A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Teach the world to sing
We keep meeting people who are in choirs – small community ones, school-affiliated ones, even after-work, deadly serious ones – so we're starting to suspect that choirs just may be the new bookclubs. It could be that all that stuff about singing – and the sociability it brings – is really good for your health. A Dublin-based organisation called Soundstories is giving people opportunities to sing together in harmony and organises regular workshops with facilitators from all the world. Workshops are informal, all songs are taught by ear and no experience is necessary. The next two are in Dublin, at the Old Chapel, Sophia Centre, Cork Street, with Argentinian Guillermo Rozenthuler. One is called World of Songs (April 21st) and concentrates on songs from Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Pacific Islands and Africa, with the occasional Gospel tune thrown; the other is Circle Songs – Explore Improvisation in Group Singing (April 22nd). They cost €55/€65, with the reduction applying if you bring a friend or book for both days. Booking essential at soundstoriesireland@gmail.com.
Bernice Harrison
Truly crafty
Truly Irish Craft is an online marketplace for craftworkers from all over Ireland, linked to a craft shop of the same name in the picturesque village of Inistioge, Co Kilkenny. The items listed on the website are also available to buy in the shop, which is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10am-6pm. The product range includes accessories, fashion, skincare, jewellery, ceramics and art. The website includes information on many of the craft workers involved, so you can do your research before you buy. Many of them are newcomers to commerical crafting, so you might just spot a new talent and bag a bargain. Prices are very competitive. This framed piece by Polish ceramicist Karolina Grudniewska, who now lives in Dublin, is called 31 Fish and costs €104. See
trulyirishcraft.ie, tel: 056-7758849.
Eat in the West
What better way to spend the bank holiday weekend than sampling the best food the west has to offer? The first Galway Food Festival begins next Friday, April 6th and runs for four days, with more than 60 events taking place in 50 locations.
HQ for the weekend will be a festival village at Fishmarket Square, where visitors can watch cookery demonstrations on the art of baking, sushi, cooking with seaweed, vegan and vegetarian cooking and more from chefs such as Donal Skehan, Emer Murray of Goyas and Jess Murphy of Kai.
Spreading out across the city, there will be open-air markets, food trails, restaurant visits, tours to artisan producers, foraging, tastings, and beer and wine workshops. Talks will be given by local producers and Slow Food Galway, on topics including free-range farming, Grow it Yourself, and there's a debate on the role of food blogging. Pop Goes the Kitchen, a world food pop-up restaurant, will open its doors; there will be comedy and food-related movies around the city and bizarrely, even a potato-carrying competition.
One of the key elements of this new festival is to identify Galway as a family food destination, so there'll be lots on for kids, including classes in bread making, Easter baking and pizzas, and picnics, farm visits, street performances and music.
Admission is free unless indicated, although booking is recommended. See
galwayfoodfestival.comfor more details.
Rachel Collins
Sacred music
Antonin Dvorak's Requiem was written during the peak of his creative period, and first performed in 1891.
Tomorrow in the National Concert Hall at 8pm the Requiem will be performed by the Dublin County Choir accompanied by the 50-piece orchestra of St Cecilia. Soloists include Sylvia O'Brien, Edel O'Brien, Eamon Mulhall, Philip O'Reilly and John Dexter, all under the baton of Colin Block.
The concert is dedicated to the memory of Vaclav Havel, poet and playwright, last president of Czechoslovakia and first president of the Czech Republic. Tickets from €20 at the NCH, tel: 01-417000.
Snow birds
The Design Corner is an art and design temporary shop that opens on Upper George's Street in Dún Laoghaire today and will open until May 7th. The ornamental bird houses by architectural model maker Fiona Snow are just one of many locally-made and affordable designs on sale. Made of paper, they come with a removable dowel so they can be stuck into soil or sit on their own. Just don't get them wet. They cost €12. You can also buy them online at Snoweventdesign.com
Alanna Gallagher
Freshen up your underwear collection with a visit to Marlies Dekkers' pop-up boutique at the The Lingerie Rooms at Brown Thomas, Dublin. Her pieces are often worn as outerwear by pop tarts such as Lady Gaga, Katy Perry and Rihanna. Her lemon sorbet bra with signature strapping costs €84; matching briefs are €37
Alanna Gallagher
An eggs-cellent cause
You can balance the chocolate-egg haul in your shopping trolly this weekend with a dozen real eggs, some of the proceeds of which will support the work of Bóthar. Greenfield Foods is the largest producer of eggs in Ireland, and it will donate 30 cent for every promotional pack bought in Superquinn branches to support the work done by Bóthar to help set up family-run chicken farms in Africa. Look out for the promotional packs, which are selling for €3.69 a dozen.
Marie Claire Digby
