Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, is bringing the city to life in a month-long initiative called ‘August Animations’. The campaign is offering free use of designated city centre streets for community groups to reimagine how space is used. So, whether you’re a sports club looking to organise a basketball game in the street, a musician who would love to bring their sound to the square, or a group that simply wants to host a picnic lunch, register your interest at festivalsandevents@limerick.ie. People should indicate the space(s) they would like to use, along with dates and times and likely numbers of participants.
Lexi and Evie Maye among the flowers at the Crescent, O’Connell Street, Limerick. \ Kieran Ryan-Benson
Roscommon University Hospital has introduced a wellness walkway to support patients during recovery. The walkway is located on the first floor of the hospital, with stations featuring a range of physical and cognitive exercises. “The wellness walkway has made a tremendous difference to my wellbeing,” says patient Mary Mullally Keane from Lecarrow, Co Roscommon who spent four weeks in hospital.
Mary Mullally Keane with senior physiotherapist Fionnuala Morrissey at the wellness walkway.
Cultural and natural heritage come together in a new conservation project that is taking root at the Ulster Folk Museum. The partnership between Woodland Trust Northern Ireland and National Museums NI will see three hectares of native woodland being restored on museum grounds. One of the least sparsely wooded regions in Europe, Northern Ireland will benefit from the initiative, which will see the planting of over 2,500 trees to protect species like woodpeckers, jays and pine martens. See ulsterfolkmuseum.org.
Aaron Ward, director of public engagement at National Museums NI and John Martin, director at Woodland Trust Northern Ireland. \ Darren Kidd
Sligo is once again coming alive with the sound of… jazz. Jazz Project’s annual summer school and festival runs from 22-27 July, bringing a team of 33 world-class musicians from all over the globe to teach and perform in Sligo. The 2024 edition welcomed 150 students from over 10 countries. The six-day summer school has a daily schedule running from 10am to late night but you don’t have to be a jazz nerd or composer to enjoy what is on offer – the school recommends a standard of Grade 3 or higher as a general guide. The summer school costs €580 + fees for an adult and €280 + fees for a child. See sligojazz.ie
If you want your child to get hands-on with cooking but are finding meal prep a constant and messy challenge, a new cookbook could be your secret to success. Written by food writer Jolene Cox and her daughter Lily Mae, who featured on the front cover of Irish Country Living last year, their book, Now You’re Cooking! features 70 tried-and-tested recipes for kids aged five to 12. It’s all about providing kids with the skills and confidence to cook real food at home.
The book covers the basics of cooking and gently nudges young people to take more responsibility in the kitchen. Now You’re Cooking! will be published at the end of the August just in time for putting together the school lunchboxes. €30.
See ninebeanrowsbooks.com
Quiet Companionship by Anna Horgan
In the car sitting.
Feet dangling, waiting,
Car window open,
A soft breeze carries
The familiar song of sounds.
The scrape of milk tank lids
being wrestled into place,
Then, dull thud of steel on
wooden trailer floor.
Handles clang on metal
tank sides.
Reluctantly, the Ford Escort door scrapes open.
Engine coughs to an
uncertain start,
Shudders to stop at
boreen’s end.
Grate of bolt pulled back.
Long creak of gate’s slow swing.
Rumble of wheels on
cattle grid.
“We’re off so,” he says.
I nod.
Engine hums in time to
hopping tanks on the open road.
Mayor of Limerick, John Moran, is bringing the city to life in a month-long initiative called ‘August Animations’. The campaign is offering free use of designated city centre streets for community groups to reimagine how space is used. So, whether you’re a sports club looking to organise a basketball game in the street, a musician who would love to bring their sound to the square, or a group that simply wants to host a picnic lunch, register your interest at festivalsandevents@limerick.ie. People should indicate the space(s) they would like to use, along with dates and times and likely numbers of participants.
Lexi and Evie Maye among the flowers at the Crescent, O’Connell Street, Limerick. \ Kieran Ryan-Benson
Roscommon University Hospital has introduced a wellness walkway to support patients during recovery. The walkway is located on the first floor of the hospital, with stations featuring a range of physical and cognitive exercises. “The wellness walkway has made a tremendous difference to my wellbeing,” says patient Mary Mullally Keane from Lecarrow, Co Roscommon who spent four weeks in hospital.
Mary Mullally Keane with senior physiotherapist Fionnuala Morrissey at the wellness walkway.
Cultural and natural heritage come together in a new conservation project that is taking root at the Ulster Folk Museum. The partnership between Woodland Trust Northern Ireland and National Museums NI will see three hectares of native woodland being restored on museum grounds. One of the least sparsely wooded regions in Europe, Northern Ireland will benefit from the initiative, which will see the planting of over 2,500 trees to protect species like woodpeckers, jays and pine martens. See ulsterfolkmuseum.org.
Aaron Ward, director of public engagement at National Museums NI and John Martin, director at Woodland Trust Northern Ireland. \ Darren Kidd
Sligo is once again coming alive with the sound of… jazz. Jazz Project’s annual summer school and festival runs from 22-27 July, bringing a team of 33 world-class musicians from all over the globe to teach and perform in Sligo. The 2024 edition welcomed 150 students from over 10 countries. The six-day summer school has a daily schedule running from 10am to late night but you don’t have to be a jazz nerd or composer to enjoy what is on offer – the school recommends a standard of Grade 3 or higher as a general guide. The summer school costs €580 + fees for an adult and €280 + fees for a child. See sligojazz.ie
If you want your child to get hands-on with cooking but are finding meal prep a constant and messy challenge, a new cookbook could be your secret to success. Written by food writer Jolene Cox and her daughter Lily Mae, who featured on the front cover of Irish Country Living last year, their book, Now You’re Cooking! features 70 tried-and-tested recipes for kids aged five to 12. It’s all about providing kids with the skills and confidence to cook real food at home.
The book covers the basics of cooking and gently nudges young people to take more responsibility in the kitchen. Now You’re Cooking! will be published at the end of the August just in time for putting together the school lunchboxes. €30.
See ninebeanrowsbooks.com
Quiet Companionship by Anna Horgan
In the car sitting.
Feet dangling, waiting,
Car window open,
A soft breeze carries
The familiar song of sounds.
The scrape of milk tank lids
being wrestled into place,
Then, dull thud of steel on
wooden trailer floor.
Handles clang on metal
tank sides.
Reluctantly, the Ford Escort door scrapes open.
Engine coughs to an
uncertain start,
Shudders to stop at
boreen’s end.
Grate of bolt pulled back.
Long creak of gate’s slow swing.
Rumble of wheels on
cattle grid.
“We’re off so,” he says.
I nod.
Engine hums in time to
hopping tanks on the open road.
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