This is a subscriber-only article
As part of our Local Treasures competition, we received many entries from readers, which we hope to share over the coming weeks as lockdown means we are back to exploring what is on our doorstep; this week’s nomination comes from Geraldine Moloney.
“Coole Park is a nature reserve of about 1,000 acres located a few miles west of Gort, Co Galway, Ireland.
“The park is in an area that has seasonal lakes, known as turloughs, which are almost unique to Ireland. It has extensive woodlands. There are 6km of nature trails plus a walled garden.
“My kids love having picnics and playing fun games in the walled gardens and also going for long or short walks.There are also deer to be seen in an enclosed field and tea rooms.
“Coole Park has loads of parking and toilet facilities.This hidden gem in Gort, Co Galway, is the perfect day out for young and old!”
We might not have been able to travel abroad this year due to “you know what”, but Brenda O’Sullivan @thisgirlswanderlust_ shows that there is still beauty to behold within her 5k; whether it’s a fairylike forest or a spectacular sunrise.
The qualified agricultural engineer also shares images and tips from her previous travels from countries ranging from Iceland and India to Vietnam and Cambodia; as well as proving that living with chronic illness has not stopped her making the world her oyster.
If you love a side of noodles with your Chinese takeaway and want to try making some at home, there are a variety of options available to you. Some people very simply use Italian spaghetti and pair it with sesame oil, chilli flakes and green onion for a quick stir fry option. Then, you have rice noodles (they come in flat or thin, vermicelli-style). They’re great in curried soups with a bit of pork and fish sauce.
Japanese soba noodles are made from buckwheat and best served chilled, with cucumber and boiled egg, while ramen or udon noodles are great in miso or pork broth soups.
Finally, sometimes you can find chewy wheat-style noodles (though they aren’t as common in rural Ireland), which are great stir fried with lots of chilli, ground pork, chicken and garlic. The world is your oyster.
5
The number of steps in how to deal with an asthma attack.
Spoke to a male politician this week who openly asked for the conversation to be scheduled for a certain time, because he had childminding obligations later in the day. First time in seven years in Leinster House that I’ve ever heard it from a man. More of that please!
— Gavan Reilly (@gavreilly) November 14, 2020
SHARING OPTIONS: