mature living magazine

PROMOTING A HEALTHY & POSITIVE LIFESTYLE

August 2014

FOR THE OLDER, BOLDER INDIVIDUAL IN LEINSTER

Colour and theGarden

The Gift of ActiveRetirement

Ease your pain at the pump

New rules fordating over 50

Win a 2 Night Break for 2 peopleWin a 2 Night Break for 2 people

Faith, Family and Herbs

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NewsOne to One with SeanBoylanStretch, strength, balance– the power of pilatesColour and the Garden80 Ways to Feel Youngand stay SharpThe Bands of ourShowband era Five reasons most diets failGive Yourself the Gift ofActive RetirementOlder Celebrity BridesHow to pick the BestBathing suitBreakawaysThe New Rules for DatingAfter 50From Empty Nest to FullHouse: Preparing forEldercareTravel: Fancy headingdown under?Discover fun and excitinghobbiesCompetitionA Taste of SpainAngelscopesTechnologyMotoringServices Directory

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IT’S August already but the warm weather,thankfully, remains with us. For those ofus who are active and enjoy travelling in

Ireland, there is a plethora of Summerfestivals and musical events around thecountry and if you choose to go West (or livein the West for that matter) the much-signposted Wild Atlantic Way provides acoastline map for any tourist/visitor toexperience the beauty of our western

coastline and soak up the social hospitality along the way.If you are in the West this week a visit to Sligo is a must to

experience the All-Ireland Fleadh. The local community have leftno stone unturned to provide visitors from all parts with a weekto remember. With Sligo’s cultural and musical tradition, inaddition to the county’s natural beauty, it is certainly the placeto be this week.

Our one-and-one personality this week, Sean Boylan, thelegendary former Meath GAA football manager and herbalist, alsospeaks in praise of the west of Ireland, particularly Achill Island,which he visited for many years when his children attended ScoilAcla. Sean, now 70, fully fit and in fine health, speaks to GerryWalsh about his sporting, business and family life and thepositives of having a strong simple faith to bolster him throughgood times and bad. Married at 47 and father of six, his attitudeto life and love makes for interesting reading.

In this issue, also we offer some practical advice on how toenjoy and active retirement and if you are into dieting to loseweight or achieve better health we point out some of the reasonswhy many diets don’t work . . . though in reality, we it may bedown to simple indiscipline. There may be a misconception thatolder people are not attuned to computing technology; however,more are more seniors are embracing online opportunities andgadgetry to enhance their lives. Online dating allows lonelypeople chat with potential companions from the comfort of theirhomes; there is also the facility for online shopping and thebenefits of social media and audio books. Read about the manyinnovations on page 45. We also deal with the many benefits ofhypnotherapy. In our holiday section this issue we move downunder and explore the many wonders of Australia, where manyIrish people have travelled in recent years seeking employmentopportunities and many of their relatives are combining socialvisits with opportunities to experience the sights of the vastcontinent. We present some culinary ideas from Spain and evenprovide advice on selecting your bathing suit.. We include theusual array of features and competitions in your August editionand look forward to introducing another feast of articles in ourSeptember issue. Look out for details, also, on our next MatureLiving Expo coming your way.

In the meantime, enjoy the rest of the Summer.

www.matureliving.ie

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Seamus Casey - Editor

August 2014

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Editorial: Seamus [email protected]: Stephen [email protected] Sales: Lisa [email protected]

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.Cover Photo: Tina and Sean Boylan on the way to the game. GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final, Dublin v Kerry, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit: Ray McManus / SPORTSFILE

Published by: Benbulben Publishing LimitedPO Box 41, Enniscorthy, Co. WexfordPrinted by Datascope Ltd, Enniscorthy • Tel: 053-9234493

Tel/Fax: 053-9270857Web: www.matureliving.ie • Email: [email protected]

LAST MONTH’S COMPETITION WINNERSCongratulations to last months competition winner Sean Kehoe,Balthinglass, Co Wicklow who won the breakaway to the ForsterCourt Hotel Galway.

News

Mature Living August 2014

PREMIER INTRODUCTORY SERVICE

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Trying to find that someone special, particularly as we get a bitolder can be a daunting experience. The unknown of on-linedating and some of the more traditional methods aren't for

everyone. We established Unclaimed Treasures to specificallycater for the needs of the over 40s to active retired in Ireland

Here at Unclaimed Treasures we want to bring the excitementof meeting new people back to our members.

Age Action has wounddown its Hands OffOur Travel Passes

campaignafter the Governmentpublicly committed to the“full retention” of thetravel pass scheme.The campaign waslaunched on June 25 amidconcerns that a majorreview of the scheme,commissioned by theDepartment of SocialProtection, was due toreport in the comingweeks. Among the issuesbeing considered were theintroduction of an annualcharge for the pass,limiting the times at whichit could be used andrestricting the forms oftransport on which it couldbe used. “Given theimportance of the travelpass to so many olderpeople, we launched thecampaign to oppose anynegative changes to thescheme, and to highlighthow older people usedtheir passes. We wanted toensure our policy makersfully understood how thepass enabled people to doa whole range ofactivities,” Age Actionspokesperson EamonTimmins said.Over 500 Age Actionmembers completed aquestionnaire earlier thisyear. Without their passesthey said:

• 57% would not be able toattend medical/healthappointments;• 55% would not be able todo their shopping;• 43% would be unable to

carry out personaljourneys, such as trips tothe post office or library; • 61% could not visitfamily or friends.Apart from using the passfor essential regularjourneys, the travelscheme is also used byolder people to go on shortholidays or breaks and istherefore also animportant support for thedomestic tourism industry.As part of the campaign,older people and theirfamilies were urged tocontact their TDs, senatorsand councillors to securetheir support against anycuts to the scheme.

The campaign got off toa lively start, withmembers taking part in aphotocall on board a DublinBus vehicle. Members alsocontributed to the press

conference to launch thecampaign, which generatednational radio, televisionand newspaper coverage.

Age Action raised theissue directly with theMinister for SocialProtection, Joan Burton, atthe pre-Budget forum.Members contacted theirlocal politicians andengaged with them onsocial media. The issue wasalso debated over two daysin the Dail, as a result of aprivate member’s motiontabled by Fianna Fail SocialProtection spokesmanWillie O’Dea.

By the time thecampaign was wound downon July signed our onlinepetition to support thecampaign. Among thesewere 19 TDs, six senators,one MEP and 27councillors.

The decision to end thecampaign was taken afterthe Government includedthe commitment to the“full retention” of thetravel pass scheme in itsstatement of priorities for2014-16, published on July11.

“We are satisfied thatthis commitment meansthat, regardless of whatelse the reviewrecommends when itfinally reports to MinisterBurton, the travel passscheme will not benegatively affected in anyway,” Mr Timmins said.

“We are grateful to allpoliticians who helpedsecure this commitment,both those who publiclybacked the campaign aswell as those who workedbehind the scenes toresolve this issue,” he said.

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The average health insurancepremium paid out by sub-scribers last year was €1,150,

according to the Health InsuranceAuthority (HIA).This represented a 10% increase onthe average premium paid out in2012, according to the HIA's latestannual report. The HIA says the av-erage amount in claims paid per in-sured person fell by 2% in 2013,reversing the trend of the past 10years, when the average claims perinsured person had been increasinglysignificantly. In the four years be-tween 2004 and 2008, the averageprescribed benefit paid per insuredperson increased by 6.7% per annumon average, and by 12.6% on averagebetween 2008 and 2012.

The number of treatment days in

hospital covered by health insurancefell by around 3% in 2013, accordingto the HIA.

The Authority says the fall inclaims per insured person in 2013 isa favourable development for thesustainability of the health insurancemarket, especially when consideredin the context of drivers of of up-ward health costs.

These include lower tolerance ofpeople towards ill-health, new med-ical and surgical developments andthe ageing population, the HIA says.

It says the VHI currently has 54%of the health insurance marketshare, compared to 95% in the mid-1990s. prior to competition.

Laya Healthcare now has a 23%market share, Aviva Health has 15%of the market, while GloHealth has a

4% share. The health insurance mar-ket is the largest non-life insurancesector in Ireland, according to theHIA. Premium income in 2013 was€2.4 billion, having risen from €2.2billion in 2012.

Forty five per cent of the popula-tion were covered by health insur-ance at the end of last year,compared to 50.9% at the end of2008.

The Authority says while the num-ber of different health insuranceproducts continues to grow, in themain, these new products are simi-lar to those that already exist.

It says a significant recent devel-opment has been that during 2013,insurers started selling health insur-ance products that do not cover allpublic hospitals.

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Average health insurance bill now €1,150

Bus pass scheme preservedafter Age Action campaign

Age Action members (from left) Phyllis Talbot, Noel Nutley, Pat Doyle and EllenReddin at the launch of the “Hands Off Our Travel Passses” campaign.Photo: Conor Healy


News

The so-called "nominal" prescriptioncharge for medical card holders hasbecome a lucrative earner for thehealth service and will generate€120m this year.

The charge - which is now €2.50per item, compared to 50c when itstarted in 2011 - was brought in onthe pretext of cutting down oncard holders getting needlessprescriptions.It means that medical cardholders, who shelled out around

€27.6m in the first year it wasintroduced by the lastgovernment, have seen a big risein payouts.Pharmacists have warned that it isleading to some medical cardholders rationing medicinesbecause they cannot afford themaximum of €25 a month.It comes as Health Minister LeoVaradkar has indicated that he islooking at introducing a nominalcharge for "free" GP visits when

they are extended to non means-testing groups after theunder-sixes and over-70s.

The GP fee is seen a method ofdeterring people from abusing freecare - but past experience withthe prescription charge has shownhow this kind of levy can be hiked.

Around €43m of the income fromthe charge this year is hived out tohelp offset the savings of €619mwhich must be made up by theHealth Service Executive (HSE).

Unpopular prescription charge is a healthy €120m HSE earner

By Patricia Conboy

You are aged 82,living alone and yourmobility is limited.

Out of the blue, yousuffer a stroke.

You wake up inhospital. You are unableto move, your speech isimpaired and your mind isclouded. These are

chilling circumstances. What is going to happen toyou?

The hope is that you will receive the care andrehabilitation you need to maximise your chancesof recovery. However, if you do not, who will tellyour story and seek redress on your behalf ? If yourfamily are caring and present, the likelihood is thatthey will advocate for you. If, on the other hand,you are already isolated and you do not havefamily, your situation is more precarious.

Recently, Ireland’s Ombudsman, Peter Tyndallmade a speech to his European counterparts on thetheme “Listening to the Voiceless”. He highlightedthe need for proactive outreach by Ombudsmen togroups who find it difficult to access their services.Target groups identified by the Ombudsmanincluded people with disabilities and those whohave difficulty expressing themselves due to illnessor medical condition. This is an important message.

Even as I agreed with the message, I foundmyself wondering how to make it practical forpeople such as the 82 year old stroke patientabove. What is the best way to safeguard theinterests of people in hospitals who haveexperienced rapid onset of disability accompaniedby loss of capacity to self-advocate and,ultimately, to seek redress – should this bewarranted.

When family are present and caring, theyadvocate on behalf of their relatives. PraveeenHalappanavar, for example, advocated on behalf ofhis wife, Savita, following her death in a Galwayhospital in 2012. Thanks to his persistence, wethe citizens learned about the circumstances ofSavita Halappanavar’s death. Left to their owndevices, our intertwined political and healthsystems would not have yielded this information tothe public.

There are patients in hospital today with newlyacquired disability who are ‘old old’, isolated and,literally, voiceless following stroke or other healthevent. Within the system as it functions now, wecannot be confident that their interests will besafeguarded. Widespread deficiencies in strokecare, for example, have already been documentedin a national audit published by the Irish HeartFoundation in 2008.

Beyond the anecdotal, we know very little aboutthe direct experience of isolated, voicelesspatients within the health system. This is a processthat could be assisted by the Ombudsman’s focuson strategic engagement with hard to reachgroups; and his current investigation of theexperience of making complaints in publichospitals. I hope so. Anyone of us may end upvoiceless and immobile in a hospital bed followinga major health event. In the face of that degree ofdis-empowerment, the knowledge that patientslike us are named, visible and tracked within thehealth system would offer some level of comfortand protection. As of now, we would be at risk ofinvisibility.

Twitter : @PatriciaConboy1https://www.facebook.com/AgePolicyAnalysis

Voiceless in hospital followinga stroke

Diabetes foot problem signals heart issues

The loss of sensation thatpeople with diabetessometimes experience in their

feet may predict their risk ofsuffering a cardiovascular eventsuch as a stroke or heart attack, anew study suggests.

Diabetes can cause blood vesseland nerve damage, particularly ifthe condition is poorly controlled.This can lead to poor circulationand a loss of sensation in the feet,which is known as peripheralneuropathy.

UK researchers looked at over13,000 people with type 2 diabetesand found that a lack of sensation inthe feet could indicate futurecardiovascular problems.

"While the risk of cardiovascular

disease is known to be higher inpatients with diabetes, predictingwhich patients may be at greatestrisk is often difficult. We looked atdata on individuals with no historyof cardiovascular disease and foundthat those with peripheralneuropathy were more likely todevelop cardiovascular disease," theresearchers from St George's,University of London, said.

They noted that while poorsensation in the feet is already aknown risk factor for foot ulcers,which in extreme circumstances canlead to amputations, ‘this is thefirst study to show that it can alsoindicate an increased risk ofcardiovascular problems like heartattacks or strokes'.

However, the researchersemphasised that a lack of sensationin the feet can be easily identifiedby a GP.

"The good news is that peripheralneuropathy can be easily identifiedby simple tests carried out in GPsurgeries. The results of the studywarrant further investigation as towhether even greater control of riskfactors including blood pressure andblood sugar can prevent or delaythe onset of cardiovascular disease.

"There is likely an unmetpotential to reduce cardiovasculardisease in this group of patientsthrough greater monitoring andsimple treatments," they added.

Details of these findings arepublished in the journal, Heart.

Age Action is teamingup with Irish GuideDogs in a unique char-

ity partnership this Octoberto organise hundreds offundrais- ing tea partiesacross Ireland.

The Guess Who’s Comingto Tea event is a fund-raiser with a twist, in that anumber of celebrities aresupporting us.

Our supporters andfriends will be asked toorganise a fundraising teaparty. Party organisers canthen vote for the celebrityof their choice and be within a chance of thatcelebrity dropping in totheir event for a cuppa!

“We are really excited tobe linking up with Irish

Guide Dogs to organise

the Guess Who’s Coming toTea event,” Age Action’sDaragh Matthews said. “Ourtarget is to organise 500 teaparties in homes andworkplaces across Ireland tohelp the two charities raise€100,000. “But if the eventis to be successful, we willneed the help of all ourmembers and friendsaround the country,” he

said. “We are urging all ourmembers to organise a teaparty in their communityand to encourage familymembers to do likewise intheir localities and in theirworkplaces.” The teaparties will be held as partof Positive Ageing Week,which begins on October 1(UN International Day ofthe Older Person) andOctober

9 (World Sight Day). It ishoped that the Guess Who’sComing to Tea event willraise public awareness ofblindness and vision impair-ment as a major nationalpublic health issue.

Details of the celebri-ties who are supporting thetea parties will be unveiledlater this month when thecampaign is launched. AgeAction and Irish Guide Dogswill be launching a websiteguesswhoscomingtotea.ie.Supporters will be able toregister their tea party,vote for their celebrityguest and get their partypacks to help themcelebrate the day.

More details of the eventsand where they arehappening will be in theSeptember edition ofAgeing Matters.

Launching the Guess Who’s Coming to Tea event were (from left) Julie Oates, GeraldKean and Robin Webster.

Celebs to help tea party fundraiser

News


All of us have abiding memories of our schooldays. It can be an event, an achievement or,in my case, a phrase. The phrase that has

long lived in my memory came from my physicsteacher – an astute and measured individual - whoregularly declared “that for every action there isan equal and opposite reaction”.Those words of wisdom are particularly apt in thecontext of the European Central Banks decision tocut their lending rates on Tracker Mortgages. It’snatural that those who have these mortgages

rejoice at seeing monthly instalments decrease but as my formerphysics teacher pointed out there is an equal and opposite reaction.The reaction in this instance is the fall in rates currently being offeredby the banks. If you have money on deposit the fact is that savingrates have more than halved from a high of over 5% AER two years ago.The knock on effect is that banks here are trying to shore up theirbalance sheets and so the ECB rate cuts has a negative reaction ondeposit rates.

DIRT Rate Increase With decreased interest rates the Government in their wisdom havedecided to increase DIRT to a punitive 41% or even 45% for some peoplewho have unearned income from rent, deposits and dividends of over€3174 each year. Subsequently, up to half of the miniscule interest youreceive from the banks is taken in tax - bearing in mind that thismoney (in most cases) has already been taxed as income tax!

DIRT free deposits accounts for those aged 65 and overThese accounts allow you to receive any interest earned on money ondeposit, paid to you without the deduction of DIRT, where you satisfycertain conditions:• Are aged 65 or over? • If married or in a civil partnership the total annual income for youand your spouse/partner will be below the relevant annual exemptionlimit.• Exemption limit for a single person is €18,000p.a. and formarried/civil partnership is €36,000p.a.

So what are the best options out there for savers who don’t want totake any risk?Currently the best fixed term annual deposit rates on offer arebetween 2% and 2.25%. Depending on how long you want to tie upyour money for PTSB offer 2.25% AER (annual equivalent rate whichshould always be used when comparing different rates.) They offer thisrate over 16, 18 and 24 month periods and I believe it’s a rate thatwon’t be around for long so well worth looking into if if you are DIRTexempt.

What about An Post DIRT Free Accounts?An Post is traditionally the home of the saver who wants their moneysafe and exempt from DIRT but they too has been forced to reducedtheir rates. They do become an attractive home for your money ifyou’re looking to investment over a medium to long term of between 4to 10 years but short term you’re better looking to the bank rate of2.25% AER if you are DIRT exempt.For those who are willing to take a risk with their money there aresome very good protected equity funds in the markets place that wouldprotect 70%, 80% or even 90% of the highest point your investmentreaches. At the same time these funds allow you a certain ‘safetyblanket’ if markets turn but I would recommend you speak to aQualified Financial Advisor in relation to your options here beforemaking any decisions.Finally, be aware that banks are now starting to offer Tracker Bondproducts that guarantee your capital and allow you access to themarkets. The reality here is that this ties your money up for 5 years(or more) and in most cases you don’t make any money - you just getyour original capital back! You should make a point of fullyfamiliarising yourself with the terms and conditions of tying yourmoney up for a short term period. Remember, if you need access to it,the bank will penalise you – so read the small print.

For every action there is an equal and opposite reactionWe live in strange economic times and one man’s meat is anotherman’s poison. When I hear good news in the media I immediately thinkof my old physics teacher and wonder what is the equal and oppositereaction to this good news story?

Mark Gilmore QFA BBS [email protected]

Mark Gilmore T/A Money Tree Financial Services is a Qualified FinancialAdviser who is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Where to now for savers?

The eight SimonCommunities of Irelandhighlighted the issue of

rural homelessness at the launchof a review paper on the subjectin The Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon on Fri 18th July. MarianHarkin, MEP launched the paper,‘Left Out in the Cold – A Reviewof Rural Homelessness inIreland’.

The panel on the day includedMairead Lavery, Editor of IrishCountry Living Magazine in theFarmers Journal, Niamh Randall,Head of Policy &Communications with the SimonCommunities of Ireland, JamesClaffey, Policy &Communications Officer withIrish Rural Link Social Inclusion &Rural Ireland, Claire Mc Tiernan,CEO of North West SimonCommunity, Frances Clifford,Senior Caseworker HSESligo/Leitrim, Margaret McConnell, Senior Executive Officerof Sligo County Council andPatrick Quinn, National Office.

Although homelessness isusually associated with urbanareas, evidence from the SimonCommunities around Irelandshows that it is very muchpresent in rural areas too. Thecauses of rural homelessness aresimilar to those of urbanhomelessness but there aredifferences. The most commondifference is that ruralhomelessness is regularly more'hidden'. There are a number ofbarriers that prevent people whoare homeless from accessing thehousing and support that theyneed in rural areas. NiamhRandall, National Spokespersonfor the Simon Communities saidjust because rural homelessnessis more hidden does not mean itis not an issue. “It is a mistaketo see homelessness and housinginsecurity as a mainly urbanproblem. It can be more acuteand visible in our cities but theSimon Communities are workingat capacity all around thecountry – in rural as well asurban areas. In rural areaspeople may not be sleepingrough instead they are stayingwith family and friends or theyare living in over-crowded andunfit accommodation. Limitedaccess to homelessness andsupport services is increasing therisk of homelessness in ruralareas and is also preventingpeople from moving out ofhomelessness. Responses mustbe nationally driven but locallyresourced and delivered toensure people can remain intheir communities where they

have family and supportnetworks, even when they runinto housing and incomedifficulties. In fact, these areoften the times this is mostimportant. It is absolutelycrucial that the new Ministers atthe Department of theEnvironment, Community andLocal Government, Minister AlanKelly and Minister for StatePaudie Coffey maintainmomentum and direction if weare to achieve an end tohomelessness by 2016.”

Geographical distance can bea barrier for people accessingservices and also for serviceproviders to reach people whoare in need. All SimonCommunities report that they doincur extra costs as a result ofthe geographical spreadassociated with ruralhomelessness. For theCommunities, the cost of travelto deliver services was one oftheir major expenses. Use ofpublic transport by serviceproviders is not a viable optionin most areas as it is unreliable,costly and time consuming.

Niamh Randall, NationalSpokesperson for the SimonCommunities said althoughisolation is a problem amongpeople who are homeless ingeneral, this is worse in ruralareas, where people may beliving alone some distance fromtheir nearest neighbours.

“The lack of, and distancefrom, social activities furtherexacerbate this problem wherepeople often need to travel tothe nearest town to access socialactivities. This can bechallenging or impossible if thereis no access to transport orwhere people do not have theresources to pay for transport.The review found that peoplegenerally know one another inrural areas and there is often aperception that homelessnessdoesn’t exist in their community.

Such close-knit networks can actas a double edged sword. On theone hand as a protective factoragainst homelessness withimmediate community supportbeing offered when housing orincome difficulties areexperienced. On the other hand,fear of stigma and shame in suchsmall communities can preventpeople from actually seekingassistance and their plight goesunknown until a crisis hits.”

Niamh Randall, NationalSpokesperson for the SimonCommunities said ensuring aflow of affordable housingsupply, coupled with open endedsupport, is essential to tacklingthe issue.

“Social housing constructionschemes must ensure that thereis a range of housing optionsavailable appropriate to people’sneeds, for example the provisionof single housing units. It iscritical that there is ring fencingof some housing units for peoplemoving out of homelessness inrural and urban areas. It is nowessential that the Governmentreappraises the upfrontinvestment required to generatethe flow of accommodation that,along with adequate support,would enable people who havebeen homeless to accesssustainable housing across thecountry. This is especiallyimportant across the maingovernment departments withresponsibility for homelessness –Department of the Environment,Community and LocalGovernment, the Department ofHealth/HSE and the Departmentof Social Protection.”

‘Left Out In The Cold: AReview of Rural Homelessness inIreland’ is available athttp://www.simon.ie/home.aspx For media queries andinterview requests HelenMcCormack, Simon Communitiesof Ireland

Tel: 01 47 27 202/ 085 8065141

Simon Communitieshighlight growing problemof rural homelessness

Marian Harkin MEP

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30 Years


Feature by Gerry Walsh

Now aged70, andliving with

his wife (of 24years) Tina andtheir sixchildren,ranging from 22

to 10, in Dunboyne, Co. Meath,Sean is the fifth generation ofhis family to carry on the herbalbusiness there, extending backto 1798. “We were in Tarabefore that, until the house wasburned”, he said. Sean’s eldestson, Sean Og, a noted pianist,has just completed hisperformance degree course inthe Royal Irish Academy.“Strong faith and the herbalbusiness – that is part of whatwe are”. After a short period inagricultural college Sean leftand learned the business fromhis father as did his five sistersand a number of other peoplewho worked with them on thefarm. Dunboyne Herbs has grownand expanded over the years.

Sean’s other passion was sportof all genres. He was manager ofthe Meath football team from1982 to 2005, during which timethey won four All-Irelands

(1987, 1988, 1996, 1999) thoughhe is quick to point out that theylost a few as well. He alsoguided the team to threeNational Football League titlesand eight Leinster SeniorFootball Championships. Inrecognition of his services toMeath GAA Sean was conferredas Freeman of the County ofMeath – the first and only personever to be bestowed with thetitle – on 23rd April, 2006.

He loves all sport and,ironically, in the early dayshurling was his greatest passion.He played for 20 years withMeath and has two NationalLeague Division 2 titles to hiscredit. He often wondered whathe would do when he finishedplaying GAA games, so he wasdelighted to be appointed astand-in manager of the footballteam initially. The rest is history.

Though Sean is immersed infamily life and the variedactivities of his six children heseemed so relaxed andenthusiastic to speakforthrightly on many issues, butin a non-judgemental fashion.He was appointed coach of theIrish International Rules side in

2006. Though the period is notedfor some of the violent incidentsduring matches, and on oneoccasion he threatened oremove his players from thefield at half time, he is full ofpraise for the character of theAustralian people. During his tripthere with the team in 2008 he

was overwhelmed by the non-judgemental nature of theAustralians – their capacity toaccept people as they are. TheAustralians have tremendousrespect for each other. “Therewas no tolerance of intolerance”he said.

You could walk the streets ofPerth at any time and feelcompletely safe. This could becontrasted with so many otherlarge cities, some even closer tohome.

Love and MarriageSean was 47 when he married

Tina (Yeats), who was 18 yearsyounger than him. “I didn’t rushinto it”, he said jokingly. Yet, ifcircumstances had beendifferent the union might neverhave happened.

As they both grew up inDunboyne their families werealways intertwined. Tina’sfamily would come to theBoylans’ home as kids pickingfruit and herbs. He was alwayshappy and relaxed in Tina’scompany, but never felt therewas anything between them.

Perhaps the age gap had muchto do with the delay indeveloping their relationship;however, another factor wasSean’s yearning to be aCistercian monk and the factthat Tina, a former nurse,became a Daughters of Charity

nun at the age of 23 when sheworked with handicapped andmarginalised people.

Though her work wasfulfilling, Tina eventually foundthe life of a nun to be a lonelyone but when she left the planwas after a summer re-adjustingin Dunboyne she would travel toAustralia to continue working asa nurse.

However, the romance withSean developed and everythingseemed just right. They hadknown each other so well . . .and Tina also was a close friendto Sean’s mother, Gertie.

They got married in lateDecember 1990 – December22nd in fact – because there wasno Gaelic football on that day.Tina had never set foot in CrokePark before she married Sean,but all that soon changed. Theyhad their six children quickly(four boys and two girs) andSean speaks of parenthood as“an amazing joy, a miraclereally”. Sean and Tina areextremely happy. Though Seanwas in the throes ofmanagement with the Meathteam and away quite a lot whenthe kids were young, they werealways so delighted to see himcome home. They work as ateam and are alike in so manyways, with strong simple faithwhich helps to shapeeverything.

Sean BoylanFaith, Family and HerbsMENTION of Meath man Sean Boylan evokes images of Gaelic football management, spirituality and herbal remedies. But these only go a small way towards painting a picture of an enigmatic personality, who is full of the joys of simple,positive living.

Séan, Tina and children pictured a few years ago. Photo: John Quirke Photography

Two Greats” a handshake from Mick O’Dwyer after a Meath / Kildare match in the 90’s. Photo: John Quirke Photography


It’s not that they areprescriptive about their faith orbeliefs either. In a previousinterview Sean said: “Wewouldn’t be craw-thumpers but Ican’t pass an oratory withoutgoing in, even if it’s only for aminute”.

CANCER SCAREAll of this was put to the test

in 2009 when Sean was diagnosedwith prostate cancer. Whilemany people said they weresurprised that he (such a healthyman) should contact cancer hereassured them that none of usare immune from it. But he andhis family coped with thedisease, as they did with many ofthe other vicissitudes of life . . .with positivity, love and laughter.“To overcome a setback likecancer you attack it mentally,clinically and spiritually”, hesaid.

Thankfully, Sean receivedthe”all-clear”. “There’s anenergy I get from my faith thathelped my recovery”, he said.But he admitted that theexperience changed him. From aposition where he had alwayshelped others he was now thevulnerable one. Before that henever walked, he always ran. Itwas a humbling experience, butall part of life’s journey.

Sean is now fit and healthy(even after two kneereplacements) and, yes . . . hestill works with his clinics. Herides a bike and swims a fewtimes each week. With five kidsinvolved in sporting and leisureactivities he and Tina (who is afull-time housewife) have anextremely busy home life. But herecommends it. Even during theinterview his flow wasinterrupted on some occasions todeal with domestic matters. Torelax he loves the radio or

watching sport; he sometimesreads a bit but the busy homelife constrains him a bit.Holidaying abroad was nevereasy, either in his sportingmanagement days or now. Theeasiest time to get away wasalways after Christmas.

When I asked him about hismusical tastes he laughed, saying“you’re going to ask me aboutthe Garth Brooks concerts,aren’t you?” While I assured himthat was not the intention hegave his personal views on thewhole debacle openly andcandidly. “There were too manyreferences to precedent in thedebate. We have come to lovethe Rule, while sometimesforgetting the Rule of Love”.Even in the north during theheight of the troubles peoplewere coming together and havingfun. It was hard to see whereproblems would arise with theconcerts. A large percentage ofresidents from the Croke Parkarea had no say in the matter. Herecalls Meath and Dublin playingfour matches in succession to apacked stadium in 1991 andthere were no riots. People justhad a good night out.

“The last time Garth Brookswas here people organisedbarbecues and had parties intheir houses. After all the doomand gloom of recent years weshould be thinking more in termsof partying than rules andprecedents. ” Here he quotedan old colleague, JackFitzgerald, who had been aMeath representative on theCentral Council of the GAA for 37years (also a Senator in theOireachtas): “It’s the Spirit ofthe Rule that’s important”. It isobvious Mr. Fitzgerald wasreferring to some GAA refereeingdecisions, but if the cap fits . . .

Getting back to the question of

musical tastes he lovestraditional, classical and tradjazz. In fact he loves everythingfrom Pavarotti to Brush Shielsand is a Paul Brady fan. He hasalways marvelled at theuniversal bond and language ofmusic.

Sean feels Ireland, for all itsfaults, is such a wonderfulcountry. Through his travelsabroad he was proud to learnabout the missionary zeal of theIrish – those who work withpoverty-stricken people inparticular. The teachers,incredible nurses and others whowent abroad with Goal, Concernand other organisations areunsung heroes. The Irish haveleft their sporting, cultural,

spiritual and business imprinteverywhere. 15% of Mexicans areof Irish extraction. There aremembers in the cricket club ofBuenes Aires who actually playhurling. Whole counties leftIreland for the US and so manynever came back. But TheGathering has proved they wantto retain links with home. “Wehave enormous pride inourselves, something thatshouldn’t be stifled by too muchstructure or rigidity. We are alsoa resilient race; at the turn ofthe century only four people inIreland could write in Irish andone hundred could read thelanguage. Yet it survived andflourished.”

His advice to young people isto watch out for each other, tobe ambitious and never be afraidto make a mistake. He recallsplaying for Meath againstKilkenny back in the ‘seventiesand losing by thirty-three points.Yet he loved it and was proud tohave the opportunity to play thegame. Continuing with sportinganalogies he instanced an oldcolleague, Michael Regan, aCarrick-on-Shannon native, who

was picked as a sub on aConnacht hurling team to faceMunster. Though scheduled toline-out at corner-forward whencalled onto the pitch heimmediately ran to the oppositeend to mark no less a star thanChristy Ring . . . an experiencethat could never be taken fromhim!

Retirement is not in Sean’svocabulary. “It is important tohave something to do . . . even ifit’s a computer course orsomething. People can be lostnot knowing what to do.

In the Ireland of the futureSean feels it is important for usto keep the good things we have– our faith and family traditions.If we follow our true naturefacing a crisis will not be such aburden.

When I spoke with Sean it wasliterally hours before Meath’sshowdown with Dublin in theLeinster championship. He wasoptimistic, as usual, predictingthere was always a 50/50 chancewhen fifteen men met fifteen.Knowing Sean Boylan as I do nowhe will still see positives in theresult.

Sean pictured with son, Sean Og, a talented musician.

Sharing the joy of victory. Photo: John Quirke Photography

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Throughout my nursing career, I haveseen varying degrees of bowelhabits and have seen the impact

that this has had on patients and theirlives. I am frequently asked aboutconstipation and what can be done toprevent this so, this is the perfect topicfor this month’s editorial seeing assummer is here and people need to gettheir constipation under control.

What is Constipation?Constipation is a very common conditionthat affects people of all ages. It meansthat you are not passing faeces as oftenas you normally would do, you have tostrain more than usual or you are unableto completely empty your bowel.

Constipation can also cause your stoolsto be unusually hard, lumpy, large orsmall like nuggets. The severity ofconstipation can vary greatly fromperson to person with many people onlyexperiencing constipation for a shorttime with no lasting effects on theirhealth while for others constipation canbe a chronic condition that causessignificant pain and discomfort whichaffects quality of life. In addition,constipation can also cause: stomachache, cramps, bloating, nausea and lossof appetite.

If you continually strain to pass faeces,it can cause pain, discomfort andbleeding. Excessive straining can alsolead to Haemorrhoids. More commonlyknown as Piles, Haemorrhoids areswollen blood vessels that form in thelower rectum and anus.

What causes Constipation?Most cases of Constipation are notcaused by a specific condition butseveral factors can increase yourchances of having Constipation. Theseinclude:

• Not eating enough fibre, such as fruit,vegetables and cereals

• A change in your routine or lifestyle, such as a change in your eating habits

• Ignoring the urge to pass stools• Side effects of certain medication• Not drinking enough fluids• Anxiety or Depression• Pregnancy• Weight• Lack of Exercise• Psychological Issues such as privacy

There is a strong connection betweenemotions and how the gut works. Feelingupset can make your bowel slow down.Emotional upset, even in childhood, mayresult in constipation years later. Thishas always been evident during theColonic Hydrotherapy treatments at TheClaudia McGloin Clinic and why we willwork on both of these issues to give yourbowel the optimum treatment.Your GP may prescribe laxatives forconstipation and will advise on changesto your lifestyle and diet. See above onthe factors that cause constipation.

Colonic Hydrotherapy and ConstipationDid you know that 80% of all illnessesstart in the large intestine?Most people have no idea how much old,hardened, impacted faecal matter there

is in their colon. Many experts believethat the average person has between 5and 20 LBS of waste matter in theircolon. A person suffering fromconstipation has up to 40 LBS of wastematter in their colon.The colon or large intestine is located atthe end of the human digestive tract. Itsprimary functions are to eliminatewaste, conserve water and reabsorbelectrolytes and minerals into the body.Waste materials that remain in the colonfor extended periods of time (impactedfaeces, dead cellular tissue, mucous andparasites etc) pose several healthproblems. These waste materials can bereabsorbed into the blood stream makingus feel weak, tired and ill. Impactedfaeces can also impair the colons abilityto absorb minerals and can cause theovergrowth of bad bacteria and yeast. Abuild-up of faecal matter in the coloncan also inhibit muscular action causingsluggish bowel movements, slow transittime and constipation. ColonicHydrotherapy can greatly alleviate thecongestion and build up of unwantedtoxic waste.

A Healthy ColonThe colon or large intestine is animportant part of the digestive system.The colon handles the bulk of the foodwe eat. Its lining includes sensitivenerves and glands that aid theassimilation of food especially vitamins,enzymes and water. When the colon isworking properly its peristaltic (muscularwave like) motions move food throughthe system and eliminate unassimilatedsubstances in the form of waste within16-24 hours after eating. A healthyindividual with a clean and healthy colonwill have 2 bowel movements per day.They should be large, well formed,buoyant and not accompanied by a foulodour.Needless to say a healthy colon isessential to a healthy body!

A Toxic ColonOver time the colon may becomeunhealthy and lose its ability to properlyeliminate all the waste materials fromthe digestive tract. This is due to acombination of Poor Diet, Lack ofExercise, Drug Intake, Lifestyle and avariety of other factors. When the colonbecomes less active the body does noteliminate its waste materials aseffectively. Therefore, when theelimination process is not functioningproperly deposits of waste matter buildup along the colon wall. When thisoccurs, the waste material remains inthe colon for days sometimes weeks. Ifthis waste material deposits along thecolon wall it may not leave there formonths or even years. These deposits of

faecal matter can get to 2 or 3 inchesthick!

The Colonic Hydrotherapy treatmentstimulates bowel activity by using thebody’s natural nerve and muscularresponse mechanisms and so isessentially a natural treatment. ColonicHydrotherapy can tone and exercise thebowel aiding the evacuation of wasteboth during and after the treatment.

Are you feeling or experiencing any orall of the following?• Bloated• Constipated• Weight Gain• Lethargic• Flatulance• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)• Backache• Indigestion• Candida• Insomnia• Body Odour• Dark Circles Under Eyes• Poor Concentration• Colitis• Diverticulosis• Diarrhoea• Menstrual Pain• Bad Breath• Parasites (Worms)

Then a Colonic Hydrotherapy treatmentis for you! For further details pleasecontact Claudia at the Claudia McGloinClinic on 0719140728 to book aconsultation. Or visit the clinicwebsite www.claudiamcgloinclinic.com

Feature by Claudia McGloin - Advanced Nurse Practitioner

What is Constipation?Everybody has their own normal bowel habits which vary from person to person. Some adults go to the toilet more than once a day whereas others will go once every threeto four days or even longer.

What is Inheritancetax?Inheritance is a taxwhich can arisewhere a beneficiaryreceives anInheritance as aresult of someonedying (or a gift fromsomebody in their

lifetime). This tax falls under the headingCapital Acquisitions Tax . CapitalAcquisitions Tax (CAT) was originallyconceived as a way to claw back somefunds for the Revenue from the “verywealthy”.

Who pays the tax?The person receiving the inheritance orgift is liable to CAT and not the person orthe estate providing the benefit.

Tax Free Amount.Subject to certain exemptions, (e.g.inheritance from a legal spouse, familyhome exemption etc.) most assets bothinside and outside the state are assessablefor Inheritance Tax. Each person has an amount that they canreceive tax free but it depends on theirrelationship with the person from whomthey are inheriting from. The balance isthen taxed at 33%. This tax rate was alow at 20% in 2008. Not only has the rate with which this taxis charged been increased by 65% since2008, the reduction in the thresholds (taxfree amount) have been reduced quitesignificantly as can be seen from the tablebelow.

GROUP THRESHOLDS

Thresholds have been dramaticallyreduced. For example, the group 1threshold from parents to childrenreduced from €521,208 in 2008 to€225,000 in 2013 a reduction of over 50%.There may be a perception that, given therecent reduction in estate and assetvalues, the need to plan for CAT has goneaway. The exact opposite is in fact thecase.

For exampleMr & Mrs Kelly are aged 55 and theirestate valued €1,250,000 is to be dividedequally between their 2 children.

Their children’s inheritance tax bill will be€264,000, i.e. 21% of the estate will betaken in tax.

The SolutionThe solution is a Section 72 LifeAssurance policy written on a whole oflife basis. The premium in this case wouldwork out at €5,691 annually. So theoptions to Mr & Mrs Kelly are

1. Lose 21% of the estate in inheritancetax.

2. Save what you would pay in Life assurance premiums i.e. €5,691 per annum to try to accumulate what would be needed to pay the CAT liability. In this example, Mr & Mrs Kelly would need to save €5,691 for over 69 years to cover the CAT bill.

3. Put a Section 72 Life policy in place to protect the estate at a cost of 2% per annum of the tax bill.

Making a returnIf you are resident in Ireland you must getan agent who is resident in Ireland , suchas a solicitor, to take responsibility for thepayment of CAT.Gifts or inheritances with a valuation dateon or after 14 June 2010 have a fixed CATpay and file date. All gifts andinheritances with a valuation date in the12-month period ending on the 31 Augustmust be paid and filed by 31 October. This means, if the valuation date isbetween 1 January and 31 August, youmust complete the tax return and pay thetax on or before 31 October in that year.If the valuation date is between 1September and 31 December you mustcomplete the tax return and pay the taxon or before 31 October in the followingyear.

Late Payment FeeThere is a surcharge for late pay and fileof CAT. The surcharge is based on apercentage of the total tax payable forthe year the return is late and gradedaccording to the length of the delay.However, there is an overall cap on thelevel of the surcharge which is calculatedas follows: • 5% surcharge to a maximum of €12,695,

if you complete the tax return and pay the tax within 2 months of the pay and file date.

• 10% surcharge up to a maximum of €63,485, if you do not complete the tax return and pay the tax within 2 months of the pay and file date.

Reliefs and exemptions.Certain reliefs and exemptions apply tocertain types of assets. These have beenintroduced over the years to primarilyencourage private enterprise and to avoidthe forced sale of a family farm, businessor the family home in certaincircumstances.

Spouse or Civil Partner Exemption –Gifts or inheritances received by onespouse or civil partner from the other aretotally exempt from CAT.

Agricultural Relief – the value offarmland, buildings and stock can bereduced by 90% where the beneficiary is aqualifying farmer and he or she holds theproperty for a minimum of 6 years.

Business Relief – can provide a similarreduction of 90% of the value of certainbusinesses or private companies, whereboth the business and the beneficiarymeet certain qualifying conditions.

Family Home Relief – exemption from

Gift and Inheritance tax is available onthe value of certain dwellings with up toan acre of land where the beneficiarymeets certain conditions which ensurethat the property was, and continues tobe, their home.

If you feel that there may be a CATliability when you pass on, and you wouldlike further info on this subject please donot hesitate in contacting me here inFlanagan Ford. You can email me [email protected] or call 071 9159222.


Finance with Ken O’Neill of Flanagan Ford Financial Advisors

Group 1 €225,000

Where the personreceiving theinheritance is achild of thedisponer.

Group 2 €30,150

Where the personreceiving theinheritance is alineal ancestor,descendant, abrother/sister orchild of abrother/sister ofthe disponer.

Group 3 €15,075 All other cases.

2008 2012 2013

Tax Rate 20% 30% 33%

Group 1 Thresh €521,208 €250,000 €225,000

Inheritance

€300,000 Nil €15,000 €24,750

€500,000 Nil €75,000 €90,750

€750,000 €45,758 €150,000 €173,250

€1,000,000 €95,758 €225,000 €255,750

€1,500,000 €195,758 €375,000 €420,750

€2,500,000 €395,758 €675,000 €750,750

€5,000,000 €895.758 €1,425,000 €1,575,750

Impact of Higher Tax rates and Lower Thresholds in recent years

Below is a table showing the impact of the increase in the tax rate and the reduction ofthe thresholds over the last number of years. These figures are based where an estatewas left to one child.

Source: Irish Life Technical Dept

Inheritance Tax PlanningInheritance tax – the tax that has risen quite dramatically under the radar!


Fitness

German-born inventor andgymnast Joseph Pilatesdeveloped the eponymous

system of exercises in the1910s. And today, it still worksseveral muscle groupssimultaneously through smooth,continuous movements with aparticular emphasis onstrengthening and stabilizingthe abdomen, back and pelvicgirdle region known as the core.

Performing the movementscorrectly involves finding theright rhythm and learning thecorrect breathing. Visualizingyour core helps you breathemore fully, expanding yourribcage instead of just liftingyour chest up and down. Peopleoften say they feel lighter,taller and more graceful after aPilates workout. Pilates himselfsaid that after 30 workouts, youwould have a new body.

Pilates is a safe and effectiveworkout for older peoplebecause it has minimal to noimpact, and movements can beadapted for the individual toaccommodate specific injuriesand physical limitations. Theaging process affects our bodiesin ways that Pilates can helpaddress. As we age, we tend to“shrink” and experience backproblems; Pilates will helpimprove posture as it works tolengthen all the connections ofthe spine and enhanceflexibility of back muscles. Ithelps maintain flexibility injoints that tend to stiffen,improves balance and co-ordination to help avoid injuryfrom falls, and keeps musclesand movements flexible andfluid.

Pilates can also help womensuffering from poor bladdercontrol and incontinence.

Women suffer needlesslywhen they are led to believethat incontinence cannot becorrected or they’re advised todo Kegel exercises, which focuson strengthening only the pelvicfloor. This alone will notprevent urinary incontinence.Pilates strengthens the entirecore, not just the pelvic floor.

A Pilates workout takes aboutan hour and can be done onfloor mats or using specificallydesigned equipment. Theinstructor coaches you onbreathing, then helps youisolate muscle groups. Once youare familiar with the Pilatesstyle of co-ordinated flowingmovement combined with long

stretches, you move on to theUniversal Reformer, one ofPilates’ first inventions. Thishigh-tech machine is equippedwith straps, springs, pulleys anda sliding seat, which all helpmuscles to lengthen andstrengthen.

Many gyms and communitycentres now offer some type ofPilates program. It’s alsopossible to learn Pilates frombooks, online instruction andvideos.

Pilates pioneer MoiraMerrithew (www.merrithew.com), who is celebrating the25th anniversary of StottPilates, a contemporaryapproach to the originalexercise, has created more than155 titles for all levels that canbe seen on the Stott PilatesYouTube channel.

And read on for three newapproaches to the fitnesssystem.

Gravity training The WorkoutGravity training is a resistanceworkout performed on amachine called the GravityTraining System (GTS) that lookssimilar to the original PilatesReformer but replaces springswith pulleys and uses gravity forpart of the resistance. There’san adjustable incline glideboard – the steeper the incline(there are eight settings), themore challenging the workout.A squat stand works the lowerbody, LAT (Lateral AdjustableTraining) bars focus on the backand shoulders and cables targetthe arms.

Fitness Strategy“You’re pulling and pushing

your own body weight insteadof iron weights forresistance.There’s no impact orjarring on the spine and joints,so it’s perfect for anyone withfibromyalgia, arthritis, knee,hip or shoulder replacement

and osteoporosis.”

Barre-based workouts The Workout Ballet dancers dobarre classes where theypractise basic moves like pliésand relevés (leg raises) whilestanding at a stationary woodenhandrail called a barre.

Dance-inspired workoutsborrow the form, alignment andhigh-repetition exercises ofclassical barre classes to sculptlong, strong dancer’s muscles.

“Barre Beautiful takesclassical dance training movesand fuses them with Pilates’moves and principles to createa workout that focuses onbuilding muscular strength,control and endurance whileincreasing flexibility.

Exercises are focused onlengthening and extending asyou work. Targeted muscle work– micro-contractions andisometric contractions that

strengthen and tone musclesnot typically used in exercise. Ina typical barre class, you’redoing several repetitions ofsmall, pulsing contractions thattone deep into the muscle.

Fitness StrategyIt’s great for an older

audience because it’s a fullbody workout that strengthensall of the muscles in the bodyusing body weight or light handweights, thus increasing musclemass and improving bonedensity. This workout placesemphasis on the posturalmuscles in the back andabdominals assisting in ourbodies’ ability to stand taller.Plus, it’s low impact making iteasy on the joints.

What to expectThe classic barre class at BarreBeautiful takes you throughmany traditional balletexercises:

Stretch, strength, balance – the power of pilatesThe century-old exercise system of Pilates gets an age-friendly makeover with aworkout for all fitness levels

Feature


By Nancy Burnham

The human body is a marvelous and mysteriousthing. At 67, looking back at what I learned solate in life, my appreciation for bodychemistry grows more and more every day.When I retired at age 60 my health was typicalof those who care for others, not themselves,carry stress with them all the time (and in mycase) have a fondness for bread and sweets.

At 49 my hands required treatment forosteoarthritis.

At 56 my right knee locked up necessitating6 months of physical therapy.

At 58 I needed foot surgery for bunions.At 60 my diagnoses were asthma/low level

COPD with high blood pressure, pro-lapsingheart valves, high cholesterol, depression andanxiety.

Instead of looking forward to a carefreeretirement, I was spending time in doctors’offices and taking prescription medications.Honestly wanting to feel better but notknowing where to turn, life seemed short.

With tendonitis in my left shoulder, constantpain in my lower back, a “widow’s hump”developing, and 30 pounds overweight, I knewthat I must take control of my health care.

When I walked into the new gym I requesteda personal trainer because I knew I neededprofessional help to exercise correctly. As I satacross from the trainer, a total stranger,explaining my many issues, I felt vulnerable,inadequate, stupid, overwhelmed andfrightened. He was asking all the rightquestions. “I can help you,” he said.

That was the beginning of my marvelousjourney to recovery; a journey fraught withtears, fears, joys, pain, anger, and frustrationthat culminated in my own desire to helpothers who were out there looking foranswers. Total strangers who observedme during training (sometimes at myworst) would come up to me and tell meI inspired them. What an upliftingsurprise!

When we eat right and exercise thebody makes wonderful chemicaladjustments that we do not see at thetime. As my body transitioned myblood pressure dropped, mycardiovascular systems improved and theweight fell off as fat transformed intomuscle. After 12 months I was off of allbut one medication – cholesterol. That,too, came under control. Each personmust start their journey at their level.

Keep a goal in mind and move forward

with determination to meet that goal.My aging process has given me challenges

with two broken ankles, torn muscles andligaments, and knee surgery. Instead of lookingat these and other bumps on life’s road asobstacles leading to a sedentary state, theyinstead are opportunities to learn more abouthow to train muscles that support the injuredareas. Do not accept the status of ‘aging’ asone of ‘slowing down’ but instead as a newadventure.

Try weightlifting to improve muscles tone,overall strength and bone density. Proper formwhen using dumbbells, Kettlebells and/orbarbells might be a new exercise adventure, itwill certainly pay off so don’t be afraid to trythem. Find a certified personal trainer thatyou are comfortable with, explain yourchallenges and goals to them. You, too, mayinspire someone else.

Nancy Burnham’s journey to health began atage 61, when she stepped into a gym for thefirst time in her life. After years working at adesk, Nancy was spending her retirementdrowning in ailments – from two pro-lapsingheart valves to arthritis and low-levelcardiopulmonary disease. After deciding oneday she simply wouldn’t accept the status quo,Nancy went from not even being able tooperate a treadmill to completing a WarriorDash. At 65, she earned her ACE PersonalTrainer Certification and at 66, she hit apersonal best by completing a 200-pound deadlift. She now owns Simple Fitness for Seniors inLisburn, where she specializes in working witholder adults with special conditions includingrotator cuff injuries, diabetes, heart diseaseand respiratory disease.

leg raises, pulses and pliés.Extending your leg outward to doleg raises or pulses requires youto also lift up from the crown ofthe head, contract yourabdominals and squeeze yourlegs.

Basically your entire body isengaged even if it seems that allyou’re doing is going up on yourtoes. There are arm circles usinglight hand weights, followed byabdominal work on the mat. Withevery stretch and extension,there’s a feeling of my bodybeing realigned and postureimproved, which feels wonderfulafter a day sitting at a desk.There are also various ballet-influenced arm movements usinglight hand weights followed byabdominal work on the mat.

Power Pilates The Workout Described as Pilateson crack, Lagree Fitness

(www.studiolagree.com) wascreated in 2001 by SebastienLagree, a Los Angeles-basedcelebrity Pilates trainer. Lagreeredesigned the original PilatesReformer equipment, creatinghis own apparatus called theMegaformer on which theworkout is performed. The hour-long circuit workout incorporatesfamiliar Pilates exercises, likethe hundreds and side bends,with new movements designedby Lagree.

Fitness StrategyLagree emphasizes doing eachexercise as slowly and controlledas possible, which targets thedeep stabilizing muscles of thecore, glutes and pelvis, says PinoGagliardi, Lagree Studio co-owner. “The intense circuitworkout has minimal breaksbetween each exercise, whichcreates a cardiovascular effect.

It’s Never too Late toBecome Fit and Healthy

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COLOURAND THEGARDEN

WORDS by Leonie Cornelius PHOTOGRAPHY by Suzy McCanny and Leonie CorneliusIN

SPIR

ED P

LAN

TIN

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Garden Designer and TV presenter Leonie Cornelius looks at theamazing effects of using colour in planting design.

When I was studyinggarden design at KLCSchool of Design in

London one of the main thingsthat we looked at was the use ofcolour in gardens. Colour canhave a profound effect on ourpsychological experience of aspace as well as making a spacefeel larger, smaller, longer ornarrower. As a designer, much

like an artist, one goes throughphases of colours that one isdrawn to. For example, when Istarted designing I loved neutralsof peach and whites. Then onthe next project I would findmyself drawn to strongexplosions of all colours andtones. After trying out mostcombinations I can finallyembrace the fact that there is

no right or wrong, only whatmakes you feel happy right now.Combining colour in gardens ismuch like creating a carefulartistic composition. What Iwould like to explore a littlehere is a few colourcombinations which havefascinated me in gardens andwhy I would choose them tocreate a certain scheme.

Starting off in a plantingscheme you have your greens,your base colours which can varyfrom deep, dark greens to limesand yellows. Green will alwaysbe the main colour in yourgarden no matter what. I lovegreen with its infinite texturesand movement and it’samazing what you can do with asimple mix of greens with the

odd dot of colour. Green is alsoassociated as a colour with thefeeling of safety, fertility andrelaxation-no wonder gardensmake us feel good! The plantsyou add after this tell your story.What is it you want to say in thescheme that you are creating?Do you want to invigorate,soothe the senses or create aplayful and fun composition.

Hot or warm ColoursThere are rules in gardendesign, or what I like to think ofas guidelines in garden design.For example, we tend to nothave more than 10-15% of hotcolours such as reds, orangesand yellows -those at the top ofthe colour wheel. The reasonfor this is that schemes canstart feeling disjointed andstressful with too much warmth.

Cool ColoursGreen is one of the main coolcolours in gardens but we havea big range of blues, purples,and lilacs. These colours have asoothing effect on a personexperiencing this space.

EleganceFor me it gets really excitingonce we start mixing up thecolours. For my Bloom in thePark Garden in 2012 (bottom

left) my main colour palettewas varying shades and texturesof green. I had the featherylime greens of the Acers, thedeep earthy struc- tural greensof the Carpinus hedging and thesoft fluffy green of the grasses. What finished that schemehowever were the dots of colourin between. Spikes of Salvia indeep, calm lilac, dots ofAquilegia in maroon pink andswathes of light pink Saxifragafrom my own garden. Theamazing purple foliage of theSedum ‘Purple Emperor’ gave ita little depth.The main colourpalette of cool colours was alsorepresented in the hardlandscaping of structure andwalls with deep purple and lightlilac being complementary huesto the planting

FunThe garden I recentlycompleted for Carbury School inSligo (left hand page top leftand right) has a wholly differentcolour scheme. The warmorange of the external walls ofthe building acted as a startingpoint for the colour scheme andthe mix of yellow Primulas,purple Nepeta and many otherpinks and lilacs were a playful

and fun take on a summermeadow. The colours chosenrepre- sent the fun free feelingof childhood and aim to give alittle feeling of happiness to thestaff and teachers every day.

A Psychadelic MeadowAnother recently completedproject was an installation forthe Dubarry of Ireland brand fortheir UK flagship store for theduration of Chelsea in Bloom.The brief was all about moderncolour and yet not losing theIrish Identity of the brand.Here I went all out with thecolours which were a mad mixof yellows, blues, greens,

purples, pinks, magenta. Afterchoosing the plants at theamazing Hortus Loci nursery inthe UK and driving down toLondon I panicked. I had brokenall the rules! What if it did notwork?But even though I chose all thecolours on the colour wheelthey somehow worked outperfectly proving that

everything is possible, ifcombined carefully and ofcourse as long as it makes yousmile.

Leonie Cornelius is an awardwinning garden designer andTV presenter who runs herown business-BLUME designhouse. contact: [email protected]

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Part One

Aging is a natural, inevitablepart of life. As we growolder, it becomes easy to

look back wistfully on years pastand wish we could reclaim ouryouth. While your 20′s may bethe peak of physical capabilityand mental clarity you will everreach, that doesn’t mean that allthe years that follow have to bea letdown. In fact, all thewisdom and knowledge thatyou’ve accumulated with yourlife experiences can make thembetter than ever!You can still look and feel youngand vibrant for years if you takecare of yourself the right way.But retaining your vitality isabout so much more than doingthe Sunday crossword and eatingyour vegetables – though those

can play a part. Here we’vecompiled an abundance of tipsfor promoting the health of yourbody, enhancing your mind, andfeeling young at heart no matteryour age.

Preventive MaintenanceBefore we dive into all thehealthy habits you should adapt,here are some things you shouldcut down on, eliminatecompletely, or keep in mind foryour personal wellness andsafety.1. Avoid degenerativesubstances. – Regenerativesubstances work to rebuild yourbody and keep it healthy, whiledegenerative substances tear itdown. It has been said that thetop five degenerative substancesare processed foods, sugar,alcohol, caffeine, and rancid fats

and oils. A study was even donethat found a correlation betweendepression and processed foods.Thus, it is wise to only consumethese things in moderation.2. Limit your intake of omega-6fatty acids. These generateinflammatory hormones in thebody and can be found in corn,cottonseed and soybean oils, andsafflower.3. Don’t rely on supplements forthe nutrients you need.Supplements have been touted asa godsend, but you shouldn’tbecome dependent on takingthem in place of foods thatnaturally contain healthfulnutrients. Not to mention, thesemegadoses of nutrients mayinterfere with your body’s naturaldefense mechanisms.4. Cut your calorieconsumption. A lower dailyintake of calories can prevent theslowing of your metabolism aswell as slow the aging process. Tomake this easier, control theportion sizes of your snacks andeat your meals off of smallplates.5. Trim your belly fat. Researchhas shown that an excess of fataround your torso can triple yourrisk of dementia later in life.While you don’t have to beespecially slender to be healthy,this fact is important to take intoconsideration.6. Protect your skin. Not onlyshould you take precautions toavoid skin cancer, but it’s alsogood to remember that healthyskin is a primary contributor to ayouthful appearance. Thus, youshould wear sunscreen to prevent

premature aging, do notexcessively tan or visit tanningbeds, treat dry skin, andexfoliate often to remove deadskin cells.7. Clean your teeth. As yourdentist always reminds you, makesure to brush and floss yourteeth. You can also use whitenersto keep your smile looking freshand young.8. Look after your heart. Yourheart, right alongside your brain,is a major hub of activity in yourbody. Among other things, itkeeps oxygen flowing throughyour body and manages yourimmune system. It is good towatch your cholesterol, monitoryour blood pressure, and adoptpositive habits to ensure thatyour heart stays healthy.9. Quit smoking or don’t start.Smoking presents a whole host ofproblems that can affect bothyour physical appearance andyour overall health. Besidesgiving you extra wrinkles, it alsocan cause lung disease, diabetes,cancer, and even damage yourmemory.10. Stay away from drugs. Theycan significantly impair yourmental clarity.11. Take precautions. This maymake you feel like a little kidagain, but even doing relativelysmall things such as alwayswearing your seat belt or puttingon a helmet when biking areimportant. You never know whenone of these choices might saveyour life or protect your brainfrom harm.12. Regulate your multitasking.While many people swear by

multitasking, it actually isn’t avery efficient practice. Studieshave shown that it affects howwell you process and recallinformation. If you really want toremember what you are workingon, concentrate on one thing at atime.13. Resist mobility aids until youtruly need them. Staying activeis the key. Build up your strengthand endurance to retain yourmuscle tone, rather than buying acane or walker and relying on itto keep you moving while youallow your muscles to atrophy.14. Schedule regular checkups.See your doctor every 6 monthsto a year to stay informed aboutthe state of your health. If younotice any negative symptomsbetween visits, take detailednotes so you can come to yournext appointment prepared.15. Learn more about yourmedication. Do a bit of digginginto any medications you arecurrently taking to make surethey aren’t causing memoryimpairment. This may be donethrough checking the side effectson your own, asking questions orreading discussions in forums, ortalking to your doctor. Then if itis an issue, adjust your dosage orswitch medications entirely.16. Manage any chronicconditions. Living in denial willnot make your health problemsmagically go away. Whether it issomething going like fibromyalgiaor an ailment like thyroidproblems, remove the things inyour life that make them worseand take the steps you need tofeel better.


Health and Fitness

80 Waysto FeelYoung andstay Sharp

Eat, Drink & Be MerryIn the last few years, there hasbeen a lot of buzz about certainpowerfoods that greatly enhanceyour diet and increase yourlongevity. But what are these so-called superfoods, and whatspecifically do they do for yourbody? And are there any othergenerally helpful eating habits toremember?17. Always eat breakfast! Whatthey say about breakfast beingthe most important meal of theday may have a grain of truth.Among other benefits, eating ahealthy breakfast can give you amore nutritionally complete diet,improved concentration andperformance, and better weightcontrol.18. Include omega-3 fatty acidsin your diet. Of all thesuperfoods, those containingomega-3 fatty acids are probablythe most widely acclaimed. Anexcellent, natural source of thisfat is fresh fish. Salmon is thevery best choice, but there areplenty of other fish that will do.These include:TunaAnchoviesSardinesHerringTroutArctic charHalibutMackerelBluefishSturgeonTry to find wild fish instead offarm-raised, as those may havehigh levels of contaminants.If you aren’t the biggest fan offish, never fear. Many other foodsalso contain omega-3s. Walnuts,winter squash, kidney beans,pinto beans, pumpkins seeds,flaxseed and flaxseed oil, andsoybeans are great options.19. Make like a plant andabsorb some chlorophyll.Chlorophyll purifies your blood,body, and skin. It can be found inveggies like spinach, celery, kale,parsley, collard greens, and

watercress.20. Protect your brain withleafy greens. For even morerabbit food, try cabbage,lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower,Swiss chard, Brussels sprouts, bokchoy, and arugula, as they havebeen said to maintain the healthof your brain and dramaticallyslow the process of aging.21. Try a bit of CoQ10. Foodscontaining Coenzyme Q10, orCoQ10, can help treat high bloodpressure, and they may evendelay aging and improve skin,although no definitive researchhas been conducted as of yet.While CoQ10 is naturally presentin a variety of foods, the highestamounts can be found in organmeats – such as heart, liver, andkidney – as well as beef, pork,peanuts, parsley, avocado, andsoybean oil.22. Improve your complexion.Clear up your skin naturally bymunching on carrots, squash,

oranges, grapefruits, lemons,papayas, or pineapples.23. Reduce your depression.There are a handful of differentfoods that have nutrients whichcombat the symptoms ofdepression. For example, did youknow that oatmeal is a source ofserotonin? You could also beeating oysters and cashews forthe zinc, or asparagus andavocados for the folate.24. Season your food. Somespices may ward off Alzheimer’s,lower your blood pressure, andeven protect against certaincancers. So when you prepareyour next meal, consideringsprinkling on some garlic,rosemary, sage, turmeric, orlemon balm.25. The talk about tomatoes.New studies say that the redpigment in tomatoes calledlypocene protects your cells fromDNA damage caused by exposureto the sun. So break out the

tomato paste to thicken yourchili, or eat a bit of pizza orspaghetti.26. Super fruits. You’ve probablyheard all about the benefits ofblueberries. These little berriesare anti-inflammatory, packedwith antioxidants, and may evenreduce the effects of dementia.Goji berries are another superfruit, full of vitamin C, iron, anda bunch of other vitamins andminerals. Here are even morefruits you could be snacking onfor a health boost:PomegranateApplesBananasMangosWatermelonRaspberriesApricotsCantaloupeStrawberries27. Get enough calcium. I’msure your mom reminded youplenty of times while you weregrowing up to drink your milk inorder to keep your bones strong.That advice didn’t strictly applyto your childhood, as this needfor calcium will never go away.Not to mention, consuming dairyproducts can help with weightloss and prevent the onset ofosteoporosis as you age.28. Don’t forget your wholegrains. Oats, brown rice,buckwheat, barley, millet, andquinoa are all good ideas forpromoting a more well-balanceddiet. They contain vitamins,minerals, fiber, and a bit ofprotein.29. Indulge in dark chocolate.For a healthy dessert or a tastytreat, try dark chocolate. It hasbeen proven to lower your bloodpressure, improve blood flow,and prevent the formation ofblood clots. Just remember thatchocolate is better for yourhealth when it’s in moderation,and try to find some with 60%cocoa content or higher.

30. Snack on other specificsweets. For instance,peppermint can cause anincrease in alertness and memoryby acting as a stimulant, andginger is able to ease arthritispain.31. Drink plenty of water. It isalways important to stayhydrated. However, there areseveral factors which influencewhat proper hydration reallymeans. These include:Weather and climate conditionsAmount of clothing wornPhysical activityExercise intensity and durationLevel of perspirationType of medication(s) you are onExistence of certain medicalconditions (diabetes, heartdisease, cystic fibrosis)32. Brew some coffee. Toomuch caffeine can be a badthing, as you already learned,but just a cup may boost yourbrainpower.33. Fix a cup of tea. Drinkingtea can also have positiveeffects. Green tea, for example,can reduce the risk andrecurrence of several kinds ofcancer. Black tea, white tea, andchamomile all have their ownunique benefits.34. Have a glass of red wine.Numerous studies have beendone on resveratrol, thecompound found in grape juiceand red wine. It is possible thatdrinking these things will meanexperiencing fewer problems ofold age, such as heart disease orcataracts. However, researchershaven’t stumbled on anythingconcrete yet, so you should stickwith one glass a day – justenough to reap the healthbenefits without going overboardand inviting a different host ofproblems.

Pick up next month’s MatureLiving Magazine for Part Two


Memories

Although Earl Gill got his start in the50's playing with other bandsaround Dublin, the Hoedowners

started life as the resident band in theShelbourne Hotel in Dublin. In fact, aswere many bands of the day, they wereactually more of an orchestra. During thewinter the band played in the hotelballroom, but during the summer they hitthe road. In a 1969 Spotlight article OliverBarry said that Earl was originally a pianoplayer, but had an accident that severelyinjured some of his fingers and he turnedhis talents to the trumpet. However, hisearly training made him one of Ireland'smost talented arrangers in the country.Around the same time in the early sixties,Sean Dunphy was a carpenter by trade andsang part time with a group called theKeymen. He went to England after servingin the Irish Army where he continued towork by day as a carpenter and by nightsang in the Hibernian Ballroom in Fulham.When he heard Earl Gill was looking for avocalist, he sent a tape and was signed

immediately. The original "road band" included Mel

Dean (guitar), Steve Pickering (guitar),Gerry Ryan (bass), Vinnie Keane (drums),Earl Gill (trumpet), Claude Phibbs (sax),Frank Mangan (trombone), Sean Dunphyand Amy Hayden (vocals). At the time, theband was known as the Earl Gill Band. Inthe mid sixties, RTE (then known as TelefisEireann =TE) started a television showcalled the Hoedown and Earl and the bandwere hired to provide backing for thesingers. They took on the name TheHoedowners for the show and it stuck.Around the same time, they teamed up withmanager Oliver Barry, and set their sightson conquering the ballroom circuit. At thattime the band was known as Earl Gill andhis Hoedowners.

The band's next big break came in early1966, after changing to their new name,they released Wonderful World of MyDreams and it went to number five in theIrish Charts, starting a string of hit recordswhich would become legendary as there

were very few weeks in the mid to late 60'sthat there wasn't a Hoedowners recordsomewhere in the charts. In the 1960's andearly seventies, the Hoedowners were oneof the most successful Irish recordingartists with 14 singles hitting the Irishcharts between 1966 and 1973. In 1967,Sean was selected to represent Ireland inthe Eurovision Song Contest. This wasIreland's third attempt - Butch Moore andDickie Rock had preceded Sean. The songwas If I Could Choose. Sean came insecond behind England's entry, SandieShaw's Puppet on A String. In Ireland, therecord reached number two in the IrishCharts and provided the band's fourth hitsingle. The same year the band released"Sunset" one of very few instrumentalsongs to be released during the showbandera.

In early 1968, Sean was hospitalized in

Birmingham with tonsillitis and missedseveral dates in March. In mid-1968, Seanand the Hoedowners became the first artiststo release a single on the new DolphinRecords, started by their then manager,Oliver Barry and Jim Hand, manager of theCapitol. Sean and the boys also released thefirst album on the new label, Ireland's OwnSean Dunphy. In December, 1968, the bandunderwent a shuffle when several newmembers joined including guitarist/vocalistDave Carlisle from Newtownards.

In early 1969, Sean and the boys hadtheir first number one hit with The LonelyWoods of Upton. In July, the band followedthis up with the song, When The FieldsWere White With Daisies which wasarranged by Noel Kelehan and providedthem with yet another number one hit andthey became one of the few Irish artistsever to have a single in the top twenty for

12 months straight. A chart surveypublished in Spotlight in January, 1970showed that Sean Dunphy was far andaway the top recording artist in Irelandbased on the number of weeks and positionin the charts for all of 1969, ahead of JoeDolan and in third place, The Beatles. Theonly other Irish acts in the top ten of thesurvey were the Real McCoy and Dixies.

In 1971, the band went the "gimmick"route when they released Poor Poor Farmeras Darby O'Gill (Tim Pat), who wasactually Earl Gill. The single got toNumber 3 in the Irish Charts and the bandgot plenty of press. The trend wouldcontinue in 1972, when the band donnedcostumes as circus performers and changedtheir name to the Ho-Down Circus. Joiningthe band around this time (late 1972) was

fiddler, Tony Kirby and former Gentrydrummer, Shay Murphy. Each member ofthe band dressed as a different characterfrom a typical circus lineup. However, thewriting was on the wall for theHoedowners.

An article in Spotlight dated December20th, 1973 described Sean as the formerlead singer with the Hoedowners, so we areassuming the band split up in mid to late1973. He went off to do a residency inCanada (which seems to have been all therage at the time), but was due back inIreland in early 1974 for cabaret datesaround the country. Also, around this timeEarl Gill took over the management ofHugo Duncan and the Tallmen.Our thanks to Mel Dean, former member ofthe band for help compiling this story.

Article and Photos courtesy of Gerry Gallagher www.irish-showbands.comMemories

There were hundreds of them. Irish bands of every size,description and musical genre travelling the roads andborheens of Ireland. They travelled the length and breadth

of the country from the 1950's through the mid 1980's. Although"officially" the term showband was coined in the late fifties andwas used to describe bands that played a wide variety of musicand usually included a "show" during the night, the term wasgradually applied to all the bands that played in the 1960's. As the

Irish music scene splintered in the late sixties into pop, countrybands, the term was dropped but we still find it the best overalldescription of the bands of the "ballroom" era. In the early days,they travelled in whatever they could find...bread vans, hearses,and even cars (roof racks and all). In later years, many (if notmost) of them travelled in converted Ford Transit vans (like theone pictured right) that were normally used for delivery services.After a couple of windows were popped into the centre panels, a

row or two of old airplane seats were installed and the band wasready to travel "in style." Although style was a matter ofopinion...if you're stuck in the back of a van on a cold and rainywinter's night, it may seem like "a long way to Tipperary," but it'seven further to Castletownbere, Co. Cork!

It will be impossible to list all the bands that played the dancehalls, ballrooms, marquees, parochial halls, community centres,hotels, and town halls across Ireland but each month we are

planning to feature a band from the west with the help of GerryGallagher and www.irish-showbands.com . Apart from a few whoenjoy near mythical status (such as the Royal Showband and ahandful of others), most bands came together, played for a fewyears and then either reinvented themselves, changed their name,or just disappeared, their members either returning to civilian life,or scattering to two or three new bands.

For such a small country, it is difficult to comprehend the sheer

number of bands that the countryproduced. Almost as hard to imagine,is the number of dance halls thatonce dotted the countryside, manyout in the "middle of nowhere." Pickup next months issue for anotherblast from the blast from theshowband era...

Page 29 Mature Living June 2012

All editorial and photographs are kindly supplied by Gerry Gallagher from www.irish-shownbands.com

Over the years Gerry has built up what can only be describe as the definitive guide to the showband era.

I would like to thank Gerry for allowing us to reproduce thearticles and photos in Mature Living. If you would like to knowmore about your favourite band or who was number one in a

particular year visit www.irish-showbands.com

The Bands of our Showband EraTop singles - 1968

1. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Little Arrows (Pye)2. Johnny McEvoy - Nora (target)3. Dickie Rock & Miami - Simon Says (Pye)4. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - Two Loves (Dolphin)5. Emmet Spiceland - Mary From Dungloe (Inset)6. Pat McGeegan - Chance of A Lifetime (Emerald)7. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Katie's Kisses (Pye)8. Pattersons - I Don't Want To Be A Memory (CBS)9. Irish Rovers - The Unicorn (MCA)10. Sweeney's Men - Waxie's Dargle (Pye)11. Emmet Spiceland - Baidin Fheidhlimi (Gael-linn)12. Sean Dunphy & Howdowners - Christmas Polka 13. Patricia Cahill - One and One Are Two (Rex)14. Freshmen - Papa Oom Oom Mow (target)15. Granny's Intentions - Never An Everyday Thing (Deram)16. Sands - Yummy Yummy Yummy (Tribune)17. Sands - Dance Dance Dance (Tribune)18. Johnstons - I Never Will Marry (Pye)19. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Love of the Common People 20. Real McCoy - I Get So Excited (Target)21. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Lady Will-power/Woman Woman (King)22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Christmas Time and You (Pye)23. Sands - Help Me Rhonda (Tribune)24. Memories - Oh No (Rex)25. Dubliners - Dirty Old Town (Major Minor)26. Emmet Spiceland - Bunclody (Page One)27. Fairways - Flippiddy Flop (Release)28. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - The Emigrant 29. Kathleen & Deirdre - The Bridal Path (Pye)30. Johnstons - Both Sides Now (Transatlantic)31. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - In Person (Pye)32. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Same Old Song 33. Dreams - I Will See You There (Dolphin)34. Dolly McMahon - Sweet Rathcoole (Major Minor)35. Dubliners - Never Wed An Old Man (Major Minor)36. Freshmen - Go Granny Go (Target)37. Pat Lynch & Airchords - Piccolo Man (Pye)

Hoedowners Story (1962-1973)

Mature Living June 2012

Earl Gill and "his" Hoedowners: Left to right: Frank Mangan (trombone), Steve Pickering(guitar), Mel Dean (guitar), Claude Phipps (sax), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Vinnie Keane(drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Amy Hayden (vocals) and Gerry Ryan (bass). Our thanks toMel Dean for lineup info.

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners in 1966 Left to right- Claude Phipps (sax), Frank Mangan(trombone), Amy Hayden (vocals), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Unknown (guitar), Vinnie Keane(drums), Pat Keohane (bass) and Earl Gill (trumpet).

Memories

Although Earl Gill got his start in the50's playing with other bandsaround Dublin, the Hoedowners

started life as the resident band in theShelbourne Hotel in Dublin. In fact, aswere many bands of the day, they wereactually more of an orchestra. During thewinter the band played in the hotelballroom, but during the summer they hitthe road. In a 1969 Spotlight article OliverBarry said that Earl was originally a pianoplayer, but had an accident that severelyinjured some of his fingers and he turnedhis talents to the trumpet. However, hisearly training made him one of Ireland'smost talented arrangers in the country.Around the same time in the early sixties,Sean Dunphy was a carpenter by trade andsang part time with a group called theKeymen. He went to England after servingin the Irish Army where he continued towork by day as a carpenter and by nightsang in the Hibernian Ballroom in Fulham.When he heard Earl Gill was looking for avocalist, he sent a tape and was signed

immediately. The original "road band" included Mel

Dean (guitar), Steve Pickering (guitar),Gerry Ryan (bass), Vinnie Keane (drums),Earl Gill (trumpet), Claude Phibbs (sax),Frank Mangan (trombone), Sean Dunphyand Amy Hayden (vocals). At the time, theband was known as the Earl Gill Band. Inthe mid sixties, RTE (then known as TelefisEireann =TE) started a television showcalled the Hoedown and Earl and the bandwere hired to provide backing for thesingers. They took on the name TheHoedowners for the show and it stuck.Around the same time, they teamed up withmanager Oliver Barry, and set their sightson conquering the ballroom circuit. At thattime the band was known as Earl Gill andhis Hoedowners.

The band's next big break came in early1966, after changing to their new name,they released Wonderful World of MyDreams and it went to number five in theIrish Charts, starting a string of hit recordswhich would become legendary as there

were very few weeks in the mid to late 60'sthat there wasn't a Hoedowners recordsomewhere in the charts. In the 1960's andearly seventies, the Hoedowners were oneof the most successful Irish recordingartists with 14 singles hitting the Irishcharts between 1966 and 1973. In 1967,Sean was selected to represent Ireland inthe Eurovision Song Contest. This wasIreland's third attempt - Butch Moore andDickie Rock had preceded Sean. The songwas If I Could Choose. Sean came insecond behind England's entry, SandieShaw's Puppet on A String. In Ireland, therecord reached number two in the IrishCharts and provided the band's fourth hitsingle. The same year the band released"Sunset" one of very few instrumentalsongs to be released during the showbandera.

In early 1968, Sean was hospitalized in

Birmingham with tonsillitis and missedseveral dates in March. In mid-1968, Seanand the Hoedowners became the first artiststo release a single on the new DolphinRecords, started by their then manager,Oliver Barry and Jim Hand, manager of theCapitol. Sean and the boys also released thefirst album on the new label, Ireland's OwnSean Dunphy. In December, 1968, the bandunderwent a shuffle when several newmembers joined including guitarist/vocalistDave Carlisle from Newtownards.

In early 1969, Sean and the boys hadtheir first number one hit with The LonelyWoods of Upton. In July, the band followedthis up with the song, When The FieldsWere White With Daisies which wasarranged by Noel Kelehan and providedthem with yet another number one hit andthey became one of the few Irish artistsever to have a single in the top twenty for

12 months straight. A chart surveypublished in Spotlight in January, 1970showed that Sean Dunphy was far andaway the top recording artist in Irelandbased on the number of weeks and positionin the charts for all of 1969, ahead of JoeDolan and in third place, The Beatles. Theonly other Irish acts in the top ten of thesurvey were the Real McCoy and Dixies.

In 1971, the band went the "gimmick"route when they released Poor Poor Farmeras Darby O'Gill (Tim Pat), who wasactually Earl Gill. The single got toNumber 3 in the Irish Charts and the bandgot plenty of press. The trend wouldcontinue in 1972, when the band donnedcostumes as circus performers and changedtheir name to the Ho-Down Circus. Joiningthe band around this time (late 1972) was

fiddler, Tony Kirby and former Gentrydrummer, Shay Murphy. Each member ofthe band dressed as a different characterfrom a typical circus lineup. However, thewriting was on the wall for theHoedowners.

An article in Spotlight dated December20th, 1973 described Sean as the formerlead singer with the Hoedowners, so we areassuming the band split up in mid to late1973. He went off to do a residency inCanada (which seems to have been all therage at the time), but was due back inIreland in early 1974 for cabaret datesaround the country. Also, around this timeEarl Gill took over the management ofHugo Duncan and the Tallmen.Our thanks to Mel Dean, former member ofthe band for help compiling this story.

Article and Photos courtesy of Gerry Gallagher www.irish-showbands.comMemories

There were hundreds of them. Irish bands of every size,description and musical genre travelling the roads andborheens of Ireland. They travelled the length and breadth

of the country from the 1950's through the mid 1980's. Although"officially" the term showband was coined in the late fifties andwas used to describe bands that played a wide variety of musicand usually included a "show" during the night, the term wasgradually applied to all the bands that played in the 1960's. As the

Irish music scene splintered in the late sixties into pop, countrybands, the term was dropped but we still find it the best overalldescription of the bands of the "ballroom" era. In the early days,they travelled in whatever they could find...bread vans, hearses,and even cars (roof racks and all). In later years, many (if notmost) of them travelled in converted Ford Transit vans (like theone pictured right) that were normally used for delivery services.After a couple of windows were popped into the centre panels, a

row or two of old airplane seats were installed and the band wasready to travel "in style." Although style was a matter ofopinion...if you're stuck in the back of a van on a cold and rainywinter's night, it may seem like "a long way to Tipperary," but it'seven further to Castletownbere, Co. Cork!

It will be impossible to list all the bands that played the dancehalls, ballrooms, marquees, parochial halls, community centres,hotels, and town halls across Ireland but each month we are

planning to feature a band from the west with the help of GerryGallagher and www.irish-showbands.com . Apart from a few whoenjoy near mythical status (such as the Royal Showband and ahandful of others), most bands came together, played for a fewyears and then either reinvented themselves, changed their name,or just disappeared, their members either returning to civilian life,or scattering to two or three new bands.

For such a small country, it is difficult to comprehend the sheer

number of bands that the countryproduced. Almost as hard to imagine,is the number of dance halls thatonce dotted the countryside, manyout in the "middle of nowhere." Pickup next months issue for anotherblast from the blast from theshowband era...

Mature Living June 2012

All editorial and photographs are kindly supplied by Gerry Gallagher from www.irish-shownbands.com

Over the years Gerry has built up what can only be describe as the definitive guide to the showband era.

I would like to thank Gerry for allowing us to reproduce thearticles and photos in Mature Living. If you would like to knowmore about your favourite band or who was number one in a

particular year visit www.irish-showbands.com

The Bands of our Showband EraTop singles - 1968

1. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Little Arrows (Pye)2. Johnny McEvoy - Nora (target)3. Dickie Rock & Miami - Simon Says (Pye)4. Sean Dunphy & Hoedowners - Two Loves (Dolphin)5. Emmet Spiceland - Mary From Dungloe (Inset)6. Pat McGeegan - Chance of A Lifetime (Emerald)7. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - Katie's Kisses (Pye)8. Pattersons - I Don't Want To Be A Memory (CBS)9. Irish Rovers - The Unicorn (MCA)10. Sweeney's Men - Waxie's Dargle (Pye)11. Emmet Spiceland - Baidin Fheidhlimi (Gael-linn)12. Sean Dunphy & Howdowners - Christmas Polka 13. Patricia Cahill - One and One Are Two (Rex)14. Freshmen - Papa Oom Oom Mow (target)15. Granny's Intentions - Never An Everyday Thing (Deram)16. Sands - Yummy Yummy Yummy (Tribune)17. Sands - Dance Dance Dance (Tribune)18. Johnstons - I Never Will Marry (Pye)19. Joe Dolan & Drifters - Love of the Common People 20. Real McCoy - I Get So Excited (Target)21. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Lady Will-power/Woman Woman (King)22. Dickie Rock & Miami - Christmas Time and You (Pye)23. Sands - Help Me Rhonda (Tribune)24. Memories - Oh No (Rex)25. Dubliners - Dirty Old Town (Major Minor)26. Emmet Spiceland - Bunclody (Page One)27. Fairways - Flippiddy Flop (Release)28. Larry Cunningham & Mighty Avons - The Emigrant 29. Kathleen & Deirdre - The Bridal Path (Pye)30. Johnstons - Both Sides Now (Transatlantic)31. Brendan O'Brien & Dixies - In Person (Pye)32. Brendan Bowyer & Royal Showband - Same Old Song 33. Dreams - I Will See You There (Dolphin)34. Dolly McMahon - Sweet Rathcoole (Major Minor)35. Dubliners - Never Wed An Old Man (Major Minor)36. Freshmen - Go Granny Go (Target)37. Pat Lynch & Airchords - Piccolo Man (Pye)

Hoedowners Story (1962-1973)

Page 28 Mature Living June 2012

Earl Gill and "his" Hoedowners: Left to right: Frank Mangan (trombone), Steve Pickering(guitar), Mel Dean (guitar), Claude Phipps (sax), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Vinnie Keane(drums), Earl Gill (trumpet), Amy Hayden (vocals) and Gerry Ryan (bass). Our thanks toMel Dean for lineup info.

Sean Dunphy and the Hoedowners in 1966 Left to right- Claude Phipps (sax), Frank Mangan(trombone), Amy Hayden (vocals), Sean Dunphy (vocals), Unknown (guitar), Vinnie Keane(drums), Pat Keohane (bass) and Earl Gill (trumpet).

Health


We’ve all been there. Desperately wanting to lose those few extra pounds, or in some cases a lot of extra pounds, but no matter which diet we try we alwaysseem to end up where we started from. It’s frustrating and demoralizing and it tastes like failure. But it doesn’t have to be this way, says Dr. YoniFreedhoff, an American based obesity expert and the author of The Diet Fix: Why Diets Fail and How to Make Yours Work.

“If there was a quick fix we’d all be skinny,” he points out. “The more permanent the weight loss needs to be the more permanent the lifestyle changes need tobe.” So what’s preventing us from getting there?

Five reasons most diets fail

“The past 60 to 80 yearsof modern day dietinghas been predicatedupon the notion thatdieting success is aboutsuffering,” says Dr.Freedhoff. “It suggeststhat people strugglingwith their weight don’tdeserve to eat likenormal people or usefood for comfort andcelebration. Insteadthey’re only supposedto use food for fuel andshut off the othernormal uses. Thisdoesn’t work.”

1. We think dieting has to be painfulTrying to starve yourself into thinness doesn’t work either. “Hunger is a verypowerful physiological force,” says the diet doctor. “It’s second only to breathingfor survival. To think we can fight 100 million years of evolution which has madeour bodies really good at securing calories simply because we want to get into aparticular clothing size is folly.”

2.We under-eat

3. We over-exercise

“People are usually aware that sugar-sweetened beverages can be problematicbut they don’t always think about the cream and sugar in their coffee,” he says.“And people really don’t like to think about alcohol because they enjoy it somuch, but red wine has double the calories of Coca Cola and that’s something youcan’t ignore if you’re trying to lose weight.”-Best advice he can offer?“Weight management, in general, needs to be about people striving to live thehealthiest lives they can enjoy — and not the healthiest lives they can tolerate.They need to make lifestyle changes, that are significant and enjoyable, but notsevere. And that can be challenging when you’ve got a society telling you theyneed to be severe to work.”

“We’ve been duped by the food industry and our own willingness to believe youcan find health and weight loss in restaurants or boxes, but it doesn’t work thatway,” he says. “We, as a society, seem to be using restaurants and processedfoods like our grandparents used refrigerators and the produce drawers.” Dr.Freedhoff says he sees far more people who eat out three to four times a weekthan he does people who eat out three to four times a month. That equates toweight loss woes. “The calories we consume in restaurants are non-intuitive andastronomical in many cases. That salad you order might have more calories thana person burns in an entire day.”

“People undertake exerciseregimes that are truly‘regimes’,” he says. “People seethese shows on TV where theysuggest that exercise to thepoint of throwing up isdesirable. Again, that is not alifestyle – it’s a life sentence.”People also tend tooverestimate the number ofcalories they’re burning, whichcan lead to frustration. “As aconsequence, exercised-basedapproaches to weightmanagement tend to getdisappointing quite quickly,” hesays. “That’s why gyms are busyin January and empty in March.”

5. We don’t think about the calories we’re drinking

4.We eat out too often and consume too muchprocessed food

Health

Retirement holds the prom-ise to be a much earnedtime to enjoy life at a

slower pace and renew yourfocus on activities you enjoythat you didn’t have time to dobefore. If you’re like many, italso holds a hope to get in bet-ter shape and lose a littleweight.

However, more often thannot, retirees actually becomeless active, and gain weight!

A study called “The Effect ofRetirement on Weight” fol-lowed almost 38,000 retireesand concluded that retirementcontributed to weight gain.Some of this weight gain was

from less activity after retiring,not more – even though mosthad more available time to beactive. Unstructured mealtimes and eating out moreoften were also to blame.

Researchers also found thatbeing overweight can shortenyour life; for every 2.2 poundsgained after age eighteen,women’s odds of surviving pastseventy dropped 5 percent.Diseases to blame are cancer,heart disease, complications re-lated to smoking and diabetes.

It is a fact that as we getolder we need fewer calories tomaintain our weight – about 5%less for every decade after 40.

To maintain weight we need atleast one hour of moderate ac-tivity each day to keep theweight from sneaking on. Andeven though physical decline istypically 36 percent betweenthe ages of 60 and 90, if youexercise regularly you can cutthe drop by 50 percent ormore.

The positive news is thatweight gain and physical deteri-oration don’t have to be a partof your retirement future. Rec-ognizing the potential to be-come less active and gainweight with retirement can beused to prod us into action, andcreate a plan. What’s a retired

girl to do? Follow these eighttips and to fight the statistics:

Walk and talk. If you are amultitasker extraordinaire likeme, walking can be a great op-portunity to catch up withfriends or listen to a sermon onthe ipod. It can also be a greattime to pray. Wear a pedome-ter if you want to see howmany steps you’ve taken andmiles you’ve walked – it’s agreat motivator! Aim for10,000 steps a day to keep offthe pounds. Start slowly andwork your way up, if youhaven’t been active recently.

Walking videos work! Thereare many videos available, but

Leslie Sansone has great freevideos ranging from 15 minutesto 50 minutes on You Tube.They are worth watching some-time Get out of the chair regu-larly. Standing for at least 10minutes every hour, whetheryou’re watching television or onthe computer, will keep yourmetabolism burning, and is bet-ter for your back, too.

Eat the good stuff. Makeyour food choices mainly fruitsand vegetables, whole grains,and lean proteins. Stay awayfrom junk food, and orderwisely when eating out.

Eat earlier. If you can eat be-fore 7pm, all the better foryour body to digest the foodbefore you go to bed.

Eat less calories. Click hereto calculate how many caloriesyou need to maintain or loseweight. To watch your portionsizes, try eating off of an eightinch plate, and forgo seconds.

Find someone to hold you ac-countable. With a supportbuddy you’re less likely to slipup or miss a workout.

Find an activity that you like.Try new things, keep your mindopen. Create an arsenal ofideas handy to turn to whenyou’re not sure what kind ofexercise to do.

Although retirement is a timeto enjoy some free time, don’tlose site on how important it isto take care of your spiritualand physical self. It takes ef-fort to make a plan, then fol-low it, but it’s much easier toprevent weight gain and physi-cal ailments than to lose weightand treat health conditions.Use retirement as a time foryou to focus on your health.Making a commitment everyday will be well worth it!


Give Yourself the Gift ofActive Retirement

Fashion


It’s summer wedding season, and brides everywhere are putting the finishing touches to their Big Day outfits. But what if you’re an older bride walking down the aisle forthe second or third time, are you going with a big full-blown all-white gown or marching to your own beat in something unique? It looks like there might be no fashionrules – thankfully – when it comes to mature matrimony. Some like, Katie Couric, 57, who recently tied the knot this summer took a traditional route in a white lace

gown. While others, like Tina Turner who married last summer, opted for a green gown with fishnet leggings. But then again, Turner is a rock star of legendary status,known to shimmy in skimpy leather dresses, so a white beaded gown would hardly seem to be her image. We round up a few memorable wedding dresses that maturewomen wore to walk down the aisle.

Older Celebrity Brides

When the flamed-haired actress, Julianne

Moore wed director Bart Freundilich in 2003,

she opted for a very non-traditional wedding

dress- a lavender gown by Prada.

For her marriage to Prince Charles in2009, Camilla Parker Bowles donned apale blue silk chiffon dress by Londonlabel, Robinson Valentine, and topped itoff with feathered hat by Philip Treacy.

For her second marriage, Nicole Kidman went for

a very traditional look – white gown by

Balenciaga, complete with veil – for her wedding

to Keith Urban in Australia in 2005.

For her fifthwedding in 2002,

fashion plate JoanCollins was a visionin lovely lavenderwhen she tied the

knot with PercyGibson

Lisa Niemi, 57, the actress,dancer and author, whowas married to the latePatrick Swayze, remarriedthis summer to jewelerAlbert Deprisco. Niemiwore a stream-lined form-fitting white gown.

The embodiment ofover-the-top excess,Ivana Trump, for herwedding to RossanoRubicondi in 2008,

opted for an ivory lacegown

For theirintimatebackyardwedding in 2008,both EllenDeGeneres, 50,and Portia deRossi, 35, optedfor creamy whiteoutfits designedby Zac Posen.

Rock legend Tina Turner, 73, for her nuptials toErwin Bach in 2013, wore a black and green silktulle gown designed by Giorgio Armani.

Congratulations! You arefinally taking a relaxingholiday to a sunny tropical

spot. All you need to pack are a

few shorts or pants a couple oftops and a Swimming costume.

Cue the music for “Jaws”when the young woman is

swimming in the ocean, as thethought of finding and wearinga swimming costume may causeequal amounts of dread andfear, as well as some bloodcurdling screams.

Relax a while and let us giveyou a few tips on how to pickthe best swimming costume foryou and get you back in thewater, or at least be able to liedown on a lounge chair. Wewant you to enjoy your time inthe sun in style and comfort.

Seven Tips on How To Pick TheSwimming Costume Suit:

Do not try on suits that arethe same size as your clothes.Don’t ask me why, butswimwear sizes do notcorrespond with clothing sizes.Women need to try one to twosizes up for a flattering andcomfortable fit.

Choose a suit in a color thatcompliments you. And FYI: Avoidwhite, especially if you plan ongetting wet. White suits willalways become see-through.

Highlight your smaller partswith lighter colours andcamouflage your somewhatlarger parts with darker colors. Iuse this trick to minimize what I

consume at the all you can eatat buffet tables and the few toomany Pina Coladas.

Watch your back. No, reallytake a look and see if the shapeof your back is pushing over theedge of your swimmingcostume. If it is, then go for astyle that has a higher back somore of you is held in.

Of course you wish you had asmaller waistline, so look forsuits that have shirring at themiddle. The fabric gathering isa great way to disguise muffintops and tummy poufs.

Tuck, lift and suck. Tuck, lift

and suck. Repeat this mantraeach time you put on your suit.Tuck in your breasts, lift up yourrear so it is in the swimmingcostume versus hanging outaround the edges, and suck inyour stomach when you walk toor get up from your loungechair.

Never underestimate or abusethe power of the cover-up. Asimple lightweight tank dress oroversized shirt is far moreflattering than shorts and a t-shirt and fits so well with poolor beach surroundings.

How to pick the Swimming Costume

10 Everyday Tips to Achieving Great SkinBy Andrea Ryan

We all know that exercise andproper nutrition are hugefactors in getting andmaintaining great skin, butthere are some other “mustdos” to get your skin as healthyand youthful-looking as youcan! Here are 10 simple,everyday tips on how toachieve great skin:

1. Keep your skin clean byusing a gentle cleanser in themorning and at night. Always go in an upward motionwhen cleansing your face. It’simportant that you always startoff with clean, moisturized skinbefore you apply any make-upand before you go to bed.Ladies, do this no matter howtired you are. Cleanse yourface in the morning with agentle cleanser and cool water.Unlike warm water, cool waterconstricts blood vessels and canhelp diminish redness andpuffiness around the eyes.

2. Apply toner to freshen upyour skin. I like to use large cotton roundsas my applicator.3. Apply a serum to your face,

neck and chest to beginkeeping your skin hydrated.Serum is the best way to bringproper nourishment to yourskin. After your serum, apply adaytime moisturizer thatcontains at least a 15 SPF toprotect your skin from the sun’sharmful rays. Once again, applyto your face, neck and chest. Ieven suggest applying your SPFmoisturizer to the back of yourhands. They need protection,too!

4. Try to get a facial once amonth. If you can’t get a professionalfacial, treat yourself to an at-home facial at least once aweek. Use your mild cleanser,then exfoliate with a gentlescrub that contains exfoliantsthat are round and non-abrasive. Larger exfoliantshapes can injure the skin andcause irritation.

5. Apply a facial mask afterexfoliating. Try using simple egg whites asyour mask. Apply the egg whiteand wait until it hardens, thenrinse it off and see how shinyand smooth your face looks andfeels!

6) Shorten your shower.A long, hot shower may feelfabulous but it’s drying outyour skin. Take lukewarm,short showers. Moisturizewithin 3 minutes of steppingout of the shower. By doingthat, you will lock moistureinto you skin.

7) Sleeping on your face cancause “sleep line” wrinklesover time. Avoid sleeping onyour stomach if you can; trysleeping on your back or side,which is best. Definitely use asilk pillows to insure nowrinkles and keep your hairlooking better, as well.

8) Get a good night’s sleep!There’s a reason looking well-rested goes hand in hand withbrighter, healthier skin.

A good night’s sleep allowsyour skin to rejuvenate itself,repair free-radical damage,and build new collagen.

9) Put your eye cream andmoisturizers in the fridge tokeep them cool, which makesthese products even morebeneficial. When you wake up in themorning, your eyes can bepuffy and dark; but once youmassage the cool, soothinglotions and creams onto yourface, your puffy eyes willdisappear.

The coldness of the fridge willnot only help your eyes andface but also give your producta longer shelf life.

10) Even when you’resteering clear of the sun, or itappears to be a cloudy day,always be sure your makeupfoundation or moisturizercontains at least a SPF 15 orhigher…I go higher!

Breakaways

Ashort drive along the SouthEast coast will bring you toDun Laoghaire, where over-

looking the bay you will find theRoyal Marine Hotel. Steeped inhistory, and a favorite with thelocals, this landmark hotel is animpressive sight on the DunLaoghaire skyline. A hotel hasstood here since 1828. Manycelebrities, and even royaltyhave passed through its doorsover the decades. In 2004 thismagnificent old building closedfor restoration, a painstakinglabour of love by the presentowners.

Situated in an elevated site on4 acres overlooking Dublin Bay,the hotel has stunning views thaton a clear day stretch as far awayas Howth; and yet is still only ashort journey from down-townDublin. The original hotel hasbeen extensively but sympatheti-cally renovated with precise at-tention to detail.

And it is just this same atten-tion to detail, we extend to youas our guest – whether overnightor simply joining us for a drink inour bar or dining in our restau-rant.

The large bay windows and highceilings of the Bay Lounge high-light the grandeur and historicfeel that is central to the hotelstyle. Lavishly furnished it is acomfortable and ideal venue tomeet friends and family for cof-fee, lunch or perhaps to enjoythe age-old tradition of afternoontea whilst overlooking the gar-dens, with spectacular views ofthe harbour. Our resident pianistcompletes the ambience everySaturday afternoon.

Or perhaps dine in relaxedstyle in our Dún Bistro where thedelights of the Restaurant arematched only by the professionalfriendly service and stunningviews over the harbour. Servingan Early Bird Menu, Table d’hote

and a la Carte Menus.Try out lively Hardy’s Bar for a

local drink (named after the fa-mous actors and world famouspartners Laurel & Hardy whostayed in the original Royal Ma-rine Hotel). Food served everyday until 10pm. Live music everySaturday night.

The Pier Health Club offersstate-of-the-art cardio and resist-ance equipment, free weightarea and a luxury 18 metre swim-ming pool. We are proud to offerour members a spacious, relaxedand welcoming environment inwhich to exercise. Or simply re-treat into the hushed tranquillityof the sansanaSpa (the only FailtéIreland ‘comprehensive’ spa inDublin) and choose pamperingdelights from our extensive treat-ment menu.

With so much to choose from,what better way to spend a dayor so than at the beautifully re-stored Royal Marine Hotel…

...With so much to choose from, what better way to spend aday or so than at the beautiful Royal Marine Hotel…

The fascinating history of one of Irelands finest surviving Anglo Irish grandhouses awaits visitors to Mount Falcon Estate outside Ballina in CountyMayo. After exploring 100 acres of mature forest and walkways, discover

the archaeological remains of a 4,500 year old court tomb. A quick stroll aroundour 3 acre lake with resident ducks and then a few lengths in the 17 m indoorheated swimming pool, relax in our sauna, Jacuzzi and steam room and build upan appetite for traditional afternoon tea; served in opulent lounges in front ofroaring open fires. Mount Falcon……something for everyone.

Discover the Mount Falcon Estate, Ballina Golden Years at MountFalcon Estate €239 pp

MOUNT FALCON, FOXFORD ROAD, BALLINA, CO. MAYO

TEL: 096-74472 • FAX: 096-74473EMAIL: [email protected] • WEB: WWW.MOUNTFALCON.COM

3 nights Bed & Breakfast with 1 Bistro Dinner€25 Spa Credit (valid towards any 1 Hour Message

or Facial)Complimentary use of the Estate Golf

Driving RangeComplimentary use of our leisure centre with

17m heated pool100 acres of Estate woodlands, walks & river Moy

Connaughts Best Restaurant 2013 (RAI)

Transfers to local Bus & Train Station on request10% discount at Foxford Wollen Mills

Mayo on our Door Step

The Villa Rose Hotel is a 4 Star, family owned,boutique spa hotel located in the town centreof Ballybofey, Co Donegal.

Situated between Letterkenny & Donegal Town it isan ideal base from which to experience all thatDonegal and the North West of Ireland have to offer.

The hotel comprises 57 beautifully appointedbedrooms, contemporary in design with the emphasison absolute comfort acting as a home away fromhome. All bedrooms are ensuite and include safe,tea/coffee making facilities, complimentary bottledwater, plasma screen tv & complimentary wi-fi.

Avail of free parking and complimentarynewspapers each morning. Facilities include Fara’sRestaurant & Wine Bar for a delicious meal in modernand elegant surroundings,

The Forge Bar with live light entertainment, The ‘Wee’ Bar serving lunch, bar food & specialty

coffees overlooking Ballybofey’s bustling main street& The V Spa for pampering & relaxation.

The Villa Rose offer a wide range of holidays forthe 50+ market including Ballroom & SequenceDancing and 50+ Active Breaks including a range of

optional entertainment & activities to partake induring your stay. Whether you are looking for arelaxing break away or for an exciting trip with thepossibility of meeting like minded friends then theVilla Rose is the destination for you. Contact LeonaMcGee – dedicated 50+ Events Marketing Co-ordinator at the Villa Rose for full details

Active Breaks at The Villa Rose Boutique Hotel and V-Spa

4 Star, Family Owned, Town Centre hotelReservations: 074-9132266 [email protected] • www.villarose.ie

50+ Active Breaks2B&B+2 Dinners €119pp 3B&B+3 Dinners

€159pp 4B&B+4Dinners €199ppIncludes Tea & Scones on arrival with Activities

& Entertainment all week

Dancing for Pleasure BreaksJune 8th – 11th Inclusive €239pp

4 Nights B&B+4Dinners, Tuition & Dancing toLive Bands Nightly

Anytime Golden Years BreakSunday – Thursday

3B&B+2Dinner €139ppNo single Supplement on any of the above subject to availability

One of the best places to base a home holiday ora week-end break is, undoubtedly, the LoughAllen Hotel in County Leitrim. Situated on the

shores of Lough Allen, only 14 km from the bustlingtown of Carrick on Shannon, it is only a short walk tothe town of Drumshanbo.

The hotel has offerings to compare with the tophotels in Ireland and also has the stunning Leitrimcountryside. Spa treatments, leisure centre and asumptuous candlelight dinner are all part of what’s onoffer for an unforgettable break. A family re-unioncan be rounded off with a lavish evening meal

It is an ideal wedding venue or conference centre.The central location of the hotel in Leitrim facilitates

tours and visits to thesurrounding unspoiledcountryside. The locationfacilitates visits to the manynearby lakes that comprise theLeitrim countryside andshopping in nearby Sligo orEnniskillen A visit to Lough Allenhotel & Spa in Drumshanbo is amust and there are packages tosuit any budget.

Visit the stunning Leitrim countryside

Enjoy the beautifulviews of the untouched countryside of MayoJoin us here at Knock House Hotel and enjoy the beautiful views of theuntouched countryside of County Mayo. It is a haven of peace and theperfect setting for a relaxing break. Located just 20 minutes from “IrelandWest Airport Knock” and 10 minutes from Claremorris Train Station. Takeup our 4 Day special Offer for February and March of €199 includes 4Nights B&B and 4 Evening Meals.

During your break with us we cater to your every need , and it’s a lovelyopportunity to make friends and mix with like- minded people. Enjoy ourFour Seasons Restaurant which overlooks a beautiful garden and capturesthe magnificent spire of the Basilica. Over the years it has earned anenviable reputation of food, wine & service.Knock House Hotel is within minutes of wonderful attractions includingKnock Marian Shrine and Museum. Within a short drive; Fr PeytonMemorial, Museum of Country Life (Turlough ), Foxford Woollen Mills andthe Western Greenway Cycling Route, and within an hour’s drive,Kylemore Abbey, Michael Davitt Museum and Ceide Fields. Local outdooractivities include hiking and walking, golf, horse riding and angling.Enniscrone Beach is within a 40 min drive where you can swim, surf orenjoy a seaweed bath.

To book this wonderful deal please call Karen on 0949388088

Breakaways

Knock House Hotel, Knock, Co Mayo www.knockhousehotel.ie • [email protected]

Tel: 094 9388088 • Fax: 094 9388044

Special Offer From Knock House Hotel2 Nights Bed, Breakfast

and 2 Evening meals May, June & July €160pp

When you call to book Quote : Mature Living

PHONE KAREN NOW!*This offer is exclusive to Mature Living Readers and can not be used in con-

junc"on with any other offers. *Subject to availability *Terms and Condi"ons apply

2 Nights B&B for 2 people Only €99Available Sun-Thur Only...€49.50pps

Please mention Mature Living Leinster when booking

Mid Week 2 Nights B&B Offer

Drumshanbo • Co Leitrim www.loughallenhotel.com

To Book Call 071-9640100 or [email protected]

Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure ClubAwarm welcome awaits you at the four-

star Sligo Park Hotel and Leisure Club,On the outskirts of Sligo Town in the

Heart of Yeats’ Country set in quiet parklandand surrounded by some of the most sceniccountryside in Ireland ranging from themajestic Benbulben to the gentle waters ofLough Gill. In the heart of Yeats’ country forover 40 years, the Sligo Park Hotel is a wellestablished favourite. Relax in the spacious lobby; take a stroll intotown or venture to the nearby ancient sitesincluding Carrowmore, Slish Wood, DooneyRock & Knocknarea or an abundance ofwoodland retreats.Wherever your interests lie, Sligo is sure tohave something to offer. Stroll along Atlantic shores taking in somestunning scenery. Why not try your hand atpottery, take a walk up Knocknarea mountainor go surfing in Strandhill?

After a days exploring, sit back and relax inthe jacuzzi before savouring the atmosphereof the Rathanna bar and Garden Terrace andenjoying the creative delights in theHazelwood Restaurant.

Sligo is surprising !

HOTEL & LEISURE CLUB

Pearse Road, Sligo • Tel: 071 919 0400 www.sligoparkhotel.com • Email: [email protected]

Over 55’s Special Offer

Subject to Availability Available on Selected Dates

3 B&B + 3 DinnersFrom €150pps4 and 5 Night Breaks also Available

Mature Dating

Raise your hand if any of thefollowing apply to you:You’re a worried 50-somethingtrying to traverse the datingscene. Divorce or widowhoodhas thrown a wrench in yourplan of growing old with yourspouse and now it’s time tojump back into the datinggame. Or maybe you neverfound that special someone andthe new dating culture isslightly (ok, very) intimidating.Don’t worry! You’re not a fishout of water. Even though it al-ways seems like you’re sur-rounded by blissful, marriedcouples, there are many other50-somethings having the samedating frustration. Yes, the dat-ing game has changed in thedigital age. And no, learning tonavigate these new advance-ments doesn’t require sophisti-cated technical skills. Thechallenge comes in determiningwhich method is best for you—because there’s no rules in digi-tal dating!So, where should you start?

Email + TelephoneDoes a mutual friend want tomatch you up with someonefabulous? Consider exchangingemails. Just don’t let the back-and-forth continue for too long.Once you’ve established mutualinterests, exchange phone num-bers so you can be your authen-tic self! Or, instead of just aregular phone call, try using aniPhone or iPad to FaceTime to

develop a personal connectionat a time when digital datingcan seem impersonal.

Online DatingWhether you’re curious aboutonline dating or a seasoned ex-pert, it’s easy to get over-whelmed. But don’t dismiss itjust yet!First, ask for some help settingup your profile. Ask your tech-savvy kids or a close friend totake a few photos for your pro-file—you know they’re alwayshonest and will help you choosethe best one. Many of the largeronline dating sites also offertechnical support via email,phone or have a comprehensiveFAQ section.

Expand your idea of your idealmatch or the perfect date. On-line dating gives you the oppor-tunity to meet different typesof people. You can find thatperson who loves to play musicor who’s a vegan or even some-one younger than you! It’s im-portant to not get too caught upin your list (you know, the onethat gives a detailed account ofthe traits your perfect matehas) because you might be miss-ing out on some fantastic poten-tial matches!

Other TipsIt might seem impolite to ignorepotential matches that emailyou, but only pick three or fourpeople that you’re interested in

getting to know better. Focus onthem so you can avoid feelingoverwhelmed.In the new digital realm thereare many opportunities to meetnew people. People shouldavoid assuming something is se-rious too soon. Let’s say you hitit off via email, had some side-

splitting conversations on thephone and even had a perfectfirst date. But hold it! It mightbe a mistake to only focus onone person at a time. I’m notsaying that two people can’tclick immediately and begin anexclusive relationship, but justbe aware of your dating situa-

tion, and don’t take other op-portunities for granted! Initiatecontact with anyone you deeminteresting, and see what youcan catch!

You can still find Mr. Right after50—and online dating apps arethe new “It” space.

3 Common Online Dating Mistakes Women Over 50 MakeThe reason I'm such a strong

advocate for online datingis because I know it's the

easiest place to meet singlemen over 50. The problem is,no one gives you the rules forbeing successful with it.In fact, I've found threecommon mistakes women over50 consistently make that endup totally frustrating them intheir search for Mr. Right. It'stime to change that. That's whyI'd like to share these 3mistakes with you, along withwhat you can do to successfullyfind a great guy online.

Mistake #1 - Not DisplayingYour Unique You!Having success finding qualitymen to date online starts withposting a great profile andpicture that makes you standout from everyone else. Mostwomen usually list theirqualities in their profile as away of getting a man's

attention. An example is...I am a kind hearted,professional woman who likesto travel, be around water,shop, and go to movies.Although a sentence like thisgives a lot of information aboutyou... it reads like a datingresume. It's dry and doesnothing to make you stand out.And there's nothing in it thatwould get a man excited aboutmeeting you. Here is anexample of a sentence I've seenwhen it comes to describing themen women want to meet.I'm seeking a man who is trulyinterested in working on arelationship and willing to giveat least 50 percent to arelationship.The first sentence is heavy anda man reads it as this woman isstill bitter from a pastrelationship where a man didn'tbring enough of himself to thetable. The second sentence isvery general and subjective.

What 'comfortable in your ownskin' means to you could betotally different than what itmeans to a man. It's a broadsentence that, again, won'tengage a man to contact you.Instead, write the list ofqualities you want in a man.Then create a story using acouple of those qualities alongwith one or two of the activitiesyou love to do. This type ofprofile will engage a man,helping him identify that he'sthe one you are looking for.

Mistake #2 - Forgetting To PlayDating feels like a chore whenyou don't know how to play andflirt with men either online orin the real world. I used torecommend not writing menfirst because most womenwould write something likethis...I like your profile. It sounds likewe have so much in common. Ihope you'll write me back.

BORING! BORING! STILLBORING!Go ahead and write a man butbe playful. As an example, if aman is wearing a suit in hispicture, write him and saysomething like...I love when a man wears a suit.He looks really sexy.It's flirty, fun and engaging anda man feels good hearing this.I'll share a secret about men...They love compliments just likeyou do and this is the type offlirting that allows you tochoose the men you want to goout with, versus always beingchosen by men you don't want.You are still a beautiful, sensualwoman and flirting brings thisback out in you. It'sunbelievably appealing to men!

Mistake #3 - Not Knowing HowTo Relate To Over 50s AlphaMenI've found most women want anAlpha Man in their life. Why?

Because he makes her feel safeand protected. Life has changedsince then and so have womenwho are now capable of doingthis for themselves. And this has created a hugeproblem for men.Why? Men don't feel needed bywomen our age anymore. Andwhen a man doesn't feelneeded, guess who he turns to?That's right...a younger womenwho can make an Alpha Manfeel his strongest and bestbecause he's needed.Women don't realize that theway they talk sounds like, "Wahwah wah," to a man. He tunes you out and as youknow, this only frustrates youmore.But if you really get who menare and you know how to talkwith them so they hearyou...well, they'll jump throughhoops and climb over mountainsto be there for you. And thatfeels pretty good!

The New Rules for Dating After 50

Feature

There’s a silent evolutiongoing on for many babyboomer women. The days

of the carefree empty nesterare disappearing.In its place: the full house(figuratively or literally). Morewomen in their 50s are findingtheir responsibilities expandrather than contract: elder careresponsibilities, continuingresponsibility for adult children;help raising grandchildren; and,worry about your own financialfuture. No wonder we’re feelingtired and more than a bitoverwhelmed.

Why?Because the roles we spent alifetime perfecting suddenly getturned upside down. Let’s takea look at eldercare. Going tovisit Mum and Dad is no longerabout fitting into the familiarrole of being the child. Suddenlyyou’re thrust into the role ofparenting your parents with noroad map for how this should

work and quite often parentswho are no better prepared forthe role reversal. I joke that foryears I had no idea where myparents were as they traveled,holidayed and visited friends.But after my father’sdebilitating stroke almostovernight I knew not onlyexactly where they were, butstruggled with them to makedecisions about life changesahead. None of us was preparedfor this change in relationship.We could have been.

Preparing for EldercareThere are thousands ofcaregivers in the country caringfor people over the age of 50.With baby boomers aging andcontinued advancement inmedical care that number isexpected to continue to climb.Approximately 66% of familycaregivers are women. Thetypical family caregiver is a 49-year-old woman caring for herwidowed 69-year-old mother

who does not live with her,according to research andsurveys. She is married andemployed and more than a thirdhave children or grandchildrenunder the age of 18 living withthem. So what can you do to bebetter prepared to handleeldercare responsibilities? Hereare four tips to get you and yourfamily prepared for longer lives.

Tip 1. Talk to your parents nowabout what they want as theyage. Don’t wait. It’s not an easyconversation, but you will be soglad you did if a health crisishits. Where do they want to livewhen they can’t get around aseasily? Do they have resourcesearmarked for care, like longterm health insurance, thatcould help pay for care if theyneed it? Government help areavailable to those who areimpoverished but waiting listscan be long. Is moving into yourhome a solution and if so whatsteps would you need to take tomake it “senior friendly?”Are there big do’s on their listor mandatory don’ts? Do youhave the names of their doctorsand where their legaldocuments are located? Has apower of attorney beendesignated? A popular documentused by many planners is “FiveWishes” which helps guide aperson through the financial,emotional and spiritual aspectsof aging. One of the toughestaspects of caregiving is theemotional strain or guilt ofwondering if you are doing whatthey wanted. Get their

perspective while their able andhealthy.

Tip 2. Don’t make promises.Know their preferences, expressyour commitment to thatdirection but don’t makepromises you can’t keep. Youjust don’t know what liesahead. Their health conditionmay be such that you can’t keepthem in their own home oryours. Make sure you feel youhave permission to do what’sbest for all involved if they canno longer make decisions ontheir own. (This advice appliesto spouses and siblings, too.)

Tip 3. Get your siblingsonboard. Nothing rekindles sibling rivalrylike talking about who knowswhat’s best for Mum or Dad. Sotry to broach the subject withyour brothers or sister before acrisis hits. Get a sense of whatresources each bring and therole each might play when thetime comes. Ask anyone who hasbeen through an eldercare crisisand they can tell you that theworst time to start planning andorganising is at the hospitaldischarge meeting.

Tip 4. Plan for Yourself. The statistics tell us that thereis very good likelihood thatmany of us will live into our 80sand 90s. And that more than70% of us will need some type oflong term care assistance overthe age of 65. Planning for longterm care should be part of yourfinancial and retirementplanning. Some people have

enough money to self-financelong term care which can costupwards of €60,000 per year.Long term care insurance isanother way to pay for care inthe future and, the best time tobuy it is when you are in your50s and healthy. The key is tohave both a long term care planand a way to finance the careyou want. That’s a great gift togive your children.If you are considering quittingyour job to care for your familymember make sure youunderstand the financial impacton your own retirement plans(income, social securitybenefits, health insurance coststo name a few). Eldercare canbe an emotional roller coasterof ups and downs with lovingmemorable moments andunbridled frustration. Askanyone who has been there. Thegood news is that by planningahead some of the decisions willbe easier and the stress less.

From Empty Nest to Full House: Preparing for Eldercare


Australia, being such a largecountry (it’s an Island, acontinent as well as a

country, to be exact), it’snatural to be intimidated by allthe many sights and things todo.

And with friendly citizens anda land rich in diverse culturalbackgrounds and indigenoustraditions from thousands ofyears ago still recognized today,it’s no wonder why theAustralian culture is often seento be very similar to the Irishculture. But with a bit more ofa laid back attitude. And withmore beaches, of course!

We’ve compiled the top threereasons why you as a Irishtraveler should finally add acheckmark next to ‘visitAustralia’ on your bucket list.And, of course, why you need tospecifically book a tour whenyou visit Australia.

Convenience and Time Saving:The Outback or the beach? Tourthe Sydney Harbour Bridge orBlue Mountains? And this is justSydney – then you must thinkabout Melbourne and Cairns andso on. You wouldn’t want totravel all the way to Australiajust to see one city. Plus, itwould be quite hard to jamseveral activities into oneholiday, and plan them each outin a timely manner on your ownwhen unexpected delays couldcrop up.

There are many organizedcross-city tours that take youfrom Sydney to Melbourne,Cairns and the Great BarrierReef and so on within onevacation package. Often thesetours include return flights,accommodations, most meals,hiking trails and various

activities like snorkeling, and ofcourse, plenty of photo-snapping opportunities.

Safe and Never Boring:From dining on a luxury boatcruise overlooking the iconicSydney Harbour Bridge to dinneron a first class train fromSydney to Melbourne, no twonights are the same when youtravel with an organized tour.Organized tours are known asbeing a safe way to travel asyou’re with a group and activitylevels are appropriate for allages no matter who is on thetour. These tours ensure thateach day will be vastly differentfrom the next as there are manypre-planned and well-organizedactivities – saving you a lot oftime in the preparation processof having to research each placeindividually. Each site visit isseamless, safe and easy – oneday you could be visiting BlueMountains just west of Sydneyand the next day you’d beheading on a train to visitMichaelmas Cay (The GreatBarrier Reef).

Get Your Fill on The Popularand The “Hidden Gems”:Booking a tour that takes you tomany cities throughout thecountry ensures you don’t missa beat, treat or feat! Did youknow about The ColonialTramcar Restaurant inMelbourne? While bustlingthrough the hip streets ofMelbourne on a tram, TheColonial Tramcar Restaurantallows you to enjoy a fourcourse meal including KangarooLoin, Tasmanian Ocean Trout,Victoria Fillet as well as aselection of Australian cheeses.Did you also know that

throughout the country, youdon’t ever have to tip anywaiters when dining inrestaurants? It’s not customaryto tip waiters in Australia,saving you money to enjoy yourtravels (or grab a few extrasouvenirs from each city on yourtour!).

Another reason why Australiais a great place to visit? It’s affordable – internalroundtrip flights within Australiaare roughly €150. Australia isaffordable, it’s safe, and it’s gota lot of fascinating places tovisit.Let your travel agent help youadd a checkmark to your bucketlist today and assist you inincorporating several Australiandestinations in an easy 14-day,19-day, 22-day or 27-day all-inclusive voyage along theeast-coast of Australia! Mosttravel agents will guide youthrough your trip planningprocess from end-to-endseamlessly. On everything from

baggage limits, ideal climatesfor particular locations, off-beaten path delights, insightson the best of restaurants,cafes and shopping, and all thebest airfare deals.

The Great Ocean RoadThe Great Ocean Road, locatedin Victoria, is arguably one ofthe best scenic drives of theworld. Its official length is 243kms (approximately 150 miles),but it will take you a full day toenjoy it due to the narrow andwindy traffic lanes (only one ineach direction). It hugs thecoast line with panoramic viewsof the ocean and cliffs, and itwinds its way through coolclimate rain forests.There are many beaches thatyou can stop and swim at alongthe drive, and also numeroustownships, hikes, and otherattractions for you to partakein.

The Grampians National ParkLocated in Victoria, 175 kms

north of Warrnambool (theofficial end of the Great OceanRoad) is the Grampians NationalPark and the township of HallsGap. The park is 1,672 km² insize and is host to amazinghikes, series of low-angledsandstone ridges, and is one ofthe richest Indigenous rock artsites in south-eastern Australia.Its beauty and grandeur are wellknown to locals, and stuns allwho come to visit. You canalmost feel the magic of theIndigenous dream time legendsin the land around you.

Fraser IslandLocated just off the coast nearHervey Bay in Queensland,Fraser Island is the largest sandisland in the world. With over120 kilometres of pristinebeaches it's easy to understandwhy thousands of people visiteach month. The most popularway to get around the island isby hiring a 4wd for 2-3 days andexplore where ever your fancytakes you.

The Great Ocean Road

Freycinet National Park / Wineglass Bay

Great Barrier Reef

With inland fresh water lakes,rainforests with rare flora andfauna, the Dingo, wrecks forsnorkelling and scuba diving,gorgeous beaches, and muchmore, it's no wonder this paradiseis such a sought after touristdestination.

Great Barrier ReefLocated in Queensland, thisattraction, along with Uluru andthe Sydney Opera House, is oneof those attractions that is knownby virtually everyone, and issynonymous with Australia.Stretching for approximately2,300 kms, it is home to a vastwealth or rare, endangered, andunique animal and plant species.It's hard to recommend oneparticular area of the reef tovisit, but most people agree thatthe Whitsunday Islands areabsolutely stunning, and werecommend taking a 2-3 daysailing trip/tour around the area.With snorkelling and scuba divingareas literally everywhere youare bound to experience wondersthat will stay with you for the

rest of your life!Daintree RainforestLocated in northernQueensland, approximately 110kms north of Cairns (and don'tforget to stop at Port Douglason your way, it's stunning), therainforest is a naturewonderland. It is Australia'slargest rainforest, about 30% ofAustralia's reptile, marsupialand frog species, 65% of thecountry's bat and butterflyspecies, and 20% of Australia'snative bird species can be foundwithin the Daintree. And let'snot forget it's also home to aprehistoric bird, the Cassowary!With so many things to see anddo, including: crocodile boattours, visiting one of severalanimal sanctuaries, going on amangrove adventure tour, hikes,local Indigenous tours/history,it's easy to see why it's such apopular destination for touristsand nature lovers alike.

Kakadu National ParkLocated approximately 200 kmssouth east of Darwin in the

Northern Territory, Kakadunational park covers nearly20,000 km² (3.2 million acres),and includes the traditionallands of several Indigenoustribes. With over 5,000 rockpainting sites, it's easy to seethat this area was particularlysacred to the traditionallandowners.It is a natural wonder that holdsboth a World Heritage Arealisting and as a UNESCO site(there are only two other sitesin the world that hold bothawards). With stunninggorgeous, rare and endangeredanimals and plants, thenotorious salt water crocodile,and many other naturalattractions, this park will leaveyou breathless and in awe ofboth its history, it's remoteness,and it's power.

Ayers RockEnough said. If you come toAustralia you must see Uluru (inthe Northern Territory). Somany times we have heardpeople say something like, "Iwas not going to bother, youknow, it's just a rock. But once Istarted to get closer, and it gotbigger, and bigger, and bigger,it's hard to put into words thefeeling that overcome me. Youcould feel the history, themagic, the splendour that isUluru".

So if you are thinking aboutnot making the journey, rethinkyour plans and make it happensomehow.

Something that we'drecommend is taking a guidedtour from Adelaide. Thesenormally span 3 days minimum(and can go for 7+), but well

worth it. You'll get to see muchmore than just the rock that isUluru!

Freycinet National Park /Wineglass BayDown in pristine Tasmania,sticking out into the sea onTasmania's mild east coast is therugged and beautiful FreycinetPeninsula, home to WineglassBay. The peninsula is home tonumerous other bays whichprovide beautiful secludedswimming beach, snorkellingand scuba areas, rock pools,and many other attractions.With many hikes (one goesalong the entire peninsula andtakes 3 days), guided rangeractivities, camping areas, anoutdoor theatre, scenic drives,there are enough activities tokeep you busy for many days.

Grampian National Park Victoria

Fraser Island

Kakadu National Park

DISCOVER FUN AND

Call for a golf lesson today with Brendan McDaid in Dublin on 087 243 6805 or email [email protected]

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“Bridge is the mostentertaining andintelligent card game thewit of man has so fardevised…everyone shouldlearn it…”, so wrote theauthor SomersetMaugham.

Today, bridge is still oneof the world’s mostpopular pastimes with tensof thousands playing it onthe internet at this, andevery, moment. 36countries competed in thisyear’s EuropeanChampionships. TheContract BridgeAssociation of Ireland,which organises ournational competitions, hasin excess of 20,000members in Leinsteralone, where there aremore than 280 bridgeclubs to choose from (noteven counting the bridgeplayed socially in Tennisand Golf clubs) and wheresome 30 schools will offerBridge as a transition yearsubject next term.

And that’s becauseBridge is a microcosm oflife in the raw. For thosefew hours you’ll be set anynumber of challenges,both to your intellect –your memory, logic andcunning – and to yourpersonality - coping withwinning, losing, yourmistakes, partner’s

mistakes and theopponents’ blind luck(your luck, of course,being entirely deserved!)

So, if you’d like anadrenaline rush withoutjumping out of anaeroplane, then givebridge a go. You neverknow, you might bepleasantly surprised.

Bridge - A Beautiful Game

The Sheer Satisfaction of Growing Your Own

Gardening doesn't just exercise yourbody, it exercises your mind as well.Planning what to grow and when to

sow is more complex than you might think. Now before you think I've lost itcompletely, growing a cauliflower is notthat easy. The correct variety has to bechosen for the time of year, sown in theright mix and transplanted at the rightpoint into a specially prepared bed. Then ithas to be fertilised, defended from weeds,marauding pigeons and hungry caterpillarsuntil, with luck, you end up the proudowner of a wonderful white cauliflowersurrounded by dark green leaves andtasting better than any cauliflower youhave eaten before.

It might not look any better than thosesitting on the grocer's shelf and it mighteven have a bug or two hiding amongst thecurds but you know exactly what has goneinto growing it. No nasty pesticide residues

to be absorbed or 'food miles' accumulatedtransporting it halfway around the world.

Extra Fresh Beans By now you mightbegin to grasp the sheer satisfaction youcan get from growing your own, but itdoesn't stop there. You will suddenlydiscover how popular growing your ownmakes you. The first time you have a glutand donate some extra fresh beans orlettuce to a friend your fate is sealed.They'll be back round to see you in shortorder. Unlike most hobbies that cost you,growing your own is profitable. Your ownvegetables cost very little in comparison tothe cost of buying vegetables.

I'd encourage anyone to grow their ownbut, even if you have a large garden, anallotment provides a change of scenery, aninteresting bunch of people that youprobably would never meet elsewhere andadvice on tap. All joking aside, it is one ofthe most rewarding hobbies you can have.

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EXCITING HOBBIES

Writing is a great hobby formen and women over 50.It can pay and there's an

enormous market out there.Thousands of book publishers,newspaper and magazine editorsare in need of continuous sup-plies of material, not only in Ire-land but, in this digital age, allaround the world. If you fancygetting ‘into print’ and be paid,here are some basic, useful tipsto improve your chances.One of the best ways of gettingpractical help at the start is by

joining your local writers' group,where the membership is likelyto range from raw beginners, topublished authors. Many localcolleges run evening classes onwriting improvement, othersoffer long distance courses. The‘Writer and Artists’ Year Book’and ‘The Writers’ Handbook’ areessential reading for all writers.Useful magazines such as ‘Writ-ers’ News’ and Writers’ Forum’are available either fromnewsagents, online or by sub-scription. Book shops offer many

‘how to’ titles for aspiringscribes.

A great hobby for men &women over 50A reasonably easy start to getinto print is by writing letters toyour local paper. Mention some-thing local that you feel stronglyabout; make it controversial andthe editor will love it! There’s lit-tle chance here of any paymentbut, hey, your name is in thepress. First rung up the writingladder.

A huge range of women’s maga-zines welcome reader’s letters,and usually pay.

What do readers want to read?In the short story market, stan-dards are high, competitionfierce, the outlets restricted. Youneed to research publicationsthoroughly to stand any chanceof acceptance. It is not just amatter of writing a story and sub-mitting it to any magazine thattakes your fancy; you need to as-sess what editors are looking for.Some publications offer writersuseful guidelines; ignore them atyour peril! Intensely study yourchosen magazine. Count thenumber of words of the publishedshort stories. If most are the pop-ular length of around 1,000words, it is no good hoping for anacceptance for your 2,000 wordsubmission. Approach by e-mail,(letters are now out of favour)

with a brief, business-like, query,asking if they might be inter-ested; if they say ‘no’ try anothersuitable publication.

Limitless materialThe market for feature articles isfar, far greater and easier tobreak into. The advice is thesame as for short stories. Do yourresearch. What to write about?Subject matter is limitless.Play to your strengths.Do you have an unusual hobbythat readers would find fascinat-ing? Be persistent. Keep checking outany available markets where youcan sell your work. Develop aradar system where incidents ineveryday life can be turned intoa good story or an interesting ar-ticle.

Want to write a book?Well, that’s another story!

So you want to write? ... and get paid

Pigeon racing grew upin the industrialareas of Britain

where it was known as‘poor man’s horse racing’,and was enjoyed by theworking class man. Today,

the sport is enjoyed bypeople from varied socialbackgrounds including pro-fessors, doctors, vets,school teachers and busi-ness owners as well astradesmen, lorry drivers

and gravediggers! Evenher Majesty the Queen,patron of the Royal PigeonRacing Association, has aloft at Sandringham whereshe continues a long lineof Royal participation

going back to her greatgrandfather. Fanciersacross Ireland keep theirpigeons in specially de-signed lofts. These varyfrom small structureshousing perhaps a dozenbirds to larger premiseswhere hundreds of pigeonsare kept for both racingand breeding purposes.Members compete againsteach other racing in clubs.Apart from his pigeons afancier will require a spe-cial timing clock. The se-cret of the race istraditionally a small rub-ber band that is placedaround the pigeon’s leg.Club members will entertheir pigeons into a raceand after being ‘race rub-bered’ the pigeons go intoa basket on a special air-conditioned transporterconstructed to carry rac-ing panniers. The trans-

porters travel to a fixedstarting point for the race(the liberation site).

When the fancier hastaken his pigeons to theclub he will also havetaken his timing clock andall the members’ clocksare synchronised. Becausethe club members maylive anywhere in a townthe finishing point is var-ied depending on wherethe fancier lives so eachpigeon is racing a differ-ent distance. At an agreedtime the pigeons are re-leased a transport officialat the liberation site andthe pigeons race home.When the pigeon arrivesback at the loft thefancier has to take therubber band from the pi-geon’s leg and place theband in the timing clock.As he does, so he ‘strikes’the clock thus recording

the arrival time of the pi-geon.

The winner of a race iscalculated by dividing thedistance from the libera-tion site to the loft di-vided by time it has takenfor the pigeon to flyhome. This gives the pi-geon its velocity and thebird with the fastest speedis declared the winner. Pi-geons can cover astonish-ing distances at speeds inexcess of sixty miles perhour; top racers cantherefore achieve morethan five hundred miles inone day. Traditionally thesport covers two mainroutes; north road racersfly their birds south fromplaces such as Thurso andLerwick, whereas southroad liberation points canbe as far away as Pau inSouthern France andBarcelona in Spain

Pigeon Racing - Fancy that!

Are you considering goingback to school? If you'reover 40 it may have been

years since you've studied any-thing in a formal classroom set-ting. Maybe you just want tokeep your mind sharp. Perhapswith the shifting state of theeconomy you are consideringways to strengthen your resumeto achieve greater financial se-curity. Or, are you being drawnto the vibrant college environ-ment with its variety of view-points and social opportunities?Whatever your reasons for con-sidering continuing your educa-tion, it can be a difficult, evenintimidating step to take, butone that may well be worth it.How will you handle the cost oftuition? Is there financial aidout there for you? Do peopleover 40, 50 or 60 really belongin a setting dominated by un-dergraduate students in theirlate teens and early twenties?Fortunately the situation is fardifferent from what you mayimagine. It is becoming muchmore common for people whospend years in the workforce, or

who take years off to raise chil-dren, to decide to go back toschool.

What Type of School is Rightfor You?The easiest, and often cheap-est, back-to-school option for"non-traditional" students,which includes the over 40crowd, is often to enroll in acommunity college. Anyone wholives in the community can en-roll to take courses at a pricemuch lower than a more tradi-tional university. This can be anexcellent way to take a fewclasses close to home. You'll geta feel for the college environ-ment while earning collegecredits. Once you are comfort-able with attending a commu-nity college, you may decide itis the right environment foryou, or you may decide to con-tinue your education at a largercollege. To a great degreewhich school you attend will bebased on your location and tiesto the community, or on your in-terest in relocating. And nowthere is even the growing op-

portunity to get your degree ortake continuing educationclasses at home on line.

College Life for Older StudentsIt's a good idea to look into thesocial environment of theschools you are considering.Some schools focus on full-timestudents, and schedule coursesalmost exclusively during day-time hours when older peoplemay be unable to attendclasses. Other colleges and uni-versities run special programs toensure their schools are viable

options for older students. Thisincludes a separate admissionsprocess and access to financialaid. There are also schools andprograms that focus their atten-tion almost entirely on less tra-ditional students. Numeroussmall career training schoolsacross the country design theirschedules around making classesavailable at hours when adultworkers are most likely to at-tend.

Taking Classes On-LineThe web offers a wealth of col-

lege and university on-linebachelors and graduate degreeprograms, as well as enrichmentclasses. This can be an especially impor-tant option for homebound sen-iors or those who live a distancefrom a college or university. Inmany cases scholarships, grants,discounts, college loans or otherfinancial aid may still apply.Make sure, however, before en-rolling in an online degree pro-gram that you determine thatthe college or university is ac-credited.

Adult Education

Going back to school whenyou're Over 40, 50 or 60

The

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at the

Sligo Park Hotel

This event is the ideal place for industry enthusiasts to network and showcase their products to their target market.

To Book a Stand call Seamus on 085-2498067


Therapies

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Appointments in Dun Laoghaire and Dublin 4 • Mobile: 087 1319891E: [email protected] • W: www.dublinreiki.com

Offering holistic therapy: Reiki treatments, Reiki workshops, Autogenic Training workshops and Mindfulness Meditation classes in

the heart of Dublin and Dun Laoghaire. Both clinics are conveniently located close to main bus routes

and train stations.Melanie Pelka is a certified and experienced Reiki therapist/teacher,

Autogenic Training therapist/teacher and Mindfulness Meditation practitioner/teacher.

Much modern day mentaland emotional distress andeven some physical illness

can be traced to underlyinganxiety, tension and stress arisingout of an imbalance between ourcognitive or conscious beliefs anddesires, and the beliefs anddesires we hold below consciousawareness in the sub-consciousmind.

Modern Clinical Hypnotherapy isa powerful form ofPsychotherapy combing cognitivetherapeutic counsellingtechniques with subconscioushealing techniques.

What does a Hypnotherapist do?The old image of a man with a

beard dangling a watch or acrystal in front of your eyes andtaking control of your mind isjust a myth made up for comicbooks, movies and TV.

Being hypnotised feels just likebeing very relaxed. Modernhypnotherapists will simply assistyou to become so deeply relaxedthat, with a little guidance, youcan begin to make the changesyou want to make to yourautomatic behaviors and/oremotional reactions so theybecome positive for you insteadof negative.

Clinical Hypnotherapy canassist you to come into consciousawareness of your sub-consciousbeliefs and desires and thusenables you to begin to

understand and redress anyimbalance between the two,resulting in reduced feelings ofstress and anxiety and increasedfeelings of calmness and positiveenergy. Clinical Hypnotherapyhas been used widely andsuccessfully for many years inAustralia and overseas for therelief of a number of problemsand conditions.

Benefits of HypnotherapyWell known in the community asbeing effective for giving upsmoking and for weightmanagement, ClinicalHypnotherapy is also powerful inmany areas of life in whichpeople experience symptoms ofpain, stress, anxiety and tension– some examples are listedbelow:Pain managementStop smokingFears and phobiasStress managementImproved memoryGambling addictionSporting performanceAcademic performanceExam nervesSexual problemsPerformance anxietyGaining self-confidenceImproving motivationOvercoming griefOvercoming insomniaPre-menstrual tensionNail bitingBed wetting

Gaining permanent, positiveoutcomes from ClinicalHypnotherapy can take anywherefrom one or two sessions to manyweeks of therapy dependingupon the complexity of theproblem and the nature of theunderlying subconscious beliefsthat are causing or contributingto the problem. ClinicalHypnotherapists may belong toone of many hypnotherapyassociations so It's worth askingthe hypnotherapist about theirqualifications and checking withthe association for clarification.

What is a Wellness Coach?Are you feeling a little out ofsorts? Feel that you’re notachieving your goals? Or do youjust need to be steered in theright direction? If so, a wellnesscoach might be just what thenatural therapist ordered!We all want to live well andenjoy a healthy and long life.Sometimes, however, we get offtrack or aren’t sure how to moveforward with our lives. A wellnesscoach is a mentor who canpartner with you in reaching yourgoals and making the most out ofyour life.

What Does a Wellness Coachdo?Wellness coaching is a relativelynew field in the health arena.You could say the modality hasarisen from society’s focus onliving longer.Wellness coaches areprofessionals who help peoplemake a blueprint for their lives.You might want to change yourcareer, lose weight, find betterbalance or start a family. Orperhaps you’ve lost sight of your

goals and need to find a newdirection.

What to Expect in a WellnessCoaching SessionA wellness coach can help youidentify the roadblocks that areholding you back. In this way,your coach becomes a mentorwho can put a fresh perspectiveon things and offer suggestionson which steps to take next.Your coach is likely to use abroad range of tools andtechniques in your session. Theymay tap into counselling, goalsetting and a range of othertherapies to coach you and helpyou set life goals.

Finding a Wellness CoachMany life coaches can beconsidered wellness coaches.The easiest way to find a lifecoach is to use the free ntpagesdirectory. You can search for lifecoaches in your area andcompare their services andcoaching styles.Once you’ve found a wellnesscoach, you can look forward torenewed vigour and ambition.

Hypnotherapy Explained


I can help you find your true self, your gifts, your skills and yourtalents, so that you make a real difference in your business and/orpersonal life .... helping you to free yourself from any 'negativebaggage' and empowering you to achieve this both easily andeffortlessly. Imagine discovering the key that unlocks your fullpotential. - Carol Passemardwww.breakthroughretreat.comE: [email protected]

T: 087-1413026

Trish WillamsAyurveda

Mobile Service available Dublin and Wicklow • Ph: 085-8417665Arklow, The Arklow Natural Healing Centre, 8 St Mary’s Terrace, Arklow (Next tolibrary in Arklow) Ph: (01) 9034210 – Allow phone to ring to get answer phone

Specialising inChampissage IndianHead Massage and

Kansa Vatki Foot Massage www.trishwilliamsayurveda.com

Acupuncture is a system ofhealing that focuses onimproving the overall well

being of the patient. Health problems are treated

by the insertion of fine needlesinto the body at specific points.Originating in China, thesepoints have been mapped outover two thousand years andhave more recently beenconfirmed throughelectromagnetic research.

Traditional acupuncture isbased on ancient Chinesetheories of the flow of Qi(energy), also referred to as Chiand Xue (blood) through distinctpathways or meridians thatcover the body.

Acupuncture, that is insertingspecial needles into acupoints,stimulates and enhances thefree flow of Qi, thereforeregulating the harmoniousenergetic balance of the body.This consequently relieves painand restores health.

Conditions Treated withAcupunctureThe list of conditions commonlytreated with acupuncture isextensive and includes:Allergies / AsthmaArthritis / Joint ProblemsBack PainBladder / Kidney ProblemsConstipation / DiarrhoeaCough / BronchitisDizzinessDrug Addiction / SmokingFatigueGynaecological DisordersHeadache / MigraineHealth MaintenanceHeart Problems / PalpitationsHigh Blood PressureImmune System DeficiencyKnee Pain / Neck Pain /StiffnessPain ReliefParalysis / NumbnessPre-Menstrual SyndromeSciaticaSexual DysfunctionShoulder Pain

Skin ProblemsSports InjuriesSprains and StrainsStress / AnxietyTendonitis

Weight ControlChronic Fatique Syndrome

Acupuncture TreatmentsThe location of the pointsselected, the nature of theproblem, the patient's size andage and the acupuncturist'sstyle are all factors that willdetermine how deep theneedles actually go.Acupuncture needles are usuallyinserted from 1/8 to 1 inch indepth. The patient will feelsome cramping, heaviness,

distention, tingling, or electricsensation either around theneedle or travelling along theenergy pathway.However the pain level is

considered mild. During thetreatment the patient will needto uncover the area on whichthey will be worked and willusually lay on a massage table.The number of treatmentsrequired for healing variesdepending on the duration,severity and nature of thecomplaint.

Alternative Therapies - Acupuncture

Puzzles

Answers on page 37

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Win 2 Night’s Bed & Breakfast for 2 people plus a bottle of House Wine on arrival

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a half cent!ries embracing clans and warfare, landlords and tenants, poets, dreamers and ent$epreneurs. The Falls Hotel & Spa is one of the finest spa hotels inIreland and is a popular location for hotel breaks in Clare for families, couples, g$oups and individuals.

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Food and Drink


Perfect fordinners, lunchesand snacks, this

spiced tortilla is agreat in-the-fridgestandby for manyoccasions

Ingredients1 tbsp sunflower oil1 onion, sliced1 red chilli,deseeded andshredded2 tsp curry spices(we used coriander,cumin and turmeric)

300g cherrytomatoes500g cookedpotatoes, slicedbunch coriander,stalks finelychopped, leavesroughly chopped8 eggs, beaten

MethodHeat the oil in alarge frying pan. Frythe onion and halfthe chilli for 5 minsuntil softened. Tip inthe spices, fry for 1min more, then addthe cherry tomatoes,potatoes andcoriander stalks tothe pan. Season theeggs well, pour overthe top of the vegand leave to cookgently for 8-10 minsuntil almost set.Heat the grill andflash the tortillaunderneath for 1-2mins until the top isset. Scatter thecoriander leaves andremaining chilli overthe top, slice intowedges and servewith a green salad.

Enjoy the tasteof the Medwith this fresh,

wholesome supperusing an oily fishthat's packed withomega-3 and agood, cheapstorecupboardstaple

Ingredients1 tbsp olive oil1 garlic clove,chopped1 red chilli,deseeded andchopped1 lemon, zest andjuice2 x 120g canssardines insunflower oil,drained

4 slices brownbreadhalf small bunchparsley, chopped

MethodHeat the olive oil ina frying pan, thensizzle the garlicclove and red chilli.Add the lemonzest.Add the sardinesand heat throughfor a few mins untilwarm.Toast the brownbread. Stir theparsley into thesardines, add asqueeze of lemonjuice, then dividebetween the toastand serve.

Food and Drink


Try a fresh spin ondoughnuts by piping themSpanish-style and serving

with a thick and indulgent darkchocolate sauce

Ingredients50g butter, melted½ tsp vanilla extract250g plain flour1 tsp baking powderabout 1 litre sunflower oilfew chunks of breadFor the sauce200g bar dark chocolate, nottoo bitter, broken into chunks100ml double cream100ml whole milk3 tbsp golden syrup½ tsp vanilla extract, if youhave someFor the cinnamon sugar100g caster sugar2 tsp cinnamon

MethodBoil the kettle, then measure350ml boiling water into a jugand add the melted butter andvanilla extract. Sift the flourand baking powder into a big

mixing bowl with a big pinch ofsalt. Make a well in the centre,then pour in the contents ofthe jug and very quickly beatinto the flour with a woodenspoon until lump-free. Rest for10-15 mins while you make thesauce.

Put all the sauce ingredientsinto a pan and gently melttogether, stirring occasionallyuntil you have a smooth shinysauce. Keep warm on a lowheat.Fill a large deep saucepan one-third full of oil. Heat until acube of bread browns in 45seconds – 1 min. Cover a traywith kitchen paper and mix thecaster sugar and cinnamontogether.

Fit a star nozzle to a pipingbag, 1.5-2cm wide is a goodsize. Fill with the resteddough, then pipe 2-3 stripsdirectly into the pan, snippingoff each dough strip with a pairof kitchen scissors. Fry untilgolden brown and crisp, then

remove with a slotted spoonand drain on the kitchenpaper-lined tray. Carry oncooking the rest of the dough

in batches, sprinkling thecooked churros with somecinnamon sugar as you go.Once you’ve cooked all the

churros, toss with anyremaining cinnamon sugar andserve with the chocolatesauce, for dipping.

This anytimesummersalad will be

on the table injust 30 minutes

Ingredients500g bag babynew potatoes,halved4 eggs225g greenbeans, trimmed225g chorizo ring,sliced1 garlic clove,sliced2 tbsp sherryvinegar2 tbsp choppedparsley

MethodCook thepotatoes in alarge pan ofboiling saltedwater for 12mins, adding theeggs after 6 mins,and the beans for

the final 2 mins.Drain everythingand cool the eggsunder coldrunning water.Meanwhile frychorizo slices for1-2 mins, untilbeginning tocrisp. Removefrom the panwith a slottedspoon and setaside, leaving theoil from thechorizo in thepan. Add thegarlic to the panand cook gentlyfor 1 min.Remove the panfrom the heat,stir in the vinegarand parsley, thentoss with thepotatoes, beans,chorizo andseasoning. Shellthe eggs, cut intoquarters and addto the salad.

Fiona Faery is an Irish Psychic Medium who unites people regularly with their loved ones in spirit & also offers psychic guidance with her Faery or-acle card readings. She is a regular on Irish radio & has monthly columns in various publications. Fiona is known for her optimistic no-nonsenseapproach to life. She teaches workshops on mediumship and helps 'baby' mediums build their confidence & step into their power. Her spiritual

poetry has found a home on her Facebook page; Fiona Faery where she posts a daily poem. Her poetry is aimed to motivate & empower, asFiona believes in helping people connect with their soul purpose. She reads internationally through her website www.fionafaery.ie

Fiona Faery gives private 1-to-1 sittings at The Sligo Park Hotel on the last weekend of every month. She is also availablefor private consultations or One Question readings on her

website www.fionafaery.ie You can contact Fiona to Book a Private Reading @ 0863736143

Angelscope for August

with Fiona Faery

Dreams coming true : This is a wish card,your asked to close your eyes and make awish. Focus on what you desire and in visu-alise it as if it's already happened. Howwould you see? Feel? Act? As if yourdreams came true. Too often we focus onthe blocks and the things that stop us fromfocusing or realising our dreams instead ofallowing the universe to help us achieve

them. Very lucky coinci-dences and synchronicitiesfollow this card. Your askedto make one small changedaily to push you towardsyour dreams. Never stop be-lieving!Lucky Day: 19th AugustLucky colour: Brown

Taur!sFaery of beauty This beautiful Faery aidswith communication. Have you beenfeeling blocked in speaking your truth? Selfesteem is at the root of dis-empowerment.It's time to take a step back and see thosewho you feel comfortable expressing your

authentic self with &those you don't.....Too often we act asmirrors to those aroundus ..who project theirinsecurities on to us.It's your choice Taurus ifyou choose to acceptthis. August is a monthfor truth for you.Lucky Day: 20th AugustLucky colour: Blue

GeminiHappily ever after : One of my favouritecards. It's going to be a great month for youGemini as you have the Midas touch aboutyou. It's a great time to apply for a job, sellyour house, take up a new hobby, as anyventure you embarkupon this month will bedestined for success!Balance here is the key,pace yourself as midAugust a "helpful" per-son may try to take thewind out of your sails.Stay true to your beliefs- move onwards & up-wards!Lucky Day: 29thLucky colour: purple

CancerPeace of mind: This card brings peace ofmind & a sense of calm. You have adecision coming up soon. You will knowwhat to do when the time is right. Jump &the net will appear! This card urges you totrust your own gut instinct. Pay no heed tothose who would try and talk you out ofyour decisions / choicesas they are not you.Loved ones sometimesfeel they know best buttis can come from afearful/controlling place.Listen to your gut. If it "sits"with you , you won't gofar wrong!Lucky Day: 19Lucky colour: orange

LeoEnvironmental Awareness: It's time to getout & about in Nature. Do you hear the callof the wild. The song of the birds carries apromise to your heart - freedom. Themodern world us full of distractions that dullthe mind and keep us in a heightened

state of fear. You arebeing guided to slowdown, connect withnature, go for a walk,run, swim etc. feelyourself becominggrounded once more.It's time to clear thecobwebs and clear thedeadwood from yourlife! Lucky Day: 16Lucky colour: green

Faery of laughterThe best tonic in life is agood laugh! Laughtercures all matter of ills. Stressaffects our ability to gowith the flow as webecome rigid with routine.It's time to allow yourself tolet go. Call a friend whomakes you smile, watch afunny film or go for a nightout with someone who brings you joy.When was the last time you laughed sohard you could hardly breathe? Close youreyes and recall the memory. Can you feelthe joy spreading through you? Neverforget your happiness lies in your hands.Lucky Day: 21 Lucky colour: purple

Body Movement: Libra you are beingguided to get out and about. Our bodiesneed exercise . Without it our health starts todeteriorate and our joints seize up. Libra isthe embodiment of balance. If your karmicscales feels out of kilter at present , try andbe present in the moment. In a coffee shop,savour the taste of the coffee , listen to thesounds that surround you. Stop those rushingthoughts that hurry you in to the next task ur-gently. You are being guidedto connect with your bodyand that starts with yourbreathing. Notice how relaxedyou are after 3 deep breaths?Notice how heavy your shoul-ders are? It's time to releasethe tension! Ready set go!Lucky Day: 25Lucky colour:lilac

Scor"ioFaery of feeling safe: Someone has rattledyour cage Scorpio and your shields are up!This person is known to you and you growweary of their selfishness. You are facilitatingthis behaviour by being compliant to theiractions in hope the will "come around"themselves. They won't! It's time you de-fined your boundaries so when someonecrosses the line you willknow and importantlythey will also whenthey've overstepped themark! Trying to keep thepiece or saying nothingfor a quiet life has it's ownkarmic backlash. Speaknow or forever hold yourpeace .....? Lucky Day: 14Lucky colour: white

Sagi#ariousFaery of family harmony: Tensions can runhigh in family's. There may be sibling rivalry orburied resentments. bubbling to the surface.There is a Polish expression "not my circus -not my monkeys!" It refers to you beingpulled into arguments and disagreementswhich have nothing to do with you! Youmay be fed up being the peace - keeper,

dogsbody, negotiator inyour family . Rememberyou are choosing to stay inthis role . Only you have thepower to step back andnot have your energydrained . You need toplace a value on your timeand energy, for if you don't.....who will? Lucky Day: 26Lucky colour: brown

Faery of new friends: This is a gorgeous cardof friendship . Friendship itself is a preciousgift . People come into our lives for areason, a season or a lifetime. You mayhave one or two friends step away lately,let them go. For newfriends arrive withnew lessons to teachhoy on your path toyour true self. Youmay also discoverthe truth behind a liethat you were told!Truth is stranger thanfiction at times! Timeto show thefrenemies the door !Lucky Day: 30Lucky colour: pinke

AquariusFaery of Problems: This Faery is here to helpyou clear out any problems that squat likepesky pixies in your head as you try and finda solution to the quagmire of indecisionfacing you. Sometimes life can overwhelmyou. Acting like the proverbial ostrich with herhead stuck in the sand is not a long termsolution ! When you face your problems theyare never as bad as you originally thought .The more energy we pour into a negativesituation the worse it gets. Step back and

gain perspective . Share yourfears with a close friend/ familymember . A problem shared isa problem aired . After all youare the one in the control seat ifyour life - don't let your fearscontrol you. Lucky Day: 28Lucky colour: yellow

Faery of kick up your heels: It's time to putyour favorite music on, kick up your heelsand dance! When was the last time youactually danced? (Chair-dancing doesn'tcount!) You're well overdue good company, good food & good wine!!!Faeries love to party , it's what they do best !You are being encouraged to take a leafout of their book and make plans to enjoyyourself. What may feellike a luxury is actually anessessity. Give yourselfsomething to lookforward to. For that'swhen life gets less difficultwhen we know there arebetter things in store!Lucky Day: 22nd AugustLucky colour: blue

Pisces

Virgo Libra

Capricor$

Aries

TravelTechnology


It seems that technology is nolonger something that theolder generation aren’t

interested in.In fact, more and more elderlypeople are embracing newinnovations and realising theextensive benefits thattechnological advances afford intheir day-to-day lives.It wasn’t that long ago thatelderly people hadn’t evenheard of the internet, let aloneunderstood what it did or howthey could start using it. Fastforward to today and internetconnections are standardfeatures in the homes of manyelderly people around the world.However, there are of coursethose less tech savvygrandparents that haven’t yetgot the internet in their homes.If you want to fill them in on thebenefits, a great starting point isto compare broadband packagesto see which ones offer the bestin terms of service and price.Having an internet connection isno longer the apogee of anelderly person’s technological

remit. To prove our point, hereare five ways in which olderpeople are embracingtechnology:

Online datingBelieve it or not, online dating isone way that grandparents aretaking advantage of theirinternet connections. After all,many elderly people can findthemselves lonely in the lateryears due to bereavement.Online dating provides themwith a new lease of life and thechance to find love once again.Internet dating also allowselderly people to chat withpotential companions from thecomfort of their own homes.

Audio booksThe older generation willremember audio cassettes thatallowed them to listen to theirfavourite books being read aloudby a narrator. Nowadays thoseold cassettes have been replacedby audio books which can beenjoyed on a variety of devicessuch as laptops, smartphonesand MP3 players. Audio booksare particularly appealing toelderly people as they don’trequire young eyes!

Online shoppingWith mobility often being anissue for elderly people, onlineshopping has introduced a wayfor them to make purchasesfrom their armchair and thentake delivery at their front doora few days later. This eliminatesany travelling and can also beconducted with total peace ofmind. Buying gifts forgrandchildren has never been soeasy! They can even bedelivered direct to the child’shouse, which adds extraexcitement to the occasion.

Social mediaWith more and more teenagersusing social media, sites such asFacebook have become a greatway for grandparents to interactwith their grandchildren. Nolonger do grandparents need towait to hear from their families.They can simply log on and getthemselves up to date witheverything that’s going on.

Social media is also a great wayto view recent photos and newadditions to the family,especially when grandchildrenlive overseas or in a differentpart of the country.

VOIP servicesWith services like Skype soreadily available, more andmore elderly people havefound a quickand easyway to stayin contactwith theirfamilies.High qualitywebcamsalso makefor a morepersonal

chat and are a great way to seehow grandchildren are growing.Gone are the days of letterwriting, which means that onlinechat services are fast becomingthe primary communicationmethod for many older people.

How the older generation arebecoming more tech savvy

�� The standalone camera market is making its comeback, as people finally realise smartphones are great for snaps onsocial media but top quality images require dedicated devices. Here are our top three

ColourportableNikon 1 S2CompactSystemCamera11-27.5mm Lens – €529.99 We were initially drawn to this one forits summer inspired casing, but onfurther inspection the internalworkings and image delivery are justas impressive. There isn’t a viewfinderbut you’ll soon get over that when yousee what the 14.2 megapixel sensordoes offer; shooting at speed anddelivering 20 frames per second inautofocus and up to 60 in fixed focus.These are specs to make bigger andmore expensive cameras weep – and abuilt-in flash just adds to their woes.

Starters ordersCanon EOS 1200D with 18-55 mm lens – €699.99 To coincide with the launch of this new model, the folk at Canonhave released an EOS companion app to help getbeginners through their first DSLR experience. Butthough it may be aimed at newbies tothe big camera market, with an 18megapixel sensor and a decentISO light sensitivity level thatenables almost see-in-the darkperformances, this Canondefinitely has a serious side too.

It’s going fastSony Alpha a7 CSC + 28-70mm Lens – €1,799 This new breed of CSC or Compact System Cameras offer all thefunctionality of larger cameras but have removed the mirror so

they’re smaller and lighter. This unit is Sony’s flagshipsnapper right now, offering a 24.3 megapixel

sensor into a sturdy magnesium unitweighing in at just 416g. Cleverinternal workings mean it has super-fast autofocus tracking forquick-moving targets (be that sports’day, or a trip to the Grand Prix).

Motoring ��Ease your pain at thepump this summer

Road trip! It’s a time-hon-oured summer tradition,but fluctuating fuel prices

have many travellers feeling thepain at the pump. But don’tlose heart. If you’re planning tohit the open road, taking a fewsmall steps could add up to sur-prisingly big savings.

Here are some practical ways toput the brakes on gas guzzling:

Ease up on the gas pedalWhile each vehicle reaches itsoptimal fuel economy at a dif-ferent speed (or range ofspeeds), fuel mileage usuallydecreases rapidly at speedsabove 60 mph (96 km). In fact,according to the reports everyfive mph that you drive in ex-cess of 60 mph is about thesame as paying an addi-tional 24 centsfor everygallon offuel.

And according to some experts,if you keep your vehicle speedat, or below 100 kilometres anhour on the road, you couldlower your fuel costs by up to20 per cent. Engaging yourcruise control on the motorwaywill help you to maintain con-stant speed.

Go in high gearUse high gear or overdrive whendriving at motorway speeds.Switching to high gear will re-duce engine speed thereby sav-ing gas and cutting wear to theengine.

Avoid aggressive drivingJackrabbit starts following byabrupt, screeching stops can cutboth motorway and townmileage.

In fact, sensible drivers canlower fuel consumption byabout 33 per cent at motorwayspeeds and by 5 per cent in thecity. Such reckless driving is notonly unsafe, but also puts un-necessary wear and tear on yourtires.

Be sure to buy the right gradeof gasolineConsult your owner’s manual: ifyour vehicle is designed to runon regular, filling the tank withmore expensive mid-grade orpremium fuel will not makeyour car run any better.

Buy on price and convenienceFuel is a commodity productand one brand is as good as an-other. Looking for a convenientway to comparison shop? Checkout online tools or smart phoneapps that provides a listing ofthe cheapest fuel prices byarea.

Keep in shape (your car, thatis)It pays to keep up with yourcar’s maintenance. Change oil,engine coolant, filters and sparkplugs at intervals recommendedin the owner’s manual. Keeping your engine tuned willreduce fuel consumption by asmuch as 10 per cent. And fixing a serious mainte-nance problem, such as a faultyoxygen sensor, can improve yourmileage by as much as 40 percent. For greater fuel efficiency, tyresshould be maintained and prop-erly inflated.

Lighten the load. For holiday driving, try to avoidthe roof rack and pack as muchluggage as possible in the car. Aloaded roof rack can cut fueleconomy by as much as 5 percent. And an extra 100 poundsof ‘junk in the trunk’ can costyou up to 2 per cent in fuelusage. (Note: The reduction offuel consumption is based onthe percentage of extra weightrelative to the vehicle’s weight.This usually affects smaller ve-hicles more than larger ones.)

Roll down the window.Heavy use of your air condi-tioner can increase fuel con-sumption by as much as 10 – 20per cent.

Don’t let your tank get toolow. It may be tempting to procrasti-nate when it comes to fillingup, but letting your tank get toolow can cost you in other ways,according to Consumer Reports.The reason? The fuel acts like a

coolant for the electric fuel-pump motor, so when you runvery low, this allows the pumpto suck in air. This in turn cre-ates heat and can cause thefuel pump to wear prematurelyand potentially fail. The repaircould end up costing severalhundred euros to fix. Besides,who wants to take a chance ona faulty fuel gauge or someother mishap and run out ofdiesel or petrol on the road?


PuzzlesServices Directory

E&M Window Systems

Unit 3A, Stadium Business Park, Ballycoolin, Dublin 15Telephone: 086-3239679

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PVC Backdoor

supplied & fitted €760

Front &back door supplied & fitted €1650

• Doors• Windows• Conservatories • Sunrooms• Pvc Fascia & soffit • Guttering

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Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Smoke Alarms

Medical Alarms

Emergency Pendants

Come and join us for a SuperbCruise (May to October) and Enjoya Splendid Meal while you Cruise

From Spring to Autumn the classic Galley Cruiser pliesthe beautiful and smooth three sister rivers for which theSouth East of Ireland is famous worldwide. Meanwhile,

delicious meals, prepared from fresh local produce by ourown chefs, are served aboard.

Call 051 421723or visit our website www.rivercruises.ie

A1shutters & doors

Manufacture & Install all kindsof Garage Doors, Roller Shutters

and Industrial Doors

GARAGE DOORS€550 Installed

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Sligo Road, Enniskillen. Phone: 048 66 326 327

The Biggest & Best Value Fireplace Showrooms in Ireland

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25% discount for Senior

Citizens with this advert

• Water Analysis• Water Filtration• Water Softening• Well Drilling• Pump Supplied and Fitted• Rain Water Collection & Purification• Sewage Treatment Systems

IN THE BUSINESS FOR OVER 25 YEARS

Email: [email protected]: www.waterteck.com

Phone: 086-8072249 071-9658976

Contact: Ray Lynch Corlis, Castlerea, Co. RoscommonClare Office " Contact Eugene at the Indoor Market " 085"2188506

Phone: 086"8943034 or 094"9621938 AGENTS REQUIRED

SPECIAL OFFERS3M X 3M (10’ X 10’)...............................................€8502M X 2M (7’ X 7’)...................................................€7502.5M X 1.8M (8’ X 6’)...................................€4506M X 9M (20’ X 30’).............................................€3900

CALL US TODAY FOR MORE SPECIALS!

All the main supports of our garages areconstructed of heavy duty box section steelfor strength and durability and are hotdipped galvanised for longer Life.Our Units are built to withstand the harsh-est weather conditions. The sheeting is hotdipped galvanised and pvc coated to thecolour of your choice.

“You tell us the size you want and we will priceon that exact size”

Sheds delivered & Erected NationwideFor no extra cost

MULTIPURPOSE GARDEN SHEDS & GARAGES

Services Directory

I offer you insight in any area ofyour life from love life tofinances, family life and work.There is not an area of lifewhere I have not been able tohelp and give what has oftenproven to be invaluable insights.

RELINE • REBUILD • REPAIRCHIMNEY FIRE

CALL PAT: 087 250 0636091 789 836

CALL GABRIEL: 087 226 6236093 287 75

[email protected]

Damaged ChimneyRepair Contractors

National Guild Of Master Craftsmen

• All Work Certified • Minimum Disruption • 30 Years Experience• Nationwide Service

Addiction Treatment Centre"Our mission is to provide a dedicated centre of excellence delivering a quality client centredapproach with compassion and dignity while

respecting the values and beliefs of all our clients"

Who can come to the Centre?Anyone who is concerned about their own or someone

else's alcohol, gambling or substance use. A doctor's referral is not necessary

Martin Quinn MIAAAC Accredited ProfessionallyQualified Counsellor

Available for Private Consultations

Gulladoo Centre, Cornafest, Co. Leitrim,Telephone: 049-4339605 Mobile: 086-8638842

Email: [email protected]

Tel/Fax: 048-66386338 • [email protected]

Visit www.dg-upvcwindows.com

• Headstones • Grave Maintenance• Grave Renova!ons • Wooden Surrounds

Grave Maintenance

Service

BEFORE AFTER

It is important to all of us that the final res!ng places ofour loved ones are looked a"er and cared for at all

!mes. Due to age, distance, lack of !me or transport,you may not be able to keep family graves and their

memorials well looked a"er as you would have wanted.

Grave Maintenance Service Ltd.Unit 4b Eklad Park, Malahide Road Ind Estate, Coolock, Dublin 17

Phone: 01-8904466 • Mobile: 087-2261943Email: [email protected] • www.gmsireland.ie

Associate Member of Irish Associa!on of Funeral Directors

Tel. 05793 – 51277

Axis Business Park, Clara Road, Tullamore, Co. Offaly

Steel Garden Sheds, Garages & TegkonCustom Steel Buildings

• Galvanised Steel Frame • PVC Coated Cladding - no painting• Variety of Colours • All Sheds come with a non-drip roof• We can supply a wooden or concrete floor.• All sheds erected within 1-3 hours• All sheds come with at least one clear light on the roof.

TEL: 086-240 7844www.candssheds.ie [email protected]

Services Directory


INDEPENDENT DUBLIN LADY (64)Would like to meet an honest, re-spectable, non smoking gentle-man, My interestes are Dancing,Cooking, gardening and having agood chat with a nice person.Replies with a stamped envelopeto box number 1060 at the usualaddress.

DUBLIN WOMAN 56 would like to meet a good manfor friendship and companionshipand fun. I am great company, in-dependent, single, just stuck inrut at present, can you dig meout? If you can just get in touchand we can meet and see. Replieswith a box number 1042 at theusual address

SLIGO LADY 50 BUT LOOKS 10YEARS YOUNGERWould like to meet nice, re-spectable, loving, genuine, honestman for fun and dancing and seewhat happens. Replies with a boxnumber 1023 at the usual address.

SHY SLIGO LADYlakes cinema, concerts and DVDS,Music etc. Would like to hear froma Gent 60+ with similar interestsfor a friendship maybe leading to arelationship Replies with a boxnumber 998 at the usual address.

SLIGO LADY SEEKING MALELate 50’s, likes music, dancing,walking and travel. N/S, S/D,profrssional l;ady, loving, caring,

and honest. Interested in friend-ship maybe leading to a relation-ship. Replies with a blank stampedenvelope to Box number 1012 atthe usual address.

GENTLEMAN WIDOWER 54 yrs. Landscape gardenerW.L.T.M. female professional, notmarried. In the northwest forfriendship and craic. 6ft 1', blueeyes, hair salt & pepper. Lookingfor lady 40 -47yrs. Longtime relationship. Replies with a blankstamped envelope to Box number975 at the usual address.

SLIGO MAN WOULD LIKE TOHEAR FROM LADIES age 50 yearsonwards, my age is 55 years,

friendship and romance. Replieswith a box number 1011 at theusual address.

YOUNG AT HEART LADYin mid - 60’s. w.l.t.m. genuine gen-tleman foor friendship. well trav-elled, enjoys dancing, gent ofsimilar age. Replies with a blankstamped envelope to Box number965 at the usual address.

GENTLEMAN, 50’SMany hobbies, gardening, cooking,walking, wildlife, swimming,would like to meet a kind, gen-uine, female for companionshipand romance. Replies with a blankstamped envelope to Box number1022 at the usual address.

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Post the completed form to Mature Living Magazine, NW Business Park, Collooney, Co. SligoSTRICTLY PRIVATE ADVERTISERS ONLY - BUSINESSES CAN CALL 071-9154538AND SPEAK TO ONE OF OUR FRIENDLY SALES REPRESENTATIVES ABOUT OUREXCELLENT RATES.

Acorn Business Campus, Mahon Ind. Park, Blackrock, CorkTel: 021-4614221 Mob: 086 - 8343533

Visit us online @ www.abbeymobility.com

Expert representatives based all over Irelandoperating from our Cork & Dublin offices. Client assessment and joint surveys with

occupational therapists.• ACCESS LIFTS • STAIR LIFTS • BATHING

SOLUTIONS • MOVING & HANDLING

• Domes!c Garage Doors• PVC Coated Roller garage Doors• Insulated Sec!onal Garage Doors• Fire Doors• Remote or Manual Auto Gate Systems & Barriers

Tel: 090-6627907

T: 01-8390262 / 087 807 9993 E: [email protected] full Price List for our products / services is available

on our web site www.ableplus.ie

• New & Reconditioned Stair Lifts

• Repairs• Servicing • Grant Information

New Curved Stairlifts starting from as little as €4300 plus vat

New Straight Stairlifts from €1499.00 plus vat!(VAT Fully Refundable)

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