Festivals, fashion and (little) feet!

Leprechauns - back in vogue?

To get into the festive St Patrick’s Day spirit, GTB spoke to Tom O’Rahilly, director of the new Leprechaun Museum on Jervis St. The museum opened last week and has already generated huge interest – even making it into Time magazine.

Tom told GTB that leprechauns first came to Ireland out of the sea and that Trinity College houses a manuscript from the 8th century which is believed to contain the first reference to leprechauns in Ireland.

The Leprechaun Museum, Tom assures us, has plenty to offer locals as it encourages visitors to take a look at Irish mythology (and not just leprechauns). Booking details can be found here. Bear in mind that tickets booked online are for a particular time slot. Tickets can also be bought at the museum itself, but online booking is recommended.

Sticky Imprints, Made With Love!

After becoming a Mum for the second time, Gwen Frei felt inspired and set up her successful business Sticky Imprints. Gwen realized how precious time is and how quickly it passes once you become a mother. Her aim is to capture and preserve beautiful childhood memories in the most unique way. She does by working her magic and imprinting a loved one's finger, hand or footprint in solid silver. Each piece of jewellery created is intricately handcrafted with intrinsic detail.


If you cannot arrange a casting session at Sticky Imprints, this is not a problem as they allow you to capture your loved one’s fingerprint from your own home with a Home Impression Kit and an accompanying set of easy to follow instructions (don't worry the impression is not the actual size of your foot or hand, just so you all know as GTB had to clarify that little piece of info!) The whole process takes approximately 21 days and your desired piece will be sent back to you by registered post. Gwen’s aim is to capture a moment in time that you can carry with you and wear forever
GTB really enjoyed chatting to Gwen and wish her all the luck with her new business!
For all the info that you need log onto the website, www.stickyimprints.ie/


Heidi launches new collection AND boutique

Irish design fans have somewhere new and very exciting to visit – Heidi Higgins (formerly located in the Loft, Powerscourt) has just opened her own boutique in Portlaoise. Up and coming designer Heidi has just launched her Spring Summer 2010 collection, featuring striking colours and lively patterns. There are still staple LBDs in her collection, too!

Heidi explained the planning and production process behind her designs, and is very particular about the shades and quality of materials used. Heidi says if you spot something in her shop that you like, but would prefer a different pattern, colour or fit, she’ll do what she can to sort you out and dress you up!

Check out stockists and her Portlaoise address here.

With St Patricks Day just around the corner GTB wanted to make sure you got the full download on what was happening so we invited Susan Kirby the CEO of the festival onto the show to tell all!!!



The parade theme this year is 'Extraordinary World' and features inventive street theatre troupes, giant puppetry, artists, dancers and marching bands from all across Ireland and the globe!!! You won't want to miss it!!! It was revealed that over 65,000 people made their way into the city last year to watch the parade so make sure to head in early and remember to leave the cars at home because a lot of the roads will be blocked off for the day!!!


St Patricks day is no longer just about the parade as organisers aim to turn it into a festival so if the parade isn't you cup of tea fear not as there is definitely something for everyone!! GTB would recommend checking out the '80 meter Stiletto Heel Dash' in aid of the Marie Keating foundation.....it is still not too late to take part in this great charity http://www.mariekeating.ie/  and if heels just aren't for you, we can guarantee seeing hundreds of women and men running O’Connell street like mad people will give anyone a great laugh ....so make sure to get down there!!! Also on the day there will be a screening of 'Bananas on the Breadboard' which is a 50 minute documentary celebrating the life and stories from the market areas in Dublin which will not only bring you insight into the lives of the market sellers but also bound to have amazing humour….definitely one to watch!! This will be shown at the Light House Cinema in Smithfield at 4pm.

Jenny, Susan and I will be in the middle of all the madness this Wednesday reporting live from the parade so make sure to pop over and say hi to us and take you picture…..your face could be on our blog next week!!!

To find out more information about St Patricks Day check out http://www.stpatricksfestival.ie/cms/events.html

  Happy Paddy’s Day Everyone !!!!!!!

 

Happy International Women's Day!!!

Women who seek to be equal with men lack ambition." ~ ( Timothy Leary )"
"Women In Business - Shaping the Future"


Happy International Women's Day 2010 to all our GTB listeners!!! Today Over 200 Dublin business women will gather to celebrate International Women's Day. There will be a guest speaker panel which will include Mary Ann O'Brien, founder & MD of Lily O'Brien's; Lucy Gaffney, chairperson of Communicorp Group Ltd.; and Nicola Byrne, managing director of 11890. GirslTalkBack were shocked to find out that despite the fact that nearly 60% of Irish graduates are women, they only represent 30% of entrepreneurs in the EU.
Women In Business networks and the European Network of Female Entrepreneurs work to encourage more women to become entrepreneurs and start their own companies. Tonight, the audience will have a unique opportunity to hear from three of the most successful and respected Irish female entrepreneurs. These entrepreneurs will tell their "success stories", their challenges and achievements along the way, and share their top advices for women in business.
Unfortunately this years event has sold out and there is over 70 people on the waiting list so if you don't get the chance to go to this fantastic event this year make sure to put it in your diary for next year!! Come on Ladies get out there and support one another!!!
WHAT: International Women's Day seminar

"Women In Business - Shaping the Future"
WHEN: Monday 8 March from 6.00pm
WHERE: The Alexander Hotel
Contact:Marion Jammet - 01 644 7235 (Marion@dublinchamber.iemailto:Marion@dublinchamber.iemailto:Marion@dublinchamber.ie)
 

From left to right:

Triona Campbell (CR Entertainment – European Female Entrepreneurship Ambassador); Nicola Byrne (11890 - European Female Entrepreneurship Ambassador); Agata Stoinksa (D-Lite Studios - Dublin City Enterprise Board Women In Business Programme); Margaret Fay (Giftsforall.ie - Fingal Women in Business Network) and Catherine O’Sullivan (Feelgood scarves - Dun Laoghaire – Rathdown County Enterprise Board Enterprising Women Programme).
Photo by: Maebh Fitzpatrick
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Donal Skehan
We spoke to Donal Skehan, chef, author and Industry Band member. Donal filled us in on how food doesn't have to be challenging to be healthy. It's all about Good Mood Food. His new book Good Mood Food gives you all the information you need to find the chef within. He has recenlty begun giving demonstrations in schools to children and was surprised at how interested they were in learning all about food. Obeasity is rapidly becoming a huge problem in Ireland but Donal believes that if we educate the children, this knowledge may decrease and improve the situation. Donal also has the most amazing blog which you can find at the goodmoodfoodblog.com.You need to check this out ppl! His food tips and blogs are really inspiring and even convinced GTB that we could actually master a few moves in the kitchen! When he is not cooking, he is singing and recently supported JLS in the 02 arena with his up and coming band, Industry. 2010 is a jam packed year for Donal as he will be travelling all around with his culinary skills, raising money for charity and travelling to Paris to cook for 500 people. We wish Donal the best of look and hope to have all the Industry band members on GTB very soon!

 
ShowBiz News

Big congrats to Niamh Kavanagh who will be singing for Ireland this year in the EuroVision song contest. The Irish public voted for her to represent the country for 2010 on the Late Late Show last Friday night. Micky Graham from Boyzone came a well-respected 2nd but also got voted off TV3's Dancing on ice last night...really wasn't his weekend for winning (don't worry Micky you're our number 1)!!! But GirlsTalkBack do believe the best contendor won so best of luck to Niamh - she will of course do us proud!!





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Also speaking on today's show was Senator David Norris, who chatted to GTB about the forthcoming re-publication of Finnegan's Wake. Although the Senator believes the publicity surrounding the launch will renew interest in the text, many readers will still shy away from the text.

Senator Norris also gave GTB an extraordinary rendition of the infamous 200-letter sequence at the start of Finnegan's Wake. We wouldn't have attempted it ourselves, but he pulled it off brilliantly! For anyone who fancies hearing more from the book, he particularly recommends the Cyril Cusack performance of the text.

Hats off to the editors of the new edition, too; Danis Rose and John O'Hanlon have spent 30 years correcting some 9,000 errors in the text. Phew! Check out the publishing details here. The Indo ran a great feature at the weekend on this edition, which you can read here.

   GTB wonders if Marilyn ever got around to reading Finnegan's Wake, too...














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GirlsTalkBack on 103.2FM

Today's show was really packed with a wide range of topics and guests!

For those of you who may be considering a creative career change, or have always had a hankering for the film business, we spoke to Grainne MacLoone from Filmbase about the wide range of courses offered by Filmbase in Temple Bar.

                                                   
Courses from directing, to editing, to lighting, can be found here.

Grainne mentioned one particularly interesting seminar which is coming up at the end of this month - "Hollywood Screenwriting". Bring it on! James Bartlett, who is a writer and journalist living in LA, and is also a story analyst for the Sundance Institute, National Geographic Films, New Regency, UCLA and the Academy of Motion Pictures Nicholl Screenwriting Awards (phew! what a list!) will be speaking about the impact style can have on your script. James can apparently tell by the opening pages of a script whether the writer is based in the US or on this side of the Atlantic. So, budding writers, take note! The seminar costs €40 for members and €55 for non-members.


GTB had the pleasure of talking to Ray Senior, owner and founder of showbiz.ie and VIP pictures. Ray who is a self confessed Mr. nice guy admitted in studio that the only reason he set up his company was to get into high profile nightclubs and meet girls (we loved the honesty))!! He never imagined it to become the huge success that it is and to Rays delight it celebrated its 10th birthday this year!!

He confirmed that Irish celebrities do in fact tip the paps of on where they will be just to make it into the papers or onto a gossip site....so whenever you see an 'off guard' celeb lazing on a beach...just think they had prob set that all up themselves!!!

He told the girlstalkback team that there is definitely a love/hate relationship between the paparazzi and those being papped.....but let's be honest without them these celebs would never be known!!

If you fancy becoming a pap yourself and earning anything from €90 to €150 from the simple click of a camera, check out showbiz.ie on this link.

We chatted to Grainne Humphreys, The Director of the Jameson Film Festival. Grainne filled us in on the success of this years festival and told us all about the Hollywood greats  who graced our emerald isle over the two week period. This event seems to be getting bigger and better each year. Months and months of preparation and organisation certainly paid off as Colin Farrell was in attendance and opened up the film festival, accompanied by his girlfriend Alicja and the wonderful Neil Jordan . Last night then saw Tilda Swinton close the festival with her new film 'I Am Love', which she also directed. GTB were lucky enough to attend this event and even managed to say Hi to Tilda. She said she was a GTB fan too!!! Hopefully we can get her on the show someday soon! If you want to catch up on anything you missed from the Jameson Film Festival then log onto their website. 

GTB moved on to the more serious subject of Sex Addiction. The Centre for Sexual Addictions, Director of Counselling and Communication, Declan Fitzpatrick discussed the issue with GTB. The number of people in Ireland suffering from Sex Addiction is on the increase and this appears to be more common among the male population!!!With celebs such as Tiger Woods coming out to talk about his struggle with sex addiction, this may encourage others to come out who feel that they may be suffering too. It is definitely an addiction that people seem a little unsure over.....some people simply feel it is an excuse for infidelity or promiscuous behaviour?? What are your thoughts???

The Centre for Sexual Addiction offers help to those who feel they may be suffering from Sex Addiction. Check out their website here. 

First up today we spoke to Brian Iredale, founder and CEO of the A to Z Children's Charity. Brian told us how he fell for Uganda - and his future wife - while cycling 3,000 miles around the region. Returning to Ireland, Brian decided to set up a charity to support Ugandan children affected by HIV.

A to Z has a range of programmes from sponsoring a child's education, to helping build a HIV clinic. 50% of children born with HIV will be dead by their second birthday.

Irish Olympic boxer Kenny Egan is taking part in an exciting trek and home-building project for a fornight this June and July. There are still spaces available so if you fancy trekking around the amazing UNESCO World Heritage site the Mountains of the Moon in Uganda, check out the details here.

We had the beautiful Nadia Ford on the show talking to us about what it is like being Irelands most wanted model. She was funny, friendly and works extremely hard at what she does (could we be any more jealous). She told Girls Talk Back that modelling was never a huge dream of hers and puts all her success down to having a pushy granny who wanted the best for her!!! Her plans for 2010 are to continue on with modelling, continuing to work hard and maybe if she is lucky get to Vegas at some point (although she admitted to not being much of a party girl and prefers to sit in with her boyfriend and friends)!!! GTB wish Nadia all the best for 2010 and look forward to hearing more from her in the near future.GTB sense maybe she might ditch the blonde and go dark brown soon......you heard it here first people :-)

GTB had the pleasure of speaking to owner Sinead Deegan from http://www.muttugly.com/

Muttugly is every pet and owners dream shop!!It is 'a little piece of heaven for cats, dogs and owners of all shapes, sizes & peculiarities'. They offer grooming; day care and home stay services and stock a range of fun, fashionable products that also serve a real functional need for your pet. They also provide a grooming school service which offers a range of training courses from professional grooming qualifications to just for fun courses.
If there is anything you need for your beloved four legged friend Muttugly are bound to have it!! There are two Muttugly branches one in Ringsend and one in Ranelagh and make sure to stop in and say hi to Murphy when you get there...he is the local celeb!!!

If you would like to find out even more about MuttUgly just visit http://www.muttugly.com/


Showbiz News
It was none stop awards over the weekend and amazing Glamour!! The RDS held the tenth annual Meteor Awards hosted by the beautiful Amanda Byram.

Guests on GTB ‘The Coronas’ won an award on the night much to their surprise (but not ours!!) beating none other than U2 and Snow Patrol. Westlife won best Irish pop act for the tenth year in a row…no stopping these guys!!

A surprise appearance from Castleknock-out Colin Farrell made GTBs night (no doubt every other women in Ireland also). The list of performing artists on the night included Dizzee Rascal, Pixie Lott, Paolo Nutini, The Script, The Temper Trap and Westlife and how could anyone forget the amazing Florence and the Machines who opened the show!! The night was a huge success and judging by the fact that it sold out by early February this year you would probably want to start trying to get your tickets for next year ASAP!!!

Saturday night at the Burlington Hotel the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) welcomed Ireland’s creative talent from the world of film and television. They proudly celebrated the Irish industry’s achievements both at home and abroad. Nominees included Brendan Gleeson, Colin Farrell, Saoirse Ronan, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Aidan Quinn, Ciarán Hinds, Amy Huberman, Sarah Bolger to name but a few.

The Winners on the night were

Best Film

The Eclipse - Robert Walpole, Rebecca O'Flanagan (Treasure Entertainment)
Director Film

Jim Sheridan - Brothers (Lionsgate)
Script Film

Billy Roche, Conor McPherson - The Eclipse (Treasure Entertainment)
Actor in a Lead Role - Film

Colin Farrell - Ondine (Octagon Films)
Actress in a Lead Role - Film

Saoirse Ronan - The Lovely Bones (Paramount)
Actor in a Supporting Role - Film

Aidan Quinn - The Eclipse (Treasure Entertainment)
Actress in a Supporting Role - Film

Dervla Kirwan - Ondine (Octagon Films)
Best International Film

The Hurt Locker
Pantene Best International Actress Award - People's Choice *

Meryl Streep - It's Complicated

GTB best dressed goes to Ms Saoirse Ronan who looked beautiful in Burberry!!! Saoirse also choose to wear Burberry to the Bafta awards which took place on Sunday night!! Celebrity ad campaign in the future perhaps anyone..........

A YouTube Sensation On GTB This Week!

First up on GTB this week we had the pleasure of chatting to Amy Dillon in the GTB studio. Amy is an Irish YouTube sensation, a self taught make-up artist, a talented painter and now has her own amazing website www.makeupandbeauty.ie. Check it out ppl! How did this all come about?? Well she first began by uploading her make-up lessons onto YouTube after being inspired by an aticle she read. She posted her first video onto YouTube when she got so annoyed over how badly her skin reacted to a certain product.

She began regularly uploading videos to YouTube in 2009 which have been hit over 700,000 times and she now has well over 13,000 subscribers. Sensational or what. YouTube then approached Amy to make her a YouTube partner, dazzledust25 where she now has her own channel. You could litrelly spend the whole day on her website www.makeupandbeauty.ie it’s that amazing.

GTB love her laid back approach and her videos are so honest, real, genuine and personal. Girls with all types of issues can relate to the things that Amy talks about. GTB have learnt so much from watching her videos and we think she is amazing for filling such a much needed niche. There are also clever, inexpensive and natural ideas on her website. All you need to do is raid your fridge and kitchen presses for ingredients. Get out the porridge ppl!!!

DUBLIN EVENTS

FANCY A FLICK?

There are some cracking events coming up in Dublin city centre over the next week or so - and here's our selection:

The annual Jameson Dublin Film Festival gets under way on silver screens across the city this week, running from this Thursday, the 18th, until the 28th of February.

You'd want to move really quickly if you're hoping to get tickets at this stage and some of the higher-profile films have long been sold out. Colin Farrell will be attending the screening of Ondine, along with director Neil Jordan on Thursday night at the Savoy on O'Connell St. Unfortunately, that's one of the sold-out shows! But if you linger outside, you might catch a glimpse of the lads as they makes their way in. (Here's hoping...)

MORE LOVE!!!

And if you didn't get enough romance over Valentine's weekend, the Science Gallery at Trinity College has an interesting exhibition for the next few weeks called LOVE LAB: THE SCIENCE OF DESIRE

Some of the activities sound really bizarre, such as Scentsational. In this experiment you can smell a worn T-shirt and take a sniff test to see if you find the hormone scents pleasant, odourless or repulsive. Hmmm.... We're not so sure we'd enjoy that one, sounds like a bit of a risk!
There's also another experiment called Average Face. Right... Well this involves stepping into a special photo booth and having your picture taken. Then you can look through the gallery's collection of photos and see which features you find most attractive, and you can add your own photo to the collection. The experiment is questioning if good looking is really attractive or if average is the new aspiration.

Opening hours and other details for visitors here.

WITNESS TO WAR: the War of Independence and Civil War through the lens of WD Hogan

The latest exhibition at the National Photographic Archive, Meeting House Sq, Temple Bar from 16 January 2010 until May 2010, is well worth a visit.

Taken by photographer WD Hogan, this exhibition has some really fabulous shots, particular of Black n Tan officers posted around Dublin.


Hogan had the official sanction of Sinn Féin during the War of Independence, and the official sanction of the national army during the Civil War and so had excellent access to places and people between 1920 and 1923.

'The Minutes' on Girls Talk Back Monday the 15th of Feb ....103.2fm

Make sure to tune in next Monday from 1pm to 2pm on 103.2fm...were going to be talking to lead singer Mark from  Irish band 'THE MINUTES' about their new album and what we can expect from the guys in 2010!!

Dublin trio The Minutes have gigged extensively in Ireland and the UK. Touring with the likes of Albert Hammond Jnr (The Strokes), The Pigeon Detectives, The Von Bondies & Supergrass and also played at some festivals like CMJ (New York), CMW (Toronto), HWCH (Dublin) & Electric Picnic (Ireland). Previously released singles include 'Black Keys' 'Harmonic' and 'Ukraine'. Ukraine was one of the first songs released by The Minutes which helped the band establish themselves in the Dublin music scene and was constantly played on local indie stations.

After a year long residence in 2009 at Dublin live staple, Whelan's, The Minutes developed a true rock n' roll sound to call their own.

After becoming one of Dublin's must see live acts, it came time to record their debut record and in October of 2009 the three piece headed to Marcata Recordings in upstate New York. Together with producer Kevin McMahon the band have crafted a ten track album that bottles the energy of their live sets. The record blasts though one foot stomping song after another, from the 2 minute undiluted rawness of Secret History, to the crashing drum solos of Believer, right up to live favourite In My Time Of Dying. Due for release mid 2010, 'Marcata' is a record you'll come back to time and time again.

With a trip stateside again in March to attend the SXSW festival in Texas, this year promises to be an exciting year for the Dublin three-piece.

To find out more about 'The Minutes' visit:www.myspace.com/theminutesireland
www.facebook.com/theminutes
www.twitter.com/theminutes

It was Singletons V Relationshipers on GTB today!

First up on GTB today we discussed a more serious issue of Mental Health in Ireland. We spoke with Jane Arigho, Media Project Coordinator with Headline. Headline is Ireland's national media monitoring programme, woking to promote responsible and accurate coverage of mental health and suicide related issues within the Irish media. Jane filled us in on how mental health issues are reported in the media and what ways in which the reporting of mental health issues can be improved. If any listeners were affected by the issues which were discussed then they can contact Headline if they want any further information on mental health issues http://www.headline.ie/.

Love was then certainly in the air when we had battle of the GTB Valentine's girls. Singleton Jennifer Bannon and not so single Sandy Hazel fought their corner to explain who would have the best Valentines Day. Jennifer informed us that she was perefectly happy to remain single this Valentines Day and the only memories she can recall of Valentines Day is fighting with her ex boyfriend. She is a firm believer that Valentines Day is a bit of a money making racket. She defo won't be giving you her last rolo! On the other side of the ring, relationship content Sandy informed us how she believes in love at first sight and does not believe that you have to spend lots of money to be romantic. GTB aimed to find out who has more fun on Valentines Day, all the single ladies?? Or all the not so single ladies?? GTB will leave this one in your hands! Happy Valentine's Day for Sunday to all our GTB listeners!