FAMILY, HOME & WELLNESS STYLE & BEAUTY PICKS €2000 + AMAZING PRIZES Wedding Guest Costs KEEP THEM DOWN 44 Colfi n MADE IN OUR IRELAND JUMP INTO SUMMER SPECIAL ISSUE Summer Lovin’ SUMMER SORTED Style inspo NEW BEGINNINGS Colfi n NOLAN THE HAIRY BIKERS Fast, fresh recipes AIRFRYER RECIPES BE SUN SAFE PREVENTING MELANOMA Channelling Bridgerton Summer Lovin’ Colfi n GO RUCKING? WHAT’S THAT? Issue 11 June 3rd 2024 €3.50 (NI stg £3)
CONTENTS ON THE COVER Online... womansway.ie Subscribe... 01 4569872 Email... [email protected] Facebook... facebook.com/womansway TikTok... @womansway1 Instagram... Womans_way MUM OF THE YEAR AWARDS WIN WIN WIN HOME & GARDEN FOOD & DRINK FASHION & BEAUTY Cover image Martin Higgs Photography 54 Greek Cuisine: Fusion food. 58 Hairy Dieters: The Hairy Bikers’ Medinspired dishes. 60 3 Healthy Air Fryer Recipes: From chicken to s’mores. 46 Going Natural: Interiors inspo. 48 Perfect Colour: Shades for every aspect. 62 New Garden: Starting from scratch. 64 Edible Flowers: How to grow tasty blooms. 66 What a buzz: Ways to attract more bees to your garden. 18 Suzie’s Dream: Meet fi nalist Suzie O’Neill of Irish beauty brand Ayu. 14 Dungarvan Park Hotel: A two-night family break in Waterford. 16 Bondi Sands: A €500 tanning hamper. 28 Polly & Andy: Rainboots and socks for the entire family. 70 Triton: An Amala Metallics electric shower. 4 Coleen Nolan: The singer and TV personality talks about fi nding love again and touring without her sisters. 12 Summer Sorted: Inspo for the new season. 20 Blooming Lovely: Co Leitrim garden designer Leonie Cornelius. 42 Island Paradise: Soaking up the rays at the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. Coleen Nolan Page 4 22 Dealing with Redness: Intense Pulsed Light therapy. 24 Liz Earle at 60: The skincare founder’s age-related tips. 26 Dealing with Hard Water: How to prevent hair and skin damage. 29 Sock It To ‘Em: The humble sock is hot. 30 Power Sleeves: From puff sleeves to frilled. 32 Becoming Penelope: Bridgerton-inspired looks. Going Natural Page 46 Greek Cuisine Page 54 Suzie’s Dream Page 18 Online... womansway.ie Email... [email protected] 42 Island Paradise: up the rays at the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint Kitts and Nevis. 12 Summer Sorted: Inspo for 20 Blooming Lovely: Co Leitrim garden designer 42 Island Paradise: Soaking up the rays at the Caribbean dual-island nation of Saint JUMP INTO SUMMER SPECIAL 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 Carifi a xx 38 Tulip Time: Amsterdam’s show garden highlights. 40 La Dolce Vita: A family trip to Rome. 45 Spa Break: A delightful night away. 84 Cutting Wedding Costs: Ways to save if you’re a guest. 86 Ordinary People: The Tattooist of Auschwitz author Heather Morris opens up. 88 Like a Virgin: Richard Branson looks back on his daredevil life. 74 Dealing with Aches: An athlete’s tips on getting older. 76 Flush Away: Rosacea. 78 What is Rucking?: The latest fi tness fad. 80 Tackling Melanoma: Understanding the skin cancer. 82 Cold or hayfever?: The telltale signs. 9 We Love: The WW team shares what they’re loving - and what they’re not. 34 Entertainment: Check out our top picks. 50 You Said It: Reader’s letters and pictures. 52 Timeout: Take a break, try our quiz and Prize Crossword. 68 Knitting: Light-up robot. 71 Horoscopes: What’s in the stars for you? 73 Ask Fiona: Our columnist answers reader dilemmas. 91 Lend a Hand: Ways to give back. 92 Quick Fire: Author Edel Coffey. 93 Hacks: Buying and selling online. 94 Why Is This a Thing: Padded bras. Hello, Welcome to our Jump into Summer Special issue. To be perfectly frank, after two weeks of packing, moving and then unpacking (partially!), dealing with utilities (groan) and generally feeling permanently stressed 24/7, all I really want to do is jump into bed and sleep for a week. But hey, it'll be over soon and I'll be ready to take the Irish summer by storm. It's most defi nitely my favourite time of year. All that daylight does wonders for my energy levels. I love watching fl owers come into bloom and the pollinators fl itting between them. In this issue, we've got some great advice on how to make your garden as pollinator friendly as possible, along with some great tips on growing edible fl owers. We're also kicking off the Woman's Way Beko Mother of the Year award with a profi le of our very fi rst nominee, Suzie O'Neill. And if you're thinking of treating yourself to something new for the new season, we've got plenty of shopping inspo to get your summer sorted. With the amazing Coleen Nolan openning her heart to us on love, life and taking on new challenges, it's been a fantastic issue to put together. So sit back, put your feet up and enjoy every page of Ireland's favourite women's magazine. Le grá, Publisher: Norah Casey Editor: Carissa Casey Deputy Editor: Andrea Smith Contributing Editor: Astrid Madsen Contributors: Áine O'Connor, Chrissie Russell, Domhnall O'Donoghue Art Director: Karl O’Toole Designers: Áine Duffy and Susan Conley Subscriptions: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Woman’s Way, June 3, 2024 Vol.62 Issue 11 La Dolce Vita Page 40 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 Ask Fiona Page 73 Cold or hayfever? Page 82
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IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 5 Colfi n continues overleaf >> was a trained opera singer and her dad a “Sinatra-type crooner”, and there was more work for them there. “I was born three years later – I think it was probably a bit of a mistake,” she laughs. “It was great growing up as we lived in a little three-bedroom terrace in Blackpool. It was always chaos with ten of us living there. I don't think my brothers ever got to use the bathroom. I have nothing but great memories of it. We had a great childhood.” The older children in the family started singing with their dad Tommy when their mum Maureen was pregnant with one of Coleen’s siblings and couldn’t do a gig. “That’s how it began, and apparently when I came along, the fi rst thing they said before they knew whether I was a girl or a boy was that they hoped I could sing,” she says. Her dad worked in an offi ce by day and he and the family performed together at night as the Singing Nolans. Coleen was only two the fi rst time she stood on a stage and she enjoyed travelling around the country with her family. “It was a different childhood, but it was great, and equally, “It was actually Linda who told me to do it now. ‘You might not have next year, you know,’ she said. ‘Look at Bernie. We were going to go on tour again and then she got diagnosed and we lost her’. So that really gave me the push to say I'm going to do it now.” Coleen toured the UK a few months ago and will embark on an Irish tour later this year. She called the UK tour Naked as she felt vulnerable and exposed without her sisters beside her on stage. “I was terrifi ed, especially on the opening night,” she admits. “I had proper stage fright. It's been so long since I had performed and, even then, that was with my sisters in 2009. Going out there on your own is a completely different experience but I'm so glad I've done it. I really enjoyed it and relaxed as the tour went on and I loved the reception I got from the lovely people who came to the shows.” FAMILY LIFE Born the youngest of eight children, all of Coleen’s siblings – Tommy, Brian, Anne, Denise, Maureen, Linda and the late Bernie – were born in Ireland. She arrived after her family moved to England because her parents were both singers. Her mum Losing her beloved sister Bernie to breast cancer in 2013 and having two other sisters diagnosed with the same illness has proved a catalyst for Coleen Nolan to embark on a solo music career. Anne, the eldest of the family singing group, The Nolan Sisters, is in remission from breast cancer for the second time. Linda’s cancer, which began in her breast, has sadly now spread to her brain. Last year, Coleen (58) found that she had skin cancer – basal cell carcinoma – on her shoulder and pre-melanoma on her face, which have been successfully treated. She decided to go back touring as a solo performer because she missed the buzz of the live circuit, but these family illnesses also inspired her to grab hold of life. “Losing Bernie and Linda's further diagnosis does make you question your mortality and your own life,” she tells Woman’s Way. “I kept thinking, ‘If it comes to a point where I can't do anything again, what will be the one thing I regret I didn't do?’ Performing was it and that scared the hell out of me. I just didn't think I could do it as I've never done it on my own so I said maybe I’d do it next year. Coleen Nolan tells Andrea Smith about fi nding love again and touring without her sisters. Maith an
6 WOMANSWAY.IE there are definitely moments when I look back and think, ‘I definitely didn't have a normal childhood’,” she says. “I remember all my friends are going to go and join the Brownies, and I couldn't go because we had a gig in Scotland or somewhere like that.” When asked about school, Coleen says that she wasn’t academic. “Oh Christ, no! I loved sports and I was good at English and stuff like that, but maths? Forget it, I'm still rubbish at maths. “To be honest with you, we never got a chance around school really, and more so for my older siblings. They missed a lot actually because of performing and I probably went to school more. I think we thought we didn't need to be at school as we were already working. You couldn't do that now because there are so many laws brought in now around children performing. You certainly didn't get fined if the kids weren’t at school back then.” As the youngest, Coleen “got away with murder”. Although she harboured ambitions to be a vet as she loved animals, she ultimately joined the family singing group. Her dad assured her that she didn't have to join if she wanted to do something else, but she didn't relish the idea of spending many years training at veterinary college either. “And then I realised that animals don't like vets,” she says. “It was a scary moment because it was a big decision to make. Do I want to join my sisters or do I want to try and do my own thing?” Luckily for fans, Coleen decided to join the girls and was 15 when she became part of the Nolan Sisters. It really took off after that with many hit records and successful tours, and although live performance touring was always her favourite aspect of being in the band, Coleen is a homebody and always loved going home again. “But looking back now as I’m older, I think, ‘Wow, that was absolutely amazing’,” she says. “We had such incredible experiences, because although we were successful over here, it was on a different level when we went to Japan. We had moments where we couldn't leave our room or hotel because of all the fans that were there. It was such a shock to the system but it was thrilling as well.” The sisters operated democratically and always voted to make decisions, although Coleen admits that family dynamics meant that she was viewed as the ‘baby’ of the group. Losing Bernie brough the family even closer, and they really make time for one another. “Linda is amazing in the way she deals with her cancer and is still here after all these years,” she says. “It's a constant thing though, and she goes and has check-ups and scans every three months, and it The Nolan Sisters in 1983 left to right: Linda, Anne, Bernie, Coleen and Maureen Nolan
IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 7 “Loose Women put me on Tinder for the show, and by the end of it, I was having so much fun, I didn't delete it” hasn't progressed so the treatments are working. And we're just glad of every extra day that we're all getting together.” SELF-CARE With such a family history, Coleen is always checking herself and gets regular mammograms and gets examined every year by a breast specialist. She admits that this helps her from becoming paranoid about her health. “I'm conscious of it and hopefully if I do get cancer, I’ll be like Anne, as she found it very early and dealt with it very early both times,” she says. Coleen took a break from the group when she had two children, Shane and Jake, with her fi rst husband, actor Shane Richie. “Shane's career had really, really taken off,” she says. “I chose to stay at home with the boys because I wasn't enjoying the work we were doing at that point and I was having to leave my kids to do it. I had the luxury of making that choice and I loved being a stay-at-home mum. Then obviously things took a turn and I had to go back to doing what I did.” By taking ‘a turn’, Coleen is referring to the end of her marriage to Shane. She moved out and shared bringing up the boys with her ex, with whom she has remained friends. She moved from Buckinghamshire to Blackpool as her family were all based there so she could start working again. Coleen’s TV career with Loose Women started in 1999 when she went on as a guest to talk about the end of her marriage. “I got on well with the girls and they asked me back as a guest panellist and then I became a regular panellist,” she says. “I was already doing Loose Women by the time I met Ray.” Musician Ray Fensome became Coleen’s second husband and they had a daughter together, Ciara, although they are no longer together. Ciara is currently off travelling and has just got engaged to her fi ancé Max, much to Coleen’s delight. Max asked her permission before they left for their travels and she was so excited and couldn't wait for her future son-in-law to actually pop the question. Of her sons, Jake is a musician and actor who will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe in August, and Shane is a singer and has been Coleen’s support act on tour. “He went down a bloody bomb,” she smiles. Having left music behind, Coleen did lots of exciting things like Dancing on Ice and Celebrity Big Brother, and has really enjoyed the TV side of her career. “It was quite nice to feel a bit independent,” she says. “When you're in any group or especially in a family group, if one of us said something, it became, ‘The Nolans said…’ and you’d be sitting around thinking, ‘No, we didn’t all say that’. It was something new and my family were so shocked that I ended up doing the talk show, because I was the one who never talked when we did interviews. They’d be saying afterwards, ‘Would you please talk’.” On the romantic front, Coleen is blissfully happy in her new relationship with her partner Michael Jones, although by her own admission, she was “over” men and “absolutely not interested” when they met. “I've been in long-term relationships from such an early age that I needed to be on my own for a while,” she says. “We were in lockdown and it was just me and the kids and their partners and I absolutely loved it. Then Loose Women put me on Tinder for the show, and by the end of it, I was having so much fun, I didn't delete it. I never dreamed I'd actually meet someone but I met Michael. Bless him, I put him through the mill because I’d never met anyone like him and I just didn't know how to handle it.” Coleen found Michael very different to both of her ex-husbands, as he wasn’t in showbiz and has a “normal” job in retail. She wanted somebody tactile and romantic, and when Michael was all of that, she didn’t know how to handle it. “Michael was just so patient and he gave me time because I'd fi nish with him and then I'd really miss him,” she says. “And I started having therapy because I was so confused. He was providing every single thing I wanted and I was pushing him away, and it was because I was constantly reverting to type, even though that type doesn't provide me with what I wanted.” Coleen said the relationship has just become “better and better and better” and she is so happy and madly in love now. She and Michael are just about to move to a farmhouse where she can have all of her beloved animals – dogs, cats, goats and her horse Paddy. “I'd love to one day think I could open an animal sanctuary of some kind,” she says. “That would be a dream.” In the meantime, planning her house move and Irish tour is keeping her busy and she can't wait to come here. “Although I wasn't born in Ireland, every member of my family and all my relatives are Irish,” she says. “It still feels like home really even though I never lived or grew up there. I have such an affi nity with it that even when we were planning this tour, I was like, ‘We have to go to Ireland’.” WW Follow Coleen on instagram.com/coleen_nolan, where her Irish tour dates will be posted.
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WOMANSWAY.IE 9 Carifi a Loves... Deep Cover Podcast My head’s too busy for much reading but I’ve been loving this podcast series from Pushkin FM (visit pushkin.fm). I binged through the fi rst three series; deep dives into major crime-adjacent stories, all of which are fascinating. Great Moves House moves are a nightmare no matter how well organised you are. Ours was pretty stressy to be honest. The one oasis of calm and effi ciency was the moving team; Wes and the Fallon Brothers from Allens Removals. Huge thank you to them for their endless good humour, patience and, above all, ability to get all our stuff from A to B safely and quickly. WW Anna Wintour At 74, the Vogue editor looked amazing on the red carpet at the recent Met Gala in New York. Yup she’s scary, yup I’d be terrifi ed to actually meet her, but she’s a seriously classy woman who’s still moving and shaking things up, regardless of her age. My Skincare I felt a tad guilty taking time out for a facial in the run-up to the move. But it was so worth it. I had the Image Signature Facial at the My Skincare clinic in Ballinteer and all my stress melted away. Not only did my skin look positively glowing afterwards but my head was clear and I could fi nally focus on what I needed to do. Highly recommend. Visit myskincare.ie
10 WOMANSWAY.IE Magical Cardiff I went to Cardiff to see the Pretty Woman musical, which is coming to Bord Gáis in Dublin in July. Review coming soon, but I’d get booking if I were you as it’s excellent. Anyway, when we arrived in the city, we went to Bill’s for breakfast, and as a pescetarian, I was thrilled that there were so many great choices for nonmeat-eaters on the menu. I was spoiled for choice, which is a rare occurrence. Then we had lunch at The Alchemist, which as its name suggests, serves its dishes and drinks with a side order of magic. With dry ice and smoke billowing out of our drinks, we thoroughly enjoyed the theatrics. AndreaLoves... A decade of Izzy My beautiful niece and god-daughter Izzy invited us to Laois to celebrate her tenth birthday. She’s the kindest, funniest, sparkliest girl with curly hair that I’d die for, and she has a better skincare routine than I do. We love you so much Izzy. It was loverly I’ve been a sucker for a bit of amateur dramatics ever since I played Bill Sykes in my school’s production of Oliver. I was hoping to be cast as Nancy, but, well, it was an all-girls’ school. Anyway, I went to see St Agnes’ Musical Society in Crumlin’s production of My Fair Lady and it was excellent. Congratulations to my pals, Seán and Robert Dowling, who were in fi ne voice as Henry Higgins and Freddy Eynsford-Hill, respectively. WW Robert (l) and Seán (r) were am dram stars Back on the Beeb After our interview with Hilary Rose (who plays Mairéad) in the last issue, I couldn’t wait to see the new series of The Young Offenders. It was weird that it aired on BBC - you can only imagine what the Brits make of us if they base their view on the characters in Mrs Brown’s Boys and The Young Offenders. It was a hoot, as always, even though I had hoped deep down that Jock and Conor would somehow make it in life, rather than both ending up in prison. Anyway I’m thrilled it’s back and while the characters may be a bit older, they're defi nitely not any wiser - thankfully...
WOMANSWAY.IE 11 Memory Garden Mags garden is teeming with memories of childhood days making daisy chains, makeshift horse-show fences we leapt over with gusto, secret hideaways and always fl owers, birds and butterfl ies. This time of year the front garden comes to life, lovingly tended by herself; the back garden grows wild, a gift to all the little creatures and us grown-up Casey kids who call the Phoenix Park home. All Wrapped Up Truthfully, there are few hair gadgets I don’t own. I have a mild obsession with the latest curlers and straighteners, the kind that make hair wavy, that crimp and do that beachy look. And then this little piece of hair magic arrived, courtesy of the loveliest PR woman, Avila Lipsett, and I am in heaven. The Dyson Airwrap is my hair’s best friend. It drys quickly and smoothly and my curls look natural but most of all it’s shiny and healthy looking because I am not heating and beating it into submission. It’s cooler in so many ways. Norah Loves... Love Film As I write this I am on an Aer Lingus plane heading to the south of France for the 77th Festival de Cannes. I have to pinch myself sometimes at moments like this. The same girl, chief daisy-chain maker in Mags garden, speaking, hosting and mingling at the best celebration of fi lm in the world. And it’s my world now too. How lucky am I? WW The Dress I adore colour. After so many years in the boardroom where I lived in black or navy, I now embrace bold bright clothes. I walk into a shop and scan the horizon for greens, sapphire blues or bright magenta. And then I spotted this fab dress in Dunnes. All the colours in one fabulous frock. I love it.
SHOPPING Whether it’s a new gúna, a cool pair of shades or a gorgeously scented Sorted candle, we all deserve a little treat now that summer’s fi nally here. So we’ve trawled through the shops in search of that perfect something to celebrate warmer days. Even if you’re only window shopping, enjoy… Whether it’s a new gúna, a cool pair of shades or a gorgeously scented Sorted candle, we all deserve a little treat now that summer’s fi nally here. So we’ve trawled through the shops in search of that perfect something to celebrate warmer days. Even if you’re only window shopping, enjoy… 12 WOMANSWAY.IE Aynsley Cottage Garden Mug Set €30 Fatboy Inflatable Chair €89 Gucci Butterfly Shades €430 Guinot Gommage Biologic €48 H&M Linen Blend Shirt €19.99 Zara Satin Midi Dress €55.95 NEW SEASON SHOPPING INSPO
By Carissa Casey WOMANSWAY.IE 13 Dunnes Stores Paul Costelloe Midi Dress €70 Ganni Large Tote €115 Rathwood Geisha Parasol €139 Stance Secret Garden Socks €15
COMPETITION COMPETITION 14 WOMANSWAY.IE A TWO-NIGHT STAY Win IN WATERFORD To enter, please answer the following question: IN WHAT COUNTY IS THE DUNGARVAN PARK HOTEL LOCATED? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by June 3 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Dungarvan Park Hotel 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. To celebrate the arrival of summer, the four-star Dungarvan Park Hotel is offering one lucky reader a family stay at the hotel for two nights including breakfast both mornings, dinner on an evening of their choice and bike hire so you can explore the nearby Waterford Greenway. The four-star Park Hotel Dungarvan, part of the Flynn Hotel Collection, is an ideal destination for families, energetic couples and activity loving groups seeking to discover the Waterford Greenway (which starts just across the road) or stunning landscapes of County Waterford. Located within Ireland’s Ancient East, the area around Dungarvan is renowned for its Copper Coast, Waterford Greenway and Comeragh Mountains. To check out more things to do, visit dungarvantourism.com. Prices for this package start at €205 per night; for more about activity breaks and summer getaways at Dungarvan Park Hotel, book online or contact reception on +353 (0)58 42899. Visit parkhoteldungarvan.com.
WOMANSWAY.IE 15 SHOPPING Jaeger Linen Skater Dress €185 Jo Malone Lime, Basil and Mandarin Cologne from €64 Levis 501 Shorts €52.50 Magee Cora Skirt €150 Magee Tara Top €125 Massimo Dutti Rafia Bag €169 Max Benjamin Seville Orange Blossom Candle & Diffuser from €28 Nimue Sun-C Tinted SPF 40 €52 Orla Kiely + Regatta prices from €30 RHS Exotic Garden Duvet Set from €50 Samsonite Cabin Bag €259 Tom Ford Rose Garden Eyeshadow Quad €89
COMPETITION To enter, please answer the following question: BONDI SANDS OFFERS SALONQUALITY FORMULAS. TRUE OR FALSE? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by June 3 to: womansway@ harmonia.ie including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Bondi Sands Competition’ This Woman's Way competition is open to anyone resident in NI and the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and over, except employees and their families of Harmonia Publishing, its printers and anyone else connected with the competition. No purchase is necessary. We will only accept one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by drawing entries after the closing date. Winners will be notifi ed by email. The editor’s decision is fi nal. 16 WOMANSWAY.IE One lucky reader will win a tanning hamper from Bondi Sands worth €500. The goodie bag includes Bondi Sands foams, mitts, lotions, milks, moisturisers, and everything else you need for a perfect tan. Australian-made Bondi Sands products offer salon-quality formulas to give you an even, naturally golden tan that hydrates and nourishes your skin, meaning you stay bronzed for longer. WIN A €500 Tanning Hamper
WOMANSWAY.IE 17 Karl Loves... Sing it loud A friend of mine brought this book to my attention recently. Its aim, to teach children (and their parents) the Irish National Anthem Amhrán na bhFiann. It explains the background of the Irish national anthem with great historical stories and illustrations with 38 pages including games, quizzes, word search and more. It's written, printed and produced in the Republic of Ireland. I'll be busy posting copies of the book to Sydney, Perth and Wellington to nieces and nephews soon. Available at learnouranthem.ie and abairlinn.ie. WW The sound of music I'm a big fan of the band Bonny Light Horseman. I caught them last year at The National Concert Hall. Their new album Keep Me on Your Mind/See You Free due out in July is an ode to the blessed mess of our humanity. Interestingly, the album began while the band visited a pub called Levis Corner House, Ballydehob, Co Cork. Amazingly a painting that hung on a wall of the pub became the album cover. How cool is that. Available at spindizzyrecords.com. Champions My niece Meadhbh Ward and her team Coolkenno recently won the Division 3 Wicklow LGFA Féile in Ballinakill, Co Wicklow. It was an exciting day with four teams competing against each other; Coolkenno, Clan na Gael, Clara and Ashford. The games resulted in a clash between Coolkenno and Ashford with Coolkenno being crowned the Champions on the day and now go on to represent Wicklow in a Division 3 Féile. Here is Meadhbh proudly holding the cup on the shoulders of her teammate Isabella Holligan. Hard work always pays off! Ahh sneakers... Sneakers, my Achilles' heel. I love this collaberation between Addidas and Moncler. It's a version of the Addidas NMD with the Moncler style that creates this amazing high-top traner. I'm not going to mention the price. I guess I'll have to start saving. Available at brownthomas.com .
18 WOMANSWAY.IE college and had to go back to work when Ollie was only six weeks old,” she explains. “I was working six days a week, three of those were 12-hour days, and I felt guilty that I wasn’t getting to see him. It felt like a good time to go out by myself and make the change to do what I wanted to do.” First came a line of makeup brushes, then a move into makeup, fuelled by a personal revelation. Suzie explains: “I was trying to sell the brushes and also be the mum of a newborn, but I got to the stage where I wasn’t brushing my hair, there was no makeup on every day, just tracksuits all the time and I noticed I just started to lose all my confi dence. “If I went to the supermarket and saw someone I knew, I would turn around and drive back out because I’d got to a point where I didn’t want to take my eyes off the ground in case somebody noticed me.” LIGHT TOUCH At the heart of the Ayu brand is the idea that sometimes a little bit of makeup isn’t so much about how we look, but how it can impact on how we feel inside. “It’s not about a full face of makeup, but little touches and techniques that can really make you feel better,” explains Suzie. “I just don’t want any woman to feel the way I felt, where they don’t feel themselves or confi dent, I want women to know that they are absolutely worthy of feeling amazing.” She adds: “I think as well, to look after other people, to look after kids, you still have to look after yourself too. You can’t function properly unless you’re feeling well in yourself.” Her personal hero product, and one of Ayu’s best-selling and multi-award winners, is concealer. “I have really red eyes all the time, it’s hereditary and it doesn’t matter how much sleep I get, but I go by a mirror and see my red eyes and think, ‘Oh God’,” sighs Suzie. “So concealer is my number one, I put a little bit of that on and I feel brighter, I feel better.” Today Ayu – the name comes from an Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year fi nalist Suzie O’Neill tells Chrissie Russell about facilitating other parents’ schedules at her beauty company, Ayu. From the outside looking in, Suzie O’Neill looks the epitome of ‘having it all’: a thriving beauty empire, a gorgeous family, effortless style, even a devoted online following. But the mum-oftwo laughs at the idea that she’s got everything under control. “I was thinking to myself this morning: ‘If people could only see me now!’,” chuckles Suzie. “I was in my suit and heels, ready for a big meeting, but also sweating trying to get the jerseys from the Gaelic team washed and on the line before getting in the car!” “That’s the reality,” she smiles. “It’s not just fl oating out the door perfect. So much on social media would have you believe that people have it all sussed, but I’ve always tried to be true to myself, especially online, and tell people the bad and the good, because I don’t want anyone to think that everything is easy, or comes easy, or you’re winning all the time, because it’s defi nitely not the case.” Interestingly, it’s exactly this appreciation and understanding of the realities of working-mum life that led the Co Kildare makeup artist to create her now multi-award-winning beauty brand, Ayu, back in 2014. After becoming a mum for the fi rst time (to Ollie, who’ll soon turn 13, and then later Chloe, now 11) Suzie not only struggled to balance childcare with a return to work, but also felt her own sense of self-confi dence slipping away. “I was teaching beauty and makeup in a dream Suzie’s
MUM OF THE YEAR FINALIST WOMANSWAY.IE 19 • 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. Indonesian word meaning ‘very feminine, beautiful’ – has grown from a business started at Suzie’s kitchen table into a global brand. As well as expanding into UK and US markets, there’s a major relaunch of Ayu Glow Tan coming and a host of exciting Irish retail partnerships in the mix, with Kilkenny Design Stores and Brown Thomas now stocking the vegan cosmetics brand. It was only recently, on a family holiday, that Suzie turned off her work phone for the fi rst time in a decade, to enjoy some well-earned time off. “I’d never done it before but I switched off all my socials, my emails, my website, everything,” she admits. “It was hard to do, because I do treat Ayu very much like my third child and I’m so protective of it, but my goodness, that week. I enjoyed every minute of it. “And it showed me not only that I can do it, but also it’s really healthy, because I have an amazing team and it gave them the space to make decisions without me being there on top of them.” There’s no such thing as a ‘typical’ day, as Suzie could be in one of the Ayu shops in Cork or Kildare, in the offi ce for meetings, or at home on calls while the kids do their homework. She and husband Alan juggle childcare with work, and in the early days of Ayu especially, that often meant having the kids on site. Suzie says: “When they were really small they had to come everywhere with me. I’d be going to meetings and they were there, or coming down to the post offi ce with me.” Now they help out with packing and building boxes. “I like that they’ve seen the journey, and I like to involve them so they can appreciate there’s a lot of work being done for them to have the things they do or even have me around,” explains Suzie. “I hope they know how lucky they are that I can skip out of the offi ce for an hour if they have a school match.” That fl exibility is something she’s keen to facilitate for other members of the Ayu team. “I strive in our business to work around kids’ schedules,” says Suzie. “They come in after they drop the kids off, during school holidays most people would work from home or the kids come in if “I’d got to a point where I didn’t want to take my eyes off the ground in case somebody noticed me” they’re off. I just think you have to make it work for the individual.” But she laughs again at the notion of celebrating her position as one of Ireland’s top ‘mumtrepreneurs’. “I don’t think of myself like that,” smiles Suzie. “It still sometimes feels like someone else’s life, or like I’m still the person in her bedroom trying to get this off the ground,” she pauses. “I just feel so lucky to be where we are and have the great customers that we do, I never take it for granted.” WW Visit ayucosmetics.com
20 WOMANSWAY.IE Award-winning garden designer Leonie Cornelius loves creating joyful spaces. Blfi ming lovely I t’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing the garden as just another list of undone tasks. Pruning that needs doing, weeding, mowing, cleaning... But just a few moments of listening to Leonie Cornelius talk passionately on the true purpose of gardens quickly gets you seeing the space in a different, more positive light. The award-winning Co Leitrim garden designer is charismatic in her assertion that our outdoor spaces shouldn’t be about pursuing manicured perfection, but rather creating spaces that work as sanctuaries that bring us joy. Her latest project, Óir – the Zarbee’s Garden, at this year’s Bord Bia Bloom, Ireland’s largest and most spectacular gardening event, is a celebration of that ethos. While it’s undoubtedly been hard work to achieve, the spirit of Leonie’s beautiful Balcony Garden (measuring just 2m x 5m) is fi rmly grounded in the importance of wellbeing, the notion that harmony and connection with nature can be cultivated in even the smallest of outdoor spaces. “What I’m trying to do in the garden this year is reconnect because there’s just such a feeling of disconnect at the moment,” explains Leonie. “But nature is such a powerful antidote to that, it’s such a powerful connector, you can’t walk out into it and not smile. We’ve such a strong psychological reaction to nature because it gives us so much, it really grounds us and balances us.” This year will mark Leonie’s fi fth appearance at Bloom – 12 years on from when she recreated her winning garden from RTÉ show Super Garden, which saw her take Best in Category and a Gold Medal win at her fi rst Bloom. “That was that,” she smiles. “I was addicted to show gardens and went straight back the next year.” Leonie’s love of outdoor spaces started FINDING YOUR PASSION We speak to women who harness their talents to enhance their lives.
WOMANSWAY.IE 21 By Chrissie Russell Óir – the Zarbee’s Garden, designed by Leonie Cornelius will be located in area 19 at Bord Bia Bloom in the Phoenix Park May 30 to June 3, 9am to 6pm, visit bordbiabloom.com. LIFE INSPO young. Born in Germany, she moved as a toddler fi rst to Greece – where her parents spent a year growing plants for essential oils on a Greek island – and then to Ireland when she was seven, after her outdoorloving mum and dad fell in love with Leitrim following a family holiday there. “Mum always grew gardens, from as far back as I can remember she always had food growing,” recalls Leonie (@leonie. cornelius). “My brother and I were always outside, sometimes helping, other times just enjoying that feeling of nature being our playground and space for an adventure – a feeling I still associate with nature now.” She initially completed her studies in interior design in 2006, but the economic situation made it diffi cult to secure employment. Her son was born in 2007 and, after a suggestion from her mum, she signed up for a distant learning course in garden design run by KLC School of Design in Chelsea Harbour, confi dent that she should create a garden design business compatible with being a working mum. “I was ready to go, but I didn’t know how to launch my business,” explains Leonie. “I’d just joined Twitter (now X) in 2012 and saw the call out for Super Garden. I thought, ‘Maybe I should do that?’ I applied, and within fi ve days they came back to say, ‘You’re in’.” Since then, Leonie’s diary has been bursting with clients, she’s created more on-screen gardens, most recently as part of the DIY SOS team, and written a book, Dream Gardens, with another publication now in the pipeline. But she laughs when I ask if her own garden is of ‘show-garden’ status. “It’s the opposite of a show garden,” grins Leonie. “It’s a real garden. I have an amazing view looking out towards a lake, and I just love the wild nature, the crazy meadow colours in summer. I’d rather leave that alone because you can’t add anything to it to improve it.” Elsewhere in the garden are her experimental spaces, a newly-installed orchard, polytunnels for growing vegetables and her 17-year-old son’s basketball court. These are the real-life aspects of garden design she loves to work around with clients. “I love challenges. Show me a trampoline, give me a clothesline - we can fi nd solutions,” says Leonie. “That’s what it’s all about, being creative. I’ve often planted hedges around trampolines so all you see is green or, okay, there’s a clothesline, does it have to be where it is? Can we go for one that retracts?” Thanks to a protruding disc back injury, she’s not been able to do as much handson work lately, but it’s something she’s been able to take a positive from. “It’s actually shown me I can just ‘be’ in nature and experience it without constantly having to be active and replant things,” says Leonie. “I can be in the space and just enjoy being in it.” Ultimately this is what she loves to see, and what she hopes her Óir garden can inspire, as an end goal for all garden owners, big and small – the joy of being in nature. “The best feedback I ever had from a client was a woman who said, ‘You’ve changed our lives’,” reveals Leonie. “She said, ‘We’re actually enjoying doing all these things outside that we thought we could be doing, but we didn’t have the spaces or the circulation that we needed to make the site usable and joyful’,” Leonie smiles. “As a garden designer that is the nicest thing anyone could ever say.” WW 5 tips for designing in small spaces 1>> Use every inch of space Take stock of vertical areas such as walls and railings as well as horizontal fl oors and ceilings. Thinking in 3D means you’re making the most of your space. 2>> Create a concept Think of how you want to feel in the garden and base all decisions around this. 3>> Design for the senses Consider what to plant for scent, what’s pleasing to the eye, what you can hear, taste and touch. If you consider all of these carefully, your garden can become a wonderful experience. 4>> Think multifunctional Small spaces need to work hard – think benching that can become storage, attractive planting that’s also edible. Ensuring things double up for functionality makes the garden give you so much more. 5>> Link to the interior This could be with paint colour, textures, but by blending your interior style onto the outdoor space you’re extending your living space and making it uniquely yours too.
22 WOMANSWAY.IE What is IPL? IPL (Intense Pulsed light) is a type of light therapy which uses wavelengths of light to treat a variety of skin concerns such as irregular pigmentation, age spots, redness, broken blood vessels, and large pores. It can erase years of skin damage without disrupting the skin’s delicate surface. What can I expect afi er a full course of treatment? Often people choose IPL as a treatment option as they have concerns regarding broken capillaries/redness and they may have noticed brown marks/sun spots on their face, decolletage or back of the hands. This is particularly common amongst the fairskinned population of Ireland. The advantage of IPL is the minimal downtime postprocedure. One can see immediate results following each session, with a reduction in the number and size of the broken capillaries, reduced redness and reduced pigmentation due to the age spots/sun spots. The skin is smoother with a more even tone and complexion. How does it work exactly? IPL is a non-invasive, non-ablative treatment that uses high-intensity pulses of visible light. The pulses of light target specifi c chromphores (cells of colour) in the skin such as the red pigment, haemoglobin in the blood or melanin (brown) in the second layer of the skin (dermis). This eradicates redness/brown discolouration without harming the top layer of the skin. Hence there is minimal to no downtime following treatment. What is IPL? Broken capillaries and age spots are the bugbears of ageing skin. Intense Pulsed Light is the solution. Professor Nicola Ralph of the Institute of Dermatologists answers the key questions.Carissa Casey gives the lowdown on the treatment itself. DEALING WITH REDNESS
WOMANSWAY.IE 23 BEAUTY Carissa’s Take I didn’t think my age spots were that bad until I saw the image from the facial analysis at the IDI. Yikes. There were large areas of pigmentation just under the skin which weren’t showing yet. Broken capillaries, particularly around the side of my nose, have long been a problem. I’ve had treatment for them in the past but they’ve come back. I think that’s the skin issue I struggle with the most. True makeup and lots of concealer can make them less prominent but it would be nice to feel I don’t need to wear makeup every day. So analysis done, my nurse, the lovely Joann, handed me a stress ball and we were off on the fi rst of four sessions. Nope it wasn’t painless but it wasn’t terrible either. I’d rate it about four to fi ve, zero being pain free and 10 agonising. It did however jangle my nerves; the fl ash of light from the laser never failed to startle me, particularly when Joann was working under the eyes. After about 30 minutes it was over, the stress ball had seen plenty of action and I felt exhausted. I was a bit puffy for the next day or two but it settled down. Within a week I started to see a difference. The age spots were fading and a lot of the broken capillaries had started to disappear. Three sessions in, I’m getting a lot more comfortable going makeup free. Aside from treating discolouration, I’ve found it’s been great for improving the texture and tone of my skin. It’s a great treatment but to work effectively you do need to be on top of using sunscreen. I’ve been using SPF religiously on my face for the last 10 years or so. (Prior to that I wasn’t that great about sun care.) I’m even more cautious now and have taken to stashing SPF about the place so I always have a tube on hand. For people with serious, confi dencesapping discolouration, I’d say IPL is a game-changer. WW marks/sun spots, they may appear temporarily darker in the days following the procedure. Within a few days to a week one starts to see the true benefi t of the treatment and this continues to improve with each session. How do I look afi er my skin afi er each session? It is vital that broad spectrum, physical/ mineral sunscreen is worn immediately post-procedure and daily to obtain the best benefi t from the treatment and to sustain that benefi t. How painful is it? IPL is easily tolerable without the need for pain relief or numbing creams preprocedure. During the fi rst session it may take a couple of minutes to get used to the fl ash of light resulting in a slight jumpy sensation. However once one knows what to expect, this gets better with time. Each small pulse feels like the pinch of an elastic band and as the procedure progresses there will be the sensation of heat from the skin but the patient will be provided with a fan they can use to cool/ soothe the skin during the procedure. How do I go about choosing a provider? Whenever one is considering any aesthetic procedure it is vital to ensure you feel confi dent in the hands of your provider. You should ensure your chosen provider/clinic uses the latest IPL technology and only employs staff that are highly qualifi ed and knowledgeable about the treatment they are receiving, and ideally there should be doctors available on site should anyone have any concerns. How much, on average, can I expect to pay? A single session of IPL at the Institute of Dermatologists is €250 or €900 for a course of four treatments. The Institute of Dermatologists Ireland (IDI) Cosmetic Suite, is a consultant dermatologistled clinic, offering the most up-to-date cosmetic procedures, laser and aesthetic skincare options for patients in a welcoming and comfortable environment, by a highly trained team of experts. Is it the same as laser? IPL is often called 'laser' as it works on the same principles as lasers, in that light energy is absorbed into particular target cells with colour (chromophores) in the skin. The light energy is converted to heat energy which eradicates the target lesion (broken capillary or age spot). But IPL differs from other lasers in that it delivers many wavelengths of light rather than just one wavelength in each pulse of light. Are there diff erent types of IPL? There are many different brands of IPL machines. At the Institute of Dermatologists, we use the most advanced IPL machine on the market, the Lumenis M22. How many sessions will I need? How is this determined? The recommended number of treatments is a course of four IPL sessions spread over four months. About four weeks is ideal between sessions timed to allow for the skin’s natural regenerative process. Someone with very severe broken capillaries/rosacea may require up to six sessions. We use Vectra 3D Facial analysis during the procedure consultation prior to treatment, to accurately map the extent of one’s redness/broken capillaries and age/ sun spots to plan your patient journey. Are there any side-eff ects? The side-effects from IPL are minimal. If one has a lot of age spots/brown marks they will appear temporarily darker in the days following the procedure and then this will be shed. There may be a few tiny areas of bruising particularly if one has large broken capillaries or if one takes blood thinners. You may also appear temporarily fl ushed/pink due to the heat. What ‘downtime’ will I have afi er each session? IPL is often referred to as a ‘lunchtime’ procedure due to minimal downtime and one can return to a normal routine including wearing makeup immediately after the procedure. The skin may be temporarily fl ushed or pink and there may be very mild swelling. This usually resolves within minutes to a couple of hours. If there are a lot of brown “Within a week I started to see the difference. The age spots were fading and a lot of the broken capillaries had started to disappear” marks/sun spots, they may appear temporarily darker in the days following the procedure. Within a few each session. How do I look afi er my lesion (broken capillary or age skin afi er each session? Professor Nicola Ralph
24 WOMANSWAY.IE New Era not always been plain sailing. When I look back, there are things I wish I’d known at the time that would have made my life better as a working woman and a mother.” She was in denial about ageing for a while, she explains. “The biggest challenge was coming to terms with my actual chronological age. I turned 60 last year and I didn’t want to acknowledge it. I just wanted to crawl under a stone and pretend it wasn’t happening because I didn’t identify with this number. Up until very recently, there hadn’t been many older, inspirational role models. “In my mother’s generation, 60 was retirement, 60 was grey hair, twinset Skincare founder Liz Earle is encouraging midlife women to appreciate themselves. company in 2010, isn’t one for standing still. She went on to found the Liz Earle Wellbeing magazine, continues with TV appearances, launched the charity LiveTwice, hosts a weekly podcast, has written 36 books, gained a healthy social media following and has just been appointed to the board for the Centre of Social Justice. Her 36th book, A Better Second Half – described as a manifesto for midlife women – may have gained its title in part from her refl ections of the fi rst half of her life, she agrees. “As somebody who’s been twice divorced, built and sold a huge international business and brought up fi ve children, things have Wellness guru Liz Earle is a terrifi c advert for the healthy lifestyle ethos she advocates to women far and wide. She looks at least 15 years younger than her age and remains toned and fi t, with radiant skin and silky blonde hair. At 60, the mother of fi ve is energised, clear-headed, with an aura of calm around her, and understands that the way she lives her life will give her the best chance of longevity. She has a boyfriend who is 16 years younger and indeed, she looks positively glowing. Earle, who sold her eponymous beauty
WOMANSWAY.IE 25 By Hannah Stephenson, PA BEAUTY and pearls, and a pair of comfy slippers. I feel so far removed from that stereotype.” Earle, though, has defi ed the numbers. When she was in her mid-50s, she had her biological markers of age tested (physical fi tness, muscle mass, blood markers, DNA, etc.) which showed her biological age to be 39. It’s now 45, but in the next few years she intends on getting that marker down. “What matters is your biological age, not chronological age. Mine is 45. And I’m dialling it back. You know, I have a 44-yearold boyfriend and I tease him that I’m going to soon be much younger than he is, and he’s going to have to watch out.” In her late 50s, she experienced a lot of upheaval in her personal life. She divorced her second husband, Patrick Drummond, in 2019, and moved from the Wiltshire farm they shared to north Dorset. “Starting again in my mid to late 50s was challenging, but also energising because it was a chance for a fresh start,” she refl ects. “I felt like I was being given a second chance. And I want to encourage other women who feel that they are washed up and no good. I talk in the book about being comfortable on your own. “I wanted to take time out and not go straight back into dating, because I just wanted to fi nd out who I was.” She was single for two years until she started dating again, and after a few romances she met her current boyfriend – who prefers to remain out of the spotlight – online. Earle struggled with what age to put on the dating form. “I was 59 chronologically, but I’d had my biological age tested, which at that time was 39. So I split the difference and put 49. “On about our fourth date I realised he could be a keeper – and by then I’d turned 60 – so I sat him down and said ‘I’ve got something to tell you – actually I’m 60’. And he said, ‘OK, great. Did you have something to tell me?’ That was it. It was such a non-event.” The wellness advice Earle offers in the book is backed by scientifi c data, and it’s clear she’s done a lot of research in the three years it took her to write it. She offers all manner of hacks to maintain good health in midlife, a diet that includes more protein, vegetables, good fats and fermented food, and lifting weights to retain muscle tone. She is an advocate of journaling, meditation, supplements and cold water therapy, taking a dip in her pond every morning. She is concerned that midlife women don’t prioritise themselves. “Maybe our spouses have left us, we could have been dumped for a younger model, we might be thinking about taking early retirement or career changes. Or hormones might be conspiring against us and we need some help in that area. “Or maybe we’re really struggling with anxiety and a sense of self-worth. Because society marginalises midlife women, we become invisible, we become irrelevant, whether that’s because we’re losing our looks, or we’re losing our relevance in society. And actually, that shouldn’t be the case. We’re the clever wise ones who’ve lived through it.” Earle had her last child at 47 (she was almost 48). Looking back, she says she had perimenopausal symptoms including tinnitus and vertigo in her 40s, but never realised they were related. She started HRT when she was 51 and thinks she will be on it forever, disseminating information about HRT in the book. She faced her fears of turning 60 by appearing on the cover of her magazine in a pink strapless jumpsuit. “I’ve always prided myself on being authentic and I can’t deny my age is there. And I think of all of us who’ve lived through the pandemic, who are aware of the fragility and the value of life, feel very fortunate that we’ve come this far. “Ageing is a gift. Even when I was running the beauty company we never used the term anti-ageing. I mean, we all hopefully want to age. God help us, please let’s keep ageing because the alternative is very fi nal. A Better Second Half: Dial Back Your Age To Live A Longer, Healthier, Happier Life by Liz Earle is published by Yellow Kite. Available now. “It’s about pro-ageing well, keeping cognitive function, keeping mobility, having that sense of purpose.” Prioritising sleep and spending more time outdoors are among the things she wished she’d known years ago. These days she opens her window fi rst thing to take in natural light, takes a dip in her pond, whatever the weather, and thinks grateful thoughts. She insists that little lifestyle changes don’t take much time or money but can make a big difference. “We can all turn the shower tap to cold at the end of our shower for 30 to 60 seconds,” she offers. “We can all get up fi ve minutes earlier to do some stretches in our pyjamas at the end of our bed. “We can all drink a glass of water with a pinch of sea salt in it fi rst thing. Putting a teaspoon of creatine (a compound which aims to supply energy to your muscles and promote brain health) in your coffee and taking that outside to look at daylight, standing on some stone or grass barefoot and taking some deep breaths and feeling grateful, I’ve already “I feel fitter and stronger and happier at 60 than I did at 50, so why can’t that incremental increase continue?” ticked off six things on my to-do list.” She’s embracing all the good things age has brought her, recently welcoming her fi rst grandchild into the world, and says she is looking forward to the next decade. “I feel fi tter and stronger and happier at 60 than I did at 50, so why can’t that incremental increase continue? Why can’t I feel better at 70 than I do at 60?” WW
26 WOMANSWAY.IE I f you have noticed that your skin feels particularly dry and dehydrated, or your hair is looking more brittle and damaged than usual, it is possible that hard water has played a part. Dermatologist Dr Yulia Krasnaya from Evolution Aesthetics Clinic explains that “hard water can leave several signs on your skin, indicating potential damage. One common sign is dryness or tightness after washing, as hard water can strip away natural oils, leaving the skin feeling parched. “You may notice a dull or lacklustre complexion, as mineral deposits from hard water can build up on the skin’s surface, hindering its natural radiance.” Hard water has a high mineral content that can negatively impact both your hair and skin, and is more dangerous for people with particularly sensitive skin, as “hard water can exacerbate existing issues like irritation, itching, or redness”, says Krasnaya. There’s a chance it could be impacting you without you even realising. Or, you may have noticed changes in your skin and hair that you think could be due to hard water, and you want to fi x. But aside from your skin and hair, there is another way to tell if you have hard water in your home. “Another indication is the presence of residue or soap scum, especially noticeable in areas like the sink or bathtub, which can signal hard water’s effect on the skin and surfaces,” says Krasnaya. Although it isn’t particularly dangerous for your health, “prolonged exposure to hard water may also contribute to a compromised skin barrier, making it more susceptible to environmental stressors Dealing with HARD WATER Experts explain how to cope with its effects. and moisture loss”, explains Krasnaya. So it pays to know just how to deal with the fallout – and how to make your hair and skin healthy again. Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley, explains that “hard water minerals can build up on the hair shaft, and so living in or travelling to a hard water area can impact how your strands look, feel and behave. “Many people notice their hair is dryer when they shampoo with hard water, that it frizzes more easily, lacks shine and that not as much lather is created. It can also affect the colour of your hair, especially if you have highlighted or bleached strands,” she explains. If you have noticed any of these characteristics in your hair, it’s likely hard water is the culprit. However, if you have experienced any of these symptoms in your hair and skin, there are several steps you can take to combat the damage and improve your hair and skin health. INSTALL A SHOWER FILTER Installing a shower fi lter is one of the simplest ways to minimise the impacts of hard water on both hair and skin. Prevention is always preferable to a cure, and this will help to fi lter the irritants out of the water you shower in. Kingsley recommends a shower fi lter “if you fi nd your hair is dry, dull, less manageable and lacklustre when shampooing with hard water”. Krasnaya also notes that “incorporating a water softener or installing a shower fi lter can signifi cantly reduce the mineral content in hard water, making it gentler on the skin”. USE A PRE-SHAMPOO CONDITIONING TREATMENT Kingsley also recommends you use a conditioning treatment one to two times a week. “This plumps the hair shaft with moisture and seals the outer cuticle, creating shine and improving manageability.”
WOMANSWAY.IE 27 BEAUTY By Amelia Yeomans, PA CONSIDER SWAPPING YOUR USUAL CONDITIONER OUT FOR A RICHER ONE If your hair is crying out for moisture due to hard water, a simple swap to a more heavy-duty conditioner could do the trick. To allow your conditioner to work at its best, towel dry your hair after shampooing and apply the conditioner to damp hair. INVEST IN HYDRATING SKINCARE “Hydrating skincare products containing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides or niacinamide can help replenish moisture and strengthen the skin barrier, combating dryness and sensitivity caused by hard water,” says Krasnaya. USE DETOXIFYING HAIR AND SCALP TREATMENTS “I love our Vitamin C Jelly, which removes hard water mineral deposits on your hair,” says Kingsley. If your hair needs some real TLC, this might be the most effective solution for you. Before you switch up your whole haircare routine, be sure to check what your hair type actually requires. “There’s no need to change your shampoo – stick to one formulated for your hair texture,” says Kingsley. Although it is tricky to totally get rid of all hard water damage in your hair and skin without relocating to an area with soft water (not a realistic change for most of us), making small changes in your daily routine can help to make any symptoms less noticeable and more manageable day to day. WW USE A GENTLE CLEANSER “Using a gentle, pHbalanced cleanser can help minimise stripping of natural oils while effectively removing impurities,” says Krasnaya. Using anything that is too harsh for your skin will only cause further irritation and discomfort, and make the symptoms of hard water damage far worse. APPLY AN OIL OR SERUM “To combat frizz, apply a lightweight smoothing oil or serum before styling,” suggests Kingsley. Oils can also help to protect against heat and minimise fl yaways, so they’re worth adding to your haircare routine even if you’re not directly looking to fi ght against frizziness. "Using anything that is too harsh for your skin will only cause further irritation and discomfort, and make the symptoms of hard water damage far worse" PRODUCTS TO HELP WITH HARD WATER DAMAGE Philip Kingsley Vitamin C Jelly Detoxifying Hair & Scalp Treatment €35 Hello Klean Shower Filter €72 Weleda Skin Food €11.50 Philip Kingsley Elasticizer Therapies Sicilian Lemon & Bergamot €24.95 Sanctuary Spa Signature Natural Oils Whipped Soufflé Body Cream €16.50
COMPETITION 28 WOMANSWAY.IE To enter, please answer the following: POLLY & ANDY RAINBOOTS ARE MADE FROM NATURAL RUBBER WITH BAMBOO LINING. TRUE OR FALSE? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by June 3 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Polly & Andy 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. Win Rainboots for the family One lucky reader will win a Polly & Andy rainboot set, including two adult sizes and four kids sizes plus bamboo socks, to a combined value of €500. Don’t allow rain to hamper your family adventures… Keep puddle-jumping feet cosy and dry with the new Rainbow Stripe Rainboots from Waterford-based sustainable footwear company Polly & Andy. Made from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifi ed natural rubber with bamboo lining, these boots are ideal for playgrounds, parks and forest walks. Lightweight and fl exible, they ensure dry, happy feet with a joyful pop of colour from the signature Polly & Andy Rainbow Stripe. Oversized handles make them easy for kids to put on and take off themselves. Perfect for every member of the family with a size range from toddler to adult UK size 7, each pair comes with a durable canvas bag that can be used to transport them. Discover more and shop at pollyandandy. com, Instagram @pollyandandy.
WOMANSWAY.IE 29 STYLE Once upon a time, the way to pick out an Irish man on a sundrenched foreign boardwalk was by his socks. As in, he was the only person there wearing socks, with his sandals of course. Said Irish man was, sadly, before his time in the fashion stakes. The fashionistas have fi nally caught up and socks with sandals are trending, as are socks with shoes, socks with trainers, socks with sliders, socks with whatever type of footwear you can imagine. It’s not the worst trend practically speaking; Irish summers are unpredictable temperature-wise. While it might be time to park the cosy boots, our tootsies need some insulation on a chilly evening. Socks are an excellent option. The style crew are of course a lot pickier than your average middle-aged Irish man on holidays. There are ‘it’ sock brands such as Hidden NY, a pair of which can fetch as much as €180 on a resale site. And there are passionate debates about what material constitutes the perfect sock. We’re all about fi nding the middle way at Woman’s Way; somewhere between Seán on his summer hols and style slave with more money than sense. Sports socks are always a good bet or a three-pack with a cute design from your favourite shop. What we used to call ‘pop socks’ (ankle high tights) in bright colours and patterns are also having a moment. Whatever you opt for, at least you’ll be ready for whatever the Irish weather throws at us in the next few months. WW Once upon a time, the way to pick out an Irish man on a sundrenched foreign boardwalk was by his socks. As in, he was the only person there wearing socks, with his Said Irish man was, sadly, before his time in the fashion stakes. The fashionistas have fi nally caught up and socks with sandals are trending, as are socks with shoes, socks with trainers, socks with sliders, socks with whatever type of footwear you can imagine. It’s not the worst trend practically speaking; Irish summers are unpredictable temperature-wise. While it might be time to park the cosy boots, our tootsies need some insulation on a chilly The style crew are of course a lot pickier than your average middle-aged Irish man WOMANSWAY.IE 29 on holidays. There are ‘it’ sock brands such as Hidden NY, a pair of which can fetch on a resale site. And there are passionate debates about what material constitutes the perfect sock. We’re all about fi nding the middle way at ; somewhere between Seán on his summer hols and style slave with more money than sense. Sports socks are always a good bet or a three-pack with a cute design from your favourite shop. What we used to call ‘pop socks’ (ankle high tights) in bright colours and patterns are also having a moment. Whatever you opt for, at least you’ll be ready for whatever the Irish weather throws at us in the next few months. WW WOMANSWAY.IE than your average middle-aged Irish man on holidays. There are ‘it’ sock brands such there are passionate debates about what We’re all about fi nding the middle way at ; somewhere between Seán more money than sense. Sports socks are high tights) in bright colours and patterns ready for whatever the Irish weather throws WOMANSWAY.IE By Carissa Casey Sock it to ‘em It’s time to dip your toes in a trend that’s as practical as it is stylish.
30 WOMANSWAY.IE There’s a lot to be said for an interesting sleeve, writes Carissa Casey. The right sleeve can make even the dullest outfi t (black top/jeans) look classy and put together. Take a plain cotton top and add giant puff sleeves or a simple cardi with sleeves that balloon around the wrist. Add frills to a shirt sleeve, create a little puff at the shoulders of a fl oaty blouse. These are the details that make getting dressed a joy (well, they do for me). An interesting sleeve also draws attention away from the midriff, which can be confi dence boosting if you’d prefer the world not to focus on that area. A sleeve can add shape and structure to the shoulders, or emphasise a slender wrist. And if your upper arms aren’t your favourite body part, the right sleeve will keep it under wraps. Given the amazing powers of an interesting sleeve, it’s a wonder we’re not all walking around in them. But as a huge fan of big sleeves, I’m very familiar with the drawbacks. Firstly, what to wear over them that won’t squash a wonderful puff into a sad ball of creases. Secondly there’s the ironing issue; it ain’t for the faint hearted. Let’s start with the outer garment conundrum, which is particularly relevant given our climate. In summer, I opt for an oversized linen blazer with the kind of power shoulders that haven’t been seen since the '80s. There’s enough space around the arm to keep my puffs intact. You’ll fi nd plenty in the shops since the power shoulder jacket trend is still going strong. This winter, I found a blouson sleeve wool jacket that nicely accommodated any statement sleeve I happened to wear. The second issue, I’m still grappling with. An interesting sleeve is high maintenance in the laundry department. The puffs are almost impossible to iron. My solution is to iron the main creases out after a wash and then use a hand-held steamer to fi nish off the sleeves. It’s a bit of a palaver but, for an item I love to wear, I’m prepared to go the extra mile. Check out our pick of what’s in the shops... WW shoulders, or emphasise a slender wrist. And if your upper arms aren’t your favourite body part, the right sleeve will interesting sleeve, it’s a wonder we’re not all walking around in them. But as a huge fan of big sleeves, I’m very familiar with the drawbacks. Firstly, what to wear over them that won’t squash a wonderful puff into a sad ball of creases. Secondly there’s the ironing issue; Let’s start with the outer garment conundrum, which is particularly relevant given our climate. In summer, I opt for an oversized linen blazer with the kind of power shoulders that haven’t been seen since the '80s. There’s enough space around the arm to keep my puffs intact. You’ll fi nd plenty in the shops since the power shoulder This winter, I found a blouson sleeve wool jacket that nicely accommodated any statement The second issue, I’m still grappling with. An interesting sleeve is high maintenance in the laundry department. The puffs are almost impossible to iron. My solution is to iron the main creases out after a wash and then use a hand-held steamer to fi nish off the sleeves. It’s a bit of a palaver but, for an item I love to wear, I’m Check out our pick of what’s in the shops... WW Puff, balloon, frilled, accordion; sleeves aren’t just for covering arms. Power Sleeves H&M Patterned Cotton Blouse €23.99 FEE G Ozzie Blouse €155 Zara Poplin Blouse €39.95
WOMANSWAY.IE 31 STYLE By Carissa Casey M&S Cotton Frill Shirt €54 M&S Modal Blend Printed Puff Sleeve Blouse €32 M&S Cotton €54 M&S Modal Blend Printed Puff Sleeve Blouse WOMANSWAY.IE Frill Shirt €54 Brown Thomas ROTATE Jacquard Flared Dress €276 Arnotts QUEENS OF ARCHIVE Raye Polka Dot Blouse €215 M&S Pure Cotton Broderie Puff Sleeve Blouse €32 Zara Poplin Dress with Rubberised Embroidery €39.95 Oliver Bonas Coral Orange Puff Sleeve Sweatshirt €54 Andtate Moonflower Blouse €385
32 WOMANSWAY.IE Corsets with everything The simplest and most authentic way to channel the Bridgerton look is by investing in a series of sophisticated corsets. Although they can sometimes have a lingerie-esque feel, there are plenty of ways to wear a corset to achieve a chic and timeless look. Opt for a corseted top with long or full sleeves to achieve the Bridgerton shape without feeling too revealed. You can also layer your corset underneath cardigans or jackets, or counteract the tighter shape with a loose, fl owing skirt that will create a unique yet comfortable silhouette. Bridgerton is fi nally coming back with its third, highly anticipated season. Fans of the show are desperate to uncover how Penelope (Nicola Coughlan) and Colin’s (Luke Newton) love story will continue to blossom and what drama will unfold in the Ton. However, another much-discussed feature of the series has to be the new season costumes. Since fi rst hitting our screens back in 2020, Regency fashion and its infl uences have found their way into our modern wardrobes in various ways, and this trend is only set to grow this summer. The show’s costume designer, John Glaser, said that this season’s wardrobe references come from the 1960s and onscreen icons such as Audrey Hepburn and Grace Kelly. “We fi nd those looks to be classic, and a nice starting base for us to expand in different directions. In this season we have also gone into the 1970s to expand it further,” he says. Whilst the whimsical, timeless gowns are bound to stick around, injections of slightly more modern styles mean that it is easier than ever to channel the Bridgerton look in your everyday wardrobe. Here’s how to do it. Becomıng Penelope Here’s how to channel the Bridgerton look in your style. Corsets with everything The simplest and most authentic way to Bridgerton look is by investing in a series of sophisticated corsets. Although they can sometimes have a lingerie-esque feel, there are plenty of ways to wear a corset to achieve a chic and timeless look. Opt for a corseted top with long or full sleeves to achieve the Bridgerton shape without feeling too revealed. You can also layer your corset underneath cardigans or jackets, or counteract the tighter shape with a loose, fl owing skirt that will create a unique yet comfortable silhouette. different directions. In this season we have also gone into the 1970s to expand it Whilst the whimsical, timeless gowns are bound to stick around, injections of slightly more modern styles mean that it is easier than ever to channel the Bridgerton look in your everyday wardrobe. Here’s Brown Thomas AJE Cordelia Corseted Off-The-Shoulder Dress €530 Pretty Little Thing Hot Pink Textured Woven Boned Tie Back Corset €32 M&S NOBODY'S CHILD Floral Midi Waisted Dress€88 Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington in Bridgerton ♥
WOMANSWAY.IE 33 STYLE By Amelia Yeomans, PA Plunging necklines Plunging necklines may not be to everyone’s taste, but they are typically Bridgerton. If you prefer to have a little more coverage day to day, you can wear a base layer and style it up with a lower cut corset or structured top to achieve the look in a less intimidating way. If you go for a plunging dress or jumpsuit, a simple tee layered underneath makes the look more wearable for any occasion without distracting from the silhouette or cut. Sofi colour paleff es “The colours that we’ve used are a little softer than Season One, and much softer than Season Two,” says Glaser. This season’s palette comes in the form of “a little blur, just like in a painting, with soft interludes of colours”. Pastels and lighter hues are always on trend for spring and summer, so this is one of the easiest Bridgerton looks to adopt. Baby blues, lilacs, pinks, and whites have featured heavily in the womenswear thus far, so we expect even softer takes on these shades to crop up throughout Season Three. Introduce the slightly bolder colours, like pink and purple, by styling them with neutral hues that will help to soften the look and create the painted blur that Glaser has gone for. season’s palette comes in the form of “a little blur, just like in a painting, Pastels and lighter hues are always on trend for spring and summer, so this is one looks to adopt. Baby blues, lilacs, pinks, and whites have featured heavily in the womenswear thus far, so we expect even softer takes on these shades to crop up throughout Introduce the slightly bolder colours, like pink and purple, by styling them with neutral hues that will help to soften the look and create the painted blur that Mixing textures There is no shortage of texture in the Bridgerton wardrobes, which is what makes the standout looks so notable. Instead of sticking to one, try mixing and matching different tactile fabrics to master the look. Pair lace sleeves with ribbed trousers, or a tulle skirt with a velvet top to make a Regency statement. This is also a simple way to channel the style without investing in new wardrobe items that may not have longevity in your capsule wardrobe. You can also use one of Glaser’s styling tricks and layer different fabrics and textures together to create an unusual and unexpected fi nish. He says: “Instead of using just one layer of fabric, we use up to fi ve layers of fabrics that you would never use by themselves — fabrics you would never look at, fabrics that don’t look period, but upon layering them it gives the blurred effect and the effect of a painting.” WW Bridgerton Season Three is on Netfl ix now. By Amelia Yeomans, PA Abstract paff erns “This season, we decided to make the costumes look like a painting,” explains Glaser. “We looked at old paintings, new paintings; there are no hard edges, no hard lines, and we’ve used a lot of ombre to make it look like a Matisse painting. “The costumes have a blurred quality, so if you look at the fabrics, there are a lot of patterns, but you’re not really sure what the pattern is.” Consider the type of patterns you usually opt for and seek out slightly softer, more abstract alternatives for the season ahead. If you tend to steer clear of prints altogether, introducing a smooth gradient of colour into your look is a simple way to try out the style. Plunging necklines Plunging necklines may not be to everyone’s taste, but they are typically have a little more coverage day to day, you can wear a base layer and style it up with a lower cut corset or structured top to achieve the look in a less intimidating way. If you go for a plunging dress or jumpsuit, a simple tee layered underneath makes the look more wearable for any occasion without distracting from the silhouette or cut. Mixing textures There is no shortage of texture in the wardrobes, which is what makes the standout looks so notable. Instead of sticking to one, try mixing and matching different tactile fabrics to master the look. Pair lace sleeves with ribbed trousers, or a tulle skirt with a velvet top to make a Regency statement. This is also a simple way to channel the style without investing in new wardrobe items that may not have longevity in your capsule wardrobe. You can also use one of Glaser’s styling tricks and layer different fabrics and textures together to create Abstract paff erns “This season, we decided to make the costumes look like a painting,” explains Glaser. “We looked at old paintings, new paintings; there are no hard edges, no hard lines, and we’ve used a lot of ombre to make it look like a Matisse painting. “The costumes have a blurred quality, so if you Plunging necklines Plunging necklines may not be to everyone’s taste, Oliver Bonas Sunset Ombre Midi Dress €96 River Island Purple Satin Abstract Shirt €43 H&M Off-the-shoulder Puff-sleeved Dress €49.99 Pretty Little Thing Blue Floral Corset Puff Sleeve Tiered Skater Maxi Dress €95 Cotton Traders Lace Top in Red Coral €53
34 WOMANSWAY.IE Hot List The 5 NEW BOOKS TO READ READ • WATCH • LISTEN By Prudence Wade, PA BOOKS FICTION You Are Here by David Nicholls is published in hardback by Sceptre. It’s 20 years since his debut novel Starter For Ten launched David Nicholls’ hugely successful career as a bestselling novelist and screenwriter, followed by top romantic tales including One Day and Us, all of which were adapted for screen. Now, he brings us another story of love, as two lonely strangers – Marnie and Michael, both with their share of emotional baggage – are brought together by a well-meaning mutual friend, and together embark on the windswept, rain-lashed coast-to-coast walk in England. It is here that they slowly develop a newfound friendship, opening up about their lives and loves, as they make their way towards the end of their journey – and towards new beginnings. All the classic Nicholls ingredients are here; humour, heartache and hope in a highly relatable, tender love story. Hopefully there will be another screen adaptation for this romantic gem. Funny Story by Emily Henry is published in hardback by Viking. Daphne and Peter appear to be living a blissful life together. Daphne moves to Peter’s hometown and revolves her life around his, until he unexpectedly ends things with her, striking up a relationship with his childhood best friend, Petra. Left heartbroken, Daphne fi nds solace in Miles, Petra’s former partner, who invites her to move in with him. Bonding over their shared heartbreak over drinks one night, they devise a plan to fake a romantic relationship on social media, aimed at unsettling their exes. This sets off a series of events that binds them together. As their friendship blossoms, the question arises: could their friendship evolve into something more? However, beyond this lies a deeper journey of self-discovery. Emily Henry writes very likeable characters who aren’t without their imperfections. Through the rawness of their heartbreaks, Daphne and Miles are forced to rebuild their lives and analyse themselves. This light, funny read will keep you rooting for them until the very end. A Beginner’s Guide To Breaking And Entering by Andrew Hunter Murray is published in hardback by Hutchinson Heinemann. Al has rules for breaking into wealthy people’s second homes when the owners are away, such as wearing gloves, never running away if seen, and having at least two stories if he has to explain what he’s done. He also doesn’t go back to the scene of a previous ‘interlope’, as he calls his break-ins – and Al isn’t his real name. But all his careful planning for living a life at someone else’s expense changes dramatically when he discovers a group of similar ‘interlopers’ – and they stumble across a dead body. The unlikely group of unoffi cial house-sitters go on the run, trying to avoid being charged with murder but determined to fi nd a killer. The book is fi lled with humour, shocks, love and hate – and a few handy tips on how to beat the housing crisis. Fans of the podcast No Such Thing As A Fish – which Murray co-hosts – will love his trademark style of being funny, thoughtful and all-round entertaining. NON-FICTION The Ritual Eff ect: The Transformative Power Of Our Everyday Actions by Michael Norton is published in hardback by Penguin Life. In a world that is fl ooded with opinions and prescriptions on how to change your life – telling us to make new habits in 21 days, saying we constantly need to be stepping out of our comfort zone – Michael Norton, instead, has written an essay about why, as a species, we have harnessed the power of ritual. From the family traditions that make Christmas special to the number of times tennis star Serena Williams bounces the ball before serving, via the growing movement of purple dresses worn by the Red Hat Society. Ritual gives us order, a sense of belonging and mostly control, Norton suggests. However, rituals can also have a dark side and Norton doesn’t shy away from the psychology of this either. As the pages turn, you can see more of these rituals in day-to-day life and the door to opening your mind to more perspectives. An entertaining view of why we do what we do. CHILDREN’S BOOK Addie Ant Goes On An Adventure by Maren Morris and Karina Argow, illustrated by Kelly Anne Dalton, is published in hardback by Chronicle Books. This book takes you on an exciting adventure with Addie Ant, across unknown and previously untravelled territory from one side of her garden to the other. She sets off from her tomato bed and crosses the vast garden to visit the watermelons and see where the sunfl owers grow. Although Addie is nervous about her big adventure, she’s also excited at what she will fi nd. Along the way, Addie meets up with old friends who give her directions and comforting advice when she becomes a little anxious. Written by country music singer Maren Morris with her close friend, former school teacher Karina Argow, this book is an inspiration to young people – giving them confi dence to be independent, and showing it’s good to ask for help. It’s a beautifully illustrated book that will be enjoyed by all. WW wealthy people’s second homes by Emily Henry is published
WOMANSWAY.IE 35 ENTERTAINMENT It’s nice to hear Charlie Bird’s familiar voice. By the time of this, his last investigation, motor neurone disease (MND) meant that he was no longer able to speak, but, thanks to technology, his voice is strong through this film, which follows up on a tip about a 35-year-old crime. From former head of the Garda fraud squad, Willie McGee, Charlie learned of an attempt to extort the Irish Government. In the last week of August 1979, a letter, addressed to the Minister for Agriculture (Ray McSharry at that time), arrived demanding £5 million or else the gang would introduce foot and mouth disease to Ireland. In a country where agriculture was still the main business, this was a very serious threat. Bird enlisted the help of fellow journalist Colin Murphy, and together they spent a year following up on something few, even those in government, seemed to know. They come up with an odd tale and some answers. Ireland in the 1970s was a very different place to the one we live in now. The Troubles were at their peak in the North, and what that meant in the Republic was an extraordinary number of armed robberies. The paramilitary organisations, of which there were quite a few, funded themselves by robbing banks, post offices and cash transfer vans. What Bird and Murphy set out to discover is if the threat to the Department of Agriculture was real and who was behind it. Charlie Bird’s deteriorating health is treated matter of factly in Colm Quinn’s film. While Charlie says that work gives him a sense of purpose, inevitably his illness impacts how, and how much time, he has to do it. The film, primarily an investigation, doesn’t dwell on the MND, but neither does it shy away from it and ultimately strikes a good balance. Ransom 79 tells a strange story of a markedly different Ireland. It’s a fitting legacy for a journalist like Charlie Bird. WW Ransom 79 is in cinemas from May 24. The investigation of a curious tale is a fitting legacy for Charlie Bird, finds Aíne O’Connor. 79 Ransom Charlie and Claire Charlie and Colin
36 WOMANSWAY.IE Wonderful Weepies Sometime in the 1970s, in the then Ormonde cinema in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, two children sobbed their eyes out. Bambi had broken their hearts. I’m not sure about my brother, but I have cried many tears in the cinema since those damn deer. As someone who can cry at the end of a packet of crisps, I really don’t need any encouragement to bawl. However, some people truly relish the vent of a good weepie, so grab the tissues. Sorrow and love seem inextricably linked, and in sad movies, there are three main kinds of connection between the two. They’ll be romances that are interrupted by circumstances, The Notebook, Brooklyn, both available to rent, romances interrupted by illness or death Titanic (currently on Disney+), or they’re about the loss of a child, My Sister’s Keeper (availble to rent). Tragedies have always been popular but a version of them enjoyed a particularly strong cinematic moment in the 1980s and ‘90s. Classed as comedy dramas, they were funny and the bawl factor was high. Terms of Endearment (currently on Paramount+ and Prime), where, shockingly, Debra Winger and Shirley MacLaine were billed over Jack Nicholson, is a classic example. It tells the story of thirty years in the relationship between Aurora Greenway (MacLaine) and her daughter Emma (Winger). It’s a close but fractious relationship. Aurora is controlling and doesn’t like Emma’s husband (Jeff Daniels) but a bit of distance happens. And when it does, Aurora discovers the joys of sex with her next-door neighbour, retired astronaut Garrett Breedlove (Nicholson). So far so funny, then the rest happens. It’s really good. Another of that ilk is Steel Magnolias (available to rent) which is again, female-led. Dolly Parton, Sally Field, Julia Roberts and Shirley MacLaine all live in Louisiana, they’re friends and occasionally enemies and the fi lm revolves around the upcoming wedding of Shelby (Roberts) and subsequently her mother’s (Field) concern for Shelby’s health. Subtle it is not, but it is an engrossing watch. Another comedy drama of the time is Fried Green Tomatoes at The Whistle Stop Café which you can fi nd for free on YouTube if you look up “Fried Green Tomatoes, Idgie and Ruth story”. It’s another one of those southern US sagas and, in this one, housewife Evelyn (Kathy Bates) meets care home resident Ninny (Jessica Tandy) who tells a story set in the long abandoned town of Whistle Stop. It’s the story of a friendship between Idgie (Mary Stewart Masterson) and Ruth (Mary-Louise Parker). It’s lovely, and again, subtle it’s not, but you will feel! And who could forget Beaches?You can rent the long story of the occasionally fraught friendship between CC (Bette Midler) and Hillary (Barbara Hidden Áine O’Connor ventures into the hinterlands of the streaming services to GEMS fi nd great watches you may have missed. Scarlett Johansson and Adam Driver in Marriage Story Shirley MacLaine and Debra Winger in Terms of Endearment
WOMANSWAY.IE 37 ENTERTAINMENT Bloodline (Netfl ix) Ben Mendelsohn has a tendency to steal the show. The name might not be instantly familiar, the face might not even be instantly familiar, but, when you’ve watched him, I think you’ll agree that Ben Mendelsohn has a tendency to steal the show. Mid-fi fties, Australian, though he often plays in other accents, he has a slight lisp and is kinda handsome but not distractingly so. He’s currently playing Christian Dior in Apple TV+’s The New Look, a beautiful and quite enjoyable series although it’s far from couture in terms of script or emotional complexity. Dior is a gentle character and Mendelsohn plays him well, but what he is really, really good at is bad guys. He is superb at fl at out psychopaths like Andrew Cody in Animal Kingdom (availble to rent), a really good Australian fi lm (as distinct from the related but differently cast series that followed) about a crime family. He is also especially good at those confl icting characters, the ones we love to hate or hate to love. And that skill is rarely as well exemplifi ed as in family, thriller/ drama Bloodline, three series of which are on Netfl ix. Bloodline opens with a voiceover by John Rayburn (Kyle Chandler). “Sometimes you know something is coming,” he says, a portent of doom that seems at odds with the sunny life we’re being shown. John, a cop, is the golden boy of the well-respected, well-to-do Rayburn family who run a hotel on the Florida Keys. They’re a close family. John and his siblings (Linda Cardellini and Norbert Leo Butz) live close to their parents (Sissy Spacek and Sam Shepard) and their lives seem all intertwined and nice. But the ‘something coming’ that John references in his opening monologue is the black sheep of the family, eldest brother Danny (Mendelsohn), who is returning for a family celebration. Danny doesn’t fail to deliver on his black sheep reputation but it soon emerges that he is not the only darkness in the Rayburn family. One of the show’s creators is Todd Kessler who wrote two series of The Sopranos (which in case you missed, or would like to rewatch that brilliant behemoth is on Sky/ Now TV) so it’s no surprise that Bloodline, with its complex family dynamics and dark underbelly is so good. The second and third series aren’t quite as good as the fi rst, but if murky family thrillers are your thing, give Bloodline a shot. WW Ben Mendelsohn and Chloë Sevigny in Bloodline Hershey). It’s shamelessly emotional, but I think a lot of friendships can identify with some of the things that come up in the fi lm. A very different but equally devastating portrait of human emotion can be found in Manchester By the Sea (currently on Prime). It is about grief, guilt and family, the layers of them and how we cope. It’s real and messy, a truly excellent movie. Lee (Casey Affl eck) is a janitor in Boston, he is an angry man. When his brother Joe (Kyle Chandler) dies, Lee is named guardian of his 16-year-old son Patrick (Lucas Hedges). Circumstances mean more time back in his native Manchester By The Sea, and memories of the events that have shaped him. The cast are all great but Casey Affl eck is brilliant. If fi lms about marriages ending are your thing, Dustin Hoffman and Meryl Streep in Kramer vs Kramer (available to rent) is dated but interesting. Noah Baumbach’s Marriage Story on Netfl ix, starring Scarlett Johanssen and Adam Driver, is very good and really sad. It’s not dissimilar to Blue Valentine (available to rent), where Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams play Dean and Cindy whose different backgrounds feed into the ways they try to keep their marriage together. It’s well done but depending on your relationship history, a bit depressing. But sometimes that’s what you want from your weepies. Ben Mendelsohn in The New Look Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams in The Notebook Barbara Hershey and Bette Midler in Beaches Shirley MacLaine, Dolly Parton, and Olympia Dukakis in Steel Magnolias
38 WOMANSWAY.IE interspersed with quintessentially Dutch icons such as those clogs, bikes and a windmill. The hangar which houses the attraction’s museum and exhibition is packed with visitors – it is the busiest day of the year so far and the tulip season lasts a matter of weeks – but outside feels spacious, with room for everyone to enjoy the Netherlands’ famous fl ower. But as I soon fi nd out, while Max Bygraves may have sung of Tulips from Amsterdam, the tulips are from Kazakhstan and arrived here in the 1500s via what is now present-day Turkey. And the name? Well, fl owers were once worn by Ottoman sultans in tulip-shaped turbans as a sign of status and wealth and the word is derived from tulipan, once a word for turban. These nuggets of information are provided by Sylvia, a third-generation member of the Pennings family. Her grandfather started a tulip bulb business in 1951. In a short tour of the museum, she tells our group the experience was established by her father, Simon, fi ve years ago, partly in response to concerns that bulb fi elds were being damaged by visitors keen to take photographs of themselves among the fl owers. Sylvia is an enthusiastic guide as she tells us of the bulb’s history and how it is cultivated. Naming tulips after celebrities or well-known products is common – apparently it is easier to sell a tulip with a popular name. There are varieties named Paul McCartney, Bob Marley and Donald Duck. Later, as I sit sipping champagne enjoying a picnic lunch in a peaceful setting overlooking fi elds of red tulips, I wonder out loud if there is a Dua TuLipa. If not, someone has missed a trick. Tulips are ubiquitous in Amsterdam, no more so than in the springtime, and over the course of two days I experience them in all their forms – bulb, fl ower, as food and drink and even skincare. Tulip TIME The weather may be changeable in Amsterdam at springtime, but the tulips make the city brighter. T here are peals of laughter behind me as I snap photos of a sea of colourful tulips in a fi eld an hour’s drive outside Amsterdam city centre. I turn to see an elderly couple chuckling as a woman helps a man to stand in a pair of oversized clogs. She takes a step back and he grins widely as she takes his picture before they swap places. I am in Lisse at the Tulip Experience Amsterdam, a show garden with more than one million tulips. Despite the somewhat changeable weather, it seems there is something about these bright blooms that makes everyone feel cheerful. Around me, groups take the opportunity between spring showers to head out into the show gardens to take Instagram-worthy selfi es among long, neat rows of tulips
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 39 By Alison Kershaw Back at my hotel – the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky – I enjoy a delicious cocktail containing tulip-infused vodka, Aperol and elderfl ower in the luxurious surroundings of Bar The Tailor. The bar is named in tribute to the hotel’s original owner, Adolf Wilhelm Krasnapolsky, a tailor who opened a coffee house more than 150 years ago which evolved into the hotel. His infl uence is seen throughout the bar – the fl ooring sports a tailor’s marks, the light fi ttings resemble thimbles, the bar staff are known as 'tailors' and an oversized pair of scissors hangs from a wall. It is a cosy place to sit and recharge, with a themed cocktail menu that changes regularly. At the moment, the concept is mythical creatures with offerings such as the whiskeybased 'centaur' and tequila-focused 'griffi n'. This is a different Amsterdam to the one I last visited 20 years ago. It may be the places I go, but there are less stag dos and large groups of inebriated people than I remember. Instead, the city – which celebrates its 750th anniversary next year – feels vibrant and inviting, and not just for the tulips which adorn every street corner. One afternoon I take a guided walk through the city’s three main canals; Herengracht (Gentleman’s canal) the most elegant of the trio, Keizersgracht (Emperor’s canal) and Prinsengracht (Prince’s canal) and into the Jordaan area. This district, our guide Thijs says, is popular with locals. It was originally a poor part of the city, but now it is known for its architecture, good restaurants and shops. As I walk, I sample some of Amsterdam’s best culinary offerings – starting with herring. Across the city, there are small huts selling Dutch herring. Served with chopped raw onion and pickled cucumber slices, it is fi lleted just moments before it is served. As the weather turns cold, our group stops at a little chocolate shop for coffee and Stroopwafel – two layers of thin baked waffl e held together by a caramel. The sugar hit carries me on until we reach one of Amsterdam’s brown bars or cafés – so-called due to their age and traditional interiors. Here I stop to enjoy another Dutch treat – apple pie. The fl aky pastry, surrounding layers of crunchy apple, is immensely satisfying and gives me a feeling of contentment. Thijs nods wisely. This feeling is what the Dutch call “gezellig” – meaning pleasant – and I happily agree as I eye up the leftover pie on the table. WW Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam Bartenders known as 'tailors' at Bar The Tailor The Wintergarden restaurant at the Anantara Grand Hotel Krasnapolsky Amsterdam Tulips in Lisse Tulip fi elds in Lisse
40 WOMANSWAY.IE abroad, we couldn’t buy them online either (for all three venues tickets €16, children go free, visit colosseo.it). We spent a solid 10 minutes trying to get reception, jumping about, perching and reaching. The kids helpfully pointed out a large queue had started to form. It was time for a gelato. While we were beating ourselves up for our lack of prescience and athletic ability, and drowning our sorrows in lemon sorbet, we came to the conclusion that simply walking around Rome is a delight. There was something to see everywhere we turned; policemen in full garb guarding government buildings, fountains at street corners, and breathtaking views from any one of the seven hills the city was founded on. In the end, the open-air Foro di Augusto, the forum built by Augustus in 2BC as an annexe to the main Roman Forum, satisfi ed the views. On a side note, know that if you go this year, there are roadworks in most areas as the city is getting ready for the Jubilee in 2025; visit giubileo-2025.it. THE RUINS The architectural masterpiece that is the Colosseum is just as the postcards would lead you to believe. Bigger than life. When we got to it, along with the thousands of other tourists, we sat outside and just stared at the complex series of vaults holding up a structure that could once host 50,000 spectators, complete with retractable awning. The snaking queue to get in was of mythical proportions so we pushed on and, dodging the touts trying to sell us fasttrack tickets, we ambled over to the Roman Forum, the heart of city life during the Roman Empire. It was no better. To the Palatino next, where legend has it Romulus founded the city (also home to the emperors’ palace), and it, magically, was devoid of blobs of people. The catch is you can’t buy tickets on the spot, and because our mobile phones don’t give us great coverage Dolce LA VITA The Colosseum Rome may not have been built in a day, but Astrid Madsen still tries to see it all over a long weekend. I visited Italy’s capital city on a school tour three decades ago, and all I can remember from that experience is the mind-boggling number of ruins. They were everywhere, even in residential areas. Most of the vestiges of the Roman Empire were black, presumably from the incessant fl ow of cars zipping around them. Fast forward to today and while there was a lot less traffi c, the driving was just as haphazard. The taximan we got at the airport drove us around like his life depended on it, ignoring the speed limit, refusing to use GPS, and systematically bullying cars to get out his way. He then gave us friendly tips on where to eat a gelato. A baptism of fi re. As for the ruins, they’re beautifully preserved and as white as can be – it’s the hordes of tourists that somewhat detract from
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 41 our craving and was manageably small for the kids. Also free to view from street level is the Largo di Torre Argentina, home to the remains of four temples and more famously, of the Curia di Pompeo where Caesar is believed to have been stabbed. VATICAN AREA For our fi rst night we stayed at the Mama Roma near the Vatican, based on our very enjoyable experience at Mama Toulouse (France) the previous summer. The hotel chain prides itself on its quirky decoration and relaxed vibe. The Roma is no exception, with its Panini-sticker-themed football curtains and wallpaper. The family rooms are super comfortable (where do they get those mattresses?!) and the two showers were a nice touch too. We didn’t have enough time to visit the Vatican so fi gured a visit to St Peter’s Basilica, home to Michaelangelo’s masterpiece La Pietà, was on the cards. When we got there, we realised we should have gotten up before the church bell rang 7:30am (that’s when it opens, tickets €6, visit basilicasanpietro.va). The square is beautiful and if you have the time, this is as good a place as any to while away the hours in a queue (dress appropriately; no hats, shorts or tank tops allowed in). CITY CENTRE Travelling with children is always a challenge and one way to make a trip like this worthwhile for everyone is to pick a central location. That’s why our next hotel was right beside the Termini train station, and within a few minutes’ walk of many of the city’s most iconic sites. I don’t make a habit of staying in as fancy a hotel as the NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquencento, a fi ve-star upper upscale hotel in the heart of Rome (rooms start from €450 per night excluding taxes, visit nh-collection. com). But I can see how one can get used to it. We got in a bit late and really appreciated the warm welcome, as well as the boxes of chocolates, fruit platter and wellness pack including, joy of joys, a pillow spray. A friendly porter brought our bags up (tipping is customary) and as you might expect from a place like this, the family suite was perfect for a couple travelling with children. The bathroom off the small hall complete with two sets of sliding doors, separates the master suite from the living area with pull-out couch. The breakfast was phenomenal; from panna cotta to pancakes, pancetta to freshly pressed juices. As a person who likes to have lunch at breakfast, it was right up my street. Of course we couldn’t leave Rome without visiting the 18th Century Trevi Fountain, of Fellini’s La Dolce Vita fame. The solid travertine stone statues, spanning 46 metres by 26 metres, have been restored in the 2010s thanks to a €2 million donation from Italian fashion brand Fendi. And it truly is astounding. Ignore the crowds taking selfi es and jostle your way down. The fountain itself is worth it. We tossed a coin in the water (rumour has it the €3,000 tourists throw into it on a daily basis is collected and donated to charity), which supposedly means we will return to Rome. Fingers crossed. WW NH Collection Palazzo Cinquecento terrace view Queue for St Peter's Basilica Trevi Fountain The NH Collection Roma Palazzo Cinquencento Julius Caesar with Foro di Augusto in background Roman Forum viewed from the street
42 WOMANSWAY.IE gentler, pleasantly warm humidity as we climb the 10-mile stretch of road to the foothills of Mount Liamuiga. Surrounded by thick jungle, mobile phone coverage fades to nothing. Our driver reaches his hard-won stop at Liamuiga Natural Farm and cuts the engine. Other than birdsong, the silence is spectacular. The tiny twin-island Federation of St Kitts and Nevis, with its fascinating but brutal history of warring between French and British colonists, became the smallest independent nation in the Western Hemisphere in 1983. Now, it is confi dently charting its own distinct course away from the fl y-and-fl op model of many of its higher-profi le Caribbean neighbours. Sugar cane plantations, once the mainstay of the islands’ economy, have given way to tourism as the most important economic sector, with the picturesque ruins of hundreds of years of sugar and rum production providing an atmospheric backdrop. T he clanging old army truck judders up the narrow dirt track as we all cling on for dear life. Banana tree branches with leaves the size of umbrellas swish past, and the azureedged sands of St Kitts fall away below. Our guide, Kerryn ‘Tiem' Williams, pops up from a hole in the roof of the cab and shouts: “Sorry to drag you away from the beach, but I think you’re gonna like it!” A huge grin appears across his face. It is 10am, and the already-30-degree heat of the morning is dissipating to a With mountainous interiors and coastal plains, the volcanic islands are a food lover’s paradise – the combination of the sea, fertile soil, sun and rainfall producing a smorgasbord of local delicacies. We’d been forewarned to go easy on breakfast, with all indications that this would be a farm-to-table experience to remember. On arrival, we are ushered to a long table, heavy with food from the farm – curried eggs from the 80 free range chickens pecking about nearby, eggplant ratatouille, papaya jam on pumpkin pancakes, fresh fruit and vegetable wraps – all served on naturally anti-microbial banana leaves and washed down with coffee from beans grown on site. Tiem then guides us down a path past enormous fruit and vegetables: papaya, avocados, limes and mangoes still too young to harvest but twice the size of those in the local Tesco, a small but growing pineapple patch and even a healthy cannabis plant – its cultivation is legal ISLAND PARADISE The tiny twin islands of St Kitts and Nevis proudly offer visitors a rich history and vibrant culture, alongside sun and spectacular beaches. Aerial view of the Park Hyatt St Kitts
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 43 By Josie Clarke, PA within a private dwelling on St Kitts with a permit. We stop and eat fresh peanuts pulled from the ground, and see the young coffee trees the farm is carefully cultivating with the hope of one day producing enough beans to make its own single-source batches. After 40 minutes, it’s time for more food, this time bowls of steaming vegetable soup with plates of fi sh and chicken to add, as well as a fi ery chilli sauce, with a coffee ice cream to fi nish. HOTSPOTS The trip is a unique look at authentic island life, but it is not the only adventure we make into the rainforest. After an afternoon getting a beach fi x, the next morning we meet local expert O’Neil Mulraine at Wingfi eld Estate, site of a sugar plantation dating back to the 1650s. Over the following hour O’Neil introduces us to the secrets of the forest, its plants and their medicinal benefi ts, fl owers and seasonal fruits, and to the sounds of crickets, toads, green tree frogs and the chatter of monkeys. At one point, we stop to snack on fresh almonds that have fallen from a tree along the trail, and cool our hands and feet in pristine streams edged with delicate ferns, surrounded by a thousand shades of green and blue sky peeking through the canopy above. It’s hot, but our walk fi nishes back at Wingfi eld where we started, which helpfully is also the earliest known place of rum production in the Caribbean, dating back to 1681 and now back in operation as the Old Road Rum Company. We are handed a rum punch – which tastes like nectar in the 30-degree temperatures – and tour around the remarkably preserved ruins of the boiling house, a lime kiln, mill house and aqueduct system, as well as original coppers which would have boiled the sugar cane. We sample the rum currently available to buy, which is crafted from imported, molasses-based rum that is aged in bourbon casks for 12 years. We hear that the ambition is to return rum distillation to the site, and eventually plant sugar cane to bring the entire operation back to life. Now fully immersed in island time, acclimatising to the heat and fortifi ed “We stop to snack on fresh almonds that have fallen from a tree and cool our hands and feet in pristine streams” St Kitts Continued overleaf >> with sweet rum, we return to our fi rst hotel of the trip, the Belle Mont Sanctuary Resort nestled on Kittitian Hill at one thousand feet above sea level, with its standalone cottages and villas – many with their own infi nity pools – overlooking the point where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Caribbean Sea. An afternoon is spent languishing on the cool terrace, the breeze moving though the mango and banana trees – guests are encouraged to pick and eat anything that takes their fancy – and taking photos of curious monkeys as they peer at us while munching on fruit just metres away. That evening, chef Telsa Johnson, who was born on the island, presents us with a feast of locally-produced delicacies – “that I grew up eating”, he tells us. We start with salt fi sh fritters and green banana, sweet potato and breadfruit chips. Many recipes have been handed down through the generations, like the fl avourful Kittitian mutton stew, while freshly-caught mahi mahi and snapper are accompanied by local vegetables and salsa made from fruit grown around the estate. We have fl own eight hours for sun and sea but it is almost with regret that we leave the refreshing calm of the rainforested mountains. However, tiny, vibrant Nevis is just 3km across a stretch of water called The Narrows and is waiting to be explored. We board a catamaran and Guide Kerryn 'Tiem' Williams at Liamuiga Farm Blue seas of St Kitts and Nevis
TRAVEL 44 WOMANSWAY.IE stop on the way to snorkel, before we are deposited on the white sands of Pinney’s Beach, just a few metres from Sunshine’s Bar and Grill. From humble beginnings as a oneman grill shack, proprietor Sunshine has created the hugely popular oceanfront hangout, which specialises in locally caught seafood and the notorious ‘Killer Bee’ rum cocktail – its ingredients a neverto-be-revealed secret. All we fi nd out is that one of them could easily have you taking to one of the bar’s hammocks and missing the boat home. The spot is popular not only with locals, but counts Beyoncé, John Travolta, Kevin Bacon, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Mel Gibson as guests over the years. From here, we return to the beachside luxury of the Park Hyatt St Kitts, which spans the entire Banana Bay with its white sands, crystal-clear water and spectacular views back to Nevis. The hotel pays homage to its location in the form of the luxurious Sugar Mill Spa, with its treatment lotions featuring ginger, lime, sugar cane and coconut, and restaurant menus championing local dishes. But perhaps the loveliest moment comes at 6am, sitting on the terrace as the sun rises and the early morning Caribbean breeze rustles the palms, refl ecting on a trip to islands that proudly offer their visitors a rich culture and history, as well as spectacular beaches. WW Liamuiga Natural Farm Carnival on St Kitts The Belle Mont Resort, St Kitts St Kitts and Nevis
WOMANSWAY.IE 45 TRAVEL cocktails were delicious, again a fi rst for my dad and I would highly recommend the ‘Velvet Cabaret’ a mix of Hendricks Cabaret, velvet falernum, agave syrup, ginger syrup and mixed berry cordial. The perfect ending to the evening was our very impressive three-course meal in the relaxed atmosphere of Fire & Salt. Defi nitely worth a mention was the braised pork belly starter, the 10oz Sirloin of Irish beef and the delicious mango salsa bavarois desert. Bellys full and satisfi ed, we headed to the bar for a night cap before heading back to the room for a sound night’s sleep. After a well-deserved lie in, we headed down to the breakfast buffet where the variety of choices is impressive with something for everyone. After fi lling up, it was time to get ready for the drive back to Dublin. I can’t fi nish without mentioning all of the staff. Everyone was so warm and friendly to us during our stay, which would be a main reason for returning to this wonderful hotel. WW Ashort journey from Dublin city centre, taking around 45 minutes in good traffi c, will bring you to the Johnstown Estate, a beautiful, listed 18th Century rural residence. On arrival we were warmly greeted at reception and, before we knew it, we were settled into our very comfortable twin room. After a quick freshen up, we headed on down to the Spa which boasts an indoor Thermal Suite including hot and cold thermal therapies and an outdoor rooftop area where you can enjoy the jacuzzi and hydrotherapy pool. The outdoor jacuzzi was a complete joy and even more perfect in a light rain shower. After enjoying all that was on offer, it was time for spa treatments. A full body Swedish massage and an oriental head massage. This was a fi rst for my dad and he found it to be a completely relaxing experience. And as for my head massage, pure bliss. That evening we were treated to something special in Parterre, the wonderful new cocktail bar opened just over three months ago which boasts a retractable roof, perfect for daytime or evening cocktails and light bites. Our SUCH A PERFECT DAY Karl O’Toole and his dad visit Johnstown Estate. The Peach Iced Tea and Velvet Cabaret cocktails Fire & Salt restaurant The braised pork belly The outdoor jacuzzi The spacious twin room
46 WOMANSWAY.IE brand promises to bring ‘calm, peace and boost your mood’. With oak moss and tonka bean headlining the base notes, jasmine at the heart and top notes of orange fl ower, this heady blend is bound to please. 5 ESPA Aromatic Essential Oil Diff user €98.95 A luxurious diffuser to scent surround and suit your mood, along with a choice of natural essential oils – from Positivity, to Soothing and Restful – this one features ambient light settings to help you unwind and relax. 6 Lights & Lamps Renwick – 3 Light Linen and Bronze Floor Lamp €500 With lighting such a key consideration in the world of interiors, a fl oor lamp with fl air makes a sound investment – and is a decorative, functional feature. Think three tapered linen shades to softly fi lter light and tripodshaped stand for a stylish, contemporary fi nish. 7 Next Aleia Accent Chair Casual Bouclé Oyster Natural €320 The beauty of a bouclé accent chair is the understated elegance it brings to muted colour schemes and pared-back furnishings. This A-list Aleia is top of our wish list. With so many of us living life in full colour, chances are there are times when you need to step away from clutter-core – and connect with a place in the cosmos… by way of serene schemes. Moreover, by creating a calming space with café au lait tones, restful neutrals and soothing silhouettes, translating the quiet luxury trend into your home refl ects the current mood for an earthy vibe and natural aesthetic. To bring on beige and creamy undertones for a breath of fresh air, these stylish homewares will help streamline your space… 1 Cole & Mason Copper Salt and Pepper Set €64 With a focus on tactile materials, and cooking cited as the secret ingredient to stress-free living, this handsome pepper mill comes into play. 2 Denby Linen Tableware Set €179 Looking for the perfect companion dinner? This fabulous collection will balance your tablescape. 3 Galway Crystal Amber Glass and Brass Table Lamp €29.96 When you want to strip back the shade and you’re after a bulb with benefi ts, this industrial design comes with an LED bulb. 4 COSMOSS By Kate Moss Incense Sticks €38 Just in case you missed the memo, incense is having a moment in the sun – and this latest addition to Kate Moss’s wellness 8 Jasper Conran London (at Next) Belgrave Oak Wide TV Unit €750 Simple and sophisticated, this polished TV unit will put an end to unsightly cables, with soft close drawers and door to declutter and create a clear zone. 9 I Love Wallpaper Nova Metallic in Champagne with Silver Sparkle €40 With its shimmering good looks and metallic marble effect with gold highlights, get set to paper a feature wall with a sophisticated design to stunning effect; especially warm woods. A neutral palette helps shape a still, calming space. 7 GOING NATURAL 1 6
INTERIORS WOMANSWAY.IE 47 By Sam Wylie-Harris 10 The Linen Consultancy 480 Thread Count Bedding from €25 Made from the very fi nest yarns to create an exquisitely crisp fabric which is beautiful and cool to the skin. For the perfect night’s sleep. WW 5 10 3 4 9 8 2
48 WOMANSWAY.IE “While matte paint absorbs light, gloss paint will often refl ect it. A soft sheen paint will work best in north-facing rooms, as it will refl ect the light, brightening up the space and making the room look bigger.” Perfect paint choice: Soft sheen, beige blush, colour-drenched across walls, ceiling and doors. SOUTH-FACING ROOMS In contrast, south-facing rooms receive the most amount of light, and you don’t need to factor in the sunrise or sunset, says Lloyd, as there is a good amount of light exposure for a long period of time. With this in mind, she says cooler tones such as blue and grey look great in a southfacing room. “Blue is on trend in 2024, and it’s a versatile colour that’s easy to style and can be used in many different ways to create a variety of moods and styles. “When using blue, consider balancing the colour with neutral furniture such as bedside NORTH-FACING ROOMS “North-facing rooms get the least amount of light,” notes Lloyd. “Paint these rooms with colours that will brighten the space, and keep it nice and airy. “Warmer blush tones are best for northfacing rooms, and can also be incorporated through curtains, pillows and throws.” She continues: “Beige shades are also great colours for opening up the space and giving it a ‘refresh’. As well as the walls, use beige on the ceiling and skirting boards for an up-todate colour drench effect.” Colour drenching has become a popular interior design technique and consists of taking one dominant colour and using various shades of it in a room, across different surfaces and features, explains Lloyd. “Incorporating this trend can create visually stunning and dramatic effects and also make a room feel brighter, more cohesive and even more spacious – perfect for north-facing rooms.” It’s essential to choose the right paint fi nish, says Lloyd, as this will make a huge difference in the overall look of the space. Perfect These are the best shades for north, south, east and west-facing rooms. will work best in north-facing rooms, as it will refl ect the light, brightening up the space and making W Sarah Llyod ith a vast library of paint colours at our fi ngertips, fancy fi nishes and so many takes on trending colours such as blue – from cool, to light and airy, to muted, to deep – now here’s a conundrum to puzzle our paintbrush. As Sarah Lloyd, paint and interiors expert at Valspar puts it: “Deciding on a paint colour for the spaces in your home can be diffi cult, especially as natural light changes throughout the day, meaning the appearance of the colour changes too.” Moreover, she says light can be so infl uential, the same colour will look different from room to room. So it’s important to pick the right colour for your walls. “Whether the room is north, south, east or west-facing, there are certain colours that will be better suited to certain spaces than others,” says Lloyd. To help you navigate those colour charts, these are the colours to select depending on the room orientation and resulting sunlight…. Colour
WOMANSWAY.IE 49 INTERIORS By Sam Wylie-Harris tables and cabinets, or accessories like lamp shades and vases, for a harmonious look. “This combination adds depth while maintaining a sense of calm,” she adds. While a solid grey paint will look super stylish when offset by white furnishings, such as drapes, candles and small ornaments, especially as the light shines through, says Lloyd. “As south-facing rooms have enough light, choosing a matte fi nish is perfect to balance out the brightness and bring a warmer tone. A matte fi nish is also good if there are any imperfections on the wall that need hiding.” Perfect paint choice: Matte fi nish, using cooler tones such as blue – paired with neutral furniture. EAST AND WEST-FACING ROOMS “East and west-facing rooms tend to get the same amount of sunlight, just at different times of the day,” highlights Lloyd. “So it’s important to understand when you’ll be using the space the most and base the colour choice, and paint fi nish, on this instead.” If you’re using these rooms throughout the day, she says it’s best to stick with neutral colours. “White, grey, and brown can all provide a sense of ease and warmth in the home, setting an inviting scene, no matter the time of the day. “Painting walls with light neutrals such as cream and taupe is best to brighten the room and add an airy feel to your home.” Depending on your style, Lloyd says to accentuate these spaces with oak wardrobes, tables and desks, to create a rustic feel – and an environment that feels comforting and relaxed, even more so as the days get longer, suggests Lloyd. Otherwise think white-on-white with creamy accents for Scandi-style or minimalist decor to help bounce the light around, making the most of warm, natural light in the morning; or late afternoon and early evening. Perfect paint choice: Finish depends on how the room is used, but stick to neutrals to ensure a warm setting throughout the day. WW “Natural light changes throughout the day, meaning the appearance of the colour changes too” Paint swatches Blush paint is suitable for north-facing rooms Blue is a good choice for south-facing rooms White and grey works in east and west-facing rooms
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. LETTER EMAIL DETAILS For the moment, we are asking you to send us all your letters and pictures to [email protected] STAR LETTERPRIZE Our next Star Letter winner will receive three salon-sized cans of Silvikrin (Natural, Firm and Maximum hold, 400ml cans). Iconic for a reason, beloved in Ireland for decades. A mainstay of dressing tables, salons and stylist toolkits across the country. Silvikrin Hairspray enables you to create the perfect style for your hair and keep it in place for up to 48 hours. The Silvikrin Classic range is a slow drying hairspray that allows you to work in your style and shape your hair without making it sticky. It also protects your hair against UV rays and is easy to comb out. Visit wella.com. Delighted Each time I pick up Woman’s Way, I am surprised and delighted by its content. It covers everything from crafts to books to beauty, gardening, food and health. It is informative, practical and completely unpretentious. It is also great value. My mother read it and I am now encouraging my daughters to read it. Last month I was delighted to win the Tan Organic hamper, my daughters quickly nabbed their favourites from it. So to ensure that I do not miss a copy, I have taken out a subscription for myself and my daughters. Thank you for a great magazine and continued success with it. Paula Galvin what I can and will be doing more after my last new knee is totally healed. Best wishes and admiration to Jo on her strength and positivity. Charlotte Macauley, Co Down Happy birthday This is my rescue dog Winnie celebrating her second birthday. I got her a year ago and she was in very poor health from neglect. She has thrived on love and care. I would love her picture to be in Woman's Way magazine. Thank you. Maureen O Driscoll second birthday. I got her a year ago from neglect. She magazine. Thank I love Trinny’s Instagram page, and was delighted to see her on the cover of the current issue of Woman’s Way. She comes across as very genuine and is full of great tips, for makeup of course but also for making the most of your wardrobe. Her podcast Fearless is equally brilliant, a great listen for when I’m doing chores. Many thanks for the profi le, and for championing women who champion women. Delighted to see she’s set up in Ireland now, I will drop in to Brown Thomas to have a gander. Chloe Desmond, Co Dublin Arthritis Jo Whiley is one inspirational lady. I read her piece on dealing with ageing with great interest. I was sorry to learn she has arthritis in her fi ngers. I can totally sympathise with her as I have it myself. Jo radiates good health and positively glows. You would never dream she was suffering pain. I'm a lot older than her but I too have started eating much healthier food. Like Jo, I now eat lots of berries. I take them in my yoghurt every day along with a little pot of Yakult. I've had total knee replacements so I want to enhance my body further by eating healthier foods. I am going to take Jo's example by taking turmeric and cider vinegar regularly. I usually pass my copy of Woman's Way to a friend but I'm going to photocopy Jo's pages before I do so this time. I can't exercise much at the minute but I am doing health. It is informative, practical and completely