In a quiet workshop in Rush, Co. Dublin, the sound of hammer on steel mingles with the scent of freshly worked hardwood. Here, Michael Dempsey, founder of Jarnvidr Crafts, is forging more than just tools — he is creating lasting heirlooms rooted in Irish craft and Norse mythology.
“I wanted to make items that last, that people would value and possibly pass down,” says Michael, who launched Jarnvidr Crafts in October 2024 after a long career in technology. “After years in tech, I felt the pull back to my roots in metalwork and carpentry. This is about legacy, creativity, and building something with soul.”
The name Jarnvidr comes from Old Norse, meaning “Ironwood” — a mythical forest where Troll’s and Giant Wolves dwelled in legend. It reflects the blend of myth and nature that runs through the brand. Inspired by Viking tradition, each creation — whether forged blade or hand-turned bowl — carries a sense of story as well as function.
While Jarnvidr Crafts first gained attention for its hand-forged kitchen knives — including Viking-inspired seax blades and unique Damascus steel creations — the workshop has since expanded. Michael now crafts wooden chopping boards, bowls, writing pens, and will soon have CE-certified wooden toys, all from reclaimed or recycled hardwoods.
Norse influences are never far away. Boards shaped like shields, rune-burned designs, and multi-wood patterns inspired by Viking knotwork bring myth into the modern kitchen. The Björn knife line, named after Michael’s grandson, bridges personal family legacy with Norse tradition.
Every Jarnvidr piece is meant to be used. “It’s a chopping board — a few knife marks are expected. That adds to the charm,” Michael says with a smile. His philosophy is simple: with care, each creation will last a lifetime.
Selling online via jarnvidrcrafts.ie and at craft fairs, Jarnvidr Crafts appeals to chefs, food lovers, and gift buyers alike. From bespoke knives for professional kitchens to wooden toys for Irish families, Michael’s work is carving out a reputation for authentic Irish craftsmanship with a Norse soul.
“I’m building something I hope will outlast me,” he reflects. “A craft reborn — from the heart of Ironwood.”
The Ward River has powered many water-mills in its time, the volume and flow of the river having been historically much stronger than we see in it today. Before the age of steam, wind and waterpower were the only sources of energy available. In 1847 there were 3 mills working from the Ward. This particular one operated well into the 1940s, many of our older residents remembering it’s nostalgic resonant grumbling and grinding sounds!
The bridge itself dates from 1875 and is made of cut limestone with very distinctive ‘saddleback’ coping. Next time you are down this way, look down into the river to see a string marking the historic levels of water here. Down on the left at riverside you will also see the typical entry-piers I’ve cleaned, placed here to allow access to the river for washing clothes or drawing water. These piers appear all along the Ward to allow safe access to a once powerful and dangerous stream.
By Sarah Louise, MD – Impulse Recruitment
Have you wondered how to make your CV stand out in 2025? With September here and the final quarter of the year underway, it’s the perfect time to refresh your CV and set yourself up for new opportunities this autumn. Whether you’re looking for a promotion, a complete career change, or simply want to be prepared if the right role comes up, your CV is your personal marketing tool and it needs to work hard for you.
The number one rule: keep it simple. Your CV should be one to two pages long, highlighting your most relevant experience, skills, and achievements. Employers don’t want to wade through unnecessary detail but they do want to see, quickly and clearly, why you’re the right fit for their role. A clean, well-structured CV not only makes you look professional but also shows that you can communicate effectively.
Start strong. Open with a clear headline at the top: Reliable and dedicated candidate seeking a role in [industry], with [X years] of experience in [area]. This gives hiring managers an instant snapshot of who you are and what you’re looking for.
From there, list your most recent role first (job title, company, and dates). Underneath, outline your key tasks and responsibilities, then work backwards through your career history. Use bullet points to make it easy to read, and wherever possible, add achievements with measurable results — for example, Increased sales by 20%” or Implemented a new system that reduced processing time by 30%. These details show the real impact you’ve made.
Make sure you include:
• Contact details (phone and professional email).
• Education (qualifications and relevant courses).
• Skills (communication, teamwork, technical expertise, etc.).
• Hobbies/interests (keep it light and relevant).
• References (either included or “available on request”).
Golden rules: Be honest – no exaggeration. Double-check for errors. Ask a friend to proofread. Never forget your contact details! (Yikes — the last thing you want is to miss out simply because the employer can’t reach you.)
And don’t underestimate the value of a cover letter. Keep it short — three paragraphs is plenty — but use it to show enthusiasm, explain why you’re interested, and highlight how your skills match the role. A tailored cover letter can make all the difference in standing out from dozens of other applicants.
Think of your CV as a fishing hook: clear, targeted, and designed to catch the right employer’s attention.
This is your time to shine, so make sure your CV represents the very best version of you.
Happy job hunting this autumn! Catch me next month for more recruitment insights
By Jack Shanley
The Long Walk (2025) is a masterful adaptation of Stephen King’s chilling novel, and director Francis Lawrence has delivered a film that is as relentless and hypnotic as its source material. This isn’t a blockbuster filled with explosive action; instead, it’s a profound, character-driven psychological thriller that explores themes of endurance and conformity.
Set in a dystopian America, the film follows Ray Garaty, a 16-year-old boy who has entered the “Long Walk,” an annual televised event where 100 teenage boys walk non-stop until only one remains. If they drop below a certain pace, they receive a warning; three warnings and they’re “ticketed,” a euphemistic term for being shot dead by the military escort. The film captures the gruelling, almost meditative monotony of the walk, focusing on the subtle shifts in the boys’ mental and physical states. It’s a testament to the powerful performances from its young cast, who perfectly embody the mix of youthful naivete, and hardened resolve required to survive.
Lawrence’s direction is a triumph of atmosphere and restraint. He understands that the horror isn’t in the blood and guts, but in the slow, inevitable psychological toll. The camera often lingers on the boys’ faces, capturing the exhaustion, fear, and even moments of strange camaraderie. The sound design is a key player, with the constant, rhythmic thud of feet on asphalt serving as a metronome of impending doom. As a big fan of film scores, the lack of a traditional score in many scenes enhances the stark reality of their situation, making the silence and the sound of breathing even more potent.
The film’s most powerful moments are not in the deaths but in the quiet, poignant interactions between the walkers. The fleeting friendships, the shared jokes, and the desperate attempts to maintain a semblance of humanity in an inhuman contest are what truly resonate. The Long Walk is a thought-provoking, and at times, gut-wrenching experience. It serves as a stark metaphor for the relentless pressures of modern life, and the lengths people will go to for a fleeting chance at glory. It’s a powerful cinematic achievement that will linger in your mind long after the credits have rolled.
I’d recommend checking out ‘The Long Walk’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of Three stars, after my first watch. You can watch it at your local cinema today: Director: Francis Lawrence – Rating: 16 – Genre: Horror/Sci-fi – Run Time: 1h 48m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.
It’s October….time for hot chocolates and snuggly pj’s. It’s chilly but not too cold; perfect for strolling in the fields with Andean Alpacas. These beautiful animals are calming and therapeutic. Andean Alpacas, in Westmeath, have packages where you can simply go walking with the Alpacas or you can choose their Halloween package, to spend time with the Alpacas and enjoy pumpkin carving and other Halloween activities. See https://andeanalpacas.ie/
My husband and I spent a few days in Farnham Estate Cavan recently, enjoying woodland strolls and the warm outdoor pool, which is surrounded by green fields. Farnham have great offers on breaks and spa days/treatments. We highly recommend Cedars Steakhouse Tomahawk steak for 2, it’s a memorable dining experience. See https://www.farnhamestate.ie/?src=mams
This month The National Concert Hall has wonderful family friendly concerts and events, see www.nch.ie Wax Museum Plus has interactive events and kids can make a wax model of their hand to bring home! See https://waxmuseumplus.ie/
Adventure Light returns to Skypark this October. Wander the Magical Trail, Conquer the Maze, Bounce on Skynet, Hunt for clues and Make a Wish and Enjoy delicious street food. Bring the whole family to this interactive experience. See https://skypark.ie/adventure-lights/
For a little treat, The Gem Treatery in Balbriggan is a must visit. Fluffy pancakes, yummy crepes, tasty sambos, delicious coffee, acai bowls and so many flavours of ice cream to choose from. Spacious and child/baby friendly, it’s perfect for catching up with family and friends. They also do kids birthday parties! See https://www.gemtreatery.com/?src=mams
Fancy a scare? The new Conjuring movie is brilliant. Expect screams and popcorn flying everywhere! We saw it with our teens at Arc Cinema and really enjoyed it. There are lots of good kids movies on and kids clubs are excellent value during midterm. See offers at https://arccinema.ie/
Now is the time when many of us succumb to colds and flus and it’s good to boost your immune system. For adults, Sentro Labs has excellent supplements for gut health and support women in perimenopause. I find them very good to help with sleep. For kiddies, Tonstix are absolutely brilliant. It’s a lollipop they suck that helps enormously with sore throats. Such a clever product range, see https://tonstix.com/
Stay safe and Happy Halloween from mams.ie!
By Dave Kavanagh
A difficulty that occurs when planning ahead to protect you and your family’s financial future, is the fact that we don’t know exactly what the future holds. Will jobs and income change? How long will I maintain good health? Will I win the lottery jackpot in the next 3 years? The uncertainty of the future means that we often plan for a variety of occurrences. One important aspect of this planning is deciding on a term for things like Life Cover. A life cover plan can either be done for a specific term or it can be done as a “whole of life” plan. One of the problems with the old way of doing these was that the premiums were reviewed after a few years and could result in constant, substantial increases, often forcing people to either cancel them or accept a much lower level of cover. With “guaranteed whole of life” plans, you at least know exactly what the premium will always be and the level of cover but planning that far ahead can be costly. A relatively new method of dealing with this issue was introduced from one of the life companies, and it is an addition called “Life Changes Option”. This option gives the policy owners a number of choices once they have paid premiums for at least 15 years. They can then choose to either; a) Stop paying premiums and reduce the level of cover which stays in place until the cover is paid out, or b) Cancel the cover (if it is no longer required) and take a refund of up to 70% of all premiums previously paid, or c) Continue the plan as it is with the same level of cover and premiums. This option has become quite popular when people are looking to future-proof cover as it offers choices that can suit people’s changing circumstances. If they have cleared loans and have sufficient savings, a reduced level of cover might be ideal. If they have strong pensions and savings, they may no longer have a need for cover and can take back a lump sum. For more information on how this type of cover may suit you, ask your advisor or contact me for a free quotation.
Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or information (with no cost or obligation) he can be contacted by emailing info@financialcompanion.ie or use the contact form on www.financialcompanion.ie or @Davekav_advice on Twitter and Instagram. Combined with his previous role of gym/nutrition adviser, he regularly gives talks and workshops at seminars and events for groups, companies and government departments on financial wellbeing, positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM , LMFM and TV3. wellbeing, positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM , LMFM and TV3.
The following is an extract from Mike Power’s forthcoming book - Swords: History and Mysteries… A Community Guide
Despite being situated solidly within the ‘Pale’(‘Pallium’ latin=A Fence) the spirit of Irish nationalism was never quite extinguished in Swords and Fingal…Swords folk contributed to every insurrection in Ireland, most notably in 1916, when the Fingal brigade of the Irish Volunteers led by Captain Richard Coleman of Main St. fought bravely in the engagement in the Mendacity Instit, Dublin.Swords folk can be very proud of it’s long and honourable tradition of nationalism, often carried out in the face of great opposition from the authorities. Fingal Abu !
‘Fingal has done more than its share in Ireland’s republican cause…’
Eamonn de Valera 1940
Easter Monday 1916 in the village of Swords dawned fine and dry. The Taylor brothers Tom, Joe and Christopher left their home in Taylors’ pub, Main Street, and headed out toKnocksedan bridge, half-an-hour’s walking at their brisk military pace. While confused by Eoin Mc Neill’s letter in the Sunday Independent to stand down, they still held to Captain Richard ‘Dick’ Coleman’s order:
‘We meet at Knocksedan Bridge on Monday, Ok?’
Their new boots chafing their feet as they strolled, going up the Brackenstown Road, they met Christopher ‘Kit’ Moran.
‘Is it still on?’ he asked, the others, saying nothing, walking stolidly ahead.
Kit Moran’s Mauser rifle slapped rhythmically on his hip, ‘damn blunderbuss,’ he spoke as he walked, knowing well the horrid mess its 57 mm. rounds could make of something as fragile as the human body. Seventy men were already waiting on the bridge, most smoking and cooling their heels, their mood black, disappointed with the poor turnout.
Some peered over the parapet at the black pools of water 60 feet below, pondering what lay ahead.
Finally, Captain Richard Coleman arrived, his Sam Browne belt and brass buttons shining in the shafts of sunlight scattering on the bridge. Pointedly, taking each man in with his eyes he said: ‘Right then, a Oglaigh, this is what we did all that hard training for – this is the day!’
Dublin writer George Fitzgerald is no stranger to putting pen to paper and with firm roots in Swords, George fondly remembers his relative Ned Stafford who was an integral part of the Nationalist movement and an active participant in the 1916 Rising.
Ned Stafford from Swords, County Dublin. His mother, Brigid Stafford, described as “a lady,” was supportive of his nationalist beliefs. The Stafford parents and their nine children are buried in Swords Cemetery. Ned became involved in nationalism after hearing Thomas MacDonagh speak at a gathering in Swords. Once he had made his decision, his mother supported him, and the family was aware of the key figures involved. Ned Stafford was present at Boland’s Mills during the 1916 Rising.
Boland’s served as a crucial strategic location for the Irish Volunteers. The mill, along with other buildings in the area, became the headquarters for the 3rd Battalion, which was tasked with controlling key approaches to Dublin from Dún Laoghaire, then Kingstown, a port where British reinforcements were expected. The Volunteers engaged in fierce fighting, particularly at Mount Street Bridge, and successfully held their ground against British forces until the order to surrender was given.
Ned subsequently enlisted in the Free State Army. However Private Edward Stafford died due to tuberculosis acquired during active duty in 1926. In a letter from his mother, she expressed her pride in stating that her son fought during Easter Week under Risteard Mulcahy’s command.
Ned Stafford’s dad, Patrick, was employed as a gardener. Three of his sons enlisted in the Irish Army. George Stafford was a member of the Irish Army from 1927 until 1960. The Black and Tans, or perhaps British troops, during the War of Independence, while they were looking for Ned Stafford, who was fleeing. He was informed that the plans for Ashbourne were concealed within the house, intended to prevent the train from transporting soldiers into the city. One of his brothers was Tom Stafford, who in the 1930s lived in a tenement in Gardiner Street, Dublin, in the 1930s. He and his family later moved to Ballyfermot. His daughter, Maria, married a local man, George Fitzgerald. In 1966, the young couple got a new flat on the tenth floor of the newly developed Ballymun flats.
George Fitzgerald is the author not only of the Ashley Brown series but the 9-book audiobook series about growing up in Ballymun in the 60s and later his life in Finglas South. There were four brothers in the family: George, his twin Joseph, Pat, and Wesley. The twins were champion boxers in the 70s. And band members in the 80s and 90s with the famed D11 Runners. The audiobooks can be listened to on YouTube or Facebook.
By Jack Shanley
Joseph Kosinski’s F1, delivers a visceral journey steeped in adrenaline, emotion, and cinematic grandeur. With a screenplay by Ehren Kruger and a soaring score co-composed by Hans Zimmer, the film revs up into one of the most ambitious crossovers between Hollywood and the hyper-technical world of Formula 1 racing. ‘F1’ is not just a movie about a sport; it’s an immersive sprint through the adrenaline-soaked nerves of modern racing. This film understands that Formula 1 is as much about psychology, strategy, and sibling-like rivalries as it is about horsepower.
At its core, ‘F1’ is a familiar yet effective underdog story, a legendary driver returns from a decades long absence to save a struggling fictional team, APXGP, and find redemption behind the wheel. While the storyline has been pretty much done before, Pitt and Idris bring a strong chemistry and emotional dept that keep the journey engaging, even if it’s somewhat predictable at times.
Visually, the film is fantastic. Filmed during actual Grand Prix weekends with real-world teams, drivers, and circuits, the racing sequences strike a rare balance between spectacle and realism. The cinematography immerses you in every gear shift and tire squeal, while Hans Zimmer’s hybrid orchestral-electronic score underscores both the human drama and the mechanical fury of ‘F1’. It’s a real striking piece of modern sport filmmaking, that even without being an ‘F1’ fan or having any knowledge of the sport, you’ll still be vastly entertained.
That said, the film isn’t without its flaws. Some may argue that certain race moments bend realism, with unrealistic manoeuvres and overly convenient engineering breakthroughs. While general audiences often find it exhilarating, the plot’s sentimen-tality and paralleled character arcs may feel monotonous. ‘F1’ compensates with a rejuvenated sense of optimism: a belief that teamwork can outpace ego. Still, the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive, with the film breaking box office records for Apple Studios.
I’d recommend checking out ‘F1’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of THREE stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today: Director: Joseph Kosinski– Rating: PG – Genre: Sport/Action – Run Time: 2h 35m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.
And breathe…the kids are back in school and parents can enjoy a little space as we settle back into a regular routine. If you’ve been a busy Mammy, rushed off your feet getting ready for school, try to carve out a little ‘me time’ now. Fabulous West Cork company Be Cosy has gorgeous goodies to indulge in a little self-care this Autumn. Hot chocolate, snuggly slippers, thick wool socks and calming incense sticks are our favourites. Glimmerboxes has added to their range with some beautiful new boxes, including the Hot Mess and Gamer boxes, perfect for a little self-indulgence. For busy mornings, Irish brand GuGo has comfy, easy to wear clothing, perfect for the school run. I love the Peach and Green sweatshirts, perfect for dopamine dressing. Pair with their comfy leggings (I love the Navy ones) and finish with a baseball cap to cover the hair you haven’t had time to style and you’re ready to go! Check them out at https://gugo.ie/ and sign up to their newsletter for 10% off your first order.
The build up to September can be full on and as the weather turns cooler, colds and bugs start swirling around. It’s a good idea to invest in some decent vitamins and mineral supplements to give your health a boost. Sentro Labs is an Irish company with a range of immune supports for good health and gut performance, as well as supplements to aid sleep and help with perimenopause and men’s health. See https://www.sentrolabs.com/
Even though the weather is getting colder, it is still very important to put SPF on your face. I wear Elave SPF all year round, it moisturises beautifully, is ideal for sensitive skin and goes great under make-up. We are big fans of the Elave ranges, from baby and junior skincare to adult skincare and shaving sets. And they’re an Irish company, which we love.
Even though school is back, there are still lots of fun events at weekends. The National Concert Hall is hosting family concert, Rithmí agus Scéalta – Rhythms and Stories, on Saturday 13th September as well as a host of Mini Music sessions for kids throughout September. Check them out at https://www.nch.ie/ and keep an eye on mams.ie for NCH competitions!
