FAMILY, HOME & WELLNESS FASHION & BEAUTY PICKS €2000 + AMAZING PRIZES 44 Ruth MADE IN OUR GOING SOLO IRELAND SPECIAL ISSUE Summer Style ALL BY MYSELF Solo Events & Festivals NEW ERA Ruth LANGSFORD’S MAN TALK Jamie Oliver and Jeff Brazier ALL ABOUT BIPOLAR DISORDER We’ll fi ll you in DEALING WITH HYPER-FATIGUE Single AND LOVING IT AINSLEY HARRIOTT’S SPICY VEGGIE BURGERS Issue 13 July 1st 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 Ray Burmiston 54 Benny’s Bites: Party food with a twist. 58 Ainsley’s Veggie Burgers: Ainsley Harriott’s spicy black bean burgers. 60 Anna’s Irish soda bread: Anna Haugh’s traditional recipe. 44 Sunny Style Up: This summer’s interior trends. 46 House Sale Hacks: Staging your home. 48 Pongy Pets: How to banish whiffy odours. 62 Tulip Talk: Lift them or leave ‘em? 64 Happy Herbs: Grown from seed. 66 Tool-ed Up: Garden essentials. 16 Leading the Way: Meet fi nalist Caoimhe Butterly who provides trauma support in wartorn regions. 12 Emerald Park: Three all-access family passes. 20 Buff Day Spa: A six-month Restore membership. 24 Armera: Two €250 bathroom vouchers. 70 Russell Hobbs: Eight mini-coolers. 4 Ruth Langsford: The TV presenter was married to Eamonn Holmes, and following their recent surprise divorce announcement, is now going it alone. 14 Single Lane: Living life by yourself. 38 Flying Solo: Irish festivals and events to check out on your own. Ruth Langsford Page 4 21 Beauty Faves: What the WW crew use on repeat. 22 Summer Hair Care: Protecting your locks from the sun. 25 Youth Boosters: A new injectable facial treatment. 26 Hot Summer Makeup: From neon eyes to sun-kissed skin. 28 Style Faves: PR queen Aileen O’Brien. 30 Festival Fashion: Rock a new style. 14 Single Lane: GOING SOLO SPECIAL ISSUE Sunny Style Up Page 44 Leading the Way Page 16 Ainsley’s Veggie Burgers Page 58 Russell Hobbs Page 70 facebook.com/womansway Womans_way TikTok... @womansway1
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. © 2024 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 ENTERTAINMENT TRAVEL REGULARS THE WW TEAM HEALTH & WELLBEING Andrea xx 40 Discovering Castelli Romani: A visit to the scenic region on the outskirts of Rome. 42 Enchanting Istria: Taking in the sights on the Croatian peninsula. 16 The change-maker: LGBTQ+ activist Patricia Carey. 84 Money Talks: How to chat to friends about money. 86 Aldo’s New Adventures: Survival expert Aldo Kane on his work-life balance. 88 Epic Jamie: Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver talks neurodiversity. 32 Hidden Gems: Great watches you may have missed. 34 Review: Bread And Roses documentary. 35 Books: Check out our top picks. 36 Pretty Woman: We meet Pretty Woman: The Musical star Ore Oduba. 74 Tired of It?: How to deal with hyperfatigue. 76 Reaching New Heights: Hiking tips. 78 Taking the Pressure Off: Jeff Brazier on pushing ourselves too hard. 80 Living With Bipolar Disorder: What it is and how it’s treated. 82 All About Arrhythmia: What an irregular heart rate means. 9 We Love: The WW team shares what they’re loving. 50 You Said It: Readers' letters and pictures. 52 Timeout: Take a break, try our quiz and Prize Crossword. 68 Knitting: Children’s cardigan. 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 Dervla McTiernan. 93 Hacks: Get rid of mould. 94 Why Is This a Thing: Plan Cancellers. Welcome to our Going Solo Special Issue. I'm fi lling in this issue for our editor Carissa as, very sadly, her lovely mum Margaret recently passed away. I'm sure you're familiar with Margaret, or Mag as she was called by the family, as she often featured in these pages with Carissa and her sister, our magazine publisher Norah. Mag came to all our events, such as the Woman's Way and Beko Mum of the Year Awards, and we all loved seeing her as she was so warm and friendly and always great fun. At the funeral, Norah gave a brilliant eulogy that left us in no doubt that the much-loved Mag was a truly remarkable woman who made every moment of her 93 - almost 94 - years count. Originally from Leitrim, she came to Dublin to work as a nurse, and married the late Harry, a ranger in the Phoenix Park. They lived in a lodge there and went on to have six children, 11 grandchildren and fi ve great-grandchildren. Mag lived there for 70 years and was known as the queen of the Phoenix Park. As well as being a nurse, she became a counsellor, did voluntary work, studied languages and became the oldest person in Ireland to obtain the ECDL (now ICDL) computer literacy certifi cation. What an incredible woman. Her loss is immense and our deepest condolences go to Norah, Carissa and all of Mag's family and friends. 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, July 1, 2024 Vol.62 Issue 13 Enchanting Istria Page 42 Pretty Woman Page 36 Epic Jamie Page 88 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 SUBSCRIBE TO To subscribe online log on to womansway.ie or call the Subscription Hotline on 01 465 9872 pushing ourselves too hard. 80 Living With Bipolar Disorder: is and how it’s treated. 82 All About Arrhythmia: irregular heart rate means. mum Margaret recently Margaret, or Mag as she was 1930 - 2024
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TELEVISION WOMANSWAY.IE 5 Ruth’s continues overleaf >> and Niall. They began dating in 1996, but kept their relationship secret for years out of respect for Gabrielle, which Ruth was happy to do. “I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man [Eamonn] was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had,” she said later. “It made me love him more, not less.” MARRIED LIFE Eamonn and Ruth were married in 2010 and have one son, Jack (22), who left the family home in Surrey to go to university in 2018. Ruth told Hello! magazine at the time that not having him at home “literally felt like part of my heart ripped out”. “I truly understand the pain of empty nest syndrome,” she said. “The day we dropped Jack off at university, we said goodbye and, as we got around the corner, I burst into tears and Eamonn was crying too. It sounds dramatic but for the next three days, I felt like I’d had my womb ripped out. It was physical pain.” Ruth and Eamonn became known for presenting TV shows together over the years, as they have co-hosted the ITV quiz show Gift Wrapped, the Channel 5 series How the Other Half Lives and Do the Right Thing, and of course, This Morning. Fans loved their mutual banter and teasing, and while she is now working as host to being quite rebellious at school - a letter was sent to her parents after she was caught smoking while she was there, and she failed her O Level exams because she didn’t work hard enough. As quite a "directionless" teenager, she left school at 16 and went to live in Cornwall, where her family had settled by then. One day while she was in the village pub, Ruth got chatting to a woman who worked at the area's regional TV station, Westwood Television. When she confessed that she didn’t know what she wanted to do with her life, the woman organised a meeting for Ruth with the personnel manager at the station, and he told her to get in touch after she fi nished her shorthand and typing course. She did that and was eventually given a job working in the control room at the station. Bosses at the station obviously spotted her potential as Ruth was subsequently given a temporary job as a continuity announcer when she was 20. She did very well at it and eventually became an evening news presenter, and from there, she moved into national television on a freelance basis after the regional station closed. The rest, as they say, is history. Ruth and Eamonn met each other through a mutual friend and at that point, he was separated from his fi rst wife, Gabrielle, with whom he has three children, Declan, Rebecca When Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes announced plans to divorce after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together, it caused shockwaves here and in the UK. It was surprising news as we were so used to seeing them co-presenting This Morning together and they always seemed to be a great team. There are all sorts of rumours swirling around about the reason for the split, but whatever the truth of the matter - and it will undoubtedly emerge at some point - the fact remains that at 64, Loose Women presenter Ruth is now going solo after being in a relationship since 1996. It will be a big change for her, but she is known to be a very strong woman and she is surrounded by great friends. The grace with which she has overcome the diffi culties she has encountered in life, such as the impact of both of her parents being diagnosed with dementia and the loss of her older sister Julia, demonstrates that Ruth has a huge inner reserve that will stand to her now. Ruth’s dad was an army sergeant and she was born in Singapore in 1960. She lived in fi ve countries before the age of 10, including Germany and Libya. She then went to boarding school in London with her sister when she was eight. Ruth loved it and admits After the surprising announcement that Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes are to divorce, Andrea Smith looks at the woman behind the headlines. Solo Run
6 WOMANSWAY.IE of Loose Women, he is now a GB News anchor. Their mutual friend, events planner Liz Taylor, teased Ruth on her podcast, Events That Made Me, that Eamonn was "bloody terrifi ed" of her. Shortly after he took the GB News job, Eamonn suggested that Ruth sleep in another bedroom to avoid waking her as he has to be up at 3am. “She glared at me angrily and told me in no uncertain terms that she won’t be moving, so I think that means I’m being turfed out,” he said. “She was deadly serious.” Some reports claim that the pair's departure from This Morning in 2021 was the beginning of the end. Their last public appearance together was at the 2022 Tric Awards, and as they started moving in different directions in their careers, it’s alleged that their priorities began to change. “For the past two years they had led separate lives, professionally and personally,” one source was quoted as saying. In 2017, Ruth's solo profi le rose further when she took part in Strictly Come Dancing and was partnered with Anton du Beke. She had a great time and became the seventh person to be eliminated. “Strictly is a dream come true,” she said just before the series started. “After being a viewer for so many years, I can't believe that now I'll be stepping into that dream. I've never had a dance lesson in my life. I was a bit of a tomboy growing up so me and ballet shoes never got acquainted. I hope I get to learn the jive. My parents were fantastic dancers, so I think my mum will enjoy watching me try to do it.” Ruth’s major passion is cooking, and she showcased her skills on ITV’s Marco’s Kitchen Burn Out in 2010. She told House Beautiful that her favourite room at home is the kitchen/ diner and snug. “I’m either cooking in the kitchen, at the dining table eating, reading the papers or entertaining,” she said. “Or I’m in the snug putting my feet up with a gin and tonic and watching Coronation Street. Every Sunday you’ll fi nd me at home. I don’t put on any make-up, I scrape my hair back, read the papers and relax. I like to cook brunch, we might have friends over or my mum comes for Sunday lunch and a sherry.” HEALTH ISSUES Ruth’s dad Dennis passed away in 2012 aged 84, having fi rst shown symptoms of Alzheimer's in the 1990s. After being cared for at home for years, he eventually had to go into a care home, which, Ruth said, “broke my heart”. “But sometimes it is not possible to keep a sufferer at home,” she said. “Me and my sister had to persuade my mum to let him go into care, because being at home was making them both ill." Ruth told Kaye Adams on the How To Be 60 podcast that she didn't want to take a test to see if she would be prone to getting Alzheimer’s herself, because there’s no cure at the moment. Her mother Joan (92) ended up developing dementia too and is currently living in a care home. "You’re grieving for them while they’re still alive,” is how Ruth described it. “They are physically there but their spirit appears not to be. It’s like you’ve lost them... but there they are." She has taken some time off Loose Women in the aftermath of the divorce announcement, but given how much work has helped her get through diffi cult times, she probably won't stay away too long. She felt unable to face Ruth in Strictly Come Dancing Ruth and Eamonn in happier times
TELEVISION WOMANSWAY.IE 7 work in 2019, when her older sister Julia, who had experienced depression, died through suicide aged 62. The sisters were very close and Ruth has described that period as the “hardest year” of her life. She was so griefstricken, she considered quitting work, but Eamonn and their son Jack supported her through the very sad time. Ruth explained that Eamonn encouraged her to live her life and resume her career as a tribute to her sister, even though she felt it was wrong to be “cheery on screen, when, inside, my heart was breaking”. She was also wise enough to realise that she needed the focus and structure that work brings to her life. Eamonn underwent a double-hip replacement operation in 2016 and has suffered various health issues in recent years, including crippling back pain that left him reliant on a walking stick. He was even confi ned to a wheelchair at one point. He eventually had vital back surgery in September 2022, but two months later, he broke his shoulder when he fell down stairs at home and publicly praised Ruth for her 'amazing' support. The situation took a toll on them though. “Ruth ends up having to wait on me,” he said. "It’s been very diffi cult. Even my own family are bored of my moaning. It has caused some strain and Ruth is fed up of hearing about it and of me saying I can’t walk the dog or tidy up but I can’t help it. It’s been agony.” Ruth told Woman’s Weekly at one point that she was living ‘in hope' that Eamonn's mobility improves, saying: “I look at Eamonn, who's had his health and back problems, and it makes you realise how important your health is. He does the physio, but there might have to be some acceptance that this might never be 100 per cent right. With any care situation - and there are millions of carers in this country - it isn't always easy. It's testing but we manage as a family.” Eamonn deeply loves his native Northern Ireland, and was devastated when he had to sell his Belfast house after being ordered to pay £250,000 (€296,480) in backdated tax bills. His son Declan is based in the city with his two children, Emilia and Isabella, and Eamonn told the How to be 60 podcast last year that he "pined" to return to Northern Ireland, but Ruth "wouldn't go". He also said that she became “very irritated” when he said that he was “going home” to Belfast. “She says, ‘This is your home’, and I say, 'No Ruth, this is where I work. This is where I have to be',” he said. Perhaps a clue to the recent split came when Eamonnn was chatting on TalkTV during lockdown. He admitted that the only time he and Ruth really interacted was when they were working together. He said at the time: "Although we live together, we're not really together, we don't watch the same TV, Ruth likes her own space, when we do This Morning it's a rare time we actually interrelate." “That's why we've been together 24 years, because we aren't actually together a lot,” Ruth interjected. Since the divorce announcement, Ruth has appeared on social media several times, showcasing her new hairstyle and modelling the range of clothes she sells through QVC. She often shows videos of her mum visiting herself and her dog Maggie at her Surrey home - Eamonn has now moved out - and recently posted one saying, “Lovely day spent with my darling Mum - sunshine, music, dancing, sherry, lunch, crosswords in the garden & Maggie….making memories.” Ruth has the support of her great friends at Loose Women, who are a very tight bunch and will be there to welcome her back with open arms when she returns to work next month. We at Woman’s Way are looking forward to the next chapter in Ruth’s story, and wish her every happiness as she forges ahead as a single, independent woman. WW Loose Women pictured: (L-R) Ruth, Coleen Nolan, Janet Street Porter and Brenda Edwards
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WOMANSWAY.IE 9 Mellow Stella I spent a gorgeous Wednesday evening at the Stella Cocktail Club in Rathmines recently, where singer Erica Stokes (@ericasings) enthralled everyone present with her gorgeous voice and mellow jazz repertoire. I didn’t realise that the art deco venue in the Stella Cinema serves food and cocktails seven days a week, and I’ll defi nitely be back - both for the fab music and delicious food. It was such a lovely midweek treat (stellacinemas.ie). Red Hot I love discovering fantastic little performance spaces around the country where great gigs are taking place. I went to see the fabulous Aoife Scott (aoifescott. com) at the Red Hot Music Club in Fallons of Kilcullen recently (fallons.ie), in the most gorgeous stone-walled room fi lled with candles and twinkly lights. Really magical. We had a great dinner beforehand in Fallons and Aoife, Andy, Michael and support act Enda Byrne played a blinder. WW AndreaLoves... Not Without My Sister I’m a huge fan of podcasts and one of my favourites is Not Without My Sister. It’s hosted on Acast by Irish journalist and author, Rosemary MacCabe, and her fashion designer sister Beatrice, who now both live in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Rosemary is mum to one boy, step-mum to two others and is expecting her second baby, while Beatrice is mum to four boys. It’s fascinating to hear about their lives in the US and the podcast is very funny and entertaining. Diana’s Elegance Princess Diana was fascinating and I loved seeing some of her dresses and other outfi ts at the exhibition, Princess Diana’s Elegance: A Royal Collection, at the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware in Kildare. It was such a rare opportunity to see them as they’ll be auctioned at Julien’s Auctions in Los Angeles at the end of June. I particularly loved looking at the Murray Arbeid midnight blue diamanté star dress that she wore to the premiere of Phantom of the Opera in 1986. Amazing to get so close to it. Visit newbridgesilverware.com
10 WOMANSWAY.IE Fisherman’s Catch Decent fi sh and chips are hard to beat. And, considering we’re on an island, decent fi sh and chips can be surprisingly hard to fi nd. On our cod quest, my Italian fi shmonger Diego (left) and I have endured lots of mediocre meals and some truly abominable ones. One recent low point involved fi sh, or “fi sh” that was like eating a greasy old runner. But then a revelation. Fisherman’s Catch in Clogherhead, Co Louth. It’s only open on weekends and there’s a queue but it’s worth the wait. After a stroll along beautiful Port Beach, you’ll have earned these generous portions of really fresh and gorgeous fi sh. Áine Loves... Virginie Claire Virginie Vuillaume is a magician and she has been performing magic tricks on skin in Harold’s Cross, Dublin, since 1996. She and her small but fabulous team at V. Claire (vclairenaturalbeauty.ie) have been working with plant-based products since before they became so ubiquitous. A facial in the salon will leave your skin plumped and moisturised but if there’s any redness or irritation, they work on that too. Those are, of course, great benefi ts. However, what I especially love is how the lymphatic drainage massage can take the puffi ness out of tired-looking eyes. TWIG The correlation between Dublin gangland crime and Greek mythology – Antigone, the daughter of Oedipus to be precise – might not be immediately obvious. But this is precisely the ambition of new Irish movie TWIG. The fi lm is a second feature by Marian Quinn, sister of actor Aidan; late fi lmmaker Paul; and cinematographer Declan, who shot TWIG. Brian F. O'Byrne plays crime boss Leon and Sade Malone plays the title character Twig, a young woman, who, in defence of her family, is one of few voices to stand up to Leon. TWIG is in cinemas from June 21. WW Mam an’ Me Mam an’ Me, Living a Lifetime in a Day is the name of a wonderful book by Dublin man, Kieran Coote. In the same month that his brother, Fr Tony Coote, was diagnosed with MND, their mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Dementia was in the family so Kieran recognised the early signs in his mother. He felt that when all other doors were closed in his life, his mother’s was always open and he wanted to repay that debt by taking care of her at home. His book is a very moving and interesting account of caring for his mother, intertwined with the story of her life (€12.99, Orpen Press).
WOMANSWAY.IE 11 Karl Loves... Oh la la This brings back memories. Roughly 25 years ago I was fortunate enough to catch AIR play in Dublin's Olympia Theatre for their Moon Safari tour. It was such a brilliant gig and I remember it fondly. One of the best gig experiences I've had over the years. And this summer they are playing the Moon Safari tour in Trinity College on June 30. I wasn't quick enough off the mark and unfortunately missed out on tickets. Ah well, I suppose I'll have to listen the the album loud on vinyl that weekend. WW Daria's big day Daria Brennan celebrated her confi rmation recently in Tinahely, Co Wicklow. Here she is on her special day with her Irish grandparents Una and Creedon Hade. Her grandparents in Belarus will be very proud of her as well. Talent! I'm so proud of my niece Isabella. My sister sent me this drawing on WhatsApp. Isabella drew it as part of a school art assessment in Sydney. It's a beautifully illustrated storyboard based on a story dad Stephen used to tell the girls when they were younger. In fact, Izzy and sister Sophie are both talented young artists - maybe they get it from their uncle! Euro 2024 It's that time again. Four weeks of football. The fi rst game of the tournament is the host Germany v Scotland on June 14. Unfortunately Ireland didn't qualify for the tournament, so instead I'll be cheering on France as Astrid our contributing editor hails from France. Games that I'm looking forward to seeing in the group stages are Spain v Italy on June 20 and Netherlands v France on June 21. Now all that's left is for me to pick my fantasy team.
COMPETITION 12 WOMANSWAY.IE WIN A FAMILY PASS TO To enter, please answer the following: WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE NEW IMMERSIVE LAND AT EMERALD PARK? A. TÍR NA NÓG B. EMERALD PARK FUN ZONE HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by July 1 to: womansway@ harmonia.ie including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Emerald Park 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 launch of Tír Na nÓg at Emerald Park, three lucky readers will each win an all-access family pass which includes four entries (worth over €170 each). Get ready for the thrill of the summer as Emerald Park, where family traditions meet thrilling experiences, has offi cially opened Tír Na nÓg – its fi rst fully themed and immersive land, featuring Europe's longest intertwining family and thrill coasters located 20 minutes outside of Dublin in Ashbourne, Co Meath. With 40 thrill-seeking rides and attractions along with its zoo which is home to over 250 diverse animals, Emerald Park is the perfect day out for families and thrill seekers. Tickets are available now at EmeraldPark.ie COMPETITION
WOMANSWAY.IE 13 Mama Mia! Apart from comfy beds and cleanliness, there’s nothing I like more from a hotel than quirky design and fun touches to marvel at. The Mama Shelter Hotels I’ve been to (Rome and Toulouse, visit mamashelter.com) have delivered all of the above in spades, from the masks awaiting us in the room to the city-themed decorations. I’m basking in the good memories, and positively pining for exoticism as I head into a summer of staycations. Did anyone mention a heatwave? Astrid Loves... Bastille Day On July 14, 1789, revolutionaries stormed a prison, an event I remember celebrating every year with fi reworks. Not that I was a pyrotechnician – every town and city in France took it upon itself to light up the night skies in remembrance. In Ireland there’ll be a different kind of spark fl ying this year – Portarlington, Co Laois has twinned with Redessan in the south of France, and there will be activities around this and many others organised by the Solas Eco Garden Centre for that weekend, including the Tour de Port bike race, visit ecogardenshop.ie. Obituary I’m always late to the game when it comes to TV, and only just recently stumbled upon this Irish dark comedy (stream for free on the RTÉ Player) starring Siobhán Cullen who plays ‘prim reaper’ Elvira Clancy. Worth a watch. WW Emerald Park I love the thrill of zipping around a roller coaster and as luck would have it, Emerald Park (still known as Tayto Park to my children) recently opened a brand new land called Tír Na nÓg. It’s super modern and most relevant to, er, the kids, it’s got two massively cool roller coasters. Between the zoo and the other fantastic rides, you can’t see it all in a day so plan ahead and get there early to beat the queues. Visit emeraldpark.ie.
14 WOMANSWAY.IE IN THE SINGLE LANE Life
IN PERSON WOMANSWAY.IE 15 I f someone had told me when I was 20 that I would remain single into my mid-50s, I would probably have been shocked and disappointed. Back then, it was expected that you would follow the very linear path of getting married and having children, and if you didn't, there was a sense that you had somehow failed at life. You were an ‘old maid’ or a ‘bachelor’ and someone to be pitied, and you looked longingly from the sidelines at luckier siblings and friends who were surrounded by adoring spouses, children and grandchildren. That was the 1980s, and now that I fi nd myself here in 2024 and very much single, it turns out it’s not the terrible fate I would have feared back then. It's actually a brilliant life and I feel very happy and fulfi lled. Twenty-year-old me would have been surprised to discover that you don't need to be coupled-up to have a very rich and exciting life. People aren't expected to follow any particular path these days and there is a huge freedom in being able to choose what way the wind might blow for you. Actually, there’s a lot going for having the luxury of being able to make all of your own decisions without having to take someone else’s feelings into account. That might sound selfi sh, but I don’t feel a tinge of envy when I hear friends sighing because they have to spend time with inlaws they loathe or watch fi lms they have no interest in to keep their partner happy. My friends with children and grandchildren are thrilled with them, and they say they have never known love like the one that parenthood - and grandparenthood - brings. The more honest ones will admit that they have never known fear like it either as they spend their lives worrying about the people they've made, many of whom are now well into adulthood themselves. I would have loved to have children but it wasn’t meant to be, but I still have my parents, for which I am profoundly grateful. As I always say, nobody gets the fairytale, but we all get some great bonuses in lifes. Still having my parents at 55, as well as some lovely aunts and uncles, has been one of mine. Love comes in many forms and I’ve channelled my nurturing side into my pets. I have seven rescue dogs, and it’s just as well I don't have a partner as there is barely enough room on the sofa for me. As I write this, there are fi ve of them hanging out on the sofa with me - a staffi e, pitbull, Yorkie, chihuahua and Jack Russell - and two on the other sofa - a German Shepherd and springer spaniel. I’m peering over the smallest one at the laptop, as her favourite place to perch is on my chest - luckily she only weighs six pounds. I adore them and they give me so much love, loyalty and fun in return. I could never be bored or lonely when I have a whole lot of small creatures acting out their own little fl oor show for me each day. The tricky bit comes when one of them needs a tablet or their hair or nails trimmed, as it’s down to me to keep them still and safe and get the task done. That’s when I could do with a second pair of hands around the place. It also means that there is no taking to the bed if I feel tired or unwell, as keeping the pets fed, watered, walked and entertained is wholly on me. FINANCES There are advantages and disadvantages to living the solo life, of course. One of the main downsides is that there is a huge kernel of truth in the old saying that two can live almost as cheaply as one. I have to keep the household going by myself, and there is nobody to contribute or pick up the slack when it comes to paying the bills. I’ve come a cropper on this in the past but it has also made me resourceful and self-reliant. When my mortgage payments fi nally ended a couple of years ago, I was grateful that I had managed to pay it off by myself - with a few wobbles along the way. When you’re single, all of the household tasks fall to you. I have to keep a straight face when my friends give out about their partners not doing particular tasks that are traditionally designated as male ones - such as bringing out the bins, picking up dog poop, fi xing broken door handles, etc. There are no rows in my house over who does what or which way the division of household labour falls, as it’s all down to me. As a result, I could give Bob the Builder a run for his money. I’ve put up shelves and cupboards, sanded the fl oors and tiled the kitchen splashback - and at this stage, I own practically every tool in Lidl’s middle aisle. When a dog jumped at the front door and snapped the key in the lock - on the very day I was going abroad on holidays, of course - I was able to go out buy a new lock and replace it myself. I’m what I like to call the queen of DIYBS - Do-It-YourBloody-Self. If I run out of road with this journalism lark, I could always come around and put up your shelves. I mentioned earlier that it’s great not to have to compromise when your partner wants to do something, but it also means that you don't have a ready-made companion for holidays and weekends away and Saturday nights out. When you’re single, you have more time to devote to friends and hobbies though, and this is the trick to keeping your life buzzing with exciting outings and great companions. I love music and have my own choir now, which means that I get to organise lovely outings and events with like-minded people. We recently fl ew to Kerry for the day and had a great time, and later this year, we'll sing at the 3Arena. The choir members are always up for nights out and social events, and I have great fun planning what we might do next. Other single friends are enjoying mosaic classes, walking clubs and women’s/men’s sheds, and there is great richness to be enjoyed from the company of people who are also determined to wring as much fun as possible out of life. The key to rocking the solo life is to count your blessings and stay open to friendships and social opportunities. The same goes for couples, of course, as it’s good to be independent and to develop self-reliance as you never know what way your life is going to pan out - just ask our cover star, Ruth Langsford. WW As someone who is single in her mid-50s, Andrea Smith says there is much to recommend it.
16 WOMANSWAY.IE beauty, community and hospitality, and that almost serves as a counterbalance to despair. And I still feel hope. I’ve lived long enough amongst Palestinian communities within the West Bank and Gaza and refugee camps in the region to know that they hold hope and so, as allies and witnesses, we need to too.” Born in Ireland to Irish parents who migrated to Canada when she was an infant, one of Caoimhe’s formative memories of social injustice was seeing news footage of young Palestinian men being beaten in the hills outside Hebron with the butts of Israeli guns. Her parents were involved in refugee solidarity programmes in Canada, her mother a therapist working with survivors of war and political violence. “The language of human rights, justice and solidarity was familiar to me,” says Caoimhe. “I don’t think my life could have, or would have gone in any other direction except for that which it has.” She’s keen to raise her own son, Tadhg (13), to be familiar to the same language of equality, cultivating a sense of responsibility around inclusion and an awareness of injustice. For the past few years Caoimhe has home-schooled Tadhg, but this year will see him enter full-time mainstream education in Dublin, while Caoimhe takes on a job in a nonprofi t that will see them “a little more anchored” than they have been. It’s a move towards stability that she recognised a need for in her son, who identifi es strongly as ‘Irish’, while his mum admits to feeling various cultural identities, having grown up fi rst in Canada then Zimbabwe and Mauritius, and lived in Latin America and the Middle East for many years. But she’s deeply proud of the resilience and understanding Tadhg’s honed, spending time with her on the road in places like refugee camps on the Greek island of Lesvos (Lesbos). “That’s an environment he’s been in a few times a year since he was very small, so he has a lot of his own engagement with the camp and really been mentored by young volunteers who come to Lesvos with solidarity and a desire to support refugees,” says Caoimhe. She already knows that her son won’t follow in her career footsteps. “He’s been quite clear with me that he doesn’t want to Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year fi nalist Caoimhe Butterly tells Chrissie Russell about her ongoing humanitarian work. The horrifi c images coming out of Gaza are impossible for many of us to process, but for humanitarian and human rights worker Caoimhe Butterly, there is a very personal sense of anguish to the grief she feels witnessing the ongoing suffering. The mum-of-one is currently involved in the Gaza Freedom Flotilla, which is getting ready to sail to Gaza to break the Israeli siege, with Butterly keen to offer traumainformed support. But her association with the region goes back decades, with the fi lm-maker and educator having previously worked as a volunteer ambulance worker in Gaza, as well as spending years in the West Bank, where she was shot in the leg by an Israeli soldier while trying to help a group of children and youths. “I’ve known a lot of people who have been killed over the last eight months, amongst them dear and respected paramedic colleagues that I worked alongside in Gaza, so there is an extra layer of intimacy to the grief,” reveals Caoimhe. But she’s keen not to assert any sense of hierarchy in loss. “The grief I’ve been navigating is personal, but I’m also part of groups – Mothers Against Genocide, Healthcare Workers for Palestine – and I read the messages in those groups, where there are mothers weeping at the images of other mothers grieving, so I know people are feeling it every bit as deeply as me.” She continues: “And in a way, having been there, the grief is in some ways easier, because I also have memories of joy and Leading the way
MUM OF THE YEAR FINALIST WOMANSWAY.IE 17 • 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. go down the humanitarian path,” reveals Caoimhe. “Partly because he sees the cost of it, the heaviness, as well as the meaning.” Tadhg’s love and talent for art has him currently leaning towards architecture as a future occupation. “But I have confi dence that whatever his path is, he has a solid lens with which to hold gratitude for the privileges that are so easy to take for granted,” his mum smiles. Before Tadhg was born, Caoimhe had already begun to step back from the frontline activism that had dominated her twenties and early thirties, and decided to train as a psychotherapist. “It was in the aftermath of 2009 when I’d worked as an ambulance volunteer in Gaza and we witnessed fi rsthand the horror that a lot of people are trying to absorb and metabolise through their telephones right now,” she explains. “We dug the broken bodies of children out from the rubble and witnessed intergenerational massacres.” The experience made her keen to understand not only her own processes in navigating trauma, but also learn how to more robustly support other fi rst-line medics and search and rescue personnel through psycho-social resourcing work. Motherhood, and getting older, also informed changes over time in how Caoimhe engages with causes important to her - still very much hands-on in her desire to effect change, but in a different way to how she might have approached it in the past. She explains: “I think my awareness of the necessity of self-preservation defi nitely shifted in that, if I do go into any sort of confl ict context now, or war situations, I really assess in a way that I probably didn’t used to when I was younger. I was in Ukraine recently but stayed in the west, or I’ve worked in Lebanon, Iraq and Syria over the past years, but I assess risk in a different way. “I still engage, I still go, but I see my role more in terms of providing trauma supports and psycho-social resourcing. At this stage, the front-line ambulance work that I used to do, I wouldn’t do now as a parent and it’s not only to stay alive for my family but, as I’ve gotten older, I not only see every life around me as precious and in need of safeguarding, but my own life is precious too. There have already been so many humanitarians who have been killed Caoimhe and Tadhg over the past months and years.” In the face of such overwhelming human suffering, such as we’re seeing in Gaza, Caoimhe understands how easy it is to feel powerless, but still strongly believes we all have the ability to affect change. “Actions people take, even if they are very small and humble – even just that one conversation at the school gate that deepens understanding and opens up that space – they have impact,” says Caoimhe. “I’m an eternal optimist, and despite the very painful and brutal geopolitical realities around Palestinian rights and existence at the moment, there is also a phenomenal amount of work going on by people refusing to close their eyes to this and refusing to be complicit in it.” WW “I still engage, I still go, but I see my role more in terms of providing trauma supports and psycho-social resourcing” Caoimhe with two Syrian refugee children at Moira refugee camp in Lesvos, Greece, in 2020
18 WOMANSWAY.IE As chair of Belong To, the national LGBTQ+ youth organisation, Patricia Carey is making a positive difference. This year will mark the 50th anniversary of the fi rst Dublin Pride march and, when the parade sets off on June 29 through the city centre, it will be led by Belong To – LGBTQ+ Youth Ireland as grand marshal. The national organisation has been supporting LGBTQ+ young people for more than two decades, and represents what Pride is all about. Earlier this year, Patricia Carey was selected as its new chair. As a lesbian woman and long-time activist, she brings to the role over 30 years’ experience in public service and a passion for championing LGBTQ+ rights – something she believes is as vital now as it ever has been. “There’s been a rise of hate against young LBGTQ+ people both online and physically, with an increase in physical attacks and that’s a big concern,” says Patricia. Recent research published by Belong To revealed huge challenges needing to be addressed in young people’s mental health. Patricia says: “In one survey we did among 14 to 18-year-olds, 50 per cent of LGBTQ+ people in that age group are saying they’re suffering severe symptoms of depression, with young LGBTQ+ people experiencing three times the level of severe depression, self-harm and suicide attempts.” “That’s where we need to make a real difference,” she continues. “June is traditionally Pride month, and you see the fl ags out, but actually I think it needs to be year ‘round. There’s no point in pink washing and going, ‘Oh we’re great’ in June, and then forgetting about it for the other 11 months of the year. There’s still a lot of work to do for acceptance and openness.” LIFE INSPO Patricia Carey The change-maker FINDING YOUR PASSION We chat to inspiring women from all walks of life.
WOMANSWAY.IE 19 By Chrissie Russell However, Patricia is also keen to stress the importance of celebrating milestones like the 50th Pride Parade and all the huge strides made towards equality. “One of the important things I’ve learned, one of the valuable things, is that you should refl ect on successes,” she explains. “Things DO change. Before 1993, homosexuality was illegal in Ireland, literally people could be arrested or convicted and that DID happen.” Patricia had trained in secondary education but left her teaching career, in part because it didn’t feel like an inclusive environment for her. “There wasn’t any celebration of difference and, because I was gay, it didn’t feel like a welcoming or safe environment for me as a teacher or for the young people.” Now chairperson for a board of management in her old school, she sees fi rst-hand how things have progressed. “I went back to the school recently and there were posters celebrating difference on the walls, there’s the rainbow fl ag and the school is involved in all sorts of celebrations of diversity, be it ethnicity, different backgrounds and also LGBTQ+. That’s a really big change over 30 years. “We should celebrate the successes, but also keep going, because new challenges always arrive.” In Patricia’s own journey of coming out, she feels grateful to have been able to fi nd some support within the school where she was a pupil. She also credits the Loreto nuns there with helping instil in her a sense of social justice and feminism. “Because my school was slightly progressive, I did fi nd one or two adult allies in the school,” she recalls. “Then when I went to university in Maynooth, there was The Gay Society – it was banned on campus and not allowed to be a registered society – and I met people there who have become life-long friends and we just supported each other. I told my parents and obviously there were mixed emotions, but I’ve had a really accepting and rounded experience.” She sees young people in Belong To whose families have rejected them, which in turn can leave them at risk of suffering homelessness, addiction and mental health issues. Creating safe spaces is a crucial aspect of the work done by Belong To, and something Patricia is keen to help develop, ideally generating the funding necessary to create a physical Belong To centre that young people could come to and feel supported. Patricia's desire to help support people is also echoed in her work life. Having formerly been CEO of the Adoption Authority of Ireland, in March this year Patricia was appointed special advocate for survivors of institutional trauma in mother and baby homes, county homes, Magdalene laundries and industrial schools. Patricia herself was born in Bessborough Mother and Baby home in Cork in 1971, and had a very positive adoption experience. But she feels that the fact she has some level of personal insight is something she can bring to the role. “It’s only my second month on the job but some survivors have said to me already, ‘I feel I can talk to you a little more openly because you have some understanding’,” says Patricia. Others have been less enthusiastic. She says: “Some people have said, ‘I don’t want to engage with you’, which is absolutely fi ne, I’m not forcing anyone. Or someone else said recently, ‘I don’t trust you’, and I said I wouldn’t expect them to because we don’t know each other and trust, in my view, is earned. I have to meet people where they’re at.” There’s an emotional intensity to working in positions so intertwined with people’s lives and wellbeing, but Patricia feels energised by the engagement. “I take energy from talking to people,” she smiles. “I just really love meeting people.” She feels she’s got better at setting boundaries, scheduling downtime for friends, music or just Netfl ix and a glass of wine, where the work emails are off. “The other thing I’ve learned is not to over promise, not to disappoint people,” she says. “I could easily say, ‘Oh I’ll do this’ or ‘I’ll get you that’, but I don’t do that anymore, I will try to assist people.” Just providing a space where people feel seen and listened to is something she feels is crucial. “I was talking to a survivor recently and she said, ‘You’re the fi rst person who I feel has genuinely listened to me and heard what I have to say,” reveals Patricia. “That’s huge. Or a young person for the fi rst time walking through the doors of a Belong To youth group, that’s massive. Those are the moments that can change a person’s life.” She continues: “The world is always changing in good ways and bad and we all have a responsibility to be the changemakers and to show young people that you can effect change in a good way and, if you do small things, all the small things make up to big things.” WW Visit belongto.org “When I went to university in Maynooth, there was The Gay Society – it was banned on campus and not allowed to be a registered society – and I met people there who have become life-long friends and we just supported each other” special advocate for survivors Patricia at Pride 2019 with her wife Lynda Carroll and Panti Bliss
COMPETITION 20 WOMANSWAY.IE To enter, please answer the following question: WHERE IS THE BUFF DAY SPA LOCATED? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by July 1 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The Buff Day Spa 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 Bufi Day Spa membership One lucky reader will win a six-month Restore Membership at the Buff Day Spa in Dublin 2, worth €720. A Restore membership, at €120 per month, includes a full body massage, with essential oils or hot stone options each month, or a customised facial with a choice of a scalp, hand or foot massage. Additional perks with each membership include a free 30-minute treatment during the member’s birthday month, such as a spa manicure, express pedicure, back massage or Indian head massage. There’s also a private WhatsApp group for exclusive sales access, product launches, and taster treatments, as well as 10 per cent discounts on product, gift vouchers and additional treatments. More membership options are available from thebuffdayspa.com. 20 WOMANSWAY.IE
BEAUTY Sundae Body Shower Foam €14.95 Australian brand Sundae has just launched in Ireland and it has a range of whipped shower foams that come in a range of scents. I love them as they smell almost good enough to eat and they whip into a lovely foam that froths and lathers straight away. I like that they are free from parabens and sulphates and, best of all, are vegan and crueltyfree. My favourites so far are Coconut Cream and Honey Honey, which both leave me smelling fab. Sol de Janeiro Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil €52 My niece Izzy fell in love with this brand through TikTok, and while she’s too young for some of its products, her aged auntie isn’t. My dry skin loves this oil, which helps to tackle puffi ness thanks to the addition of micro algae extract. It smells divine and also contains Brazilian olive oil to deliver nutrients to the skin without making it greasy. HotPicks In this issue, Andrea Smith shares some of the beauty bits she’s loving at the moment. BPerfect Golden Hour Palefi e €34.95 I love this new BPerfect palette as while I normally spend the colder months looking moodily dark and gothic, this has everything I need for a lighter, more summery look. There are 20 powders and creams, and they include matte and cream shimmer eyeshadows, a brightening powder, shimmering powder highlighter, peach- and pink-hued blushes, a golden bronzer and warm powdered bronzer. Perfect for helping me to banish my inner Morticia Addams this summer. Clarins Water Lip Stain €25 Lip stains are all the rage and this Clarins one comes in two great shades and has a really lightweight texture. You’ll have soft lips after using it as it contains organic aloe vera extract and raspberry water. Lip stains are great as they don’t disappear when you’re eating and drinking, and as for Clarins’ claim that this one can resist up to 300 kisses - well, I’ll report back at the end of the summer! WOMANSWAY.IE 21 LUNA Airbrush Aurora Powder €20 I prefer wearing powder over my foundation as I have a horror of looking shiny, but fi nd a lot of them make my skin look fl at or cakey. This new pressed powder from Lisa Jordan is great as it gives your skin a lovely gleam and pearlescent fi nish. It has a light-diffusing feature to create a soft-focus and blurring effect, which helps balance moisture and control shine. It comes in two great shades - Beam and Storm. WW while she’s too young for some of its products, her aged auntie shares some of the beauty bits she’s loving at the moment. months looking moodily dark and gothic, this has everything I need for a lighter, more summery look. There are 20 powders and creams, and they include matte and cream shimmer eyeshadows, a brightening highlighter, peach- and pink-hued blushes, a golden bronzer and warm powdered bronzer. Perfect for helping me to banish my inner Morticia Addams this summer. oil to deliver nutrients to the skin without making it greasy. LUNA Airbrush Aurora Powder Lip stains are all the rage and this Clarins one comes in two great shades and has a really lightweight texture. You’ll have soft lips after using it as it contains organic aloe vera extract and raspberry water. Lip stains are great as they don’t disappear when you’re eating and drinking, and as for Clarins’ claim that this one can resist up to 300 kisses - well, I’ll report back at the end of the summer! LUNA Airbrush Aurora Powder I prefer wearing powder over my foundation as I have a horror of looking shiny, but fi nd a lot of them make my skin look fl at or cakey. This new pressed powder from Lisa Jordan is great as it gives your skin a lovely gleam and pearlescent fi nish. It has a light-diffusing feature to create a soft-focus and blurring effect, which helps balance moisture and control shine. It comes in two great shades - Beam and Storm. LUNA Airbrush Aurora Powder Shower Foam Australian brand Sundae has just launched in Ireland and it has a range of whipped shower foams that come in a range of scents. I love them as they good enough to eat and they whip into a lovely foam that froths and lathers straight away. I like that they are free from parabens and sulphates and, best of all, are vegan and crueltyfree. My favourites so far are Coconut Cream and Honey Honey, which both leave me smelling fab. Clarins Water Lip Stain €25 Lip stains are all the rage and this Clarins one comes in two great shades and
22 WOMANSWAY.IE From dryness and colourfade to scorched scalps, our hair shouldn’t be forgotten when it comes to taking care in the sun. We all know slathering on SPF is essential for protecting our skin in the sun, but does our hair need SPF too? Technically speaking, not in the exact same way. In sun creams and lotions, SPF – which stands for ‘sun protection factor’ – relates to how much protection the formula offers skin against UVB rays (the type mainly associated with sunburn and a raised risk of skin cancer, while UVA rays are more associated with ageing). SUMMER HAIR CARE Does your hair need SPF? Here’s how to protect your locks in the sun. These risks don’t apply with hair. However, our scalps do certainly need protecting from sunburn, which is where SPF can be very important. Also, the sun can leave our locks seriously frazzled and worse for wear, so protecting it will help it stay looking and feeling its best. Here’s what you need to know… BURN-FREE SCALPS Many of us have learned the hard way that it’s all too easy to scorch your scalp on a sunny day. “Any exposed area of skin is vulnerable to the sun’s rays. Whether you are wearing your hair in plaits and your parting is prevalent, or you have areas of thinning hair, you should be applying sun cream to these exposed spots,” says Laura Elliott, head stylist at haircare specialists Neal & Wolf. “Ideally, you want to be choosing an SPF50 product and reapply every two hours. For precise and mess-free application, squeeze a pea-sized blob onto your finger, rub together as you would with any other haircare product and gently massage into the scalp.” Concerned about greasiness? Elliott suggests: “Spray sun creams are much finer and less heavy than typical cream products, which can be thick and appear oily on the hair, especially after re-applying throughout the day.
WOMANSWAY.IE 23 By Abi Jackson, PA BEAUTY 5 Sunshine saviours for your hair 1>> Superdrug Vitamin E Hair and Body Oil 75ml €6.45 While not classed as a sunscreen, vitamin E has natural UV-protecting qualities and this lightweight oil will help keep locks soft and glossy. 2>> Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure Sun Protect Scalp & Hair Mist 100ml €18.90 Apply this SPF20 spray before heading outdoors and top up throughout the day. Silicone-free, the coconut oil nourishes hair and smells gorgeous. 3>> Blomma Beauty Inlight Hair Elixir 100ml €52.95 With nourishing avocado oil and botanical extracts, this luxurious formula shields hair from sun damage, while also helping soothe, restore and strengthen. 4>> Philip Kingsley Swimcap 100ml €25.49 For protection from UV and chlorine/sea water damage, this waterresistant mask is ideal for days at the beach or pool. 5>> Neäl & Wølf Guard Heat Protection Spray 150ml €12.95 A quality heat protectant will help limit damage during heat styling and help lock in moisture to keep hair looking healthy through summer. “I recommend a mineral powder suncream if oily hair is a concern. This can be applied easily with the product’s built-in powder brush, absorbing excess oils and leaving a matte fi nish. However, as many mineral powder sun protectants only go as high as SPF30, it’s important to be more vigilant with reapplication.” Also, hats “should be non-negotiable”, particularly on sunny days and in any long stretches in the sun. DAMAGED AND DRY LOCKS Suzie McGill, artistic director at Rainbow Room International and current British Hairdressing Awards colour technician of the year, says: “With too much sun exposure our hair can become dry, brittle and damaged. The sun weakens the hair structure. It also strips the hair of its natural oils, which results in it feeling and looking rougher in texture.” Colour fade is another concern when it comes to hair and sun exposure. McGill adds: “Prolonged sun exposure can result in hair colour fading and not being as long-lasting. For those with blonde/ lightened hair, including highlights, the sun can bleach out the melanin in the hair, which can result in the hair going lighter. Although you may think this is a good thing if you are looking to lighten your hair, this will affect the appearance of your hair, leaving it drier and more damaged.” SUN-SAVVY PRODUCTS “It’s so important to use colour-saving products, such as colour-saving shampoos, conditioners and masks to help hair colour look its best and avoid it fading,” says McGill. “The Schwarzkopf Professional Bonacure Color Freeze [available from notino.ie starting from €7 each] range is great and includes a shampoo, conditioner and treatment to prolong the life of your hair colour. “Using UV/heat protection products is also essential to create a protective barrier and keep hair in the best condition possible when exposed to the sun. One of my favourite products is the Schwarzkopf Professional OSiS Super Shield which also helps tackle frizz, which is common following sun exposure, heat and humidity.” Elliott adds: “Look for styling products with built-in UV protection, such as colour-hold products, hair oils, or volumising mousses. These will not only give that extra bit of sun protection, but also maintain perfect-looking hair. A heat protectant can help to prevent dryness after extended sun exposure. “Heat protectants, such as the Neäl & Wølf Guard Heat Protection, can protect the hair from temperatures of up to 220-degrees Celsius. This will help the hair to lock in moisture and remain soft, smooth and glossy. Spray directly onto hair from root to tip after every wash and brush through to spread the product evenly.” SOOTHE AND REPAIR Elliott says: “If your scalp does end up sun damaged, try taking a cool shower, avoiding products that can irritate the scalp and using soothing treatments, such as aloe vera. Hot water will further irritate the burnt area, whilst cold water will help to soothe. Aloe vera gel can also hydrate and help heal the burn without creating additional oils. “If your scalp has badly burnt, be prepared for peeling,” she adds. “This isn’t to be confused with dandruff and can be helped by applying hydrating and moisturising scalp care.” And if your hair does end up a bit worse for wear after a heatwave or sunshine getaway? “The main aim is to retain as much moisture in the hair as possible and keep it nourished and hydrated. Therefore, hair masks/ treatments are a must, alongside other great haircare products such as oils and creams that will give hair an extra dose of hydration,” says McGill. “As the sun has already done damage to your hair, trying to avoid using heated styling tools where possible is also benefi cial, to avoid any further damage. Instead, experiment with hairstyles such as low buns, ponytails and natural waves to give your hair a break.” WW “Look for styling products with built-in UV protection, such as colour-hold products, hair oils, or volumising mousses. These will not only give that extra bit of sun protection, but also maintain perfect-looking hair”
COMPETITION COMPETITION 24 WOMANSWAY.IE WIN A €250 BATHROOM VOUCHER To enter, please answer the following question: NAME ONE OF THE TWO NEW ARMERA RANGES LAUNCHED THIS YEAR? HOW TO ENTER Email your answer by July 1 to: [email protected] including your name, address and telephone number and labelling your mail ‘The ARMERA Competition’ This Woman's Way competition is open to anyone resident in NI and the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and over, except employees and their families of Harmonia Publishing, its printers and anyone else connected with the competition. No purchase is necessary. We will only accept one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by drawing entries after the closing date. Winners will be notifi ed by email. The editor’s decision is fi nal. Two lucky readers will each win a €250 voucher to spend on the Armera Bathroom range. Armera is the bathroom brand that captures designers’ and consumers’ attention with its continually growing brand reputation and tantalising product portfolio. Set up and run by passionate individuals with over 30 years’ experience in the bathroom market, the brand oozes high design and quality backed up by excellent service. In addition to an already beautifully curated product offering that includes wall-mounted basins and comfort height WCs, this year saw the addition of a further two new furniture ranges, Vaere and Palladium. Armera’s products create clever solutions with impeccable design, along with meticulous eye-fordetail in aesthetics and ease-ofinstallation always at the forefront of the design process. Visit armera.co.uk
BEAUTY WOMANSWAY.IE 25 YOUTH BOOSTERS There’s a new form of injectable facial treatment on the market that helps rejuvenate the skin. Professor Caitriona Ryan of the Irish Dermatology Institute explains more… weeks apart, is recommended for optimal results. Maintenance treatments may be suggested every six to 12 months to sustain the benefi ts. WHAT’S THE DOWNTIME IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE TREATMENT? One of the major advantages of Philart Next is the minimal downtime associated with the procedure. Patients can typically resume their normal activities shortly after treatment. Some mild redness, swelling, or bruising at the injection sites may occur, but these effects are generally short-lived and resolve within a few days. ARE THERE ANY POTENTIAL SIDE EFFECTS? Philart Next is considered safe with a low risk of side effects. However, as with any injectable treatment, there are some potential side effects, including redness and swelling at the injection sites, minor bruising or temporary tenderness. It is important to have the procedure performed by a qualifi ed professional in a clinical setting to ensure proper and sterile technique. HOW MUCH CAN I EXPECT TO PAY? Philart Next costs €380 per session (e.g. face or neck) or a course of three sessions costs €1,000. WW Visit instituteofdermotologists.ie WHAT ARE THESE TREATMENTS AND HOW DO THEY WORK? Treatments like our own Philart Next are not dermal fi llers. Philart is a superfi cial skin boosting treatment that combines low molecular weight hyaluronic and polynucleotides with high purifi cation technology (HPT) to help promote overall skin rejuvenation. Hyaluronic acid plumps and hydrates the skin, while long-chain polynucleotides, natural DNA polymers, are advanced bio-stimulating agents that promote fi broblast activity, collagen and elastin production, to help improve the texture and tone of the skin. The procedure involves micro-injections delivered into targeted areas, allowing for precise and effective treatment. WHAT AREAS OF CONCERN DOES IT TREAT? Philart Next is extremely versatile and can address several skin concerns, including: fi ne lines and wrinkles, loss of skin elasticity, dull and uneven skin tone, dehydrated and dry skin and overall skin tightness. The treatment is commonly used on the face but can also be applied to the neck, décolletage, and hands to rejuvenate and restore youthful appearance. WHAT RESULTS CAN I EXPECT? Patients can expect noticeable improvements in skin texture, tone, and overall appearance. Results typically include smoother, fi rmer skin with reduced fi ne lines and wrinkles, enhanced skin hydration and radiance, and improved elasticity and skin tightness. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SEE THE RESULTS? While some immediate improvement may be noticed, the full effects of Philart Next become more apparent over time. Generally, patients see signifi cant results two to four weeks after the treatment due to the plumping and hydrating effect of the hyaluronic acid, while the bio-stimulating polynucleotides work to rejuvenate the skin from within by stimulating collagen production over three to six months . HOW MANY TREATMENTS DO I NEED ON AVERAGE? The number of treatments required varies based on individual skin conditions and desired outcomes. On average, a series of three sessions, spaced about two to four
By Rikki Loftus, PA 26 WOMANSWAY.IE HOT SUMMER Makeup Trends From bold neon eyes to sun-kissed skin, these beauty trends will freshen up your routine.
SUN-KISSED The minimal makeup sun-kissed look is a must-try for the summer, with many opting for a natural, bronzed fi nish. Moisturising and applying SPF are essential to create a soft, fresh-faced look, and beauty expert Hayley Walker advises to opt for a lightweight serum foundation to ensure a natural-looking base, avoiding full-coverage, mattebased products. “Tinted moisturisers work well for this look for a minimal, bronzed fi nish. Apply cream blusher to enhance the natural, no-makeup appearance, imitating sunkissed cheeks. Opt for gloss or lip balm instead of lipstick here and fi nish the look with a hydrating setting spray.” DOLL BLUSH Doll-like rosy pink cheeks are trending this summer and Walker shares how you can achieve the look. “You can perfect this look using cream or matte blush, however, I recommend opting for a cream-based blush to create a smooth, fresh-faced fi nish. “Apply a light layer of pink, rosy blush onto the apples of your cheeks to bring colour to your face. Enhance the look with a highlighter for a subtle shine effect.” SMOKEY EYES Grunge is back for the summer and you can make a statement with a bold look by adding dark eyeshadow into your makeup routine. Divers shares that “lived-in liner” is gaining popularity, with smudged and smokey eyeliner looks adding an effortless edge to any makeup style. Walker tells us how to get the aesthetic by carefully blending dark eyeshadow from the outer corner of your eyes into the crease. “Blend this well to your preferred intensity; remember to be bold with this look. Next, apply an eyeliner, which can be liquid or pencil. Start from the outer corners of your eye and work your way inward. This will enhance the look, deepening the smokey effect. Finish the look with mascara.” WW BOLD NEON EYES The top trend for this summer is neon, so don’t be afraid to go bold with your looks using neon eyeliner and eyeshadows. They are the look to go for this season, says Rachael Divers, resident makeup artist at Face The Future. She suggests using brightly coloured eyeliners or eyeshadows to create a striking winged liner or a bold wash of colour on the lids. with a hydrating setting spray.” SMOKEY EYES Grunge is back for the summer and you can make WET LOOK Beauty lovers are opting for a fresh, dewy aesthetic and ‘glass’ or ‘wet’ skin is everywhere in summer 2024, says Walker, who is a makeup artist for justmylook.com. “This look can be achieved using cream, liquid and glossy formulas that create a dewy glow. To heighten the look, moisturise and hydrate during your skincare routine before applying makeup to achieve a smooth canvas,” she says. “A hydrating mask or hyaluronic acid creams work perfectly for this. As part of your makeup routine to achieve a wet-skin look, opt for a serum, lightweight foundation that provides a moisture boost and a smooth, natural-looking fi nish. “A liquid highlighter is useful here as it enhances a dewy, luminous fi nish.” The look aims to create a glowing, luminous complexion, leaving you with a wet, glass appearance. adding an effortless edge to any makeup eyeshadow from the outer corner of your eyes into the crease. intensity; remember to be bold with this look. Next, apply an eyeliner, which can be liquid or pencil. Start from the outer corners of your eye and work your way inward. This will enhance the look, deepening the smokey effect. Finish the look with mascara.” creams work perfectly for this. As a serum, lightweight foundation “A liquid highlighter is useful here The look aims to create a glowing, luminous complexion, leaving you Grunge is back for the summer and you can make Sleek Feelin' Flush Cream Blush Lip and Eye Tint in Coral Crush €9 Chanel Les 4 Ombres Rivage MultiEffect Quadra Eyeshadow €61 NYX Neon Professional Makeup Ultimate Shadow Palette €20 3ina The Every Single Day Mascara in Regular €15.95 Iconic London Instant Sunshine Bronzing Drops €25 Soap & Glory Glow & Dew It Skin Illuminating Base & Primer €16 WOMANSWAY.IE 27 BEAUTY Celebrities are already hitting the red carpets with on-trend rosy doll cheeks and bold neon eyeliner, and beauty experts are on hand to show us how we can give the new looks a go at home. Here are the summer makeup trends you’ll want to try for yourself… C
Workwear If I have to go from a work meeting to an event, I love wearing my Tommy Hilfi ger wraparound dress. It’s really handy and has long sleeves, which I love, and you can wear it with runners by day and add shoes and a bag to dress it up at night. I had the pleasure of wearing a stunning dress by the Irish label Cobbler's Lane recently. I discovered this gem at Curated in Kildare Village. I wore it to the offi cial launch of the Irish Costume Archive Project exhibition, an event that O'Brien PR launched at the Museum of Style Icons at Newbridge Silverware. The dress isn't my typical style—I usually prefer more fi tted shapes—but the bold pattern, cinched-in waist, delicate button detailing and puffy sleeves won me over. Another Irish designer I really like is Caroline Kilkenny. Her creations are impeccably crafted from luxurious fabrics, exuding elegance and sophistication. Earlier this year, our client Naas Racecourse invited me to its centenary black-tie dinner and I opted for one of her gorgeous black gowns. The dress was simply perfect for the occasion, combining classic style with a modern twist, it’s a classic, well-made piece that will never date. The next glitzy day coming up is the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby at The Curragh Racecourse on June 30. My company looks after all the event management and PR on behalf of the title sponsor so it’s a super busy week. I will need to look stylish but be comfortable at the same time so I can move fast. A hat or headpiece is essential too, and I love wearing bespoke ones by Kim Kelleher. I don’t like anything too heavy, and a hat or headpiece absolutely must be clipped in securely - I have learnt that the hard way over the years. Style Faves 28 WOMANSWAY.IE Ofi -duty When I’m off-duty, I dress very casually, it’s pretty basic to be honest - leggings and jeans as I’m usually running between kids’ sporting activities or meeting up with friends for a walk or a coffee. I love this jumpsuit by the Darling label, which I’m wearing in this pic with gorgeous dog Misneach. I paired it with a lace coat from Savida in Dunnes Stores. I also love my casual jacket from Ilse Jacobsen. It’s very light but it’s lined and has pockets, and you can just put it through the washing machine. PR consultant and event director, Aileen O’Brien, talks about her love affair with fashion. Fashion isn't just a necessity for me; it’s a passion. My professional life often requires me to dress up for various events and meetings. I take every opportunity to showcase my love for Irish design, which adds a unique and personal touch to my wardrobe. Cobbler's Lane dress Savida jacket and Darling jumpsuit with Misneach Wearing a Kim Kelleher headpiece and Needle & Thread dress at the Dubai Duty Free Irish Derby 2023 Hermés scarf At the launch of Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel Gold Party
WOMANSWAY.IE 29 Acceff ories and sparkle I have always had a big appreciation for vintage jewellery and accessories. One of my prized possessions is a vintage 1950s Yves Saint Laurent brooch that I bought from Newbridge Silverware, which has a fabulous range of preloved, luxury vintage jewellery. I love how it adds a touch of sophistication to any outfi t. I also have a pair of vintage Gucci earrings that I treasure. And then there's my vintage Dior necklace, a piece that never fails to draw compliments whenever I wear it. The stock and pieces that come in change all the time and you never know what you might pick up. I also have a penchant for Hermés scarves! I fi nd they are not just accessories; rather versatile pieces that can completely transform an outfi t. Whether draped around my neck, tied to a bag, or even used as a headscarf, they add a pop of colour and elegance, and they always seem to brighten up my skin tone. I do love a bit of sparkle and colour and I nearly always fi nd something lovely in LK Bennett. We offi cially launched Anantara the Marker Dublin Hotel last year and held a gold-themed party where the guests all wore a touch of gold. It added a real sense of glamour to the occasion. It’s fun to dress up and celebrate special occasions. Recently, I undertook a major clear-out of my handbag collection. It was a ruthless process, and I just said to myself if I hadn’t used something in the past three years, it was time to let it go. It was great to declutter and streamline my wardrobe leaving me with only the pieces I truly love and use. Now, my favourite bag is a medium Tory Burch quilted bag that I got from Kildare Village. It's understated, yet it has a classic size and shape that makes it incredibly versatile. STYLE FAVES Shopping A Bargain Who doesn’t love a bargain? Last year I was lucky enough to go to Royal Ascot, which was just an incredible occasion. The style, the spectacle, the people watching - it was a brilliant experience. The day before my friend and I were due to go racing, we decided to go shopping in London, and I spotted my dream dress in Harvey Nichols. A pink, delicately-beaded dress by the label Needle & Thread. I couldn’t believe it when I tried it on and it fi tted like a glove. Even better news was that it was in the sale with a whopping 70 per cent off so I couldn’t leave it behind. I actually ended up buying two Needle & Thread dresses then on the day, which was really, really bold, but I knew I would never see that kind of price or value again. I tend to buy things that are really good quality and mind them well and keep them for years. I still have a vintage lace dress made for me by the designer and writer, Pearl Lowe, 16 years ago. Admittedly it’s a little snug now but I can’t bear to part with it. WW Tommy Hilfiger Dress Needle & Thread dress and Kim Kelleher hat at Royal Ascot Yves Saint Laurent Vintage Brooch Vintage Dior necklace Newbridge Silverware necklace Caroline Kilkenny dress Pearl Lowe dress (pictured with Sybil Mulcahy) Tory Burch bag
30 WOMANSWAY.IE FESTIVAL FASHION From cowboy-core to fl ower power, here’s your chance to shake up your style this festival season. With the summer sunshine well and truly here, it’s only a matter of time before festival season rolls round. “Festival fashion dominates the style pages each year,” says shoe expert Paul Donnelly, so whether you’re off to Kilkenny Arts Festival or The Boyne Music Festival (see page 38) there’s no better time than a festival to have a play around with your wardrobe. Be it experimenting with accessories or mustering up the courage to wear something a little bit outrageous for a change, festival fashion is this perfect time to shake things up. And here’s how… FRILLS AND RUFFLES With part two of Bridgerton season three coming out this month, it’s only natural that frills and ruffl es are on trend. So make your outfi t just a little bit fancy this season and add a feminine touch. Be it with a dress, frilly collar or fl oaty skirt, there are many ways to try out this style. Don’t know where to start? “Search for tops or dresses with ruffl ed sleeves or hemlines, as well as skirts with tiered layers for a dramatic effect,” says Bonnie Zhao, head of user product and business at AliExpress UK. “Pair these pieces with simple accessories to let the frills take centre stage.” CHUNKY BOOTS Chunky boots have always been in. From Lara Croft to Black Widow, badass women in action movies have been rocking them since the dawn of time. And, there’s a reason for it. Not only do they look good, they’re also practical. The truth about festivals is that they’re often quite gross. Be it mud, using the dreaded portaloos or jumping around in a mosh pit, it helps to have a sturdy pair of boots to hand. Celebs are getting wise to the trend too. “The category is: comfort,” model Hailey Bieber wrote on her Instagram story, sharing a mirror selfi e of her outfi t for Coachella this year that featured a pair of chunky ankle boots. With the summer sunshine FRILLS AND RUFFLES NAYA Tie Dye Stripe Top with Star Sleeve Detail €129 Oliver Bonas Metallic Gold Leather Tall Western Cowboy Boots €180 FatFace Tie Dye Tammy Dress €85.50
STYLE WOMANSWAY.IE 31 By Lotte Brundle, PA, and Andrea Smith “Chunky boots are a popular choice for festival-goers for their practicality and style points,” says Donnelly, who works with the brand Heavenly Feet. “They are an essential addition to any festival outfi t, you can opt for classic black boots or experiment with metallics, which are a huge trend this season.” SHEER FASHION Dare to bare! From Emily Ratajkowski’s revealing see-through ensemble to actor Phoebe Dynevor’s custom Victoria Beckham gown, sheer was everywhere at the Met Gala this year. But it’s a fashion statement that can not only be pulled off on the red carpet. The perfect addition to your festival wardrobe, it’s not for the faint-hearted but you could always test it out by letting a little bit of skin show in this Savida waistcoat from Dunnes Stores (above). COWBOY-CORE Giddy up festival goers, because cowboycore is the biggest trend this season. Maybe it was Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling’s Barbie and Ken in matching western outfi ts that did it, but the cowboyinspired trend has been everywhere lately and festival season is the perfect time to hop on this rodeo. “The cowboy trend has been gaining momentum for a number of years, and with Beyoncé’s iconic Cowboy Carter, it’s not going to slow down anytime soon,” says Zhao. “This year it’s going to be bigger than ever, as not only are stars buying into the trends, but its versatility means anyone can get involved.” The good news is, all you need is a cowboy hat, a fringed jacket or a necktie to nail this festival trend. Yeehaw! BOHO CHIC Thought boho was out? Think again. The Sixties trend is back and bigger than ever this year for festival season. The fl oaty and loose style is the perfect way to stay cool and prevent sunburn while catching your favourite bands. “Channelling your inner Vanessa Hudgens at Coachella or Florence Welch is a timeless festival trend, and defi nitely one we expect to see make a return this festival season,” says Roberts. “If you want to look your best for the ‘summer of love’, I’d recommend picking up anything with fringe detailing, crochet panelling or made from a fl oaty and gauzy material like linen.” TIE-DYE REVIVAL In the wave of Noughties nostalgia, tie-dye is also making a comeback this summer. The perfect festival fashion statement is back, and while there are great pieces around like the FatFace dress or funky top from Dublin-based brand Maya, you could try the trend at home for free. Simply grab some old white clothes, a bag of dye, some rubber bands, and get creative. “Its colourful and psychedelic patterns evoke a sense of nostalgia while offering a fun and vibrant look that’s perfect for music festivals,” says Zhao. “Pair with denim or neutral pieces to balance out the boldness of the tie-dye patterns.” WW festival outfi t, you can opt for classic black boots or experiment with metallics, which this year for festival season. The fl oaty and loose style is the perfect way to stay cool and prevent sunburn while catching your favourite bands. RHODE Ella Painted Bloom Mini Dress €455, Brown Thomas Accessorize Leather Fringe Cross-Body Bag in Tan €45, very.ie Savida Aurora Bow Waistcoat €20, Dunnes Stores PITUSA Crossover Fringe Dress €115, Brown Thomas CUT Cow Boy Block Heel Boots €65, M&S Monsoon Myla Geometric Print Dress in Blue €111
32 WOMANSWAY.IE John le Carré’s Spy World John le Carré thought James Bond was “an international gangster”. Indeed, the best-known author of British spy novels was so not a fan of the best-known fi ctional British spy that he wrote the character of George Smiley as “an antidote” to 007. A career intelligence offi cer, Smiley was clever, sceptical, shabby and loyal, and, after his appearance in le Carré’s fi rst novel, he appeared in eight more. Le Carré, whose disgust at Brexit was such that he took out Irish citizenship, wrote about espionage with an insider’s eye thanks to his work in MI5 and MI6 in the 1950s and '60s. The world he created, the anti-Bondverse, was one of moral ambiguity where human frailty was an important factor. Many of his books have been adapted for the screen and here are a few that make for wonderful viewing. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Netfl ix) is two hours of star-studded, convoluted, internecine Cold War thriller that will keep you guessing and on which you really need to concentrate. Don’t watch it if you’re in a dozy mood. In 1973, Control (John Hurt) sends Jim Prideaux (Mark Strong) to meet a Hungarian general who knows the identity of a mole in the British secret service. Things go wrong and Control and his right-hand man, George Smiley (Gary Oldman), are forced to retire. A new regime (Toby Jones, Colin Firth, Ciarán Hinds) take over but unbeknownst to them, George Smiley is still on the hunt for the double agent. Your concentration will be rewarded in director Tomas Alfredson’s excellent fi lm, which was written by the late Bridget O’Connor and her husband Peter Straughan. Alfredson shot on fi lm so the grainy, slightly undersaturated quality adds to the great period detail of costumes, hair, cars and smoking and drinking in the offi ce. Le Carré actually appears as an extra in the Christmas party scene. The Constant Gardener (€4 to rent) is very different but equally great. Adapted by Jeffrey Caine and directed by Fernando Meirelles, the story, told with many fl ashbacks, follows Justin Quayle (Ralph Fiennes), a British diplomat in Kenya, as he investigates the murder of his wife Tessa (Rachel Weisz). Tessa, who was an Amnesty activist, had been working with Belgian doctor Arnold Bluhm (Hubert Koundé) to investigate the side-effects of a new drug. As ever, corruption and greed are major factors in le Carré’s tale, which is based loosely on a true story. The author’s words are used in the closing credits of the fi lm, "this fi lm is dedicated to Yvette Pierpaoli and all other aid workers who lived and died giving a damn". The Night Manager (Prime) is a BBC show from 2016 and the long-awaited second series is in production. Jonathan Pine (Tom Hiddleston) is a hotel night manager in Cairo. During the Arab Spring of 2011 he learns of a shipment of HERE'S OUR PICK OF THE BEST THINGS TO WATCH, READ AND BOOK THIS FORTNIGHT. The Chill Zone HiddenGEMS Gary Oldman and Benedict Cumberbatch in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy Tom Hiddleston in The Night Manager Áine O’Connor ventures into the hinterlands of the streaming services to fi nd some great watches.
WOMANSWAY.IE 33 ENTERTAINMENT Back to Life Apple+ and Netfl ix Convicts don’t tend to inspire sympathy. We perhaps believe that they deserve their time behind bars, and what comes after it. Which is what makes Back to Life such an interesting premise. Especially for a comedy drama. Miri Matteson (Daisy Haggard, who also co-wrote both series with Lara Solon) returns to her small Kent town after 18 years in prison. The world has changed since she was locked up in 2000 at the age of 18. But now, back in her family home with her parents, she is determinedly upbeat and looking forward to her future. Her father, Oscar (Richard Durden) likes to keep up with modern things like selfi es and concern about the environment and he is as upbeat as his daughter. Her mother, Caroline (Geraldine James) however, seems slightly less open-hearted. Caroline has things going on in her life. Miri doesn’t know how to dress, she can’t drive, the doctor’s offi ce won’t see her because it’s been too long and she has no bills or proof of address. Dom (Jamie Michie), the boyfriend she has been pining for, is married and her parole offi cer (Jo Martin) is more interested in herself. Plus, it’s very diffi cult to get a job when there’s a huge empty gap on your CV. But get a job she does, in a fi sh and chip shop with Nathan (Liam Williams) who believes everyone deserves a second chance. Unfortunately the rest of Miri’s small town do not feel the same. She is beginning to despair when she strikes up a friendship, maybe more, with neighbour Billy (Adeel Akhtar). As the story focuses on the day to day of Miri’s attempts to start over, we get hints about her past. She was imprisoned for murdering her best friend, yet, although lonely, she refuses contact with another former friend, Mandy (Christine Bottomley) the only person from Miri’s past who eagerly wants to see her. Not all is as it seems. Each series is made up of six half-hour episodes so you can gallop through it. There are lots of great details and clever observations and lines. Haggard is really good in the role of a woman who is really trying to make a future under the weight of the past. It’s sweet and funny and keeps you guessing. WW illegal arms that is about to be sold by British businessman and philanthropist Richard Roper (Hugh Laurie). A former soldier, Pine attempts to do the right thing and his efforts put him in contact with British intelligence agent Angela Burr (Olivia Colman). However things go wrong and Pine retreats to the top of the earth, a hotel in Zermatt where, three years later, his path crosses Richard Roper’s again. Frankly any show that has a pregnant intelligence agent is worth at least a glance in my book, especially when that agent is played by Olivia Colman, but The Night Manager has so much more going for it. Director Susanne Bier delivers a really well-paced and exciting watch. Hiddleston does a nice job as smoother-than-smooth Jonathan, whose penchant for the ladies, especially if they’re entangled with someone else, adds another layer to the drama. Colman is wonderful as the no-nonsense agent who doesn’t like what she sees in London. Hugh Laurie is delightfully over the top as a slightly cartoonish baddie, and the whole thing is just beautiful to look at with glorious locations to cater for every possible taste. Le Carré was one of the best British writers of the second half of the last century, and although his characters inhabit a similar world to Bond, it’s a morally muddier version, which makes for more complex suspense. Olivia Colman in The Night Manager Rachel Weisz and Ralph Fiennes in The Constant Gardener Adeel Akhtar and Daisy Haggard in Back to Life
34 WOMANSWAY.IE By Aine O’Connor Review Bread & Roses Apple+, June 21 In 2018, award-winning Afghan filmmaker Sahra Mani made a documentary called A Thousand Girls Like Me. It told a remarkable story, an awful story that should have been a far bleaker watch than it actually was. It followed Khatera, a 23-year-old Afghan woman who was pregnant with her second child. The pregnancy, like her first, was the result of incest, as her father had been abusing Khatera for years. She was, in the first case of its kind in Afghanistan, seeking justice. Failure would mean not only freedom for her abusive father, but the possibility of Khatera herself being prosecuted for sexual activity outside marriage. That film is unfortunately not available on this side of the Atlantic but Oscar-winner, and apparently all-round good egg, Jennifer Lawrence, had seen it. And it was to its maker, Sahra Mani, that Lawrence turned when she watched with horror the news that the Taliban had retaken Kabul in 2021 when US troops withdrew. The Taliban don’t allow women to be educated because they know that in controlling women, they control everyone because the children of educated women are less easily manipulated. Lawrence wanted to do something and so, teaming up with Malala Yousfzai, the Nobel Laureate who was shot in the head at 15 for campaigning for female education, Lawrence funded Mani’s film, Bread & Roses. It offers a powerful window into the seismic impact that the fall of Kabul to the Taliban had on women’s rights and livelihoods. In Afghanistan now, women cannot attend school, work or go out other than fully covered in certain chaperoned circumstances. Consequences for flaunting these laws are dire, even fatal. But still the women fight for their rights. Bread & Roses follows three women in Kabul in real time as they fight to recover their autonomy. There’s Sharifeh who follows the rules, Zahra, a dentist, who tries to change them and Taranom, a refugee trying to escape them. Mani captures the spirit and resilience of these Afghan women through a raw depiction of their harrowing plight. It’s eye-opening, enraging, thought-provoking and deeply moving. The situation in Afghanistan is of course extreme, but it underscores, for all of us in an age of information manipulation, the importance of education. Lawrence’s determination to give it a platform is admirable, and the bravery and resilience of the women in the film is nothing short of aweinspiring. WW Sahra Mani’s documentary Bread & Roses conveys the devastating wider impact on the lives of Afghan women facing the loss of basic rights. Strength Among Women Jennifer Lawrence
WOMANSWAY.IE 35 ENTERTAINMENT By Prudence Wade, PA CHILDREN’S BOOK Marley’s Pride by Joëlle Retener, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley, is published in paperback by Barefoot Books, priced €11.59 This is a very colourful book that will benefi t all children, opening their minds to diversity and inclusion. It takes us through Marley’s journey – they’re anxious about joining the Pride parade, something their grandparent Zaza truly loves and thoroughly enjoys each year. Zaza totally understands Marley’s anxieties and does not force the issue but encourages them to join. The book clearly shows that while it is normal to be anxious and unsure of some situations, these can always be overcome and sometimes with surprising and happy outcomes. It’s a heartwarming story, just in time for Pride Month, and has a back page full of informative additional details. WW by Joëlle Retener, illustrated by DeAnn Wiley, is published in Books to Boris Johnson, fi lled with conspiracies, secret romances, data geeks and quite a lot of sex, looks set to top UK booksellers' polls in this general election year. Cleo Watson has followed up her debut novel Whips with another Westminster-based story on how dangerous, challenging, uplifting – and brutal – politics can be. Cleavage keeps abreast of the times by mirroring events in the UK as prime minister Eric Courtenay battles to beat off a resurgent Labour opposition. He hires a strategist with a bizarre idea to close the huge gap in the polls, and as the December election day approaches, tempers fl are, and a dating site takes centre stage for candidates in different parties. Anyone interested in politics, and scandals, will love reading how the urge for power changes people for the worst. Cleo Watson is in demand to talk about the general election given her time as a political adviser, experience she is using to the full in her new career. NON-FICTION The Garden Against Time by Olivia Laing is published in hardback by Picador, priced €22.99 Olivia Laing has established herself as one of the UK’s foremost non-fi ction writers through her poetic explorations of creative excess, from the hard drinking of Hemingway to the lonely life of Andy Warhol. In her latest book, Laing shifts her focus to a different form of escapism, plunging into a history of garden-making framed by a personal account of resurrecting an old walled garden in Suffolk. It might seem a world away from yachts on the Florida Keys and silk-screened Marilyns, but Laing makes a persuasive case for the garden as a space every bit as fantastical and controversial as the world of high art and literature. She delves into the history of gardens real and imagined, shattering the notion that they were symbols of privilege and exclusion, often built on the proceeds of slavery. Central to her narrative is the 19th-Century nature poet John Clare, better known for tramping the countryside and resisting the threat of enclosure legislation. Through other case studies, Laing proposes the garden as a place of sanctuary and replenishment. Scattered with delightful turns of phrase, The Garden Against Time paints a picture as rich and provocative as any of the words or artworks contrived by those writers and artists upon whom Laing has previously turned her gaze. FICTION Going Home by Tom Lamont is published in hardback by Sceptre, priced €17.99 Named as one of the Observer’s Debut Novels of 2024, Tom Lamont’s touching story is about three men who fi nd themselves looking after a toddler after the sudden death of his mother, Lia. Téo has loved Lia since school. Vic, Téo’s father, is trudging towards the end of his life. Ben, Téo’s best friend, relies on family wealth to cruise through. None of them is ideal parent material. The arrival of two-year-old Joel challenges them and changes them all in this subtle and moving story set in a Jewish community in Enfi eld, London, that’s trying to decide if it wants to be traditional or progressive. Individual chapters switch between the viewpoint of the men and rabbi, Sibyl Challis, over the course of a year as decisions about Joel’s future are played out. Well-drawn characters, believable dialogue and nuanced emotions cast new light on love in this bittersweet book. Sandwich by Catherine Newman is published in hardback by Doubleday, priced €20.30 A week in Cape Cod with the family is an annual event for Rocky. This particular week – told in Catherine Newman’s novel Sandwich – is the same as all the others, except that Rocky is dealing with menopause, her children are fully-grown, her parents are ageing and she can’t decide if she wants to hug her husband or divorce him. The familiar holiday setting stirs up memories at the same time as emphasising changes and bringing to the fore long-hidden secrets. Sandwich is a book about family, navigating the world as a woman, gratitude, loss and love. Newman, whose debut novel We All Want Impossible Things was a Richard & Judy Book Club pick, transitions with ease from moments of melancholy to observations which make you laugh out loud. A moving read that fi nds joy in everyday life. Cleavage by Cleo Watson is published in hardback by Corsair, priced €24.99 A raunchy political novel by a former aide 5 new books to read.
36 WOMANSWAY.IE Ore Oduba chats to Andrea Smith about his dual role in Pretty Woman: The Musical. Meet Pretty Woman’s Happy Man When Pretty Woman hit cinemas screens in 1990, people all over the world fell in love with the romance that develops between Hollywood escort Vivian Ward (Julia Roberts) and wealthy businessman Edward Lewis (Richard Gere) when she’s hired to be his escort at several business and social functions. The premise may be questionable, especially by today’s standards, but the love story between the two is genuinely charming and heartwarming. Ahead of the musical version of Pretty Woman arriving in Dublin, Cork and Belfast, I went to see it in Cardiff, where Love Island winner Amber Davies was starring as Vivian, Oliver Savile as Edward Lewis and Ore Oduba as Happy Man/Mr Thompson. I was delighted to chat afterwards to Ore, who was crowned Strictly Come Dancing champion in 2016 and made it to the fi nal of Channel 4’s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins. The 38-year-old was born in London to Nigerian parents and his TV career began when he presented the CBBC news programme Newsround and hosted the game show And They're Off! in aid of Sport Relief. Ore has also had a brilliant musical theatre career too, appearing as Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Show, Aaron Fox in Curtains and Teen Angel in Grease. “I’ve been very, very lucky,” he says. “I've really enjoyed trying to make a foothold into a variety of different areas. While the
WOMANSWAY.IE 37 ENTERTAINMENT most challenging thing is probably starting from scratch, it’s a short life and a big world and there's so much of it that it's great if you have the luxury to be able to do, or want to do, it all.” Ore started working on television for the fi rst time when he was 22 and made his stage debut at 32, which, he says, was “pretty wild”. “You feel like you're established and then you have to start again and convince a lot of people,” he explains. “I remember when I was young and precocious and was like, ‘I'm gonna do this and that’, but as you get older, you get overwhelmed a bit by fear and don't really want to do something new. So far, it’s gone okay, and actually it's that challenge that’s kept me feeling young.” Ore is loving his dual role in Pretty Woman and jokes that he is doing “two roles for the price of one.”.“Mr Thompson is the hotel manager who starts off as a straight-laced, conservative guy who frowns on Vivian, but then he warms to her and they end up having a lovely relationship,” he explains. “Then, there’s Happy Man, who is in the movie but has been brought to life more in the musical.” Happy Man is very much responsible for getting the audience going and bringing the fun into the show and Ore loves this aspect of his part. “It's a big role but I love the fact that he’s a kind of narrator and he gels it all together," he says. "It's actually a lot of fun as he’s the one who sprinkles the magic on Vivian’s story.” Ore hasn’t been to Ireland for over 20 years, when he did a rugby tour with his school in 2002. As a result, he’s very much looking forward to coming over here. “We're having a wonderful time on tour,” he says. “It's always very cool to be part of a production that's on the road for the fi rst time, because people haven't been to it before and are “It’s a wonderful feeling and thankfully the audiences are going crazy for it as well” kind of salivating at the opportunity to see it. And genuinely, regardless of what has happened that day or that week, as soon as that music strikes up and we open the show, it’s a wonderful feeling and thankfully the audiences are going crazy for it as well." Ore lives in Kent and is married to TV researcher Portia, with whom he has two children, son Roman (6) and daughter Genie (2). As he's on tour for a year, the family comes and joins him wherever possible. “We’re reinventing the staycation,” he laughs, adding that there is no chance of a lie-in when the children are around as they’re “early risers”. When you’re on tour, you become part of a tight little unit with your fellow cast and crew, and although Ore is only 38, he’s actually one of the older members. “The youngest guy in the group is half my age, which is quite mindblowing,” he says. “I’ve been joking that I’m the granddad of the group, but when one of them called me ‘Dad’ recently, I was thinking, I actually could be your father. I did my fi rst [musical theatre] show fi ve years ago, and while I was an older beginner, I felt very new. I've been touring in some way shape or form for seven years now, so I feel like a seasoned pro and an old-timer now.” Ore says that while touring and being away from home is more diffi cult now because of his young family, he has learned to make the most of travelling. “Touring is a unique beast,” he says. “I know how to switch off from work now and make the most of the time off, and I dial back into the group for social time but also really enjoy solo time as well. And then, in the evening, we get to go wild and have an amazing time with a couple of thousand people. So yeah, it's always a funny one, because you have to peak at various times of the day and make the most of the downtime as well.” There are eight shows per week, and while that can be gruelling, Ore says that the energy the audiences bring makes it a lot easier. Having seen it, I think it’s a really brilliant production, and one that has audiences swooning over the love story and singing and dancing in the aisles. If you don’t go to see it when it arrives here, it will be a big mistake. Huge! WW Catch Pretty Woman: The Musical at Bord Gáis Energy Theatre from July 2 – 13, tickets from €26.50 through ticketmaster.ie. It's also playing at Cork Opera House from June 24-29. Noah Harrison and Ore Oduba Ore Oduba and Amber Davies
38 WOMANSWAY.IE Solo only do things if we have a companion. But what if there is no companion? Or your usual one doesn’t share your interests? Doing things alone offers you the chance to explore your own passions and to meet people you might never normally cross paths with. And happily, there are plenty of festivals and events happening around the country this summer that can make a really nice solo outing. We are all familiar with the big events like Electric Picnic and The Galway Film Fleadh, so here are a few others to consider. The Spraoi International Street Arts Festival (August 2-4, spraoi.com) sees Waterford City host all kinds of street performers and artists, culminating in the parade on Sunday night. It’s an almost exclusively outdoor and Solo Flying Midlife is when we choose whether we’re going to stay the same, or make changes. We know what is working in our lives and what isn’t; the next step is to decide if, and what, we’re going to change. For some it will be a major overhaul of health, relationships, career or appearance, for others it might just be a matter of fi xing niggles. But regardless of where you fi nd yourself, trying something new is always worthwhile. And trying something alone is even more so. Whether through circumstance or preference, some people regularly do things on their own. Still, most of us will Aine O’Connor takes a look at festivals and events around the country that are perfect for taking in by yourself.
WOMANSWAY.IE 39 TRAVEL By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA unticketed event just made for strolling and watching, eating street food and soaking up the atmosphere. Inis Mór, one of my favourite places in the world, erupts with activity from June 23 when the Red Bull Cliff Diving Championship (redbull.com) begins. That's followed by Sea Fest, Ireland’s national Maritime Festival on June 28, and from June 29 to July 2 there’s Pátrún (inismor. ie), the centuries-old local festival with everything from curragh racing to sandcastle competitions. It’s hard enough to get accommodation on Inis Mór in the summer but it’s simple to get the ferry across from Galway or Doolin for a solo day trip, to take in the atmosphere and cycle around the island. It’s so relaxing and beautiful, a balm for the soul. The MacGill Summer School (July 18-20) in Donegal (macgillsummerschool.com) has been running for many years and is highly regarded. Academics, politicians and journalists discuss what they see as the critical issues facing Ireland, Europe and the world. If you’re interested in current affairs, MacGill can be a very stimulating few days. There are many music festivals. The Boyne Music Festival (July 25-28, boynemusicfestival. com) includes a range from the Palestinian story told through music to chamber music in the ballroom of Slane Castle. The West Cork Chamber Music Festival (June 28 - July 7, westcorkmusic.ie) includes candlelit concerts, concerts in shops (and one in the airport) as well as masterclasses. The Clonmel Junction Arts Festival (June 28 to July 7, junctionfestival.com) focuses on indoor arts; theatre, music, fi lm, literature, dance and visual arts. Amongst the events are exhibitions, concerts and interviews with authors like Claire Kilroy and Andrew Hughes. The full lineup for the Kilkenny Arts Festival (August 8-18, kilkennyarts.ie) is due soon, but already it has an impressive selection of concerts lined up in various locations, including the cathedral. If you’re around Kilkenny, Ballyhale to be precise, on a Sunday before the end of September, take a trip to Mountain View Markets (mountainview.ie) where you can eat and buy fresh, local, carefully sourced and delicious food. Fortunately it is but one of many wonderful food-centred locations around the country. Marlay Park, in South Dublin, like so many city parks, has a great market on weekends. You can do laps of the park as a preemptive strike against the churros you’re going to eat sitting on the grass while reading your book. There really is an enormous number of events and places that you can enjoy alone without having to interact with anyone if you don’t want to. Because we all tend to know and hang out with people like us, it’s hard to meet new people and if that’s something you’d like, there are lots of opportunities to do that too. There are artists’ and writers’ retreats all around Ireland, and beyond, but they’re expensive so if you don’t fancy that level of commitment of time or money to your hobby or art just yet, you can sign up for a day or two. The Louth Plein Air Art Festival (July 6-7, details on its Facebook page) is for painters to both paint and network. As well as the house and grounds, Killruddery House and Gardens (killruddery. com) in Wicklow is a brilliant example of how stately homes can become cultural hubs. There are restaurants and a market, and they host drama and concerts, but they also do courses including day-long ones like midsummer fl ower-crown workshops and qigong picnics. You can do a weekend in Kerry (June 29- 30) studying the Wisdom of the Witch (triciaoconnor. com) where you learn about Belvaspata, or healing of the heart, and be initiated into the lineage of the witch. There are courses in everything all over the country; the ICA(ica.ie) is a good place to start looking for them in your area. From upcycling to making pictures with buttons, they have names like Bitch and Stitch and Chicken Scratch and the art part is soothing but the company can be great too. There can be something really empowering about breaking out of your comfort zone to do things on your own, on your terms, in your time. And remember, in the car there and back, listen to your favourite music really loud, and sing along. WW “It’s hard to meet new people and if that’s something you’d like, there are lots of opportunities to do that too"
40 WOMANSWAY.IE on the surface of the water. In the distance, the pale blue Mediterranean Sea twinkles. As for the Roman breakfast – we are only a stone’s throw away from the Italian capital. I’m in the picturesque town of Nemi, one of several mediaeval villages making up the Castelli Romani region, which sits within the crater of the ancient volcano Vulcano Laziale. It’s located on the southern lip of Rome – only 22km from the city centre, made accessible by a direct train service that speeds through the Lazio countryside in just under half an hour. AN ESCAPE FROM THE CITY While the Eternal City is packed with iconic attractions and a bustling atmosphere, the idea of extending my city break by a couple of days to take in calming vistas of winding hillside trails, chestnut trees and quaint villages was simply too inviting. A fi g tree, dropping with fruit, ruffl es in the breeze. My guide, Federica, points and cries: “The typical Roman breakfast – focaccia, ham and fi g. It’s the perfect balance of sweet and salty. But these fi gs are unlike anything you would get in Ireland.” And neither are the views. A vast turquoise lake stretches out below me, fringed by dark green Mediterranean pines. From my vantage point, high up in the hills, I can just make out tiny paddle boarders Discovering CASTELLI ROMANI Lake Albano in Castel Gandolfo Lake Nemi Villages, vineyards and volcanic lakes – there is plenty to do on the outskirts of Italy’s capital.
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 41 By Sophie Goodall, PA With its high altitude and wide open spaces, this sunny region has its own refreshingly cool microclimate, making Castelli Romani a popular holiday destination for Romans – including several popes, who once had a summer residence here in Castel Gandolfo. While I’m content to meander down cobbled side streets, soaking up the sunshine with a gelato in hand, I soon realise there is much to discover behind the facade of these quiet villages with their deserted town squares. COMMUNITY IDENTITY Nemi, for example, is a vision of paint-peeled, sun-bleached buildings with wooden shutters and terracotta tiles – but its prettiest attraction by far is its vast lake at the bottom of the valley. It’s a draw for holidaymakers wanting to relax by the shore, but its banks serve a far greater purpose for the town. The mineral-rich soil is perfect for growing tiny wild strawberries that have become synonymous with Nemi. So beloved are these pint-sized fruits, residents throw a strawberry festival each year. On the fi rst Sunday of June, women don traditional costumes to host parades. Celebrations culminate with fi reworks over the lake. Marco, my tour guide, tells me that Castelli Romani residents have such a deep affi nity with their hometowns – everyone believes theirs is the best – that each community has its own identity. Neighbouring town Ariccia takes great pride in its porchetta, a joint of slowroasted pork sliced waferthin. Ariccia is home to the fraschetta, a rustic restaurant typical of the Castelli Romani region. I head to Osteria N.1, where I devour a platter of juicy and tender porchetta, served with apple slices, olives, and ricotta doused in honey. As I fi nish my plate, I realise how wrong I was to expect my diet in Italy to consist only of pizza and pasta. Yet I was not wrong to expect plenty of wine. This region’s volcanic soil isn’t just fertile for strawberries – it’s also great for growing grapes. VERDANT VINEYARDS At Tenimenti Leone, an organic winery outside Lanuvio, the Alban Hills protect vines from the cold, while cool winds from the coast regulate hot temperatures making production high. Grape pickers have a lot of ground to cover; the 72-hectare estate features 11 vineyards. Native varieties bellone, malvasia puntinata and cesanese are made under the Roma DOC and Lazio IGP designations, and as part of my tour of the vineyard (from €35), I’m lucky enough to sample wines made from these blends. One of them, Core, is a fruity, fresh and herbal white wine, and a delicious accompaniment to bread dunked in Tenimenti Leone’s own-grown olive oil. For years, the winery was a fruit and veg farm run by monks, who stored their produce in ancient caves underground. ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE From caves to churches, Castelli Romani is an area renowned for its ancient architecture. The picturesque town of Castel Gandolfo, by Lake Albano, is a shrine to the work of Baroque architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Piazza della Libertà, the town’s main square, is the perfect place to sit at an outdoor café and sip an espresso. I watch villagers hop off their bicycles and stop to drink from the fountain, before heading to the large church of Collegiata di S. Tommaso da Villanova looming over the square. Inside, in typical Bernini style, it’s a marvel of white arches gilded in gold and colourful religious artworks. ROMAN HOLIDAY But it’s not just these villages that bear Bernini’s work – he also turned his hand to some of Rome’s most iconic landmarks, such as the Spanish Steps, St Peter’s Basilica, and the Trevi Fountain. Witnessing these awe-inspiring, historical works of art is enough reason to book a trip to Rome, but it’s true that the hot spots can become breathlessly jammed with throngs of tourists – especially during the peak summer season. Visiting in spring and autumn is ideal – being sure to avoid religious holidays. Shoulder season also ensures you won’t be a victim of the searing heat gripping hold of southern Europe in July and August. Even in mid-May, at a steady 26C, things are getting toasty. But by following in the footsteps of Italy’s many wise popes, a heavenly, hillside destination awaits. WW The Tenimenti Leone winery The town of Ariccia “Shoulder season also ensures you won’t be a victim of the searing heat gripping hold of southern Europe in July and August”
42 WOMANSWAY.IE A mosaic of attractive truffl e forests, hilltop towns, olive groves and vineyards, it’s easy to fall in love with Istria, a heart-shaped peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. Lying across the water from Venice, it’s a secret paradise for foodies and history buffs alike. I arrive on a fresh spring morning for a whistle-stop tour of the region’s most popular towns – Pula, Rovinj and Motovan. My lodgings for the duration are at the contemporary Hotel Lone by Maistra Collection in Rovinj on the west coast of the Istrian peninsula, surrounded by the lush Golden Cape forest park and overlooking the turquoise Lone Bay. I start my adventure in Pula, a seafront city and Istria’s largest. 3,000 years old, it is one of the oldest urban areas in Croatia and has been occupied and destroyed many times, making it a city with plenty of stories to tell. Just outside the city walls, the 2,000-yearold Pula Arena dominates the landscape. The sixth largest remaining Roman amphitheatre in the world, it’s thought to have held around 23,000 at its peak. I stand in the centre of the arena, gazing upwards and picturing everything from boat fi ghts, hunting spectacles and gladiator battles to modernday concerts (Dua Lipa is one of the many singers scheduled to play here this summer). INFLUENCES As I leave the arena behind and head to Pula’s main square, evidence of the many different ENCHANTING Istria A view of Istria rulers this city has come under are plain to see, with Venetian, Italian, Austrian and Albanian architectural infl uences all sitting side by side. Later in the evening, I head to dinner in Rovinj at Puntulina (puntulina.eu), a familyowned restaurant hidden away down the cobbled streets in the heart of the old town and overlooking the water’s edge. Tables are staggered along the cliffside, ensuring everyone has a picture-perfect sunset view. The next morning, I am whisked away to Lim Bay on Istria’s west coast. At almost 13km long, this canyon-like estuary is home to some of the country’s fi nest oyster farms and a great place to experience the region’s farm-to-plate ethos. Following a peaceful cruise along the bay to observe the oyster farms, I head to Tony’s Oyster shack, a tiny ramshackle hut on the edge of Lim Bay, where tourists can sample oysters straight from red cages underneath the pontoon. Best enjoyed in spring, I am perfectly timed for my initiation to this Emerging from the shadows of its Italian neighbour, this Croatian peninsula is a feast for foodies and history buffs.
TRAVEL WOMANSWAY.IE 43 By Kirsty Masterman, PA delicacy. Drizzled with a healthy dose of lemon juice, I scoop out the mollusc and swallow it whole. The salty freshness makes me an instant convert. Following a hearty lunch of seafood delicacies, it’s time to see what the charming coastal town of Rovinj has to offer. Surrounded by lush green landscapes and crystal-clear waters, the bustling town harbour is packed with local batana fishing boats and twisting, cobblestone lanes. I enter the old town via the 17th-Century arching Balbi town gate, one of the most iconic landmarks in Rovinj. I wander around the narrow, winding alleys, stumbling across some of the country’s finest seafood restaurants sandwiched between tightly clustered multi-coloured houses. The harbourside and open-air cafés may be busy but there is no sense of overcrowding. Motovun – meaning ‘a town in the hills’ – is an ancient walled city perched high on the hillside, only accessible by foot. The area itself is renowned for truffle hunting and wine. TRUFFLES Just an hour’s drive from Rovinj, the hilltop town of Buzet is home to the family-owned business Prodan Tartufi (prodantartufi.hr/en), which exports truffles to 35 countries and countless restaurants. When I arrive, owner Ben has just returned from a hunt with a healthy haul and the dogs are beyond excited, eager to be the next to head out. He selects his next two hunters – Trophy the dalmatian and Lila the labrador. I jump into the van and we head to the Kontija forest to begin our scavenging. Within 15 minutes, Lila starts frantically digging and Ben has to be quick to retrieve the ‘gold’ from her jaws. She is rewarded with treats, but I somehow suspect she would have rather had the truffle. Before long we have a worthy haul and head back to base, where Ben gets the scales out to put a true value on our finds. I am rewarded generously with freshly prepared and deliciously creamy scramble eggs infused with truffles, accompanied by a board of truffle cheeses and meats. A rich treat if ever there was one, with spectacular views to boot. Continuing with the truffle theme, I dine at Michelin-starred Zigante (restaurantzigante.com/en), known for its truffle-infused cuisine and owned by a Guinness World Record holder. Back in 1999, Giancario Zigante and his dog Diana found a white truffle weighing in at 1.31kg in the Motovun forest near Livade. At the time, rather than selling the truffle, which could have made him a cool million euros, he instead chose to serve it to guests at a special dinner so that everybody could enjoy it. This gesture put Livade on the map as a world centre for white truffles. Nowadays, Zigante makes multiple dishes inspired by different types of truffles, the most unusual being black truffle ice cream. His zest for culinary experimentation doesn’t surprise me. In Istria, every town is infused with history and the chefs embrace their local delicacies with passion. With its captivating scenery and exceptional wines to boot, this region has certainly left a lasting taste in my mouth and a thirst to return. WW How to plan your trip • The Istrian Peninsla is serviced by Pula Airport. Porec, Rovinj and Rabac are located less than an hour from the airport and Opatija and Lovran are 90 minutes away. • For accommodation at Hotel Lone, Rovinj, visit maistra.com. Istria is known for its seafood The historic Pula Arena The town of Rovinj Hotel Lone, Rovinj
44 WOMANSWAY.IE With warmer weather reviving our creative energy and putting us in a sunny mood, now’s the time to take your interiors to the next level with playful updates, stylish touches and pops of colour to elevate your outdoor space. Here’s what’s hot in homewares and leading the way in furnishings… From wabi-sabi styling to fun fusion, these interior trends are red-hot for summer. SUNNY STYLE UP 1. Clean Girl Aesthetic Inspired by the vibe of off-duty models, the Clean Girl trend is sophisticated and stylish, yet understated, says Anjelica Delfino, paint and interiors expert at Valspar Paint. “This aesthetic is definitely more of a lifestyle than a fashion statement, and so it also extends to our interiors – a key part of the Clean Girl trend is minimalism and neutrals.” This is easily infused into the home by opting for a neutral colour palette with accents of linen and wools to soften the space, says Delfino. “Layering these textures elevates the home, ensuring it feels homely and comfortable, yet curated and luxurious – our homes are places of protection, but also of rejuvenation from our busy and fast-paced lifestyles.” “Decorating with indoor plants will also help create a calm atmosphere making your space feel more zen.” 2 Wabi-Sabi Styling “The ethos of wabi-sabi has become increasingly popular in the interior design world and dates back to a traditional Japanese worldview,” explains Delfino. “It’s all about celebrating the beauty of imperfection and the natural world.” Wabi-sabi is known for its simplistic approach, she says, embracing the unique qualities found in natural materials, which creates a tactile and organic feel in home decor. “If you want to introduce wabi-sabi into the home but aren’t quite prepared to part with your belongings, an easy place to start is with decor,” suggests Delfino. “Pairing a fresh, brilliant white with a deep, rich brown creates a sophisticated yet understated look,” she continues. “Nature is also a huge part of this aesthetic, so refresh the mind with accents of soft greens that blend seamlessly – and bring the natural world into the home, resulting in a calming interior."
INTERIORS WOMANSWAY.IE 45 By Sam Wylie-Harris, PA 3 Maximalism Colour has been at the heart of many trends this year, paving the way for a new wave of maximalism in our homes, highlights Gisela Lancaster, head of buying at Sofology. “Better known as 'Maximalism 2.0', this will be the summer of intricate patterns, bold colours and abundant textures.” The one-step change to previous years will be an avoidance of anything too overwhelming, says Lancaster, so here are three tips to achieve the right balance in any living space. “Start with a cohesive colour palette to help connect the curated clashes in a calm and contemporary way – geometric scatter cushions, graphic curtains, bold wallpaper and a bright sofa can all work together as long as your colour palette remains concise." Lancaster continues: “Don’t shy away from lime and orange citrus shades when it comes to furniture and furnishings… energising pastels can add real zest to both contemporary and traditional schemes, while welcoming the sunshine into our homes.” “Mix modern pieces with reclaimed and vintage fi nds to add character and depth to these bursts of colour and pattern,” she adds. 4 Fun Fusion The Fun Fusion trend is gaining popularity, and fast, says Daniela Venturini, art director and trend forecaster at Wayfair. “In a time where people are keen to create personal sanctuaries and escape the doom and gloom of the real world, this optimistic style brings playful reassurance and a sense of lighthearted spontaneity,” enthuses Venturini. “Think bright colours and sculptural shapes to recreate the look.” Fun, refreshing and accessible whatever your budget, she says it’s also ideal for outdoor spaces – both big and small. “Extending that sense of self with a statement planter or some choice accessories, from bold drinking glasses to durable textiles, makes this an easy aesthetic to recreate.” 5 Retro Glam “There’s a reason Retro Glam is a strong trend for this season and beyond, breathing playful nostalgia and reassuring comfort into our homes when we need it most,” notes Venturini. “As more and more people seek familiarity, this considered combination of classic design, traditional detail and contemporary accents really appeals.” To set the scene, think vintage-look lighting and pretty crystal glasses nestled next to neutral furniture, says Venturini, anchoring that drama for a harmonious fi nish. “It’s easy to achieve this look outdoors too, whether you have plenty of room or playing with a smaller space. “Simply mix jewel-tone velvet cushions with a wicker garden sofa, balancing textures and colour to create just the right amount of eccentricity – choose fancy glassware to add a touch of class.” WW
46 WOMANSWAY.IE photographs, using videography, creating a social media strategy, and home staging. She says: “Home staging is just one part of the marketing mix – it makes the home more appealing to a higher number of potential buyers. Creating beautiful, functional spaces that suggest a lifestyle for the owner or buyer can not only create an emotional connection for prospective buyers, but increase the probability of securing a quick sale for the best possible price.” Penhaul says the secrets to a successful sale can be found through her seven-step ADDRESS system: Assess, Declutter, Decorate, Re-imagine, Emphasise, Stage and Sell. 1 ASSESS With your estate agent, work out who your ideal buyer is, the profi le of the people buying homes like yours in your area, and assess what your home is offering them, advises Penhaul. Assess the competition in your neighbourhood through a simple online search on a website like MyHome.ie, looking in your price bracket and comparing what you have to offer against other houses your buyer may be viewing. Then decide how much work you need to do on your home before you have any marketing photos or videos done. Penhaul says: “Take photos of your home – what do you see? Create a folder of pictures that capture what you’re attracted Your home is likely to be worth more money than anything else you own, and if you sell it you will, of course, want the best possible price. But getting that price – and achieving it quickly – usually comes down to a lot more than putting a For Sale sign outside and hoping for the best. You need to pick the right estate agent, agree on a realistic price to put your house on the market for, and make your property as appealing as possible to would-be buyers. It’s a daunting prospect for many homeowners, and sometimes expert advice is what’s needed to make the most of your property sale. “In today’s challenging property market, knowledge is power,” stresses home stager Elaine Penhaul, author of the new book How To Sell Your House. “Savvy selling tactics are all about making good judgements when it comes to appointing the right estate agent and understanding visual methods to selling in a digital era – where more people are buying without even stepping through the door of a property.” Penhaul, founder of the home staging company Lemon and Lime Interiors, explains there are three stages to sale: preparation, promotion and progression. “With the right preparation and promotion you can maximise your asset in both property value and speed to sale,” she says. “Visual appeal, both in person and online, is hugely important.” Penhaul says ways to make the most of your property sale include taking quality to in the homes you view – what do they have in common? How much clutter do you have? What state are your garden and any outbuildings in? Will your exterior decoration prompt a buyer to view or just drive past? Does your internal décor appear tired or dated?” 2 DECLUTTER Penhaul says decluttering is usually the hardest stage, and it must be done before decorating or restyling rooms. Get boxes, labels and marker pens, then put everything into piles – ‘leave where it is’, ‘keep but pack for now’, ‘throw away’, she advises. Then book a skip, charity collection or auction. “Get the kids to collect their stuff if they’ve moved out but their stuff hasn’t,” she suggests. Get the ‘throw away’ pile out of the house and off to its fi nal home, decide whether you have space at home to store your ‘keep but pack now’ pile or whether you need to fi nd storage off site, and “clean and clean again”, she says, adding: “Find a friend, or a HOME SALE HACKS Selling your home? Clever presentation and promotion are key to a quick sale. photographs, using videography, creating a social media strategy, mix – it makes the home more appealing to a higher number of potential buyers. Creating achieving it quickly – usually comes beautiful, functional spaces that Elaine Penhaul “Decluttering is usually the hardest stage, and it must be done before decorating or restyling rooms”
WOMANSWAY.IE 47 INTERIORS By Lisa Salmon, PA professional, to help – an unbiased opinion can help with speedy decision-making.” 3 DECORATE Penhaul suggests painting walls a neutral colour for maximum impact on the buyer, and patch testing on walls, as varying lighting will affect the colour. Also consider ceilings, woodwork and external woodwork such as doors and windows as well as interior walls. “Try not to opt for just painting one room, as this could make other rooms look tired,” she points out. “And complete minor repairs as you come across them – don’t simply paint over cracks, bumps and stains. You’re aiming to give the house a subtle, fresh feel to make it appealing to a wide range of buyers.” 4 RE-IMAGINE Consider how someone else may choose to use the rooms in your house, advises Penhaul. “Does each room have a clearly defi ned function and is it relevant to most of the buyers you believe will be interested in buying your home?” she asks. “If not, you need to rearrange your furniture to defi ne the function more clearly. The fl ow of the home also needs to make sense – ensure the rooms link with adjoining rooms and create an easy route through the home.” 5 EMPHASISE Cleverly emphasise your home’s best features and draw focus away from anything that’s less than ideal, advises Penhaul. “Which areas are the stand-out features and what do you love about them?” she asks. “Perhaps you have an amazing conservatory, a cosy window seat, a contemporary kitchen or a sumptuous bathroom? “Then consider how to visually tell the story of these areas to your How To Sell Your House by Elaine Penhaul is published by Rethink Press, priced €24.65. Available now. viewers – lifestyle imagery of coffee table books in a reading corner with surrounding indoor plants and light can give a true depiction of relaxation, for example.” She suggests making a list of props that may be useful when staging ahead of photography. 6 STAGE Penhaul explains: “Staging is where you bring everything together and put all your props, additional furniture and accessories into place.” This may involve appointing a staging company to support you with furniture rental and props – Penhaul points out that this will be more cost-effective than buying new. “If you’re staging your own home using things you already have, think about the focal point of each room and about how to create symmetry and balance for maximum effect,” she advises. “Seek help in creating the perfect scenarios in your home via a friend or your professional stager.” Book a photographer to come immediately after the staging is complete, so there’s no chance of messing things up again, she says. 7 SELL Ensure everything is ready so when you agree on an offer, the sale can progress quickly. This includes appointing a solicitor, signing paperwork and ensuring your agent has all the documents and information a prospective buyer may ask for. “Be proactive with your agent and solicitor weekly and ensure your sale has the utmost chance of running as smoothly as possible,” stresses Penhaul. WW Paint walls a neutral colour for maximum impact on the buyer Emphasise stand-out features
48 WOMANSWAY.IE Hoover, agreed and recommended using a cordless vacuum. “They are more slimline, portable, light, and convenient for easing around every room in the house or getting into tight corners, crevices or moving easily up and down the stars. You can also use them in handheld mode to clean inside your car,” she said. “Look for clever technology such as a motorised mini power nozzle. This is the ideal tool for pet owners as it effectively cleans dog and cat fur from cushions and other fabric surfaces.” “Brush your pet daily to reduce shedding, especially during peak seasons. Not only does this minimise the amount of fur in your home, but it also promotes a healthier coat and skin for your pet,” he said. “Invest in high-quality grooming tools such as de-shedding brushes and combs suited to your pet’s coat type. These tools are more effective at removing loose hair and can make grooming sessions more effi cient and enjoyable for both you and your pet.” VACUUM FREQUENTLY It’s important to keep your home clean by vacuuming frequently, particularly in areas where your pet spends the most time. “Consider using a vacuum cleaner with a pet fur attachment designed to pick it up more effectively,” said Horniman. Catrin Davies, a senior product manager for Haier UK, whose brands include pets Love your pets but wish your house wasn’t fi lled with hairs and whiffy smells? Help is at hand… What do pet owners have to frequently deal with? Pet odours and the shedding hair you fi nd in the most random places. Although it’s a small price to pay, it can sometimes become quite overwhelming trying to keep on top of all the maintenance and care. But some of the easiest ways to keep the home as fur and odour-free as possible are sometimes overcomplicated. How should pet owners deal with their pet smell and hair at home? Experts share everything you need to know and some of their top tips. REGULAR GROOMING Nick Horniman, veterinary surgeon and founder of online pet pharmacy MyPetsVet, said regular grooming is essential to controlling pet hair. Pongy Regular grooming is essential to controlling pet hair
WOMANSWAY.IE 49 HOME By Yolanthe Fawehinmi, PA BATHE YOUR PET REGULARLY In order to combat pet odour, be sure to bathe your pet regularly using a petfriendly shampoo. “The frequency of bathing will depend on your pet’s breed and lifestyle. Generally once a month is a good starting point. Always ensure your pet is thoroughly dried to prevent damp fur from causing a musty smell,” said Horniman. WASH BEDDING, BLANKETS AND TOYS According to Horniman, it’s also important to wash your pet’s bedding, blankets and toys frequently. “These items can harbour odours and bacteria if not cleaned regularly. Use pet-safe detergents and ensure items are completely dry before allowing your pet to use them again,” he said. It is also important to clean your pet’s toys regularly to prevent the buildup of smelly bacteria. “Plastic and rubber toys can typically be washed with warm, soapy water, while fabric toys can go into the washing machine,” said Axel Lagercrantz, CEO of Pets4Homes. “If your pet has an accident, act fast to prevent odours from setting in, and be quick to blot up any pet accidents with paper towels or a cloth. Remember to soak up the pee – don’t rub it in, as it makes fabrics retain more. “You can also sprinkle baking soda on carpets or furniture to absorb unpleasant smells. Let sit for a few hours and then hoover up for a fresh fi nish. A hot tip is also to use enzymatic cleaners. These cleaners have a biological effect and react with the chemicals in the urine, effectively neutralising the odour rather than just masking it. “Enzymatic cleaners can often be found at your local pet store. You can also invest in cheap UV lights and play detective to fi nd those sneaky pee spots. ENSURE EASY ACCESS FOR YOUR PET’S TOILET NEEDS It’s important to make sure that your furry friend has plenty of opportunities to do their business comfortably, especially for older and younger cats and dogs. “Whether it’s providing more outdoor time or strategically placing litter boxes, make sure they have easy access. Finding the root cause behind your pet’s behaviour, may it be stress, territorial concerns, or health issues, is also vital. By understanding what’s driving your pet to act out, you can effectively address the problem at its source and prevent any mishaps,” said Lagercrantz. USE AIR PURIFIERS Horniman also added that pet owners should consider using air purifi ers to help fi lter out pet odours from the air. “Pet-specifi c deodorisers can be used on carpets and furniture to neutralise odours rather than just masking them. When deciding which deodoriser to get, a natural and non-toxic deodoriser is best to make sure your pet does not come in contact with any harsh chemicals,” he said. INVEST IN LINT ROLLERS Lint rollers are really useful for tackling pet hair around the house. “They can be used to quickly remove hair from clothes and furnishings – you can also keep a smaller one in the car to remove hair from seats,” said Lagercrantz. “Electrostatic cloths are ideal for removing pet hair from hardwood fl oors. Pet hair tends to collect in corners and under furniture, so pay extra attention to those spots. “Many owners with high-shedding pets fi nd a quick vacuum clean once a day is enough to keep pet hair manageable; ideally use a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA fi lter to effectively trap pet hair and dander. There are also vacuum cleaners available that are specifi cally designed for pet owners, so if you fi nd that your current vacuum cleaner isn’t quite doing the job, this may be a worthwhile investment.” CHECK FOR HEALTH ISSUES According to Lagercrantz, an unhealthy pet often sheds more hair. “If your pet seems to shed excessively, it’s worth making a trip to the vet to rule out any health issues that may be causing this, such as environmental allergies or Cushing’s disease,” he added. “A good-quality diet supports overall health and helps reduce shedding. Aim to feed your pet a balanced diet that is rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals. It’s important to feed your pet the right diet for its species, breed, and age; you may want to consult your vet for dietary recommendations tailored to your pet’s specifi c needs. “It’s also important to ensure that your pet is well hydrated, as dehydration leads to dry, fl aky skin and increased shedding. Good hydration not only prevents shedding but is crucial for their overall health. “It’s worth considering buying supplements such as Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, found in fi sh oil and specially-formulated pet food, as they improve coat health and keep it looking nice and shiny.” WW “It’s important to ensure that your pet is well hydrated, as dehydration leads to dry, flaky skin and increased shedding” Give pets plenty of opportunities to do their business comfortably Bathe regularly using a pet-friendly shampoo
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. Happy Healthy Sex Thank you for an open and honest look at sex in Issue 12. As Carissa said women who have had breast cancer and are put on hormone-blocking drugs are given no information about the repercussions for their sexual health and wellbeing. I’ve just recently started reading Woman’s Way and use the magazine as part of my new selfcare routine. Following my breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent mastectomy I had to start a course of hormone-blocking treatment and, whilst my aftercare and follow-ups have been invaluable, sex after surgery was not a topic that was ever mentioned. In fairness, it wasn’t a subject I thought about raising at the time but it’s so important post-surgery and as part of a good recovery. Thank you for helping to bring this vitally important subject into conversation. May Palmer, Co Down Irish makeup Just had to write to say how much I enjoyed Issue 11, great interviews, interesting and informative articles, lovely recipes and to top it off Mum of the Year fi nalist Suzie O'Neill, founder of Ayu, and another article on Rosalique. I have found these two brands excellent and can highly recommend watching their tutorials. For day time I now only use Rosalique with Ayu concealer buffered undereye; it's a game changer. Thank you again for another great issue, I've been reading Woman's Way since I was a teenager when I peeked at my mam’s copy. Mary Keegan Mary or Martha Martha is a person who needs to keep busy and is always anxious to get everything done today. Her home is well organised and beautifully decorated. Aspires to cooking the best meals and is always well turned out. She strives for perfection which is not always attainable so could suffer from stress at times. The thought of failing isn’t allowed enter her practical head. Mary is a person who spends quality time with Delighted to see Mary Byrne on the cover of your Happy Healthy Sex Special Issue. She’s a force of nature and I always really enjoy reading about what she has to say. Such a grounded individual who doesn’t take any nonsense. She’s got a big heart too and I always appreciate her openness and honesty. A great edition all around, shedding light on a topic we don’t talk about enough in a mature way. Keep up the good work. Carol Nolan people, is a good listener and enjoys good conversation. Relationships are very important to her. But sometimes spending so much time with people and getting caught up in their daily drama, leaves her very little time for herself. Empathy and patience are strong virtues in her personality but the reality of getting much done is a slow burner. Balance would be a big help to these two remarkable women in this so busy world we live in. Mary or Martha which one are you A doer or leaver people might argue Give me a hand with the wash up and hoovering she cried Can’t you see I’m busy having a laugh and a chat she replied Stop procrastinating it’s the thief of time Stop moaning your voice has turned to a whine Oh Mary all you ever do is sit and talk Oh Martha drop everything, come for a walk. Mary McKenna Why are some people so rude? When you are on the receiving end of an ugly response from a person in a particular situation it can really affect you, especially when it’s inappropriate and unjustifi ed. People with low self-esteem often mask their own insecurities by fl exing their verbal muscles, being rude in an attempt to make themselves feel strong. Don't engage in rude behaviour. Make your expectations for courtesy and kindness respectfully known to others, surround yourself with people who treat you and others with empathy, compassion and decency. Choose to respond to unkindness with patience, understanding and empathy. Claire Mulrooney Happy Healthy Sex Thank you for an open and honest look at sex in Issue 12. As Carissa said women who have had breast cancer and are put on hormone-blocking drugs are given no information about the repercussions for their sexual health and wellbeing. I’ve just recently started reading Woman’s Way and use the magazine as part of my new selfIrish makeup Just had to write to say how much I enjoyed Issue 11, great interviews, interesting and informative articles, lovely recipes and to top it off Mum of the Year fi nalist Suzie O'Neill, founder of Ayu, and another article on Rosalique. I have found these two brands excellent and can highly recommend watching their tutorials. For day time I now only use Rosalique with Ayu concealer buffered undereye;