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Yearly Archives: 2017

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The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, is set to visit Ireland next week, and we're all jumping for joy.

Our new Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, will host a meeting with Justin and it has been reported that they will discuss trade deals.

Leo has previously spoken about his admiration for Justin, and said in the Dáil today the he will be delighted to welcome Mr Trudeau and his family to Ireland next Tuesday.

In the past, Mr Varadkar said that he is a fan of the Canadian's work and noted that “we have a lot in common as countries."

Justin was the first to create a cabinet with an equal number of men and women in 2015.

Justin has recently been noted on social media as somewhat of a heart throb, however it's his work for his country that he's most commended for.

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The topic of gender inequality in Hollywood hasn't been far from the headlines in recent years, and one recent post has reminded everyone that it's not a matter which is about to go away any time soon.

In a move which has gotten tongues wagging in the movie industry, Michelle Rodriquez has threatened to take her leave of the Fast and Furious franchise if more isn't done to acknowledge women.

Alongside three images, the 38-year-old has made reference to both the film and her concerns with producers' choices.

"F8 is out digitally today, I hope they decide to show some love to the women of the franchise on the next one. Or I just might have to say goodbye to a loved franchise," she wrote.

"It's been a good ride & Im grateful for the opportunity the fans & studio have provided over the years… One Love," she finished.
 

The post, which has been liked more than 200,000 times, has divided opinion among her followers.

Responding to Michelle's post, fans of the actress pleaded with her to reconsider her plans, with one writing: "Can't imagine fast and furious without you."

However, not everyone was as supportive, with many Instagram users keen to tell that her potential departure would have little impact ont he franchise as a whole.

"Pfft. You wouldn't be missed. Fast 5 was the best in the series so far. You're a supporting role get over yourself," wrote one.

"Doesn't change the fact that Michelle is behaving like a spoiled brat by posting a comment like that on here. There are ways to express this and the way she did it was entirely unprofessional. Bye," added another.

Michelle has featured in five out of eight Fast And Furious films.

 

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Remember those Polly Pocket bags that we obsessed over a few weeks ago? Well, the same online store is now selling Disney character bags, and they're absolutely divine.

Yep, online retailer Truffle Shuffle has announced that they will be selling a whole range of glitzy Disney bags, with Flounder and Cogsworth taking centre stage.

They verge on the pricey side, starting off at €72 and going up to nearly €80, but if you're a Disney fan, they're definitely going to be something you'll keep forever.

Our personal fave is Sebastian, but we're loving the brightly coloured, kitsch cartoon designs:

Cogsworth

The Seven Dwarfs

Flounder

Mrs Potts

Sebastian

The collection is expected to go on sale July 1, and you're in luck because Truffle Shuffle ship to Ireland.

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Calling all Dublin foodies!

The Happy Pear is setting up shop in the capital next week and our mouths are watering already.

David and Stephen Flynn, brothers and founders of the health food brand, will open their flagship café and food store in Clondalkin, Dublin 22, on Monday July 3.

The new development will be located in the new Round Tower Visitor Centre in Clondalkin village and is set to feature a terraced dining area, a public garden along with exhibition and gallery spaces.

The brothers announced the opening date on their Facebook page earlier today.  

Speaking previously about the exciting news, David and Stephen said:

"This is a really great development and this collaboration is a very exciting move for our business. We’re really delighted to be bringing The Happy Pear to this incredible new centre, which is rich in history and culture and will provide a real focal point for the village."

"We can’t wait to open the doors and meet everyone from the community, and of course breakfast is on us – we’ll continue our long-standing tradition of providing free, organic porridge every morning in the new cafe."

The Happy Pear cafe is also located in the Shoreline Leisure Centre, Mill Road, Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and their products are available in selected supermarkets nationwide or online at thehappypear.ie

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There are major delays all over the city this afternoon, so if you're out and about, be very wary.

Traffic lights are out of order on O'Connell Bridge on both sides, which is causing a heavy car build up throughout the North Quays.

AA Roadwatch has reported on Twitter that the lights are out of action due to the road works taking place on the bridge.

It has been said that drivers and public transport users are facing delays of nearly an hour throughout the city centre.

There is also heavy traffic inbound on St John's Road West by the Heuston Quarter.

Meanwhile, Luas users are facing delays on the Red Line.

There was an accident at the Kylemore stop, and even though the Luas is still operating, it's warning its passengers to expect delays.

It is expected that heavy rain and wind will sweep across the country, and motorists are being warned to be careful on the wet roads.

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We love a good true crime podcast, but every now and again one comes along that completely blows us away. 

The aptly named Serial Killers podcast, part of the Parcast family, is keeping us up at night with their terrifying discussions of some of the world's most shocking crimes. 

 

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The podcast delves into a new scary murder story every Monday. 

The show, hosted by true crime enthusiasts Greg and Vanessa, covers some of the most chilling cases ever recorded. 

From the Chessboard Killer Alexander Pichushkin to the notorious Ted Bundy, the podcast explores the in-depth psychology of the criminal mind. 

 

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The hosts peel back the psychological layers, unveiling the history of the criminal, his or her motive, and the crimes themselves. 

'Serial Killers takes a psychological and entertaining approach to provide a rare glimpse into the mind, methods and madness of the most notorious serial killers with the hopes of better understanding their psychological profile,' reads the podcast description.

They even use voice actors to recreate conversations and evidence which was documented at the time of the crime. 

They also use chilling real recordings of the murderers discussing their crimes. 

If you love an in-depth, insightful divulgence of sinister crime, this is the one for you. 

You can find it on Spotify, Soundcloud, iTunes or Parcast.com. 

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The Alton Towers' Smiler rollercoaster broke down yet again this afternoon, leaving its passengers stranded for 45 minutes.

According to metro.co.uk, there was a "technical fault" during the middle of the ride, after two carts stopped half way through.

Visitors in the park took photos and uploaded them onto social media.

It looks scary enough, as the riders were stuck on a vertical climb.

One photo even showed a technician climbing the stairs to rescue those trapped in their seats.

The €20 million roller coaster has had a number of problems recently, including a similar incident just last week.

In 2015, the ride has hit with a number of technical problem as a loaded trained crashed with an empty test train. In the incident, two female teenagers lost a leg each.

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Since 2005, designer brand ASHISH has been a London Fashion Week favourite, breaking barriers with aptly-timed slogans and brash, stand-out collections.

And now, the brand is breaking barriers once again by teaming up with River Island Design Forum for a gender-neutral clothing line.

ashish

The 15-piece collection is sure to be a sell out as it includes playful over-sized jumpers, embroidered pyjamas, and sequin dresses.

The creative director and founder of ASHISH, Ashish Gupta, said that he wanted the collection to be "something lazy and a bit dreamy," which we're all for.

With slogans such as 'sick of all this chic' and 'doom and gloom', ASHISH is staying close to its roots for the high street shop's first ever gender-neutral line.

ashish

Ashish coined the collection as "something relaxed enough to slouch around the house in, yet stylish enough to be taken out."

The collection will debut at London Fashion Week in September, with the garments being available to buy online straight after.

Prices will start at €40 and go up to €240.

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A suspected gas explosion has taken place at Canal Walk Athy in Co Kildare this morning.

A firefighter has been injured at the scene in the fire which occurred as a result. 

Emergency responders from Co Kildare and Co Laois were tackling the fire, and a number of Gardaí are at the scene.

A source told The Independent that one firefighter was injured in the incident. 

'Gas explosion at housing estate in Athy, Co. Kildare,' reported The Emergency Times Twitter account.

"Emergency Services from Kildare and Laois in attendance. Injuries reported.'

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As hard as it is to believe, 2007 was a whole decade ago.

Oh, that's right ladies, toddlers who were doing nothing but toddling in 2007 are now gearing up to start secondary school, and yet you haven't aged a day. Ahem.

So, let's take a look at the TV, tracks and trends that kept you on your toes way back when…

1.  You wanted an iPhone so damn bad

Tomorrow it will be – wait for it – ten years since the first iPhone went on sale.

That's right, ladies; on June 29 2007, everything stepped up a gear, and a generation of people who once considered Nokia's Snake the height of cellular excitement were exposed to a whole new world of apps, messaging services and online features.

2. You were singing Umbrella

And so was every other person on planet Earth.

For ten whole weeks during the summer of 2007, Rihanna's track stayed at number one, and we thought nothing of repeating 'ella, ella, eh, eh, eh' until the end of time.

3. You watched David Hasslehof eat a burger

When you first heard that a video of David Hasslehof eating a burger was doing the rounds, you had your reservations.

But then you bit the bullet, searched those key words and found yourself mildly mesmorised by the actions of drunk TV star chowing down after a heavy night on the sesh.

4. You wondered how Paris Hilton would cope in jail

After being sentenced to 45 days behind bars, the public became engrossed in the socialite's trials and tribulations.

Who could ever forget the image of a tearful Paris behing driven from an LA courthouse by her mother?

5. You laughed at Miss Teen South Carolina

When Miss Teen South Carolina was asked why she believed one-fifth of Americans could not locate the US on a map, she had a lot to say.

It turns out that she personally believed that US Americans were unable to do so because some people out there in her nation don't have maps and she believed that their education such as South Africa and the Iraq everywhere like… such as… and she believed that they should… our education over here in the US… should help South Africa and should help the Iraq and the Asian countries so we will be able to build up ur future… for our children. *And breathe*

Thanks for that, Miss Teen South Carolina.

6. You cried along with Ellen

When Ellen DeGeneres made a heartfelt appeal for the return of Iggy the Dog, we wept alongside her.

Ten years on, and we still can't watch.

7. You tuned into Xposé

Hosted by Lorraine Keane, Karen Koster, Sybil Mulcahy, Aisling O’Loughlin and Lisa Cannon, the new TV3 show was Ireland's slice of celebrity and entertainment news.

And whether you wanted to or not, you always found yourself tuning in…

8. You obsessed over Celebrity Big Brother

It was one of the most explosive Celebrity Big Brothers to date, and with good reason.

With claims of racial tension, discrimination and outright bullying at the helm, the series, which featured Jade Goody, Shilpa Shetty and Danielle Lloyd, became an international incident.

9. You were totally here for Avril Lavigne's comeback

Umbrella may have been number one for all eternity, but Girlfriend was your personal anthem of the year.

And you didn't care who knew it.

10. You wore footless tights and denim skirts

And if your footless tights were fishnet, then all the better.

Oh, and if you could team that stellar combo with a pair of Converse you had artfully decorarted with Emo-like musings, then why hold back, girl?

11. Your Bebo skin was your main concern

Stars, hearts, black, pink; the choice was yours.

But Lord knows you simply couldn't choose, and spent most of your free time customising that page like a good thing.

 

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An injection of culture is literally going to be at our fingertips very soon. 

Cult nail salon Tropical Popical has teamed up with The National Gallery of Ireland to work on a very exciting project invoving the gallery's Vermeer exhibit. 

The gallery has recently re-opened after extensive refurbishments, and is playing host to a selection of works by the artist who created the iconic Girl with a Pearl Earring painting.

 

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The Tropical Popical team will be creating their own works of nail art inspired by the exhibition, and the unique looks will reportedly be available in their South William Street salon for the month of August.

The ideas for the nail art will be generated after a creative viewing of the exhibition.

The girls will also be painting the looks onto the nails of the public in a one-off event in September. 

'It will be a reaction to it as opposed to a direct copy,' Tropical Popical owner Andrea Horan told The Irish Examiner.

'Then we will go back to Trop Pop and decide on five styles. All staff will be able to do them in-house, and then we will be doing them in the gallery in September,' she added

The looks will also be projected onto the walls of the gallery, turning them into works of live art. 

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Unless you're going to a heavenly brunch, it's very unlikely you are served booze before 12pm.

With champagne and vodka making their way into acceptable alcoholic Bloody Mary breakfast beverages, there isn't really much else if you want a tipple in the morning time.

However, this gin yoghurt is about to change all that.

Yep, Greek-yoghurt company, Rachel's, has decided to add gin into its lemon yoghurt, and we couldn't be more delighted.

And it's not just flavoured with gin, there's actually some booze in it too.

OK, well there's 0.5 per cent to be exact, which in beer is classed as non-alcoholic, but you know… flavour.

Unfortunately, it's only being sold in Sainsbury's at the moment, and the closest one to us is Ballymena in Co Antrim.

Our fingers are crossed though that it'll soon be available in a supermarket near us.

Saturday morning breakfasts in bed would be so much more delightful…

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