by Carina Cnnningham

Did you know that our fabulous Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan has opened its doors to a collection of artists? Welcome to “Ardgillan Artists Collective Studios”.

All crafts and artists candidates had to go through a rigorous application and interview, to be awarded a designated studio. The board of management at Ardgillan Castle made the decision on who could join the castle in this new venture. This month we would like to introduce you to the lovely artist Nicola Weldon. Nicola works mostly with clay and plaster as mediums. The unique process that she uses with clay captures impressions of wild meadows, flowers, foliage, and seaweeds. By working in monochrome or by creating contrast through the delicate use of colour, together with her attention to detail, Nicola’s aim is to reproduce the wildness of nature in each image. Nicola said. “I love being based at the Castle, together with 10 other artists and the fact that each artist’s work is so different. Having access to the extraordinary selection of flowers and plants from the grounds at Ardgillan for my work, makes it even more enjoyable. Recently, I have been enjoying exploring plaster and how it lends itself to the relief effect. I believe my framed plaster reliefs are a good contrast to my other work.” You can find Nicola’s pieces on display at Ardgillan Castle Arts and Crafts Shop , as well as in her studio in the castle. Nicola currently has a small exhibition at the La La Café, which is a part of the Irish Institute of Music on Church Street, Balbriggan. To see some of Nicola’s work, check out her Instagram. Nicola added, “I really enjoy welcoming people at my studio, where they can see me at work. I also enjoy creating bespoke pieces, so if you wish to have a particular piece designed using your favourite flower, plant or seaweed please call in and have a chat.” If you are interested in contacting Nicola Weldon please do so at : Mob: 086 8198337, Email: nicolaweldon10@gmail.com or Instagram: @nicola_weldon10

By Dave Kavanagh

A tax that is often not considered and doesn’t usually make the Budget headlines each year is Capital Acquisition Tax. In 2019 in Ireland, there was €455 million collected in Capital Acquisition Tax. This covers both inheritance tax and gift tax. It also includes estates that may have been taxed in previous generations. For example, if someone left an estate worth €2,000,000 to an only daughter, she would (in the current tax year) have a tax bill of almost €550,000. After she pays the bill and puts what’s left in the bank, any interest is taxed (DIRT). Guess what happens when she passes and leaves her estate behind? It’s taxed again! Spouses can leave any amount to each other tax free. After that, the three thresholds are, a) Children - €335,000, b) Other close relatives - €32,500 and c) All others (including cohabiting partners) - €16,250. Everything received above these is taxed at 33%. So, is there any way to prevent it? There are two main actions that can either reduce or eradicate such a tax bill. The first is to take the time to plan when making a will. Let’s say a value of €750,000 was being left to 2 adult children. (Not a big estate if you combine a house, savings and a life policy). This would create a tax bill of over €25,000. Instead, if €670,000 of it was left to the 2 children and the balance between a few grandchildren, there is no tax bill. The second thing that can be done is for the person leaving the estate to take out a Section 72 plan. This is a type of life policy that is allowed to pay any tax liability without adding to the value of the estate. It becomes particularly important for anybody that does not have children to plan things out, as even other relatives can only receive €32,500 before any balance is taxed. These thresholds are particularly important for anybody in the process of planning or making their will.

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 phone 087-6414570, 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 and TV3.

By Siobhan O’Neill White

Whether you have a small budget or a bit more to spend there are so many options. Charity shops are amazing, with almost new Communion dresses for around €15 - €20. Mr. Price has Communion dresses from €17.99 which are lovely. Watch out for sales; we picked up our daughters Communion dress for €50 in the sale at Alexander Bridal Parnell St. Dublin. For boys, Bestwear in Drogheda has 3 piece suits for boys for €69.99, they are so smart! For girls and boys, Fields Jewellers have a beautiful range of Communion jewellery such as holy cross pendants, bracelets, necklaces, watches, earrings and tie pins. One of our favourites is the watch and necklace set for only €50. Top Tip Jewellery makes a memorable gift from a Grandparent or Godparent! Hosting a party at home can be overwhelming so getting food from your local deli takes the pressure off. We love the catering options from Relish cafes. From savoury foods like lasagne, chicken & broccoli bake, beef bourguignon (my favourite) with creamy mash, savoury tarts and curries to divine desserts. Check their menu out! We got our daughters personalised Communion personalised cake here for only €30.A Pinata is great fun for the kids. Check out Pinatas Pinatas colourful and personalised Communion Pinatas for only €30. For Mums: On Communion days, us Mammies want to look our best! We adore the dresses, blazers, skirts, trousers, tops & jumpsuits from Ontrend.eu They currently have a huge sale (prices start at €5!) with many ideal pieces for dressing up! For the Daddies: Best Menswear is a great spot for smart/casual wear. They have nice suits but also, other options like chinos & shirts, while smart, are a little less formal. They often have sales on so watch out for deals! For siblings: You can’t go wrong with Penneys. They have wonderfully priced special occasion wear like pretty dresses, fancy shoes and hair accessories for girls and chinos, shirts, braces and bow ties for boys. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get the siblings looking their best for the special day!Siobhán O’Neill White tel: 087-9978418 siobhan@mumstown.ie - web: www.mams.ie - Shortlisted for Golden Spider Award & Infant & Maternity Award - As seen on RTE and Virgin Media Ireland & Weekend AM As heard on : Today FM’s Ian Dempsey & Dermot & Dave; RTE’s Ray D’Arcy Show, 98FM, LMFM Late Lunch, WLRFM & Shannonside FM

By Jack Shanley

Almost 50 years after it was made, Nicolas Roeg’s ‘Don’t Look Now’ remains to this day one of the great horror masterpieces in cinematic history. Not only is it frightening but it pulls you in and makes you feel as lost as the two main characters while they wander the streets of Venice. The must-see 1973 classic was adapted from Daphne du Maurier’s book of short stories ‘Not After Midnight’, released in 1971. Very skilfully made (cinematography, sound, writing, editing), we’re treated to devastatingly good performances from Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie. We really feel their pain and intense sorrow which is essentially the core of the film. ‘Don’t Look Now’ delves into the interesting topic of the psychology of grief and how the death of a child can have a massive effect on a relationship. It is set in this mesmerising dark dream-like city of Venice. In a way the dark look depicts how the couple feel after the loss of their daughter. Devastating, poignant and beautiful all in one, ‘Don’t Look Now’ is very highly regarded by film critics around the world and by some of the greatest directors we’ve seen over the past 30 years, influencing the likes of Academy Award Winner Danny Boyle (Slumdog Millionaire, Trainspotting), Academy Award Winner Steven Soderbergh (Erin Brockovich, Traffic) and the great Christopher Nolan (Inception, Interstellar). The film is so highly regarded that in 1999, the British Film Institute acknowledged the importance of Roeg and his filmography by naming ‘Don’t Look Now’ the eighth greatest British film of all time in its Top 100 British films poll. Synopsis: Following the death of their daughter, John (Donald Sutherland) and his wife Laura (Julie Christie) head to Venice where John is commissioned to restore a church. There, John and his wife Laura meet two sisters (Hilary Mason, Clelia Matania) who claim they are in touch with the spirit of their daughter. Laura believes them, but John doesn’t until he catches sight of what looks like his daughter running through the streets of Venice. I’d give this film a score of FIVE stars. * You can buy ‘Don’t Look Now’ on DVD at Tower Records for €14.99. Director: Nicolas Roeg - Rating: R - Genre: Mystery, Thriller - Run Time: 1h 50m - Language: English, Italian

By Ciaran Russell

It can be hard to know where to start if you want to lose weight, let alone what’s important. Let me introduce The Hierarchy of Weight Loss as I see it. First and foremost you can create a calorie deficit, have the best training plan, spend lots of money on supplements and still not see any results. Why? Because doing all those things may every so often but if there is no conistsncy over a long period of time results will be hard to obtain. Adherence to a plan is the key component to long term success with losing weight and improving fitness.Energy balance is the driving force of weight loss. This is calories in versus calories out, which means the amount of calories you eat and drink versus the amount of calories you burn.Daily movement is essentially moving your body everyday and finding more ways to do that. This is not exercise. It’s what you do during work hours, it’s taking the stairs instead of the lift, it’s walking to the shops rather than driving. Increasing your general physical activity can have a huge impact on your weight. One of the most underrated components of life is sleep. The importance of sleep is massively overlooked in relation to health, not least weight loss. If you’re tired, it means energy may be impacted which can result in reaching for quick snacks to give you an energy boost during the day. If you truly want to get a handle on weight loss for good, start taking better care of your sleep.While training is not solely important for weight loss, at least not as much as people think it is, exercising regularly has massive benefits to your health and body compostition. Finding exercise you enjoy is the key to particiapting for a long time. Keep things simple for weight loss; adhere to a plan for a few months at least, ensure you are in a calorie deficit, move your body daily, improve your sleep, do exercise you like and only take supplements if you are deficient.Follow me on Instagram for more tips for simplifying weight loss. Go to this link - instagram.com/ciaranrussellcoaching/

By Dave Kavanagh

It’s human nature to want good things to happen to us and conversely, for bad things not to happen to us. A constant example I see of this, is the vast amounts of money that is spent on the lotto every week, despite the odds of winning the jackpot of 10.7million to 1, compared to the numerous people I talk to that have no preparations in place, for the potential financial loss in the event of a serious illness or even a fatality. Considering that in Ireland, you have a 1 in 4 chance of developing one of the conditions covered before age 65, and, according to one of the main life companies’ claim statistics for 2021, 32% of their death claims were under age 60. The difference between how people affected by such occurrences will be impacted financially, is usually dependent on how people have planned and prepared. Of course we don’t want bad suff to happen, but it happens frequently whether we want it to or not. (Exponentially more frequently than the aforementioned lotto jackpot wins!)

Whenever I talk to people who have just reviewed their own individual circumstances and put appropriate plans in place, they talk about the “peace of mind” that this gives them and the fact that it is one less thing to worry about now that they are up to date with the knowledge that sufficient cover is now in place to prevent any major financial loss, should one of those “bad things” happen. It requires a conscious act of making the time to look at your own situation and finding out the levels and types of cover that are suitable and affordable for you. A simple phone call or email may be all you need to get started and having one less thing for you to worry about.

Well, she’s back again after the two-year restrictions! Carina Cunningham of Style Warriors Fashion and Entertainment Show has a new venture. Carina is now assisting new and older modelling enthusiasts, who are looking to explore the fashion world. From vintage to movie star, burlesque to lingerie, debs’ dresses to communion, period to gothic, wedding to evening wear – she has it all. Carina has an extensive wardrobe collection available for photo shoots and for hire. She has been creating period costumes and hats in Ardgillan Castle, Balbriggan in her new studio: Style Warriors Dreamscape Room 102. She shares the beautiful surroundings of the castle with fellow artists, who also display their skills in their own studios at the castle. Studios for visual artists, potters, ceramicists and jewellers have been open since June of last year where the artists and crafters freely meet and greet both the public and tourists seven days a week. This venture came to life with Argillan Castle Manager Tom Reilly’s vision and the support of Fingal County Council and the Ardgillan Castle Board of Management. On the 15th of May, Ardgillan Castle will be hosting a wedding fair and Carina will be looking for models to join the team for a fashion show on the day and learn a little about what it’s like being a model. There will be a model casting day held in the castle, a bootcamp day and then the fashion show on the day of the wedding fair. Anyone who is interested – please contact Carina on her Facebook page. Stands of local wedding suppliers will also feature on the day. The castle itself is a venue for civil ceremonies. And now brides can avail of the in-house vintage wedding décor that is available to couples planning their weddings at Ardgillan. Mags Morgan with her divine Mizz Rio wedding collections will share the catwalk with Carina at the fair.Casting day and bootcamp dates will be announced shortly. On the wedding fair day, 24 models’ names will go into a hat with the winner getting a free photoshoot from Carina!

by Malahide Historical Society

Standing across the road from St. Sylvester’s Church, this elegant terrace of four three-bay three-storey 19th century houses is recessed from the street by a common garden fronted by railings set between stone pillars. Nos. 1 and 4 have bays extending the full height of their facades. Until recently, a curious damaged sculpture was to be seen on the roof parapet at the centre of the terrace which appeared to be a representation of a sea lion but this has lately disappeared. (Does anyone have information on its whereabouts?). The construction of No.1 commenced in 1842 and No. 4 was completed eight years later. Though a terrace, each house is slightly different. An 1850 watercolour (present whereabouts unknown) depicts the terrace with scaffolding around No 4. John Killeen of Millview House and later Seapark House built the terrace as a potential marriage dowry for his only child. However, she entered a religious order in Dumfries, Scotland, where she rose to the position of Abbess before her death in 1918. As a consequence, the terrace was sometimes referred to as the Dowry Terrace. However, by 1862, John Killeen was in financial difficulty as the Official Assignee was advertising the sale of : “the title and interest of the Bankrupt, John Killeen…in the two Plots of Ground situate at Malahide… with the four commodious and first-class dwelling houses thereon, with outhouses, offices and gardens, and known as Killeen-terrace (in the erection of which the bankrupt expended a sum of nearly £4,000), held under two leases from Lord Talbot de Malahide to the bankrupt, for 99 years from 1st May, 1849, at the yearly rents of £20 and £2 18s.; there is yet space for the erection of other houses. Three of the said houses are let to respectable tenants, and produce £162 10s annually. The fourth house is unlet, but was lately let at a rent of £60 a year.The local Presbyterian community, having unsuccessfully petitioned Lord Talbot in 1891 for a site for a church, shortly afterwards acquired an interest in No.2 Killeen Terrace. This remained their place of worship until they moved into their newly built church on the Dublin Road in 1956. This building was partly financed by the sale of No.2 Killeen Terrace. Our Photos show the terrace in the 1960s and 1970s.

By Siobhan O’Neill White

Springtime has arrived! Daffodils are popping up; we’ve got an extra bank holiday for St Patricks’ Day and Mother’s day is fast approaching. Life is good. There is so much to enjoy this month and finally, after 2 years of being cocooned away, we can now get out and about again. For Mother’s day this month, make sure to let all the wonderful Mother’s know how much they mean to us. Whether you are lucky to be a Mammy yourself, want to spoil your own Mammy or Granny or treat a special someone in your life who is a mother figure, there are loads of ways to thank them. You can splash out and take her out for a nice meal, Gourmet Food Parlour is a favourite spot of our in Skerries. If you are staying in, why not cook your Mammy a special dinner! Heaven knows, she has cooked enough family dinners over the years! As a Mammy myself, I love to get a card and have my children do something nice for me. It’s not about the gifts, its more about the gestures of kindness. Having someone else cook dinner while I get a half an hour to myself in the bath is the kind of treat I love. My number one request for the day is no squabbling…..though my 4 children rarely make to through the full day on that one! Last year we lost my Mother-in-law and this Mother’s day we will be taking some time to reflect and remember her. We will go visit her grave and bring flowers. It won’t be the same without her and she will be a part of our day – even though it will be sad and difficult, it’s so important to honour her memory as the wonderful Mam and Nanna she was. We are planning to plant a tree in our garden in her memory and whenever it flowers, we will be reminded of her. Our children will help plant it too, so hopefully they will feel a connection to it as well. Whatever you get up to this Patrick’s Day and Mother’s Day, enjoy the friends and family you share it with and be happy that we are finally out of the many lockdowns we have had to endure!

By Dave Kavanagh

When advising clients and analysing their finances, I ask them how long (if at all) their employer will pay them if they are out of work long term due to illness or injury. In some cases, it is standard and can be something like 3 months at full pay, then 3 months at half pay and then a pensionable rate of pay. For many, they are not sure and when they look through their employment contract, it states “at employer’s discretion”. Many people realised how vulnerable they were when the pandemic arrived, dropping some incomes from €600 or €800 per week down to €350 of PUP. Many don’t give much consideration to how they would cope if they suffered a loss of income for an extended period because they think “it’ll never happen to me”. Sadly, many find out the hard way following an injury or illness that keeps them out of work for months or even years. This is where having Income Protection in place, can be the difference between maintaining a level of income that keeps your lifestyle virtually unchanged, or dropping to a level that could force you to use up any savings and also get into financial difficulty.

So how does it work? Depending on your circumstances, you choose an appropriate level of cover. This is based on not exceeding 75% of your salary, less any state income entitlement. You also choose a “deferred period” which refers to how long you are off work before payments commence. The premiums are based on factors like your age and occupation, as some occupations would leave you more at risk of not being able to work. There is also tax relief on premiums paid for income protection, which could mean up to 40% of your premium is refunded by way of adjusting your tax credits. If dropping from your current income to the state benefit of €208 per week is something that would impact badly on you, perhaps it is time to consider.