sandless beach mat 
Limerick sing song – come along!
For enthusiasts of singing, sightseeing and entertainment, the Limerick Sings International Choral Festival will be returning for its sixth year, designed to offer choirs of all traditions an opportunity to come together without the demands of a competition.
Limerick City has a long tradition of choral, opera and musical theatre, dating right back to the 1800s and so is uniquely placed to welcome choristers from all over the world. Enjoy a vibrant social programme with like-minded music-lovers and even take in a spot of sightseeing along Ireland’s amazing Wild Atlantic Way.
One of the highlights of the June 7-10 summer festival is the Big Sing at the Cliffs of Moher. This truly unique singing experience gives you the opportunity to sing with other choral groups in one of the most majestic settings in Ireland and indeed the world.
Can’t stand the sand?
With the summer holidays fast approaching, going to the beach will be a popular choice of destination for a day out with the whole family.
Although the beach boasts many benefits, there are also some major drawbacks, in particular, the sheer amount of sand which covers towels and beach mats preventing children from being able to eat on a clean service.
Providing a solution to this aggravating problem the Sandless Beach Mat is a beach mat that’s literally impossible to cover with sand. The mat was initially intended for military use, and cleverly works by sifting the sand through the mesh. It has ring points so that it can be secured to the ground and can be easily cleaned when necessary with a brush or a hose.
You can order different sizes meaning that the whole family can have a safe place to eat and avoid that sticky sand!
Breathe in, breathe out
We all need to take a breather from the stresses of life now and again, and a popular way to do this is through yoga. Although it is widely accepted that practicing yoga improves brain function and boosts energy levels, new research has helped us to understand why and how yoga impacts us beneficially.
The study led by Michael Melnychuk, a PhD researcher at Trinity College, Dublin, showed how controlled breathing affects levels of a neurotransmitter called noradrenaline, “a stress hormone” that can cause our hearts to beat faster and our pupils to dilate when we’re excited. Senior investigator Ian Robertson, the co-director of the Global Brain Health Institute at Trinity, says “Yogis and Buddhist practitioners have long considered the breath an especially suitable object for meditation.
“Our research finds that there is evidence to support the view that there is a strong connection between breath-centred practices and a steadiness of mind,” he said.
