A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Richter scale Riesling
If you remain unconvinced about Riesling and how well it goes with food, Dirk Richter of leading Mosel estate Max Ferd will host a five-course dinner in L’Ecrivain restaurant in Dublin on Tuesday, May 10th that may change your mind. Chef proprietor Derry Clarke has created a series of dishes to match a variety of wines made by one of the most passionate ambassadors for this under-rated variety. The price is €75 per person. Tel: 01-6611919 to book.
John Wilson
Art and craft on Galway Bay
Jesus Modia was his name and he was affectionately known among Irish speakers as “Jesus my god”, as in “mo Dhia”. The Spanish-speaking stone carver from Lugo, Galicia fell in love with the Connemara village of An Spidéal while on a job there in the 1970s, and never left.
Modia opened his exhibition space, known as the Stone Art Gallery, and convinced the Gaeltacht development authority Údaras na Gaeltachta to support a more ambitious development with the help of fellow stonemason Denis Goggin. Two blinks, and it became an entire arts centre, known as An Ceardlann, which is now celebrating the Year of Craft after almost three decades in business.
It’s a celebration that comes with a week-long festival, Féile na Ceardlainne, opening on Tuesday, and involving maypole, sean-nós and Latin dancing, and workshops in kite-making, pottery throwing, painting, figure drawing, stained glass and jewellery design.
There’s an opportunity to learn some Irish with Ciabhán Ó Murchú of TG4’s hit soap, Ros na Rún, unwind with t’ai chi and enjoy a free open-air concert overlooking Galway Bay. Somehow the workers will still find time for their craft, including the original Ceardlann participants – potter and ceramicist Rob D’Eath of Sliding Rock, weaver Máire Ní Thaidhg, whose weavings reflect the colours of sea, stone and Connemara sky, and Gearóid Ó Murchú of An Spailpín Fánach design and craft shop.
Fellow Ceardlann artists include: Geraldine O’Rourke, extending her mixed-media skills to diverse aquatic themes; Andrea Rossi, a Brazilian who works with acrylics; and stained glass specialist Sue Donnellan. The Ceardlann is also home to the Cloon Keen Atelier candles and soaps and all-things-scented-sanctuary, Celtic Coin jewellery and An Siopa Buí, where visitors can paint their own pottery. And it boasts one of the finest eating establishments west of Barna, the Builín Blasta café.
Féile na Ceardlainne runs from April 26th to May 1st, daily, 10am to 6pm, and all tickets are free. For further information and workshop bookings, contact the Ceardlann Spiddal Craft and Design Studios, tel: 091-553376, and see spiddalcrafts.com.
Lorna Siggins
PAINT A POT
Giddy Studios, the pottery painting studios in Grange Road, Rathfarnham (across from Marlay Park) has just opened a second studio in Dundrum Town Centre. Giddy Dundrum offers many of the same deals. Six- to 12-year-olds can paint a piece (mugs and bowls start at €13) for an hour for €5. Teenagers can do likewise for two hours for €5. You can paint anything from fire engines to fairies, cup cakes to cake stands, piggybanks to penguins. It’s a nice way to spend a few hours and you’ve something to show for it afterwards.
giddystudios.com.
Sylvia Thompson
Happy hunting Easter bunnies
Four- to 12-year-olds can go on an Eco-Easter egg hunt, build a bug hotel and start a sunflower race at the Eco-Explorers Easter Camp in Greenhouse, St Andrew’s Street, Dublin next week. The camp runs from Tuesday to Friday, from 10am-3pm each day. The cost is €80 and bookings can be made by telephoning 01-6625491.
The OWLS Children’s Nature Club is also holding and Easter egg hunt today in Malahide Demesne at 2pm (last-minute bookings on 087-3299936, owls.ie).
There’s also a treasure hunt with chocolate prizes at the National Museum in Collins Barracks today at 2pm – followed by Latvian choir Elve performing their extraordinary and beautiful Easter songs. And if you are over West, head for the Irish Museum of Country Life, Turlough Park, Castlebar, Co Mayo tomorrow at 2.30pm for its treasure hunt (with chocolate eggs as prizes). Book ahead on 094-9031755.
At Airfield Urban Farm in Dundrum, Dublin tomorrow, children can join an Easter nature trail, egg and spoon races and listen to some stories as well as seeing the spring lambs and chickens. Activities start at noon. Admission €6/€3.
If you have lunch at Beaufield Mews in Stillorgan, Co Dublin, tomorrow, you can get a break from the kids by chasing them outside for the restaurant’s annual Easter egg hunt, which is free for those booking the four-course lunch (€26.50, plus service). Lunch starts at 12.30pm and the egg hunt is at 3pm. See beaufieldmews.com or tel: 01-2880375.
Kilruddery House and Gardens in Bray, Co Wicklow is also running an Easter egg hunt tomorrow, and the tea room will be open, serving cream teas to revive tired hunters.
Sylvia Thompson
Index
What's hot
London hot spotsStay in The Marylebone, The Kensington or The Bloomsbury, all Doyle Collection hotels revitalised with style and panache by Irish architect Denis Looby
'The Forgotten Waltz'Sharp new novel by Anne Enright captures the past decade uncommonly well (see the Books pages).
Cheap sunglassesFor those of us who get through four pairs each summer. Don't spend more than €15
Tina Fey's 'Bossypants'Not only is she a TV legend and effective Palin doppelganger, but her book is grabbing raves
Masterchef IrelandThe cook-off is underway, with suitably imperious Dylan McGrath and Nick Munier as judges (left)
'Game of Thrones'Shot in Belfast, the TV series has US critics enthralled and is being compared, oddly, to The Wire
Kate Bush's 'Director's Cut'The unique singer releases 11 reworked songs next month. And she's working on a brand new album. Colour us delighted
PleatsWe haven't worn them since we were in school, but this is one of those retro fashion boomerangs we might try whitewhine.com OMG I left my yoga mat at work, and other "dilemmas"
James Vincent McMorrowTurning the Peppercanister Church in Dublin into a venue, April 27th-28th
What's cold
'Don't Tell the Bride'RTÉ 2's latest cringe fest. Watch from behind the sofa
AntarcticaMust be pretty crowded these days. First it was Charlie Bird chasing Tom Crean, then last Sunday, Ben Fogle chasing Captain Scott. They'll be needing traffic lights soon . . .
Bad bunnies"Accidentally" eating your children's Easter eggs. We're also shocked by the hollow statistic that we're expected to spend €20 million on eggs
Hip pouchesThey're all over the catwalk, but youll never convince us they're not bum bags
Lady Gaga half-woman/half motorbike album artworkBad Transformer toy or reject from Cars movie franchise?
Busy linePhoning Ticketmaster 10,000 times and still not getting Paul Simon tickets
