A round-up of today's other stories in brief
Get your goat
A soft goat’s cheese made with milk from Waterford’s unique Bilberry goats (right), which originated when Huguenots fleeing France and landing in Waterford brought their herds with them and grazed them on Bilberry rock, is about to launch on the Irish market. You can visit the herd and taste the Bilberry Goat Trust Heritage Cheese at the Waterford Harvest Festival (September 3rd-11th). The Bilberry goat event, which takes place on September 7th at 2pm, is one of four Slow Food tours that are part of the festival programme. The others will visit Flahavan’s Mill, Flanagan’s Fishmongers, Dunhill Eco Park and go seaweed foraging on Boat Strand. In addition, some well-known names from food writing and television presenting, including Darina Allen, Catherine Fulvio, Martin Shanahan and Donal Skehan, will stage events during the festival, full details of which can be seen at waterfordharvestfestival.ie. For more about the goats, see bilberrygoatheritagetrust.com.
Marie-Claire Digby
Using classic romance movies for inspiration – Roman Holiday, Casablanca, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and more – the National Youth Theatre is taking over the Peacock stage at the Abbey in Dublin, with the youngest cast in town in a new show about being 17 and in love. It has been devised in collaboration with the troupe by director Mikel Murfi and it’s running from Monday, August 22nd to Saturday, August 23rd. Exuberance guaranteed
Art and anatomy
Thousands of surgeons, doctors and dentists both at home and abroad who trained in Trinity College Dublin will remember its historic Anatomy School, now deconsecrated and relocated to the Bioscience Building on Pearse Street. Photographer Fionn McCann was given rare access to this beautiful building before it was vacated and his series of images provide a record of the interior, where students studied and dissected the human form for nearly 200 years, and where magnificent drawings, paintings and sculptures depicting the human form were displayed.
Art and anatomy have a long shared history and these works were by Cecil Erskine, professor of anatomy from 1947 to 1985, many of them tributes to the famous 16th-century drawings of Vesalius, who is called the father of modern human anatomy. The 10 photographic prints come in a limited edition of 100, each one signed and printed on cotton fibre-based paper. They are also available in a boxed set. For further information, see fionnmccann.com.
Deirdre MCQuillan
Farmyard fun for the family
The Rigney family’s farm at Curraghchase, Kilcornan, Co Limerick is hosting a Slow Food open day tomorrow (noon to 5pm) at which you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of country pursuits, including a vintage tractor display, farriery demonstrations, talks on bee-keeping, pig and poultry rearing, and a bread-making demonstration. But many of the visitors will be there for the chance to try some of the famous Curraghchase free-range pork, which will be roasted over beach wood and served in a bap, or dry-cured and served in ciabatta. There will also be homemade Shorthorn beefburgers and pork sausages roasted over charcoal on sale. Admission is €5, including parking, and children are free with an accompanying adult.
See rigneysfarm.com
Marie-Claire Digby
There’s a new GFP cafe in Gannon Park in Malahide, Co Dublin. This is Lorraine Haskins and Lorraine Byrne’s fourth venture, and they are all known for their play areas and comfortable seating, which encourage events and meetings for book clubs and mother and toddler groups.
See gourmetfoodparlour.com
The stage is set for a very special night at Imma in Dublin next Friday. An open-air screening of the 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz will be top of a bill also featuring a short, silent version of the film with a live soundtrack by Chequerboard (weather permitting). The night is in memory of Anne Copeland, whose son Aaron was a co-founder of the Upstart organisation. Anne died in recent weeks and was a huge fan of the film – at her funeral, she wore ruby slippers and was played out of the church to Somewhere Over the Rainbow. All proceeds from the event will go towards a hospice that cared for Anne in her final days. The event begins at 8pm.
Sensuous knits
An Irish knitter ramping up the cool factor is Clonsilla-based Lisa Shawgi, whose latest collection of knits in cashmere, merino and silk combine a tailored look with easy-going comfort. One of her star pieces is a green and orange shawl-collared coat in a cashmere/merino mix with a Fair Isle effect. It is shown here anchored with a leather belt. She calls the collection "Sensuality" and the luxury yarns, depending on the stitch, can turn into fine knitted dresses, tank tops, big wraps, cuddly coats or cowl collars. Her stockists include Marion Cuddy in the Powerscourt Centre, Stepz in Malahide, Liberties in Westport, Lucy Erridge in Adare and Millars in Connemara. Shawgi is setting her sights on London and aims to show there next year. Prices range from €95 to €350. See lisashawgi.com.
Deirdre McQuillan
Index
What's hot
J CREWMichelle Obama's favourite retailer has started to ship straight to Ireland. No more makey-uppy addresses required. Preppy but durable
Mairead WhiskerGreat that her smart, architectural, flattering, flowing, edgy clothes are available from her studio or from Pace in Clontarf
Gonzo Theatre CompanyCavan has been hosting the Fleadh Cheoil this week, but amid all the music is a theatrical gem – the hilarious Fleadh Town by Philip Doherty (left) of the Gonzo Theatre Company, which sees six actors playing more than 60 characters. Check out the promo on YouTube for a taste of the madness (left)
Pasta frescaWe're loving De Cecco's fusilli lunghi bucati (long twists) number five – thick springy shapes that are perfect for cooking al dente
Fiachra TrenchThere's a stellar line-up for a 70th birthday tribute to the composer, which will be presented by John Kelly and includes Paul Brady, Altan, Carmel McCreagh, Eddi Reader and Declan O'Rourke at the NCH on September 8th
Old fashioned decency, trust and courtesyAs we discovered in a corner shop on South Lotts Street in Dublin, when we tried to buy some food only to find the wallet was missing. "Drop it in to me again," came the reply. We also heard a story of someone being loaned €50 when a shop in Ringsend couldn't give cash back. Now that's customer service
Ageing gracefullyHelen Mirren just voted the fittest woman in Hollywood, or somesuch.
BlackberriesComing to a hedgerow near you. Along with apples. The only question: crumble, pie or sorbet?
Brothel creepersApparently they're back. See Prada
WHAT'S NOT
Presidential electionIt is increasingly more like X Factor, with a tad too many media endorsements
Summer light on the waneYou can detect the turn betimes early in the morning
Spiders, spiders everywhereIt's that time of year when you find great hoards of earwigs on the march in the middle of the night, and large spiders dancing in and out of the shower drain
Years-out-of-date magazinesWhen we are paying through the nose to have our teeth fixed, we would like some current, glossy publications while waiting, thanks
