Stable Diet, Wexford.

It's a year ago now since I left Newbridge and am now a very happy resident of the Wexford countryside. It is a beautiful part of the country that has so much to do, see and enjoy! One of the highlights for me is the amount of fabulous places to eat.

I hope you enjoy as I continue to share a little bit of the sunny south east and some adventures further afield on Ireland, My Island.

Myself and my lovely fiancè usually spend Saturday mornings having a lazy stroll around Wexford town. There are lots of lovely cafes to enjoy and today we tried Stable Diet, located on south main street.

The café os beautifully decorated and oozes warmth and a relaxed atmosphere.

It also serves as a shop front for the farmhouse kitchen brand of the same name. They offer a range of gluten free treats, home-made cookies and granola among other products.

The menu is great from morning coffee to a tasty lunch.

It was early so we opted for tea, hot chocolate, scones and a chat!

The scones we just delicious -hands down the besr scones I have had in Wexford town. (Any challengers want to test that theory, I'd be glad to taste test!)

The hot chocolate was decadent and the tea, well it was as tea should be, tasty, comforting and lots of it!

The staff were friendly amd the service prompt even though it was busy.

With a bill of €10 we will definitely be going back.

You can see their website at Www.stablediet.com

A great place to eat and enjoy!

Living in the sunny south east

So I am now living, working and enjoying life in the sunny south east. Having made the move from the bright lights of home in Newbridge to the countryside of Wexford I am well and truly settled in.

After sticking to what I said in my last post I am delighted to be working in a fantastic place with people who share a passion for wonderful customer service and showcasing Irish hospitality in a modern, world class environment.

I have to say I am still adapting to country living. I grew up in an estate in the middle of Newbridge. I am used to light and noise. I get looked at funny when I say how dark I find it at night. It's so quiet and there are no street lights. The up side of the darkness are the stars. You can see a serious amount of stars at night.

There are lots of other little things. Like being organised with shopping. There is no popping to the shop to get a litre of milk. 'Popping' to the shop is a half hour job. It's doing my weight and pocket a lot of good though. No popping to the shop for a bar of choccy!! Late night shopping...ye that concept does'nt really exist here!

The thing we have a giggle about most, and its very inappropriate, is the death notices. Listening to the death notices is part of the daily routine. You do not ask questions or try and engage in conversation when this is on or you will be told to Shushhh!!!

The other week I visited a dairy farm. A friend of ours is a farmer. I have never been on a dairy farm in my life. (I was on a sheep farm once, other than that I was only ever on the Glenroe farm on a school trip!) The little calves were so sweet. I have to say I didn't realise how time consuming and tough life as a farmer must be. I would think that you have to be born in to it!

There are good and bad points to living in the country.
There is a wonderful sense of community spirit. Everybody helps everybody. When there is a community event so many people get in and help out. I know this happens in the town to but it feels different as this is a countryside parish and such a large amount of people turn out at things. Mass and the church are at the centre of the community. Something that I feel is not as prevalent in a big town.
I do get a sense that there is still very traditional Irish outlook on certain issues though. With a country community everybody does seem to know everybody business. I think perhaps issues like mental health are not addressed as openly as they would be in a big town.

Wexford is a very beautiful place to live. The beach is fifteen minutes from where I live. We walk on the pier in the evenings after work. As someone who is a firm believer in knowing and visiting the things that are at your door step I will certainly have lots of places to keep me busy!

I know this is a very fragmented piece with a lot of hopping about but I wanted to get a post up. I never thought I would enjoy living in the country. As it happens it suits me. My other halfs parents are involved in the church and I am going to be spending this morning baking for a coffee morning fundraiser for the local church!
Oh that's the other thing....the smell of fresh, traditional, country baking on a Saturday morning! Yum!!

Any recommendations for places to eat out or go see pop them up!!

Next time I'll get some pics up to.
From the Sunny South East!

A New Year..

It's the eve of a new year and the end of this one. For me this year was probably the biggest roller coaster year of my life. Having opened the doors of our little shop the in 2012 we were busy bees all year enjoying the success and learning involved with being business owners. It has been the most incredible experience and I have learned more about myself and the business world then you could ever learn by doing a masters or a course. 

2013 was also the year where I had to face up to the fact that I was, for years, suffering with what I have been told is general anxiety disorder. I'm not going to get into that as most people are now aware of what it is due to the huge push to create an environment in this country of a positive attitude towards mental health. Having spent a number of months learning all about the concept and practice of 'Mindfullness' I am happy and healthy in mind and body. What more could you want!

There was incredible ups and downs and I have learned more this year possibly than I ever have. There was some great highlights and I am blessed for that. There were some lows to but I learned this year how to look at the 'lows' differently. I learned the incredible things that can happen by just asking for a bit of help or advice. I have met some really brilliant people this year.

2013 was a good, tough year!! 2014 is starting off on a good foot and I hope it can continue in that manner. A year starting with good health, happiness and now a new challenge with my career as we move on from our shop to pastures new. 

I am not going to make any new years resolutions. I don't particularly believe in them.  I think its better to give each day the credit it is due and making the most of it. 

I'll finish this little post by saying Happy New Year. Life is what you make it and you only get one shot at it so you may as well enjoy it!!

Celebrate ~ Remember ~ Fight Back

Last weekend I headed off to Ducketts Grove, Co. Carlow for Relay for Life. A 24 hour community celebration  that raises funds for the Irish Cancer Society. 

Why we Relay..

The heart of Relay for Life is its moto 'Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back. Celebrate means to celebrate life, family and the fact that many people are living longer with cancer and many more are beating it altogeher. Remember means remembering those loved ones who have lost their battle with cancer but are always by our sides and in our minds. Fight Back is perhaps the most important. Relay is a community coming together and saying we are not going to give up, we are going to fight cancer and we are going to beat it and live in a world where less and less people have to hear the words 'you have cancer'.

Why we raise the money...

I was asked to get involved with Relay by one of my college lecturers who has twice battled and twice beaten cancer. So why did I say yes and chose to join the fight? Because like most of you, I know someone who has had cancer. Actually I know far to many people who have been touched by cancer. My mum fought breast cancer and won. Her sister, my aunt, had breast cancer around the same time and she to made a full recovery. Most recently we lost my uncle to bowel cancer. He was a very quiet, lovely man who was very well liked and respected in the community. We often think that perhaps if he had gone to the doctor earlier....but how many men do we know who say those words 'Ah I'll be grand'. In most cases they are, in some they are not. I relay to celebrate my mum and aunt, I relay to remember my uncle and I relay to fight back and help get rid of cancer for good.

My mum enjoying Relay - a wonderful lady and my hero.

Last year' in Ireland there were 30,000 new cases of cancer. That's 30,000 people who had to hear the words 'you have cancer'. That means 30,000 sets of family and friends had to hear that devastating words. Thats just to many.

The teams on their first lap.

In Carlow this year we had a whopping 26 teams of people who each fundraised before the event and then at the event set up a tent and did something fun to fund raise for the 24 hours. They also took it in turns to walk the relay track for the entire 24 hours.  This year we also had a relay torch that lit the way for the entire 24 hours. Some of the fundraisers were things like food stalls, sweet stalls, , (selling slushies and candyfloss), a hairdresser to tidy us up after the rain and wind that plagued us on Saturday, sports day games, boobie buns (pink ices buns with cherries on top!!) and a hammock to chill out on for a donation. 

One of the super tents on site.

We had demonstrations from the local karate groups, we had some of the finest musical talent in Carlow grace the stage and we had the talented team members battle it out in 'Relays got Talent'.

Relays got Talent contestant!

So how does the 24 hours go....Relay begins with a survivors lap. A survivor is anyone who has ever been told 'you have cancer'. This year we had over 50 survivors at Relay. They each wear a purple t-shirt. They are of all ages and from all different backgrounds. Its just goes to show that cancer doesn't care who you are or where you are from. The survivors lead off Relay as it is them who give inspiration to others undergoing treatment. They are an amazing group with smiles on all their faces. Some are a little shy but I know everyone including myself is so proud of them for not being afraid to take part. Some of the survivors are still undergoing treatment.

Survivors on their lap.

The next lap is the caregiver lap. This is for everyone who had ever cared for a survivor, or even lent a shoulder to cry on for a family member or friend of someone who lost their cancer battle. Everyone clapped and cheered in appreciation of what these amazing people do.

The team mission banner

As night falls over Ducketts Grove the most emotional part of Relay begins. The luminaria ceremony. This is when the lights are all turned out and the track is lit by candles, this year 1400. Each candle sits in a little bag with a message on it. Some are messages of, remembrance, some of celebration and some of thanks and hope. At the ceremony there were about 600 people. Once the candle ceremony started there was pure silence. All that could be heard was the crunch of the gravel underfoot and the odd sniffle as people thought about the loved ones they have lost. The candles symbolise the hope family and friends of someone battling cancer can bring. Things may sometimes seem dark but there is always someone there to help and light the way.

A little piece of the track lit up.

A simple message...

Dawn broke with a 6am Zumba class. The teacher, god bless her, was full of energy, it took a little bit of effort to get our relayers going though. The rest of Sunday passed with more fun laps, fun and games and a very brave lad who started the trend of dong crazy things to your hair for a donation. I said to him I would get €50 donated if he got a pink mohawk...I went around with a bucket and had over €70 in less then five minutes. People are so generous and even more so when someone is willing to do something silly for the donation!

A relay sweet shop...a treat now and again is good!

On Sunday afternoon the people of Carlow showed up in force to support Relay. We just did not expect the thousands of people that turned up. It was just great. Everyone coming and going commented on how great the event. What I found really special was how complete strangers came up to us and started sharing there own very personal cancer stories. Relay seems to do that to people and I think they feel it helps.

We finished the 24 hours with a final team lap and a balloon release. There were different colour balloons all representing different kinds of cancers. Perhaps its a bit of tiredness kicking in after being on the go since 8am the previous morning but I know I'm not the only one who found this quite emotional as well.

The local firemen in Carlow presenting Relay with a cheque

Relay is for any age!

This year we also had a sister Relay in Elmhurst, Illinois. They relayed over the same 24 hours we did. It just shows that though we are miles apart, cancer is a worldwide issue and so is the fight.

To date through the hard work of the committee, teams, their friends and families and the general Carlow community we have banked over €33,000 for The Irish Cancer Society. Truly amazing!!!

Susan (r) and me (l) with Jedward!!!

As its my blog I'm going to finish this post by thanking all the teams who took part. Its a privilege to get to know you and work with you guys. You stories are inspirational and the effort you all put into Relay is above and beyond!

To the committee  you guys are all amazing and consider myself lucky to count you among my friends.

Also a big thanks to Kevin, our staff partner from the ICS, Thanks for helping us bring Relay for Life to life in Carlow.

Cathy, me, Ger and Susan..a few of the committee

 Relay for Life is happening in communities all around Ireland this Summer. Nenagh, Ballinasloe and Dundalk are all joining in the fight. The Irish Cancer Society run a really great helpline and also have a super website. If at any stage you or someone you know gets the awful diagnosis, help, information and reassurance is just a phone call or click away. 

If you have any Relay stories we would love to hear them so leave your comments below. Should you wish to get involved next year or would like to see some more snaps or get more info see our Facebook page

This is just a little bit of what goes on over the 24 hours! I hope you enjoyed the read...

Taste of Dublin

Taste of Dublin was my latest day out last weekend. Taste happens from Thursday to Sunday. The Saturday and Sunday are divided into two sessions. I found that a bit off putting as these kind of things are usually a day out. On the other hand the bars are open all day so its probably best.

We arrived by taxi outside the National Concert Hall. The venue, the Iveagh gardens are hidden in behind! Its very much the secret gardens! Not even our taxi man (a Dublin city man) knew exactly where the entrance is. No point relying on signage either as there was virtually none!

On entering the first thing to do is change some yo-yos into the Taste currency 'Florens'. Its one euro = one floren so there's no confusion.

Sampling the food!

And then it was onto the fun part of the day! The food sampling! There were stands from dozens of different food producers around the country. Some very well known and some lesser. Any stand that was serving freshly cooked sausages was mobbed! The wine bars were giving away samples to and you could then buy it by the glass or bottle. It was very amusing seeing these very glamorous ladies dolled up to the nines, designer hand bag under one arm and open bottle of wine under the other! 

The lovely Donal Skehan working the kitchen!

The resturant area was packed for the entire day. Many of the fine dining establishments of the capital were represented. they each had a sample menu of three to four items and you could have a little taster for 7 florens. I was a bit surprised to hear people giving out about the price, they seemed to miss the fact that to go for a meal in a lot of these places costs a fair few shillin's! My favourite part of the event was the chefs kitchen demos. All the top names were there making cooking look easy. I wasn't fooled though...if the sauce doesn't come in a jar don't expect me to cook it! Donal Skehan, the youngest celeb chef on the block was effortlessly charming the audience. The ladies loved him and there was many a 'isn't he just gorgeous' and 'he can cook in my kitchen anyday' comments floating around. Martin Shanahan, of  RTE 'Fishy Fish' fame, was great, giving practical advice and showing how genuinely easy fish is to cook. Considering we have great fishing all around our shores its great to see people enthusiastic about fish. 

Martin and Mise

Because of Martin I now eat a variety of fish and now realise that battered cod from the local chippie is not really the top end of fish dining! 
 Nevin Maguire, Derry Clarke, Catherine Fulvio were a few of the other names on the bill but the star of the show was definitely Italian stallion Gino D'acampo. He could have had the ladies literally eating out of his hands if he wanted! I dont know whether his demonstration or the audience reaction was more entertaining! 

Fabulous food, fabulous music!

Whether you are a bon vivant, or like me don't know a lot about food other then I like to eat it, I would recommend a trip to Taste. Its amazingly refreshing to see Irish food companies doing well in the face of the food giants, it reinforces the sense of pride I have in this country. In saying that I went home accompanied by two of my favorite Canadian men, Ben & Jerry.

Nice!

Bloomin' lovely!

Last weekend I got to have a good nosey around and soak up the atmosphere at the Bloom in the Park festival in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.

There is a herd of deer off in the distance.

Saturday morning was, by some miracle, really sunny, so on arrival at Heuston Station I decided to stroll from the park gate up to the festival. Pheonix park is about 1752 acres. Its a walled park and the biggest of its sort in a European capital city. Although I'm a Kildare native (about 20 minutes down the road) I have never been further in the park then Dublin Zoo. (Which il praise endlessly after another 'research visit' in a few weeks, any excuse!!)

Anyway, further into the park is Áras an Uachtaráin or the presidents gaff as its also known! It is only open for a few hours on a Saturday and most Irish people have never set foot in the place. Personally I agree with Sean Gallaghers (running for presidency) idea to open the house to the public properly and put in a little coffee shop. If the recent Royal and Presidential visits are anything to go by Mary and the hubby would be happy to have us.

I met a guy wheeling a wheelbarrow with cement blocks in it half way so we solved the problems of the world until we parted ways at the entrance. So after the 40 minute walk, the signs say 20 but I hadn't brought my running shoes I finally arrive at the gate. A courtesy bus runs from the park gate but the walk in the sun was just to tempting. 

The Walk to Bloom...

Tickets are a very reasonable €20 and €12 concession (O.A.Ps and students). Although Bloom is essentially a garden festival there is a whole lot to see and do. The main marquee houses an assortment of stands, a lot of the visitor attractions and tourism groups are represented here. One that I found super helpful and very nice were shortbreaksireland.ie. The guy recommended a book called 'Round Ireland with a fridge' - looking forward to that read!!! 

Outside there are show gardens galore and everything you need to create your own little haven. As it's Saturday the buggy brigade are out in force but its still easy enough to get around. There's an entertainment stage with live music throughout the day creating a lovely festival vibe. My personal favorite are the barber shop quartet that are popping up all over the place. Its like something out of a movie where you expect them to burst into song about whats going on. "That's a wonderful watering can bom bom bom"...

One of the many flower sculptures

 The artisan food area has stalls from all different Irish food producers. Chocolate, jams, breads, cheese...all looking and smelling wonderful. And I have to say the people on the stalls are all doing themselves proud. Chatting, joking..really engaging with the customers - Its great to see! While queuing for a 'Dees' vegi-burger' a Scottish chef (very charming and entertaining) is handing out amazing juicy steak pieces complete with veg and cocktail stick. The whole queue enjoy it and are licking the cocktail sticks clean as the lady on the vegi-burger stand asks for their order. I found myself a little patch of grass by a lovely little piece of landscaping to enjoy my burger along with everyone else oohing and aahing over their choice of lunch. It is really tasty. I am by my no means a vegetarian but I saw Dees on Dragons Den and was curious to taste. I'm not disappointed! Yummy bean burger covered in Ballymaloe Relish.

My 'Bloom' highlight is a VW camper van covered in bright fresh flowers - can anything be more cool!!!! 

The VW

Whether you go home with a few petunias, a meer cat garden ornament so every time you look out to the garden you will start impersonating the add, or a few hens and a coop that you may regret buying by Tuesday - its a great day out and a 'Bloomin (cringe!!!!!) great way to start the Summer.

Kinsale - Rugby 7's

Every Summer Kinsale is jam packed with tourists enjoying the sites sounds and craft shops selling everything from souvenir shells to authentic Irish tin whistles (made in China). To me and my cousins its where we were regularly shipped off to for holidays as its where my cousins and my grandparents lived. I still regularly visit my cousin and her family there and it is with her (the best hosts ever!!) I will be staying this weekend.

Although its only the end of April, this weekend finding an empty hotel/b&b room will be as difficult as finding a ticket for a Tipp/Kilkenny All Ireland Hurling final. This weekend the town will play host to the Heineken Kinsale Rugby Sevens. Rugby teams from all over the world (this year over 100) will converge on the town for rugby, drinks and general having of the craic! A bit of change from the usual sites and sounds of the town & I am looking forward to it. In all my years coming to Kinsale I have never been there for the  7’s so this is going to be fun!

Enjoying the Sun

The journey from Dublin to Cork is about four and a half hours with a fifteen minute rest stop in Urlingford, Co. Kilkenny.

If you have time to stop off along the way there are a few great places en route. The rock of Cashel is nice for a stroll around (if its good enough for hrh lizzy...), second to that, the highlight of Cashel for me, is Mother Hubbard's restaurant just the other side of town, They do, in my opinion, thee greatest sausage sandwich in the country! Glengarra woods are near Mitchelstown. There are some great walks and an An Oige hostel for those who fancy an overnight. You can beat a youth hostel for a bit of banter with a random German student! I stayed in the hostel many years ago - very funny incident involving an ambulance, a muddy mountain path and a 30 foot drop on one side of the road! While your in the area, the Mitchelstown caves are a must. The cave has some of the finest examples of limstone caves in the country. The caverns are breath taking - some of the formations are as old as 350 million years. If your not into the geology of it, well, its pretty and it sparkles!
On arrival at the almost deserted Cork bus station the lovely Italian behind the information desk tells me that I have an hour wait on the bus. It’s not all bad though, I get a text to say that my cousin and friends will meet me off the bus, sure isn't the pub only across the road! Rugby 7’s is in full swing so it seems!

I brought with me my beginning to get battered copy of ‘McCarthy’s Bar’. A gem of a guide to Ireland. Pete McCarthy, the author, travelled around this part of the country and so I thought it would make for a good read (for the umpteenth time!)
According to McCarthy  the first rule of travel is ‘On arrival buy a local paper and have a drink’. The best I can do here is a local bus time table and the lukewarm bottle of water in my bag. I suppose I could ring ahead and ask them to meet me with a copy of the Evening Echo and a drink from the pub...

Nothing like a neon wristband to make you feel like your at a festival!

Saturday morning after breakfast we decide to head into town for lunch! On the advice of the locals we head to ‘The Blue Haven’. Its a hotel, restaurant and pub. For a very reasonable €15.50 we have thee freshest fish (you can see the boat from the window) chips and mushy peas. More then we could eat and just divine!

Time for some rugby then! The local bus company runs a very organised service up and back from the pitches. Its €2 each way. A bargain considering the incline of the hill you would be forced to walk up! Its held up at the local rugby pitch. It is just down the road from Charles Fort. A 17th century star shaped fort, used by the military until 1922. It is open all year round and well worth a visit. Fabulous views out to sea and into town.

On arrival at the pitches games are in full swing. Some of the teams are there for serious rugby playing (there is a nice cash prize for the winning team).Others are there for the rugby but more for a bit of team bonding and fun times!  The whole affair is very well organised. There are a half dozen pitches, marquees to to house the bars and screens which are showing Leinster’s defeat of Toulouse.

A bit of the action.

Drinks were a very reasonable €4.50 for a beer. I’m here with three other gals. None of which are particularly interested in rugby, thought they are not adverse to the whole fit men in shorts aspect of the event!!

For dinner that evening we head to ‘The White Horse’. The four of us opt for the Cajun Chicken wrap with Ballymaloe relish, salad and chips. There is enough on the plate for two ( I have a sneaking suspicion that they are giving larger portions to feed up the rugby players) and along with a drink we still get change from a tenner.

Stretch it out!

Fed for the evening and after a quick change of attire we head out for the evening.There are lots of pubs to choose from but we go for Hamlets, they have has thee nicest staff and security I have ever come across. The friendliness of people in Cork in general is something that is very apparent. Even as the night goes on the staff remain polite and helpful. All the furniture has been cleared out to accommodate the crowd. On a regular weekend this place has lovely wooden tiki huts outside, perfect for a drink in the sun!

One of the many jerseys..

The whole weekend has a great festival feeling to it. Like Oxegen with a whole lot of super fit people!! As I said this weekend was a first for me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was relaxed, fun, we met some great characters, and it showed me another side to Kinsale. Will I be back for 7’s next year?? Yep, sure I might even wear my Munster jersey.