By Dave Kavanagh

Every year, I see examples of people who have done all the right things in preparing to apply for a home loan to purchase their new home. They have saved regularly to build a deposit, maintained stable employment, avoided taking out new loans (and made sure any existing or previous loan obligations were paid in full and on time), conducted their current accounts efficiently, etc. but sadly, they don’t get to proceed with their house/apartment purchase (certainly not in the time frame they wanted to) because they cannot get their mortgage protection life cover accepted. This can be for a number of reasons but primarily it comes down to this.When you apply for any form of life cover, it is underwritten based on your current and past medical history. If someone has had any adverse medical conditions, if deemed serious enough, it could prevent cover being granted. More commonly, someone may have been recommended by their GP or consultant to have certain tests done, but they never got around to it. This would usually prompt a life company to postpone a decision until the tests are done and satisfactory results are available. Depending on the type of tests, this could take months to get sorted. For these reasons, anybody planning to apply for a mortgage should research how they will be underwritten for mortgage protection at an early stage, particularly if they are concerned that a past medical issue could be a problem. In the current climate regarding Covid-19, many are even getting their mortgage protection in place early and extending the term so that they are certain of having cover in place, when it is time to draw down the home loan. Once cover is in place, any new medical issues that arise will not be relevant.

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 financialcompanion.i 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.

By Jack Shanley

Over 30 years since it was originally made, Martin Scorsese kicked off the ‘90s by making arguably his third masterpiece. I write about ‘Goodfellas’ following the sad passing of Ray Liotta who shone like a diamond in the movie, screened recently at the Lighthouse Cinema. Liotta’s impeccable performance as Henry Hill will forever be remembered as one of the great gangster performances in cinema history. ‘Goodfellas’, an adaptation of the book ‘Wiseguy’, written by Nicholas Pileggi, is a fast-paced crime drama about a gangster lifestyle we don’t ever see but only hear about. It is gripping from start to finish. Even the opening titles, moving fast from one side of the screen to the other, are dubbed with the sound of cars racing by, symbolising how relentless the gangster lifestyle truly is. ‘Goodfellas’ is so fast paced we see nine freeze frames throughout, highlighting important moments, and slowing the film down to give the audience a chance to catch its breath. Thelma Schoonmaker’s editing is utterly brilliant with match cuts used from scene to scene to keep the momentum going.We also see 204 tracking shots which are used to take us through entire buildings instead of shooting a scene in just one room. One example is the famous date scene where Henry takes Karen through the restaurant kitchen to skip the long queue outside. ‘Goodfellas’ is one of my favourite Scorsese movies. Even if you watch the opening ten minutes, you’ll end up watching the entire film. It flies by so fast, like life itself. Throughout we feel many different emotions, from the highs to the lows, and these characters are just people passing through life before it’s all over in an instant. I’ll give ‘Goodfellas’ a score of five stars. You can watch ‘Goodfellas’ on sky cinema or buy it at Tower Records €7.99. Director: Martin Scorsese – Rating: R - Genre: Crime/Drama Run Time: 2h 26m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

by Tom McCloughlin, DCU Water Institute

For those of us living in east Fingal, there is an issue with transport. We live near the coast, but to travel north or south we have to go around the estuaries of Rogerstown-Turvey and they, because they are protected areas for wildlife, appear to be black holes in our local geography. We go around them but never to them. When you do they can appear empty and devoid of any life.If you are a fisherman you may wonder where your catch comes from, where do the fish reproduce and if you are a birdwatcher, you might wonder what do all the birds eat? The estuaries are where many fish species caught at sea come here to reproduce because the estuaries are sheltered but also be-cause they provide food for the young, just enough to keep them going until they get out to sea. The birds come from Canada and Iceland to feed on a variety of animals living in the mud, and each species has its preference (but like us, they’ll try different flavours!). The picture shows the ‘favourite’ food for each bird.The little mud animals depend on clean water entering the estuary, so if pollution enters a stream at Ballough, it has an effect at Rogerstown. Too much phosphate and the water is starved of oxygen because certain algae go mad. The mud animals die, and the birds arrive to find less food than before. Breeding fails, the birds move on to other already cramped areas, and the breeding cycle is interrupted reducing the population of birds who keep the fish and mud animals in check. Without them, the mud animals in turn over populate for the avail-able nutrients and space, and they in turn crash. If we keep our litter, rubbish, pollution, and dump-ing to ourselves, the estuaries will thrive and become the glory of Fingal, as great international hubs of life and biodiversity and a source of pride to show the rest of the country how to work for the environment.

by Carina Cunningham

The second of our resident artists from Ardgillan Castle is a blow in from up north via Spain. A popart, portrait artist, Glenn is originally from the leafy suburbs of Belfast but is delighted to find himself in the magnificent setting of Studio 27, Ardgillan Castle. His work has been described as “Precision Impressionism” with the author continuing: “Glenn is impressionistic as he breaks figures down into blocks of colour…close up almost abstraction but as you step away the blocks flow together to form the subject in the most precise way possible. A modern day technical Monet” His collectors include Donal Gallagher, brother of the late, great Rory Gallagher, and Steve Garrigan, Kodaline front man. Proud to have pieces all over the world he continues to develop his craft with local galleries as well as representation in Milan, Italy where, with help from the Fingal Arts Office, he has plans to exhibit this September. Having recently been sponsored to paint in Cannes, France Glenn will also be flying off to Miami later this year for an installation of three pieces produced for the biggest Realtor Association in the USA. If we can keep him in the country long enough his studio is well worth a visit. Original pieces, limited edition prints and various pieces of work in progress are always on show. Or find him on-line on the links glennmatthewsart.com or instagram.com/glenn.matthews.art.

By Siobhan O’Neill White

Are you wondering how to keep the children busy this summer? Check out our outdoor & indoor activity recommendations here on mams.ie. On sunny days, explore the Japanese gardens, get up close to world class thoroughbreds, enjoy the children’s play area, fairy trail and fantastic restaurant at The Irish National Stud. Learn the history of the Vikings with a trip to Dublinia, it’s fun and educational. SkyPark Carlingford is brilliant for adventurous families. Climbing walls, zipwires, archery, footgolf and more. I bravely did their biggest zipwire (amidst much screaming), while my children cheered me on! Great family fun and Carlingford is so beautiful, why not stay over at the Four Seasons hotel nearby.Planning a daytrip to the beach? Please only visit beaches with lifeguards and stay close to shore. Older children may think it safe to swim out, but please explain that invisible dangerous currents can pull swimmers under quickly, so always keep your children in your eyeline. My daughters were playing in the sea last year when my youngest stepped in a hole in the sand, and the seawater immediately came up to her neck. We got her out quickly, but it was a stark reminder that the sea is dangerous and unpredictable, so please be careful.On rainy days, there’s lots to do at home. Origami sounds tricky but is quite easy. Our son spent hours doing Origami with his late Nanna, creating treasured memories. You can pick up child friendlyOrigami kits from The Works Stores Ilac SC. Another fun indoor activity is collecting and paintingstones or seashells. It takes hours for the kids to wash, dry and paint the stones/shells and all you need is child friendly paint and lots of newspaper underneath!Decorating their bedroom is a fun project for children. Let them get creative picking paint colours and accessories, like cushions and throws. We love the personalised wall and door stickers from MyNameTags.ie - a cost effective way to give bedrooms a new look! The Arc Cinema Drogheda has parent & baby movie mornings running where you can bring your baby/toddler into the movie. Lights are dimmed, sound lowered and there is space for buggies.Contact siobhan@mumstown.ie to be added to mailing list. They also do a great deal for family cinema visits; 2 adults & 2 children, or (1 adult and 3 children), get movie entry, popcorn, sweets and drinks for €39.95. Great value, especially if you are on a budget.

mams.ie Shortlisted for Golden Spider Award & Infant & Maternity Award. As seen on RTE and Virgin Media Ireland & Weekend AM. As heard onToday FM’s Ian Dempsey & Dermot & Dave; RTE’s Ray D’Arcy Show, 98FM, LMFM Late Lunch, WLRFM & Shannonside FM

Ciaran Russell

There are 6 months gone in 2022, already! I have 6 simple ways for you to get back on track with your health goals and make some progress toward achieving them by the end of this year. My advice here is to implement these over the course of July and not all at once. If you try to go all-in at the start of the month, you may get overwhelmed and give up, leaving you back at the start again.First, start keeping a food diary. Not with the aim of reducing what you’re eating straight away but to create awareness of what food and how much of it you are consuming. Include everything you eat and drink. Then at the end of the first week take some time to read it. Next, increase your water intake. Being hydrated is very important for many bodily functions and will improve your energy levels. Get a water bottle and keep it beside you all the time. Aim for 1 litre of water for every 25kg that you weigh.Then start to walk more. You don’t have to hits 10,000 steps a day but gradually increase your step count from where it is now.Next, start taking a look at your sleep. Aim for at least 7 hours per night. And if you want 7 hours you’ll probably have to give yourself an 8-hour window to get it. Once you’ve implemented these 4 habits, then you can start to look at exercise and protein. Find some sort of exercise you enjoy doing and do it 2-4 times per week. Whether it’s going to the gym, playing a sport or something else. Do something you find challenging and gets your heart rate up. Protein is generally not eaten enough by most people. Things like greek yoghurt, eggs, lean meat, beans & lentils and fish. If you are over 60, 1.2 grams per kg of body weight would suffice. However, if you are younger and are exercising regularly, especially in the gym you should aim for between 1.6g - 2.2g of protein per kg of bodyweight. If nothing else taking care of the first 4 things above will have a big impact on how you feel and your health.Follow me on Instagram for more tips for simplifying weight loss and improving fitness, @ciaranrussellcoaching.

By Dave Kavanagh

During a consultation with new clients recently, I asked if they had serious illness cover in place. They said that they did. When I asked for the details, they were unsure so searched for their policy details. It turned out that they had PPI (Payment Protection Insurance) and misinterpreted the word “illness” somewhere in the description. They did not have serious illness cover. (The PPI “might” have paid out a few hundred euro towards their mortgage payment if the person covered was out of work due to illness or injury and only after a 2 month period and then stopped after 12 months, whereas serious illness cover can pay out a tax free lump sum on diagnosis of one of the conditions covered). It was yet another reminder that most people do not know the important details of plans that they pay regularly for. As people’s circumstances change, it’s important to be up to date with knowing what you are actually paying for. Here is the very least that you should know about any protection plans that you have in place:

Life Cover: How much cover is there? When does it expire? Is it dual or joint? Does it have a conversion option? Is it level, increasing or decreasing? How much does it cost?

Income Protection: What is the deferred period? (The length of time you have to be off work due to illness or injury before payments commence). What level of cover do I have? Up to what age will payments continue if I could never return to work again? How much does it cost? Have I claimed my tax relief? (I.P. premiums are tax deductible).

Serious Illness Cover: A.K.A. Critical Illness Cover or Specified Illness Cover. What level of cover do I have? Is it stand alone or accelerated cover? Is it dual or joint? When does it expire? Do I have the option to extend cover without further medical evidence? If you don’t know those details, it’s time to get out the paperwork and find out. You’ll be glad you did.

By Dave Kavanagh

For many reasons, people often put off having to deal with their finances (it’s not the most fun exercise!) despite the fact it can give them peace of mind, reduce outgoings and often leave them with more money left over each month. But what are they really saying?
“I’ll have a look at that after Christmas”. Often replaced with “after Easter”, “after the holidays”, “after the kids go back to school” and a few others. What is actually being said is “I’ll name some time in the future so that I don’t have to deal with it now”. Let’s face it, you can easily find 30-60 minutes once a year to deal with something this important. You’ll be glad you took the time. “We have everything in order already”. Great. That is if it’s been reviewed in the last few months, but on closer examination, it often hasn’t been looked at in years and circumstances have changed. It’s important to keep things relevant to your current personal circumstances. “Our bank sorted everything for us”. Your bank may have sorted a few things, but in most cases, banks are tied to one company, so a fair comparison cannot be made, meaning you could be paying way over the odds for whatever the bank has put in place for you. Dealing with an advisor who is not tied to one company and can compare other options is the only way to make sure you get the best value. “I’m busy at present, I’ll give you a shout in a few months”. Let’s face it, going through your finances is rarely on anyone’s list of favourite activities. But the fact remains, if there is an activity that you like you will make time for it. Burying your head in the sand is rarely a successful solution to most problems. Someone once told me that they had no time and in the same conversation told me they had queued for over an hour in a drive through for doughnuts. (They were also up to date on all the soap storylines!)

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.

Yes ladies and gentlemen rumour has it that Ardgillan castle is the place to have your civil ceremony/wedding day. Just to show you how, they hosted their first wedding fair and Fashion Show on the 15th May last. Civil ceremonies take place in the Drawing room at Ardgillan Castle but now with resident Interior Decorator and costume designer Carina Cunningham from style warriors Dreamscape room 102, Ardgillan Castle is now available as an additional extra for your themed wedding - Bridgerton Style, Gothic Style or just Classical style, using her bridal Archway, Candleabras, lanterns, red carpet and Roth Iron furniture, dressed to your own personal taste. The bride can also have the use of the room 102 with its makeup bar, 4 poster bed and pretty interiors for photographs as part of her wedding experience. Costumes can be designed and the décor can be themed to your favourite era or style. Let’s remember, for any couples looking for an alternative to a church wedding ceremony, Ardgillan Castle gives you the freedom to be diverse and creative. Boasting of its natural opulence, elegance, heritage and breathtaking views out over the Irish Sea, it has the perfect backdrop for unique wedding photographs, it’s got it all folks. The fashion show was a huge success featuring Mizz Rio gowns from the Naul, AB Formal suit hire Swords and of course Style Warriors Alternative Bridal Gowns and Costumes. All hitting the red carpet and looking amazing, Mattress Mick even strutted his stuff on the day while Steve Mangan sang a few Micheal Buble tunes. Delicious canopes were served from Brambles our in house Caterers, vintage cars by Classic Vintage Wedding Cars on facebook. See what you missed on Carina Cunninghams Facebook page and Style Warrior Presents on Instagram and on Ardgillan Castle Instagram and Facebook. What a fabulous day, look it all up folks, entertainment at its best at our beautiful Ardgillan Castle.

By Jack Shanley

Almost 50 years after it was made, ‘Day For Night’ truly stands the test of time. Screened last month at the Irish Film Institute (IFI), the classic, directed by the great French new wave director Francoise Truffaut, is one of his finest achievements.It tells the story of a committed film director struggling to finish his movie with several unexpected troubles, both personal and professional, affecting the cast and crew.It’s an entertaining romance drama about the struggle, the love and passion of the amazing craft we call filmmaking. Truffaut asks the powerful question: ‘Is cinema more important than life?’ ‘Day For Night’ is essentially about making movies with a romance story built within it, but more than that, it’s a love letter to cinema, a craft in which Truffaut devoted his life to. He once said ‘it was his own reason for living’. It’s an affectionate film with Truffaut starring as an ambitious director committed to his craft. Quite funny and charming, it takes you into the strenuous world and selfish mind of a film director. American film director Brian De Palma, a great admirer of Truffaut, was so influenced by the opening titles, designed by Michel Francois, that he used a very similar opening title for his film ‘Blow Out’ released in 1981, replacing the orchestra with screams and a beating heart. ‘Day For Night’ also has a remarkable soundtrack, scored by the effortlessly talented Georges Delerue who, through his music, gave the film this wonderful sense of hope which is essentially all that a film director really has.

Overall, ‘Day For Night’ is a beautifully crafted depiction of what a film director truly is. I give it a score of four stars as it makes you adore cinema just that little bit more.

Director–Francoise Truffaut: Rating–PG: Genre–Romance/Drama: Run Time–1h 50: Language–French, English.

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