FAMILY, HOME & WELLNESS FABULOUS STYLE HAVING A MOMENT BUDGET BAKES Lowdown €2000 + AMAZING PRIZES 52 Stress Busters GIN CHIN SEASONAL COCKTAILS WORTH IT Retail Therapy GLOW UP Flip the Script ON THE GREAT PINK BAKE OFF SWEET MADE IN OUR IRELAND CREATIVE THINKING SPECIAL ISSUE & BEAUTY PICKS DREAM BIG, ACT BOLD CREATIVE SPACES SWITCH IT UP SEASONAL Flip the Script Issue 20 September 25th 2023 €3.50 (NI stg £3)
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 MUM OF THE YEAR AWARDS FASHION & BEAUTY 54 Thrifty Bakes: Tasty meals that save big. 58 Great Gin-spiration: The best bartender cocktails. 61 Supercharge Your Diet: Recipes rich in vitamin K. 23 Beauty Faves: What the WW crew use on repeat. 24 Scar Wars: How to soften the effects of acne. 26 Lighting Up: Cosy Irish candles 28 Style Faves: Comfortable wardrobe. 30 Closet Psychology: Why we crave new clothes. 34 Small Changes: Budget-friendly updates for the home. 36 Let the Light in: How to brighten up dark rooms. 62 Budding Gardening Questions: From getting rid of slugs to overwatering. 64 Organic Gardening Tips: Eco-aware without the greenwash. 66 Shady Heroes: Plants for north-facing gardens. 8 Fraxel Laser: Win €500 in aesthetic treatments. 14 NOTE Cosmétique: Five €100 skincare hampers are up for grabs. 60 Storyderm: Bag yourself a €500 skincare hamper. 70 Polly & Andy: Win socks for the whole family. 4 Louise Lennox: The TV personality and pastry chef opens up about dyslexia and post-traumatic stress disorder. 16 Finding Herself: Meet fi nalist Lorraine O’Connor of the Muslim Sisters of Éire. 18 History Maker: Councillor Yemi Adenuga is a fi nalist. 10 MoodBoard: Creative spaces. 20 Think Outside the Box: What you need to be creative. 32 Child’s Play: Why adults need play time too. 74 Craving Creativity: Ways to unleash your talent. GET CREATIVE ISSUE 18 History Maker: Councillor Yemi Adenuga is a fi nalist. Mum of the Year Page 16 Mum of the Year Page 18 Louise Lennox Page 4 Small Changes Page 34 Shady Heroes Page 66 Supercharge Your Diet Page 61 Womans_way Online... Subscribe... 01 4569872 Facebook... facebook.com/womansway Twi er... Womans_way Subscribe... Facebook... 10 MoodBoard: Creative CREATIVE ISSUE
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. © 2023 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 TRAVEL REGULARS THE WW TEAM HEALTH & WELLBEING Niamh xx 38 The Treasures of Ethiopia: Norah Casey explores the beautiful and ancient landscape of the Land of Origins. 44 A Weekend in Nantes: A visit to France’s best-kept secret, the Puy du Fou theme park. 15 Season Feels: Deireadh Fómhair. 84 Symphony of Life: Opera singer Alfi e Boe on depression. 86 Blended Family Bliss: TV star Joe Swash opens up about his family life. 88 Inside a Booker’s Mind: Author Anne Enright’s thoughts on publishing. Publisher: Norah Casey Editor: Carissa Casey Deputy Editor: Niamh O’Reilly Contributing Editors: Astrid Madsen, Andrea Smith Art Director: Karl O’Toole Designers: Áine Duffy and Susan Conley Subscriptions: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Woman’s Way, October 9, 2023 Vol.61 Issue 20 76 Perimenopause 101: What it is and how to tackle it. 78 Stress Test: What the symptoms are. 80 Be Gynae Aware: Gynaecological cancers explained. 82 Memory Support: How to approach Alzheimer’s. 9 We Love: The WW team shares what they’re loving - and what they’re not. 46 The Hot List: Check out our top entertainment picks. 50 You Said It: Readers' letters and pictures. 52 Timeout: Take a break, try our quiz and Prize Crossword. 68 Knitting: Soft socks. 71 Horoscopes: What’s in the stars for you? 73 Ask Fiona: Our columnist answers reader dilemmas. 93 We Tried: Wreath-making class. 91 Lend a Hand: Ways to give back. 92 Quick Fire: Actor Brian Gilligan. 94 Why Is This a Thing: Halloween Madness. Hello, I’ve always considered myself a creative person. However, since I became a mum and have a lot less free time on my hands, I’ve had to learn to redefi ne what creativity means to me. It’s often no longer working on my long-held dream of writing a book, but instead fi nding creative ways to talk down my threenager and convince him to put his shoes on. Honestly, I think I could consider a career in hostage negotiation at this stage... In putting this issue together, what I’ve learned is that being creative doesn’t necessarily mean you have to make masterpieces. In reality, most of us channel our creativity through small acts each and every day. Whether we’re thinking creatively to solve daily problems or taking the plunge and trying something new, like a recipe, a class, a hobby, a sport, or simply shaking things up with our home décor or storage ideas, we are all creative beings in our own way. It’s something that is within us all. Ultimately though, creativity is a skill and like any skill it takes practice; so don’t be afraid to take a chance, make time and try something different. Some days you have to just park the judgement and celebrate the small wins, and some days you get to go the extra mile and take the road less travelled. Both are creative choices. The Treasures of Ethiopia Page 38 Be Gynae Aware Page 80 Symphony of Life Page 84 Why Is This a Thing Page 94
4 WOMANSWAY.IE Pink In the ‘Premier Dairies’ in the neonatal unit. So I began donating to the Milk Bank.” SUPPORTING OTHER MUMS Louise was diagnosed with PTSD a few years later after she developed mystery pains, and is very grateful that the cause was discovered. “If it hadn't been, I wouldn't have had my little girl because I was terrified of getting pregnant again in case the same thing happened,” she admits. “It went away as soon as she was born.” Louise donated six litres of her milk every week to the Milk Bank again, which supports premature and ill babies. She discovered milk is also given to mothers who have undergone treatment for breast cancer and are unable to breastfeed their babies. “That was something I had never thought of before,” says Louise. “It’s another thing that is taken away from you when cancer comes into your life.” As a result, Louise was delighted to become involved in the The Great Pink Bake Off during October, which aims to raise money for complimentary education and awareness "I wanted somebody to do DIY and he’s brutal at it, but luckily I'm really good,”she says, tongue firmly in cheek. Gordon proposed to Louise in Central Park, New York, a year to the day after their first date. They were married on the same date the following year. “I never believed in whirlwind romances until we had one,” she laughs. Now in her 40s, Louise is thrilled to be mum to Alex, a sweet, sensitive and creative child, and Lottie-Bow, who is all-singing and dancing and full of energy. The reason for the age gap is that Louise developed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after Alex was born at 30 weeks following a placental abruption. It was deeply traumatic, she recalls, as she didn’t even know if he was alive for the first hour. “It pushed me into a whole different world of neonatal units, where these tiny babies that are born fighting for their lives go,” she says. “I met a mother there who was so upset because she was trying to express milk and nothing was coming out. I felt guilty because I had so much milk, they nicknamed me With her fun, bubbly personality, it's no surprise that Louise Lennox was an instant hit when she appeared as the dessert chef on the celebrity cooking TV show, The Restaurant. Now a mum to Alex (9) and Lottie-Bow (3), her professional interests have expanded to work with children who are fussy eaters. In 2010, Louise met her husband, Gordon Hayden, producer of The Six O'Clock Show on Virgin Media One. It was at a ‘12 Pubs of Christmas’ get-together, and they got chatting around pub number 11. “I think he was the only sober male in the pub, and we really hit it off,” she says. “Everyone says that I'm the female version of Gordon and he’s the male version of me. I brought him four cakes on our first date, and he ate three of them there and then because he has a sweet tooth. I knew by our second date that we were going to get married and have kids. I had a list of what I wanted in my perfect person and Gordon ticked all but one of the boxes. TV personality and pastry chef Louise Lennox talks to Andrea Smith about dealing with dyslexia, post-traumatic stress disorder and fussy eaters.
IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 5 continues overleaf >>
6 WOMANSWAY.IE programmes all across the country. Aspiring bakers can download the Great Pink Bake Off Kit online from Breast Cancer Ireland, which includes cake-toppers, Bake Off posters, and a simple-tofollow eight-recipe booklet that Louise has been involved with. Then they invite friends, family members or colleagues to do the same, and set a date for their very own Bake Off. “I actually don't get as much time to bake as people think, so I was delighted to have an excuse to try new recipes, such as my Pink Chocolate Zebra Cake, “says Louise. “My son is going to make cakes and bring them into the teachers at school and get a donation from them. I’ve always loved pink - even my wedding shoes were pink - and I really like that the campaign is helping to educate people. I didn't know the eight signs of breast cancer myself, and have decided I’m going to go for a mammogram soon as the campaign has got me thinking about my own personal health.” FAMILY TIES Louise is from the Dublin suburb of Dundrum and has four siblings and two “amazing” parents. She was born into a family where the kitchen was the hub of the home and her love of food was honed from a very young age. When her engineer dad Don was made redundant back in the 1980s, her mum, Mairéad McEntee, started a business called Ardglas Paté, making Irish paté, which hadn't been made here before that. “She was the first woman in Ireland to receive an IDA grant, which was unheard of back then,” says Louise, proudly. “She was told by the men who made the decisions to go back and mind the kids, but she fought really hard for women in business.” Don’s family had one of the biggest poultry farms in Ireland, and Mairéad used to go there to get chicken livers. Louise recalls hanging around the factory as a small child and doing tasks to earn pocket money, like cutting the bile ducts out of the livers. Her favourite thing was the shrink-wrapping machine - you’d be closed down these days for letting a child use it, she laughs. Her dad was involved too as he built an extension onto the house for the business, prior to the company moving to a factory. He was also a great help in the start-up stages. Louise is dyslexic, as are all of her siblings, and she found primary school very tough as a result. “It was looked down on back then and you didn't want anyone to know as it was massively embarrassing,” she says. “We didn't even go to ‘special’ reading classes back then, as they were called remedial classes, and from a confidence point of view, it was awful. We had been privately assessed, but I only got formally assessed by an educational psychologist when I was a teenager because the waiting list was so long. “Louise is dyslexic, as are all of her siblings, and she found primary school very tough as a result”
IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 7 My son is also dyslexic and it’s still the case now.” Louise received a boost of confi dence when her fi fth-class teacher, Mr Banville, gave the class a reading assignment, and she brought in a cookbook. “The other kids thought this was hilarious and it crushed my confi dence,” she says. “My teacher said that to complete my assignment, I had to bake something from it. It was the only time in my life that I ran home to do my homework, but I was still a bit dubious, wondering, ‘What's the catch?’” The next day, Mr Banville cut up the cake she had made and shared it with the class. He told the other students that it takes a special person to see the world differently. “He said that we're all different and what I did with my book report was very unique, which gave me a confi dence that stayed with me,” says Louise. “The fuzzy feeling stayed with me when I was in secondary school and had no self-esteem or confi dence, and felt really low and that I wasn't good at anything. Mr Banville was years ahead as a teacher, looking at the individual child and building up their confi dence. Realising that you're good at something really comes when you get that outside validation, and it set me off into thinking that maybe a food career was something for me.” Louise was accepted onto the culinary arts course in Cathal Brugha Street after school, and really felt that her life began then as she was following her passion. It was very hands-on and she loved it, and she always had a fl air for pastry-cheffi ng. She worked in various places as a chef, but then grew unhappy after a few years as her desire for creative performance came to the fore. She started making cakes for farmers’ markets and then moved to produce cakes to sell at Airfi eld at Dundrum. She stayed for six years and it gave her great experience with people and sales. Louise received a boost when journalist Marie-Claire Digby bought her cakes and was so impressed she wrote an article about Louise in the Irish Times. A radio producer contacted her to do a piece after that, and because she was so fun and chatty, it led to Louise getting a job as the dessert chef on the RTÉ - and subsequently Virgin Media - show, The Restaurant. This has led to a great career in media that Louise has, in recent years, combined with motherhood and children's nutrition. The latter was inspired when Alex got croup when he was two. He suffered stomach cramps and lost his appetite and, despite Louise's best efforts, would only eat ten foods. It took a year to get him onto a hospital programme. This was a brilliant help, so Louise decided to go to the US to train with paediatric psychologists to understand the psychology of how children eat, as well as the sensory processing issues involved. “The whole area of fussy eating has become my world,” she says. Louise gives great tips on Instagram (@louiselennox) and is in the midst of launching her Fussy Eating Kids business, now that Lottie-Bow has started Montessori. “Baking is still a pleasure but I now work at helping people to make family and mealtimes less stressful and more meaningful and help them to help their kids,” she says. “I'm at a very exciting part of my life.” WW To register for the Great Pink Bake Off, visit breastcancerireland.com Louise and her son Alex The Restaurant's Stephen McAllister, Louise Lennox and Gary O'Hanlon with Nathan Carter Louise and Thomas Crosse are ambassadors for the Great Pink Bake Off
To enter, please answer the following question: THE FRAXEL LASER STIMULATES THE PRODUCTION OF COLLAGEN. TRUE OR FALSE? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by October 9 to: womansway@ harmonia.ie including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘River Medical 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. One lucky reader will win a €500 voucher for a Fraxel laser treatment that helps improve the appearance of your skin. Established in 2008, Ireland's leading aesthetics clinic, River Medical, is an expert and trusted provider of medical-grade Fraxel laser treatments. Fraxel is used to treat a variety of skin conditions, including wrinkles, pigmentation, laxity, scars and sun damage. The laser works by emitting short, high-energy pulses of light that penetrate the skin and stimulate the production of new collagen. This can help to improve the texture and tone of your skin, and reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles, scars and sun damage. With 15 years of experience, River Medical in Dublin is a highly trusted clinic with a most experienced medical team that provides advanced Fraxel laser treatments that will have you looking and feeling your best. To book a consultation with River Medical at 5 Herbert Place, Dublin 2, call 01 662 9106 or email [email protected] WIN A €500 FRAXEL LASER VOUCHER 8 WOMANSWAY.IE COMPETITION BEFORE TWO WEEKS AFTER BEFORE AFTER
We Love PASSION • CRAVES • MOOD PASSION WE LOVE WOMANSWAY.IE 9 Niamh l es Lighting the fi re. Nothing beats it for setting a cosy atmosphere on these darker evenings. I do not love emptying the ashes, however. Books and coffee. It’s the ultimate little slice of escapism and I just love it when I fi nd a café that has a selection of books to fl ick through. Andrea l es Interactive fun. We went to Chai Yo for a teppanyaki experience for my niece Abby's 18th birthday, and the chefs' fun demos and great musical act made for a brilliant afternoon. Mrs Brown's Boys. Lovely to see June Rodgers as brilliant new neighbour Birdie in the latest. series. Astrid l es Kids’ imaginations. Cardboard and glue, fabric, paper, stapler, paint, sewing needle, thread. It all somehow magically adds up to hours of play. Homemade desserts. Ice cream and meringue may not be the healthiest, but at least this concoction piles in the fruit. That’s a win in my book. So Into... Rugby World Cup Fever. It’s hard not to get caught up in it. Evening classes and choirs resuming. Perfect distractions during the colder months. Butter. The real stuff. Toast isn’t toast without it. Extended warranties. Literally fi ve hours on the phone and you’ve an appointment in a week. And you have to pay upfront. Seriously? Soggy lawns. It’s been too wet to mow, so the grass is now taller than a toddler. And the lawnmower can’t cope. Sigh. Kids' swimming lessons. It’s an hour of sweaty changing room chaos and is akin to the seventh circle of hell. Having to dry clothes indoors again. They're never as fresh or unwrinkled. So Over...
CREATE • CURATE • INSPIRE MOODBOARD MADE BY YOU PERLENFISCHER Broccoli Stamp €4.40, visit perlenfi scherdesign.de Why not design your own stationery or place cards with these award-winning stamp designs. The set comes with a wooden cone made of beech (unpainted), and the rubber stamp is mounted on a resilient foam layer. VIVA DECOR Glitter Glass Pens €2.35 (each), visit viva-decor.com Nudge your creativity with these glittering practical pens to create your own unique design fl ourishes that sparkle with brilliance. THE DEN KIT COMPANY The Natural Fabric Art Kit €28.51, thedenkitco.com Create your own original fabric designs using these four absorbing, ancient techniques, and nature as your muse. Includes plant dye paints, brushes and all you need to create your masterpiece. HAND AND LOCK The Peculiar Paradise Embroidery Kit €87.27, visit handembroideryshop.com Inspired by the fl ora and fauna from the natural world, this kit comes in three designs that are bursting with colour and creativity. STITCH HAPPY Retro Daisies Embroidery Craft Kit €29.09, visit stitchhappy.co.uk These beautiful ecoconscious kits use certifi ed organic cotton, a great gift for a crafter with a conscience, but why not give it a go yourself if you’re a novice. YELLOW OCTOPUS Petal The Unicorn Sewing Kit in a Tin €14.34, visit yellowoctopus.com.au Just what you always wanted (or the little one in your life), use the magic of creativity to make your very own unicorn. Petal the Unicorn is ready and waiting to come to life, and all you have to do is sew her together. MADE BY YOU 10 WOMANSWAY.IE CREATIVE SPACES Creativity is one of the greatest allies in staying young at heart and mind. It’s one of the most important muscles to exercise, with heaps of science about the youthful energy and mindset of those who embrace their inner playful child and stay curious. However, it is not always that easy in our busy lives and I have learned that the environment I live and work in can help nudge those little creative sparks. This isn’t about writing epic novels or painting like a grandmaster, embracing creativity is often more about seeing things differently, discovering the joy and appreciation of beautiful things and being adventurous of spirit. My home is a haven to wonderful craft and design, almost everything that matters is made by hand and the art on my walls reminds me of wonderful holidays or the moment in time when that painting spoke to me. As I am writing this, I am surrounded by books and sculptures and little memory trinkets, and when I let my mind wander, I fi nd myself gazing at one of those little creative nuggets that transport me to another time and almost always make me smile. So putting together this mood board was a joy in itself, as I wondered what little additions might provide that creative spark for others? Here are my picks to inspire your creative mindset. Enjoy. WW
GOOD KARMA DECOR Cowrie Shells Placemat (4) €92.13, visit goodkarmadecor.com Round rattan placemats with a beautiful cowrie shell detail around the edge to remind you of seaside rambles. Handcrafted by local Indonesian artisans so there may be slight variations to refl ect their uniqueness, but you'll love them anyway. CREATIVE TABLES ABIGAIL BORG Freida Mint Coaster Set (4) €18.60, visit abigailborg.com These are a lovely way of boosting your creativity while enjoying a morning cuppa, the practicality of protecting your surfaces perfectly matched by the joy of gazing at these patterned decorative coasters hand drawn by Abigail Borg. QUBE LUXE Exotic Sunset Tablescape €450.04, visit qubeluxe.com Inspired by an Exotic Sunset, this show-stopping tablescape set features vibrant colours, bold lines, and a unique design with pops of colour. It may seem pricey, but the set includes everything you need to create a dream table including lanterns, fl oral sprays, candles, runners, vases, napkin rings and glasses. GINGER RAY Gold Wreath Place Card Holders (4) €6.97, visit gingerray.co.uk Dress your table in style with these quirky and glitzy place card holders. Seating family and friends at the perfect place around your table helps make a meal special and fi lled with chatter. CREATIVE WALLS LIME LACE Northia Wallpaper €68.65, visit limelace.co.uk Drawing inspiration from nature, Northia has been created to replicate the look and feel of linen, with delicate metallic highlights that give almost a 3D effect. Bring a little magic and light into your space. INTERIORS ATELIER IA Botanicals Collection Carrot Print €125, visit interiorsatelier.ie Enjoy the fruits of other creatives with this Giclée fi ne art botanical print custom framed in black. Perfect for kitchen inspiration. WALLBOSS Winter Trees Wall Stickers €80.28, visit wallboss.co.uk Wall stickers are having a moment in interiors and these contemporary winter trees with colourful birds have a quirky uneven thorny appearance making them perfect for creating a wintery scene in a little corner of your home. By Norah Casey Continued overleaf >> MOODBOARD WOMANSWAY.IE 11
12 WOMANSWAY.IE THE DESIGN GIFT SHOP Log Bowls (Canadian Loyal Loot Collective) €116.57, visit thedesigngiftshop.com Far beyond the ordinary, each one a piece of art, these fantastic log bowls combine the incomparable beauty of trees in their natural state with a high gloss vibrant fi nish. And, they still smell of forest when you unpack them. They are all locally reclaimed from fallen trees and created by local craftspeople. ANNABEL JAMES Circular Test Tube Vase €110.48, visit annabeljames.co.uk Create your own fl oral arrangement with this scientifi c inspired centrepiece of interlinking test tubes. Pop a candle in the middle and fi ll the tubes with a selection of seasonal blooms and your table is ready. MADE BY HAND ONLINE Creative Juices Apothecary Bottle €41.77, visit madebyhandonline.com Get your creative juices fl owing with this individually etched glass apothecary bottle with ground glass stopper. Ideal for storing all manner of things… who said gin? HAND CRAFTED APRIL AND THE BEAR Cushions from €33GRÁ and For Feck's Sake Art Prints €50, visit aprilandthebear.com This great little interiors shop at 213 Rathmines Road Lower in Dublin 6 is Siobhan Lam's. She collaborates with lettering artist Rachel Joy Price to create these distinctly Irish accessories. Drop in for a browse or check them out online. COPPERFISH Blasket Table Lamp €245, visit copperfish.ie The Blasket table lamp is small in stature but don't let that fool you! It is a proud little lamp, having spent most of its life on an uninhabited steep rocky island west of the Dingle Peninsula since the 1900s. SHADY AND THE LAMP Larch Green Silk Fringed Tiffany Lampshade €475, visit shadyandthelamp.ie This artisanal lighting brand renowned for creating bold and beautifully crafted lampshades designed by Sarah O’Dea makes eclectic shades with an off-beat edge. Specialist in hand-stitched lampshades with fabrics and frames made to last and cherished for years to come. stopper. Ideal for storing all manner of things… who for creating bold and beautifully crafted lampshades designed by Sarah O’Dea makes eclectic shades with an off-beat edge. Specialist in hand-stitched lampshades with fabrics and frames made to last and cherished for years to come. COPPERFISH Blasket Table Lamp The Blasket table lamp is small in stature but don't let that fool you! It is a proud little lamp, having spent most of its life on an uninhabited steep rocky island west of the Dingle visit shadyandthelamp.ie This artisanal lighting brand renowned SHADY AND THE LAMP Larch Green Silk Fringed Tiffany Lampshade €475, CROP CANDLE Rain, Grass, Bluebell Candles €16 (each), visit chalkandeasel.ie Perfumer Lucy Hegarty's range of CROP Irish Candles are inspired by the beautiful landscape and natural surroundings of her farm in Ballinspittle, Co Cork. These refreshing scents capture some of the beautiful aromas experienced on a walk through the Irish countryside. MADE IN IRELAND CONNEMARA CARPETS Wildfl ower Runner (Made to Order), visit connemaracarpets.ie The dramatic essence of a fi eld of wild buttercups in full bloom brought indoors in pure new wool, individually handcrafted by the master craftspeople of Connemara Carpets. It may set you back a bit but these incredible crafters have created traditional hand-made, hand-tufted carpets and rugs for palaces, presidential homes and parliament buildings, including the famous blue carpet in the Dáil. HEDGEROE HOME Moss Wreath €65, visit hedgeroe.com This interior lifestyle brand is inspired by the signature style and design of founder Rhona and her daughter Rebecca Roe. I lose lots of time browsing their site and I love this earthy mossy wreath, which is a great alternative to the overly-themed Halloween and Christmassy offerings.
MOODBOARD WOMANSWAY.IE 13 CRYSTALS & CO Green Double Drop Earrings €59, visit kilkennydesign.com CRYSTALS & CO Green Double Creative Style Some lovely creative pieces by Irish designers to add a li le fl air to what you wear. STASH Petite Ruffle Headband (COCO) Irish designed by Kyna Maree €34.50, visit stash.ie RUDDIES & CO Chicken Fillet Roll Necklace; Sure Look Be Grand Necklaces €26(each), visit ruddiesandco.ie ADARE WOOLLENS Mohair Cap By Donegal Designs €32, adarewoollens.com THE STABLE Irish Linen Scarf in Green Check (Regular) €140, visit stableofireland.com ORLA KIELY Carryall Large Tote in Atomic Flower (Khaki) €179.95, visit orlakiely.com JUVI Coba Ring €129, visit juvidesigns.com AOIFE MCNAMARA Rose Co Ord Trousers €190, visit aoifemcnamara.com
NOTE Cosmétique is giving away fi ve makeup hampers worth €100 each, with products to give you everything you need to create voluminous lashes, fl awless brows, amazing eye looks and a perfect pout. NOTE Cosmétique has created innovative, super long-wearing affordable products with these latest launches that are sure to become musthaves in your makeup bag. From Volume One Touch Waterproof Mascara (€11.95 / £9.95) to Boosting Lash Primer (€8.95 / £7.50) to Banana Setting Powder (€8.95 / £7.95) and Baked Blusher (€9.95 / £8.95) there are some real hero products to this new collection. Launched in 2014, NOTE Cosmétique is a beauty brand that encourages us all to stop and notice beauty. NOTE recognises the beauty in every day and invites its customers all over the world to take note of it, too. NOTE Cosmétique infuses its formulas with enhancing ingredients, such as natural oils and vitamins for the wellbeing of your skin. All of its products are PETA cruelty-free certifi ed, halalcertifi ed and paraben-free. COMPETITION 14 WOMANSWAY.IE To enter, please answer the following question: WHEN WAS NOTE COSMÉTIQUE LAUNCHED? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by October 9 to: womansway@ harmonia.ie including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The NOTE Cosmétique 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. A €100 Makeup Hamper
SEASON FEELS By Carissa Casey WOMANSWAY.IE 15 Leffl ing Go It’s time to take some cues from nature and prepare to enjoy the snuggling-down season. We’re approaching Deireadh Fómhair or end of harvest, that time of year when we say goodbye to the growing season. All around us, the natural world is beginning to settle down to rest over the winter months. For centuries, Homo sapiens slowed down as winter approached. It was important to conserve energy, and eke out food supplies and heating sources for the cold dark days ahead. We’ve moved beyond that way of life now, perhaps too far. In this electrifi ed, digitised, open-all-hours universe we have created, we still need time for rest and refl ection, to draw back from distraction and settle into our internal world. Spending time in nature at this time can help us shift away from mindless distraction and become more comfortable with our own need to slow down. This truly is the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. The sun is low in the sky, setting the kaleidoscope of colours in the trees ablaze. Flocks of birds are taking fl ight and fallen leaves rustle on the ground. In the orchard, the last fruits are picked from the trees. The days are noticeably shorter, with dusk now falling closer to 7pm. The temperature too is falling and the earth is growing colder. The seeds that have fallen need that period of cold in order to germinate in spring. They have to remain dormant for a time and will sprout only when the earth warms again and the dormancy is broken. These periods of rest are important for humans too, not just for recuperation but in order to allow ideas and future plans to incubate within us. The boredom of long evenings creates space for our creativity to fl ourish. There’s a hint of sadness too in the air. We know we are enjoying the last rays of summer and it can be hard to let that go as the evenings draw in. We’ve passed the autumn equinox, the days are going to get shorter and shorter from here on. It’s in our DNA to feel some anxiety about the winter. In times past, we worried if we had enough food and heating to survive till spring. Now we worry about heating bills. So it’s important to follow nature’s lead and, like the hedgehogs burrowing down into cosy nests, create a comfortable space where we can relax and let go. Change into our PJs, light some candles and curl up on the couch. It’s time to rest. WW
16 WOMANSWAY.IE FACING CHALLENGES Unfortunately for Lorraine however, she was about to face a very different reality. “I’d become a Muslim and then three months later the marriage broke down and it ended in divorce. So here I was as a new Muslim with four young children." It was tough going, but Lorraine found that her faith sustained her through it all. She was determined to stick it out, although it wasn’t without challenges. “Two storms were coming,” she recalls. “I lost my identity as Lorraine from Coolock and suddenly I became an immigrant in my own country,” she says. “How was I going to put a hijab on my head and then all of a sudden integrate back into my own community?” she recalls. “Secondly, I was also a new Muslim in that community. It was very hard.” To make matters worse, Lorraine was the victim of Islamophobia. “My tyres were slashed, I was verbally abused, physically abused, and told to go back to where I came from, and that I didn’t belong in this country. I would say, ‘Well I am home, where do you want me to go, to Coolock?’ It was a battle.” Lorraine weathered the storms however. She went back to education and completed Women's Studies in University College Dublin (UCD). She met her second husband and admits she found a sense of happiness she’d not had before. “I felt like I’d found myself, I felt empowered, and I felt proud of myself.” Lorraine decided she wanted to do more, so she went about setting up a women’s group, one that had autonomy to do its own thing. “I knew I wanted it to be independent and not affi liated with any mosque. I wanted this organisation to be made up of women whose voices were all equal and whose ideas were all equal. So myself and a friend threw a few cent in the kitty, which was an empty coffee cup, and we started with coffee mornings.” Those coffee mornings soon sprouted into a large organisation (MSOÉ) with Woman's Way and Beko Mum of the Year fi nalist Lorraine O’Connor might be the head of a large Irish charity, but she tells us why she’s still just Lorraine from Coolock. something else out there.” After doing lots of research, Lorraine decided to convert to Islam in 2005 and insists it was a very personal decision for her. “For me, it was the completion of what I was looking for.” Herself Finding Every Friday evening, members of the Muslim Sisters of Éire (MSOÉ) feed those in need in front of Dublin’s historic GPO. What started off as a small charitable idea has become a huge success, in many ways mirroring the life of the woman behind it all, Lorraine O’Connor. When Lorraine left school at 14, she never imagined that one day she’d be responsible for helping the lives of hundreds of people. She set up the MSOÉ in 2010 after converting to Islam in 2005. “We’ve been doing the soup run for seven years now and it’s amazing, it’s taken on a life of its own. We have a whole team,” she explains. “It starts on Wednesday with orders coming in and orders going out, sleeping bags, tents, hygiene packs. We’re a HSE-registered soup run, so we are all Garda-vetted and fi rst-aid responders, etc. It’s not just making a few sandwiches.” The proud Coolock native was raised in a traditional Catholic household and was adamant she was not going to change her religion just because she married a Muslim man in 1987. “I wouldn’t have called myself a strong Catholic, but I was strong on the beliefs that you were raised in,” she says. For Lorraine, the road to her conversion actually began many years before. “I always say your past makes you who you are today and certain chapters in your past are bringing you to the path of your future,” she refl ects. “I visited Lourdes in 1993 and that was an amazing spiritual opening for me. It didn’t give me exactly what I was looking for, but it gave me a sense of
MUM OF THE YEAR FINALIST WOMANSWAY.IE 17 By Niamh O’Reilly • If you’d like to nominate someone for Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year Awards please email us on [email protected] and tell us why. Please include photographs and any supporting material. many strands. Chief amongst them was the idea of empowering all women and fi nding common ground. “In 2012, we had our fi rst conference and I brought Muslim and non-Muslim speakers in,” she explains. “The common factor is that we are all women. I wanted to break down the barriers between us and connect us. We shouldn’t have a disconnect because of a language barrier, a veil, or a religion, we are all women, and we all strive for the same things.” POSITIVE IMPACT As well as charity work, helping the next generation of girls is another main pillar for the MSOÉ. Lorraine’s daughter, Jameela, works with her now as the group’s youth coordinator. “We did a sixweek summer project with migrant girls this year,” Lorraine explains. “Giving them that step they might not otherwise have taken. We went ziplining, kayaking, gokarting, hiking, picnics, it was brilliant.” MSOÉ also does school talks and is in nine schoolbooks. “Imagine that,” she beams. “An Irish Muslim women's organisation being in school books.” There’s no doubt that what started out as Lorraine’s own personal journey has gone on to have a powerful wider impact, but does she ever sit back and think about how much she’s achieved? “No,” she retorts quickly, “and I tell you why. The day I start saying look at what I’ve achieved, is the day I'm not in this for the right reasons,” she insists. “I’m in this for charity, for compassion and I’m hoping in the next life. all the rewards will come to me there. I feel like I’m just a channel for women to do good and I couldn’t do any of this without the other amazing women behind me.” WW Lorraine and the team at the soup run Lorraine doing a talk Lorraine O'Connor founder and chairperson of The Muslim Sisters of É ire, pictured outside Dublin's GPO on O'Connell Street
18 WOMANSWAY.IE migrant family, for me it spoke volumes about the kind of Ireland I would love to see, where we stop using the word migrant at some stage for people who have lived here for years, and you start to feel like this is home,” says Yemi. PUTTING DOWN ROOTS Home has been at the forefront of Yemi’s mind since fi rst moving to Ireland in 2000. After living in Dublin for a few years, she headed to Navan and admits she fell in love with it. She was passionate about making this a solid base for her kids and to have the name Adenuga have a lasting connection to Navan. “If someone asks you where you’re from, often, they say ‘do you know the so-and-sos from there?’" she says. "That’s where everything about your family is rooted from and that doesn’t happen by magic. If I was going to live in this town, I wanted to build a base for my kids. If people asked them, ‘where are you from?’ I wanted them to say, as new Irish people, who were born here, I’m from Navan.” Yemi threw herself into community work, giving talks in schools and volunteering for all sorts of initiatives. It might sound like no surprise then that she decided to take a chance and run for offi ce in 2019. But you’d be wrong. “When I was fi rst asked to run for the council I said no,” she recalls. “I come originally from Nigeria, and I had this mindset of what politics is,” she says. “People don’t like politicians. Even in Ireland you hear people say things about politicians, so I didn’t want people to turn against me. I’d done too much good work to smear that.” However, after the Fine Gael National Secretary asked to meet her, Yemi realised much of what she was doing was already aligned with being a public representative. “I told him, ‘look I don’t really know politics’, but he said ‘you know people Yemi and that’s what we need’.” The campaign was a daunting prospect, however. If she took the seat, she’d be making history as Ireland's fi rst female black councillor and she’d be opening herself up to an even higher level of Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year fi nalist and mum-of-four, Yemi Adenuga, became the fi rst female black councillor to be elected in Ireland in 2019. I f Yemi Adenuga looks a little familiar, that’s probably because she is. An active force of nature in the local community since she fi rst moved to Navan in 2004, the now Fine Gael councillor and her family were the fi rst migrant family to appear on Virgin Media’s Gogglebox Ireland. Although before appearing on the show, Yemi admits she’d never even seen it before. The mum with children ranging in ages from 14 to 30, as well as grandchildren, wasn’t hugely keen on the idea of a reality-style television show. However, when TV producers were looking for a migrant family to take part, the Adenugas' name kept coming up again and again. An integral part of the local community since they arrived, their good reputation was mainly down to Yemi’s eagerness to put down roots. “I volunteered for anything and everything and I think that’s how I became known. I was literally the fi rst to put my hand up,” she recalls. While Yemi may not have been initially keen on Gogglebox, the family gave it a go and were a huge hit with viewers. The validation meant a lot. “Especially as a History maker
MUM OF THE YEAR FINALIST WOMANSWAY.IE 19 By Niamh O’Reilly • If you’d like to nominate someone for Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year Awards please email us on [email protected] and tell us why. Please include photographs and any supporting material. scrutiny. While her good work in the community stood to her, she met her fair share of negativity on the campaign trail. “I had a lot of doors slammed in my face and some people said things like ‘you’re taking our jobs and now you want to take over our politics’.” Yemi recalled one man in a shopping centre who questioned her basic intelligence. “Part of me thought he’s saying this because I’m a woman, but also you know what someone means by the way they say it. He asked me where I came from, do we speak English there and that my English was not bad. It was all so condescending,” she recalls. Keeping calm under pressure is one of Yemi’s strengths however and as someone who is led by her values, she puts a huge amount of weight in respect. RESPECT “Respect for me cuts two ways. First, I respect people regardless of whether they respect me back or not. That’s the power of respect. But of course, when someone like that man in the shopping centre becomes so condescending, my human instinct was to wrap him up in a ball and throw him against the wall,” she laughs. “That’s me being a human being,” she explains, “but because I have values, I stood there and let him fi nish and I said ‘well, we’ll see what people will say at the polls. And I hope they will see me “I respect people regardless of whether they respect me back or not. That’s the power of respect.” worthy enough to serve them’. That was my answer to him and I walked away.” The people did see her worthy enough and in 2019 she was voted in. Since then, she’s felt the weight of expectation and felt the pressure to represent not just Navan, but migrants too. “Sometimes I have to say, ‘look I’m a local councillor representing the town of Navan, I’m not the taoiseach’.” Watch this space however, as she has said she may run in the General Election next year. Regardless of her political pathway, for Yemi the most important thing has been family and making a home, and with the Adenugas now part of the fabric of Navan, she’s done that and so much more. WW Yemi and her family Meath Travellers workshop Cleaning up Navan Rampart
20 WOMANSWAY.IE S omeone asked me recently what I do in my spare time to be creative. After giggling about the idea of having spare time, I tried to come up with an answer and I was left a bit stumped. I offered up things like pottering in the garden occasionally, baking with the kids or blogging. None of them really rang true. It was all a bit of an eye-opener, because I’ve always considered myself a creative person. But what happens when the treadmill of daily life and endless tasks gets in the way of your creative side? Does that mean you’re no longer a creative person? When we think about creativity, often we imagine artists, authors or musicians. People who have a genuine creative talent that results in something tangible. In order to tap into that, many of us try joining art classes or get into crafts, safe in the knowledge that in doing so, we are expressing our creative side with something at the end to put on a shelf or hang on a wall. I struggle to draw a stick person and while I love the idea of crafts, I’m just not very good at it. So how do I tap into my creative side with limited time and energy on my side? The truth is that being creative comes in all shapes and forms. It’s not limited to artistic talents and it’s not dependent on the outcome either. You can throw paint at a canvas and have it look like a total mess at the end and that’s still a creative You don’t have to be a creative genius to be creative, in fact, as Niamh O’Reilly fi nds out, it all starts with thinking differently. OUTSIDE THE BOX act. You can bake cupcakes that look like a shovel of ‘you know what’, but they still taste great. You can come up with a creative way to plan your weekly meals or store your clothes and you’re still being creative. We need to think differently about what creativity is and understand that colouring outside the lines is not a bad thing. For most people, it’s found in small acts each day, like solving problems creatively or doing something they love, regardless of talents. CREATIVE SOLUTIONS Author Caz Mooney (@irishbudgeting) is one such person. After looking for ways to save money on the household budget, she came up with a creative solution that has changed her life. “There were times when we were struggling fi nancially that I had to become creative with our budget, but one time in particular stood out,” she recalls. “It was the day before payday, we had nothing left in the fridge or cupboards and so I had to fi nd the money to buy something for dinner. I looked everywhere, in drawers, under cushions – completely turned the house upside down. I counted the coins I had found, and I had just under €5. That was all I had to make dinner,” she explains. “I get so emotional when I think of that moment, because we were truly struggling and stuck in a paycheque-topaycheque cycle where that week before payday each month was miserable.” Caz began documenting the idea of feeding fi ve people for €5 in videos on social media. The idea struck a chord with people who began to do the very same. A year later, she and her husband had saved enough to get the keys of their own home. Her book, Caz Mooney's Budgeting Planner, €18.99, has gone on to help countless other families to save too. Caz’s small creative solution to a problem shows the potential of creative thinking. But many people can still fi nd it hard to tap into it. “I think the biggest issue is that many people are waiting OUTSIDE THE BOX Think Caz Mooney
MINDSET WOMANSWAY.IE 21 for some marvellous idea to just pop into their head, when in reality most amazing ideas are simple,” she stresses. “Some ideas aren’t even different, there may already be someone doing your idea, you just may have thought of a way to do it better.” CREATIVE VISION It's easy to assume that creative people like artists don’t need to think creatively as all they need is their natural talents. But you’d be wrong. Pop-up artist Audrey Hamilton never set out to be an artist, but she has made her hobby into her full-time job. When her close friend and ambassador for Breast Cancer Ireland, Georgie Crawford, was looking for ways to raise money during lockdown, Audrey got creative. “I had painted KOKO, a koala bear, in February 2020 to raise money for WWF Australia,” she recalls. “So I said why don’t I paint a colourful picture of boobs to try and raise some funds for Breast Cancer Ireland? We sold out of FEMME in a week and raised over €21,000.” This year she’s used her creative thinking again to come up with a new way to use the artwork to raise funds. FEMME will be projected in huge displays onto buildings around Dublin, Kilkenny and Cork, getting the conversation going about breast health and breast cancer awareness. An added creative touch is that people can scan a QR code on the projections and sign up to take part in the Very Pink Run in aid of Breast Cancer Ireland. Audrey’s advice to those looking to get more creative is not to focus on the outcome or so-called level of talent. “Your creative fl air could be completely different to someone else’s, there are no rules to creativity,” she insists. “If you have a hobby that you love, but never fi nd the time to do it, try and put 30 minutes aside a day to let yourself explore that passion. You never know where that hobby could take you. My hobby is now my full-time job.” WW Audrey Hamilton
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
BEAUTY Eco Tan Let’s face it, there’s a lot of packaging and waste in the beauty industry, so I love the idea of a sustainable tanning product. BPerfect Cosmetics’ 10 Second Tan €25.95 now has a Refill Pouch €18.95 so you can be eco-friendly by reusing the bottle. It comes in two shades - Medium Coconut and Dark Watermelon - and feels good on the skin, thanks to moisturising ingredients like aloe vera, green tea extracts and vitamins A and E. I’m not into faffi ng about for hours waiting for tans to develop, so I love that this tan dries in a fl ash and gives instant coverage. Really super Ever since menopause gifted me a fl aking scalp and frizzy hair, I’ve been looking for something to sort my mop out. I heard great things about Sobe Brown’s Superfood €38, sobebrown.com, a hair and scalp oil created by the lovely Pamela Morrissey, salon owner and resident hair expert on RTE’s Today show. The blend of clary sage, ashwagandha, rosewood, bergamot, frankincense, ylang ylang and lavender smells divine, and it nourishes and feeds your hair and scalp. It also stimulates hair growth and helps with hair loss. After using it for a couple of weeks, my scalp was sorted out and my hair was shiny and much smoother. I’m delighted. Cherry-picked My favourite fl ower is the cherry blossom, or sakura, but sadly it only blooms for a few short weeks each year. I love the scent of it, which is why I was thrilled when my pal Rita introduced me to Rituals ‘The Ritual of Sakura’ Nourishing Hair & Body Mist €19.50, boots.ie. It’s made from cherry blossom and rice milk and it smells gorgeous when I spritz it on. I can now bring the essence of my beloved fl ower with me wherever I go, and pretend it's spring, even in the depths of winter. What are the products the Woman’s Way crew use on repeat? In this issue, Andrea Smith shares a few of her new favourites. WOMANSWAY.IE 23 Darkness be gone As I have pesky dark circles under my eyes, I have to use concealer to try to even my skin tone. I’m currently using the L.A. Girl Pro Concealer €9.95 in lavender under the range’s regular concealer to brighten my skin. I know the purple hue looks scary, but trust me, it does a great job of hiding unwanted darkness, redness and imperfections. It also blurs fi ne lines and has a crease-resistant formula that gives natural-looking coverage. There are loads of shades in the range to choose from, as well as other correctors like peach, green, yellow and orange. HotPicks As I have pesky dark circles under my eyes, I have to use concealer to try to even my skin tone. I’m currently using the L.A. in lavender under the range’s regular concealer to I know the purple hue looks scary, but trust me, it does a great job of hiding unwanted darkness, redness and imperfections. It also blurs fi ne lines and has a crease-resistant formula that gives natural-looking coverage. There are loads of shades in the range Fresh as a daisy I love the idea of using creams and balms made with foraged native Irish wild weeds. I have psoriasis on my hands, which has left them rough and scarred, so I tried out some healing products from Forager Skincare, made by herbalist and skincare-maker, Feebee Foran. Her Forager Daisy Balm €16- €19.95, forager.ie, is made from locally-picked wild daisies, organic beeswax and olive oil and you can choose from two soothing essences, Sweet Orange or Lavender. My hands are loving the balm, which is really soothing and healing, and the texture of my skin has greatly softened and improved. WW
24 WOMANSWAY.IE How can you get rid of acne scars? From serums to laser treatments, experts talk through the options. SCARWARS
BEAUTY By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor As if dealing with painful, pus-fi lled spots wasn’t bad enough, often those pesky pimples don’t just disappear completely. Acne can leave a scar – anything from a faint red mark to a signifi cant dent in the skin. And while some of these residual blemishes fade away fast, others are harder to get rid of, but there are various at-home and clinic options to help diminish the signs of acne and pimple scarring. Here, dermatology experts talk through the options… Why does acne cause scarring? When pores become clogged and infected, a spot forms, leading to infl ammation, which is the main cause of acne scarring. “Because of the injury that occurs with increased infl ammation and pus, it causes damage to the dermis [the middle layer of the skin],” says Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, medical consultant and KeloCote skin ambassador. “When damage occurs to the dermis, that heals with some form of scarring. Scarring can be red if you’re a lighter skin type, or brown if you’re a darker skin type.” The amount of infl ammation often determines how severe the scar will be. However, genetics can also play a role, as well as other factors. WOMANSWAY.IE 25 “It can also be caused by squeezing or picking at the spots,” says Dr Rabia Malik, GP and holistic aesthetic doctor, which is why it’s important to avoid popping your pimples. “If the way you extract the spot isn’t done properly, you may stress or tear the skin and permanently damage the tissue, leaving behind scarring.” What are the diff erent types of acne scars? Acne scarring can generally be separated into two main categories: hypertrophic and atrophic. “Hypertrophic and keloid scars are thick lumpy scars,” says Malik. “Atrophic scars are fl at shallow depressions that are commonly caused by cystic acne.” There are three main types of the latter, she explains: “Boxcar scars have defi ned edges that are wide and box-like and are commonly found on the lower cheeks and jaw. Rolling scars vary in depth and make the skin appear uneven. Ice pick scars are narrow indentations that are commonly found on the cheeks.” There is a difference between scarring and post-acne pigmentation, however. “Often people think the pigmentation left behind is also scarring, but technically speaking, it isn’t,” says Dr Christine Hall, aesthetics doctor at the Taktouk Clinic. “It’s the body’s response to having the injury in the skin, and your body produces and sends melanin to the skin’s surface. It’s the pigment in our skin that also causes us to have a tan.” Skincare solutions Finding the most suitable skincare solution for you can depend on your individual needs. When it comes to mild or moderate scarring however, Ejikeme says: “Skincare is defi nitely the fi rst step.” She recommends serums and face creams that contain niacinamide or retinoids: “They increase collagen production, they’re more likely to improve the texture of the skin.” Alpha and beta hydroxy acids, which usually come in serum, gel or liquid form (applied with a cotton pad) can also be effective for skin renewal. “Ingredients such as azelaic acid, lactic acid and salicylic acid encourage cell turnover and, as a result, diminish the appearance of acne scars,” Malik says. “Treatment can vary and some people may need prescription grade medication to treat their acne and thereby prevent scarring.” Aesthetic treatments For more severe scarring, you may want to consult your GP, a dermatologist or specialist aesthetic practitioner to discuss possible treatments. “Microneedling helps to stimulate collagen and smooth out scars,” says Hall. “Laser resurfacing treatments can also be helpful and chemical peels can help remove some of the damaged skin layers.” “Dermal fi llers can be used on atrophic scars to temporarily reduce the appearance of scars that are signifi cantly depressed,” says Malik. Fillers can also be used on pitted scars. Be sure to seek professional advice to determine the appropriate treatment for different types of scarring. “Microneedling is not known to work for ice pick scars, for example,” says Ejikeme. “And if you have a keloid scar, there are very few lasers that you should be doing because the more you agitate a keloid scar, the more likely that scar is to grow.” If you have ongoing acne, it’s important to fi nd an effective skincare routine or get medical treatment to prevent further scarring. “There are lots of things your GP can do to help prevent spots from appearing in the fi rst place,” says Hall. “If you are developing acne scarring, the GP can help or refer you to a dermatologist.” WW different types of scarring. “Microneedling is not known to work for ice pick scars, for example,” says Ejikeme. “And if you have a keloid scar, there are very few lasers that you should be doing because the more you agitate a keloid scar, the more likely that scar is to grow.” If you have ongoing acne, it’s important to fi nd an effective skincare routine or get medical treatment to prevent further scarring. “There are lots of things your GP can do to help prevent spots from appearing in the fi rst place,” says Hall. “If you are developing acne scarring, the GP can help By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor or refer you to a dermatologist.” Purifide by Acnecide PostBreakout Serum €19.49 Q+A Niacinamide Daily Toner €9.95 Eucerin DermoPurifyer Triple Effect Serum €15 Glow Hub The Scar Slayer Facial Serum €16.96 cloud10beauty.com IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Breakout Serum €27 E.l.f Cosmetics Youth Boosting Advanced Night Retinoid Serum €23 Teoxane Brightening Night Peel €69 Kelo-Cote Scar Treatment Gel €39.99 8 SUPER SERUMS AND KEY INGREDIENTS TO TRY
26 WOMANSWAY.IE Who says a lovely candle isn’t a beauty product? Lighting up Dark evenings call for candles. The soft light and delicate scent of a beautiful candle can turn an otherwise dreary night into something special. We’re blessed to have a wide array of brilliant candle-makers in this country. Here’s our pick of some of the best Irish candles to light up your life this autumn.
BEAUTY By Carissa Casey WOMANSWAY.IE 27 1 D8 Candle Co Nighty Night Candle €33.50, visit d8designco.com 2 This Makes Scents Sage & Sea Salt Candle €22, visit thismakesscentscandles.ie 3 Irish Botanicals Blooming Bluebells €16.95, visit irishbotanicals.com 4 Cuimhne Wild Rose Leitrim Candle €19.95, visit cuimhnecandles.com 5 FieldDay Linen Candle €24.95, visit fi elddayireland.co.uk 6 Twelve Bens Candle from €11, visit theirishchandler.com 7 Tipperary Crystal Rosemary & Lavender Candle €14, visit tipperarycrystal.ie 8 Celtic Candles Recharge Aromapot Tumbler €18.95, visit celticcandles.ie 9 Duffy Scott Cashmere & Pearls Candle €11.99, visit duffyscott.com 10 Purcell & Woodcock Pink Pomelo & Grapefruit €24, visit purcellandwoodcock.com 11 Somas Oakwood and Musk Candle €33, visit somasstudio.com 12 Handmade Soap Company Lemongrass and Cedarwood Candle €20, visit thehandmadesoapcompany.ie13 Soilse Apothecary Candle €20.50, visit soilsecandlecompany.ie 14 Candella Pomegranate Candle €28, visit candella.ie 15 Moth to a Flame Silk Moth Scented Candle €15, visit mothtoafl ame.ie 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15
28 WOMANSWAY.IE STYLE FAVES Contributing editor Astrid Madsen takes a peek inside her wardrobe to fi nd out it’s mostly made for comfort. I can’t say I’ve ever enjoyed shopping for clothes. Trawling through racks, going from store to store. Finding one item I think is okay and having to try it on in a tiny changing room. It’s not my idea of fun. That’s why when I fi nd a shop that I know will have at least one item of clothing I’ll be able to wear, I tend to go back. And my go-to in Dublin back in the day was the now-defunct Pepe Jeans store on Exchequer Street. Pricey, but there was always at least one thing in that tiny shop that I really liked. I still have the pig’s leather jacket I bought there. Sadly, my favourite cotton summer dress ripped after 10 years of abuse. Looking back on my style over the years, if one can call it that, I’ve always just had two sets of wardrobes. One consists of dresses, preferably bold, bright and colourful, which I mostly wear on holidays. I need the thermometer to reach close to 30 before they’re a go. The other staple, surprise surprise, is a pair of jeans. With a comfy t-shirt if it’s informal, a shirt if I’m dressing it up. WW Easy living Coats An item of clothing I’ve always gravitated to is the coat – any type but trench coats are one of my favourites. Not just because they do the job here in Ireland, but because they have the gravitas that says ‘I’m on the case’. Waterproof coats are, however, surprisingly diffi cult to fi nd here. I think there’s something about refusing to wear clothes that suit the weather. Maybe it’s because it’s too warm to wear a coat, however light. Or maybe it’s denial. Yes, a ray of sunshine will always peep through but let’s face it, it won’t dry you off after a spell of rain. Maybe we should all just be packing ponchos and be done with it. Scott Trench Coat Camel €245,visit sezane.com Stable of Ireland Camel Beige Mack Trench Coat €1,195 Pepe Jeans Quilted Shoulder Biker Jacket €140 Helly Hansen Lisburn Summer Rain Coat in Yellow€185, visit wisemans.ie
WOMANSWAY.IE 29 Basic fare No item of clothing manages to brighten up my day quite like a light dress made of a natural material like cotton or linen. Preferably in a funky pattern or luminous shade. I love the fact that they require no effort to slip on, and are a ready-made outfi t. I’d argue a pair of dark jeans requires just as little creative input, simply because it’ll match up with pretty much any top. The problem I have with jeans is saving my best pair for those days I do ‘go out’. I’m not disciplined enough to keep one neatly folded in the drawer and my life is full of spills and messes, so I do have to get a fresh pair once in a while. My saving grace is Levi’s. It may not exactly be original, but it’s a brand that’s consistent – all you need to know is your waist size and leg length and you’re sorted. In and out of the store in under 10 minutes. Only Simone Life Midi Shirt Dress Abstract Pattern in Pink €49.99,visit iclothing.com Jaeger Printed V-Neck Tie Waist Midi Wrap Dress €210 leg length and you’re sorted. In and out of the store in under 10 minutes. Jaeger Printed V-Neck Tie Waist Midi Wrap Dress €210 Levi’s 724 High Rise Straight Slim Fit Jeans Dark-Blue Denim €55 to €120 Foulards When I was younger, I thought it looked ‘totally weird’ when older people (who were the age I am now) dressed like they were in their 20s. As I’m not ready to give up on jeans just yet, I fi gure a softening pop of colour around my neck might do the trick. I bought a foulard on a whim while on holidays and plan to experiment with it when the days get cooler. And by foulard, I don’t necessarily mean silk. It can be cotton or linen too, just as long as it’s light and brightens up an outfi t. Anything chunky or in any way winter-like is a scarf in my book. Dubarry of Ireland Foulard €25,visit dubarry.com Queen of Sheba White Silk Scarf by Natalie B Coleman - Limited Edition €325,visit shop.nationalgallery.ie Olsen Floral Print Woven Scarf €49.95,visit pamelascott.com Book of Kells Alphabet Scarf €35.01,visit gifts.tcd.ie Added comfort My favourite type of shoe is no shoe. Then it’s the fl ip fl op, which is like going barefoot minus the pain. I like Ipanemas because I fi nd they provide more heel support than most other brands. I wear them until my toes start getting frostbite. Even though I’m inordinately attached to comfort, for special occasions I do love wearing my pair of nude high heels. The clippety clack resonating on the side walk, the added height, better posture. They all work to ramp up the level of excitement of the festivities ahead. But my feet start complaining fairly quickly, so I’ve come to rely on gel pads to take the sting out of a hard day’s stylin’. Comfort is also about how the t-shirt fi ts. I now fi nd it uncomfortable to have it fall above the waistline, which has expanded over the years. Best to stick to simple but easy-to-wear cotton tees that don’t shrink in the wash. they provide more heel support than most other brands. I wear them until my toes start to comfort, for special occasions I do love clippety clack resonating on the side walk, the added height, better posture. They all complaining fairly quickly, so I’ve come to rely on gel pads to take the sting out of a Comfort is also about how the t-shirt fi ts. I now fi nd it uncomfortable to have it fall above the waistline, which has expanded over the years. Best to stick to simple but easy-to-wear cotton tees that don’t shrink in complaining fairly quickly, so I’ve come to rely on gel pads to take the sting out of a WOMANSWAY.IE 29 Scholl Party Feet Ball of Foot Cushions with GelActiv Technology €6.99 O’Neills Women's Madison Cotton T-Shirt Black €14 New Look Cream Patent Round Platform Stiletto Heel Court Shoes €29 Ipanema Flip Flops €20 to €30
30 WOMANSWAY.IE Why do we crave brand new clothes and how can we resist the urge to buy them? Closet Psychology
By Katie Wright, PA Fashion and Beauty Editor STYLE WOMANSWAY.IE 31 S witching half our clothes in each of our wardrobes to pre-loved could prevent carbon emissions equivalent to those produced by 261,000 fl ights from Dublin to Greece, Oxfam has suggested. So what is the allure of buying brand new clothes, when we know it’s worse for the environment? Well, there’s a reason we refer to shopping as ‘retail therapy’. Whether it’s a going-out top grabbed on your lunch break or a designer bag you’ve had your eye on for months, fashion acquisitions in particular have the power to lift your mood, thanks to the chemical dopamine. “Dopamine is known as the reward agent,” says cognitive psychologist and business consultant, Dr Carolyn Mair, author of The Psychology of Fashion. “We produce more dopamine when we’re on the hunt for something that’s going to give us a positive outcome, or make the situation we’re in at the moment more easy to bear. “It can become an addiction, certainly, because the same neurotransmitters and same behaviours are involved.” And buying an on-trend outfi t provides more of a thrill than loading up a supermarket trolley because it satisfi es our desire to fi t in. “It’s a fundamental psychological drive that we want to belong to communities – part of the way we do that is through the way we dress,” says Mair – who is working with Oxfam for the launch of its Second Hand September campaign – but it’s a double-edged sword. “Fashion can do wonders for us in terms of highlighting or concealing parts of our bodies that we love or don’t love so much,” Mair continues. “But it can also be quite damaging when we feel that we have to join in with other people’s ideas about what’s fashionable.” Peer pressure can have a powerful effect, as can the boredom. “We get bored with what we’ve got, and we’re also very much infl uenced by fashion trends, celebrities, social media and so on,” says Mair. “There’s quite often a temptation to join in with those trends and be part of that… It can be quite diffi cult for people to resist that.” Even, that is, when we know that the fashion industry is hugely detrimental to the environment in terms of carbon emissions and unwanted garments going to landfi ll. “I think the huge majority of people already know [the environmental impact],” says Mair, and yet fast fashion brands continue to churn out millions of items a year and consumers lap them up. Instead of telling people to quit clothes shopping altogether, she says to ask ourselves: “How can we get the pleasure from fashion by not buying brand new, but by buying something else?” That’s why she encourages fashion fans to make more sustainable choices, starting with ‘shopping your wardrobe’. “You can make something you’ve already got feel new by upcycling it or changing it a little bit, if you’re creative. We can swap with friends, because then it’s ‘new to me’.” Hunting on sites like Vinted, Thriftify.ie, eBay or Depop is a great way of “fi nding treasures so that’s giving us the dopamine hit and we’re saving money”. If the proceeds are going to a good cause you’ll get an extra altruistic boost as well. “We know from positive psychology that one of the best ways to feel good about ourselves is to do good for someone else,” says Mair. “Whenever we buy secondhand from a charity shop we know that our money is going towards doing good.” She’s also a big fan of rental sites that offer premium pieces to hire for a fraction of their retail price. “Rental sites are great, particularly for special occasions when we think ‘I need to buy something new,’ because that’s the social norm,” she says. “Rental is a great way to keep an item of clothing in use for longer so it’s worn by more people and looked after.” WW “We produce more dopamine when we’re on the hunt for something that’s going to give us a positive outcome or make the situation we’re in at the moment more easy to bear"
32 WOMANSWAY.IE CHILD’S PLAY Why should children do all the playing? It’s time to allow our imagination and creativity to run free, writes Domhnall O’Donoghue.
WOMANSWAY.IE 33 CREATIVE THINKING to help with our own voices — skills that can be transferred into all aspects of our lives — but also to listen to and engage with others, promoting emotional intelligence. From plays and books to music and art, the creative world encourages us to express ourselves freely and facilitates an environment where we can explore themes and topical issues and ask ourselves: What is my opinion? In addition to this self-awareness and self-refl ection, I always delight in witnessing the creative process result in an increased empathy for others and seeing things from another point of view. Take the golden rule of improvisation, where you can only say ‘yes’. How many of us could benefi t from using that positive approach in our everyday lives? The profound impact of creativity on our minds and bodies is impossible to overstate. One lady once remarked that learning lines for scenes we were fi lming challenged her to retain and recall information — this, she felt, was a helpful tool in offsetting the natural decline in our memories. Elsewhere, through breathing, body awareness and grounding, I’ve seen physical transformations that I thought were saved for Hollywood fi lms. HITTING THE RIGHT NOTE Ruth McGill, an artist, singer and educator, agrees. In addition to her role as the singing coach at the Lir Academy, Ireland’s leading drama conservatoire, she assists adults and non-professionals in discovering their voices. Knowing the importance of creativity and playfulness in our lives, no matter our age, Ruth offers group and individual sessions at the Helena Walsh Empowerment Studios, using a holistic and empowering approach. She explains that the participants’ backgrounds vary. Some are skilled singers, honing their craft, while others simply love singing and want to learn a song for a party piece or occasion — or just for themselves. Frustratingly, Ruth reveals that many were told they were “crows” at school or home. As a result, they stopped exploring their voice’s potential as a form of expression and identity. She correctly notes that those harmful and unnecessary comments can become embedded in our psyche. “As you get older, it hurts not to have been allowed to sing because someone once said, ‘you can’t’,” she reveals. “It’s your voice, S itting in a café recently, I heard a whirl emanating from somewhere. Initially, I assumed the fridge was being insubordinate, but after investigating, I realised it was a boy happily reimagining his fork as a helicopter. His mother beside him, savouring a cup of tea, appeared exasperated, probably craving a moment’s reprieve. However, the sight of the little pilot made me smile and prompted me to think: Why do we, as adults, stop playing? I suppose, over time, our need to discover and pursue new experiences diminishes, and, instead, we focus on the more serious aspects of our lives like careers, relationships and families, all of which are valid pursuits. Running alongside this is a new set of rules, boundaries and expectations that society expects grownups to follow. But what if we could reintroduce that youthful sense of playful wonder to enhance our life experiences, even for a few brief moments each week? Granted, adults waving utensils around restaurants while making engine noises might result in a visit from the white-coated contingency, but having spent years as a mentor in arts-based projects with both children and adults, I’ve seen fi rst-hand how much fun it is to escape our daily stresses and surrender to our imagination and creative forces. ALL THE WORLD’S A STAGE In this post-pandemic era, many people are working remotely or struggling to shake off the debris of those isolating lockdowns, a devastating period when we lost our voices, literally and fi guratively. If ever there was a time to play and reclaim a sense of lightness, it’s now. Regardless of which creative outlet you pursue — drama, dance, singing, painting or crafts — emerging from your comfort zone and being in a space with supportive, like-minded people instantly creates a sense of community and camaraderie, leading to new friendships and a boost in self-confi dence and self-fulfi lment. Moreover, being creative and playful encourages us to reignite the excitement, energy and hope we thought were limited to our younger selves. And what about communication? The arts have an incredible capacity not only Domhnall O’Donoghue “What if we could reintroduce that youthful sense of playful wonder to enhance our life experiences?" Ruth McGill and no one else has that voice. They’re the ones I want to work with most and facilitate a space to regain what was taken from them.” However and wherever you express your creativity, Ruth encourages us to permit ourselves to play. “Even the most skilled and experienced artist can resist playing,” she argues. “See what happens when you let yourself off the hook and not judge yourself. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.” WW
34 WOMANSWAY.IE SMALL Changes Whether it’s a payday treat, self-gifting or some darling décor to refresh and get you in the mood for stress-free styling, it’s funny how little pleasures can pick you up. From sweet side plates for a bank holiday bake-off, to beautiful bedding, these decos and homewares will make everyday items that more special – and won’t pull at your purse strings… 1 Mkouo 8cm Cement Plant Pots Indoor Succulent Planters €24.03, visit amazon.co.uk The cutest way to green up your work space is with these sweet succulents. 2 IKEA Färgklar 18-Piece Service Ma Light Pink €35 Pretty in pink, this tableware blends function with fl air and can be glammed up with gold cutlery and glass goblets when it’s time to pour the rosé wine. 3 Flying Tiger Picture Frame A6 €2.50 Wall art made easy, this pansy print can be switched out for something more dramatic depending on your scheme. These budget-friendly stylish updates are worth snapping up. 10 7 9 5
By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA 4 Next Set of 4 Baking Side Plates €21 Whether it’s home baking or a cupcake platter, these porcelain plates are made for tasty treats. 5 Flying Tiger Eternal Bouquet €6 Think a summery tablescape illuminated in sunshine… and these pops of yellow can be placed along the centrepiece. 6 Pineapple Lamp €37.90, visit lights.ie This retro chic pineapple-shaped table lamp will add a little bit of glitz, radiance and shimmer wherever it’s placed. 7 Next Knit Tassel Cushion €28 Next Natural Hello Pumpkin Autumn Cushion €23.50 Scatter cushions are a stylist’s favourite feature. Whether it’s breathing new life into a tired sofa or refreshing your colour scheme, you’ll get a lot of bang for your buck with these seasonal cushions. 8 Handmade Soap Co Reed Diff user - Lemongrass & Cedarwood €32.50 Decorative diffusers are brilliant for scenting a forgotten corner or guest bathroom, and this one comes as stylish and traditional apothecary style glass. 9 Yucatan Printed 100 per cent Co on Duvet Cover €20.49, visit laredoute.com It’s not easy to scrimp when you’re dressing a king-size bed, but this showy print is picture-perfect. A lavish colour clash of lipstick pink and racy red, style it with the contrasting grey tufted throw for an ultra-cool, boutique hotel vibe. 10 Everyday 4-Piece 100 per cent Co on 450gsm Quick Dry Towel Bale – Saff ron €18, visit very.ie An easy, instant pick-me-up, a bunch of buttercup yellow towels will make your bathroom look as fresh as a meadow. Includes two hand towels and two bath towels. 11 Daisy Park Midi Folding Crate in Dark Pink €12.95 If a summer sort-out is on your to-do list, this folding crate is a fun, space saving, storage solution – and stackable if you buy more than one. Holds up to 8kg, the equivalent of 56 paperbacks or eight packs of dried food such as rice. WW WOMANSWAY.IE 35 INTERIORS 6 11 8 2 1 3 4
36 WOMANSWAY.IE bounce off a wall painted with a high gloss paint than a wall painted with matte paint,” says Michael Reading, property expert. “If you have a particularly dark room in your home that doesn’t get much natural light, gloss paints would be the best option for encouraging the light to fl ow.” 4 OPT FOR LIGHTER FLOORING Choosing lighter-coloured fl ooring can make a room seem much brighter, explains Vicki Foster, interior stylist at furniture and fl ooring retailer ScS. “Bright fl ooring, or a light colour on the walls, can lift a room instantly and give the light something to bounce off,” she says. “If you’re looking to maximise the light – if your budget can stretch – opt for a light laminate that will help project light around the room.” 5 MAKE USE OF MIRRORS Mirrors are one of the most effective ways to refl ect more light into a room and make it appear much bigger, says Reading. “Using mirrors in the right places can help disperse any existing natural light that’s fl owing into the room,” he explains. “If you want to increase the amount of natural light in your home, hanging mirrors is highly recommended. Invest in good quality, decorative mirrors that you can place in various areas around the home.” Autumn is here and it’s time to face the prospect of darker days. But although the days are getting shorter, there are ways to make sure as much brightness as possible is getting into your home – not just by fl icking a light switch. “Not every room is blessed with masses of natural light, but have no fear – there are some interior design tricks that can be used to exaggerate the available light,” promises James Greenwood, interior expert at Graham & Brown. Here Greenwood and other interior experts give their tips on how to make dark rooms seem lighter… 1 USE LIGHT OR WARM COLOURS Using warm shades from the pink, red, orange and yellow colour families, which refl ect light, can help bounce available light around the room, Greenwood suggests. “These colour groups burst with joy and have a wide range of shades, depending on how subtle or how much of a statement you want to make in the room,” he says. 2 TRY ‘COLOUR DRENCHING’ Instead of painting ceilings, skirting boards or walls different colours, the current trend of colour drenching – where everything is the same shade – can help lighten rooms, Greenwood says. He says this “tried and tested drenching technique blurs the usual sharp lines of a room, so your eyes aren’t drawn to corners”. 3 CHOOSE GLOSS PAINTS FOR WALLS “Even if it’s the same shade, more light will LET THE LIGHT IN Nine ways to make dark rooms look lighter. bounce off a wall painted with a high gloss paint than a wall dark room in your home that doesn’t get much natural light, gloss getting into your home – not just by paints would be the best option for Choosing lighter-coloured fl ooring something to bounce off,” she says. “If James Greenwood Michael Reading Colour drenching
WOMANSWAY.IE 37 INTERIORS By Lisa Salmon, PA 6 ADD REFLECTIVE OR GLASS TILES Glass tiles in kitchens and bathrooms are the next best thing to installing mirrors, Reading says. “In the right lighting, glass tiles can refl ect almost 100 per cent of the light that hits them right back into the room. “If you’re not a fan of glass tiles, highly glossy ceramic or metallic tiles can produce a similar effect. Alternatively, consider installing a metallic splashback in the kitchen – this is not only very effective in refl ecting natural light into the room, but it’s also very trendy.” 7 REJIG FURNITURE AND REMOVE CLUTTER Having too much furniture in the wrong places can stop light fl owing through a room and make it feel darker than it actually is, Foster explains. “To overcome this, assess where the light comes in and which areas it struggles to reach – and move around your furniture, or cut down on the amount in the room, to help create more space for light to fi ll.” 8 MOVE A WALL OR ADD A SKYLIGHT It’s an extreme step, but removing interior walls can really brighten up some spaces, explains interior designer Sarah Vanrenen. “Depending on the project, sometimes taking walls out can gain a lot of light and a feeling of space,” she says. “Where there are more light sources from different directions, it ensures there’s always light coming in at different times of day.” Another option, she suggests, is creating a ‘light well’ – a glass and timber structure on a fl at roof to bring natural light into a dark room. Skylights in a slanted roof can also increase a room’s natural light. 9 BE CAREFUL WITH CURTAINS “I can never quite believe my eyes when I see blinds inside a reveal of a window, cutting out a quarter of the window panes,” Vanrenen says. “They should always sit on the outside of the reveal to fi t the architrave if there is one. “Curtains should, wherever possible, draw back so when opened the leading edge is just in line with the inside of the reveal or architrave, and if there’s a pelmet, it should sit just below the top edge of the reveal, allowing the maximum amount of light into a room.” And Foster adds: “Swapping heavy curtains out for a thinner material that can let some light through but still offer privacy can give the illusion of extending the window and not cutting off a light source completely. WW “Mirrors are one of the most effective ways to reflect more light into a room and make it appear much bigger” Reading says. “In the right lighting, fl owing through a room and make it feel darker than it actually is, Foster explains. Sarah Vanrenen A decorative mirror in a home Light and airy A bright living room
38 WOMANSWAY.IE and live in a different time zone to most of the planet. The world’s big brands and fast food restaurants are nowhere to be seen, and the country’s wifi is sporadically turned off during political unrest (when we visited, it was to stop children cheating during their fi nal exams). Goats, cows and donkeys mingle with the traffi c even on the busy streets of the capital, Addis Ababa. This is also the country that inspired Band Aid to record Do They Know It’s Christmas? Perhaps not only because the north of the country in the 1980s was ravaged by famine, but also because the communist dictatorship (the Derg regime) at the time didn’t allow Christians to celebrate Christmas. And while political unrest in recent years has diminished tourism numbers, some years ago Ethiopia was voted the World’s Best Tourism Destination. While the situation in Addis Ababa is stable currently and tourism is slowly recovering, always check the current status before travelling. GET THERE SOON The holy grail of travel writing is to fi nd a place on the planet that really is worth Ethiopia was historically called Abyssinia and is quite possibly the strangest place I have ever visited. In a good way. This is home to Lucy, our earliest ancestor, and one of the oldest Christian communities. Ethiopia also claims to be home to the Ark of the Covenant, the biblical chest carried by Moses from Mount Sinai and a portion of the cross that Jesus was crucifi ed on. It has nine UNESCO World Heritage Sites and it’s where coffee originated. This is a country where you will be seven years younger on arrival seeing before the outside world transforms it beyond recognition. There can be no fi ner example of a country you have to get to quick. Ethiopia is currently one of the fastest-moving economies in the world, and despite the sporadic confl icts, it is also one of the most stable in Africa. The African Union (AU) and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and several international institutions are headquartered in Addis. Addis Ababa is an ancient city founded in 1886, by the emperor Menelik II. It is one of the few countries in Africa never to have been colonised, apart from Italy’s short-lived occupation in the 1930s. At that time, there were just a few hundred thousand living in the hills of Addis. In 1974, when Haile Selassie was deposed in a military coup, the population was estimated to be half a million at most. Today, there are 5.5 million people living in Addis. The modernisation of the city’s central business district and the rapid pace of change is fuelled by Chinese investment and entrepreneurial Ethiopian ‘repats’ returning to their native city after education and work experience in the US, ETHIOPIA The of Treasures Babogaya Lake Norah Casey travels to the beautiful and ancient landscape of the Land of Origins where humans fi rst learned to walk on planet earth and arguably still do, thanks to the country’s gift of coffee to the world.
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 39 Continued overleaf >> London, Russia and various parts of Europe. There are halffi nished buildings everywhere as demand outstrips construction capabilities and funds. The city is growing upwards and outwards, and the infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the population surge and new consumer demands for more modern offi ces, banks, restaurants, shopping malls, fi ve-star hotels, gyms, cafés and the other trappings of contemporary society. And nestled at its heart is still the ancient old cobbled streets of the old town, with goats grazing amid the corrugated lean-tos and sheds that are home to the oldest inhabitants, many without proper sanitation, clean water, or electricity. Taxi service is provided by fl eets of old blue and white Russian Ladas from the 1970s, and packed mini-buses provide limited public transport in the city. The World Bank predicts that Addis Ababa’s population will double over the next decade. SEVEN YEARS YOUNGER Is there much of a time difference between Ireland and Ethiopia? I asked our companion and guide, Ashenafi Kassa (Ashu for short). Seven years give or take, he responds. And that’s just the headline difference. On July 21, 2023 at 5pm I asked him what the time and date was in Addis? It was July 14, 2015, and 11 hours after sunrise. Ethiopia not only has a separate calendar to the rest of the world, it also operates a different time system that marks the day in hours after sunrise and the night in hours after sundown, beginning at zero at dawn and dusk. Thus 7am is one hour after sunrise so it is 1 o’clock in Ethiopia and our 12 midday is 6 o’clock. It also has 13 months, 12 months of 30 days and a shorter month of less than a week. New Year, known as Enkutatash, is celebrated when the rains stop and, other than a leap year, that falls on September 11. Christianity came to Ethiopia seven years after the death of Christ, and the variance between the calendar stems from a different starting point for the Annunciation. ANCIENT CIVILISATION Rarely have I experienced people with a stronger sense and knowledge of history. In Ireland, our historical reference point is often the famine and all that’s happened since. To put it into context, the fi rst people arrived in Ireland 9,000 years ago, around 7000BC. Ethiopian history starts with Lucy, the fi rst human to walk upright some 3.2 million years ago. Fact and fi ction are woven together in magical stories recounted by almost everyone we encountered, from guides to drivers to hotel staff. These tales from Ethiopia’s ancient past are blended into a rich and fascinating storybook, which opens with the Queen of Sheba’s visit to King Solomon and the birth of their child Menelik, the fi rst emperor of “It's one of the few countries in Africa never to have been colonised apart from Italy’s shortlived occupation" Russian Lada Taxi, Addis Small green grocery store, Old Town Holy Trinity Cathedral, Addis Ababa Ethiopian lion
40 WOMANSWAY.IE Ethiopian traditional coffee ceremony Ethiopia. Solomon became the ancestor of all Ethiopian emperors right up to Haile Selassie, the last emperor who was deposed in 1974. The collective national pride in the triumphs, the milestones and the wars fought and won between then and now is evident in all you meet. While oppression, war and famine has also been visited upon Ethiopia, the scars are worn lightly and conversation rarely strays into those dark periods. OUR ITINERARY We stayed at the Ramada in the up-andcoming Bole District, close to the international airport, an area where most visitors stay. It has shopping malls, cinemas and international restaurants, and it’s also close to the headquarters of the African Union and the United Nations' offices. The Ramada has two restaurants, including Churrascaria, the first Brazilian restaurant in the city. The lobby bar and lounge was popular and buzzy with live music and bar food served in the lounge area (ramadaaddis.com). We arrived in late July so the rainy season meant lots of downpours, thunderstorms and floods, especially in the afternoons. The drenching was tough enough even for us rain-hardy Irish. We crammed lots into our few days, enough to get a general sense of the uniqueness of Ethiopia, and the hook to ensure that I will certainly return with at least three weeks clear to explore the ancient churches and stunning mountains of the north of the country. THE OLDEST HOTEL We landed on Friday morning very early and, after a bit of recuperation, we headed to the oldest hotel in Ethiopia for lunch (taituhotel. com). The hotel was founded by Empress Taytu Betul (Taitu) the formidable wife of Menelik II who is credited with crushing the Italian invasion of 1896, riding out with her own army of 5,000 soldiers. She also founded the Ethiopian Red Cross, was the true inspiration for the new capital, Addis Ababa, and kickstarted candle-making, wine production and health services. Taitu is nestled in the heart of the old town and is more a restaurant and garden now as the old rooms are no longer in use. It is truly like stepping back in time with a pianist playing softly as we ate. We wandered through the deserted rooms upstairs where the art and woodwork remain untouched. Orthodox Christian is the predominant religion in Ethiopia and it is a strong guiding force for all ages. Wednesday and Friday are fasting days so no meat or fish. Like most restaurants, Taitu offered a vegan buffet as we were there on a Friday. Centre stage on the food-laden buffet table was various types of injera, a slightly bitter-tasting spongy bread made from the grain teff, which is a staple of all Ethiopian meals. After watching my fellow diners for a while, I figured out the best approach. The flat round injera is placed first on the plate and small piles of spicy and flavoursome vegetarian wats (stews) and vegetables are placed in a circular pattern. Eat with the right hand and use side dishes of injera to scoop up the food. One thing I learned is that you can never have enough injera at meal times, and although it has a tanginess that takes a bit of getting used to, it is the perfect balance to the spicy wats. Another common dish is a kind of spaghetti and red sauce pie, a legacy of the (brief) Italian occupation in the 1930s. TRADITIONAL COFFEE CEREMONY At Taitu, we were treated to the first of many traditional coffee-making ceremonies. It was fitting that our first experience of this ancient ritual was in the country’s oldest hotel. The coffee beans are roasted over charcoal and ground with a pestle and mortar before being brewed to boiling point in a clay pot. It is usually served with popcorn, and sometimes butter or salt is added for taste. I don’t drink coffee normally, but I was surprised by how much I liked the sweet caffeine-laden shot served with a very distinctive locally-grown Mercato market workers, Addis Ababa Rolls of injera bread
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 41 Continued overleaf >> Lucy was an Australopithecus, below: Lucy 's model scull Addis woven baskets Man carries mattresses in Mercato market fresh herb, which you swill around in the syrupy coffee. We drank lots of coffee over the course of our visit, and I developed a slight addiction to the taste and the energy hit. Konjo bunna (delicious coffee) was one of the fi rst words I learned in Amharic. Outside of the traditional coffee ceremonies, Ethiopians take their coffee seriously and don’t go too long without a hit of macchiato or espresso freshly made using more modern appliances. ADDIS MERCATO The highlight of our weekend in Addis was a trip to the chaotic, bustling Mercato, the largest open-air market in Africa with our expert guide Chanyalew Glmedhin. He encouraged us to call him Chaney for short, and over the course of the days spent with him, we learned monumental amounts about Ethiopian history and culture. The Mercato is packed with locals, the little overladen donkeys do a lot of the hard work, and virtually everything you can possibly imagine is sold and repaired and resold. Rolls of carpet and fabric lean precariously against crumbling walls, inventive sellers display their wares on sheets on the pavement, gold is dripping from open huts, and lines of brightly dressed mannequins hang from frames as the thousands of traders compete for eye line and sales. The vast space is carved into sections recognisable to our guide as he pointed here and there to towering sacks of chilies, leaning towers of colourful woven baskets, pyramids of fruit, heaps of powdered henna for hair dye, mountains of recycled plastic containers, and towering blocks of rusted steel. I spotted an old man sitting repairing umbrellas as his son sold the newly-fi xed ones nearby. This is the world’s biggest recycling centre, nothing is discarded, everything has a use and some day a buyer will want to buy it if you stockpile it long enough. We went by car but I was itching to get out to walk and I am so glad we did. Our guide warned of pickpockets so we strapped and zipped our belongings and wandered among the locals – an unlikely sight as we were the only tourists we could see in the course of our afternoon there. We were met with nothing but greetings and smiles and salutes. It was a fantastic way to spend a few hours. VISITING LUCY Ethiopia is home to the world-famous Lucy (Australopithecus), the fi rst of our species or, to be specifi c, the fi rst humanoid to stand upright. Her formal title is AL 288-1 and she dates back to 3.2 million years ago. Her bones were discovered near the village Hadar in the Awash Valley of the Afar Triangle in 1974. I wondered at the name – why Lucy? Our all-knowing guide Chaney laughs and says she was only called Lucy because the American (Donald Johanson of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History) who found her put on a cassette tape of Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds Coffee shop, Addis
42 WOMANSWAY.IE by The Beatles when he returned to camp after the discovery. In Ethiopia, he proudly tells me she is called Dinkinesh, which, in Amharic, means ‘you are marvellous’. We went to visit Lucy and other ancient fossils, art and treasures at the National Museum. I imagined the excitement and celebration in the expedition camp when the team realised the signifi cance of their discovery. And there she lies, several hundred pieces of bone fossils, about 40 per cent of the skeleton of a small 12-year-old adult female laid out like an incomplete work of art. Of course, these bones are replicas and the precious originals are housed in a special safe in the museum. SACRED CATHEDRAL Chaney, our tour guide, took us to the revered Holy Trinity Cathedral, the second most sacred site in Ethiopia after the Church of Our Lady Mary of Zion in Axum. We removed our shoes, and as he spoke of the rich history of the cathedral, he leaned on a tall stick. There were piles of them lined up against the wall, a necessary accessory while standing for the two-hour mass. Next to the altar behind ornate gates lies the massive Aksumite-style granite tombs of Emperor Haile Selassie and his wife Empress Menen Asfaw. The cathedral was built to commemorate Ethiopia's liberation from Italian occupation, and many of those who lost their lives along with notable members of the royal family and political leaders are buried in the grounds. It is also the burial place of suffragette Sylvia Pankhurst, a big supporter of Haile Selassie, who spent her fi nal days in Addis. The cathedral is beautiful, with sparkling chandeliers, vivid stainedglass windows with the solemn pews watched over by an arresting yellow and red mural of the Holy Trinity ceiling. As we arrived, an impromptu pre-wedding couple and their entourage were making their way up to the cathedral steps singing and clapping. They were to be married the next day, but, traditionally, the couple comes to be blessed the day before. As we were leaving, a huge crowd had gathered outside for an open-air funeral with a line of black-suited, whitegloved men standing guard over the fl oralladen coffi n. As we walked around towards the back of the cathedral, pilgrims stood with foreheads pressed against the granite outer walls and closed doors locked in prayer. Our guide said the outside was as important as the inside to the devout, who pray seven times between the hours of waking and sleep. PLACES TO EAT About half a mile from the Mercato is the Piazza, the city’s lively Italian quarter, a legacy of the short-lived occupation. In an unlikely spot on Mahatma Gandhi Street, we entered a doorway into Italy of the 1940s. We weren’t the fi rst to discover this gem of a restaurant. The walls of Castelli are littered with photographs of the famous owner and Brad Pitt, Bob Geldof, Bill Clinton and a host of other luminaries. It was opened in 1948 by an Italian soldier, Francesco Castelli,who came to Addis in the late 1930s as part of Mussolini's occupying army, and decided to stay. His widow, Rosa, still runs it with her brother Carlo. Myself, my son Dara and Ashu ate on the last day before it closed for its annual refurbishment, so it was extra special and delicious. The last supper at Castelli featured freshly-made tagliatelle with a rich ragu and tortellini with spinach and ricotta cheese, married with a bottle of robust chianti. A huge portion of homemade tiramisu with three spoons disappeared quickly, and we toasted our gregarious host Carlos with limoncello before leaving what was without doubt the best restaurant in Addis. Makush Art Gallery and restaurant is an unlikely boho retreat in the trendy Bolo area of Addis, selling a combination of delicious Italian food and an eclectic mix of colourful contemporary art (makushethiopianart.com). We ate there on a quiet night, and enjoyed the views of the art with some great spaghetti bolognese and a bottle of Ethiopian Rift Valley Merlot. Yes, there is such a thing as Ethiopian wine, with vines brought in from Bordeaux by French wine and beer producer Castel and grown in Ziway. Ashu took us to a traditional Ethiopian dancing and singing restaurant, Yod Abyssinia, on our fi nal night. While Irish dancing is all about the legs, Ethiopian dance is all about the shoulders and head swings and it is mesmerising. We didn’t understand at fi rst why people kept sticking money to the forehead of the dancers, but Ashu assured us that’s the way to show your appreciation. He also introduced us to Tej, a strong-tasting Dancing at Yod Abyssinia Ristorante Castelli Makush Art Gallery Antipasti bar, Castelli Ristorante
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 43 Travel essentials Ethiopian Airlines (flyethiopian.com) flies from Dublin to Addis Ababa via London Heathrow, from circa €800 return. Irish citizens need visas. We organised ours online in advance for US$82 (evisa.gov.et ). Ethiopian Holidays, part of Ethiopian Airlines, organised all of our activities, tours and accommodation. Our guides and drivers were knowledgeable and informative and spoke excellent English (ethiopianholidays.com). The Department of Foreign Affairs provides up-to-date information so it is advisable to check prior to travel at dfa.ie. honey wine, made with beer rather than vines, a bit like mead. This is a favourite drink in Addis, and each bar makes up its own recipe and it is served in recycled spirit bottles. It smells and tastes of hops with a herbal flavour and won’t be replacing gin as my Friday night treat any time soon. A WEEKEND AT THE LAKES Like many Addis inhabitants, we left the city and stayed at the crater lakes for the weekend. In less than an hour, we left the modern highway and drove through country roads in the Oromia Region, with young boys selling bananas on the road side, our car competing for lane space next to donkeys and carts and dozens of little blue tuk tuks whizzing about and weaving precariously between the various transport vehicles, machine and animal. The air was clearer, the sun was shining and a sort of excitement was evident as the tired city- dwellers headed en masse to the lakes. We arrived at the busy town of Bishoftu (also called by its old name Debre Zeit), home of the Ethiopian Air Force and at the heart of the five crater lakes; Kuriftu, Bishoftu, Cheleklaka, Hora, and Green Crater lake. Here we were staying at Kuriftu Resort and Spa nestled on a lake of the same name (kurifturesorts.com). Our cabin rooms were perched above the lakeside with nature's very own sound system of wild birds and wildlife to soothe us to sleep. The deck offered the full panorama of the lake with little boats dotted around and oxen drinking thirstily on the opposite shore. This little oasis has two restaurants. We ate breakfast lake-side and dinner high up in the international restaurant with contemporary tall wooden chairs and tables. The electricity is less stable here than in Addis (where it is also a bit patchy), but nobody, including us, seemed to mind the blackouts and plenty of candles added to the atmosphere. Our overnight stay included a complimentary massage, and although neither of us spoke the same language, my expert masseuse eased away all the muscle tensions of long-haul travel. Asfaw was a fantastic guide and also took us on a tour to some of the other lakes the following day. We had lunch at Liesak Resort while overlooking beautiful Lake Babogaya. If you plan a visit to Addis, be sure to add on a day or so to visit Kuriftu, It’s a very special place with friendly people, beautiful views and the rates are exceptionally good at around $210 a night. NOTABLE SIGHTS OF ETHIOPIA The beautiful northern highlands of Ethiopia are home to the Christian Amhara and Tigrayan people, and most of the country’s ancient treasures with churches carved from rock, a host of 16th century monasteries and Lake Tana, the source of the Blue Nile. The stunning Simien Mountains (4,000 metres high) is popular with hikers and climbers. The Queen of Sheba, it’s claimed, chose Axum as her capital, so this small town is a must-see on any visit to Ethiopia. Axum boasts some of the world’s most significant archaeological sites along with secret treasures including the Arc of the Covenant, which is said to be hidden in a church. It is definitely on my to-do list when I return along with the historic Lalibela (known as the New Jerusalem). The former imperial capital Gondor is also on the itinerary with its many fine and ancient palaces and castles. WW Hora Lake, Debre Zeyit Lalibela, Ethiopia Kuriftu Resort and Spa “While Irish dancing is all about the legs, Ethiopian dance is all about the shoulders and head swings"
44 WOMANSWAY.IE that took us past the iconic Les Machines de l’Île based on Jules Verne’s fi ctional machines, including a 12m-high motorised elephant that takes to the streets; 50 people can hop on board the impressive metal beast (€9.50 a ride, visit lesmachines-nantes.fr). The Petit Train Touristique de Nantes departs from one of the city's gems, the cathédrale Saint-Pierre-et-Saint-Paul. Built over four centuries, the gothic-style cathedral was bombed during WWII. Comparisons with Notre-Dame de Paris are hard to avoid as both were ravaged by fi re less than a year apart. In Nantes’ case, rumour has it the blaze started because a restorer left his cigarette butt in the rafters, the nearby café owner informed me. PUY DU FOU An hour south of Nantes is Puy du Fou, a theme park where history comes alive through theatre. This is the home of spectacular live shows spread out over 150 acres. It’s well-known in France, having opened its doors in 1978 with its fi rst I f you’re travelling to the south of France from the ports of Cherbourg or Roscoff, chances are you will be looking around Nantes to break up the drive. That’s what the hubby, kids and I did over two days. NANTES Our fi rst port of call was the Château du Pé (visit surprenantes.com), where we booked a one-night stay before visiting Nantes itself. Located in the suburban town of SaintJean-de-Boiseau, it’s the perfect countryside retreat for anyone who’s looking to rest their weary legs after a long car or bike ride (it’s part of the European Atlantic Cycling Route – EuroVelo 1 so there's a bicycle shelter). The top fl oor is home to a long hallway serving fi ve bedrooms, which is where we stayed for the night. The place oozes oldworld charm and comfort, decorated in that effortlessly thrifty yet classy style the French have a way of pulling off so well. Pressed for time, the next day we went on a tour of Nantes on the little motorised train Cinéscénie, the award-winning night-time epic that sees thousands of volunteers chart seven centuries of history through artifi ce, fact and legend. Each section of the park harks back to a different era, from Roman times all the way up to the glorious ‘20s. The Cité Nocture at the edge of the park is the hotel complex with themed accommodation – we stayed at the Villa Gallo-Romaine, where we were greeted by very helpful staff wearing tunics. In fact, everywhere you go you’ll recognise NANTES in weekend A The French city has a lot to offer, including a ride in a motorised elephant, but nearby attraction Puy du Fou can’t help but steal the show. Les Noces de Feu Night Show at Puy du Fou, photo by David Piole Chateau du Pé
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 45 By Astrid Madsen the Puyfolais by their attire. I can’t vouch for the historical accuracy of every garb, but the outfi ts and hair styles got us into the spirit of the eras we were walking through. Puy du Fou is in fact as much academy as it is theme park, the telly later told us in our cosy hotel room with four-poster bed. Performers of all kinds are trained year-round in 33 disciplines, including ancient crafts, martial arts, prop design and equestrian vaulting. The place is self-funded and run as a non-profi t. When we sauntered into the park itself, I had the distinct feeling our fellow visitors had been there since early morning. We quickly realised why. As we were running late, we only managed to catch one act, apart from the night show, and it belatedly dawned on us that you’d ideally need two days to visit this massive place. For one thing, you’ll want to take your time wandering around the village time capsules. One minute visiting a blacksmith, the next a bookbinder. We couldn't help by stop by La Grange aux Fiefs for a tipple, an 18th-century-style tavern that’s worthy of the name. The hubby thought I’d ordered a Pinot Noir, but I’d asked for a wine-based apéritif called épine noire – needless to say, the bitter fl avour surprised him no end. To the kids’ delight, who couldn’t stop laughing as he tried to fi gure out what he was drinking. I presume it’s made from the spindles of the pine forests so prevalent in the south (courtesy of Napoleon’s forestry campaign, done in part to get rid of the mosquitoes). As for the bigger-than-life shows, you’re spoilt for choice. There are the musketeers, the Vikings, even a coliseum with gladiatorial fi ghts. Mimes, bird shows, you name it, it’s probably there. With bells on. The kids loved the one show we were able to catch, Les Chevaliers de la Table Ronde, especially the humorous opening act, which worked its magic to warm up the crowd. Using their artistic licence for all the Excalibur bits, it was a pure delight. The hitch perhaps is that all of the performances are in French, but who needs a translator when you’ve got fi re mixing with water? The app does offer subtitles and while I didn’t try it for that, I can vouch for its use as a timetable. Perfect to see at a glance which shows are up next and how far they are from you. Just don’t use it as a GPS. Sharp right when you’re walking, what does that even mean? If you’re lost, just follow the timber signs or ask a member of staff. We didn’t actually get to see the Cinéscénie (it’s on Friday and Saturday nights over the summer months) and instead caught the light, water and fi re night show on the lake, Les Noces de Feu. The kids wished it had been a comedy rather than a classical music extravaganza, but I was blown away by the theatrics – it was a bit like an aquatic version of Fantasia had come to life. So while some might argue Puy du Fou has the feel of Disneyland for the 50+, it’s a must-see for all ages. It’s a place to connect with history, to experience it with all your senses. My two young ones were clamouring for more. WW Le Signe du Triomphe at Puy du Fou, photo by Arthur Aumond Villa Gallo-Romaine at Puy du Fou Nantes Cathedral at the tourist train stop Chevaliers de la Table Ronde Le Mime et l'Etoile at Puy du Fou La Grange aux Fiefs apé ritifs
46 WOMANSWAY.IE Check out our review of new docuseries Supermodels, the latest fi lms, TV shows and events and, as always, our pick 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 The Land Of Lost Things by John Connolly is published in hardback by Hodder & Stoughton, priced €18.74 Nearly two decades after enchanting a generation of readers with The Book Of Lost Things, Irish writer John Connolly is revisiting his richly dark fairyland. In this update for 2023, a mother is sucked into a terrifying world as her comatose young daughter’s life hangs in the balance. Time here is twistier than the gnarly old trees and roots in the forests of our nightmares. Connolly manages to give a subtle nod to the post-pandemic era while reaching out and embracing modern readers from beyond the page. If fairy stories help people confront and come to terms with universal themes of love, loss, grief and fear, then this is a timely and comforting sequel. But as all lifelong travellers will know, returning to a beloved place in time and space after many years away can be a subjective experience. Book lovers and fans of John Connolly will not be disappointed by this remarkable standalone novel. Holly by Stephen King is published in hardback by Hodder & Stoughton, priced €31.25 Holly Gibney is a tough yet compassionate private detective who was fi rst introduced to readers in Stephen King’s Mr Mercedes. This novel is set during covid and explores a diffi cult period in Holly’s life – the death of her mother, her partner’s illness, and her attempt to take time away from her detective agency. Penny Dahl’s plea to fi nd her missing daughter resonates with Holly and she feels compelled to investigate Bonnie’s disappearance and to solve the gruesome truth behind multiple disappearances. She uncovers that married octogenarians, the epitome of Midwestern respectability, are harbouring a terrible secret. As she starts to unravel their abhorrent intentions, she summons her talents to beat and defeat the deviant pair. This book explores themes that many people might fi nd unsettling. It’s a twisty tale that engages the reader from the fi rst page and keeps you enthralled through the wonderfully human character of Holly. An Invitation to the Kennedys by Emily Hourican is published by Hachette Books Ireland €15.99 If you’re a fan of the Kennedy clan in their heyday and love the dreamy details of how the other half live, then this slice of historical fi ction is worth checking out. Emily Hourican is no stranger to writing about the elite social classes with her Guinness Girls series. This book ties in slightly, but you can still easily read it as a standalone. Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy is the daughter of ambassador Joe Kennedy, and when she arrives in England she’s placed right in the centre of high society. However, as she’s an American and a Catholic, it makes her an outsider. When she falls for Billy Cavendish, the future Duke of Devonshire, it’s doomed to failure as the parents will never approve the match. When Kick is invited to the country estate of Chips Channon and Honor Guinness for a warm sultry week in September, things take a turn and by the end of the week nothing will be the same. Full of rich details and dizzying descriptions worthy of Downton, it’s a really enjoyable piece of escapism. NON-FICTION Age is Just A Number by Francis Brennan is published by Gill Books, priced €19.99 Growing old gracefully is synonymous with Francis Brennan, the hotelier, TV personality and, let’s face it, national treasure, who brings another wholesome slice of life in his new book. He may be about to turn 70, but he’s not letting a little thing like age keep him down. In fact in the book, he shows us how he’s still full of life and more importantly that zest for life that keeps him not just busy, but happy too. He explores topics such having an active retirement and maintaining health, mobility and psychological wellbeing. Francis also speaks to the experts and shares practical advice based on his own experiences to help readers tap into his font of chutzpah. Full of his usual positivity and enthusiasm, it’s a lovely book for any age group and will remind you to enjoy every day. CHILDREN’S BOOK OF THE WEEK The President’s Dog by Peter Donnelly is published by Gill Books, priced €14.99 Following hot on the heels of The President's Glasses, The President’s Cat and The President’s Surprise, Michael D is back and this time his beloved dog is with him. In the story, when the President goes hiking and gets stuck on a mountain, it’s up to his brave and loyal Bernese Mountain dog Misneach to get help. A story about courage and friendship, it’s beautifully illustrated and is ideal for the small people in your life. It’s all the more poignant as the President's dog Bród passed away earlier this year and it underpins that bond between humans and animals that is so special. WW Hodder & Stoughton, priced published by Hachette Books Kennedy clan in their heyday by Francis Brennan is published national treasure, who brings
WOMANSWAY.IE 47 HOT LIST By Niamh O’Reilly For those of us who grew up or lived through the late 1980s and early 1990s, the word ‘supermodel’ is one that is synonymous with glamour and success. It’s also a word that’s forever associated with a shift that happened within the fashion industry, and it has never been the same since. This four-part docuseries explores the careers of Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Linda Evangelista and Christy Turlington, who are often referred to as the original supermodels. Now in their fi fties, the four women have come together to refl ect on their careers during this pivotal time in the fashion industry, when they essentially helped to rewrite the rule book. The quartet even recreated their iconic January 1990 Vogue cover for the September issue. Naomi, Cindy, Linda and Christy all rose to fame around the same time. The dawn of the '90s heralded a brand-new world, and these four young women captured a feeling that was growing amongst women. Now was their time to take control of their own lives. The documentary pulls together archive footage of the women at the height of their popularity, and it’s remarkable to be immersed back into that world and remember just how famous they were. We hear from designers, and the likes of Vogue’s Edward Enninful, who refl ect on the supermodels' impact on the industry. At the time, the supermodels' popularity began to grow beyond the runway and, barring one or two exceptions in the past, this was the fi rst time that models became worldfamous celebrities outside the industry itself. In our current world where the fashion and modelling industry has irrevocably changed and is much more intertwined with celebrity, it’s hard to cast our minds back to how much of a game-changer this group of women were. They not only ruled the runway, but they went on to front ad campaigns, launch brands and businesses, and appear in fi lms and TV. Things commonplace today for models and infl uencers, but back then it was an alien concept. Linda Evangelista famously once quipped, “We don’t wake up for less than $10,000 a day”. The new interviews with each of the women is where the real interest lies however, and we hear that life wasn’t all champagne in bath tubs and lavish parties. Naomi Campbell talks about the racism she encountered within the industry, where she would be booked to walk in high-profi le shows, but not close the same advertising campaigns her peers did. Linda Evangelista was told to lose weight. Not to mention all of the women were working in a pre #metoo era where sexually inappropriate behaviour was common and went largely unquestioned. Ultimately, what shines through is that their unity and friendship is what helped these women navigate the uncharted waters they found themselves in and changing times they were the catalyst for. WW The Super Models is streaming now on AppleTV+ AppleTV+ brings us back to the '80s for a deep dive into the original quartet of supermodels. Pose Strikea Linda Evangelista , Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Cindy Crawford Cindy Crawford
48 WOMANSWAY.IE Hot Right Now… CINEMA TRIP Dumb Money Dumb Money in many ways feels like the funnier, cooler companion piece to The Big Short (2015). It’s also one of a glut of recent films that have turned seemingly everyday stories like the advent of Tetris, to WeWork to even the Blackberry phone into something much more dramatic. The story behind Dumb Money, however, is genuinely dramatic. It follows the 2021 GameStop saga, a real-life David and Goliath situation, where real people took on Wall Street through a video game shop stock buy-up. Paul Dano plays Keith Gill, who ploughs his and his wife’s (Shailene Woodley) savings into GameStop stocks after starting an underground movement via Reddit and YouTube. The Wall Street executives are played brilliantly by Seth Rogen, Vincent D’Onofrio and Nick Offerman, who get nicely stung by the movement of real people including single mum, America Ferrera. The ensemble cast works really well to tell the multi-layered story, but if anything, it feels like they tried to squeeze too much into the run time. Still, the writing is smart enough and it has enough laughs and human drama to keep you invested until the end. In cinemas now TV PICKS Grá ar an Trá Who doesn’t recall spending time in the Whether you want a big screen outing, or you prefer to snuggle in front of the TV, Niamh O’Reilly’s got a packed line-up of entertainment for the fortnight ahead. Shailene Woodley and Paul Dano in Dumb Money Gaeltacht as a young teenager and finding love for the first time? Well, the idea has been taken and turned into a new dating show, but for grown-ups. There’s no denying shows about Síomha Ní Ruairc , Gráinne Seoige and James Kavanagh
WOMANSWAY.IE 49 HOT LIST finding love are having a moment right now, and while I don’t think we’ll ever top the heights of Cilla’s original Blind Date on a Saturday evening, Grá ar an Trá does sound like a slice of nostalgic fun. Gráinne Seoige, James Kavanagh and Síomha Ní Ruairc will put 10 singletons through their paces as they head to the Gaeltacht, to both brush up on their cúpla focal while also looking for love. The winners will be the couple with the most focail, walking away with a grand prize to the value of €10,000. Available on Virgin Media One Strictly Come Dancing Get your sequins ready because the most entertaining show of the year is back. All our favourite judges have returned, Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse, as 15 brand new well-known faces get ready to strut their stuff on the Strictly ballroom. Who will take the glitterball this year is anyone's guess. Although I think it’s safe to say we’ll be rooting for our own Angela Scanlon to take the gong. There’s also Angela Rippon, who, at 79, will be the oldest contestant in the show’s history. Channel 4 newsman Krishnan GuruMurthy will also be donning the sequins, as well as actors Bobby Brazier and Nigel Harman, plus lots more. With specials for Halloween and movie week, it’s one of those rare shows that multiple generations can sit down and watch together and be thoroughly entertained. Saturday evening on BBC One Who Killed Jill Dando? Jill Dando’s death in 1999 was a hugely shocking event that many of us still remember today. The reason it was so shocking was that it happened in broad daylight on her own doorstep. Dando was one of the best-known broadcasters on the BBC. She was the face of Crimewatch at the time of her death, and the idea that she could be brutally murdered on her own porch sent shockwaves around the world. Barry George was arrested and convicted but after an appeal was acquitted and released, which means the case remains Maeve Binchy Oktoberfeis unsolved. This new three-part true crime series delves back into what was one of the biggest homicide investigations in British history. Using archived footage, new research and interviews, it tries to get to the bottom of just who killed Jill. Streaming on Netflix from September 26 EVENTS Echoes Maeve Binchy’s impact on the Irish literary scene continues to be felt long after her passing. Indeed most of us can remember picking up one of her many books at some point in our lives and the effect it had on us. This event celebrates both her work and that of many other Irish writers at large and takes place in Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre from October 6 - 8. The theme this year is Together We Rise and it boasts an impressive line-up of events and speakers, such as Francis Brennan, Aingeala Flannery, Edel Coffey, Emer McLysaght, Donal Fallon, The class of Strictly Come Dancing 2023 Jill Dando Clodagh Finn, Nicola Tallant, Jim Culleton, Dominic Dromgoole, Karina Molloy, Lia Mills, Oliver Callan and many more. Full details and all booking at echoes.ie Oktoberfeis You read that right. This quirky event is an Irish twist on the Bavarian beer festival. On paper it seems like the perfect partnership – Irish craic and German beer. With performances from the best of the Irish trad scene such as Whistlin' Donkeys, George Murphy & The Rising Sons, and Rake the Ashes, attendees can expect a high-octane day out. There will be lots of authentic Irish food stalls, roving performers and plenty of opportunities to have a bit of a dance. Plus those who love the German beer festivals of autumn will be kept happy with long biergarten tables and steins of beer. Oktoberfeis will be popping up at locations around the country, but the biggest event will take place at the RDS Simmonscourt on Friday October 6. WW Visit oktoberfeis.ie for tickets.
LETTERS 50 WOMANSWAY.IE Online... womansway.ie Subscribe... 01 240 5363 Email... [email protected] Facebook... facebook.com/womansway Twitter... twitter.com/Womans_way 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. STAR LETTERPRIZE One lucky star letter will win a hamper of Sally Hansen Miracle Gel Polishes, offering you the closest experience to a professional salon gel manicure from the comfort of your own home. This revolutionary polish has patented technology, ensuring a fl awless wear for up to 14 days, all without the need of a UV lamp. Simply apply your preferred colour and fi nish with a matte or shiny topcoat to achieve a salon-worthy manicure that's both stunning and long-lasting. Sally Hansen products are available from Boots and pharmacies nationwide. weather conditions so will wait until next year to try it out properly. Mary Shaughnessy, Co Cork Baby of the Year My family left Ireland in 1993 but when we lived in Ireland, I bought Woman's Way religiously every week. We visited Ireland this week and as soon as I saw the magazine, I bought it and was delighted to see it was as good as ever for its bright and informative journalism. But I was wondering if you still do the Baby of the Year competition as my eldest daughter, Lorraine, won this competition in (I think 1984 !). She's 40 years old now with a beautiful baby boy of her own (who would defi nitely win Baby of the Year now if it was still going... but I suppose I am prejudiced). Just wanted to write to say congratulations, thank you and long may Woman’s Way continue. Mrs Maureen Smyth Going Barefoot I love walking barefoot so I gave running without socks or shoes a go. Sadly I’ve had to put the runners back on. I tried it in the garden but the wet grass isn’t that pleasant and I can’t help but dread stepping in something, er... unsavoury. I can however see how it would be really nice to do in the right Pet Grief Lovely feature on dealing with pet grief, thanks for the pick-me-up. I really needed a bit of comfort after my cat got run over by a car. It’s affected me more than I thought it should, so reading about the fact that grieving for a pet is something to make time for, I’m giving myself a bit of break. The more I age, the more I fi nd it’s important to not just be kind to others, but to ourselves too. Lorna Friedman, Co Dublin Laundromats Have any of your readers considered ditching the washing machine in favour of going to a laundromat? I met a community of ladies doing their wash in my local one, after my washer decided it couldn’t cope with the daily cycles. Some ladies told me their electricity bills are so high, they think it’s cheaper to do their wash there than at home. I’m getting my washer fi xed as I’m not sure that can be the case but would love to hear Great to see young and talented Irish women like Vogue grace the cover of Woman’s Way. I’m amazed to see how many celebrities there are nowadays, I can hardly keep up with who’s who. Back in the day we had a handful and now there must be hundreds, which I think is great. It makes it more democratic and gives everyone who works hard a shot. I really enjoy keeping up to speed with the latest trends and people to watch for thanks to your articles and interviews. I love that your interviewees all have their heart in the right place. They are doing an amazing job juggling family life and successful careers, it’s really inspiring. Joanne McCullagh, Co Donegal from other readers who might have done some of the maths on this. Elaine O’Mahony, Co Dublin