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Yearly Archives: 2019

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Huge congratulations are in order for Julia Goulding who has become a mum for the very first time. The Coronation Street actress gave birth to a healthy baby boy on November 30.

The actress chose the perfect name for her son. She decided to call him Franklin.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Julia Goulding (@julia_goulding) on

The name Franklin is of English origin and means ‘a freeman’.

Julia shared a photo that was taken the day before her son was born. She is smiling next to her husband Ben in the stunning photo.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Julia Goulding (@julia_goulding) on

Alongside the snap, she wrote, “Thank you to the lovely couple in the park who took this picture for us: Taken as I was in early labour on my due date.”

Julia continued, “The next day, Ben and I welcomed our baby son into the world. Franklin Wolf Silver born on 30/11/19.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Julia Goulding (@julia_goulding) on

The mum opened up about her baby boy, “He’s changed our lives for the better in every way. I feel like I’ve known him my whole life.”

We couldn’t be happier for the Coronation Street star and Ben. Little Franklin is certainly the best early Christmas present they ever could have asked for.

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Organise the perfect Christmas party at home

When it comes to throwing a Christmas party for friends and family, there are many venue options you can choose from. However, many people decide to hold the event in their own homes, as it is cheaper, easier, and more convenient. This can be quite stressful because you have to deal with all aspects of the party yourself, but some forward planning can really help.

If you are looking to host a Christmas party for family and friends, there are some simple tips that can help you to organize the ideal event that causes minimal stress and will ensure all attendees enjoy themselves. You will be able to save yourself time and stress, which means you can get into the festive mood along with your guests rather than rushing around and having no time to actually mingle.

Some Valuable Tips to Help

You can organize a great Christmas party at home without stress and at short notice – but you have to be orangised. There are a few essentials you need to bed down before you start  – one of which is the entertainment you will offer guests. The easiest solution for this – and a firm favorite with guests – is to have Christmas tunes. You can download your favorite Christmas songs online, and you can then leave them playing as you and your guests enjoy the food, drink, and good conversation.

In terms of drinks, you should make sure you have plenty of bottles in so people can just help themselves. If you choose individual bottles instead of cans and cartons, you will find that more people will drink straight from their bottles, which means fewer glasses needed and less washing up for you. Also, where cups are required, use recyclable plastic rather than paper cups, as this will enable you to reduce the risk of spillages and breakages. You can add a special twist by creating some special cocktails for your guests too. There are plenty of recipes you can look up online such as a dirty martini recipe.  

Food is another key consideration, and it’s best to keep things as simple as possible. The best solution here is to opt  for a simple cold finger buffet including sandwiches and rolls, mini pizza, sausage rolls, chips and dips, salad and raw veg are easy to prepare and can be done in advance. If you lay the food out on a table, this means guests can help themselves and can just pick and choose the foods they like; this makes catering to all dietary needs and preferences so much easier, than having a sit down meal. 

Enjoy a Great Party

By following these tips, you will be able to enjoy a great party where you have the time to mingle with your guests and have fun. Enjoying a simpler approach, with less work for you, means organising the event so much less stressful. 

 

 

 

Enjoy alcohol responsibly. Get the facts. Be drink aware

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Imagine giving the ultimate gift on Christmas Day? Aura Leisure in association with Deep River Rock are offering one lucky family the chance to win a Family Holiday worth a whopping €2,500 voucher to spend on next year's holidays! 

In addition to this grand prize, each Aura Leisure Centre will be giving away a prize of a €150 gift voucher. The nationwide draw will run across all ten Aura Leisure sites from Monday, December 2 until midday on December 20 and is open to all members of the public.

The promotion coincides with swim academy re-bookings which are now live for the next term of the Aura Swim Academy starting in January. The Aura Swim Academy is the largest in Ireland with over 16,000 children participating each year.

The experienced and professional swim teachers make learning to swim fun and with 10 levels available, the Academy caters for all ages and ability.

To enter the draw, simply complete a Swim Academy enquiry form on the Aura Leisure website here. A full list of the terms and conditions are also available by following this link. For details of the Aura Swim Academy please visit here.

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It’s Week 5 of Aldi’s Secret Six Offers, which will take place in Aldi stores nationwide until Sunday, December 22!

Each Monday, Aldi will release details of the week’s Secret Six Offer, and each Thursday, when you buy one of these amazing products, you will get a second one, FOR FREE!

 

This week’s Secret Six Product is Mulled Wine/Gluhwein €7.99. This offer is available this Thursday, December 12– Sunday, December 15 only (while stocks last)! Over 18s only.

So head to your nearest Aldi store every Thursday between now and Christmas to avail of this amazing offer!

 

Terms and conditions for Secret Six:

  • The Secret Six promotion is available in all Republic of Ireland Aldi stores, commencing on Thursday, 14th November to Sunday, 22nd December.
  • Offers are available from the Thursday they launch to the Sunday, 3 days later, while stocks last.
  • Availability is limited, and customers can only receive one offer/purchase per transaction.
  • The promotion is a ‘Buy One Get One Free’ promotion on a selected weekly product.
  • This promotion is subject to availability and stock quantities will vary from store to store.
  • Offer is available only while stocks last.
  • Any alcohol offer will only be available to people over 18 years and from 10.30am.
  • Aldi reserves the right to withdraw the promotion at any time or to vary the elements of the promotion.
  • Prices are correct at time of dispatch and are subject to change.
  • A cash alternative in lieu of the second free product is not available for this promotion.

For more information see www.aldi.ie  

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If you grew up as a child of an 80’s parent, then Duran Duran will have played a huge part of your life.  We know you've hummed along to many of their classics like Girls on Film, Rio and Hungry Like a Wolf?!  Go on, we know you have!

Well, it’s official, Duran Duran have announced their highly anticipated return to Ireland with an outdoor performance at St Anne’s Park, Dublin on Sunday 7th June 2020, in support of the release of their next studio album. Tickets go on sale am this Friday, 13th December at 9am on www.ticketmaster.ie

British music icons, Duran Duran have sold over 100 million records, had 18 American hit singles, 21 UK Top 20 tunes and have continued to perform to huge concert audiences around the world since the band first formed in 1980.

Consistently fusing art, technology, fashion and a signature sense of style with their unique and infectious brand of music, singer Simon Le Bon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor have proven themselves timeless, always innovating and reinventing, to remain ahead of the curve.

Their last album, 2015’s Paper Gods, was the band’s highest-charting release in 22 years and has been hailed by critics and fans alike as their best body of work in more than two decades. Produced by Mark Ronson and Nile Rodgers, alongside Mr Hudson and Josh Blair, the record features collaborations with Janelle Monáe, John Frusciante, Kiesza and Jonas Bjerre (of Mew.) A global, three year, sold-out arena tour followed.

Duran Duran are currently in the studio working on their follow-up to Paper Gods with several exciting collaborators, to be announced soon. This, their fifteenth studio album is slated for release in the Spring of 2020, alongside a series of 40 thrilling projects and live events that will celebrate their long and illustrious career.

Tickets for Duran Duran go on sale Friday 13th December at 9 am.

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Afternoon tea was first introduced in England by Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, in the year 1840. The Duchess would become hungry around four o'clock in the afternoon. The evening meal in her household was served fashionably late at eight o'clock, thus leaving a long period of time between lunch and dinner.  Since then, Afternoon Tea has become a much-loved tradition here in Ireland too so what better than a list of our favourite afternoon tea destinations around Ireland.

The Shelbourne

An elegant sanctuary from a chilly winter’s afternoon, The Shelbourne Hotel provides a warm and welcoming retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city during the hectic Christmas season and offers a sublimely seasonal Festive Afternoon Tea in the Lord Mayor’s Lounge.  The Festive Afternoon Tea menu offers an array of finger sandwiches, including whiskey-cured smoked salmon with Lakeshore mustard on Guinness bread, roast turkey with light mayonnaise and onion stuffing in a poppy seed roll, and cherry vine tomato with feta cheese on pumpkin bread, along with delicious warm buttermilk scones with clotted cream and Shelbourne preserves, and warm homemade ginger bread.   The pastry chef elves have also been busy in their workshop creating a special selection of sweet festive treats such as A Taste of Christmas (cranberry jelly with eggnog mousse and poached winter fruit), a Christmas Sleigh of Black Forest gateau, and a Snowball, a dark chocolate mousse with orange gel and brownie pieces.

Available from €62 per person.

Brown Thomas

Brown Thomas unveils the most enchanting afternoon tea experience with guests invited to come all aboard its magical train carriage in The Restaurant by Johnnie Cooke this festive season.  The afternoon tea experience offers the most delectable combination of sweet and savoury delights by renowned chef Johnnie Cooke and includes a glass of prosecco also.  Beautifully presented on a tea stand replicating the façade of the iconic Grafton Street department store, the delicious savoury menu includes an Irish St Tola goat’s cheese tartlet, truffle chicken gougeres with morel mushrooms, black truffle and parmesan cheese, coronation chicken served with red endive, sultanas, almonds and mango and a ‘Brown Thomas Charmeuse’ – a buckwheat crêpe served with organic Irish smoked salmon, chives, caviar and crème fraîche.  Guests can indulge sweet treats such as a champagne raspberry macaron, a Sicilian lemon tart, a Catalan crème brûlée made with Seville orange, cinnamon and bourbon vanilla and a ‘Brown Thomas Verrine’ – a creamy coconut, liquid raspberry, passion fruit mousse. Guests can treat themselves to bubbles from Veuve Clicquot or a cocktail from a specially curated menu.

Available from €45 per person.

Muckross Park Hotel & Spa

As the Christmas lights twinkle and the snow begins to fall on Killarney National Park, Muckross Park Hotel & Spa invites guests to taste the delights of Christmas and relax this festive season with their Festive Afternoon Tea. Masterfully designed by the culinary team Festive Afternoon Tea will be served in the elegant surroundings of Monk’s Lounge, allowing guests to toast to a time-honoured tradition this Christmas. Sparkle with gourmet sandwiches, freshly baked scones, festive treats and bubbling Champagne as you are surrounded by the stunning scenery of Killarney National Park, the ultimate way to relax this Christmas.   Located just outside Killarney town centre, with roaring fire and cosy couches, enjoy a delicious Afternoon Tea this Christmas with Festive Afternoon Tea in the magnificent 5-star Muckross Park Hotel & Spa.

Available from €32 per person.

Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa

Take a trip to the award-winning Five Star Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa an Autograph Collection Hotel and soak up the sugary excesses created by the incredible Culinary Pastry Team as they showcase their craft this Christmas.   On arrival you will be in awe of the incredible gingerbread reindeer, especially created by Pavel and the pastry team. The reindeer took an impressive 40 hours to make using 42 kilos of gingerbread and 25 kilos of royal icing.   Powerscourt Hotel Resort & Spa offers a truly magically escape, the perfect setting for celebrating the festive season in style and welcomes guests wanting to enjoy the first-class facilities without staying over. The mouth-watering and wonderfully festive Afternoon Tea at Powerscourt Hotel is available with or without champagne, offers diners a selection of culinary festive delights including pastries, freshly baked scones, mince pies and delicate finger sandwiches.

Available from €45 per person.

The Westbury

This Christmas, visitors will be impressed by the creativity of The Westbury’s pastry chefs and their specially created Festive Afternoon Tea – a much loved tradition for many. Served in the beautiful surrounds of The Gallery, guests will have the opportunity to enjoy festive fare in its cosy, elegant surrounds.  The festive Afternoon Tea menu is filled with inspiration from the past and takes a nostalgic twist on some traditional festive flavours – a tower of delicious savoury sandwiches, bite-sized brioches and bakes enjoyed in the elegant gallery, with crisp linens, bandbox-striped bone china cups, silver teapots, crystal champagne flutes and the tinkling of ivories in the background. At the heart of the offering comes a supremely inventive choice of patisserie, including festive verrines starring whipped ruby chocolate ganache and raspberry gel, the Christmas Snowman crafted from white chocolate and coconut tart; Choux pastries filled with Gianduja pastry crème and Mascarpone Chantilly; and the Christmas Opera cake, a divine creation of pistachio, raspberry and caramelia. An array of festive savoury delicacies, such as Smoked Turkey breast salad come together to create the most luscious Christmas treat. Vegan Afternoon Tea is also available.

Available from €55 per person.

The K Club

These days, there is often so little time to relax and indulge in the finer things in life. The K Club has a sought-after tradition that allows you to do just that, with an elegant Afternoon Tea served daily in the luxurious Chinese Drawing Room. The Christmas season brings its own special version of this ritual, a Festive Afternoon Tea with a distinctly Yuletide flavour. The classic three-tiered silver stand of goodies includes freshly baked cranberry scones with a selection of preserves, whiskey and spiced panna cotta coated in tempered chocolate, mini Christmas pudding made from ganache and Christmas pudding, and a Jacob red and white spiralled sponge with mousse. The savoury tier includes smoked salmon sandwiches on Guinness bread with pickled red onion, pulled chicken with celeriac remoulade served on mini brioche buns and dainty egg and cress finger sandwiches. All guests who take Festive Afternoon Tea will also receive a gift of house-made mince pies to take home with them.

Available from €42.50 per person.

Portmarnock Hotel

The breath-taking Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links have just launched their Winter 2019 ‘Afternoon Tea by the Sea’ menu.  Visitors can expect speciality teas, a delicious assortment of small cakes, pastries and savouries and of course the option of a few glasses of bubbles for the party season. Afternoon Tea is served in the beautifully refurbished Seaview is in a quiet corner of the hotel where you can enjoy a dining experience as good as the view. The relaxing spot has panoramic windows with magnificent views over Dublin Bay and one of Ireland’s best-known landmarks, Ireland's Eye. The new menu created by Executive Chef, Thomas Haughton, offers a delicious variety of tasty bites, ranging from savouries to finger sandwiches, pastries, scones and cakes. While there are some savoury delicacies including the crisp smoked haddock dumpling and the duck pate & brioche with crab apple, there are also some mouth-watering pastries including pistachio mascarpone cheesecake with sable biscuit, rich chocolate “pave” chocolate curl and praline, or the house favourite, Craqueline choux, buckwheat & honey Chantilly.

Available from €38.00 per person.

Adare Manor

Celebrate Christmas in one of the most breath-taking rooms in the country with a Festive Afternoon Tea in The Gallery at Adare Manor, the Dunraven family’s favourite room, and the centre of their family life in the manor house.   This Christmas gather your friends and family for a truly unforgettable dining experience, sit back and take in the grandeur of this magical room as you enjoy three tiers of delicious sweet and savoury treats with a festive twist. From dainty sandwiches of Duncannon smoked salmon, poached salmon mousse and caviar on a brioche bun and roast turkey with sage and cranberry stuffing to a delectable chocolate and orange bauble with spiced biscuit and a red velvet trifle with strawberry jelly, red velvet sponge and cream cheese icing, the Festive Afternoon Tea at Adare Manor is an experience to be savoured from beginning to end.

Available from €55 per person.

Christmas at Killashee Hotel

Top of our Christmas wish list is the sumptuous Traditional Afternoon Tea at Killashee Hotel in Kildare which is just 40 minutes’ drive from Dublin.  Killashee Hotel is the perfect setting to get into the Yuletide spirit – the Victorian grandeur of the original house are set off perfectly by the season’s twinkling lights, elegant decorations and darker skies outside. Enjoy afternoon tea in the cosy yet elegant surrounds of Turners Restaurant where you’ll enjoy savoury treats like goats cheese mousse with red onion jam on focaccia, spiced beef and horseradish sliders, mini smoked salmon and crème fraiche tart with lemon gel, and traditional roast turkey with cranberry sauce served on the hotel’s homemade treacle bread. Sweet treats include eggnog custard tart, mini Christmas puddings, spiced mulled wine Choux buns and gingerbread macaroons with ginger ganache, complemented by a wide selection of teas and coffees. You’ll also enjoy homemade orange and cranberry and plain scones with homemade cinnamon butter and jam.

Available from €30 per person.

The Bridge House Hotel

After checking off your Christmas shopping list in the bustling midlands town of Tullamore, check in with the team at the Bridge House Hotel for a Festive Afternoon Tea by the fireside in their elegant lobby with festive tunes providing the perfect backdrop.   This traditional afternoon tea begins with freshly made sandwiches created with a variety of fillings, followed by a selection of home-made cinnamon and fruit scones, delectable sweet treats of winter berry panna cotta, mini mince pie crumbles and homemade macaroons, all served in a traditional three-tiered silver stand.

One of Ireland’s most popular landmark hotels located right in the centre of the country, the four-star Bridge House Hotel is the ideal central location to meet up with friends and family and catch up together this Christmas Season.

Available from €20.00 per person.

A Taste of Christmas at Druids Glen

This Christmas, Druids Glen Hotel & Golf Resort is bringing together all their favourite festive flavours for a special themed Afternoon Tea menu to create a perfect culinary experience that is sure to put you in the festive spirit. Just 30 minutes outside of Dublin, escape the madness of the city centre and take in the stunning views of the Wicklow landscape.  Turkey, cranberries, gingerbread and mince pies all appear on the menu, in the creation of beautiful sandwiches, home-made cakes and delicious sweet treats. The menu includes a Turkey and Cranberry Mini Savoury Bun, Cranberry and Chocolate Scones, Red Velvet and Coconut Cake and Orange and Mince Pie Choux. For the coeliac in the house, gluten free options are available.             

Available from €32 per person.

Lough Eske

Traditional Afternoon Tea might have been invented for a castle hotel in Ireland such as Lough Eske. It can be taken here in the Lobby Lounge or if you prefer, in one of the lovely drawing rooms. You will feel transported back to an era when this elegant ritual was de rigueur.  The menu includes delicious savoury sandwiches such as brie, walnut and caramelised pear mini bagel, beef pastrami with pickled cucumber and horseradish focaccia and smoked chicken and sundried tomato on toasted brioche. No afternoon tea would be complete without something sweet and the fine pastries and sweet treats by Head Pastry Chef Andrew McKee are sublime.  House made scones with Irish clotted cream and strawberry jam, pistachio and cherry financier, macaroon gingerbread crème brulee, opera gateaux and egg nog crème choux bun are all on the menu.

Available from €24 per person.

Dromoland Castle

There’s afternoon tea and then there’s afternoon tea at Dromoland Castle! Cosy up in The Gallery, by the fire or overlooking the grounds and settle in for a decadent feast. The selection is fabulously festive, with mulled wine, delicate finger sandwiches, warm mince pies, festive pastries, chocolate roulade and scones with home-made jams and clotted cream. Of course, the specially selected loose-leaf teas from around the world are served in sparkling silver teapots, alongside the prettiest china. This is an unmissable five-star indulgence you’ll love.

Available from €45 per person.

The River Lee Hotel 

The perfect reward after a morning spent ticking off your Christmas shopping list, and a gorgeous seasonal treat to enjoy while soaking up the festive atmosphere in Cork city, the stylish and elegant surroundings of The Cocktail Bar in The River Lee hotel will bring you lots of comfort and joy with their delicious Festive Afternoon Tea.   Begin the festive celebrations with a glass of bubbles and embrace the Christmas cheer with an array of dainty sandwiches. Afternoon tea sandwiches include Christmas favourites such as turkey and cranberry coronation sandwich, spiced beef sandwich with mint crème fraîche, and smoked salmon on homemade brown bread with horseradish aioli. It wouldn’t be afternoon tea without freshly baked scones, Chantilly cream and jam which are served with your choice of tea to warm the cockles. Finish with a delectable choice of sweet treats including a Baileys cheesecake, pear and almond financier and, of course, mini mince pies and iced Christmas cake.  

Available from €35 per person.

Ballynahinch Castle

Afternoon Tea at Ballynahinch Castle is both a traditional high tea and a showcase of Connemara’s finest products, using the best seasonal produce available.  A combination of traditional finger sandwiches and signature open sandwiches, the Afternoon Tea menu features egg & watercress on Irish soda bread, crayfish, dill & cucumber on sourdough, coronation chicken on walnut & treacle loaf, and Connemara lamb with mint yogurt dressing on sourdough.   Sweet treats include everyone’s favourite, scones, both plain and fruit, with a selection of homemade jams and clotted cream, along with rose and raspberry macaroons, berry tartlets with crème pâtissière, milk chocolate mousse and mini Pavlova with seasonal fruits.

Available from €25 per person.

Clayton Hotel Ballsbridge

Afternoon tea at the Clayton Hotel in Ballsbridge includes delicious savoury bites such as filo cups with roasted vegetables, scallop shells with smoked salmon and saffron pickle, tomato tortilla or savoury choux profiteroles filled with duck liver mousse.  The sweets look divine too with classic opera cake, carrot cake, white chocolate mousse and macaroons just some of the tasty treats on offer.  

Available from €25

 

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Christmas movies are good for the soul. There’s nothing we love more than curling up by the fire and watching Love Actually.

There are so many Christmas movies that hold a special place in our hearts. It’s a Wonderful Life reminds us of family. The Holiday helped us believe in true love again. And Elf always makes us feel instantly merry.

Trying to choose a favourite isn’t easy, but the public has spoken and the top Christmas movie of all time has been revealed.

Home Alone has claimed the top spot and we have to admit we’re not one bit surprised.

The classic Christmas movie is a firm favourite and never fails to make us laugh and yearn for our family at Christmas.

The family favourite was revealed as the best Christmas movie in a study by online marketplace Music Magpie.

Home Alone really does have the full package. It’s funny and heartwarming. Teaches you about the true meaning of Christmas and gave us some of the most hilarious one liners ever.

Check out Music Magpie’s top 20 Christmas movies below:

  1. Home Alone
  2. Elf
  3. Love, Actually
  4. The Grinch
  5. The Santa Clause
  6. The Nightmare Before Christmas
  7. Arthur Christmas
  8. Gremlins
  9. The Polar Express
  10. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
  11. Die-Hard
  12. Home Alone 2: Lost In New York
  13. Scrooged
  14. Jingle All The Way
  15. The Muppet Christmas Carol
  16. It's A Wonderful Life
  17. Miracle On 34th Street
  18. White Christmas
  19. Bad Santa
  20. The Holiday

Did your favourite make the list?

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The Pixel 4 is here and it's definitely worth consideration when it comes to a Christmas phone purchase this year.  With the exceptional camera, new built in apps, cute accessories and phone stand are all welcome improvements to the Pixel.

Let’s great straight into what we like so it makes sense to start with the camera.  You can capture a perfect photo with the Pixel 4.  This phone has their largest camera upgrade to date – there are now two cameras on the back of the phone including a new telephoto lens.  The astrophotography is impressive.  Night sight already took beautiful photos in full darkness but now you can use the night sight for shots of the night sky and stars which make for beautiful pro-photographer photos but without the pro-camera kit costs.

Actual Night Sight photograph with the new astrophotography capability.

Legendary photographer Annie Leibovitz unveiled a series of portraits of individuals who are changing the landscape of their time. She used a Google Pixel exclusively; Annie encountered her subjects in the places they live and work and are inspired into action and it’s fair to say, the results which you can view here are extremely impressive.  

The project was said to push Annie who has rarely shot professional portraits on a camera phone. “I wanted to challenge myself to shoot with the camera that’s always in your pocket,” she says. “I’d heard so much about the Pixel and was intrigued.”

There a new Google Assistant too with better integration than before on the Pixel predecessors.  This means, it’s now much faster to get more done.  It’s been redesigned to allow for faster processing and to take up less space too which means its easier to multitask across different apps.   

There is appealing play factor on the Pixel 4 too where it pre-empts your reaching for the phone through its new motion sense feature.  The phone uses a miniature radar sensor to detect movement around the phone. So, whilst reaching to pick it up, it will turn on the unlock screen so it’s ready to go – pretty cool eh?  We also liked the wave your hand feature to turn off timers and alarms (although maybe this is too easy to do when it comes to turning off that early alarm clocks each day?!).

The new built-in apps add to the functionality of the phone – the Pixel 4 now includes a new recorder app which allows you save and listen to later and can also transcribe speeches too which makes it a worthy phone for the consideration of any student taking college courses.  

With the release, there are new accessories designed to help capture the best photos, get a fast-wireless charge, and in some cases, help the planet, thanks to sustainable materials.  The signature knit fabric cases come in four colours – Sorta Smoky, Just Black, Blue-ish and Could be Coral. New this year, is the fabric being used requires less water in the dyeing process which helps to minimize environmental impact.  The case has a new raised-edge design for better screen and camera protection, soft microfibre lining for cushioned scratch protection and durable fabric that's easy to clean.

The aesthetically pleasing stand (which we’ve always loved) is still standard with the new Pixel 4 is extremely functional too as you can view the screen easily whilst charging.

Now for the science bit – with 6GB RAM, a 90hz display, and Pixel Neural Core, Pixel 4 is fast and powerful.   The Pixel Neural Core is the engine for on-device processing, always-on computing, and machine learning, meaning more tasks are done on the device for performance and privacy.

Finally – for those who are hoping to channel your own inner photographer, we’ll leave you with a piece of advice from Annie: “It’s all inside you. You just go do it. It’s all there.

The recommended retail price for the Pixel 4 with fullscreen 5.7” display is from €759.  It comes in three colours – clearly white, just black, and a limited-edition orange.

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In the beginning, there were a lot of bad mental health days but then things started to get better.

I started to manage my anxiety and the clouds of negative thoughts slowly started to clear in my mind.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kat O'Connor (@katoconnorr) on

I thought my anxiety was gone. I naively thought I was ‘cured’. I was too ignorant to realise that mental health disorders don’t just magically vanish. They’re something you have to manage for life.

My anxiety reappeared in May, 2018, on one of the hardest days of my life. The memory of this day is one that will never leave my mind, I remember it all too well.

I was curled up in bed, engulfed in my copy of The Surface Breaks by Louise O’Neill when I heard a strange noise from the room next to mine.

Was someone snoring or coughing? I wasn’t quite sure, but my gut told me to check what it was.

I opened the door to find my mam turned over on her side in bed, but she wasn’t asleep. She was having what we later discovered was a seizure.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kat O'Connor (@katoconnorr) on

She was shaking uncontrollably, foaming at the mouth, making this horrid gurgling noise because her brain had shut down and her body was struggling to breathe.

I held her grey, lifeless body in my arms and just yelled and yelled until my dad and sister came upstairs to find us. We shouted at the paramedics to hurry up and get here because as I clung onto my mam, I genuinely thought she was dead, we all did.

I sat in the James’s Hospital A&E for thirteen hours, waiting, hoping and praying my mam was okay. And she was.

The doctors explained to us that mam had a seizure, but have yet to find the cause, but they upped her medication, schedule constant appointments and are pretty pleased with how she is doing at the moment.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kat O'Connor (@katoconnorr) on

Mam is happy and healthy, but ever since that harrowing day I have been a ball of anxiety. The trauma of nearly losing her triggered my anxiety and let it attack when I was at my most vulnerable and I must admit I haven’t been able to manage it as well as I used to.

I am jumpy at home whenever I hear an unusual noise. I wake up in the middle of the night to make sure mam is okay. Dozens of thoughts whizzing through my mind: Is she breathing? Has she taken her medication? Will she be okay when I’m at work?

My parents tell me there’s nothing to worry about, but my brain disagrees. It’s full of panic and dread every single day.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Kat O'Connor (@katoconnorr) on

The heart palpitations are back. The rapid breathing is back. The negative thinking is back. And I have accepted that.

I learned how to live with anxiety before and I know I can do it again.

There are days when I let my anxiety take over because I simply don’t have the energy to fight it, but one thing I’ll always remind myself of is that I am stronger than it, even on those days when I just want to give up.

I have accepted my anxiety. I have accepted the bad days, the panic attacks and the constant worrying, but I never let myself forget that this too shall pass.

If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this feature you can contact Pieta House 24/7 Helpline 1800 247 247 or the Samaritans Helpline 116 123.

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As time goes by, we tend to forget about the true meaning of Christmas. We stand at the top of Grafton Street to take photos of the Christmas lights and instantly post it to Instagram, failing to appreciate just how beautiful Dublin can be during this time of the year.

We rush around crowded shopping centres, fretting about whether you bought enough for your best friend or if you should pick up the Soap and Glory gift set in Boots. It is half price after all.

We obsess over what to wear to the office Christmas party. Will I look better in this Topshop sequin dress or opt for a Christmas jumper? But what if the jumper makes me look frumpy? What if someone else has the same one? 

Christmas movies help me remember that the holidays aren’t about the overpriced gifts that’ll get tossed in the back of your wardrobe by February or that perfect shot of the Christmas tree for Instagram.

One that really opened my eyes and taught me some valuable lessons is Last Christmas.

The new festive film has been slated by critics, but they failed to see that a movie can still be magical without a flawless script, arty cinematography or Oscar-award worthy performances (even though the cast are stellar)

Last Christmas does more than that. Here’s what it taught me and why I think it is one of the best Christmas movies of all time.

  1. You will always find someone to lean on

Life can be cruel. We all experience those dark moments where things feel like they’re never going to improve. Kate run out of friends to lean on and sofas to sleep on at the beginning of the movie, but Tom helped her see that even in your darkest hour, you’ll always find somebody to wipe away your tears and sing ear-piercing songs to you before you sleep.

The scene when Kate returns home to her mum, played by the legendary Emma Thompson, proved that she wasn't as alone as she felt. 

  1. Stop feeling so sorry for yourself

I am the queen of pity parties, but Last Christmas gave me a much-needed wake up call. The scenes set in the homeless shelter reminded me that Christmas isn’t a merry time of year for everyone.

When you’re curled up by the fire with a hot chocolate and Home Alone is playing on the TV, it is important to remember that there are thousands of people curled up on a soaked piece of cardboard and the cup in front of them isn’t full of cocoa but copper coins.

Kate’s charitable acts and kind heart reminded me that Christmas isn’t all about your celebrations and festivities. It’s about helping those who struggle during the holidays and helping them experience even the smallest bit of joy.

  1. Become an organ donor

If you have yet to see Last Christmas I would stop reading here because there’s a major spoiler ahead.

I couldn’t hold back the tears when Kate discovered that Tom was the organ donor who saved her life last Christmas. She had his heart, literally. I should have seen this twist coming considering the movie is inspired by Wham’s Last Christmas– “Last Christmas, I gave you my heart”- but I got so wrapped up in Kate and Tom’s charming love story. I was convinced they’d live happily ever after.

I blubbered like a baby when I realised that Tom was a ghost but his ending reminded me of how important organ donation is. If it wasn’t for him, Kate wouldn’t be alive. She wouldn’t have a second chance at life if it wasn’t for the card he carried around in his wallet, like so many of us do. 

Critics can call Last Christmas the worst movie of the year, but this touching tale has opened my eyes and taught me valuable lessons that I will hold close to my heart this Christmas.

Last Christmas, starring Emilia Clarke and Henry Golding, is in cinemas now.

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Longitude returns to Marlay Park this summer from Friday July 3rd to Sunday July 5th 2020. The first round of acts are as follows.

Kendrick Lamar will headline the Friday night of Longitude. Indisputably the most acclaimed artist of his generation, Kendrick Lamar is one of those rare MC’s who has achieved critical and commercial success while earning the respect and support of those who inspired him.

London rapper and afroswing star J Hus will also perform on Friday.

On Saturday July 4th Tyler, The Creator leads the line-up. The rapper and producer surfaced as a founding member of Odd Future, an outlandish alternative rap crew that gradually permeated the mainstream as it began a multitude of related projects. His new album Igor has been met with universal critical acclaim and debuted at No 1 on the US Billboard 200.

Saturday 4th sees Ladbroke Grove hitmaker AJ Tracey return to Longitude.

A$AP is back! We are delighted to announce that A$AP Rocky will close the festival on Sunday night. His debut album, Long.Live.A$AP, landed in 2013 and featured the single "Goldie." The album A.L.L.A. (At Long Last A$AP) followed in 2015 and debuted at number one. His third solo album, Testing, arrived in May 2018, opening at #4 on the Billboard 200.

Atlanta’s Young Thug joins the Sunday billing.

Joining Kendrick Lamar, Tyler, The Creator, A$AP Rocky, J Hus, AJ Tracey and Young Thug across the weekend are DaBaby, Aitch, Playboi Carti, Lil Tecca, Mabel, Charli XCX, JAY1, EarthGang, Pop Smoke, IDK and Santi.

Longitude 2020

  • Friday July 3rd: Kendrick Lamar & J Hus
  • Saturday July 4th: Tyler, The Creator & AJ Tracey
  • Sunday July 5th: A$AP Rocky & Young Thug

Across the weekend

  • DaBaby
  • Aitch
  • Playboi Carti
  • Lil Tecca
  • Mabel
  • Charli XCX
  • JAY1
  • EarthGang
  • Pop Smoke
  • IDK
  • Santi

And many more to be announced…

Ticket information

  • Weekend Tickets €199.50
  • Two Day Tickets: €159.50
  • Day Tickets €89.50

Tickets available from Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and online at www.ticketmaster.ie on sale Friday, December 13th at 9am. All ticket prices are inclusive of booking fee. Subject to licence.   Three customers can get their hands on Longitude tickets before anyone else, presale tickets go on sale at www.three.ie/3plus on December 11th at 9am, 48 hours before general release.

For further festival information see: www.longitude.ie | www.mcd.ie

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Cheryl and Liam Payne will spend Christmas together, the Stack It Up singer has revealed.

Liam opened up about his family’s festive plans and he’s making an effort to see his son over the holidays. Despite their break-up, Liam stressed that he has a strong friendship with Cheryl.

So much so that the pair have put their differences aside to spend Christmas together.

He told This Morning that this is the first year that Bear actually understands what Christmas is so the dad wanted to ensure he didn’t miss out on the milestone.

The Strip That Down singer said, “I’m gonna go down and see Bear and maybe cook a Christmas dinner and just hang out with the family.”

Liam added, “I like to do Sunday roasts, it just brings you back to normality. We’re gonna go down and cook some food and hang out.”

“It’s the first time he really gets Christmas now, and I want to see him actually unwrapping presents this year though," he explained.

"Otherwise it will just be Cheryl by the tree again opening everything,” the dad revealed.

Liam and Cheryl welcomed their son Bear in 2017, but ended their relationship a year after the birth of their baby boy.

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