Non-melanoma skin cancer is Ireland’s most commonly diagnosed cancer, with over 11,000 annual cases, according to the Irish Cancer Society.The cancer is primarily caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and by simply wearing SPF on a daily basis you can reduce your risk. Working to change how we view sunscreen is Amelia Slattery, founder of new Irish brand, Solas Skin. This is the type of daily sun protection factor that our pale Irish skin is crying out for. The brand has initially launched with three hero products, (pictured below), Solas Sun SPF 50 Hydrating Face Cream, €34.99/50ml, Solas Spritz SPF 30, a hydrating face mist that is perfect for topping up your protection €32.99/80ml and Solas Kiss, an SPF 50 lip balm for protecting the lips, €16.99/12ml.
See solasskin.ie
Embrace FARM will host its 13th annual remembrance service on Sunday 29 June, bringing together farm families to remember loved ones lost through serious injury or sudden death. Taking place at 2pm in the Church of the Most Holy Rosary,
Abbeyleix, Co Laois, the service will also recognise the role of women in farming families. Families can submit names for the remembrance roll call. See embracefarm.com
Maggie O’Farrell’s new novel Land is one for readers who like their fiction atmospheric and full of feeling. Set on a windswept Irish peninsula in 1865, it follows Tomás and his young son Liam as they work on the Ordnance Survey project after the Great Hunger. Priced at €16.99 and available nationwide, it’s a story of grief, memory, survival and the ties between land and history.
Eagle-eyed country fans will notice that Monaghan Town Country Music Festival returns a little earlier than previous years for an unforgettable four days of music, dancing and family fun from 9-12 July. As usual, the action centres on the heart of Monaghan town, with a star-studded line-up of Ireland’s top country music stars, including Mike Denver, Michael English and Alex Roe; jiving competitions, line dancing and much more. Tickets are now on sale from the Westenra Arms Hotel (047 74400) or from pay stations over the weekend. Check Monaghan Country Music Festival on Facebook for updates.
Tesco Ireland has launched Bright Meat Company, a new Irish beef range with lower product carbon footprints, verified by the Carbon Trust. Developed with Irish food producer Kepak, the range includes family staples and steak cuts, from 12 Irish beef meatballs 300g, pictured below, (€4) and burgers (€4) to ribeye steak (€10.99) and roast joints (€12.50). It’s a handy option for shoppers who want Irish beef with clearer information on the environmental impact. Available in Tesco stores nationwide and online at tesco.ie
Supernova over Lady’s Brae By Morgan Clarke, Lady’s Brae, Co Sligo
The last breath of
evening sunlight,
Falls desperately
over the hills.
The tired mountain,
lush with passion,
Weeps furious
white-hot streams,
mad to reach the valley.
Each raw, red wrinkle of the
Ancient mountain’s
leathery hide,
Expands, swelling with every
Huff and puff of the
Titan’s chest.
One last time, the
trees and reeds,
And rushes and bushes glow
A rich, hydrated emerald.
Heavy, grey clouds billow from behind the mass,
A sign of health above the raging mountain.
Through the driving rain,
I watch her thrive
Tired and beautiful.
As the final ray cascades upon the
Brilliant shades of jade,
And the last sigh clears away,
I smile, having witnessed the heat and glory
Of a supernova over
Lady’s Brae.
Do you have a piece of poetry inspired by the countryside and farming? Please send in your best work for consideration for the weekly Poetry Corner. We’re looking for short poems that captivate, inspire and reflect the landscapes, traditions, and culture of rural Ireland in the past or the present. About 200 words or so is the ideal length. Please send your poetry to icl@farmersjournal.ie or post to Irish Country Living, Irish Farm Centre, Bluebell, Dublin 12.
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