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Monthly Archives: April 2018

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One Irish singer-songwriter is putting his talents to good use with the release of his new single, in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust. 

Hailing from county Kildare, Ross Breen released his debut album When I Met The Devil in 2011. Since then, his career has gone from strength to strength and he was even named Ireland's Best Unsigned Singer -Songwriter by Newstalk's Tom Dunne Show. 

Having preformed alongside the likes of Bell X1, Sinead O’ Connor, Declan O’ Rourke, Damien Dempsey and Oscar-winner Glen Hansard, Ross has made a name for himself as one of Ireland's best up-and-coming musicians.

 

A post shared by Ross Breen (@rossbreenmusic) on

Released in association with the Peter Mc VerryTrust, the video for Ross' latest single Truth, was shot live by acclaimed film-maker Myles O'Reilly at La Cathedral Studios Dublin with a string quartet. 

Filmed completely in black and white, the video closes with a call for viewers to make a one-off donation to the organisation which provides shelter and support to Ireland's homeless population. 

Speaking about the project, Ross said: "Peter McVerry Trust is an organisation I've admired for a long time- it was great to create something with them that will raise awareness of the homeless crisis and encourage funding for their work."

"The first person I thought of to film this was Myles, so it's a collaboration I'm very happy with. Hopefully, it will prompt people to text a donation or find out more online."

Text OPEN to 50300 to make a donation. Text costs €2. Peter McVerry Trust will receive a minimum of €1.80.

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For most women, vaginal products are a part of their daily hygiene routine, and we use them thinking that are especially designed to protect us from infections and other inconvenience that comes with being a woman. 

However, according to a new study, these products could actually be detrimental to our health. 

Published by the University of Guelph in the journal BMC Women's Health, the research conducted on Canadian women revealed that those who use these products are three times more likely to experience some type of vaginal infection.

In some cases, women actually purchased the products to address an existing vaginal concern.

"While research has shown douching can have negative impacts on vaginal health, little was known about the dozens of other products out there," said psychology professor Kieran O'Doherty, the study's lead investigator.

Vaginal hygiene products have been used by 95 per cent of Canadian women, with the most commonly used products including anti-itch creams, moisturisers, lubricants, and feminine wipes. The results connected certain products with specific infections.

"The study does not establish whether it is the products causing the infections or whether women are using the products in an attempt to address the infection," said O'Doherty. "However, the results do provide important evidence for strong correlations that need further research."

For example, women who used gel sanitisers were eight times more likely to have a yeast infection and almost 20 times more likely to have a bacterial infection.

Women using feminine washes or gels were almost 3 ½ times more likely to have a bacterial infection and 2 ½ times more likely to report a urinary tract infection.

Participants using feminine wipes were twice as likely to have a urinary tract infection, and those using lubricants or moisturisers were 2 ½ times as likely to have a yeast infection.

"These products may be preventing the growth of the healthy bacteria required to fight off infection", O'Doherty added.

Pelvic inflammatory disease, cervical cancer, reduced fertility, ectopic and pre-term pregnancies, and bacterial and sexually transmitted infections are among the problems related to an abnormal vaginal microbiome.

Before anymore research can confirm these findings, we might just stick to a good old soap…

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Despite many young adults often seen to be enjoying active social lives, a new study has found that they are actually more likely to experience feelings of loneliness when compared to every other age group. 

The research found that almost 10 per cent of people aged between 16 and 24 admitted to feeling lonely "always or often" – more than three times higher than people aged 65 and over. 

One theory behind the figures, is that older people could become "resilient" to the sense of isolation, with researchers explaining that these types of feelings "tend to decrease with age." 

"It's possible that people become more resilient to loneliness as they get older, possibly through the experience of significant life events and life transitions," says the study.

Some reports suggest that social media could be to blame for the increasing loneliness among young people. 

According to bbc.com, Cal Strode, of the Mental Health Foundation, explained:

 "Teens can have thousands of friends online and yet feel unsupported and isolated. Technology, including social media, could be exacerbating social isolation." 

What's more, women were consistently more likely to report loneliness than men across all age groups. 

However, it was noted that these figures could reflect a reluctance among men to express their emotions. 

People who were single, middle-aged, living alone, and those with poor health also reported high levels of loneliness. 

Meanwhile, people who were older, male, living with a partner, working, homeowners, and those in good health were found to be the least lonely. 

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Is there anything more beautiful than Paris in the spring?

The cherry blossom flowers in the Père Lachaise, the trees burgeoning along the Seine, and the Parisians flooding the terrace of cafes and bars craving for some sun rays… 

While a glass of rosé or a fresh beer are go-to beverages for French people when the summer comes, Paris also has plenty of cocktail bars where you can try delicious and incredibly Instagrammable drinks to celebrate the City of Light. 

1. Experimental Cocktail Club

2. Gravity Bar

3. Le Syndicat

4. Bluebird

 

Apéro au top au @lebluebirdparis

A post shared by Startuper.life (@startuper.life) on

5. Les Justes Pigalle

6. Jefrey's

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A Southampton based beauty studio has shared the dark side of the microbladed brows trend. 

The treatment has gained massive popularity in recent years, however, not all therapists are apparently equal in skill and talent. 

Moss Brows posted to their Facebook page last week, revealing some less-than perfect finished products from unknown therapists. 

 

A post shared by Laura Moss Brows (@moss_brows) on

'These poor ladies asked for the natural hair stroke effect but what they were left with was the complete opposite,' reads the post.

The brow specialists finish with a warning to 'do your research,' essential for anyone considering the treatment. 

The Facebook post has since gone viral, with thousands of reactions and shares. 

The images were originally shared by The Brow & Beauty Boutique, based in Hertfordshire. 

'However I am coming across lots of these images of real women who have had their eyebrows “microbladed” (butchered),' reads their post. 'This is happening up and down the country damaging trusting women’s faces! Causing permanent scaring!'

The boutique advises asking the following questions when looking for a microblade technician, and to look at previous work and reviews.

  • Are they qualified, insured and licensed by their local council? 
  • Are they using correct the sterile equipment?
  • Are they clean? 
  • Do they use correct numbing cream to meet standards? (Max strength 5%)
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Khloé Kardashian welcomed a baby girl into the world last week. The doting mum finally revealed her darling girl’s name last night, much to fans delight.

Khloé posted a snap of a room full of pink balloons and flowers, she wrote, “Our little girl, True Thompson, has completely stolen our hearts and we are overwhelmed with LOVE. Such a blessing to welcome this angel into the family! Mommy and Daddy love you True!”

The name True has left fans divided, with many expressing their opinion online.

“What a beautiful name! Congratulations Khloe.”

Another wrote, “All the Kardashian's have such unique names. Can't believe another beautiful angel has been added to the family.”

“True??? …. yikes! What's with the crazy name choices for everyone. Not my favourite but not my kid lol," said another user.

The name may not be a hit with everyone, but the reason why Khloé called her daughter True is incredibly moving.

 

Magical moments with the most magical women! I’ll forever be in love with YOU! 

A post shared by Khloé (@khloekardashian) on

Kris Jenner shared the meaning behind her granddaughter's name in a tweet. The grandmother wrote, “I’m so excited to welcome my precious little granddaughter True!!!”

“FUN FACT… my Grandfather’s name on my Dad’s side was True Otis Houghton….my real Dad’s name was Robert True Houghton…so i am so excited Khloe named her daughter True!!! #lovebug #familytradition #family”

 

A post shared by Kris Jenner (@krisjenner) on

Naming her first child after her great-grandfather and her grandfather is an incredibly touching move.

According to BabyNames.com, the name True means real and genuine. How sweet!

We love how Khloé picked a meaningful, family name for her baby girl.

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Okay, we appreciate that fad diets are a thing, and we admit to trying one every now and then. 

We've done the lemon water cleanse (fucking horrific btw), we've gone carb and sugar free, and we've even attempted the baby food diet. 

Yes, the baby food diet. Don't really want to talk about it, tbh. 

Anyway, one thing we're just not sure about? Electrically shocking ourselves into a smaller dress size. 

Because apparently, that's what some people are actually doing. Can you cope? 

The Pavlok wristband is a device that looks similar to a fit bit – but with a totally different purpose. 

The makers of the Pavlok describe the feeling of receiving a zap as being “a lot like a static shock you get when you touch a doorknob after rubbing your feet on the carpet”.

“The electrical stimulus is carefully designed so that it is enough to be uncomfortable, but not so strong that it hurts (and nowhere near dangerous – the Shock Clock is CE/FCC certified and 10,000 Pavlok users have proven it is safe and effective).”

It is important to note that the device will only zap ypu upon request. 

It's all about changing habits, and so when you think 'maybe I will just eat that entire share bag of Doritos' – you simply zap yourself as a deterrent. 

The band costs $129, and is available online. 

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The referendum is barely six weeks away, and while our minds are firmly fixed on getting out there and voting, there are other ways to support the cause. 

If you're a Galway-based repealer, or fancy a road trip to the most scenic county in the land, then you may want to get yourself down to Carbon nightclub on April 26. 

The club is hosting a Sesh For Repeal, with proceeds on the night going to the Together For Yes campaign. 

'We are absolutely delighted to be teaming up with Galway Pro-Choice & Humans of The Sesh to present Sesh 4 Repeal,' a statement on the Carbon Facebook Page reads.

'Proceeds from the night will be going towards the #Together4Yes campaign as we get closer to the upcoming referendum.'

'The night will be jam-packed with entertainment with a number of DJs playing their sounds including; Gadget and the Cloud, Gash Collective and more TBA.'

The club, located on Galway's Eglington Street, will open it's doors at 11pm for Repeal revellers.

The event is also in association with Galway Pro-Choice. 

You can get all the details right here.

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OK real talk. Does anyone is their twenties ACTUALLY know how to manage money? 

I'll be the first to amit that finances aren't exactly my strong suit. Sure, I've got a roof over my head, food in the fridge and a Netflix subscription to keep me going, but when it comes to savings and long-term planning, I may as well be back at square one. 

However, I'm slowly but surely learning how to make better choices when it comes to spending, and there are a few golden tips and tricks I've picked up along the way:  

1. Thou shalt keep a budget book

Budgeting is hard, OK? And in an age of paperless money, it can be easy to lose track of your finances. 

One way to combat this is to keep a budget book, mapping out all your incoming and outgoing expenses for the month ahead, including every single purchase you make. 

Break down your earnings using the handy 50/30/20 ratio – 50 per cent goes towards living expenses, 30 per cent is disposable income, and 20 per cent goes into savings.

2. Thou shalt take advantage of loyalty schemes 

Whether you're earning points on your club card every time you do a food shop, or simply getting a free coffee every two weeks, loyalty schemes are a great way to save the pennies without feeling like you're missing out. 

A number of banks also offer reward schemes, allowing customers to earn cash back when use their cards at selected retailers. 

3. Thou shalt limit my online spending 

Sure, the half price ASOS jacket might seem like an absolute steal, but it's a slippery slope.

First the jacket, then the shoes, and before you know it, you're basket is full to brim with items you probably (definitely) don't need. 

4. Thou shalt refrain from taking out loans 

Unless absolutely necessary, try your best to work with what you have.

But if you do find yourself in a position where borrowing money is the only option, make sure to shop around for the best interest rates, and make paying it back an absolute priority.

5. Thou shalt bring my lunch from home

OK, so this one's a bit of a no-brainer, but eating out is pricey AF. 

Give the artisan breads and lavish salads a break and start getting creative in the kitchen. 

Pro tip: Make more than you need to eat for dinner so you can use the leftovers the next day.

6. Thou shalt eat more veggies

Meat is by far one of the most expensive parts of any meal, so it's no surprise that cutting it from your diet will do wonders for your pocket. 

Can't commit to the full veggie life? Start with meat-free Mondays and go from there. 

Your bank account will thank for for it. 

7. Thou shalt entertain at home 

Save the big nights out for special occasions – birthdays, anniversaries, going-away dos etc. – and do the rest of your socialising at home. 

You'll save a bomb on taxi fares, cover charges and over-priced cocktails, and hey, you'll probably have more fun. 

8. Thou shalt save as much as possible

Got a few quid left over at the end of the month? 

Rather than indulging in an unnecessary spending spree, put your precious pennies towards a bigger spend. 

After all, that two month trek around South East Asia isn't going to pay for itself. 

9. Thou shalt learn about taxes 

OK, so this one is easier said than done, but it's important to know where your money is going every month. 

For example, Irish workers are entitled to a number of benefits including dental and optical, as well compensation for absence due to illness. 

It's also worth checking whether you've been emergency taxed in the past four years. You could be owed a small fortune and not even know it! 

10. Thou shalt splurge responsibly

While it's essential to stay on top of your finances in your 20s, it's never fun to deprive yourself of the things you want. 

Whether it's the designer handbag you've been lusting after, or the holiday of your dreams, it's important to treat yo'self every once in a while. 

After all, you worked hard for the cash – just spend it wisely! 

 

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Plastic waste is a massive issue for the environment, with tonnes of it entering our oceans and being dumped in landfills every day. 

Scientists have discovered that an enzyme exists that breaks down plastic components in a matter of days, and there is hope that it could be utilised to alleviate the global plastic disposal issue. 

'What we are hoping to do is use this enzyme to turn this plastic back into its original components, so we can literally recycle it back to plastic,'  Prof John McGeehan, at the University of Portsmouth, told The Guardian.

'It means we won’t need to dig up any more oil and, fundamentally, it should reduce the amount of plastic in the environment.'

The enzyme, described as a 'mutant' was born from the plastic landfills of Japan, where it was discovered. 

The enzyme digests the element polyethylene terephthalate, used in plastic bottles.

'There is strong potential to use enzyme technology to help with society's growing waste problem by breaking down some of the most commonly used plastics,' Oliver Jones, a chemistry expert at RMIT University in Melbourne told ABC.

We'll be sticking to our paper straws and reusable water bottles for now until this discovery is given the trial period it deserves.

Here's to hoping for a fully recyclable plastic future. 

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Enterprise Ireland’s €1 million Competitive Start Fund (CSF) for Female Entrepreneurs will open for applications on Tuesday, 1 May. Up to €50,000 in equity funding is available to a maximum of 20 successful female applicants with early stage start-up companies. Last year, 46 per cent of all companies who received CSF investment from Enterprise Ireland were female-led.

In addition to securing vital funding, 15 of the successful applicants will be offered a place on the INNOVATE accelerator programme, delivered by Dublin BIC. Taking place over a 12-week period in the Guinness Enterprise Centre, the interactive INNOVATE programme will increase the capabilities of the participants and move them to investor-ready within a short period.

The purpose of a CSF for female entrepreneurs is to accelerate the growth of female-led start-up companies that have the potential to employ more than 10 people and achieve €1 million in export sales within three years.

Introduced in 2012 as part of Enterprise Ireland’s female entrepreneurship strategy, the dedicated fund is designed to enable companies reach key commercial and technical milestones which will ensure delivery of their product or service to an international audience. Enterprise Ireland’s Competitive Start Fund is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation.

Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, said: “There is no doubt that tailored and targeted initiatives have had a positive impact on the numbers of female-led, scalable start-ups seeking support from the Government through our State Agency, Enterprise Ireland. I am delighted that last year, almost half of start-ups that received Competitive Start Fund investments were companies led by women. We want to build on this and ensure that more female entrepreneurs from all different industry sectors are encouraged to apply this year.”

Working with ambitious start-ups led by women is a key focus for Enterprise Ireland and the purpose of the CSF is to accelerate the growth of start-up companies that have the capability to become High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) companies.

Rachael James, Female Entrepreneurship Manager, Enterprise Ireland added: “We made a commitment in 2012 to female entrepreneurs in this country to increase supports dedicated to them, and we did this in direct response to the low number of female-led start-ups receiving investments and supports.

Six years later the breakdown is encouraging. More than one in three start-ups supported by Enterprise Ireland last year through the High Potential Start-Up programme and CSFs were led by women, compared to just one in ten start-ups in 2012. However, we need to keep this momentum and grow these numbers so that we see more women confidently starting new businesses and successfully scaling existing ones.”

Conor Carmody, Dublin BIC Investor Ready Programme Manager said: “Dublin BIC supports entrepreneurs to start and scale though a number of channels and programmes including delivery of the Innovate Programme, the Enterprise Ireland accelerator designed to meet the needs of female-led start-ups with the ambition to scale internationally and to become ‘investor ready’, a crucial step in becoming a High Potential Start-Up company. We are delighted to once again partner with Enterprise Ireland on delivering what has proven to be a very effective programme.”  

Full details on the Competitive Start Fund for Female Entrepreneurs, including the application form and eligibility criteria, can be accessed on the Enterprise Ireland website: www.enterprise-ireland.com/FemaleEntrepreneurship

The Competitive Start Fund for Female Entrepreneurs will close for submissions at 3pm on Tuesday 15th May.

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By Shauna Coen 

Most of us have a friend who 'just needs to vent' on a regular basis.

She calls you up at all hours, blind to the fact it’s 2am on a Tuesday, to unload the latest crisis in her drama-filled relationship with the same man you’ve repeatedly implored her to break up with.

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed therapist or the great responsibility of giving advice was bestowed upon you unwillingly, giving guidance and support is what makes a good friend. But what if shouldering that role starts to take a toll on you emotionally?

'You’re such a good listener.' 'You give great advice.' I’ve been told these lines numerous times by friends.

They filled me with warmth and buckets of pride. Most people need an outlet to unload all their concerns and problems that arise in their lives, and for a long time I wanted to be that sounding board for my friends. It stemmed from a desire to be needed – to be the person someone could rely on. 

In secondary school I was the friend who’d spend her lunch in the girls’ bathroom, comforting a friend over a poor grade or offering advice on a case of unrequited love. I rarely missed an opportunity to prove my worth as a friend.

Lending an empathetic ear and offering advice to those close to me felt rewarding. But recently it started to become too much. The weight of my friends’ problems was dragging me down. They had become overly dependent on me for support and coupled with my own challenges in life, a burnout was imminent. But what could I say?

Nowadays, if you mention that you’re unavailable, you’re automatically thrown into the bad friend category.

People can get defensive and arguments can form over a lack of understanding. Even the smallest sign of feeling overwhelmed by other people’s personal problems can be regarded as a character flaw if it is not communicated properly. According to Siobhan Murray, a behavioural change therapist at Twisting The Jar, these situations can be avoided by creating 'healthy boundaries.' 

'It’s about creating our own personal boundaries, looking after ourselves first in order to be a good friend' says Murray. After all, how helpful can we really be if we’re constantly feeling drained or overwhelmed? 'I think regardless of age, Irish people equate self care with being selfish.'

That our friends wouldn’t like us if we say no or 'sorry, I can’t help.' In her book, The Four Tendencies, best-selling author Gretchen Rubin breaks down what she denotes as four different personality profiles – Upholder, Questioner, Obligor and Rebel.

The obligor is the person who puts everyone else first. They don’t like to see anyone hurting and they feel that they can help. As quite a sensitive person I knew I perfectly matched these characteristics. When it comes to one-sided relationships, the person that’s left out in the cold can start to feel bad about the entire arrangement.

I was absorbing all their stress but no one was listening to me and feelings of resentment were creeping in.

'If we don’t look after ourselves first and we’re constantly saying yes to our friends, then long term it can lead to resentment because it’s not being reciprocated and as human beings, we valued being valued. If we’re not being valued, we can resent,' says Murray.

A lot of the time, friends just want an ear to listen to but what can happen is we get sucked in and think we need to fix it or give an opinion and get emotionally involved. 'Sometimes just offering an ear to listen to and be able to say “look, I don’t have the answers to this but I’m here for you” is enough,' says Murray.

But how can you tell a friend you need to step back without hurting them in the process? Murray suggests that discussing anything regarding boundaries should be dealt with using kindness and love and must come from a good place. 'If you say, “you know what I’m free at this certain time; unfortunately I can’t speak right now because I’m in work"' or wherever you are.

'Then if that friend takes that up as you don’t care, that’s their problem, not yours,' says Murray. My friend who was dealing with issues at work kept calling to give late night monologues despite my quiet protests that I was up for 7am. Although I really did care for her, my words were not genuine because I was honestly tired of listening.

I was not in a position to offer real compassion and understanding.

'In cases like this it’s important to take a step back and acknowledge that they are hurting. But you shouldn’t have to suffer, being a good friend doesn’t mean you are required to feel exactly how they feel,' says Murray.

Instead of digging myself further into a hole, I spoke out, not only to her but a few friends and explained that there needed to be some boundaries. A girl needs her beauty sleep.

They took it surprisingly well and I was able to work through my own obstacles and challenges in life which in the end gave me more time to spend with my friends and actually be present.

We’re all so bad at setting our own boundaries.

But one of the key ingredients of a healthy friendship is a sense of balance. Being empathetic can be a wonderful, endearing trait.

Just don’t forget that your own needs are met too- be a good friend to yourself.

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