Instagram Inspiration

Our insta feed was flooded with snowy pictures last weekend but it was Cliodhna Prendergast’s post from Connemara that stopped us in our tracks.

Cliodhna says: “This was the most magical weekend. The snow creeped in innocently then heavily and in the space of an hour the whole place was covered with a thick blanket. It was a snowmen, swimming and frozen fingers by a crackling fire sort of weekend in Connemara.”

As a chef and lifestyle writer, Cliodhna usually posts inspiring recipes and stunning pictures of life in the west of Ireland. @cliodhnaprendergast

Rural Rhymes

The Huntsman

The huntsman loudly blew his call

To the dreary winter sky

The Westmeath hounds assembled

To hunt Reyenard the Sly

‘twas by the lake at Loughan

They rose him from his lair

And easy, easy, o’er the land

He took them to Killare

The ladies and the Gentlemen

Plied spur and whip and rein

They really did their very best

To stay up with his trail

But Reyenard dined will last eve

And slept both deep and sound

So he’d tip down to Boher

And try to go to ground

But the earth’s were closed on Halston

His lungs cried out for air

Soon he knew he’d have to rest

And try to find a lair.

So he turned away from Halston

His lungs and feet were sore

So he shot across Newbristy

For the great bog near Moyvore

He lay low in the rushes

Till the horses homeward went

He moved again for cover

And for a while he slept

He sneaked across to Temple

Where he wasn’t since a pup

And ate Pat Shanley’s chickens

Before the sun came up.

Abridged from “Yuuth” a book of poetry by Tom McGahon

Tweet of the Week

Home ec with Katherine O’Leary

If you purchase a black or dark blue pair of jeans, you want to preserve the colour. There’s nothing worse than seeing the colour leach out in the first wash. Salt fastens colour, so to slow down the colour drain, it is well worth your while washing the new garment in a basin or bucket of tepid water with 2 tbsp of salt added. In fact, it helps to keep any strong coloured garments looking vibrant!

When you are finished; throw the salt water on a few stubborn weeds. Salt kills plants so be careful of the plants you want to keep.

Photo of the Week

Snow days: Luci Mullan, Co Tyrone, taking her pet lamb Stormi out in the snow for the first time.

Number of the Week

22

The number of euros that is the “sweet spot” to avoid VAT, customs and charges when importing from the UK under Brexit rules.

Quote of the Week

From Katelyn O'Dea in this week's student diary.

I have noticed a huge divide in students opinions. I have some classmates who say they’d love nothing more than predicted grades and others saying they know they have the ability to improve