PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE

March / April 2015

Top destinations offthe beaten path

Surviving a massacre -Steve Travers

Complementary andalternative therapies

How to choose the right pet

The Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire is an historic and much-loved luxurylandmark hotel and a favourite with the locals, this hotel dating back to 1828 is an

impressive sight on the Dun Laoghaire skyline. Situated on 4 acres, overlooking Dublin Bay with direct access to Dun Laoghaire

promenade and Pier, the Royal Marine Hotel & Spa is the ideal venue to meet withyour requirements.

This luxury 4 star hotel offers a mix of elegance and style that will have you returnmany times. One of the best located hotels, whether your visit is for a city break,conference or even a relaxing spa treatment, the Royal Marine will accommodate

your every need.With only twenty minutes by the DART train line direct into Dublin City Centre,

this makes Dun Laoghaire accessible to the heart of the capital whilst allowing youto enjoy a more scenic location.

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Published by: IBS Publications LimitedRiverview House, Barrett Street, Ballina, Co. Mayoand Office 3, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo.

Tel/Fax: 071-9154538 / 096-77743Web: www.matureliving.ie Email: info@matureliving.ie

NewsAge Friendly SligoOfficially launchedMoya Doherty - the timeof my lifeHappy Birthday Barbie!Nautical InspirationDental Care withBlueappleCompetitionHow much exercise isenoughMeadow Theories withLeonie CorneliusShort Breaks in IrelandVisitors AttractionsTop European destinationsoff the beaten pathWhat is Magnetotherapy?A beginners guide totablet computersHow to choose the rightpetThe Bands of ourShowband era Cooking & RecipesAngelscopesSolicitors GuideAlternative TherapiesTop 10 Spring car care tipsHotels GuideServices DirectoryDating

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Editorial: Seamus Caseyseamus@matureliving.ieDesign: Stephen Finneysteve@matureliving.ieAdvertising Sales: Lisa Gilmartinlisa@matureliving.ie

The information in Mature Living is carefully researched and believed to be accurate, but the publisher cannot accept responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors or omissions. Statements or opinions expressed herein are notnecessary those of the editor or publisher. Advertisements within the publication are not endorsed by the publisher. Neither are any claims made within the advertisements. Before consuming any products mentioned in the

publication readers are advised to consult with their general practitioner or equivalent professional for opinion or advice.

March 2015 ITS almost Easter and there is still quite achill about . . . so it might be too soon todiscard the woollies just yet. Still, Ialways feel after watching the St. PatricksDay Parades that Summer is waving itsinitial greeting, albeit from a distance.There is an air of optimism about; morepeople are prompted to get up and danceand look to the future with confidence.What a pity the momentum is thwarted by

so many stories of home repossessions . . . a legacy of years ofgreed (not always by the said home-owners, it must be added).

Dance, perhaps, is the appropriate word to introduce thismonths featured personality, Moya Doherty, the creative forcebehind the phenomenon that is Riverdance. But the Donegalnative has many other strings to her bow and her achievementswere justifiably recognised recently when she received theaccolade of Donegal Person of the Year. Among other things, shewas co-founder of Today FM and is currently chair of RTE. Shetalks with Kate Winter about her life now, in her fifties.

Still in the entertainment vain, Mature Living has always beento the fore in recalling the phenomenon that was the showbandera in Ireland. In this issue, ahead of the much anticipatedShowband Stories presentation in Ballina Arts Centre on 27thMarch, Catherine Gilmartin speaks to host Stephen Travers, oneof the survivors of the Miami showband massacre almost fortyyears ago. The tragic event was to prove a watershed in theIrish music scene. Stephen speaks candidly about his love ofmusic and his many memories of a unique period in Irishentertainment history, but particularly his devastation at theloss of friends on that fatal night. He will be joined in the ArtsCentre by fellow survivor Des Lee, and former members of thepopular Jack Ruane Showband, to recall fond memories of abygone era.

If thats not enough, we have our usual array of articles andfeatures, including some advice on just how much exercise isappropriate for you. We have an introduction to a moreintegrated approach to healthcare. We talk about the role of aherbalist in our section on alternative therapies.

In our travel section we introduce some European destinationswhich are slightly off the beaten path, but certainly worthvisiting. For those envisaging some local travel it is important tokeep the motor in good order and our Top Ten Care Care Tipsmight be of interest. Also, for those of you who havent yettaken home a pet we discuss the options and what furred,feathered or finned friend would be suitable for you.

If youre lucky, of course, you might win a 2-night GoldenBreak for Two at the Four-Star Clayton Hotel, Galway.

Something for everyone in our March/April issue. We hope youhave an enjoyable Easter.

LAST MONTHS COMPETITION WINNERThe winner of last months breakaway to The Diamond coastHotel was Joan Regan of Boyle, Co Roscommon

Seamus Casey - Editor

News

The Irish Cancer Societys grantaid programme for affiliatedcancer support centres is nowopen for applications and theSociety is inviting all affiliatedcentres, including Cara IorraisCancer Support Centre and MayoCancer Support Association toapply for funds. The Irish Cancer Society expects togrant over half a million euro thisyear to its affiliates and iswelcoming applications from newcancer support centres who wish tobecome affiliates of the Society.The Societys Affiliation programmewhich runs in three-year cycles is anetwork of groups all across Irelandwho provide information andsupport services to people livingwith cancer.

Dorothy Thomas, Patient SupportServices coordinator said TheAffiliation programme wasdesigned to ensure that cancersupport services all over Irelandare supported in their work and areoperating to the highest possiblestandards of practice. There are 32organisations around the countrywho are currently affiliated to theSociety.

We are encouraging allaffiliated centres to apply forfinancial support in the form ofgrant aid from the Society in 2015.The closing date for applications is16th April 2015. We are alsolooking for applications from othercancer support centres around thecountry who may wish to becomeaffiliated to the Society. There arenumerous other advantages injoining this national networkincluding no cost training,technical support andorganisational consultancy.

The grants offered by the Societygo towards the provision ofcounselling services for thoseaffected by cancer, training andtravel and the delivery of a numberof support programmes which areproven to be effective including:

Strides for Life a walkingprogramme that seeks to reducethe risk of secondary cancers byincreasing fitness.

Prostate Support Group a sixsession psycho-educational groupfor men whove had a diagnosis ofprostate cancer.

Living Life an eight sessionpsycho-educational programme run

over 16 weeks for people who havehad a diagnosis of secondarycancer.

CLIMB Childrens Lives IncludeMoments of Bravery a six sessionclosed group for children aged 5 12 who have a significant adultwith cancer in their lives.

In order to avail of any and all ofthe grants offered by the IrishCancer Society, the organisationmaking the application must:

Be affiliated to the Irish CancerSociety.

Enter into a contract ofagreement regarding the use ofthese funds.

Deliver the programme or servicein the calendar year for which thefunds are granted. Provide reportsrelating to these services.

Affiliated organisations candownload an application form atwww.cancer.ie/how-we-can-help/support/affiliation-programme/grant-aid-affiliated-services-2015

For more information onAffiliates of the Irish CancerSociety go towww.cancer.ie/support or call theIrish Cancer Society on 01 2310500.

SEAMUS GALLAGHER MEMORIAL CARDS

We provide a service which we hope can be of benefit toyou when choosing a Memorial card, Bookmark, WalletCard which reflects the life of a loved one. At a timewhen it is so difficult to choose a card, prayer,photograph etc, we willcall with you personally,if you so wish, to advise& help you make theright decision. We can be contacted atany time by calling0872448642

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SEAMUS GALLAGHERHEADSTONES

Mrs Betty Gallagher originallyfrom Watergrasshill in CoCork, but living in Achill for15 years, recently presented DrMark Tangney, Principal Investigatorwith Breakthrough Cancer Research,with a cheque from a fundraisingwhist drive.

Mrs Gallagher, a cancer survivorherself, read about the work of DrTangney (an international expert ingene therapy) and his team, in

developing a new approach thatcould be used to treat severalcancers with low survival rates.

Having been treated yearspreviously by Professor GerryOSullivan, founder of the ResearchCentre, Mrs Gallagher has kept upto date with the ground- breakingwork taking place in the Corklaboratory. I read about the workDr Tangney and his team are doingand I wanted to help. I know to

bring their efforts further they needlots of funding and I wanted to dosomething to help. I organised awhist drive in Achill and I wasdelighted with the support Ireceived from locals in the area andalso from friends who travelled upfrom Cork to support the event.

It was a wonderful experience tobe able to meet Dr Tangney and histeam in the lab and to hear first-hand from him about the work theyare doing. I know they will put themoney to great use, because thereisnt a family in Ireland who has notbeen affected by cancer and we allneed to pull together to supportthese researchers to take their workfrom the lab to treating patients. Iam planning another fundraiserlater in the year for BreakthroughCancer Research and I hope it toowill be a great success.

Dr Tangney Principal Investigatorat the Cancer Research Centre saidIt is fantastic to meet people suchas Betty who organise fundraisersfor our work in cancer research.Their support is vital; we could notdo what we do, without the muchneeded funds that Betty and otherslike her across the country raise onour behalf. Knowing we havededicated fundraisers helps us todevelop new treatments for thosewith cancer and to bring ourfindings from the laboratory topatients clinical trial and help us todevelop new treatments for thosewith cancer.

Irish Cancer Society Calls for Grant Applications from Affiliated Cancer SupportCentres in Co. Mayo

Achill Whist Drive Raises VitalFunds for Cancer Research

Mrs Betty Gallagher from Achill, is pictured presenting Dr MarkTangney, Principal Investigator with Breakthrough Cancer Research,with a cheque from a fundraising whist drive.

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Age Friendly SligoOfficially Launched

L-R Chris Gonley (CEO Sligo LEADER Partnership), Deirdre Lavin (CEO Sligo Sport and Recreation Partnership), MichaelClancy (Chief Superintendent), Cllr Seamus Kilgannon, Cllr Tom MacSharry, Sean McHugh (Chair Sligo ActiveRetirement), Sarah Wetherald (Regional Consultant Age Friendly Ireland), Ciaran Hayes (Chief Executive), DorothyClarke (Director of Services), Vanessa Clarke (Muintir Na Tire), Geraldine Mullarkey (HSE), Cllr Hubert Keaney

The event was opened by Cllr TomMcSharry followed by apresentation from SarahWetherald, Regional Consultant forAge Friendly Ireland. Chief ExecutiveCiaran Hayes, chair of the newlyestablished Age Friendly Alliance thenspoke about his vision for Age Friendlyin Sligo and the opening speecheswere completed by keynote speakerBrian Leyden who gave his insightsinto ageing in Ireland.The event wasattended by older people fromaround the county as well asrepresentatives from keyorganisations such as the HSE, AnGarda Siochana, Sligo Leader, SligoCounty Council and Sligo Sport andRecreation Partnership. Also presentwere history student representativesof Sligo Grammar School andmembers of Sligo Active RetirementGroup who presented Sligo LibrariesMemory of the Dancehallintergenerational project. Thisinitiative provides an opportunity for

Transition Year students from SligoGrammar School to work incollaboration with Sligo ActiveRetirement Groups in the creation ofa public museum exhibit themed onthe Dancehall era in Sligo.Followingspeeches a consultation process tookplace to try and identify the keyissues facing people as they age inSligo and discussions betweenorganisations and community as tohow they could work together tobring about solutions. These eventsare an opportunity for older people toreally have their voices heard and tobe part of a process that will seethem given the chance to be engagedin a process that is having real impacton the ground in other counties. Thisconsultation was the second in thecounty with a timetable of eventsover the next few months organisedin partnership with Muintir Na Tire.The next consultation event will be atthe Ocean Sands Hotel in Enniscroneon the 25th February at 7pm and

communities should keep an eye outfor further events taking place intheir local community.

Some of the key points emerging onthe day were; the need fororganisations to better combine theirefforts to improve the quality of lifefor the community, the creation ofour towns and villages to prioritisethe need of people over vehicles, adesire to strengthen the relationshipacross generations and the need fororganisations to ensure theirinformation is better communicatedto older adults. Overall all attendeeswelcomed the chance to shape thecommunity, but stressed the need forpractical action to happen.

The Age Friendly programme isrunning in ALL local authority areasacross Ireland and Sligos sign up tothe programme means they will haveaccess to a suite of projects,programmes and initiatives that arealready improving the quality of lifefor older people across Ireland.

Consultations are due to finish atthe end of March and the next stepwill be the development of the SligoOlder Persons Council, a committeecharged with representing the voiceof older people across the county.This group will not only be aninherent part of developing a strategyand action plan for the county, butrepresentatives of this group will alsosit at the Alliance table with keydecision makers from across Sligo tomanage the roll out of the overallprogramme. If you are interested infinding out more about thiscommittee, please contact DoloresMcDonagh, dmcdonagh@sligococo.ie

The Irish CancerSociety and Delllaunch Daffodil Day2015 in Mayo. Daffodil Day,supported by Dell, willtake place in Mayo onFriday March 27th 2015.This year marks the 28thDaffodil Day, Irelandslongest running andbiggest fundraising day.The Society announced agrowth in cancer incidencethat is sure to have a

direct impact on itsservices increasing theneed for the people inMayo to support DaffodilDay so they can reachtheir fundraising target of3.5 million for 2015.

Speaking at the launchof Daffodil Day, JohnMcCormack, ChiefExecutive Officer, IrishCancer Society said,Every family in Mayo istouched by cancer, and

these new figures confirmthat cancer rates aregrowing. As cancer isincreasing so are ourefforts to fight it. As thenational cancer charity weare working harder toensure that every family inneed of support in Mayohas access to our services.To meet the increaseddemand for help as morepeople get and survivecancer we need to raiseeven more money thisyear on Daffodil Day.

Funds raised on DaffodilDay by thousands ofvolunteers across Irelandgo directly to fund thework of the Society acrosssupport, prevention,research and advocacy.Night Nursing is oneservice funded byDaffodil Day. Last yearthe Society was able tofulfil 96 per cent ofrequests for a nightnurse. Seventy Fivepercent of cancerpatients wish to die athome surrounded byfamily, yet only 25% getto do so. The Irish CancerSociety provides the onlynight time care servicefor cancer patients intheir own homes. In 2014the Societys nursesprovided 499 nights ofcare to 78 patients inMayo and this service isfully funded by thepeople of Mayo whoconsistently support the

work of the Society.Mr McCormack

continued, We wont giveup until every personaffected by cancer in Mayohas the support they needand we need the supportof everyone in Mayo tomake this possible. Weknow our volunteers wontgive up, we know Dell our lead partner wontgive up and we need everyperson in Mayo to join usin this fight. We still havesome way to go to fullysupport patients who willdie from their cancer. Wewont give up until wereach that future withoutcancer and I know theIrish public wont either.

Its vital that DaffodilDay reaches its ambitiousfundraising target of 3.5million in order tocontinue to provide andexpand this service andothers. The Society andDell, lead partner forDaffodil Day, are calling onthe public to help supportthe campaign on Friday27th March and ask peopleto volunteer, organise ordonate on CallSave 185060 60 60 or visitwww.cancer.ie/daffodilday

Also speaking at thelaunch, Liam Halpin,General Manager, DellIreland said, Dell employs2,300 people in Irelandand we have campuses inCherrywood in Dublin, inLimerick and in Cork. Eachand every one of theseemployees have joined theDaffodil Day volunteeringarmy in one way oranother and its beengreat to see themomentum across thethree campuses grow overthe years. This is our fifthyear as lead partner of theDaffodil Day campaign.Were looking forward to agreat day of fundraising toensure the continuedservices provided by theIrish Cancer Society topeople around thecountry.

The Irish CancerSocietys 28th DaffodilDay, supported by Dell,will take place in Mayo onFriday 27th March.

Here is how you cansupport Daffodil Day Visitwww.cancer.ie/daffodilday or Callsave 1850 6060 60 Volunteer onDaffodil DayOrganise a Daffodil Dayevent in your communityor workplace

News

By Anne Dempsey

Some people cant wait, and have already madeplans to play more golf, take more exercise,try a new hobby, or just stop and stare.Others do not relish the thought of retirement andavoid thinking about how to fill in the extra hours.Either way retirement is a new territory for mostpeople. A routine you may have been used to formany years is over, the familiar structure in yourday is gone, and some purpose, role and identitymay have disappeared. In order to have a happyand fulfilling retirement, people may need to beginconsciously to prepare in advance. There is a lotyou can do to ensure a rewarding and enjoyableretirement.

Getting finances sorted is obviously a priority. Itis vital to find out what you will have to live on,whether you qualify for an occupational pension, asocial welfare pension, or have investments whichwill mature. Pre-retirement is a good time toexamine any savings, in case you need to releasemonies in a new way, or to take advantage of newinvestment opportunities.

People may worry that income will reduce inretirement, so it is important to ensure that youare comparing like with like. Your cost of livingmay reduce when you retire. You may save onpetrol, on commuting fares, on eating out, even ondressing for work. Also, you may come into a lowertax bracket. Doing the comparative exercise mayreassure you that things are not as different as youhad thought.

Take advantage of any company perks while stillin employment. For example, your company mayoffer free or reduced health checks for staff.Going into retirement knowing you have a cleanbill of health, or being alerted to any healthproblem needing attention is a good idea. At thesame time, if you have not done so already, youcould sign up with your local GP, and any healthprofessionals or services which may now be moreconvenient to you to access locally.

Retirement gives people an average 2,200 hoursper year to fill. Its a lot of time. If you have fewhobbies or interests outside work, now is the timeto find some. There is no shortage ofopportunities. There may be something you werealways interested in trying - be it painting,campaigning or learning to swim. Whatever it is,there are classes available to get you started. Youmay be interested in volunteering. My ownorganisation - Third Age - has over 1,400volunteers, mainly older people, making a valuablecontribution in their community and keepping theminvolved and engaged. Many organisations inIreland today depend on volunteers.

How about friends? Surveys show that 80% of thepersonal contacts people have in adult life arework-related. On retirement this contact may bebroken which can add to feelings of loneliness andisolation, particularly for single people andwidows/widowers whose jobs offered valuablesocial contact. Now is the time to think of friendsin a wider way, and even to make some newfriends. Active Retirement Ireland can be veryhelpful in this regard.

Retirement is not an event. It is a process. As webecome accustomed to retirement, we cangradually let go the old way of life and embracethe new. We will help ourselves if we can maintainsome of the values that work gave us purpose,identity and the use of our skills.

Next month: more activities and ideas inretirement

For more information about WeDO, contact AnneDempsey on 087-7450721

Preparing forRetirement

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19 people in Mayo diagnosedwith cancer every week

Page 10 Mature Living

Feature by Kate Winter

Moya Doherty isaphenomenon.She is the creativeforce behindRiverdance, co-

founder of Today FM, co-ownerof Tyrone productions, currentchair of RTE, producer, director,mother and millionaire whorecently won Donegal Person ofThe Year award. Here, she chatscandidly with Kate Winter aboutthe journey so far, and why she'snever been happier than she isin her fifties.

You famously started out yourmedia career, with no formalqualifications, as a secretary inRTE and now you're the Chair.Do you think somebody such asyour younger self could walkinto the RTE of today and dowhat you did?

I think it's still possible. I wouldlike to think so, in that if you'repassionate enough and you wantsomething badly enough youshould be able to attain it. Idon't have a huge regard for alot of the Media Studies coursesout there today. I wonder ifpeople shouldn't just get out,roll their sleeves up and learnon the job.

You would often be referred toas "having it all" with yourcareer, family, success, etc.How do you feel about thatphrase?I think because we journeyevery day, we change and moveand shift, there are times whenthings are good and times whenthings are not so good. Onething that has always beenstaggering to me is this sensethat if you are perceived to

"have it all" then everythingmust be wonderful all the time.I don't know what this "all" is... I know I'm certainly blessed withmy relationship and mychildren, but I worked very, veryhard and I was away from thema lot. I questioned all the timewhether I was a good enoughmother. Maybe there is nobalance; I think people struggleall the time to find one but Iquestion if there is such a thing.

There's not much about yourpersonal life out in the publicdomain - is that somethingdeliberate on your part?Oh yes, I am intensely private.When my mother was alive andshe would hear things that hadmaybe been written about mefrom the neighbours, she wouldalways reply "I don't knowanything about that, Moya

would never discuss that withme and I would never ask her".Yes, she was formidable! It's

funny though, because while Ihave an aversion to gossip, I amintensely curious about othe

Riverdance at the Opening of the Special Olympics in Croke Parkin 2003 (Opening ceremony was Produced by Moya and John)

people's lives. What makes themtick, why they choose to dothings, what their stories are.

You're married to JohnMcColgan, who's both yourbusiness partner and lifepartner; which came first?We worked together first. Whatattracted me to John and to anypartner I ever had in the earlyyears of my life, was theirwork. I didn't care about theirbank balance or their looks. Idid go out with some realoddballs, looking back. But itwas always their mind, theircreativity, and a sense ofhumour that appealed to me. Asfor working with John, we'retogether thirty two years now,

it's just our life... It only struckme recently that my parentsalso worked together all of theirlives, and it came as quite ashock to realise I've doneexactly what they did.

Was having children a bigdecision for you two, becauseyou were both so career-driven and busy?Oh yes. I didn't want children atall, though John did...Something happened to mewhen I turned thirty though,and I started looking at babiesin supermarket trolleys andthinking Maybe it's time... I geton very well with my boys, andalways have done, but I do thinkI'm better with them as fully

formed adults than I was atrunning around after them aslittle boys. I'm not terriblymaternal. I like them to beindependent... My parentsnever looked over theirshoulders at us once we weregrown and I think that's ahealthiness to that.

You've spoken of the workethic you have as coming froma sense of time and place,from your heritage, yourparents, from Donegal. Butyou've also mentioned anelement of criticism and asense of 'not being goodenough' instilled by yourmother. When did you begin torealise that you are good

enough - exceptional, even?It is a curious one, because nowI can look back on the criticismall five of us suffered from. Ourmother was quite tough on us.She was the traditionalminteoir. I don't even think sherealised it, though she did sayon her death bed "Sure what didI ever do but criticise you?"... Ithink it came from her ownmother. I'm not even sure if it'sa matter of nature, nurture orjust simply in the footprint ofyour DNA. The upside of that childhoodcriticism is that you becomelike a little hamster on thewheel - you peddle twice ashard as everybody else. And Ican see the damage, too. I cansee the harm it does, so Iwouldn't exactly encourage it asa model for rearing children. Istill give myself a hard time, Istill look at some things I do andthink that's not good enough.That said, I'm much easier onmyself nowadays. Much easier.But that's just the agingprocess, I suppose. Therealisation that you're more

than half way along yourjourney, and there's no time towaste digging in areas of regret.

What are the most evidentchanges in that aging process,from the headstrong young girlwho strove so fiercely for herindependence to the strong,successful woman you aretoday?I was a complete nuisance. Iwould say back then I wasutterly impossible. I had no planand no strategy. I thank Godthat the aging process hasbrought with it a calmness. Younever lose a sense ofindignation or your values butit's in much greater perspective.Things that would have causedme concern and irritated medon't do so as much anymore. Ican take a step back and thinkabout things more deeply. Iwould have loved to be able todo that thirty years ago but Ididn't have the skills. I spent mylife planning, but now I planless and enjoy more... I cansafely say that this is the besttime in my life.

John and Moya outside the Apollo Theatre, Hammersmith - 1995

John and Moya with President Mary Robinson & her husband Nick

Moya, Jean Butler and Bill Whelan launching Riverdance for Rwanda video in 1994

Page 11 Mature Living

John and Moya with their sons Danny and Mark at the New York premiere of Riverdance in 1996

Fashion

Page 12 Mature Living

This month Barbie turns 56 yearsold. You wouldnt know it fromhow she looks flawless skin,thick lustrous hair, wasp waist, perkybosoms, a glamorous and youthfulwardrobe and still wearing pointy-toed stilettoes.While never showing the ravages ofaging and the reality of getting old,the fashion doll that sold billions(one every three seconds in the

world, according to Mattel, her mak-ers) has been an inspiration for younggirls to dream and dream big.Barbie has had more than 150 ca-reers that included astronaut to run-ning for president (an exhausting sixtimes but never winning).But while Barbie goes on one big ad-venture after the next and rackingup controversies in her wake, thereis one thing that little girls and a

few boys cant get enough of andthats her extensive wardrobe.You might be inclined to lamentabout her unrealistic body image,but children love to dress up thisdoll. Even a few adults have discov-ered the joy in dressing Barbie.In honour of her birthday, we take alook at a few of the designers whowere inspired to dress one of theworlds most famous fashionistas.

NAUTICAL INSPIRATION

When Coco Chanel donned a striped Breton sailor T back in 1917, little didshe know she would ignite a trend for nautical themed fashions that wouldremain popular almost a century later.This season, once again, there is a tidal wave of blue and white horizontal stripes,blanketing everything from T-shirts to bags and shoes. And that other yachtingcolour combo red, white and blue is also making its way ashore.Perhaps its the graphic simplicity of those bold lines that make it such a popularand enduring trend. Its very easy to wear and the look has an air of freshness.If youre lucky to be booked for a cruise on the high seas this or heading to awarm and sunny destination for a well deserved break, these pieces make for easypacking and offers a strikingly chic look.

Feature with Sonya Hamill of Blue Apple Dental - Irish Dentistrys Dental Practice of the Year 2013

Blueapple Dental & Implant Team is an award-winning dentalpractice in the village of Belcoo in Co. Fermanagh, run byhusband and wife team, James and Sonya Hamill.

Blueapple carries out all forms of dentistry under one roof, andfocuses on helping people overcome their dental challenges,to re-establish their dental health, comfort and beauty. Theybelieve that there is no-one they cant help regain their dentalconfidence.

Blueapple Dental & Implant Team has won multiple awards,including Best New Practice, Best Young Dentist in the UK &Ireland, and most recently Best Patient Care in Ireland 2012.

Blueapple welcomes new patients. Just call 048 66386111 to make an appointment for yourconsultation.

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Such encouragement and support I have never experienced before and empowered me to complete the procedure without sedation.My trust inBlueapple across all aspects of my dental experience is always upheld each time I visit the practice. I cannot emphasise enough thetransformation that has occurred in my life in terms of panic and anxiety. An anxious patient, Sligo.

It is very common for a newclient approaching a dentalpractice to begin with thephrase, I dont like dentists. Asyou would imagine, often its thepeople who need our help themost who are the ones who holdoff coming to see us for thelongest. But one thing wedefinitely know is, with somesimple steps most people, wewould even say everyone, can behelped to feel comfortablehaving their dentistry done. So, what are some of the mostcommon reasons for these typesof anxieties, and how can theybe overcome?

Dental Embarrassment:One of the main reasons manypeople fear coming to see thedentist is because they areembarrassed. You need neverput off coming to the dentist

because you are embarrassed toshow them the condition of yourteeth. No matter how bad youfear your teeth may be, we canhelp you. And once that firstvisit is out of the way, and youhave the comfort of a plan inplace, many people will feel alot happier about having theirtreatment.

The Past:Often a persons anxiety stemsfrom an experience they havehad with a dentist previously;typically a long time ago. Thereare a number of ways in whichthis can be overcome, but it isimportant to provide somereassurance first. Moderndentistry is vastly improved inattitude, methods andcapabilities to what it used tobe. Modern dentistry should bepainless.

Sometimes this problem stemsfrom an experience with aninconsiderate person. Dontwrite off the profession becauseof one negative experience. Youneed someone who you feel willlisten to you and take time totreat you the way you deserve tobe treated. Often a personalrecommendation is the easiestroute to the dentist for you.

Fear of pain and injections: Dare I say the I word? Oftenthe experience of having theanaesthetic is the moment ananxious patient has become mostfocused on. We now have stepsfor making this much easier. AtBlueapple we take care to makethis a positive experience. Wenumb the area in advance, warmthe anaesthetic, and thenadminister the anaesthetic veryslowly and through a very fine

needle. These techniques make ahuge difference. And oftenpatients will tell us they didnteven feel it. Once you have theanaesthetic dental treatmentshould be pain free.

So, what can a dental practicewith an anxiety friendly ethosoffer you?A variety of methods can be usedto help a patient overcome theanxieties which prevent themhaving dental treatment carriedout.At Blueapple we operate ananxiety friendly policy, whichmeans that we provide a tieredapproach for helping individualsreach their dental goals. This isbecause every client is different,and has different needs forhelping them reach the point ofbeing comfortable receivingtreatment.These begin with something assimple as gentle relaxationtechniques, and then progress.Some people like to listen tomusic, or place a blanket overthem. A practice like ours canhelp you work out what is rightfor you.

Trust is key. Trust between patient anddentist is the foundation of apositive dental relationship.When we begin treatment withan anxious patient at Blueapple,typically we begin with atreatment which is very straightforward and short. This enablesthe client to feel comfortablethat our dentist is following theirlead, stops when they ask them

to so that it is done at theirpace, tells them what they aregoing to do, and then doesexactly that and no more. Thislevel of trust is quite often aturning point for many patients,because they feel empoweredand are in control of thesituation. As this trust iscemented, the patient typicallyfinds themselves being able toachieve more and more in thedental chair.

What else is there?The choice of using medicationsto help you achieve comfort inthe dental chair is an optionmany people like to know isthere. At Blueapple we see themajority of people find sufficientrelaxation somewhere on thescale of help before this, but theknowledge that it is available ifthey need it is a great comfort.For those who do choose thisroute, they can look at eitherOral Sedation (a sedative tablet),R.A. (sedation throughinhalation) or IntravenousSedation. At Blueapple we offerIV sedation, and through this weprovide a small dosage ofsedative which gives the patienta state of deep relaxation, whichenables them to have theirtreatment carried out veryeasily.

So, overall, the message is totake the first step and see whathappens. Find the dentist whoworks for you and make a plan.This quote is true, A year fromnow you will wish you hadstarted today.

Pain Free Dentistry!

Mature Living have teamed up with the Sheraton AthloneHotel to offer one lucky reader a midweek break for two,comprising of 2 Nights Bed and Breakfast and one Dinner. To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic price, simply answer the question below.

Q: Which River Runs through Athlone?Send your entries into us at: Sheraton Athlone Competition,IBS Publishing, Unit 7, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. Sligo.T&C Apply, Closing Date for entires: 10th April 2013

Win a 2 Night Golden Break for Twoat the Four Star Clay!on Hotel GalwayWin an amazing two night Golden Year Break at the luxurious

four star Clayton Hotel in GalwayThe prize which is based on two adults sharing includes the following:

2 nights luxurious accommodation with Full Irish Breakfast each morning

2 Evening Meals in the Enclosure Bar & Bistro or the Tribes Restaurant Complimentary access to Leisure Centre incl. 20m pool, Sauna & Steam Room

To be in with a chance to win this fantastic break, simply answer the question and send youranswer, along with your name, address, email address and telephone number into us at theaddress below...

Question: What is the name of the Restaurant at the Clayton Hotel?Send your entries into us at Clayton Hotel Competition Mature Living Magazine, Office 3, Unit 7, Northwest Business Park, Collooney, Co. SligoTerms and Conditions Apply, Closing Date for enties is April 20th 2015

GOLDEN YEAR PACKAGES2B&B, 2 Dinners from 109pps 3B&B, 3 Dinners from 159pps

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Luxurious accommodation with Full Irish Breakfast each morning Dinner on each evening in the Enclosure Bar & Bistro or the Tribes Restaurant One Full Guided Day Tour of either Connemara or the Cliffs of Moher

(valid with 3 night package only) Tea & Homemade Scones on one afternoon (valid on 3 night package only) Free Parking & Complimentary News Paper Additional discounts available for local activities. Complimentary access to Leisure Centre incl. 20m pool, Sauna, Steam Room

(The above are valid Sun Thu. inclusive or weekends at an additional cost)Please Quote Mature Living Magazine to avail of Golden Year Specials above

We also cater for private groups and tailor make Active Retirement Breaks upon Request.

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THE ART OF VISUALMERCHANDISING

By Rodney Munn

Visualmerchandising isthe Art,a wordchosen carefully,ofdisplaying merchandiseI n a manner thatappeals to and drawsthe eyes of thecustomer to the

product.It couches the product in asetting that attracts the passerby tobecome a prospective customer. So acreative and thoughtful approach canbreathe new life into any stores newproduct.So having a plan,and an ability tocreate ideas that are different arerequired ,and an awareness of the ever-changing trends in the fashion world arealso essential. So visual merchandisingincludes,window display,interiordisplay,signs,promotions ,sales,all ofthese can be done inn such a way thatwill engage the mind of the customer.

The main goalis to showcase theclothes ,as in our case,in such a way thatthey stand out and require attention.COLOUR; Colour is a powerful tool for usein display..As a visual quality it can beassociated with emotions,occasions,gender etc,and can changewalkers into a static audience.It istherefore an essential ingredient indeveloping a theme for any display,as anexample,,you have springsummer,straight away that suggestsbrighter colours yellow and redsetc,autumn winter dictatesdarker,stronger colours.even the coloursof the shop can be synonomous with whoyou are,its reflected ingift vouchers,bags,suit bags, business cards etc,all ofthese helps to present an overallpresentation. I was recently given a bookcalled "TWELVE TIPS ON WINDOWDISPLAY" by Herbert N Casson dating backto the early 1900s,it was amazing to readmany elements identified back then are

still relevant to-day like,have aplan,choose good colours,have eyecatchers,good lighting,etc it truly wasafascinating read. At EJS we have a teamof people involved in windowdisplay,interior display,good signageinside and out,promotional material,salesigns,and computer marketing,we all seethis as an essential aspect to the businessin attracting new customers.AT the moment we have a whole newshop full of new product from our newspring summer ranges all displayed insuch a way to engage your senses andencourage you to treat yourself tosomething new!!

Health Matters

Theres a lot of confusinginformation out there onhow much exercise isenough. More isnt necessarilybetter unless, of course, yourein performance training orworking up to a marathon. Andwalking around the house orputtering in the garden doesntcount.

Thats because theres adifference between activityand exercise.Activity is something you doevery day, says Jason Hagen, a38-year-old award-winningexpert in aging. Exercise isplanned, structured andrepetitive.If your goal is not to train for amarathon but just to age welland lessen the risk of disease,then Hagen has a simpleformula that can help. It allstarts with accepting the powerof exerciseThe only thing that cancounteract the aging process isexercise itself, he emphasizes.Thats the first thing you needto know. To date, its the onlyintervention shown to beeffective.But its the kind of exercise youdo thats key.As we age, beginning in our 30s,we start to lose muscle massand function. Its called

sarcopenia. Hagen says theaverage person will loseapproximately 0.5 per cent oftheir muscle mass per year, orroughly five per cent everydecade.And that lost muscle will neverreturn ever. All we can do, hesays, is slow down the process.So how do we do that?Resistance training, thats how.Hagen thinks free weights arebest, but any weightedmachines or strength trainingequipment will do. Thinkpushing and pulling. And itsalways a good idea to get someinstruction on how to use freeweights and other equipment soyou avoid any kind of injury.But we also need aerobicexercise in the mix since itswhats so good for our heart andlungs. That includes activities such aswalking fast, swimming,running, using a cross trainer.How hard do you need to go atit? The best aerobic workoutsshould get you pumped, but stillallow you to hold a brokenconversation without gaspingfor air, Hagen says.

As we get older, the ratio ofaerobic to resistance in ourworkouts needs to change. In anutshell, your age shouldequal the percentage of

resistance involved.Heres how Hagens formulaworks:At age 40, you should do 60 percent aerobic, 40 per centresistance.At age 50, its 50 per centaerobic, 50 per cent resistance.At age 60, you need to do 40per cent aerobic, 60 per centresistance.At 70, you should do 30 per centaerobic and 70 per centresistance.and so onHagen says following this simpleformula and working out threetimes a week for 30 to 45minutes is enough to help youage better, minimize the loss ofmuscle and help to maximizegood health.

And if youre one of thosepeople who tend to skip workingout or havent yet done anykind of exercise at all, itsnever too late to get started.Just ask Hagen.I see better results in peoplewho go from sedentary tomoderate exercise than I do inpeople who go from moderatelyactive to highly active. You getthe biggest bang for your buckwhen you make the jump tomoderately active. Thatswhere you see the most returnon investment.

Page 16 Mature Living

You cant change themetabolism you were bornwith. Thats the bad news.The good news is youre burningcalories every time you eat just by chewing and swallowingand digesting. In other words,when you eat, your gut isexercising.But once we reach our 50s, ourbody metabolism naturally startsslowing down, so heres a littlemore bad news to digest: nomatter what foods you eat to tryand speed up your metabolism,it wont be enough tocounteract the loss in metabolicrate that comes with age,according to Hagan.Between the age of 10 and 90,

explains Hagan, a womansmetabolism will slow down theequivalent of a chocolate bar roughly 250 calories. In otherwords, at age 10, shell typicallyburn about 1,600 calories a day.By age 90, that drops to roughly1,350 calories, he says. Its notmuch but, over time, it canmake a difference if not paidattention to.So, that the spare tire you maybe carrying around your waistcant wholly be blamed on aslowing metabolism, but it couldbe adding to it. The biggerfactor, Hagan emphasizes, isyour lifestyle and the types offood you eat, when you eat andhow often you eat.

Hagans main message?Food and exercise have to gotogether, he says. But theresno need to be defeatist becausetheres lots we can do tomaximize our health.

Here are Jasons tips forboosting metabolism,increasing energy and stayingtrim:1) Eat more frequently: Insteadof two or three big meals a day,eat four to six small meals. Byeating more often and eatingless, you avoid being hungry andyour metabolism is kept revvingby the digestive process.2) Eat more protein: Proteingives you a higher return oninvestment, says Jason,explaining that the body uses 20per cent more energy tometabolize proteins. That meansincorporating more poultry, fish,legumes and lean meats intoyour diet. Nuts are good too, butare also high in fat.3) Dont skip the carbs: Somany people typically takethese out of their diets whichis really more about dieting thanit is about living, says Jason.Hes a big advocate of goodcarbs, things like whole grains,brown rice and whole wheatpasta, as well as fruits andquinoa. If its more energy

youre after make this your fuel.The also brain uses mostlycarbohydrates, he adds. So ifyoure looking to boostawareness, energy and acuity,those come from yourcarbohydrates. Thats whypeople who go on a low carbdiet start to feel more sluggishand start forgetting things.4) Get moving: You simply haveto exercise if you want toincrease your metabolism, sinceroughly 20 to 25 percent of yourmetabolic rate is directly tied to

exercise. If youve done nothingfor years, Jason emphasizes itsimportant to start slow. Forexample, go for a walk one daya week, then gradually move upto two days a week, then threedays a week.Play with the frequency, notthe intensity, he advises.Overall, Jason recommends adiet consisting of roughly 50 percent carbs, 20 per cent proteinand 20 to 30 per cent fat,combined with exercise threetimes a week.

Page 17 Mature Living

Glaucoma is one of themost common causes ofpreventable blindness. Itcan be picked up as part of anormal eye test and oncetreatment starts, its progresscan be halted.Here we explain whatglaucoma is and how it affectsyour sight, how certain groupsof the population are atparticular risk, the simple teststhat can lead to its detectionand the treatments you may beoffered. Treatment cannotreverse damage already doneand is likely to be necessary forthe rest of your life but yoursight can be protected if it ispicked up in time.What is glaucoma?Glaucoma is the name of agroup of eye conditions thataffect your vision. Of themany types of glaucoma,chronic glaucoma is the most

common. It usually affects botheyes but can start in one eyebefore the other.Often in chronic glaucoma thepressure in your eye is higherthan it should be and over timethis causes damage to the opticnerve at the back of your eye.The optic nerve carries visualinformation from the lightsensitive part of your eye toyour brain, where it istranslated into a picture.Damage to the optic nerve canaffect your sight.Why does it occur?Your eye produces a fluid(aqueous fluid) that helpsmaintain the shape of youreyeball and transportsnutrients to your eye. Thisfluid is produced by cellsbehind the coloured part ofyour eye (the iris) and is notthe same as the fluid thatforms tears.

Normally the amount of fluidproduced is balanced by theamount draining away throughspecial drainage channels. Inglaucoma, the balancebetween the production anddraining away of fluid may notbe correct. If the fluid doesn'tdrain away properly then eyepressure can build up anddamage the optic nerve. Whysome eyes don't deal with thebalance of fluid properly, isstill not clear.Who is at risk

You are at risk of developingglaucoma:as you get older it isuncommon below the age of 40but rises to around 5 in 100people over the age of 65. if you have a close relativewith glaucoma;if you are of African or African-Caribbean origin - your risk is

four times that of people ofEuropean origin and you are atrisk of developing it at anearlier age; if you are veryshort sighted; if you havediabetes.

Regular eye checks areparticularly important:at any age if you are of Africanor African-Caribbean origin, asthis means glaucoma isdetected as early as possible;once you know a close relativehas glaucoma. Be sure to alertyour optician, so he is aware ofyour increased risk.However it makes sense foreveryone to have regular eyechecks. This way any problemwith your vision or your eyescan be picked up early andtreated. You should have aneye check every 2 years if youare under 70 years old andevery 12 months if you are over

70. Anyone aged 60 or over isentitled to a free eye check.

Recognising symptoms ofchronic glaucomaGlaucoma is problematic as itis not painful and there are nosymptoms until it is reallyadvanced. Glaucoma usuallystarts by affecting your sidevision (peripheral vision). Youoften dont notice this as yourbrain can compensate for alarge amount of this part ofyour vision being affected. Considerable damage can bedone to your side vision beforeyou realise it, so it is importantto have regular eye checks thatinclude checks for glaucoma.If glaucoma isn't caught andtreated early - then it can goon to cause fairly serious'tunnel vision'. Eventually,without treatment, it will alsoaffect your central vision.

Glaucoma Facts

Page 18 Mature Living

WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHS LEONIE CORNELIUS

Meadow TheoriesLeonie Cornelius talks us through her ideas for creating a great combination of plants for your very own meadow style planting.

Living here in the North Westof Ireland we are lucky to besurrounded by amazinglandscape and inspiring planting.Often our gardens though dontreflect these surroundings much.There is a lot to be said forevergreen, low-maintenanceplanting but often the gardenfeels disjointed and out of touchwith its natural surroundings. Ifyou have an area in your gardenthat feels a little boring and likeit slightly jars with the viewsbeyond then the idea of creatinga scheme that echoes the naturallandscape a little more closely

may be a way to integratebetter. This is the perfect timeto start thinking about whatwould work well and what wouldsuit your personal space so thatyou can start planning. Once thefrost is over you can order up acombination of these plants andget going, with the aim of havinga stunning delicate display thissummer. Keep in mind, these ideas workreally well in planters too so ifyou just have a balcony or asmall back garden then you toocan have a little slice of natureright there.

Planning a scheme based on thefeel of our wildflowermeadows:Grasses: if you look closely at ourmeadow landscape you will seethat it is made up of mainlygrasses and a scattering ofwildflowers in between. Grassesgive great movement andstructure to any scheme. I loveusing grasses in my gardens andin my Bloom in the Park garden2012 I used masses of Stipatenuissima, a soft, feathery grasswhich gives the whole scheme areally ethereal feel. All plantslook great framed against thesoft fluffy seedheads of the grassalso known as the Ponytail.

Suggested grasses are: Stipatenuissima, the evergreenAnemanthele lessioniana andlower grasses such asHakonechloa macra.

Structure and leaf shape: Youwill notice on closer inspectionof our meadows that there areoften plants with structure thatgive the ground a little supportat the base. One of the plantsthat grow wild here is the nativeAlchemilla spp. A bigger versionof this which is a great plant forthe front/middle of the border isAlchemilla mollis which you willfind in any good garden centre. Iused small plants of this at thefront of my scheme for my Bloom2012 garden and they give thatcontrast in shape and structureto the soft grasses.

Suggested structural andgroundcover: Alchemilla mollis,Saxifraga urbium for evergreengroundcover and pretty summerflower spikes.

Structural colour: Flowers that

grow in a cushion like shape area wonderfully strong addition toa meadow scheme and I oftenuse Achillea in its many varietiesfor this. They range from subtlelilac tones, to whites and deepreds and look gorgeous in ameadow scheme.Suggested plants for structuralcolour: Achillea varieties, Sedumvarieties such as Matrona forfabulous late blooming colour.

Spires: Spires are a great way tobring shape into a border and Ilove the verticality that plantssuch as say for example ournative orchids bring to anoutdoor scene. A way of pickingup on the spire shape is by usingelegantly spired plants such asSalvia varieties and

Suggested spire shapes:Agastache 'Black Adder'Spots of colour: I love delicatespots of colour that float abovethe grasses and other plants. Inour natural habitats the Knautia

arvensis (Field scabious) canbring this effect. There areplenty of varieties that you canget in garden centres, in manyamazing colours.

Suggested spots of colour:Knautia macedonia, Aquilegiavarieties, Anemone hybr. 'AndreaAtkinson', Lychnis White Robin. Placing these plants, whether ina planter or out in the groundwill mean creating a randomarrangement of flowers. Plant inirregular shapes and clustertogether a few grasses to giveeffect. And one of the really funthings is that you can collectseeds from many meadowflowers and package them up asgifts, party or even uniquewedding favours. Happy planting.

Leonie Cornelius is an awardwinning TV Garden Designer,Interior Architect and Columnistcorneliusleonie@me.com twitter @leonie_Cee

Sonnagh, Charlestown, Co. Mayo Tel: 094-9254269 kathsmyth@eircom.net

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Knock Shrine has recentlyboosted its online presencewith the launch of a newwebsite. The official launch wasconducted by Gerry Glennon ofMidwest Radio on Saturday 14thMarch in Knock House Hotel andwas attended by an enthusiastic

crowd of local people, press andthe staff of Knock Shrine. TheWitness to Hope choir, directedby na Nolan, delivered a seriesof lively gospel songs whichended the event on a very posi-tive note.

Friends of Knock Shrine will be

delighted with the modern andappealing look of the website aswell as many of the new and ex-citing features that have beenintegrated into the new design.For the first time ever, pilgrimscan place a petition online, lighta candle online or purchase a

Knock Shrine Friends Associationcard.

Fr. Richard Gibbons, Rector,Knock Shrine explains the ideabehind some of these new fea-tures,

In developing the new web-site, we were very mindful of allof our visitors and friendsaround the world who may nothave the opportunity to travelto Knock and we want them tohave the ability to engage withus online. Features such asLighting a Virtual Candle orstreaming a live ceremonyallow pilgrims to become a partof our greater community offaith and provides them with anonline space for prayer and re-flection.

For every candle request wereceive online, an individualcandle is lit here at the Shrinein our outdoor candelabra. Wealso wanted to ensure that visi-tors can be kept informed of allof the exciting events and de-velopments taking placethroughout the forthcoming pil-grimage season and the newwebsite is full of informationregarding upcoming events. Pil-grims can also sign-up to ourmonthly Newsletter.

All of the wonderful and valu-able services at the Shrine havebeen given as much presence as

possible. It is our great wish thatthose making a pilgrimage toKnock will utilise all of the greatservices here such as Youth Min-istry, Prayer Guidance, GuidedTours and so on.

So far, we have had a wonder-ful response to the new website.Pilgrims seem to be engagingvery well with all of the newservices and information avail-able to them.

The new website is a small butvery important method of reach-ing out to people on an interna-tional scale. We will have ourfirst official pilgrimage fromNew York accompanied by Cardi-nal Dolan in August this year toopen the Novena ceremonies.Pilgrimage on an internationalscale is something we hope todevelop over the coming years.Our new website will be the firstpoint of contact for so manypeople who are coming fromabroad and as such, it is a cru-cial aspect of both our onlinepresence and the Witness toHope initiative, which focuseson developing pilgrimage toKnock Shrine on an internationalscale as well as renewal of KnockShrine and renewal of faith inthe country.

To view the new Knock Shrinewebsite, log on to: www.knock-shrine.ie

Excitement as Knock Shrine Unveils New Website

Knock Shrine's new Website - Mid West Radio's Gerry Glennon pictured at the launch of Knock Shrine'snew website with Knock Shrine's Marketing and Communications Manager Maria Hunt and Fr RichardGibbons Knock Shrine Rector. PIcture Henry Wills.

There was a time whengoing and staying in ahotel seemed like theimpossible but nowadays thereis some excellent value outthere for someone wanting togetaway for a couple of nightsand enjoy all that our hotelshave to offer. From eveningmeals to spa treatments tochoice is endless.In 2012, just over 7 milliontrips were taken by Irishresidents within the Republic,with an associated expenditureof 1.3 billion Sixty-five per cent of Irishresidents took a domesticholiday in 2012 up 8percentage points on 2011. Theincidence of short trips (1-3nights) rose by 5 percentagepoints at the expense of longer(4+ nights) which declined by 2percentage points.

What did they do on holiday? Activities engaged in on holidayVisiting national parks (23%)and houses/castles (22%) werethe most popular leisurepursuits for domesticholidaymakers whilehiking/walking (22%) andwater-sports1 (22%) were themost popular active pursuits.Visits to a spa (20%) areimportant aspects of adomestic holiday break while18% and 17% visitedheritage/interpretive centresand/or gardens respectively.

Were they happy with overallvalue for money?Thirty-three per cent ofholidaymakers consideredvalue for money as very goodwith 53% rating it good. Justover 1% were dissatisfied withthe value for money on offer.

Satisfaction with holidaybreakNinety-eight per cent ofdomestic holidaymakersreported being satisfied withtheir holiday in Ireland in 2012with just 2% registeringdissatisfaction. Of those whowere satisfied, 77% reportedbeing very satisfied with 21%being fairly satisfied.

Advantages/disadvantages ofholidaying in IrelandAvoiding the inconvenience ofair/sea travel (38%) is theadvantage most often cited forholidaying in Ireland. Havinglots of things to see & do (17%)and being less expensive thangoing abroad (14%) are thenext most importantadvantages given.

Page 20 Mature Living

Feature

More and more Irish people are deciding to takeshort breakaways and juding by some of the offersthat hotels have all year round it is no surprise.

Golden Years Breaks at the Four Star Clayton Hotel, Galway

Call (091) 721900Email: reservations@clayton.ieWeb: www.clayton.ieBallybrit, Co. Galway

Over 55's packages1 Night Dinner B&B Package

from 59pps

2 Nights Dinner B&B Package from 109pps

3 Nights Dinner B&B Package from 159pps

(No Single Supplement Applies)

Our packages include: Luxurious accommodation with Full Irish Breakfast each morning and dinner each evening

in the Enclosure Bar & Bistro One Full Guided Day Tour of either Connemara or the Cliffs of Moher with 3 day package Tea & Homemade Scones on one afternoon (Only applies to 3 Night Pckages) Free Parking & Complimentary News Paper Complimentary access to Leisure Centre incl. 20m pool, Sauna, Steam Room (The above are valid Sun Thu. inclusive or weekends at an additional cost)

Feature

Golden Moments at Mount Falcon - Free Night included!

MOUNT FALCON, FOXFORD ROAD, BALLINA, CO. MAYO TEL: 096-74472 FAX: 096-74473EMAIL: EVENTS@MOUNTFALCON.COM WEB: WWW.MOUNTFALCON.COM

Three nights of luxurious accommodation and dinner on one evening from our Bistro menu. Brush up on your golf with complimentary access to the driving range or spend an hour in the Elemis spa with a 25 euro credit toward a 60minute facial or massage. Relax in the 17m pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna. Visit the famous Foxford Woolen Mills where you will enjoy 10% off in their bountiful gift shop.

3 nights for the price of 2for only 199 per person sharing ! Subject to availability at time booking All packages in Mount Falcon are subject to a 5% service charge

Contact Reservations at the Falls Hotel & Spa for bookings andmore details on 065-7071004 or email reservations@fallshotel.ie www.fallshotel.ie

Ennistymon Co. Clare

Spring Bridge Breaks @ The Falls Hotel

Transport from Train Station to the Hotel included Bridge Clinics every Morning after Breakfast Organised Day Trips around county Clare Afternoon Activities in the Hotel including: Dancing, Aqua Aerobics, Flower Arranging & More! Tea, Coffee & Scone on Arrival at the Hotel A Choice Dinner Each Evening in Cascades Restaurant Followed by Bridge Evening Session Entertainment in Dylan Thomas Bar Every Night

March 22nd - 26th

260 per person

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Local Activities: Lough Key Forest Park www.loughkey.ie, Moorlands Equestrian Centre www.moorlands.ie, Electric Bike Trails www.electricbiketrails.comArigna Mining Museum www.arignaminingexperience.ie, Indoor Airsoft Shooting & Archery www.carrickindoorshooting.com

Special Midweek Offer

B&B for 2 Peopleonly 99

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2 Nights B&B and 1Dinner only 238Includes Full Use of Leisure Centre

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Mill Street, Town Centre, Westport, Co. Mayo Tel: 098-29200www.milltimeshotel.ie info@milltimeshotel.ie

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Midterm Midweek Monday 6th April

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Breakaways

Page 30 Mature Living March 2014

Retirement holds the promiseto be a much earned timeto enjoy life at a slowerpace and renew your focus on ac-tivities you enjoy that you didnthave time to do before. If yourelike many, it also holds a hope toget in better shape and lose a lit-tle weight. However, more oftenthan not, retirees actually be-come less active, and gainweight!

A study called The Effect ofRetirement on Weight followedalmost 38,000 retirees and con-cluded that retirement con-tributed to weight gain. Some ofthis weight gain was from less ac-tivity after retiring, not more even though most had moreavailable time to be active. Un-structured meal times and eatingout more often were also toblame. Researchers also found

that being overweight canshorten your life; for every 2.2pounds gained after age eight-een, womens odds of survivingpast seventy dropped 5 percent.Diseases to blame are cancer,heart disease, complications re-lated to smoking and diabetes. Itis a fact that as we get older weneed fewer calories to maintainour weight about 5% less forevery decade after 40. To main-tain weight we need at least onehour of moderate activity eachday to keep the weight fromsneaking on. And even thoughphysical decline is typically 36percent between the ages of 60and 90, if you exercise regularlyyou can cut the drop by 50 per-cent or more.

The positive news is thatweight gain and physical deterio-ration dont have to be a part of

your retirement future. Recog-nizing the potential to becomeless active and gain weight withretirement can be used to produs into action, and create a plan.Whats a retired girl to do? Fol-low these eight tips and to fightthe statistics:

Walk and talk. If you are amultitasker extraordinaire likeme, walking can be a great op-portunity to catch up with friendsor listen to a sermon on the ipod.It can also be a great time topray. Wear a pedometer if youwant to see how many stepsyouve taken and miles youvewalked its a great motivator!Aim for 10,000 steps a day tokeep off the pounds. Start slowlyand work your way up, if youhavent been active recently.

Walking videos work! There aremany videos available, but Leslie

Sansone has great free videosranging from 15 minutes to 50minutes on You Tube. They areworth watching sometime Getout of the chair regularly. Stand-ing for at least 10 minutes everyhour, whether youre watchingtelevision or on the computer,will keep your metabolism burn-ing, and is better for your back,too. Eat the good stuff. Makeyour food choices mainly fruitsand vegetables, whole grains,and lean proteins. Stay awayfrom junk food, and order wiselywhen eating out. Eat earlier. Ifyou can eat before 7pm, all thebetter for your body to digest thefood before you go to bed.

Eat less calories. Click here tocalculate how many calories youneed to maintain or lose weight.To watch your portion sizes, tryeating off of an eight inch plate,

and forgo seconds.Find someone to hold you ac-

countable. With a support buddyyoure less likely to slip up ormiss a workout. Find an activitythat you like. Try new things,keep your mind open. Create anarsenal of ideas handy to turn towhen youre not sure what kindof exercise to do.

Although retirement is a timeto enjoy some free time, dontlose site on how important it is totake care of your spiritual andphysical self. It takes effort tomake a plan, then follow it, butits much easier to preventweight gain and physical ailmentsthan to lose weight and treathealth conditions. Use retire-ment as a time for you to focuson your health. Making a com-mitment every day will be wellworth it!

Give Yourself the Gift of Active Retirement

Visitor Attractions

From horses to horticulture weoffer a unique experience that canbe enjoyed at your leisure or aspart of a guided tour.

Come to the Stud and share with usone of Irelands true treasures.

World Famous Japanese Gardens St. Fiachras Garden Horse Museum Lots of newborn foals to see New playground Enjoy our homebaking and locally sourced foods

in the restaurant Meet our Living Legends; Beef or Salmon,

Kicking King, Moscow Flyer, Rite of Passage & Hardy Eustace.

Location: South of Dublin & the M50, off the M7,Exit 13 onto the R415

Open 7 days a week 9.30am - 5pm For further information contact:

reservations@instourism.net or Tel: 00 353 45 521617

Produce this Advertisement and receive a 2 forthe price of 1 Admission.

Ballintubber Abbey1216 AD - 2016 AD

Ballintubber Abbey stands one mile off the main Castlebar - GalwayN84 road, seven miles from Castlebar, nine miles from Ballinrobe and

thirty nine miles from Galway City

Telephone: 094-9030934www.ballintubberabbey.ie info@ballintubberabbey.ie

Among the medieval religious foundations whose ruins dot the Irish countryside, the Abbey isunique. Founded in 1216 by Cathal Crovderg OConnor, King of Connaught and celebrating its

Octocentenary (800 years) in 2016.

This remarkable Abbey is the only church in Ireland where, for almost 800 years, Mass hasbeen offered without a break.

Experience for yourself the story of the Abbey that refused to die. Our video and guideswill take you through the stories of Cromwellian burnings, suppression and the notorious priest

hunter, Sen na Sagart.

Celtic Furrow: Every age and interest group are catered for in the Celtic Furrow- that traces theorigins of our festivals, our customs, our piseogs and our beliefs. The Celtic Furrow through

models and paintings, garden and labyrinths, farmyards, subterrans and live exhibits, willfascinate you.

Tochar Phdraig: Walk a few kilometres of Tochar Phdraig - the path from Ballintubber Abbeyto Croagh Patrick where Pilgrims have walked in the footsteps of St Patrick this past 1500 years.

Visitor Attractions

'THE story of Knock began in August 1879,when fifteen people from Knock villagewitnessed an Apparition at the gable wallof the Parish Church. Giving theirtestimonies, the witnesses describe aheavenly vision, consisting of Our Lady,St. Joseph, St. John the Evangelist, alamb and cross surrounded by angels. TheKnock Apparition was a silent one andeach of us can find its meaning forourselves.

Many Miraculous cures have beenreported in Knock since the time of theApparition and many people still cometoday in search of healing, reconciliationand peace. St. John Paul II visited Knock

in 1979 to celebrate the centenary of theApparition. Today, Knock Shrine in set inbeautiful landscaped garden where thereare daily scheduled ceremonies, includingmasses and confessions.

The staff at Knock Shrine would bedelighted to assist pilgrimage organisersand promoters in a arranging and planningtheir pilgrimages. New groups are alwayswelcome and will be given full assistancein putting their plans together.

Contact the Shrine Office for furtherinformation or shop onlinewww.knockshrine.ie Tel: (094) 93 88100 or Email: info@knock-shrine.ie'

European Capital of Culture, alongsideLiverpool, but for the intrepid visitor itmeans you can enjoy the city without thecrowds.

While Liverpool has the Fab Four,Stavanger has a fab fjord. Base-jumpers andparagliders head for a 1,000m sheer dropnearby the city, while Pulpit Rock is thesafest place for more sedate visitors toenjoy the dramatic views.

Stavanger itself has the oldest cathedralin Norway, the Anglo-Norman and Gothic StSwithins, surrounded by 200-year-oldwooden buildings.

Tirana, Albania

Welcome to Europes most anarchic city.In two decades, the population of Albaniascapital has swelled more than fourfold, to800,000 residents (at last count) as theimpoverished rural population migrates enmasse.

In the past few years, in an attempt tocheer up the populace, the concrete high-rises have been painted in all the colours ofthe rainbow so the cityscape looks like anout-of-control version of the island ofBalamory from the BBC children's TV series.

But Tiranas most splendid sights have tobe the mosque and huge mosaic inSkanderberg Square. They are perhaps theonly constants within this city in full flux.

Tiraspol, MoldovaIn the capital of the unrecognised

breakaway republic of Pridnestrovie, alsoknown as Transnistria a narrow, 250-mile-long strip between the Dniester river inMoldova and the Ukrainian border lookscan deceive. The city appears stuck in animmaculate Soviet time warp, with statuesof Lenin and red stars galore yet thegovernment is firmly anti-Communist.

The slim official tourist guide boastsabout how green Tiraspol is andrecommends a "tree garden" in the centreand, 10km out, the Butylka wine and cognacmuseum in "the worlds largest bottle-shaped building", at 28m high.

Tiraspol is worth a look not for anygrandeur or beauty unless you find ultra-functionalist concrete complexes alluring but for the curiously kitsch thrill of beinginside this living USSR museum, completewith a tank parked in the centre.

Tours, FranceThis hub of the Loire Valley is ideal for

French-language students, as locals are saidto speak the purest, most eloquent andunaccented French in the world.

But even if you only parlez Franglais,Tours is worthy of a tour, particularly as itsless than an hours flying time from LondonStansted.

The best way to get around this cityknown as le jardin de la France is on twowheels. Pedal through the narrow streets tosee the half-timbered restored rustic housesin the old quarter, marvel at the cathedralin "flamboyant Gothic" style and followriverside cycle tracks to some of the 300lavish royal chateaux situated along theLoire and Cher, which both flow throughTours. The restaurants in medieval PlacePlumereau serve Touraine wines withrillettes, rillons and controversial foie gras.

Uglich, RussiaSeemingly untouched by the ravages of

Russian history, the mellow Volga city ofUglich, 130 miles downstream from Moscow,is most famous for being the site of themysterious unsolved murder of Ivan theTerribles young son. The crimson Church ofSt Dmitri on the Blood ensures no one willforget the gory events of 1591.

The city's traders are prepared for cruiseday-trippers, with souvenir stalls set up

close to the ships and brass bands playing onthe quay, but Uglich deserves a morelingering look to soak up its richarchitectural relics.

Be sure to visit the triple-towerMarvellous Assumption church and themedieval Alekseevsky monastery or simplyget wedged in at the Vodka Museum, wheresamples are included in the admission price.

Wroclaw, Poland

Polands answer to Venice (pronounced if you can vrotswahf) perches on anarchipelago on the River Oder in LowerSilesia.

Now a buzzing student centre, the city of100-plus bridges rose like a phoenix from itsbombed-out shell to become a post-warcosmopolitan and cultural hotpot, thanks toits assimilation of high-cultured Poles fromLwow (Lviv, in Ukrainian) when that city wastransferred from Poland to Ukraine in 1945.

The pride of Wroclaw is the Raclawicepanorama, a 140m-long canvas depicting a1794 battle in which the Poles beat theRussian Hussars.

Travel

Page 28 Mature Living Page 29 Mature Living

There are still plenty of Europeantreasures that the cold war left out ofbounds for decades or that the happy-snappy hordes have for other reasons leftalone. These under-the-radar destinationsare, what's more, typically cheap. Thelowest-cost flights are often to the leastfrequented airports, and you'll find cityprices there arent inflated for tourists allthe more reason to visit in these creditcrunch times. You heard about them herefirst: get the first taste of 10 unsungEuropean beauties.

Birmingham, EnglandStatistics show overseas tourists are

flocking to Birmingham, yet many Brits stillturn their noses up at the city. Perhaps theypicture this one-time workshop of the worldas still full of dark satanic mills andoverflowing with polluted canals.

Avoid Britain's second largest city,however, and you're missing out on a rough-and-ready treasure on your doorstep. In theheart of Brum your nose might lead you notto factories belching smoke but to the so-called Balti triangle an array ofinexpensive eating houses serving famouslydelicious curry recipes invented byBirmingham Pakistanis.

Grand old buildings and cutting-edgearchitecture vie for your attention in thecity centres spacious squares. Themirrorball-shaped Selfridge colossus in theBullring shopping centre, a former brutalistconcrete blot, is worth the trip alone.

Klagenfurt, Austria

Surely Alpine towns have been fullytapped for tourism? Not so. Klagenfurt, thecapital of the Austrian state of Carinthia,may have been overshadowed by Salzburgand Vienna but it lays plausible claim tobeing the countrys most scenic city.

For what Klagenfurt lacks in Viennese-style architectural splendour (although itdoes boast grand Italian Renaissancebuildings) the southern city makes up for inits setting. It sits beside the warm turquoisewater of Wrthersee lake, with theKarawanken mountains bordering Italy andSlovenia looming behind it.

The city is also surrounded by 24 fairytalemedieval castles. Dont leave without tryingthe local barley broth or cheesy pastriescalled kasnudle.

Maastricht, HollandLimburg province is quite different from

the rest of the Netherlands: for a start, itshilly. The tongue-shaped peninsular in thesouth of the country is flanked by Belgiumand Germany but has its own distinct(Catholic) flavour.

In contrast with some of the other citieshere, many people will have heard ofLimburg's capital, Maastricht, but forreasons that are likely to provoke a yawn.Far more compelling than its associationwith the EU treaty, however, are the city'smedieval ramparts, Notre Dame-like twin-towered cathedral, jazz and blues bars anda convivial caf atmosphere bolstered byuniversity students.

Arguably the most fascinating sight is thechalk labyrinth inside Sint Pietersberg hill.The former marlstone works are where thefirst dinosaur fossils were identified, in the18th century. The walls are studded withthe remains of prehistoric sea creatures andbranch off with shelters used during thesecond world war and by refugees from theFrench revolution.

Plovdiv, BulgariaThis less famous city of seven hills was

humming before Rome and Constantinople

were twinkles in the gods eyes. Bulgariassecond city, founded by the Thracians fivemillennia ago, has hung on to its ancienttreasures as well Soviet vandalism didntdestroy its 200 historic sights.

Jostling for attention with the Romanstadium and amphitheatres is the old townwith its local Baroque-style architecture,lavishly decorative on the outside andinside.

The atmospheric city is oppressively hotin summer and covered in snow mostwinters; autumn is the mellow season. Anyof the hills are good for sunset views; theold town, which covers three hills, is full ofart galleries and painters stalls.

Charter flights have recently becomeavailable from most UK airports, a signPlovdiv could be the next big destination.

Stavanger, NorwaySince a ferry from Newcastle stopped

running to Stavanger in September 2008,Brits have had a harder time getting to thispicturesque Norwegian port city (althoughthere are flights from Heathrow). Thewithdrawal of the service was a bit of ablow for Stavanger during its tenure as

If you prefer not to feel part of the herd, shepherded from tacky souvenir shop to jam-packed monument inParis or Rome, its time to try a European city you may not have heard of but will be glad to discover.

Birmingham, England

Maastricht, Holland

Plovdiv, Bulgaria

Stavanger, Norway

Tours, France

European Capital of Culture, alongsideLiverpool, but for the intrepid visitor itmeans you can enjoy the city without thecrowds.

While Liverpool has the Fab Four,Stavanger has a fab fjord. Base-jumpers andparagliders head for a 1,000m sheer dropnearby the city, while Pulpit Rock is thesafest place for more sedate visitors toenjoy the dramatic views.

Stavanger itself has the oldest cathedralin Norway, the Anglo-Norman and Gothic StSwithins, surrounded by 200-year-oldwooden buildings.

Tirana, Albania

Welcome to Europes most anarchic city.In two decades, the population of Albaniascapital has swelled more than fourfold, to800,000 residents (at last count) as theimpoverished rural population migrates enmasse.

In the past few years, in an attempt tocheer up the populace, the concrete high-rises have been painted in all the colours ofthe rainbow so the cityscape looks like anout-of-control version of the island ofBalamory from the BBC children's TV series.

But Tiranas most splendid sights have tobe the mosque and huge mosaic inSkanderberg Square. They are perhaps theonly constants within this city in full flux.

Tiraspol, MoldovaIn the capital of the unrecognised

breakaway republic of Pridnestrovie, alsoknown as Transnistria a narrow, 250-mile-long strip between the Dniester river inMoldova and the Ukrainian border lookscan deceive. The city appears stuck in animmaculate Soviet time warp, with statuesof Lenin and red stars galore yet thegovernment is firmly anti-Communist.

The slim official tourist guide boastsabout how green Tiraspol is andrecommends a "tree garden" in the centreand, 10km out, the Butylka wine and cognacmuseum in "the worlds largest bottle-shaped building", at 28m high.

Tiraspol is worth a look not for anygrandeur or beauty unless you find ultra-functionalist concrete complexes alluring but for the curiously kitsch thrill of beinginside this living USSR museum, completewith a tank parked in the centre.

Tours, FranceThis hub of the Loire Valley is ideal for

French-language students, as locals are saidto speak the purest, most eloquent andunaccented French in the world.

But even if you only parlez Franglais,Tours is worthy of a tour, particularly as itsless than an hours flying time from LondonStansted.

The best way to get around this cityknown as le jardin de la France is on twowheels. Pedal through the narrow streets tosee the half-timbered restored rustic housesin the old quarter, marvel at the cathedralin "flamboyant Gothic" style and followriverside cycle tracks to some of the 300lavish royal chateaux situated along theLoire and Cher, which both flow throughTours. The restaurants in medieval PlacePlumereau serve Touraine wines withrillettes, rillons and controversial foie gras.

Uglich, RussiaSeemingly untouched by the ravages of

Russian history, the mellow Volga city ofUglich, 130 miles downstream from Moscow,is most famous for being the site of themysterious unsolved murder of Ivan theTerribles young son. The crimson Church ofSt Dmitri on the Blood ensures no one willforget the gory events of 1591.

The city's traders are prepared for cruiseday-trippers, with souvenir stalls set up

close to the ships and brass bands playing onthe quay, but Uglich deserves a morelingering look to soak up its richarchitectural relics.

Be sure to visit the triple-towerMarvellous Assumption church and themedieval Alekseevsky monastery or simplyget wedged in at the Vodka Museum, wheresamples are included in the admission price.

Wroclaw, Poland

Polands answer to Venice (pronounced if you can vrotswahf) perches on anarchipelago on the River Oder in LowerSilesia.

Now a buzzing student centre, the city of100-plus bridges rose like a phoenix from itsbombed-out shell to become a post-warcosmopolitan and cultural hotpot, thanks toits assimilation of high-cultured Poles fromLwow (Lviv, in Ukrainian) when that city wastransferred from Poland to Ukraine in 1945.

The pride of Wroclaw is the Raclawicepanorama, a 140m-long canvas depicting a1794 battle in which the Poles beat theRussian Hussars.

Travel

Page 28 Mature Living Page 29 Mature Living

There are still plenty of Europeantreasures that the cold war left out ofbounds for decades or that the happy-snappy hordes have for other reasons leftalone. These under-the-radar destinationsare, what's more, typically cheap. Thelowest-cost flights are often to the leastfrequented airports, and you'll find cityprices there arent inflated for tourists allthe more reason to visit in these creditcrunch times. You heard about them herefirst: get the first taste of 10 unsungEuropean beauties.

Birmingham, EnglandStatistics show overseas tourists are

flocking to Birmingham, yet many Brits stillturn their noses up at the city. Perhaps theypicture this one-time workshop of the worldas still full of dark satanic mills andoverflowing with polluted canals.

Avoid Britain's second largest city,however, and you're missing out on a rough-and-ready treasure on your doorstep. In theheart of Brum your nose might lead you notto factories belching smoke but to the so-called Balti triangle an array ofinexpensive eating houses serving famouslydelicious curry recipes invented byBirmingham Pakistanis.

Grand old buildings and cutting-edgearchitecture vie for your attention in thecity centres spacious squares. Themirrorball-shaped Selfridge colossus in theBullring shopping centre, a former brutalistconcrete blot, is worth the trip alone.

Klagenfurt, Austria

Surely Alpine towns have been fullytapped for tourism? Not so. Klagenfurt, thecapital of the Austrian state of Carinthia,may have been overshadowed by Salzburgand Vienna but it lays plausible claim tobeing the countrys most scenic city.

For what Klagenfurt lacks in Viennese-style architectural splendour (although itdoes boast grand Italian Renaissancebuildings) the southern city makes up for inits setting. It sits beside the warm turquoisewater of Wrthersee lake, with theKarawanken mountains bordering Italy andSlovenia looming behind it.

The city is also surrounded by 24 fairytalemedieval castles. Dont leave without tryingthe local barley broth or cheesy pastriescalled kasnudle.

Maastricht, HollandLimburg province is quite different from

the rest of the Netherlands: for a start, itshilly. The tongue-shaped peninsular in thesouth of the country is flanked by Belgiumand Germany but has its own distinct(Catholic) flavour.

In contrast with some of the other citieshere, many people will have heard ofLimburg's capital, Maastricht, but forreasons that are likely to provoke a yawn.Far more compelling than its associationwith