Is there any thing missing from this picture? We think not. It's a peach of a hideaway that we love and it's run by Thierry and Tristan Delahaye in the middle of the Languedoc, with terraced gardens overlooking the River Orb and a large pool as well as a riverside beach with hammocks, bikes, petanque pitch, badminton . . .
There's a fully equipped poolside kitchen and the rooms are angled every which way so that every individual terrace is private. Mediterranean beaches are half an hour's drive away, nearby restaurants offer excellent value and there are markets and vineyards galore to explore (it's in the middle of Saint Chinian appellation, with Corbières and Minervois nearby). French-Irish hospitality at its very best. Ryanair flies directly to Carcassonne from Dublin, and Aer Lingus flies to Toulouse. L'Hacienda, Les Roucans, 34490 Murviel les Beziers, Tel. 00 33 467 329010 www.haciendadesroucans.com.
Patsey Murphy
A wave of DaWanda
DaWanda is the name of an online marketplace dedicated to handmade goods including fashion design, artwork, accessories, homewares and children's items. It is a European hub for originally designed products and it enables artists and designers to set up a personal outlet to sell their work directly to the public. There are currently some 75,000 members taking part in this new shopping experience and the DaWanda catalogue lists more than 165,000 items from 12,000 shops set up by artists, designers and creators. Based in Berlin, it is run by a young Irishwoman called Elizabeth Rushe, who sees it as providing a resource centre and starting point for up and coming young fashion designers. Catalogue listings are in English, German and French, and prices are in euro. www.dawanda.com.
Deirdre McQuillan
20th Century Furniture clearance
Olivia Delaney operated a concession in Habitat until the store's recent closure. Called 20th Century Furniture, it sold lighting and furniture from the mid-century modern movement - Scandinavian furniture from the 1940s to 1960s. What she had was always high quality and the best of the era, so fans of the style will be pleased to learn that Delaney is having a sale to clear stock until she finds new premises. It will run from Wednesday, June 25th until Sunday, June 29th at 15 St Stephen's Green, on the corner of Dawson Street, and she is selling off furniture at seriously discounted prices. Dining tables from this period can cost upwards of €3,000 but at the sale you will see a three-leaf solid teak table, which seats 10 people, for €1,000. There will be much that has never been displayed before: bookcases, sideboards and armchairs. Bargains include rosewood side tables for €200, a dressing table with mirror for €400 and a sofa with rosewood frame and leather cushions for €1,000.
Eoin Lyons
Heavenly alchemy
It's one of Limerick's best-kept beauty secrets, and now the rest of the country can join in too. Alchemist Earth, a treasure trove of natural, environmentally friendly and sometimes hard-to-find beauty products, will now post purchases to anywhere in Ireland.
"The motto of the store is 'skin and within'," says owner Michaela Maguire, who has been running the shop on Sarsfield Street since late 2007 and stocks cult beauty ranges such as the divine Suki skincare collection (www.sukipure.com) and luxurious John Masters products for the tresses (www.johnmasters.com). Other brands include Ren, The Organic Pharmacy, Poppy Organic and Mama Mio.
For more details of in-stock products and postage rates, or to place an order, phone Michaela at 061-404218 or e-mail alchemistearthshop@gmail.com.
Claire O'Connell
Clontarf cuisine
Alison and Barry Stephens are a great sister and brother act: Alison runs the business and Barry does the cooking at The Food Room, an exceptionally good shop in Clontarf that is full of novelties as well as fresh and flavoursome salads and deli fare. "We don't buy anything in - we make everything ourselves, down to the mayonnaise," says Alison, which explains the moreishness of so many of their dishes.
My car tends to buck and stall whenever I'm passing, and I pull in for some green bean salad, sometimes with seeds, sometimes with nuts; or a sandwich with the roast-of-the-day, or a carton of delectable soup. They sell wine, and fancy groceries and newspapers and greeting cards and the occasional gift item - suitable, especially, for young couples in new homes or apartments.
They have a thriving catering business, too, and are soon to add a big seating area (their father used to run the Renault dealership on the site). It's sure to become a northside favourite - the Donnybrook Fair of Clontarf.
The Food Room, 46 Clontarf Road, Dublin 3, tel. 01-8332259. www.thefoodroom.ie.
Patsey Murphy
Top style for laptops
Laptop bags tend to be dreary, functional things, much like the transit lounges, trains and conference rooms where they hang out. So why not shake things up with a flash new tote for your computer at www.coolcomputerbags.com? Whether your budget stretches to €50 or €500, their selection will have something to catch your eye, from cheap and cheerful laptop sleeves to masterpieces such as a croc-embossed leather case. We love this Angela Adams laptop bag (currently reduced to $90/€57, while stocks last), which would brighten up any meeting.
Shipping from the US usually works out at around €20, so there's no more excuse for drabness.
Claire O'Connell
Star films, stellar cause
Sophia Housing Association, a voluntary organisation that supports homeless and marginalised people, is holding its innovative, biannual fundraiser on Friday, June 27th, at 7.30pm.
Ten short Irish films will be screened, with the writers and directors present to introduce their work and mingle with the audience. Those whose works will be shown include author and director Irvine Welsh, seen above as Gavin in Unaccompanied, a film by Emer Martin.
Tickets, which should be booked, cost €50 and include wine, and all proceeds will go to Sophia. The event will take place at Sophia Conference Centre, 25 Cork Street, Dublin 8. Contact Sarah or Lorraine at 01-4738300. www.sophia.ie.
Joyce Hickey