Lifestyle

JANUARY has been a tough month. December’s Budget announcements cut into the first payslips of the new year but as The Clare Champion finds out, you don’t have to have very many euro to look a million dollars.While second-hand shops were de rigueur in the 1980s and early 1990s, the phenomenon of shopping in thrift shops took a dip during the brief visit of the Celtic Tiger. However, as we start tackling the massive accommodation bills he left us, everyone is a little more thrifty and charity shops are all about picking up a conscience-boosting bargain.Ennis markets itself as ‘the boutique capital of Ireland’ but often overlooked is the huge number of charity shops in the county town.“Even in today’s recession, one can still look fashionable and hip, dressed head-to-toe in thrift shop clothes and accessories. Personally, I am a huge fan of thrift shops and constantly wear items from the ClareCare thrift shops. They are worth a visit for …

WE can produce our own power for our home, business or farm with wind, solar, hydro or combined heat and power units (CHP). A wind turbine takes the energy from the wind and converts it to electricity. Solar photovoltaic panels use the sun’s rays to make electricity.Hydro is using the pressure of water from a stream or river to generate power. Combined heat and power units are basically engines that produce power and the heat by-product is used to heat water. A hybrid system is an installation involving more than one type of renewable energy. A typical hybrid system is a wind turbine on the top of a mast and a solar PV panel attached near the top. This way, on a sunny day, if the wind stops the solar panel continues to work and vice versa.All these methods of producing power can be connected to the national grid. This means when power is produced it goes into the home …

THE fact that two different people hold the offices of Taoiseach and leader of the largest party in Government is not unique. Following the 1948 and 1954 General Elections, Richard Mulcahy was leader of Fine Gael but John A Costello was elected Taoiseach. From the 1932 election onwards, Fianna Fáil formed the following six governments. By the time the 1948 election was called, the country was in the mood for change.Fianna Fáil were accused of arrogance and complacency. The newly formed Clann na Poblachta also challenged them for what was traditionally the Fianna Fáil republican vote. Clann na Poblachta charged the government with doing their electioneering in a fleet of chauffeured State cars, with calling the election before a new register came into force and with being supported by financial interests and racketeers. Leader of the party, Seán Mac Bride, wanted an investigation into an alleged petrol scam involving friends of Fianna Fáil. Taoiseach Eamon de Valera responded that the …

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“Is i scáth a chéile a mhaireann na daoine  – it is in the shelter of others that the people live.”

Kieron Brennan, Irish League of Credit Unions CEO, addresses concerns about the general wellbeing of credit unions across the country

SUTTERS Creek is, I am reliably informed, a reasonably palatable Californian wine. It is named after the township of Sutters Creek in California about 150 miles east of San Francisco.

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