Compiled by Nicoline Greer
HANDS ON The basics of Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage - involving long, gentle strokes using the hands and forearms - can be learned over the June Bank Holiday weekend, in a course taught by veteran massage therapists Trish Bowler and Keith Tapp. You arrive at the Hagal Healing Farm in Bantry, Co Cork, in time for lunch on Saturday, June 5th. The next two days are filled with meditation, walks, good food, philosophy, saunas, music and loads of massage - including four-handed massage, where two masseurs work on one subject. Participants receive a certificate on Monday, June 7th. "It's a great way for couples to reconnect, for friends and singles to have fun, and also for massage professionals to learn a style that's new to Ireland," says Trish Bowler. Cost (including full board, tuition and activities) is €280. 087-4125126. Elizabeth Field
THREE IN ONE Three festivals are rolled into one in Baltimore on Sunday week. The Fourth Annual Slow Sea Food Festival coincides with David Owen's Oyster Festival and the Baltimore Wooden Boats Festival. On Saturday and Sunday, mackerel drifters, lobster boats and other classic wooden boats will race and parade in the harbour. Onlookers can gobble up David Owen's oysters. On Sunday, a slow food brunch will be cooked up by Enrico Fantasia and David Gumbleton of Food Circus. Clodagh McKenna of Slow Food Ireland has organised 20 stalls of local producers. Also present will be "The Cheesemakers" who do not in fact manufacture anything dairy but are a jazzy string quartet. Sunday May 30th, The Pier, Baltimore, Co Cork. Clodagh McKenna on 023-52977, clodaghmckenna@eircom.net.
HOT TOPIC It's a strange time of year to be talking about home heating, but it seems that, like fashion, the world of house-heating works one season ahead. Masonry stoves are incredibly efficient wood stoves. They use a very small amount of wood, which is burnt in a hot intense fire for about an hour. The heat is absorbed into the mass of the stove and radiated out over the next 20 hours. They also happen to look beautiful. Stove craftsman Flemming Abrahamsson is one of Denmark's leading exponents of these stoves and is coming to Ireland in July. He will talk about their design, and the construction process. By the end, you will be able to go off and build one of your own. The cost is €300 for the four-day course, including lunch. July 17th-20th, The Hollies, Castletown, Enniskeane, Co Cork. (023-47001), thehollies@eircom.net, www.theholliesonline.com.
MIND THAT CHILD Childcare Online is the latest addition to the web portal dublin.ie. It is a comprehensive site for anyone with an interest in childcare. You can share information, debate issues and access professional advice. Parents can look into more than 450 crèches and childminding services on the service directory. Other services are job listings, discussion forums, volunteer opportunities, fun stuff for kids, information on health issues, news and events relating to families, and links to voluntary and statutory organisations supporting families and kids. www.childcareonline.ie.
PICTURE BOOKS Lost For Words is a service that makes very funky, personalised gifts, from calendars to chocolate boxes. They are designed for occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, hen and stag nights or baby books. You give them as much information as you can, such as what kind of food the person likes, favourite sayings and anecdotes. Lost for Words then makes up books, cards or calendars full of stories, photos and memorable moments. You can also get personalised chocolate boxes, which include a booklet. Our only quibble is that while you may be lost for words at the prettiness of your handmade gifts, you are also in danger of being lost for words at the price. You might indeed be inspired to manufacture your own version of the gifts. Calendars from €112, gift books from €260, gift cards from €38 for 10 and chocolate boxes from €75. www.sabadesigns.co.uk, 00-44-207-2622292 (plus £15 for delivery to Ireland).
KNOCKSINK ON WOOD Today Knocksink Woods in Wicklow hosts an open day in the National Environmental Education Centre (NEEC), with guided woodland walks, arts and crafts demonstrations and composting workshops. The centre is a modern purpose-built facility in the 73-hectare woodland nature reserve of Knocksink. The charitable status organisation is now Ireland's biggest provider of environmental education, with around 7,000 annual visitors to the centre. Knocksink Wood, Enniskerry, Co Wicklow. Open day today from 11 a.m., free. For further information on the open day contact 01-2822040 or marioncarry@eircom.net, and see www.knocksinkwood.org.
SALE OF THE DECADE Terroirs of Donnybrook is celebrating 10 years in the wine business with its first ever sale. Prices are reduced on 75 wines covering all requirements from everyday drinking to blue-chip cellar beauties. (Ten vintages of Château Palmer are among the many fine wines included.) Some of the stylish decanters and wine accessories for which Terroirs is famous are also in the sale, which runs until June 5th. Tel 01-6671311 for a brochure or log on to www.terroirs.ie. 103 Morehampton Road, Dublin 4. Mary Dowey