within and play with the colours that bring comfort, healing and happiness to your world. By Norah Casey 10 14 10 WOMANSWAY.IE worn or weaved into living spaces the deeper terracotta colours bring vitality and strength while the spritzy orange shades evoke feelings of exuberance and joy. The Serandite crystal palette promotes harmony so start from within and play with the colours that bring comfort, healing and happiness to your world. MOODBOARD CREATE • CURATE • INSPIRE SHADES OF SERANDITE From muted, calming coral tones to punchy vibrant orange shades, the colour spectrum of this calming and nurturing rare mineral has been popping up on interior and fashion forecasting for spring/summer 2023. The joyful, refreshing, zesty oranges, hues of salmon pink and beige undertones bring a fl ourishing energy to fabrics and accessories and much like Serandite crystal brings an undertone of soothing softness. The spring spirit of revival has nudged it into the spotlight as the ‘it’ colour for the year ahead. There are many ways to blend Serandite into your life and as this is as much a mood as a colour palette, start by refl ecting on the tones that refl ect 14 10 1 BILLIE ORANGE Center Table €9142.75, visit hommes.studio 2 MAARTEN LEON Holiday In A Glass No2 Poster €12.45, visit desenio.com 3 FERMOIE 14" Empire Gathered Lampshade In Orange Wicker €272.95, visit fermoie.com 4 LUMINESY Swirl Large Pendant Light, Orange €921.21, visit luminesy.com 5 MEADOWS & BYRNE Mighty B Outdoor Lounger - Orange €159, visit meadownsandbyrne.com 6 ABIGAIL BORG Orange Fox Wallpaper €136.48 (Per 10m Roll), visit abigailborg.com 7 YILILO Orange Record Player Turntable Glass Chopping Board €28.42, visit yililo.com 8 ORIANA B Orange Metal Side Table €318.44, visit orianab.com 9 WE LOVE CUSHIONS The Orange Coloured Bird Cushion (Edward Lear British Library Collection) €38.20, visit welovecushions. co.uk 10 HEATING & PLUMBING Ultimate Picnic Toolkit in Lollipop Orange €340.05, visit heating-and-plumbing.com 11 TALKING TABLES Orange Glass Candle Holder €11.37, visit talkingtables.co.uk 12 LIME LACE Orange Wood Fire Pizza Oven (DeliVita) €1586.53, visit limelace.co.uk 13 NORSU Kinky Splash Infl atable Pool €92.76, visit norsu.com.au 14 LIGHTS4FUN Tyvek Coral Pink Balloon Hanging Solar Lantern €37.52, visit lights4fun.co.uk 15 NATALIA WILLMOTT Coral Decoration €31.84, visit nataliawillmott.co.uk 4 5 3 9 spring/summer 2023. The joyful, refreshing, beige undertones bring a fl ourishing energy soothing softness. The spring spirit of revival ways to blend Serandite into your life and as your own emotions and needs. For bedrooms, the dreamy and delicate paler shades bring meditative energy rays that promote tolerance, worn or weaved into living spaces the deeper terracotta colours bring vitality and strength while the spritzy orange shades evoke feelings of exuberance and joy. The Serandite crystal palette promotes harmony so start from within and play with the colours that bring comfort, 10-11 WW8 Mood Board Interiors_AD2CCAMak.indd 2 05/04/2023 11:11

MOODBOARD WOMANSWAY.IE 11 By Norah Casey MOODBOARD 12 8 1 15 10 11 7 6 2 13 More Serandite-inspired fashion and beauty overleaf >> 10-11 WW8 Mood Board Interiors_AD2CCAMak.indd 3 05/04/2023 11:15

12 WOMANSWAY.IE 1 PENNEYS Crop Quilted Jacket €25, visit Penneys 2 MAC Frost Lipstick in Bombshell, €16, visit boots.ie 3 YELLOW OCTOPUS Mini Himalayan Salt Lamp €14.22, visit yellowoctopus.com.au 4 ICONIC LONDON Silk Glow Duo €42, visit very.ie 5 THE NAUTICAL COMPANY Large Zip Beach Bag in Orange €58.00, visit thenauticalcompany.com 6 EBB FLOW CORNWALL Hendra Hammam Towel €40.94, visit ebbfl owcornwall.co.uk 7 HEATING & PLUMBING Luxury Lounge Orange Socks in Alpaca €29.29, visit heating-and-plumbing.com 8 ROMAN Orange Geometric Print Tie Front Top €29.53, visit roman.co.uk 9 PAULA ECHEVARRIA X PRIMARK SS23 €18, visit Penneys 10 RIVER ISLAND ORANGE SWIMSUIT €37.48, visit riverisland.com 11 OFFICE IRELAND Mariah €36.35, visit offi ce.co.uk 12 PRETTY LITTLE THING Multi Floral Mesh Midaxi Dress €18.18, visit prettylittlething.com 13 VERY IRELAND Everyday Textured Sleeve Crew Neck Jumper in Orange €27, visit very.ie WW 8 7 2 6 12-13 WW8 Mood Board Style_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 11:23

WOMANSWAY.IE 13 MOODBOARD 1 2 5 4 3 9 10 11 12 13 12-13 WW8 Mood Board Style_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 11:27

14 WOMANSWAY.IE S tudies show that decluttering your living and workspaces is good for your mental health. But what if we took things out of the physical and did a sort of spring clean of our minds too? What if we let go of things that were emotionally weighing us down? Be it bad habits, a toxic relationship, or negative feelings. What if we decided to bin those pesky ‘shoulds’ from our lives or even upcycle and dust them down to make them work for us? Could spring be the ideal time to clean house? According to psychotherapist and founder of mynd.ie, Cady Walker, we should be doing it on a regular basis. “Undertaking a mental declutter can reduce stress and increase resilience, changing how we think and perceive situations,” she says. “It means, we can move from survival mode, which leaves us with feelings of heaviness, tiredness, and overthinking, and step into thriving mode allowing for a state of calmness.” Most of us, however, are often too busy to start the mental spring clean we desperately need. In fact, many of us allow those negative ‘shoulds’ to take over – “I should be more productive, I should be getting more exercise, I should be getting more sleep, I should be as successful as my friend down the road.” All of it adds to the mental clutter we need to sort through. Mediator and confl ict resolution expert, Sharon Morrissey of confl ictclarity. ie, says that in order to begin a mental spring clean, much like the preparation we do for the physical, we need to take stock of what we want to keep and what we need to get rid of. “It is also necessary to become mindfully aware of the reasons for both,” she stresses. “The mental, emotional or psychological spring clean requires us to ask some exceptionally real and harsh questions of ourselves. Why do I want to throw out these feelings, emotions, friends, families or views? What did I think about these things that were helpful to me and what (if anything) has changed?” Finding these answers are key to moving forward. Next you’ve got to decide what to do with it all. We are all aware of the famous Marie Kondo mantra of getting rid of items that don’t spark joy, but is it just as simple when it comes to your mind? “Instead of asking the question, does this spark joy, let’s ask the question, does this person, event, or situation nourish or deplete me?” says Cady. “If you notice there is a lot more depletion on the list, maybe it’s time to declutter those things in your life.” Sharon Morrissey tends to agree. “It’s very hard to do but life is short, and I am a passionate believer that if something is not serving you, deal with it head on. Quality of life is so important. We owe it to ourselves to be as happy as we possibly can be.” While binning the bad is key, don’t discount mental upcycling too. We’ve all got those niggling ‘shoulds’ that eat away at us, such as telling yourself you should get more exercise. The intention is good, but the more you don’t go for that workout, the guiltier you feel and the more it piles up and adds to your stack of emotional baggage. Instead of chucking the whole thing though, why not dust off the bad connotations and upcycle it into something positive. Make the act of going for your exercise something that you choose to do, rather than beating yourself up to do. Similarly, as with a physical spring clean, don’t be shy about adding something new. Often, we buy a new throw or fresh fl owers for the house after we fi nish our deep clean and Dr. Clodagh Campbell believes the same is true for our mental health. “Rather than getting rid of something, what might actually serve us better is introducing something new into our lives that will soothe and comfort us, like meditation, journaling or deep breathing techniques for example.” WW Spring Clean from our lives or even upcycle and think about these things that were helpful to me and what (if anything) has changed?” all aware of the famous Marie Kondo mantra of getting rid of items that don’t spark joy, but is Cady Walker to become mindfully aware of the stack of emotional baggage. Instead of chucking the whole thing though, why not dust off the your exercise something that you choose to do, rather than beating yourself up to do. Similarly, as with a physical Dr Clodagh Campbell We all know how good it FOR THE MIND feels to declutter the house at this time of year, but could we apply the same logic to our mental health? Niamh O’Reilly fi nds out. 14 15 WW08 Spring Clean Mindset KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 11:28

WOMANSWAY.IE 15 MINDSET TOP FIVE TIPS FOR A MENTAL HEALTH SPRING CLEAN 1 MAKE TIME It’s all too easy to ignore our mental baggage simply because it is not the visible pile of clutter in the corner of the room. It’s therefore even more important to schedule in real time to do your mental spring clean. Write it down in your planner and make it a tangible appointment you must keep. 2 TAKE STOCK Cady Walker says you can identify your emotional baggage with fi ve simple checkins. “Notice it - refl ect on the emotion without judgement. Name it - When you name it you own it, as opposed to it owning you. Feel it - Fully express the emotion, where you feel it in your body, how it shows up day to day. Refl ect on it - understanding the triggers, old patterns, and unmet needs. Accept it - this is the hard part, but it allows healing in a healthy way by meeting your needs.” 3 BE REALISTIC As with a house clean you can’t tackle it all in one day. The same is true for your mental health. Start with how you’re feeling right now or one area you want to focus on. Maybe take on one of those niggling ‘shoulds' and target it fi rst. Or if anxiety is your main source of mental clutter, start there. 4ADD SOMETHING NEW You may be able to bin certain things, like cutting out bad relationships, but others like anxiety are not so easy. Add in new techniques to help deal with it, such as mindfulness, breathing exercises or journaling. 5 IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU Finally, you’ve got to be selfi sh. Whether it’s binning a toxic behaviour that is dragging you down or dusting off the negative connotations associated with others and fi nding the positives, the key to a mental spring clean is keeping only what serves you best and no one else. Spring Clean FOR THE MIND 14 15 WW08 Spring Clean Mindset KOT2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 11:29

16 WOMANSWAY.IE At Woman’s Way, we like to practise what we preach. In this issue, the team tackle an annoying’ should’ in their lives and see can they get fi nally get rid of it. CARISSA FINALLY GETS A BIT OF A WALK IN There are many advantages to getting older and ditching a lot of my younger ‘shoulds’ is one of them. I still have a running list of shoulds, but it’s a lot shorter these days. Gone are, I should be stick thin (which I’ve never been), I should be really successful, I should be as cool as…insert whoever I’m envying at that particular moment. As I’ve grown more comfortable and confi dent about who I actually am, I’m less bothered about keeping up with the Joneses or what the neighbours will say. But the exercise thing is getting to me. I used to be a gym bunny (well, more fl oppy rabbit to be honest) and then I stopped enjoying it. So I do a yoga class now twice a week and I’m supposed to ‘get a bit of a walk in’ on the other days. The bit of a walk has never really happened. Bear in mind I live about two minutes from the seafront in Bray, which has a fabulous cliff walk stretching towards Greystones. I can’t remember the last time I did that cliff walk, and I love it. Worse, my husband is a daily walker and will often announce he’s off for a stroll of an evening while I continue to blob on the couch with an annoying ‘should really do a bit of a walk’ going around my head. This is a should I’d like to ditch because I’m actually doing ‘a bit of a walk’. The idea of admitting here that I was too lazy to start a walking habit was enough motivation to get me moving. And it’s the perfect time with longer evenings and (slightly) better weather. And once I got that fi rst walk in, I remembered how much I enjoy it, the fresh sea air, the feeling of escape along the cliff path with only the waves and Bray Head keeping me company. Even better that annoying ‘should’ was banished because I had. DE-CLUTTERING THE MIND Chill time for Carissa on Bray beach 16 19 WW08 Decluttering the Mind SC2CCAMAK.indd 2 04/04/2023 19:28

WE SHARE WOMANSWAY.IE 17 Continued overleaf >> NIAMH DITCHES THE MIDNIGHT SCROLL Without fail, the fi rst few words reverberating around my head most mornings are, “I should have gone to bed earlier.” I hate it. I hate the feeling of tut-tutting myself like that. I hate that the rational side of my brain was right and that I was stupid enough to ignore it. I hate that feeling of being utterly exhausted at the start of the day and playing catch up with myself. I hate that despite knowing all of that, I’ll do it again the next night too. Why do I stay up so late? Why do I not heed my own good advice and try to get my head down at a reasonable hour? The main reason is that those few late hours after the kids have gone to bed and my laptop is off and the laundry is done, and my husband has headed up to bed, is my time. It’s the only quiet time I get to myself all day. Time when I can scroll cat videos on TikTok if I want or read that insightful article someone sent me a link to last Thursday. It’s my time to watch junk on the telly, or just time to feel like a human being who isn’t at anyone else’s beck and call. No kids pawing me, no dinners to make, no deadlines to meet. Just time for me. Part of me loves it, but part of me hates it because I feel as though I’m burning the candle at both ends and at 40, there is no wax left. I know there is a good intention behind that ‘should’, I just can’t seem to listen. So in an effort to help myself in a roundabout way, I tried a new tack. I decided instead of telling myself off, I would try and make a new routine before bedtime that didn’t involve social media, because of all my latenight distractions that is the one I feel does me the most damage. This week I didn’t tell myself to go to bed early. Instead, I brought in new routines of things like grabbing a peppermint tea, taking a bath, reading from one of the stack of books by the bed, listening to my favourite podcast or getting back into my journaling. What I didn’t do was scroll until my eyes were bloodshot and my brain was fried. And you know what, it worked. Reading a book was actually like a mallet to the head. I was gone after one chapter. I slept really bloody well for the most part and felt a teeny bit smug in the morning time. Although the late cup of tea might have to be banned for bladder reasons. DE-CLUTTERING THE MIND Niamh's new night-time routine 16 19 WW08 Decluttering the Mind SC2CCAMAK.indd 3 04/04/2023 19:29

18 WOMANSWAY.IE AISLING TACKLES READING GUILT I've been feeling serious guilt lately about reading. For me, the guilt comes from the sense that I should be doing something else - something more productive, more ‘useful’ - with my time. It feels like I'm indulging in a luxury that I don't quite deserve, and that I'm somehow falling short of expectations by choosing to read instead of fi nishing up a work project, cleaning my house, playing with my daughter, exercising… The list could go on forever. If ever I sit down to read, I instantly feel a wave of awareness about what else I could be doing that would make better use of my time. There’s a rolling ticker tape at the bottom of my internal screen showing my to-do list, the meals I haven’t made, the money I haven’t earned. And here I am, reading; the cheek. Working as a freelance journalist with about nine or ten different jobs on at any one time, I fi nd it incredibly diffi cult to let myself read for pleasure. I also have a toddler, who (while an absolute joy to parent) makes alone time a real scarcity. In our house we call 7pm ‘Heaven O’Clock’ because it’s bedtime for our little gal and we get some chill time. But by the time dinner is eaten, the bomb site we live in is turned back into a home and I’ve showered and fallen into bed… Sure I’m asleep before my head hits the pillow. And another day begins where I haven’t read. I miss it. I’ve been bringing a book with me everywhere with great intent; when I fi nd fi ve minutes before a meeting, if I’m waiting for a friend, surely I’ll read? Right? But the book becomes a bright yellow swirling beacon I’m desperately trying to conceal in my handbag; a reminder to me that once again, I haven’t fi nished more than one page in a sitting. Instead, I scroll on my phone, which as we know is literally engineered to trigger endorphins. How can reading, which takes patience, persistence, and a willingness to be fully present in the moment – compete with that? In order to free myself of the guilt, and ease myself back into reading for enjoyment, I’ve decided to commit to fi ve minutes per day. It doesn’t seem like much, but that’s all I can be certain I’ll do. It’s slow and steady, but as of now I am making more progress than before, and I’ve started (occasionally) continuing past the initial fi ve minutes if I have the time. Aisling's book at the ready 16 19 WW08 Decluttering the Mind SC2CCAMAK.indd 4 04/04/2023 19:29

WE SHARE WOMANSWAY.IE 19 Organised chaos at Astrid's ASTRID MEDITATES ON HER BUSY-NESS My life is fi lled with things I should do more of. In many ways, it’s what keeps me going. More of everything. More work, more outings, more support for the kids so they can, in turn, themselves do more. And it is a choice, because I do like being busy. I like the tempo, the existential beat. It’s a rhythm my body runs to. But then the engine starts to take a life of its own. Not out of choice but because I tend to get caught up in the fl ow of things. If the current gets too strong, I can’t swim back to shore. So, more often than not, I’m depleted. To the point that I don’t have the energy to enjoy all the things that I’ve worked so hard to do more of. What keeps me sane is sleep, which thankfully is one thing I get enough of. But there’s more to life than having to keep to this pace. Why do I feel like I should be striving to empty the tank every day? Is it a choice or am I on auto-pilot? When does the thrill of having so much on the to-do list prevent me from doing what’s most important? Seemingly endless tasks, and the fretting mind that creates them, are what make me feel like a runaway train. That’s what gets in the way of the joy of being busy. It gets to the point that I can’t give my undivided attention to my kids. Or plan for unstructured quality time with family. Or do something for me and me alone. I know I should do all of those things but knowing I ‘should’ do them further removes them from the day to day. It makes them even more unattainable. When it comes down to it, I just can’t fi nd the mental space to make them happen. Not enough hours in the day, or days in the year, is the life I seem to have bought into. It always feels like I’m playing catch up. But there’s no reason for it to be that way. The best way I manage to take back control is to remind myself of what my priorities are. It’s like in sport – is winning the most important thing, or is it about physical wellbeing, being part of something bigger, making new connections? In life, I also have to remind myself of what’s important. It’s all about making sure I’m in a fi t mental state to be there for those around me, and for myself. Stepping back from the noise, being mindful. Giving my undivided attention to those I love, and to the things I get satisfaction out of. It’s about fi nding that inner calm and let it guide me. And not let the current dictate what I ‘should’ do. WW 16 19 WW08 Decluttering the Mind SC2CCAMAK.indd 5 04/04/2023 19:30

COMPETITION 20 WOMANSWAY.IE To enter, please answer the following question: WHAT IS THE FIRST STEP TO THE PERFECT TANNING ROUTINE? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by April 24 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Bondi Sands Competition’ This Woman's Way competition is open to anyone resident in NI and the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and over, except employees and their families of Harmonia Publishing, its printers and anyone else connected with the competition. No purchase is necessary. We will only accept one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by drawing entries after the closing date. Winners will be notifi ed by email. The editor’s decision is fi nal. Two lucky readers will win a hamper worth €250 each from Bondi Sands including everything you need to achieve the perfect tan, from oil and foam to mitts and erasers. For the perfect tanning routine from the hamper, follow the following steps: PREP>> Bondi Sands knows preparation is key to a golden tan. Prep your skin prior to tanning with the Bondi Sands Exfoliation Mitt, to help remove dead skin cells for smooth, silky skin. Then moisturise with Bondi Sands Body Moisturiser. TAN>> Achieve a head-to-toe Bondi Sands glow with the global best-selling Self-Tanning Foams and newly launched Self-Tanning Face Drops. The best way to glow is to start with your face, and fi nish with your body. Add four to 12 drops of your chosen Self-Tanning Face Drops into your moisturiser, mixing well and blending evenly into your face and neck. Wash hands after use to avoid staining your palms. Apply a liberal amount of your chosen Self-Tanning Foam shade to the reusable Application Mitt. Use long, sweeping motions to apply over legs, arms and body. Leave the tan develop for at least six hours before showering with warm water. MAINTAIN>> Make your Bondi Sands glow last longer with the Everyday Gradual Tanning Milk. Containing low-level active ingredients to provide a subtle boost of colour for that sun-kissed look. ERASE>> Remove unwanted tan in just fi ve minutes, with no scrubbing required. Bondi Sands Self-Tan Erasers are specially formulated to remove self-tan without stripping the skin. After leaving on for fi ve minutes simply jump in the shower and wash with warm water using a wet face cloth to wipe away the tan. All products are available to purchase at Cloud10 & McCauley Health & Beauty WIN A BONDI SANDS TANNING HAMPER WORTH €250 20 WW08 Bondi comp SCKOTCCAMAK.indd 2 06/04/2023 09:43

BEAUTY WOMANSWAY.IE 21 What are the products the Woman’s Way crew use on repeat? In this issue, Niamh O’Reilly shares a few of her new favourites that have found a forever place on her bathroom shelf. Beauty Faves Dry Skin Saviours I don’t know whether to blame my hormones or the change in the weather or chlorine from the swimming pool, but my lips and hands have been getting really dry lately. I had a super painful breakout of dry, cracked skin on my hands recently. With a three-year-old forcing my fi ngers apart to inspect them every fi ve minutes, I knew I had to slap something on pronto. I kid you not, the old reliable Neutrogena Norwegian Formula softened it up in about 24 hours. It’s been updated to include vitamin E and 40 per cent glycerine and at just €4.99 it’s a total bargain. I’ve always been a sucker for lemon and peppermint and for a bit of a treat I like this Ruth’s Palm Free Lip Balm from reuzi.ie. At €7 it’s a bit pricey but you are getting a handmade, organic product. Makeup Essentials If there’s one thing I go through a lot of, it’s concealer. This new Dreamy Creamy Concealer €16.99 from Bellamianta is a good price and ticks all the wants off the list. It’s silky soft and easy to apply. I like to use it on my cheekbones as part of my contouring or as a primer for my lids. And who doesn’t want to put a literal fi lter on their face in the morning? I often fi nd pore minimisers quite greasy, but I like the texture of this new L’Oréal Advanced Derm Primer 24H Pore Minimizer €15.95. It's more like a gel and doesn’t leave any residue behind. WW Skin Treat The older I get, the pickier I am about what I’ll use on my face. Lines, acne and the odd dry patch make for a really weird triangle of sadness and I don’t mind spending a little more on products that won’t irritate my skin. Enter the incredibly luxurious Dermalogica Phyto Nature Oxygen Cream. At €145 a pop, it’s a whopper skincare investment for me, but it goes on like a dream. It’s not too thick, but it feels really hydrating and literally sinks into my skin in seconds. I absolutely love how my face looks and feels after I’ve been using it. Thankfully you don’t need a huge amount either. I have been using it morning and evening, because it’s just so lush. Fresh Face I’m an awful one for not taking off my makeup at bedtime. Some nights sleep is my priority and I fl op down without doing proper skincare. Needless to say I look like the Wreck of the Hesperus come morning time. When that happens the new Smooth & Glow Exfoliating Tonic €25 from Liz Earle is like a gentle, fresh slap in the face. With natural ingredients like prickly pear, acerola cherry and sea buckthorn, it makes my skin feel clean and fresh. Dry Skin Saviours I don’t know whether to blame my hormones or the change in the weather or chlorine from the swimming pool, but my lips and hands have been getting really dry lately. I had a super painful breakout of dry, cracked skin on my hands recently. With a three-year-old forcing my fi ngers apart to inspect them every fi ve minutes, I knew I had to slap something on pronto. I kid you not, the old reliable Formula hours. It’s been updated to include vitamin E and 40 per cent glycerine and at just I’ve always been a sucker for lemon and peppermint and for a bit of a treat I like this Ruth’s Palm Free Lip Balm from reuzi.ie. At €7 it’s a bit pricey but you are getting a handmade, organic product. Makeup Essentials If there’s one thing I go through a lot of, it’s concealer. This new Creamy Concealer €16.99 Bellamianta is a good price and ticks all the wants off the list. and easy to apply. I like to use it on my cheekbones as part of my contouring or as a primer for my lids. And who doesn’t want to put a literal fi lter on their face in the morning? I often fi nd pore minimisers quite greasy, but I like the texture of this new L’Oréal Advanced Derm Primer 24H Pore Minimizer €15.95. It's more like a gel and doesn’t leave any residue behind. I’ve always been a sucker for lemon and peppermint and for a bit of a treat I like this from reuzi.ie you are getting a handmade, organic product. BEAUTY 21 WW8 Beauty Faves_AD2CCSAMAK.indd 2 03/04/2023 11:16

22 WOMANSWAY.IE By Niamh O’Reilly Fresh-Faced Finish The secret to achieving that light, dewy, second-skin fi nish for your foundation, is to embrace the mantra of less is more. As our skin ages, it sometimes feels like we naturally gravitate towards heavier, fuller foundations to hide our so-called skin sins. Lines, pigmentation, acne scars, dark circles, you name it most of us have it. However, it turns out the real key to looking more radiant, is not to go for heavy coverage that will sit and cake in fi ne lines, but to go for something lighter. No matter what foundation you pick, the two key steps to remember are preparation and application. Cleansed, primed skin is going to take any product a lot better than dry skin. A big tip for application is to use small dots on your key areas, rather than large globs of product all over your face. Think about building up your coverage, rather than pilling it on. Use a damp beauty blender to apply and blend in a small amount of foundation. You’ll be surprised at how far it goes and the end result will look lighter and overall much more natural. Stipple and press it lightly across the skin and build as required, for that dewy real skin fi nish. When choosing a foundation, look for products that have moisturising ingredients, like niacinamide and hyaluronic acid. Most foundations ‘do more’ for your skin these days than just provide coverage, so look for products with light refl ecting pigments and ones that have a weightless consistency. Above all, you want a formula that will melt into the skin, rather than sit on top of it and this will allow you to build your desired coverage without looking cakey or highlighting your lines. Finding the right formula for your skin can be a bit of trial and error, but don’t discount the likes of tinted moisturisers too. WW LUNA by Lisa Filter Finish Foundation Silk €27 BPerfectChroma 2 Foundation €24.95 Clé De Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation €130 Max Factor Miracle Pure Skin Improving Foundation SPF30 €17.99 22-23 WW8 Foundations_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 03/04/2023 11:36

WOMANSWAY.IE 23 By Niamh O’Reilly BEAUTY Beautyblender Bounce €24.05, visit cultbeauty.com Bobbi Brown Intensive Skin Serum Foundation SPF 40 €62, visit boots.ie Boots No7 HydraLuminous Moisturising Foundation €18.95 ILIA True Skin Serum Foundation €61.56, visit ie.feelunique.com Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint €33, visit boots.ie Yves Saint Laurent NU Bare Look Tint €33 Guinot Youth Perfect Finish SPF 50 €67.50 NARS Light Reflecting Advanced Skincare Foundation €52 Sculpted by Aimee Tint and Glow €25 Ayu Perfect Skin Foundation €35, visit ayu.ie Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation €68.40, visit ie.feelunique.com Rimmel London Match Perfection Foundation €11.99 Saie Slip Tint Dewy Tinted Moisturizer €30.50, visit cultbeauty.com Rare Beauty Positive Light Tinted Moisturiser €34, visit spacenk.com/ie 22-23 WW8 Foundations_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 03/04/2023 11:38

24 WOMANSWAY.IE By Niamh O’Reilly PAULA CALLAN’S TOP TIPS FOR CONTOURING IF YOU'RE OVER 40 1 When contouring over 40s skin, choose products that are hydrating. Cream-based formulas are great, as they blend seamlessly and provide a more natural-looking fi nish. Choose contouring creams or sticks that are one to two shades darker than your natural skin tone and a highlighting product that is one to two shades lighter. Go for cream blushes and bronzers as they provide a soft, natural-looking fl ush to the cheeks and a subtle bronzed glow. 2 The golden rule of over 40s contouring is blending, blending, and more blending. Take the time to blend out your contouring products thoroughly, as harsh lines and edges can be ageing and unfl attering. Stick to a subtle, natural-looking contour and highlight, and avoid using too much product, as this can make the skin look cakey and heavy. Choose shades that complement your natural skin tone and avoid going too dark or too light, as this can create an unbalanced and unnatural look. 3 Prepping the skin before contouring is crucial for achieving a fl awless and long-lasting fi nish. Start by cleansing and moisturising the skin and apply a primer to create a smooth base for your makeup. 4Use a light hand when applying your contouring products, and blend thoroughly with a beauty blender or a fl uffy brush. To add extra defi nition to the cheeks, use a small, angled brush to apply your contouring cream or powder directly under the cheekbones, blending upwards towards the ears. 5 Finish with a light dusting of translucent powder to set your makeup and prevent any creasing or smudging throughout the day. Overall, the key to successful over 40s contouring is to keep things simple, subtle, and natural-looking, with a focus on enhancing your best features and creating a polished and youthful look. How to Contour Your Face Contouring is not just for the young ones. It's the ideal trick to lift and sculpt your face. I f the idea of contouring gives you the shivers, then never fear. We’re going to demystify the entire process and show you how to master the technique. Ever since Kim Kardashian shared a rather strange looking stripe-covered selfi e in 2013, contouring has become hot property. But with different contour face maps popping up every other day, contouring has become much more complicated and often off-putting than it has to be. When you break it down, contouring is just a slick set of light and shade illusions achieved with shadow, highlight and blush products. Do it right and it has the power to lift and defi ne the cheeks, chisel out your jawline and even reshape your nose. But fi rst know your face shape. If you’ve a rounder face you might want to add more defi nition. If you’ve a square face you might want to have a softer look. Use the darker contour products to carve out your features by applying it under your cheekbones, along your jawline and on the sides of your nose. Highlighting products should mimic the light hitting your face which is on the bridge of your nose and the middle of forehead. Blush adds warmth to the cheeks. Be sure to box clever and invest in some sleek contour kits that have everything you need in one palette. WW like a pro 24-25 WW8 Contour_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 03/04/2023 11:43

WOMANSWAY.IE 25 By Niamh O’Reilly CONTOURING ESSENTIALS WOMANSWAY.IE ICONIC London Multi-Use Sculpting Contour Palette €39.90 KASH Beauty Sculpt Sticks Collection €18.95 Iconic Bronze Cream Luxe Sticks €15.99 Clinique Contour Chubby Stick €29 UP Cosmetics Cream Blush Pink Rosé €20 Rimmel The Multi-Tasker Concealer €10.99 Blank Canvas F06 Hot Pink €15 Charlotte Tilbury The Hollywood Contour Duo €68 KASH Setting Powder €24.95 e.l.f. Cream Contour Palette €10.75, visit mccauley.ie Sculpted by Aimee Cream Luxe €15 True Essentials Face Palette €39.99 Blank Canvas Airbrush Beauty Blender Set €25 Blank Canvas F04 Black €15 Rosie for Inglot Afterglow Palette €30 MAC Studio Fix Sculpt and Shape Contour Palette €41 Sculpted by Aimee Bare Basics Peony & Rose Shade Extensions Palette €36 LUNA by Lisa Glam & Glow Palette €35 Rimmel The Multi-Tasker Concealer €10.99 BEAUTY 24-25 WW8 Contour_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 03/04/2023 11:45

T By Niamh O’Reilly here are few colours more suited to making you smile than yellow. It’s like looking at sunshine and is associated with confi dence, optimism, and happiness, so why wouldn’t you add it into your wardrobe? If you’re under the impression that you can’t wear yellow, stop right there. It’s a myth. It is true there are certain shades that work better with certain skin tones, but that’s true of all colours. Don’t discount an entire colour palette because one shade didn’t suit you. From the darker saffron, mustard end of the colour spectrum, through to the richer shades of sunfl ower and the more pastel tones of buttermilk, right up to the more intense canary, there is a shade of yellow for all. T here are few colours Psophia Yellow Top €179, visit macbees.ie A few things to consider are, fi rstly, know your own colouring. If you’ve darker or olive skin tones or you have a warmer undertone, then you can wear a more intense shade of yellow. If you’ve got a paler or cooler complexion, go for pastel tones. Secondly there’s a tendency to pair yellow with bold, dark colours like black. This is a classic combination for a reason, it works. However, if you’re worried, you’ll end up looking like you’re about to do the Flight of the Bumblebee, think about pairing with neutral colours, like tan and whites or creams. This works surprisingly well. Finally, why not start off with a few key accessories. Scarves, earrings, handbags, and shoes are ideal. And remember whatever you’re wearing, wear it with confi dence.WW By Niamh O’Reilly Pocket Put a pep in your step and add some mood-boosting yellow pieces into your wardrobe this season. Sunshine 26 WOMANSWAY.IE SEOL + GOLD Lemon Yellow Enamel Hoops €36.50 in your A few things to consider are, fi rstly, know your own colouring. If you’ve Put a pep in your step and add some mood-boosting yellow pieces into your wardrobe darker or olive skin tones or you have a warmer undertone, then you can wear a more intense shade of yellow. If you’ve got a paler or cooler complexion, go for pastel tones. Secondly there’s a tendency to pair yellow with bold, dark colours like black. This is a classic combination for a reason, it works. However, if you’re worried, you’ll end up looking like you’re about to do Flight of the Bumblebee, think about pairing with neutral colours, like tan and whites or creams. This works surprisingly well. Finally, why not start off with a few key accessories. Scarves, earrings, handbags, and shoes are ideal. And remember whatever you’re wearing, wear it with confi dence.WW know your own colouring. If you’ve darker or olive skin tones or you have A few things to consider are, fi rstly, Nine West Alison Slingback Yellow Pumps €66 Kate Cooper Sunshine Dress €269 Marks & Spencer Jaeger Linen Shirt €96 Debbie Millington Harlequin Yellow Silk Scarf €190 JDY Three Quarter Sleeve Blouse €19.95, visit mcelhinneys.com Lemon Herringbone 100% Lambswool €119, visit mcnuttofdonegal.com 26-27 WW8 Yellow Style_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 11:39

By Niamh O’Reilly STYLE By Niamh O’Reilly Pocket Sunshine WOMANSWAY.IE 27 Lemon Herringbone 100% Lambswool €119, visit mcnuttofdonegal.com Sencha Organic Cotton Blouse €79, visit slowstreet.ie Idana Shirt €129, visit ninasboutique.ie Fee-G Evelyn Dress €263 Oliver Bonas Sophia Yellow Weave Curved Crossbody €51 Md'M Yellow Blouse €35, visit sheenasboutique.ie Oxendales Yellow Sweatshirt €29.50 Chantel Ruched Sleeve Blazer €39.95, visit iclothing.com Inoa Hobart Pintucks 100% premium silk dress €249, visit rococo.ie Micha Mini Pom Knit Jumper €69.95, visit McElhinneys.com Mos Mosh Amelia Stripe Yellow Blouse €120, visit macbees.ie Magnolia Dress €125, slowstreet.ie Katie Floral Dress €105, visit dvine.ie Oxendales Yellow Sweatshirt Micha Mini Pom Knit Jumper €69.95, visit McElhinneys.com Oxendales Simply Be Euphoria Mini Beach Dress €50 26-27 WW8 Yellow Style_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 11:40

By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor P ractical and pretty is how you could describe the shoes you’re going to be seeing everywhere this spring. Slip-on fl ats and supportive trainers are ideal for everyday wear, and even SS23’s trendiest heels are mid-height and sturdy. Great for those of us who hate the idea of trying to totter around. These are fi ve key catwalk trends to know about, as we head into the new season... Spring 28 WOMANSWAY.IE Shoe 5 Trends Step into the new season in style with these must-have bróga buys. Mary Janes A step up from ballet fl ats, patent Mary Jane heels are another Noughties favourite making a comeback, as decreed by Coach, Emilia Wickstead, Prada and more. Remember how Carrie Bradshaw cooed over the stilettoheeled Manolo Blahnik Mary Janes in the Vogue fashion closet in Sex And The City? This time around, MJs are a whole lot heftier. Think block, fl ared or platform heels and you’ve got it. Dune London Alenna Nude Patent Block-Heel Mary Jane Courts €120 Marks & Spencer Leather Patent Platform Court Shoes €82 Penney’s Contrast Toe Ballerina Pump Pink €12 1 2 28-29 WW8 Style Shoes_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 01/04/2023 14:40

STYLE By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor Running shoes On the sportswear scene, trendsetters are moving away from ubiquitous all-white trainers and embracing ‘gorpcore’ designs intended for trail running and hiking. In a multitude of colours, these Gen Z faves don’t have to match your outfi t, and you can pull on a pair even if all you’re running is errands. Whistles Khari Caged Sandal Black €149 Adidas Ultraboost Light Shoes Cloud White/Core Black/Solar Red €200 Puma Velophasis Phased Sneakers BlackIntense Lavender, €140 Allbirds Women’s Trail Runners SWT Limited Edition Hazy Cobalt €150 WOMANSWAY.IE 29 Ballet slippers Given the never-ending Noughties renaissance, it was only a matter of time before ballet pumps pirouetted back into fashion. Sure enough, the round-toed fl ats adored by style icons Kate Moss, Alexa Chung and Amy Winehouse in the earlyto mid-2000s are back on the catwalks. It started at Miu Miu AW23, with Todd’s, Simone Rocha and Balenciaga following suit for spring. Now, ballet pumps are all over the high street. Take your pick from neutral tones and bold colourways. Fisherman sandals Models at The Row, Bottega Veneta and Gabriela Hearst sashayed down the runway in woven sandals and fl atforms in black, white and metallic leather. The cool girl’s footwear of choice for spring/summer, fi sherman sandals are a high street staple – team yours with a slouchy suit or slinky maxi skirt. pick from neutral tones and bold colourways. Accessorize Quilted Bow Ballerina Flats Nude €28.90 Penney’s Contrast Toe Ballerina Pump Pink €12 Pretty Ballerinas Rosario €199, visit prettyballerinas.eu Marks & Spencer Collection Fisherman Sandals €65 Oliver Bonas Fisherman Silver Leather Sandals €84 Backless loafers The chunky loafers that have dominated planet fashion for the last year or so are making way for more summery styles. Take your cue from the likes of Saint Laurent, Hermès and The Row with a pair of minimalist mules in a pale hue. WW Whistles Khari Caged Sandal Black €149 Marks & Spencer Collection Fisherman Sandals €65 Backless loafers The chunky loafers that have Puma Velophasis Phased Sneakers BlackIntense Lavender, €140 H&M Backless loafers €14.99 Crew Clothing Eve Backless Loafer in Nude, €87, visit next.ie Kurt Geiger London Otter €165, visit asos.com 2 3 4 5 28-29 WW8 Style Shoes_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 01/04/2023 14:41

30 WOMANSWAY.IE There’s a distinctly retro feel to the bag trends of the season. Here are some key styles to know about. BAG IT UP FOR SPRING Wardrobe Plus Houndstooth Bag €40 By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor 30-31 WW8 Style Bags_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 01/04/2023 14:42

STYLE T he perfect fi nishing touch for any outfi t, handbags take you from day to night, and work to weekends. So when choosing a newbie to accompany your spring/summer outfi ts, you want to get it right. What’s in vogue this season? High-end designers are still obsessed with all things nineties and noughties and the high street has followed suit, with bright colours and woven fabrics signalling the transition to sunnier days. Whether you want to accessorise with a chic piece of arm candy or you need something practical to hold all your essentials, these are the bag trends to shop right now. WW WOMANSWAY.IE 31 STYLE he perfect fi nishing touch for any outfi t, handbags take you from day to night, and work to So when choosing a newbie to accompany your spring/summer outfi ts, you want to get it right. What’s in vogue this season? High-end designers are still obsessed with all things nineties and noughties and the high street has followed suit, with bright colours and woven fabrics Whether you want to accessorise with a chic piece of arm candy or you need something practical to hold all your essentials, these are the bag trends to Noughties bags Inspired by the classic Fendi Baguette, the most fashionable shoulder bags are small, rectangular and have a short strap so they fi t snugly under your arm. These compact cuties are big enough to hold your phone, purse and other essentials, making them the ideal daytime to evening companion. Noughties bags Inspired by the classic Fendi Baguette, the most fashionable shoulder bags are small, rectangular and have a short strap so they fi t snugly under your arm. to hold your phone, purse and other essentials, making them the ideal daytime to evening companion. River Island Black Chain Detail Shoulder Bag €44 New Look Bright Orange Twist Lock Shoulder Bag €25.99 Wardrobe Plus Houndstooth Bag €40 Minimalist hobo Big, slouchy hobo bags have made a comeback recently, and now we’re seeing the evolution of the trend towards more pared-back designs. Crafted from structured fabrics in muted colours with metallic detailing, these midsize minimalist bags are the perfect blend of form and function. Minimalist hobo Big, slouchy hobo bags have made a comeback recently, and now we’re seeing the evolution of the trend towards more pared-back designs. Crafted from structured fabrics in muted colours with metallic detailing, these midsize minimalist bags are the Big, slouchy hobo bags have made a comeback recently, and now we’re seeing the Whistles Linden Knotted Handle Bag €119 Katie Loxton Blake Small Shoulder Bag in Sage €58, visit very.ie Dune London Duchess Black Quilted RuchedShoulder Bag €215 are small, rectangular and have a short These compact cuties are big enough FatFace Willow Woven Bucket Bag €72.50 Decorative detail In contrast to the craze for retro minimalism, designers including Isabel Marant, Victoria Beckham and Gabriela Hearst at Chloe put craft in the spotlight on their spring catwalks, with woven, tasselled and ruffl ed bags. Perfectly suited to summer, raffi a and crochet bags in natural beige and brown tones pair well with faded denim and fl oaty dresses. Oliver Bonas Cream Statement Shoulder Bag Clutch €84 Accessorize Stripe Raffia Duffle Cross-Body Bag €37.90 Power totes Offering hope for anyone who has to actually carry things on a day-to-day basis, the supersized totes on the catwalks at Alexander McQueen, Michael Kors and Loewe are big enough to fi t your laptop, lunchbox and gym kit with room to spare. How to turn a run-ofthe-mill tote into a style statement? Try your cue from the ‘dopamine dressing’ playbook and opt for a brilliantly bright hue to elevate your outfi t. Monsoon Winged Tote Bag €75 Scamp & Dude Pink Metallic Large Tote Bag €74 By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor 30-31 WW8 Style Bags_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 01/04/2023 14:42

32 WOMANSWAY.IE Despite what the name, forest bathing, suggested, I wasn’t required to exchange my clothing for swimsuits. In fact, all I ended up removing were the remnants of winter melancholy. “Forest bathing improves our immune system and mental health,” Ann Ward, my facilitator, explained after we gathered underneath a grove of oak trees, our eyes closed, a gentle breeze caressing our faces. Interestingly, she also noted that when we evolved in nature, which is embedded in our DNA, we spent approximately 98 per cent of our time outside. Today, creativity to awaken, echoing the buds around us, preparing to blossom. And so, determined to embrace the brighter days and warmer conditions, I recently joined an outdoor retreat incorporating a unique Japanese practice: Forest bathing. The location was South Armagh’s Killeavy Castle, with Slieve Gullion, the volcanic mountain, overseeing proceedings in the near distance. When on its best behaviour, there’s nothing more fortifying than nature. Simply being outside can be as benefi cial to our wellbeing as exercise and nutrition, especially as the magic of spring unfolds. That immediate injection of Vitamin Nature allows our senses and NATURE’S WAY Nature is the gift that keeps giving, and Domhnall O’Donoghue is ready to embrace it this spring. Domhnall O’Donoghue 32-33 WW8 Domhnall_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 01/04/2023 14:43

WOMANSWAY.IE 33 FOREST BATHING said: “When you look deeply at something, it becomes part of you.” LIGHT, HOPE AND ABUNDANCE Over the three-hour retreat, we connected with nature through meditation, refl ection, listening and observing. The ordinary became extraordinary. Curious birds spied on us from the safety of their branches, bemused by our endeavours. While exploring the surrounding landscape, we inhaled the yellow gorse’s distinctive coconut fragrance. Spring fl owers — daffodils and snowdrops — offered pops of colour across the verdant fi elds. Ann, who grew up nearby and inherited her love of the landscape from her late mother, cited fern as her favourite plant, noting that it’s one of the world’s oldest, approximately 360 million years old. With childlike enthusiasm, we also drew pictures and created sculptures using leaves, twigs and stones. When I turned my attention to the trees, their appearance both familiar and surprising, I felt reassurance and protection, leading the chaos and uncertainty that goes hand in hand with city life to evaporate into the afternoon sky. Most of all, forest bathing reminded me that light, growth and abundance were on the horizon, fl ooding me with hope and wonder. OUR OWN NATURAL RESOURCES Like many, I can often create barriers between myself and nature. “I’m too busy or tired”, “I live in an urban area”, or “the weather’s not right” are all common excuses used. According to Ann, we don’t have to be in a forest to benefi t from the magic of Mother Nature. We can achieve that no matter the conditions or circumstances. “In urban areas, there are normally parks and, on most streets, there are some trees and birds to connect with,” she explained as we later enjoyed a sweettasting herbal elixir by the river. “Failing that, we have our own natural resources of the breath, body and senses to connect to the present moment at any time.” Ann continued: “We can consciously slow down by noticing whatever is around us. We can focus on one sound which we particularly like and allow the other sounds to fade into the background. We have the permanent canopy of the sky to remind us to look up and notice the movement of the clouds with the wind. “A beautiful thing to practice is to breathe with the wind and acknowledge the beauty of how the wind creates bird song.” Ann also suggested bringing nature inside, whether through fl owers, open windows, oil-burning or decorating the space with images, citing research showing the powerful effects of looking at nature images on our holistic health. Other tips included documenting in words or drawings three things happening outdoors. “Our senses are the gateway to the soul. Our skin is the biggest organ in our body, so touch the plants and trees, smell the fl owers, and feel the breeze,” she recommended. “Take a moment to notice each miraculous moment of nature’s changing spring palette.” WW For more information on Ann’s work, visit xhale.biz much of our lives are spent indoors with artifi cial light, sounds, heat and smells. “Spring is a gift from nature that gives us a real lift after the restful slumber of winter,” she continued. “Spring is a living sensory playground. The heightened bird song is pure joy, and the emerging colours of the landscape provide a new surprise each day, so long as we take time to notice.” According to Ann, as our awareness develops of the world around us, we also deepen our respect and gratitude for it, which is critical in this environmentally delicate era. She quoted the late Irish poet and scholar John O’Donohue, who once “The heightened bird song is pure joy, and the emerging colours of the landscape provide a new surprise each day” Ann Ward 32-33 WW8 Domhnall_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 01/04/2023 14:46

By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA and Aisling Keenan 34 WOMANSWAY.IE F rom piercing bright skies and turquoise seas to Greek island homes – nothing fi res the imagination and soothes the spirits quite like pleasing shades of blue. There’s something about shades of blue that evoke the feeling of being on holiday, coming in from a day on the sun lounger with warmth in your bones. A little bit of that wouldn’t go amiss on the slightly duller April days. To channel those positive vibes, we’ve rounded up the best blue homewares to shop right now… 1 Primark Home Blue Glass Jug €10 Channel the art of Mediterranean living, with this glass jug for wine, water, punch or whatever your beverage of choice is. Ideal for al-fresco entertaining, now that the weather is lifting a little. 2 Oxendales Reactive Glaze 12 Piece Dinner Set Blue €67.50 Made from high quality stoneware, this glazed dinner set gives a dark and dramatic look for an elegant dining experience. Practically speaking, it’s great – both microwave and dishwasher safe – but also really delivers highend restaurant tasting menu vibes. 3. The White Company SoBlue Fringed apkins Set €37 Tablescaping is a great way to level up your outdoor dining experience and impress your guests. When it comes to more relaxed tablescaping, these washed denim-look Blue Feeling From Mediterranean hues to aqua and indigo, decorating with cool blues is where it’s at. 2 F that evoke the feeling of being on holiday, coming in from a day on 34 WOMANSWAY.IE 1 5 6 9 10 12 13 34-35 WW8 Interiors_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 12:41

By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA and Aisling Keenan INTERIORS WOMANSWAY.IE 35 napkins feel bang up to date. Especially when styled with a bud vase fi lled with lavender on a bright late spring Sunday. 4 Swan Retro 5 Piece Pan Set €109.99, visit very.ie This retro set is not only decent value, but can add a vintage theme to your kitchen if a mid-century look is what you’re after. With fi ve pans, the set contains the essentials for your future culinary creations. The aluminium body of each one has a ribbed fi nish for a little extra fl air, and they all have a non-stick interior. 5 Michael Murphy Home Furnishings Charlo e Woven Cushion €40 There’s nothing like a really good quality cushion to set off a sofa. Anyone relaxing onto it will immediately understand the difference, as a poorly fi lled cushion can’t compare. This woven one from Michael Murphy will be good to look at, but also the woven material will age well and be hard-wearing. 10 Rocke St George The All Seeing Hands Ornament €35 All eyes will be on this hero piece – which is crying out for a top spot on your mantle or bookcase, or even as a scene-stealer for your hall table. Expect lots of interested questions. 11 Next Ma hew Williamson Gardenia Damask Co on Duvet Cover and Pillowcase Set from €95 - €150 This exciting new SS23 bedding collection from award-winning designer Matthew Williamson celebrates his love for nature, with big blousy blooms, pacifi c blue petals, touches of teal and vibrant fl orals. Bright and beautiful, this set would be perfect for a bedroom that isn’t afraid to make a statement. 12 Ikea MIKROKLIN Table Lamp in Glass Blue €8 Not quite a setting sun, but close enough. This grooved blue glass creates warm, low-angled, ambience lighting, in the same way that a bedroom sconce sets a certain tone. Using soft, diffused lighting in a calming space like an offi ce or bedroom can bring the requisite ease to the space. 13 Fiona Howard Wallpapers Paisley Fern/Lapis Blue Wallpaper €112 per roll A paisley print creates a wonderful contrast, especially if you paper a feature wall and border it with white. Style with Turkish hammam towels to brighten up a bathroom, or a rattan accent chair would make a great fi nishing touch. WW 3 4 7 8 11 6 Blue Sea Church Art Print €21, visit iamfy.co Adorming your walls with fresh art prints is a great way to update a room’s feel, and this sea vista will bring you straight back to the relaxed and carefree feel of holidays. 7 Next Ma hew Williamson Peacock Cushion €68 These plush plumes will add personality to any space. A great colour combo for some mix-and-match styling, you can pick up the hints of yellow as an opposing focal point in your room. This could work as a couch cushion or as a feature cushion on a bed arrangement either. 8 Michael Murphy Home Furnishing Cage Blue Side Table €24 (reduced from €159) Set down your tea, coffee, cocktail or Friday glass of Pinot Noir and relax back into your chair. Side tables work hard as possibly the handiest and most versatile piece of furniture in a room – whether it holds a lamp, your reading glasses, a book or all of the above. 9 Holly 2.5 Seat Sofa in Deep Turquoise Co on Ma Velvet €1,975, visit sofa.com With its suave upholstery in this standout shade, this looks like a modern take on mid-century style. And that deep cushioned seat and choice of English oak or mahogany legs certainly make it worth the splurge. INTERIORS 34-35 WW8 Interiors_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 12:41

By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA and Aisling Keenan As nature buzzes with life and spring fl owers burst onto the scene, fi lling your space with freshly picked fi nds is more appealing than ever. There’s nothing like a bright fl oral print to liven up a space, whether in a classical way with muted colours or with more modern, bold shades. From pretty petals to darling buds, here’s our pick of the bunch… 1 Next Emma Bridgewater Daisies Small Mug; Heartsease Pansies Small Mug and Snowdrop Small Mug €22 each These sweet mugs will bring fresh fl avour and a dash of joy to breakfast time. We’re fi rmly of the belief that mugs that exactly match just aren’t as fun – neat and tidy as they might look on a shelf. 2 Wayfair Laura Ashley Elveden 4-Slice Toaster €131.99 Inspired by Laura Ashley’s summer palace design, this tip-top toaster with seven-setting heat control marries function with fl oral fl air. And needless to say, the convenience of being able to toast four slices in one go makes breakfasts with a family much, much easier. 3 Primark Home Green Floral Side Plate €4 Pink Floral Side Plate €4 Cream Floral Side Plate €4 Ra an Placemat €5 3 Pack Daisy Pinch Bowls €5 Floral Table Cloth €12, visit Penneys Adding springtime touches to your table needn’t cost a bomb – add these side plates to your usual table setting to bring some life to proceedings, atop a fl oral tablecloth, and 1 10 space, whether in a classical way with muted colours or with more modern, bold shades. From pretty petals to darling buds, here’s our pick of the bunch… Mug; Heartsease Pansies Small Mug and 10 Because there’s more to fl ower power than posies and bouquets... 36 WOMANSWAY.IE 8 9 11 11 fl oral fi nds to give your home a spring refresh 36-37 WW8 Interiors Florals_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 13:17

By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA and Aisling Keenan WOMANSWAY.IE 37 you’ve brought the outside in without shelling out too much. 4 Chiquitita Dried Flowers €50, visit fl owerpop.ie With a cottagecore aesthetic, these dried fl owers are easy to style in a recycled jar or vintage vase. There’s a huge trend for dried fl owers this year too, given they’re a more long-lasting and therefore more sustainable option than fresh fl owers. 5 Primark Home Large Floral Container €6, visit Penneys Whether used as a glam lunch box, a picnic container or as a place to store leftovers, 3 9 DFS Cath Kidston Stargazer Chaise Longue in Strawberry Garden €1,229 This aptly-named Stargazer is a showstopper, especially if you fancy putting your feet up and spending time on a divan crowned with carnations and roses. Handcrafted and available in a range of Cath Kidston prints, the Strawberry Garden is the most ladylike pick of the range. 10 Next Reversible Floral Print with Trim 100% Coƒ on Duvet Cover and Pillowcase €39 - €79 The colours of spring are all here, ready to give a seasonal refresh to your bedroom. Keep the prints on your throw pillows simple to avoid too many clashing fabrics and to temper the intensity of the fl oral bedspread. 11 Oliver Bonas Floral Ruffl e Bed Linen €140 If full-on fl oral is too much for you to sleep soundly alongside, try a fl oral trim like this bedspread from Oliver Bonas. With a textured white design, this set consists of a duvet cover and two pillowcases, all handmade for a stylish fi nish. WW 2 this fl ower print dish from Primark Home is a handy all-rounder to have in the kitchen. 6 DFS Joules Cambridge Coƒ on Accent Chair in Mushroom Floral All Over €699 Sinking into this beautiful fl oral armchair at the end of a busy day sounds like something we could get on board with. With wooden legs supporting it off the fl oor, high arms and a comfortable high back, this would make a comfortable place to curl up with a book. 7 DFS Cath Kidston Sunday King Size Bed Frame in Summer Birds Combination €1,429 Instead of taking on a bedspread that’s fl oral, what about going all in with a spring-themed bed? This design from Cath Kidston would be beautiful in a child’s room or a guest room, particularly in a home that embraces country-style living. 8 Marks & Spencer Set of 4 Floral Picnic Tumblers €20 These just scream spring – imagine sipping on a fresh lemonade from one of these? Ideal. Plus, they'd be great for outdoor picnics or even just brightening up your desk during work. you’ve brought the outside in without shelling out too much. 2 handy all-rounder to have in the kitchen. 6 Chair in Mushroom Floral All Over Sinking into this beautiful fl oral armchair at the end of a busy day sounds like something we could get on board with. With wooden legs supporting it off the fl oor, high arms and a comfortable high back, this would make a comfortable place to curl up with a book. 7 DFS Cath Kidston Sunday King Size 4 5 6 7 INTERIORS 36-37 WW8 Interiors Florals_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 13:17

38 WOMANSWAY.IE On the Radar... Johnstown Estate Spa When it comes to skincare that we are actually going to stick to, our needs are pretty simple. We just want two things: can we see results and can it not be so complicated, layered and laborious that we need to remortgage/set aside an hour every evening to carry it out… please? Simple, you might say, but surprisingly diffi cult to fi nd. Step in Medik8: the science-backed skincare that revolves around a simple philosophy of CSA - Vitamin C, Sunscreen and Vitamin A. (In case you hadn’t heard, Vitamin A is the skincare ingredient that will change your world.) For all ages and for all skin types, any dermatologist worth their salt will agree that this trifecta is a proven healthy and effective way to get glowing, beautiful skin. Sorry, did we say we wanted just two things? Let’s add the third for a cherry on top: can we get this science-backed result but in a fl oaty, pampering spa experience? Well indeed, you can - Medik8 has just signed up its fi rst Irish spa location at the newly refurbished Spa at Johnstown Estate where you can feel fi rst-hand the brand’s philosophy to deliver the experience of a spa, with the results of a clinic. Fresh from its €3.5million upgrade, it houses 15 treatment rooms, an indoor-to-rooftop Thermal Experience and its very own spa café (so you don’t have to break your fl uffy robed roll for a glass of bubbly or Afternoon Tea - appreciated). We tried out the Medik8 Platinum Facial, €135 (60 mins) and saw an instant lift in glow and those pesky open pores had all but blended away immediately afterwards. At home, the hero products in the range are the Liquid Peptides, €64, a silky serum that tackles signs of ageing and the Crystal Retinal 6, €82, a high performance vitamin A product that can be used anything from twice per week to every day depending on your age range and your skin’s tolerance. We recommend starting light and building up - or better still, talk to one of the expert therapists at Johnstown Spa who will recommend the right amount just for you. Vist thejohnstownestate.com Pigging Out If you’re looking for the perfect spot to rest your weary legs during a tough day shopping in Dublin, Little Pyg on the ground fl oor of Powerscourt Townhouse is for you. With a delectable cocktail list and Michelin Guide pizzas among other tasty offerings, it’s comfortable, chic and, surprisingly in this age of soaring prices, exceptional value for money. Little Pyg is the brainchild of Paul McGlade Jnr, who owns sister venue Pygmalion on nearby South William Street. How did he come to open Ireland’s fi rst pizza restaurant in the Michelin Guide? He brought a pizza oven, made from the rock of Mount Vesuvius, over from Naples and sent his chefs to train under the world-famous pizza chef Enzo Coccia. The result is some spectacularly good pizzas. More recently he poached chef Marco Ilii from Italy to add homemade meatballs, incredible risottos and a delicious homemade tiramisu to the menu. The prices are just as tasty. Two pizzas cost just €30 and two cocktails come in at just €20. That’s €50 for a lunch for two. Wow. WW Visit littlepyg.com A round up the places to see and be seen this month. By Carissa Casey The Johnstown Estate The rooftop thermal experience, The Spa Little Pyg Michelin Guide Pizzas 38 WW8 On The Radar KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 06/04/2023 09:44

TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 39 to make you feel like you are the only person in a drawing room full of guests, is ever present. The atmosphere is convivial, as we contendedly sip our drinks and anticipate the fabulous dinner ahead. Echo Lodge dates from Victorian times and, while the interior décor is very much in keeping with that period, there’s nothing stuffy or staid about the place. It has the feel of a much-loved home, with wellie boots (imaculately clean of course) by the door and sofas made for a quiet snooze. The dining room is a deep sea blue with fascinating artwork dotted here and there, crisp white table linen and staff that manages to be friendly and unobtrusive all at the same time. There are two key ingredients on the plate at the Mustard Seed; the kitchen garden and S ome things just get better with age and The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge in Ballingarry, County Limerick is most defi nitely one of them. A short hop from Adare (its former home), The Mustard Seed takes all the right ingredients — beautiful food, elegant surroundings, superb service — and creates something uniquely charming. Part traditional country manor, part modern boutique hotel, surrounded by orchards, an extensive kitchen garden and enchanting walkways, it’s a lovely mix of zen tranquility and Irish warmth. We arrived on one of those grey drizzly days that passes for early spring in Ireland, perfect weather to cosy up beside a roaring fi re for pre-dinner drinks. It’s busy, which isn’t a surprise given that the aptly-named head chef, Angel Pirev, is renowned for producing the most exquisite food. The other guests are a mix of couples, presumably as delighted as we are to escape domestic duties and enjoy a romantic night away on our own, and family groups celebrating some milestone. Host John Edward Joyce, a man who has the rare ability Angel’s superb ability to take beautifully fresh and as-local-as-it-gets produce into delicious food. The menu changes with the seasons and what’s available but never fails to impress. Himself went for the steak and I opted for the fi sh. Both were sublime. After dinner there’s the option of a nightcap in the drawing room but there was a fabulous four-poster bed calling me upstairs. Each of the rooms at Echo Lodge is different, which you would expect from such an old building. Along with the four-poster, our room had windows out onto the garden and the kind of oldschool comfort that makes me wonder why I wasn’t born with a private income. Breakfast the following morning was a delightful experience. While a buffet can work with the right ingredients, there’s something so luxurious about table service at breakfast. Our waitress persuaded me that the porridge with whiskey was worth trying. To be fair I didn’t need much persuasion. It was delicately fl avoured (if whiskey can ever be described as delicate) and set me up nicely for the day ahead. Himself reported that the full Irish was superb. The entire experience was a treat for all the senses and I left feeling rejuvenated (the porridge whiskey might have helped). New restaurants and hotels come and go, but this beautifully seasoned perennial is a joy. WW Carissa Casey visits The Mustard Seed at Echo Lodge and relishes every moment. Mustard MORE THAN CUTTING the John Edward Joyce and Chef Angel Pirev in the kitchen garden 39 WW08 Travel Mustard Seed SC2CCAMAK.indd 3 04/04/2023 19:32

40 WOMANSWAY.IE As a keen student of American politics, Washington DC has long been on my bucket list. It’s the beating heart of the beast, as they say. Up close, it turned out to be far more vibrant and fascinating than those brief glimpses on the news would have you believe. This is a city that has absorbed countless political upheavals, cultural shocks and even a terrorist attack. And it is thriving like never before. Let’s start with a leisurely stroll along the National Mall where America lays out the best and sometimes the worst of itself. It’s a 3km sweep of lawn surrounded by spectacular museums, memorials and iconic buildings. At one end, there’s the Lincoln Memorial where Martin Luther King delivered his famous I Have a Dream speech in 1963; at the other, there’s the Capitol which we all watched being stormed by rioters in 2021. It’s a large enough space that on an average day it never feels crowded, despite all the tourists piling out of buses. We each - myself included - are dazed to fi nd ourselves on the set of countless movies, TV series and news programmes. It’s headspinning stuff, so many iconic buildings, monuments, statues, memorials, museums and art galleries, some of them instantly recognisable, all of them vaguely familiar. Fellow tourists are from everywhere, from Texas to Tel Aviv, from Indiana to Ireland. Washington DC is often described as our modern-day Rome where you’ll hear English spoken in a hundred different accents, along with French, German, Japanese and a host of languages you won’t even recognise. There’s so much to see, visit and do along the National Mall, it’s best to orientate yourself at the outset, with a guided tour. I Carissa Casey visits the iconic American city and is enthralled. US Capitol Building WASHINGTON Wonders 40-43 WW8 Washington_AD2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 13:37

TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 41 went on a bus tour, which allowed me to hop on and off at key points, but there are also bicycle tours (unlimitedbiking.com). It’s not a large area, so it’s all walkable, once you know where you’re going. Aside from the ‘big ticket’ selfi es (the Whitehouse, the Washington Memorial, the Capitol etc.) there are museums and art galleries galore. You could decamp for a month to Washington and never fully explore even a quarter of them. My advice is to scroll through the full list at washington.org before you go and decide which ones appeal. A few highlights include the newly reopenned National Air and Space Museum, a must for space enthusiasts and the Museum of African American History and Culture. The latter is hugely popular and must be booked in advance. Even then, expect a long queue to get in. If lists aren’t your thing, do like me and opt for an aimless wander (a speciality of mine). It’s a wonderful way to soak up the mall’s vibe. My wander took me to the United States Botanical Garden, right by the Capitol, a truely charming, zen-like oasis nestled beside the home of America’s big powerbrokers. A fabulously swirl of a building further along turned out to be the National Musem of the American Indian. A tenminute stroll brought me to the Smithsonian Castle, an ornate, almost gothic edifi ce which is unfortunately closed now for renovation. The Enid A. Haupt garden remains open and is another lovely spot to while away an hour or so people watching. Away from the mall, there are even more museums and famously recognisiable buildings and places, all within walking distance. The Federal Reserve, the US Supreme Court, the FBI headquarters and Arlington National Cemetary (technically in Maryland) are all worth a visit. A CITY REBORN Washington is far more than just museums, memorials and Machiavelli-style machinations behind beautiful façades. First, a little history on the other side of Washington, the place where mere mortals hang out. Washington has long had a signifi cant African American population. By the turn of the last century, it had the largest percentage of African Americans of any city in America. It was home to the historically black Howard University and, by the 1960s, when the African American population passed the Continued overleaf >> National Portrait Gallery “This is a city that has absorbed countless political upheavals, cultural shocks and is thriving like never before” Washington Memorial Georgetown University The International Spy Museum WASHINGTON Wonders Smithsonian Castle 40-43 WW8 Washington_AD2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 13:38

42 WOMANSWAY.IE behind security ropes). And yes I was evil enough to put on our WhatsApp group that Biden had just arrived (he hadn’t). To give a taste of what was on offer, fi rst place at the event went to the Embassy of China for fi sh-fl avoured shrimp balls with mapo tofu. The runner up was the Embassy of Mexico with pork belly tamalitos with guajillo salsa and nopal (a cactus plant) salad. It was defi nitely a fl avour of Washington at its multicultural best. It’s a fun city that loves any opportunity to celebrate its unique place on the world stage and, whatever time of year you visit, there’ll be some kind of festival or feast taking place. Right now, with its cherry blossom season in full bloom, there are a host of Japaneserelated events. Again it’s worth checking out washington.org to fi nd out what’s happening while you’re there. GEORGETOWN If you’ve ever seen a movie or TV series about well-heeled Washington, chances are everyone was living in Georgetown. This is where JFK lived before he moved into the White House. Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry and columnist Maureen Dowd are among the current residents. It’s the very defi nition of leafy affl uent suburb, with beautifully appointed, exquisitely doorscaped houses and worth a ramble. Depending on your fi tness, you could try your hand (or more accurately feet) at the so-called Exorcist steps, the stone staircase from the 1973 movie. Connoisseurs will remember that Father Karras met his death in a headlong tumble down them during the dramatic showdown with a demon. On the morning I was there, a few impressively fi t young men were using them as part of their workout. They emerged panting and sweating at the top, where I was loitering serenely taking a few snaps on my phone. 50 per cent mark, it became a key centre for the burgeoning civil rights movement. When Martin Luther King was assasinated in 1968, the city erupted in widespread rioting. (Check out a newly released and fascinating new podcast Holy Week for eyewitness accounts of that time). In the aftermath, the so-called ‘white fl ight’ to the suburbs which began at the start of desegragaton in the 1950s, became an exodus. By the 1970s, much of inner city Washington consisted of ‘no go’ areas for whites and tourists alike. Crack arrived on the streets in the mid1980s and by the 1990s it had become the ‘murder capital’ of America. Even the city’s mayor, Marion Barry, was caught on camera smoking crack. I’ve yet to fully understand how Washington transformed itself from murder capital to the boomtown it is today but that it has, is a testament to all that’s best about America, the can-do spirit of indomnability and unbridled optimism. Away from the historic centre, you’ll fi nd an eclectic, energetic and above all safe series of neighbourhoods, as hip and happening as any in Manhattan, but without the manic trying-too-hard energy. There are restaurants specialising in every cuisine imaginable, refl ecting the globally diverse population working in the 175 embassies and consulates throughout the city, along with the best of American food. The most recent transformation is along the waterfront, where former warehouses are now repurposed into shops, cafés, bars, restaurants and modern offi ce space. There are also hotels, including my own the Thompson Washington DC (221 Tingey Street SE), situated on the old Navy Yard, overlooking the Anacostia River. The rooms are spacious and modern, there’s a fabulous rooftop bar and a fully equipped gym. Best of all it’s within walking distance of the mall and waterfront area. Setting the standard for culinary diversity was an extraordinary event which took place while I was there at the American Art Museum called the Embassy Chef Challenge. It’s a charity fundraiser held yearly featuring the culinary genius from a plethora of Washington’s overseas embassies. I got to sample all sorts of weird and wonderful food and drink surrounded by amazing art (rightly protected from the partygoers “It is a testament to all that’s best about America, the can-do spirit of indomnability and unbridled optimism” The Wharf Dupont Circle Roof top view from the Thompson DC Takoda Rooftop Restaurant 40-43 WW8 Washington_AD2CCAMAK.indd 4 05/04/2023 13:39

TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 43 WHEN TO GO: April is one of the prettiest times of year to travel to DC because of the sea of pink and white cherry blossoms adorning more than 3,000 cherry trees planted around the tidal basin, a man-made reservoir connecting the Potomac River and the Washington Channel. But it makes for a great city break regardless of the season with a climate not too dissimilar from our own, including a tendency towards changeability. Layers work best, along with light rain gear and comfortable walking shoes. WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK: • There are so many fabulous restaurants and bars, you’ll be spoilt for choice. I was there for the International City Food Festival so some of the choices below refl ect that. Waterside Area • The Grill (99 Market Square SW). Chic and delicious American fare, a perfect spot to watch Washingtownians power lunch. • NaRa-Ya (88 District Square SW). Paradise if sushi’s your thing. Elsewhere the focus is on traditional Japanese cooking with a modern twist. • Bammy’s (301 Water Street SE). Michelin guide Caribbean cuisine. Check out the jerk chicken. • Takoda Navy Yard (1299 1st Street SE). A great spot for a late night drink on the rooftop bar. • The Surveyer (221 Tingey Street SE). The restaurant at the Thompson DC hotel serving excellent quality American fare - pork chops, striploin salmon. There’s also an amazing rooftop bar perfect for pre-dinner cocktails. Elsewhere • Pisco Y Nazca (1823 L Street NW). Ceviche gastrobar offering Peruvian cuisine. Ceviche is a dish made from raw fi sh cured in citrus juice. • The Unconventional Diner (1207 9th Street NW). Michelin guide and a lovely spot for brunch serving an eclectic mix of dishes from avo toast to fi sh and chip tacos. Georgtown • Farmers Fishers Bakers (3000 K Street NW). Oh how I loved breakfast here. It’s a help yourself with lovely coffee delivered by the waitress. The selection was amazing. A popular spot so probably best to book a table. THINGS TO DO: I honestly wouldn’t know where to start and neither will you. A bit of online research at washington.org will help you narrow down your choices. A few interesting ones to try away from the National Mall include: • The Internation Spy Museum (700 L’Enfant Plaza SW). Get your inner James Bond on with this highly interactive experience on all things spycraft. • The National Geographic Museum (1145 17th Street NW). Currently closed but showing the amazing King Tut Immersive experience while I was there. The campus of Georgetown University is a Harry Potteresque dream. I’m not sure this was entirely allowable but we were able to wander the halls and into quaint lecture theatres. The university is famous for, of course, its politics and foreign service courses. Lyndon B. Johnson, Bill Clinton and, interestingly, Tiffany Trump are among its alumni, proving that politics comes in many forms. Mine was something of a whirlwind visit to Washington but I plan to go back and not just for more political trainspotting. If this is the metaphorical heart of America, its people and neighbourhoods are the real powerhouses, pumping optimism and selfbelief that make that oft-derided American Dream tantalisingly possible.WW Getting there • To plan your trip, visit washington.org • Aer Lingus operates two fl ights daily between Dublin and Washington DC. Fares start from €229 each way including taxes and charges. For more visit aerlingus.com • I stayed at the Thompson DC Hotel where prices for rooms start at €185 per night, visit hyatt.com Georgetown P Street mural Georgetown 40-43 WW8 Washington_AD2CCAMAK.indd 5 05/04/2023 13:39

Photographs by Owen Tighe Debut author Gaye Maguire chats to Niamh O’Reilly about her blood-soaked first novel, which delves into Ireland's illegal adoption scandal, and discovers why she thinks 60 is the new 40. 44 WOMANSWAY.IE 44 45 WW08 Gaye Maguire SC2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 11:42

WOMANSWAY.IE 45 IN PERSON Blood Mothers by Gaye Maguire is published by Inkubator Books, out now. Photographs by Owen Tighe recalls. “You weren’t afraid of anything else. For your family and for girls of that time it was the fear of pregnancy.” While Gaye didn’t experience any of this trauma personally, the revelations about mother and baby homes and illegal adoptions struck a chord with her. “It was the thought of people not knowing where they came from, not having a proper birth certifi cate and being short of shipped out,” she says. While the book is not a social commentary and very much a work of fi ction, Gaye has noticed that Blood Mothers is inadvertently shedding light on Ireland’s shameful past to the furthest reaches of the globe. “Because it’s an Amazon exclusive, a lot of the readers are from places like Australia and New Zealand, and they aren’t aware of Ireland's history in terms of mother and baby homes.” Gaye also was able to draw on her own experience of going to a convent school in the '70s. “There were borders in the school and we used to sneak over to where they and the nuns lived. It felt like an odd place to live, and it was all very austere,” she recalls. “I was able to tap into those memories to create that sense of being closed in a place and how the nuns used to speak to us.” A former promotions producer with RTÉ, Gaye fi nished up her role in June of last year and now has her sights set fi rmly on writing full time. In fact, as we chat, she’s just delivered her follow up to Blood Mothers to her editor. “It’s the next in the Kate Hamilton series and will delve into the murkier side of social media. I’ve two grown-up kids living at home who are always on their phones,” she laughs, “so they have helped me with the research.” During lockdown Gaye’s husband set about building a cabin from scratch at the end of the garden which was to be his workshop. However, Gaye took a liking to it and it has now become her writing space, one she’s delighted to have, as she has two further books in the series to write. Gaye is relishing the challenge of it all. “My husband swears it took me 20 years to write the fi rst book and it’s taken me just six months to write the second. But I love it. I'm in a world of my own.” When she’s not head, neck and heels into the fast-paced world of crime writing, Gaye admits to being completely besotted by her fi rst granddaughter Luna. “She is a little ray of sunshine. She is almost two years old. It's just a magical relationship, I know everyone says it, but until you have a grandchild you just don’t realise how lovely it is. I’m happy out,” she smiles. WW Publishing a book has been a lifelong goal for Gaye Maguire and at the age of 66, she’s fi nally fulfi lled her ambition. A busy working mum to three now grown-up children and one grandchild, Gaye admits that it is only recently she’s found the time to achieve her writing dreams. She’s not bitter about that fact however, if anything, she feels now is her time. “Age doesn’t have anything to do with it,” she smiles. “I think a bit of life experience is not a bad thing. I might be of a certain age, but in my head I’m not that old.” With a four-book deal under her belt, Gaye is now busier than ever and she couldn’t be happier. “Sometimes, particularly for women and in this society, you become slightly invisible, but while there’s hair dye and I can move and my health is good, I am not going to become invisible. I’m not going to become quiet. I’m going to be just as noisy and just as loud and just as active as I was when I was 25. Women in their 60s have things to say.” Gaye’s meaty debut novel Blood Mothers, certainly has plenty to say and touches on a dark time in Ireland’s recent past that still casts a long shadow today. Opening with a string of seemingly unconnected, grisly murders in Dublin, protagonist Detective Sergeant Kate Hamilton makes a connection to an illegal adoption scheme originating in a private mother and baby home many years earlier. The story fl ashes back about 40 years to a teenage girl who is put into one of these mother and baby homes. For Gaye the topic was the perfect place to ground her crime story. “I’m old enough to remember a time in Ireland when these things happened,” she recalls. “I had a circle of friends when I was in my teens and there were girls who disappeared from school with so-called kidney complaints and only years later, I found out they had had a baby.” In those days, teenage pregnancy was almost a fate worse than death. The phrase “she got herself into trouble” persisted for years, and as a young girl Gaye can remember the fear it held for her and her friends. “It was the shadow that hung over you as a teenager,” she “I’m going to be just as noisy and loud and active as I was when I was 25. Women in their 60s have things to say” 44 45 WW08 Gaye Maguire SC2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 11:43

46 WOMANSWAY.IE Check out our review of Obsession, the latest movies, shows and podcasts and, as always, our picks of the best new books. Hot List The 5 NEW BOOKS TO READ THIS WEEK READ • WATCH • LISTEN By Prudence Wade, PA and Niamh O’Reilly FICTION Old God’s Time by Sebastian Barry is published in hardback by Faber & Faber, priced €23.75 A dense, lyrical and profoundly sad novel, Old God’s Time explores the reverberations of one of the bleakest episodes in Ireland’s history. Tom Kettle, a former policeman now in his 60s, is relaxing into retirement in a scenic coastal town. He spends his time observing his neighbours; an actress in hiding from her vicious husband and a cellist who shoots birds from his balcony. He also immerses himself in memories of his beloved wife, June. But his nostalgic reveries are interrupted by a visit from two detectives. They’re working on a cold case, one with special signifi cance for Tom. And as the details emerge, it becomes clear that Tom is hiding terrible secrets, even from himself. This is a beautifully written book, and Tom is a gentle, damaged soul who savours small pleasures and the beauty of the world, despite the ugliness of some of the people in it. Fire Rush by Jacqueline Crooks is published in hardback by Jonathan Cape, priced €21.25 In late 1970s London, young factory worker Yamaye seeks the spirit of her lost mother and spends her weekends dancing the night away with friends at a club called The Crypt. But just as her horizons are expanding, tragic events break the bonds of youth and send her on a very different voyage of discovery. Against the backdrop of race riots, she must escape home, navigate the backstreets of Bristol, and fi nd her way to her Jamaican roots. Yamaye’s connection to the music is deeper than nights in the dancehall. She feels the power of songs passed down to her and though her search for truth sends her riddles and false hope, she can always return to the music. Jacqueline Crooks’ lyrical debut dances to the rhythm of the reggae music that pulses throughout it, in a powerful portrait of black womanhood in late 20th century Britain and beyond. Nothing Special by Nicole Flattery is published in hardback by Bloomsbury Publishing, priced €14.99 This debut is a character-led journey through New York in the 1960s. 17-year-old Mae gets a job as a typist in Andy Warhol’s famous studio, where she is introduced to the secret world of the artist and his various associates. Not only does this novel show the glamorous side of Warhol’s world, but also the seedy underworld that was kept away from the newspapers and photographers. A little thin on the plot, Mae’s character development through the novel is what will keep you reading, as she makes the change from impressionable high-school dropout to a stoic cynic, in the space of just a few months. It is a beautifully written debut by Nicole Flattery, who has a promising future ahead of her. NON FICTION Grow The F*ck Up by Sarah Knight is published by Quercus, priced €15.99 The title says it all really. Sarah Knight’s irreverent style has lots of edgy, comedic references, more than your average self-help book. Full of practical advice on how to ‘adult’ and put your big girl pants on, it’s put across in a very readable way that will keep you reading. Most of us can relate to those days or times when we just don’t want to be the designated grown-up and would prefer to hand the reins over to someone else. Those occasional days are normal, but if you fi nd yourself dodging responsibilities more and more, then this book could be for you. Or perhaps someone in your life who could do with a bit of a hint. There’s amusing diagrams, lots of bullet points and tonnes of comic acronyms you’ll be using over and over. CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK The Secret Elephant wri en and illustrated by Ellan Rankin is published by Wren & Rook €16.25 This gorgeous picture book is based on the amazing true story of the 'Angel of Belfast Zoo' and is really moving. Author Ellan Rankin brings to life the unlikely friendship that sprung up between Belfast zookeeper Denise Weston Austin and Sheila the baby elephant during the Belfast Blitz. Told through beautiful illustrations, we see the baby elephant and her keeper sneak to the safety and comfort of the keeper's home to wait out the bombs during WWII. It’s most suited to 5-7 year-olds. WW The Secret Elephant wri en and illustrated by Ellan Rankin the 'Angel of Belfast Zoo' and is really moving. Author Ellan Rankin brings to life the unlikely friendship that sprung up between Belfast emerge, it becomes clear that Tom is hiding terrible secrets, even from himself. also the seedy underworld those days or times when we just don’t want to be the designated grown-up and would prefer to hand the reins over to someone else. Those occasional days are normal, but if you fi nd yourself dodging responsibilities more and more, then this book could be for you. Or perhaps someone in your life who could do with a bit of a hint. There’s amusing diagrams, lots of bullet points and tonnes of comic acronyms you’ll be using over and over. book. Full of practical advice your big girl pants on, it’s put across in a very readable way Those occasional days are normal, will keep you reading, as she makes the change from impressionable high-school dropout to a stoic cynic, in the space of just a few months. It is a beautifully written debut by Nicole Flattery, who has a promising future ahead of her. NON FICTION Grow The F*ck Up by Sarah Knight is published by Quercus, 46 WW08 Books SC2CCAMAK.indd 2 04/04/2023 19:33

WOMANSWAY.IE 47 HOT LIST By Niamh O’Reilly If the Fifty Shades franchise left you feeling fl at at the lack of chemistry or authenticity, then Obsession is likely to do the opposite. Based on Josephine Hart’s 1991 novel, Damage, this four-parter explores the intense BDSM-tinged affair between affl uent and talented surgeon William (Richard Armitage) and his son’s fi ancée Anna (Charlie Murphy). The relationship soon descends into a dangerous, all-consuming obsession, with tragic and far-reaching consequences for those around them. Charlie Murphy is superb as Anna. Her cool, confi dent exterior belies a mound of childhood emotional trauma that has shaped every part of her current behaviour. It’s a complicated character arc to get right. At fi rst, we don’t like or understand Anna’s behaviour, but as the series draws on, we begin to get an insight into her motivations and where this need for rules comes from. Charlie manages to show immense self-confi dence and childish vulnerability with a simple look. Anna and William meet at a conference and the chemistry is clear from the off. Anna knows William is her fi ancé Jay’s father and William twigs who Anna is too. Neither party is remotely put off by the high stakes, in fact it appears to be the farthest thing from their minds. There is very little dialogue exchanged between the pair at the start. It’s all conveyed in body language and smouldering looks. On their fi rst sexual encounter, they are wordless except for Anna’s ‘stop’ hand gesture and a single spoken word, “yes”. She remains clothed, while William is laid bare. Anna is very much in charge. In their second rendezvous, she lays down the rules. She agrees to surrender herself sexually to William’s whims. She will be submissive, but only in the fl at, only when she says and only on her terms. The affair continues to get more and more intense. “Damaged people are dangerous," Anna later warns William. It’s a foreshadowing of what’s to come and the audience knows it. Obsessions this strong rarely end well and it’s clear the pair are on a path of destruction not only for themselves, but for those around them. The tragic twist might be predictable, but it still manages to shock when it happens. It would have been easy for Obsession to have Anna fall into the well-worn trope of the nubile young woman who seduces the husband and wrecks a marriage, while the put-upon wife is left broken. The showrunners have leaned away from this however and the portrayal of William's wife Ingrid, by Indira Varma, is pitch perfect. Smart, capable and confi dent, she brings a strength and self-assuredness to the role so that when she gets her moment to shine, she delivers a killer blow to her cheating husband. With each episode clocking in around 40 minutes, it’s easily watchable over the course of a weekend and is certainly worth your time. WW Streaming on Netfl ix April 13 Irish actress Charlie Murphy treads through dangerous waters in Netfl ix’s steamy new psychological drama series, Obsession. Collateral Damage Charlie Murphy and William Farrow in Obsession Chris Cooper Anna with fi ancé Jay (Rish Shah) 47 WW08 Hotlist Review SC2CCAMAK.indd 3 04/04/2023 19:36

48 WOMANSWAY.IE Hot Right Now… MOVIE PICKS Air We’ve had movies about the origins of Tetris and the Big Mac, now it seems basketball shoes are next on the agenda. It’s the mid-80s and Nike is not the sports brand powerhouse it is today. Sales are down and it’s the poor relation to Adidas and Converse in the world of basketball. That is until a hot new player called Michael Jordan (Damian Delano Young) comes on the scene and the race is on to get him to endorse a basketball shoe. Matt Damon is the dogged executive who pursues the star to come on board, while Ben Affleck, who also directs, plays billionaire Nike co-founder Phil Knight. Viola Davis is superb as Jordan’s mother Deloris who does all the talking; literally. In a deliberate choice, the main man himself is almost a sidebar in a film that is very much about him. It makes for an enjoyable battle of wills between Davis and Damon, rather than turning it into a Jordan biopic. A fun slice of sports memorabilia, it’s worth a watch for the always reliable chemistry of Affleck and Damon on the big screen. In cinemas now TV PICKS Great Expectations There have been at least a dozen if not more film and TV adaptations of this classic Dickens novel. Viewers might wonder what more is there to mine from this story of orphan Pip who spends his childhood as a blacksmith's apprentice and then finds himself with a A modern classic comes to a thrilling end and a classic tale gets a modern retelling in this issue's entertainment round up from Niamh O’Reilly. Ben Affleck in Air windfall from an unknown benefactor that allows him to travel to London and enter high society. Lots it seems, although most of the additions such as the swearing and drugs didn’t happen in the book. That’s because this adaptation is from Steven Knight, the man behind the ultra-cool Peaky Blinders. It’s also produced by Tom Hardy and Ridley Scott who worked together on Taboo (2017) and this version of Great Expectations is awash with the same dark, dirty, sinister vibes from both shows. It’s not going to be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s certainly not boring. Oscar winner Olivia Coleman plays Miss Havisham and is as usual a very powerful presence on the screen in her decaying wedding dress and rotten teeth. Showing on BBC One Sundays at 9pm 48 49 WW08 Hot Right Now SC2CCAMAK.indd 2 05/04/2023 11:46

WOMANSWAY.IE 49 HOT LIST Succession The end is nigh for what is arguably one of the best TV shows in recent years. The fourth and fi nal season has arrived and it’s not going to be a pretty ending. If you’re unfamiliar, Succession is a satirical black comedy which follows the story of the Roys, who are the owners of Waystar RoyCo, a global media and entertainment conglomerate. The family members are jostling for position and fi ghting over who will take the reins when the patriarch Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox, pops his clogs. If the scenario sounds familiar then you could be forgiven for thinking it’s reminiscent of another well-known media mogul and his family, although we couldn’t say who. Things are coming to a head in the fi nal series with the sale of Waystar Royco to tech guru Lukas Matsson (Alexander Skarsgård) inching closer. The ramifi cations would have massive consequences for the family and without getting into spoilers, they’ve got to decide where their loyalties lie. What makes the show so watchable is that it’s a slow burn. However, when it gets going it’s hugely compelling and while each of the Roys are as unlikeable as the last, you love to hate them. Streaming on Sky Atlantic and NOW The Night Agent I really wanted to like this one. Based on the novel by Matthew Quirk, The Night Agent promised to be a meaty, spy thriller in the same vein as 24. It opens with FBI agent Peter Sutherland (Gabriel Basso) saving a group of people on a train after a suspect leaves a bomb in his backpack. After the drama however, he’s shifted to the night duties at the White House and told to man a phone, which never rings. Of course until one night it does. Former tech company owner Rose Larkin (Luciane Buchanan) is on the other end of the phone after her aunt and uncle have just been gunned down by intruders. Peter is tasked with protecting Rose and the rest gets a bit predictable. It does have lots of twists and turns as it navigates its way through the political intrigue. But for me, it felt as though it was made in the '90s. The dialogue was patchy, and it was lacking any real depth. It portrayed Buchanan’s character as the damsel in distress rather than the capable young woman she is. Check your brain at the door for this one and don’t take it too seriously. Streaming on Netfl ix ON STAGE The Junk Kouture Dublin City Final 2023 It could be argued that it’s easy to make a stunning outfi t out of the fi nest fabrics, but when your raw materials are junk, that’s a whole other skillset. However that’s the brief for the entrants in this unusual, but topical fashion show, where a future star will be unearthed. Young people have been challenged to create haute couture fashion creations out of pure junk. Anything from receipts, toy dolls, and burst footballs have been transformed into walking works of art. The winning designs selected by a panel of Junk Kouture judges will compete against fi fty other teams from Abu Dhabi, London, Paris, Milan and New York on a global stage to become the second ever World Designer of the Year. The show takes place at the 3Arena, Dublin on May 4, 2023. Tickets on sale now at ticketmaster.ie CLASSIC MOVIE Dune (2021) Okay, it’s not quite a classic in the sense of age, but if you missed this epic retelling of the fi rst part of the Dune saga in the cinema, then the Easter break is the ideal time to watch it. Based on the monster Frank Herbert book, it’s the rich and intricate story of Paul Atreides played by Timothée Chalamet, as his family are plunged into a bloody war for the arid desert planet Arrakis. The story has lots of different characters, planets, and terminology to contend with, but the fi lm manages to introduce them all without leaving those who have not read the book out of the loop. Part two will be out later this year, so catch up now. WW The cast of Succession Gabriel Basso in The Night Agent The Junk Couture Dublin City Final Olivia Coleman in Great Expectations 48 49 WW08 Hot Right Now SC2CCAMAK.indd 3 05/04/2023 11:46

50 WOMANSWAY.IE Online... womansway.ie Subscribe... 01 240 5363 Email... [email protected] Facebook... facebook.com/womansway Twitter... twitter.com/Womans_way LETTERS LETTER EMAIL DETAILS For the moment, we are asking you to send us all your letters and pictures to [email protected]. We love to hear from you so please stay in touch. Facebook... LETTERS WORTH STAR LETTERPRIZE €29.35 Our lucky star letter will receive a Vitamin C Brightening Serum, Hyaluronic Acid Cleansing Gel and Seaweed Peptide Eye Gel from Q+A (pronounced ‘Q and A’). Q+A is a natural, clean and ingredient focused skincare brand on a mission to demystify skincare. Each product is 98 per cent natural, featuring a range of key natural ingredients that will give you your best complexion yet. Cruelty-free and vegan-friendly. The range includes cleaners, toners, serums, moisturisers and masks, delivering quality skincare at exceptional prices. Available from Chemist Warehouse, Cara Pharmacy and independent pharmacies nationwide. Endometriosis Great article on living with endometriosis as I have suffered with this horrible disease all my life. As I was growing up doctors didn’t know what it was. I had to miss a lot of work over this illness. Thank you for sharing this article and get it out there. Martina Hynes Food Shop Hack I enjoyed your article about how to make savings on the supermarket shop and I thought I’d add an extra one. Do not bring the kids. They will throw so many things in the trolley, you’re likely to give in to at least one of them as a concession. I’ve also had a case of not noticing one of these ‘must-buys’ going through the till. Grappling as I was with a jumble of bags, a pair of little legs running away, and keys falling by the wayside. Plus it means you’ll avoid going after the school run, which I now realise is the worst time to go. It’s busy and pressured time-wise because the children want to get to their dinner. Going off peak at the weekend, either early or late, makes for a much less stressful experience. Gemma Harris, Co Dublin My Heart Spoke My heart spoke…. I let myself listen, I heard her true voice. She thundered in my brain. ‘’Be true to yourself’’ ‘’Stop being what is expected’’ ‘’Let the world see you’’ ‘’You are enough’’ YET I shut her down. I put the mask back on. Nobody need know. All cracks smoothed. No truth peeping out. Another day to get through, Play your part like it is real, When I am stronger, When I can stand and not quake. Then my heart will roar, She will speak of all that is wrong, She will let all speak their pain, In the end all we have our truth. Lucy Lynam Keeping a clean house is a very honourable thing but when does it become too much? When two people have different standards of cleanliness they have to try to compromise. Which means meet halfway. Talk about the cleaning problem with your partner and keep the communication open in your relationship. Be honest and communicate. Encourage your partner to become more involved. Making a list like the grocery list the house cleaning list is the key. Don't compare your house to the neighbours’ or the relations’. Also letting your children get a free ticket and not giving them any jobs in the house is setting them up to huge problems when the go to college and have to share a house. All children need to learn to clean and tidy up after themselves. This will give you and your partner less stress. Take a deep breath and think of those that don't even have a house and have it worse. Claire Mulrooney, Co Offaly Starting afresh is never easy. I always felt that Sallyanne and Derry Clarke would do something else in the food world after closing the doors of L'Ecrivain. Their new venture sounds much more up my street and to be honest, it's the way dining is going. Casual is where it's at these days and it's so refreshing to hear they welcome children. So many places are just so family unfriendly in Ireland and actively discourage families from dining out together. I've always admired them as a couple, especially in how strong they have been after sadly losing their beloved son Andrew to suicide in 2012. They never shy away from talking about it and it helps those other families who have been devastated by the same tragedy. Wishing them the very best and how fab does Sallyanne look these days? June Jennings, Co Clare 50 WW8 Letters KOT2CCAMAK.indd 2 04/04/2023 19:37