Lifestyle

FROM looking her best to Amuzing Grace and from just imagining to The Guinness Book of World Records, former Clare Champion reporter Tara King is finding November a very busy month. The 23-year-old launched her first book on Wednesday and will follow this with the launches of two further books over the following two weeks. Having gone straight from school into a career in journalism, Tara worked as a journalist with The Clare Champion for four years, leaving in July to pursue her dream of becoming an author.Look Your Best is the first of three books completed by the Galway woman since then. Covering fashion, beauty, hair care and numerous tips and tricks, the book is endorsed by TV3’s Xposé and was launched by show presenter and Irish model Glenda Gilson this week.“The Look Your Best – beauty, fashion and tips book actually came about by accident. Earlier this year, I was chatting with my publisher John O’Connor of Blackwater …

A FORMER director of public health for the Mid-Western Western Health Board was recently awarded one of the University of Limerick’s highest and most prestigious honours, the UL President’s Medal.

Ballynacally blossomed as communities across the county were honoured at the 2009 Community Environmental Awards ceremony this week.

  A PARTEEN-based photographer, who was given only months to live last March, has scooped an Ireland Involved Award for his volunteer work on behalf of Concern for the last 20 years.Liam Burke, who set up the Limerick-based Press 22 photo agency with his business partner Noel Gavin in 1984, was presented with the International Development Award by President Mary McAleese at a ceremony in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham last Thursday night.His work has propelled the name of Concern to a global audience over the past two decades, whether it was the stark images from the crisis in Somalia in the early ’90s or a picture of a local debate team in a regional paper.His iconic photograph of a malnourished young boy on the shoulders of his brother was the key image used in a major fundraising campaign for the Ethiopia crisis in 1989, helping to raise over €1.8 million for its emergency appeal at that time.He travelled to Somalia …

HAD she not given up alcohol, something she did nine years ago, Mary* doubts she’d still be alive.

The closure of Ellis Island

Sound is something we all take for granted, whether it is hearing a conversation in a crowded room or being able to go to mass and hear the priest’s sermon, but what if you suffered from hearing loss?

MAGGIE Howard from Ballyvaughan and Teresa Daly from Ennis were among a group of Irish women who took part in a two-week study tour of Argentina last month. The trip to Argentina, followed by some time for relaxation in Brazil, was part of the successful Irish Women in Agriculture tours organised by Mary Carroll and Mary Flynn.