Lifestyle Loves: What we loved in June, including Taylor Swift, Kinsale kayaking, and more
June Lifestyle Loves
Feels like summer finally arrived so we popped along to Sandycove near Kinsale with the kayak and joined all the other swimmers and paddleboarders and rowers there. It's a gem of a spot but you'd always be waiting to see how dire the parking situation is there. Kinsale itself is also looking lush but again with the parking and people new to driving...
Back in the same direction another day for a visit to the Old Head of Kinsale. It's a pity the public can't enjoy that walk any more but the nearby cliffs are just delish. And there's a nifty little teashop — the Signal Tower Café — there too right near the Old Head of Kinsale Signal Tower. facebook.com/tower2019 oldheadofkinsale.com The Lusitania Memorial Monument there is also definitely worth a look.
Made it to John Bishop at Live at the Marquee this month — he gives a very good, polished show that still feels like he's sparking with fresh ideas. Nice one. And also got to see Blondie live at Musgrave Park. She was supporting Sting but to be honest I was more there for her than Mr Sumner even if he was indeed rather good.
Debbie Harry is just epic — great style and a ferocious sense of fun by the looks of it. She belted out all her hits and seemed to be enjoying herself too.
If you haven't checked out Bridgerton then I'd definitely recommend it. It's set in some fantastical version of the 1800s but do not come here looking for historical accuracy. The orchestra in fancy ballrooms play music such as Madonna's Material Girl or Miley Cyrus' Wrecking Ball. And you'll hear Coldplay, Taylor Swift and Alanis Morissette cropping up too.
I'm not opposed to car chases and exploding buildings in TV drama but this series shows that an ever-so-slowly moving hot air balloon can be riveting and hilarious too.
I never thought I would say it, but I’ve become a Crocs wearer. A friend convinced me to give them a go and with travel plans approaching, I figured they would come in handy as a flip-flop alternative. They have hardly left my feet since and while I’m yet to brave them outside the house, I’m very close to wearing them on my next Tesco trip. Mine are pink, of course.
I’ve been loving the Daylist feature on Spotify recently. Spotify essentially creates a daily playlist based on your recent listening and gives it an often-hilarious name. I’ve been in the car a lot lately and found myself getting tired of my usual go-to playlists. It’s great to be able to stick on something fresh that features some of my favourite artists and songs.
After a couple of years off, I’m officially back on the Love Island bandwagon. I decided to tune into the first show of the new season and since then, I’ve been hooked. The cast, which includes reality TV veteran Joey Essex, has some entertaining characters (we love you Harriett!), so no doubt there is much more drama to come. Bring on Casa Amor!
While I would like to be the type of person who sea swims all year round, I simply am not. But now that the weather is warmer, I’m loving a dip now and again. There is nothing like it. Plus, there are so many gorgeous spots to choose from in Cork.
Landless - Lúireach. Dublin folk four-piece Landless' second album sees them collect songs from the Irish, English and Scottish traditions, rendering them richly in unaccompanied four-part harmony. The effect has always been spellbinding, but the couple of years' absence between albums has served to heighten the impact of a gorgeous, critically acclaimed LP - steadily helmed by Lankum/ØXN man John 'Spud' Murphy.
Who Killed WCW? Captivating, distracting and oftentimes disturbing in equal measure, there's a reason why French philosopher Roland Barthes once referred to professional wrestling as a 'spectacle of excess'. Ahead of an official European broadcast, episodes of VICE Media's latest documentary strand on the sport of kings have been doing the rounds online - this time focusing on the slow death and rushed sell-off of American promotion World Championship Wrestling. From a quiet but steady foundation for US media mogul Ted Turner's cable-television empire, to an ignominious sale and winding-down amid the botched AOL Time Warner merger manoeuvrings, it's a compelling story, taking in the dizzying commercial heights of the wrestling medium in the late 1990s, the Machiavellian machinations of a corporate entity seeking to rid itself of the old boss' pet project, and the real-life personalities behind some of the larger-than-life grapplers - and the equally trenchant bosses and directors - that brought WCW to life.
The Irish Film Institute's Archive series. While streaming has monopolised the attentions of many viewers for sheer range and depth of convenience, concerns rightly exist around the intangible nature of films' and series' arrivals and departures amid a slew of new service launches. Meanwhile, poor auld DVD and Blu-ray have been relegated to the preserve of collectors, enthusiasts and other assorted head-the-balls - anyone with an interest in homegrown film history might want to nab the Irish Film Institute's last handful of in-house DVD stock, including releases of the TG4 film series Seoda, the early films of experimental auteur Thaddeus O'Sullivan, and what's left of their archival GAA collections. At a fiver apiece, they're priced to move, and likely won't be re-pressed. Get archiving.
Deadly pins. It's been a joy to see the return of Irish pop-culture references to prominence against an increasingly hegemonic social backdrop - and Deadly.ie, run by Dublin pin-maker Seán Conroy, sells all manner of wonderful, Hibernocentric metal pins, badges and brooches. Currently still in stock are the incredible Brigid Spinner, and a mirrored badge that pulls the auld 'are ya well?...'. Good-natured plamásing, and lovely, affordable accessories for any outfit.
New musicals. As a musical theatre girly, I'm always on the lookout for new musicals, and this month The Notebook and The Great Gatsby are two that I've had on repeat. Both productions, based on the novels of the same name, have been on Broadway since March to rave reviews.
If you're familiar with The Notebook story, this new version presents audiences with three sets of Noahs and Allies for different times in the characters’ lives. The final number, 'Coda', which features all characters who accompany the leads throughout their love story, has to be my favourite.
Stepping back into the 1920s, this Great Gatsby production features musical theatre royalty Jeremy Jordan and Eva Noblezada. Although only a few songs from the soundtrack have been released, 'My Green Light' and 'Past Is Catching Up to Me' are my favourites.
Silver cowboy boots. I've had these boots tucked away in the cupboard for over a year now and this month I finally took them on their first official outing for Shania Twain in Cork's Virgin Media Park. "What took you so long?" I hear you ask, they've been the staple for summer concerts and gigs. I don't know, but now that they've tasted the limelight I might never take them off.
My piano nails. In honour of all the amazing summer gigs that took place in Cork throughout June, I decided that music-themed nails were the only option at my nail appointment this month. With a white base and black tips on one hand and a black base and white tips on the other, the gals at Nova Beauty in Ballinlough made my piano nails come to life. They might just have to make a reappearance in October for the Cork Jazz Festival.
Cork's newest wine bar, Old Brennan's Wine House is now open at No 7 Oliver Plunkett Street, with over 100 wines to choose from and an art gallery to peruse upstairs.
I popped in there this month and fell head over heels with their butter board; sourdough served with caramelized shallot and chive butter, leek oil, and crispy onions (€9). Beamish, beers and spirits are also available for non-wine drinkers.
I went to Greece for a week at the start of June, easily swayed to book it last December when a new route from Cork Airport was announced (I love not having to travel to Dublin Airport for a trip). We stayed in Kolymbia, a little out from the hustle and bustle of the resort areas but a rental car had us in the heart of the action, and exploring the gorgeous island. After a hectic few months, it was just the break I needed: sun, sand, and a never-ending supply of books.
Speaking of books, I read nine in June with a few really strong ones standing out. Circe by Madeline Miller was a Greek-appropriate one for holidays and I inhaled it. It’s by the author of Song of Achilles and, in my opinion, a little bit better than that BookTok favourite. I listened to two audiobooks too: Hagstone by Sinéad Gleeson and Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors – both brilliant.
I went to Dublin for a matinee of one of my favourite musicals, Come From Away. Now bear with me, an uplifting musical about the events surrounding 9/11 might not sound like a good idea but it’s executed so perfectly. It’s set in Newfoundland, where all the planes heading to US airspace that day were redirected. A five-star show.
Sometimes this job doesn’t feel like a job, and June is always one of those times. I’m among the team’s reviewers for gig season and I saw so many of my favourite acts and called it ‘work’. In Cork, I went to see Shania Twain, the Wolfe Tones, Take That and Lyra, and last weekend I was one of the lucky 150,000 who went to the Eras Tour.
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