Frontlines

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Go mad for cows

Add some moo to mood lighting with these bronze hand-carved and hand patinated light sconces. They may be modest in size, says the Sussex-based shop owner who stocks them, Giovanna Ticciati, but they pack a lot of impact. They cost approximately €1,186 each and measure 23cm tall, 1cm wide and 15cm deep. The shade is not included in the price, but can be made up to your requirements if you send over the fabric. Expect to pay €24 for the shade and €67 for delivery through UPS. For more information, tel: 00-44-1798-342777/07973-122417, giovannaticciati.com

Love linen?

Then you’ll cherish Emma Johnston’s new Interior Design and Home Collection (emmajohnston.com).

Located in Banbridge, Co Down, she sells headboards, bed boxes, cushions and ottomans in 100 per cent pure Irish linen. Most of the cushion styles cost €55 each. The 14-inch contrast piped squares cost €60. Delivery of cushions cost €12 and is done within two weeks.

Deep-buttoned headboards start from €565. King-size costs €864. Deep-buttoned bed boxes start from €647. All prices include fabric.

Delivery throughout Ireland costs €36 and takes up to four weeks.

Get fit and fence

Is your new fitness regime flagging already? You could try fencing, an aerobic sport that teaches stamina, agility and the art of poise. At Fit Fence, coach Doug Hazel will teach the techniques and supply the swords, masks and protective jackets.

Classes start next Monday, January 23rd at The Factory, on Barrow Street in Dublin 2.

There are two classes a night: 6.15-7.30pm and 7.45-9pm. The price in €120 for eight weeks. Hazel estimates there to be a 3: 1 ratio of men to women in fencing. Hurry ladies. En garde! For more, tel: 085-1120287, or see fencefit.com.

Alanna Gallagher

See the light

Make your home feel more ambient with some fresh new season brights. Prints reign supreme for this season. But don't restrict their use to fashion. Brighten up the mood of your resting place with this Eden botanical bedlinen by Linea, which will be available at House of Fraser, Dundrum in early February. The double duvet cover costs €84. A standard pillowcase in burnt orange is priced at €11 The Cosmo cluster light pendant, price €180 will be available to buy online and delivered to the Dundrum store through their buy and collect service. For more, tel: 01-2991700 or see houseoffraser.co.uk

Fancy dress fundraiser

A masked ball with champagne reception in aid of Our Lady's Children's Hospital and the National Childrens Research Centre, takes place in the Four Seasons Hotel, Ballsbridge on February 4th. Party planner Steven Duggan, whose clients include Elton John, Leona Lewis and Simon Cowell, will transform the venue for the night. Tickets cost €150. Venetian-style masks will be on sale at the ball for €10. Lo-call 1890-507508 or see cmrf.org

Green shoots

Balcony gardening is all the rage. Start by planting herbs in planters. These plain Mandel by Ikea ones let the colours of flowers pop. If you’re not green-fingered buy some of their fake foliage and flowers and enjoy the colour lift.

Enter the dragon

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Opera in the Open, featuring Puccini's Turandot, based on the story of a Peking empress from the old dynasties of China, is being staged tonight in Meeting House Square in Dublin's Temple Bar. This a free, ticketed event and tickets must be booked in advance at cny.ie. They are being allocated on a first come first served basis. If you can't make tonight, take a trip to Kildare Village shopping outlet next weekend, January 28th-29th, where there will be a number of traditional and contemporary Chinese New Year entertainment acts including the vibrant lion and dragon dance displays. On Saturday, two of the singers from Opera in the Open will give a free performance. Pick up a fortune cookie and you may win a €500 gift card. For more, see cny.ieand kildarevillage.com.

Alanna Gallagher

Jazzing it up

They wear chic black and chocolate shirts and shiny shoes, and look like they should be on their way to a jazz jam. In fact, Amsterdam’s Amstel Quartet are as likely to move from JS Bach to Samuel Barber, from Philip Glass to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, in a musical repertoire spanning five centuries. The four saxophonists are booked for Music for Galway’s mid-winter festival this weekend, along with the city’s ensemble-in-residence, the ConTempo Quartet. Interpretations of “familiar works in unfamiliar settings” are promised, including compositions by Arvo Part, Sibelius, and Leos Janácek’s final Intimate Letters. Galway-based actor Rod Goodall will read excerpts.

Other participants will include Hungarian video artist Mihai Cucu, and Judith Sibley, choreographer and director of Chrysalis Dance and Youth Ballet West, with her dance movement for five Bach fugues. Chatham Saxophone Quartet will perform, as will baritone Gavan Ring. Tickets €20/members and concessions €16/students €6 from Galway's Town Hall theatre, tel: 091-569777, tht.ie.

Lorna Siggins