Feel like a Goddess on Mother’s Day?


As you eat your cereal and burnt toast in bed, which was lovingly prepared and carried on a milk sodden tray to your bedroom by your little ones this Mother’s Day, do you feel like a Goddess?

Yes? There’s a reason for that.

In Europe the ancient Greeks and Romans celebrated mothers and motherhood and held festivals in honour of the mother goddesses Rhea and Cybele.

So remember you are a goddess as you clear up that mess in the kitchen made by your children’s heart-warming efforts to give you a treat.

Later, Mothering Sunday, in Europe, fell on the fourth Sunday in Lent and was a religious day when people would return to their mother church for a special service.

Over time the Mothering Sunday tradition became a more secular holiday, and eventually merged with the American Mother’s Day which was founded by Anna Jarvis in 1914.

Carnations or Roses?

White carnations, are associated with Mother’s Day in the US because they were the favourite flower of Anna Jarvis’s mother, because the carnation does not drop its petals. This symbol of the carnations hugging the petals to its heart, Anna likened to a mother’s love, as they hug their children to their hearts, because their mother love never dies.

Afternoon tea or face cream?

So what would be your favourite Mother’s Day present? It has been said that the gift of time is the most precious gift you can give someone special in your life. A spa day? An overnight stay? Afternoon tea? Shared experiences like these mean shared happy memories.

Flowers, perfume, beauty products, chocolate, shoes, clothing, a watch, jewellery, are also great presents to show your appreciation. There is something to suit every price range now, depending on how much money you have in your pocket.

“I believe the choice to become a mother is the choice to become one of the greatest spiritual teachers there is”. Oprah

To all the spiritual teachers out there, have a great mother’s day, you deserve it.

Edel O’Brien, Reflecting Strings and Irina Dernova to perform at St Michael’s Perry Square


An Evening of Popular Classics, a concert featuring mezzo soprano Edel O’Brien, trio Reflecting Strings and organist Irina Dernova in aid of St. Michael’s Organ Fund and Down Syndrome Limerick will take place at St Michael’s Church, Pery Square on March 31.

Edel O’Brien

“I have only had the pleasure of singing in St. Michael’s Church once before. It is a beautiful venue to perform in. The acoustics are excellent,” said Edel.

Originally from Kilrush, County Clare, Edel began voice training with Jean Holmes at the Limerick School of Music. Then having obtained a Bachelor and Master of Arts in music from National University of Ireland (NUI) Maynooth, she studied at Trinity College of Music, London, followed by two years at the Centre de Formation Lyrique, Opera Bastille, Paris. Edel has performed as a soloist in Opera de Paris, Opera de Rouen, Opera Ireland, the Anna Livia International Opera Festival, and as a guest soloist with many choral societies throughout the UK, Ireland and France.

“It was really Moya who made the final choice of programme. She asked me to find pieces I like to sing and then chooses those that work best when arranged for cello, violin and harp. The programme will include works by Mozart, Gluck, Bizet and Rossini,” added Edel.

Moya O’Grady on cello, her son David O’Doherty on violin and daughter Geraldine O’Doherty are Reflecting Strings, a Dublin based chamber group that has recorded five critically acclaimed CDs and toured extensively internationally, one special highlight was a celebrated performance in the Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C.

Moya was co-principal cellist of the RTE Symphony Orchestra. David studied at the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) Conservatory of Music, made his American debut live on Boston Radio and in July 2000, and received his “Premier Prix de Virtuosité” from the Conservatoire of Lausanne, Switzerland.

Geraldine has been Principal Harpist with the RTE Concert Orchestra since 2006, and is a teacher at the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music, London and at the Hochschule fur Musik in Zurich. She has toured internationally and performed with many groups and has an extensive list of recordings for various artists such as Paul Byrom, The Priests, Celtic Woman, Celtic Thunder and she also features on the soundtrack to the Oscar nominated film, Albert Nobbs.

Irina Dernova

Irina Dernova who is musical director at St. Michael’s Church, and is also a piano teacher at Mid-West Vocal Academy, Lisnagry, and is well known as an accompanist and teacher throughout limerick and Clare, will begin the evening by playing Trumpet Voluntary by Jeremiah Clarke on the organ.

“I wish to say a big thank you to Edel and Reflective Strings for offering this concert.

The organ in St Michael’s is one of the oldest in Limerick, about 150 years old. It needs funding, a big job was recently done on it, and more work is needed on it,” said Irina.

Tickets are €15 and are available to buy on the door before the concert at 8pm

CD’s by Edel O’Brien and Reflecting strings will also be available to purchase on the evening.