Ennistymon will become the harp capital of Ireland this Friday with four free events taking place to celebrate National Harp Day. Local master harpist, Aisling Lyons, has put together a unique programme which explores Ireland’s national musical instrument in a number of unique ways. These events are all free and are aimed at introducing local people to the joys of the harp. They include a session of harp yoga in the Falls Hotel with musician Simon O’Reilly on pedal steel guitar and yoga teacher, Sue Redmond, from 10am to 11am. This will be followed by a talk in Ennistymon library entitled ‘Early Irish Harp’ from 11am to 12noon. This talk will be hosted by one of the pioneers of the Irish harp, Paul Dooley, who will also give a demonstration as part of the event. Following this talk, Aisling Lyons will give a series of 10 minute ‘try the harp’ events at the Falls Hotel. Harps are provided for this …
Read More »Doonbeg woman’s top tips for surfing the waves of stress
WHEN Doonbeg native Deirdre Fitzpatrick O’Reilly made the decision, at the age of 28, to swap football for surfing, she feel in love with the waves off the west coast and found a metaphor for coping with the ups and downs of life. With a background in health and leisure management, as well as teaching wellness activities, the thrills and challenges of surfing have inspired Deirdre to write her first book on mindfulness and meditation. Surfing the Waves of Stress, which has just been published, is described as a guide to navigating life’s hurdles using a toolbox of strategies to maintain balance and calmness. “There are always going to be ups and downs in life, there will always be waves,” Deirdre explained. “Using mindfulness is like learning to surf. It’s not a cure for stress. Life will bring stress, but mindfulness is your surf board. It’s your buoyancy aid and a great tool to cope with stress. I was at a …
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