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Irish Examiner
25-06-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Award-winning museum brings the Lusitania story to life
The recent publication of 'The Story So Far: 10 Years of the Lusitania Museum and Old Head Signal Tower' celebrates a decade since the Old Head Signal Tower restoration has become an award-winning visitor attraction. Featuring photography and contributions from those involved, the book captures the journey so far, as well as looking confidently to the future. A decade on from the opening of this major tourist attraction built on the innovation and determination of the local voluntary community group, it also coincides with the 110th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Lusitania. The site represents the closest point of land to the final resting place of the iconic vessel, which was torpedoed by a German U-boat on May 7th 1915, with the loss of 1,201 lives. A stone in the Memorial Garden at the Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork remembers those 1,198 people who perished on that day. Picture: David Creedon It was steaming from New York to Liverpool when the torpedo struck at 2 pm on that fateful day in May. There were 90 Irish men, women and children among the dead, including art collector Sir Hugh Lane, James McDermott, the ship's surgeon, and his assistant, Dr Joseph Garry, and the composer Thomas O'Brien Butler. Also on board was one of the richest men in North America at the time, Alfred Vanderbilt. The sinking was universally viewed as a heinous crime against non-combatants and was cited by many as a justification for America's subsequent joining of the military alliance against Germany in 1917. Opened in 2015, complete with Ireland's only restored Napoleonic signal tower, the museum tells the tragic tale of RMS Lusitania. Gregg Bemis, the American financier who acquired joint ownership of the sunken vessel in the 1960s, eventually bought it outright for one dollar. Having fought several legal battles to verify his ownership, Bemis, a former US Army Marine was fought in the Korean War, was determined to discover the cause of a second internal explosion on the ship which occurred just after the German torpedo hit and which is believed to have accelerated its sinking in just 18 minutes with such a devastating loss of life. In June 2004, Bemis made an unofficial visit to the wreck for a record-setting 287-foot dive. Aged 76, he trained for 18 months to prepare for his death-defying dive, having carefully researched the swiftly changing currents, the lack of visibility, the cold temperatures and the mixture of nitrogen, helium, and oxygen needed at that depth. 'Dammit, it's my boat, and I am going to go down and give it a big kiss,' he declared. 'It's beautiful down there. You're weightless, like the astronauts, so you move around in an environment that's very mystical and spooky. The only noise is the sound of your breathing. There was virtually no light, but the stuff down there is beautiful. Nearly everything there should be brought up and preserved. It was just beautiful, beautiful.' Bemis eventually signed over ownership of the wreck to the Old Head of Kinsale Lusitania Museum at a ceremony in 2019, saying: 'I've come to realise that, at almost 91 years old there is only so much more I can do to further this project and I think because of the Lusitania's part in history, it must be done properly and we get all the artefacts we can from the wreck to put in the museum planned for here.' He died in 2020. The Lusitania Memorial Garden tells the story of the ship's fatal journey, depicted in a 20-metre wave sculpture, including the names of every person on board — a permanent reminder of the catastrophic consequences of war on civilian lives. Keeping surviviors stories alive for future generations Manager Shannon Forde says the development of the museum is a great example of how a community can come together to preserve its heritage and share it with visitors from around the world. Shannon Forde, manager and resident historian in the memorial garden at the Lusitania Museum at the Signal Tower at The Old Head of Kinsale, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins 'There were 1,201 souls lost that day when the Lusitania was sunk — ordinary people going about their business who suddenly found themselves involved in this historically important event. There are a lot of stories to tell, whether it's the descendants of passengers or crew, or the stories from locals who helped with the rescue efforts, there is always more to be discovered.' The museum is a popular place for school tours, and children are fascinated by the Lusitania story. After a recent re-enactment event by the Lord Edward's Own Reenactment Group, where participants dressed up as the red coats, the children were full of excitement and questions. 'Some of them knew everything about Napoleon and knew chapter and verse about that time in history. It's amazing how they retain information and will give you a new perspective with their questions.' Amongst the ever-growing numbers of visitors coming to the site, some have deeply emotional connections. 'A gentleman told us he was the grandson of a lady who had survived the sinking. It was his first time visiting and meeting other relatives.' Lusitania Museum & Old Head Signal Tower, Kinsale, Co Cork. Shannon explains that some of the Lusitania survivors had their names changed, making it hard to trace them: 'But every time you get to meet someone new and show them what we have here in honour of their family member, it is worth all the effort.' Such is the scope of history contained within the ancient structure, new stories are constantly coming to light through descendants of the tragedy, making the journey to where that fateful event happened. 'There is the history attached to the signal tower and the ship, and there's political relevance, wartime significance, and the human stories. It is so important to do justice to all of it.' Saved by thr twitch finger A visit by the granddaughter of a Lusitania survivor in 2022 unearthed a story as extraordinary as it was thrilling. Jackie McDougall Weiner travelled from her home in Oregon to visit the Lusitania Memorial Garden. On board the Lusitania on its fateful final voyage was Jackie's grandmother, Alice Middleton McDougall, who was dragged down with the suction of the sinking vessel after the German torpedo struck. Her body was eventually retrieved by rescue crews who, believing she was dead, took her body to the morgue in Cobh. In an amazing stroke of good fortune, a sharp-eyed doctor saw a slight finger twitch from the lifeless body, and immediately took emergency medical steps to save her life. Jackie made the decision to donate the money belt worn by her grandmother to the Lusitania Museum. 'Coming to Old Head at Kinsale for the 107th anniversary of the sinking of the Lusitania and telling of my childhood memories listening to my grandma tell me her experience firsthand of that fateful day was a gift,' she said. 'Not only have I always been grateful because I would never have been born had she not survived, but I took that gift seriously and have tried to live a life that has made a difference to others.' As a child she learned about her grandmother being sucked down an open porthole and eventually returning to the surface, only to witness the screams of humanity all around her. 'She clung to a woman floating next to her as she was giving birth, and she described the dead children as looking like drowned dolls.' Captain of the Lusitania William Thomas Turner. Putting her fingers in her ears, trying to stop what she was hearing, she quickly went into a semi-coma and lost consciousness, only to reawaken under the hands of that quick-thinking doctor in Cobh. 'Facts of the tragedy are just that, facts. What has mattered to me is not whether there were munitions on the ship that exploded or whether it was coal dust that caused the second explosion, or any other theory. It has always been about humanity. Whether those souls perished or survived, each one experienced a terror that can only be imagined.' The prophetic words written by the remarkable lady whose life was saved by her twitching finger, Alice Middleton McDougal, linger long in the mind: 'So this is war dear people, Keep from it if you can, For with it we gain nothing, Tis just the greed of man.' 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Irish Examiner
21-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Singles Run Club: How a 5km Marina run shows singles a route past the apps
Connection. As human beings, it is fundamental to our existence and yet, in this day and age, more and more people are struggling to forge healthy and meaningful connections. Why? I think we've become accustomed to 'staying in our lane', head buried in our phones, rushing with nowhere to rush to. All distractions from what truly matters. Perhaps if we simply opened our eyes to the world around us, opened ourselves up to new opportunities, and lived in the moment, we would see how, as social animals, we are wired for connection, making relationships crucial to our wellbeing, happiness, and overall survival. Even the simplest of acts, such as smiling at someone walking down the street or saying hello to a stranger on the bus, can make someone's day; which in itself is reflective of how we have become so deprived of connection as a whole, that the smallest of interactions or gestures give us a boost. As a 30-year-old singleton in Cork who has recently gotten her spark back after years of struggling with self-confidence and failed situationships, let me tell you — being present, learning to be comfortable in your skin, and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is where it's at. And rocking up to a singles run club at the Marina Market earlier this month was just that — completely out of my depth. Not only was it my first singles event but it was also my first time attending a run club — a double whammy for someone who gets anxious about trying new things. But the more I thought about it, I realised — what better way to meet someone like-minded? We've all decided to try something different, we've all hopped out of bed early on a Saturday morning to go for a 5km run, and we're all seeking that all-important connection. Breda Graham at the new park on Cork's Marina. Picture: David Creedon The first of its kind held in Cork, the singles run was hosted by Your Friend, My Friend, a company set up by Dublin-based couple Samantha and Eoin Keating. Think meeting someone naturally, without having to work out whether someone is single or not — that part is done for you, you'll be glad to know. The rules are: those who are single wear black and those who are taken wear colour — a sure way to suss out who in the group you can approach and strike up conversation with. Sixty singles donning their black running outfits showed up to the meeting point at NoSin at the Marina Market, before a sea of black could be seen running down the marina, after first stopping up for a quick warm-up and mingling session at Marina Park. During the warm-up, simple things such as a rock, paper, scissors battle with the person next to you to determine who would be the one to do 10 jumping jacks made everyone comfortable and got the conversation flowing. The run itself was at a nice conversational pace, something a slower runner like myself was very appreciative of. My training sessions for the 10km at this year's Cork City Marathon were a sight for sore eyes, to say the very least. Not the sort of thing that would attract any potential partner. Something that had stopped me from attending these sorts of run club events in the past had been the fear of being too slow but this relaxed run had no expectations attached to it; people ran, jogged, walked — whatever they were comfortable with. After the run, it was back at the market where everyone got a complimentary NoSin smoothie bowl or smoothie. I loved this aspect as it meant people stuck around and mingled. It was the perfect way for people to get to know one another and share contact details and, looking around at everyone sitting at tables together, sharing stories, you would never have guessed that most showed up to the event alone. Members of the new Singles Run Club on their first run on the Marina, Cork. Picture: David Creedon After the event, organisers Sam and Eoin send an email with a link where you have the option to enter a person's name whom you would like to continue to get to know. That person then receives an email with your details and, if they're interested, it's up to them to reach out. This allows you to follow up with someone, if they too are interested, and also gives everyone that added layer of comfort. And that's something that makes Your Friend, My Friend stand out — Sam and Eoin's genuine interest in fostering connections, whether it's forging romantic relationships or nurturing friendships, all while building a vibrant community. Speaking to Sam, it's obvious that she is passionate about people making genuine connections and is in tune with the distractions of day-to-day life, such as social media and dating apps — something she has found people becoming more and more frustrated with. As someone who has tried and failed at dating apps, I share her sentiment. Apps can dehumanise their users as just a profile that is often hidden behind a paywall. 'For some reason, people are OK with ghosting you or cancelling at the last minute, or people just tend to be much more flaky on apps. "But when you meet somebody in person, you immediately connect with them and they're a human being, and you're not going to just ghost them because you've already had that initial connection with them,' she says. 'When people are on apps, they can spend weeks, sometimes, texting and, especially women, we build guys up in our head to be something that they might not be, and then when we meet them, immediately you can feel the vibe and think, 'This isn't my person.' And so it's deflating, because you spend so long doing that kind of dance back and forth. When you meet people in person, you just immediately know.' Michael Nunes and Amy Goggin out on the first Singles Club run on the Marina, Cork. Picture: David Creedon And with the number of people in their 30s with 'still figuring it out' set as the answer to their relationship goal on dating apps, it's no wonder that more and more people are turning to in-person events to meet the right people. Not only does Your Friend, My Friend aim to combat loneliness and forge connections through hosting singles run clubs but also through speed-dating events, singles socials, wine tastings, weekend getaways, and, most recently, a wedding for singles. You know that exciting feeling when you're single at a wedding and you realise the cutie giving you eyes from across the room is also single? Well, imagine that — but everyone in the room is single. The singles wedding party, the first of its kind, was held in collaboration with Fallon & Byrne in Dublin this week, featuring a fake bride and groom, a comedian delivering the best man's speech, a bouquet toss, a magician, a DJ, a feast from Fallon & Byrne, and 120 singles. So, is it time we ditch the apps and go in search of making in-person connections? If you ask me, the popularity of these social clubs and events says it all. Going back to basics by creating authentic, real connections is the way forward for modern-day dating.
Irish Examiner
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Examiner
Cork patrons share ticket stubs and anecdotes from 170 years of Cork Opera House
On December 12, 1955, nine-year-old Kay Triggs was at the Cork Opera House for rehearsals of the upcoming pantomime Sleeping Beauty. But what started as a normal evening ended in the worst night for the Opera House in living memory. Mid-routine, the young performers were stopped by teacher Eileen Kavanagh. ''We have to get you all out,' she said, 'because it's a very bad night out and we're afraid there might be floods.' They said nothing about a fire,' Triggs recalled. Kay Triggs from Ballyvolane with a programme from a 1975 production of Tops of the Town. Picture: David Creedon On her way, Triggs remembered her new raincoat in the dressing room. 'I managed to sneak back in. It was quiet, calm, no sign of fire. I could see orange lights flashing, which [it turned out] were the flames, through the window.' The young Triggs got safely out of the building and headed back home to Paul St. All who had been inside were thankfully unscathed but the fire devastated the Cork Opera House. The city was without its beloved venue until 1965, when it was reopened after a decade of fundraising. This year, the venue celebrates 170 years since it first opened its doors on May 21, 1855. The celebrations include a Send It Home campaign, where people are encouraged to send in their Opera House memorabilia to be scanned and catalogued. Some members of the public at a Drop-Off weekend for the Send It Home campaign to bring in memorabilia, including programmes, posters, photographs, letters, and any other historical items related to the Opera House, Cork. Picture: David Creedon On Sunday, May 25, a Send It Home drop-in day was held at the Opera House, and Triggs was among the many who shared their memories and ephemera. The collected stories wove a picture of the dedicated theatre buffs who were behind shows such as Summer Revels and the pantomimes, many of whom volunteered their time. All of the memories shared through Send It Home are key to the Cork Opera House story, said its CEO Eibhlín Gleeson. 'It's steeped in culture in Cork, it's in people's blood in the city,' she said of the venue. 'You can really sense that there are generations of families who have a relationship with the Opera House, and that's a really special thing.' Some of the souvenirs from the Michael Twomey collection. Picture: David Creedon One of the oldest items handed in was a programme from 1909. 'There's a lot of families who have massive ties with the Opera House over the years,' said marketing and communications manager Michael Carr. 'So we were hopeful that we'd come up with some treasures, and that's how it panned out.' Triggs brought with her a Tops of the Town programme from 50 years ago, an event for which she was choreographer. She performed in There's No Business Like Show Business the night the Opera House reopened in 1965, and continued performing until she got married. But theatre wasn't all glamour. 'I played the rear-end of a cow in Jack And The Beanstalk,' she said of one pantomime. In recent years, she has taken up ballroom dancing and line dancing. 'I'm back to my first love.' The Cork Opera House after the devastating fire in December 1955. The city was without its beloved venue until 1965. LOST IN THE FIRE Bernadette O'Leary was also rehearsing at the Opera House the night of the fire, aged eight. 'They said, 'Go down the stairs straight away, leave your coats, leave everything, and go outside the doors,'' she recalled. 'Somebody ran up the street shouting, 'The Opera House is on fire, the roof has collapsed,' which it had. We were only out 10 minutes.' Later on, she joined the Cork Operatic Society and the Gilbert & Sullivan Group (G&S Group), where she met her husband during its show The Gondoliers. Cork is fiercely proud of its pantomime tradition, and O'Leary maintains that Ignatius Comerford (cousin of another Cork theatre legend, Paddy Comerford) was one of the best dames that came out of Cork. Bernadette O'Leary from Bishopstown holds a painting of her and Ignatius Comerford by artist Peter Sanquest in a scene from the 1953 production of Red Riding Hood. Picture: David Creedon 'They always said there was no one to match him,' she said. She brought with her a 'precious' painting of herself and Comerford, a present from him after they starred together in Red Riding Hood in 1953. Jennifer Nolan from Beaumont and her son John, with a souvenir programme from 1927 of The Cork Operatic Society production of 'My Lady Molly'. Picture: David Creedon One of the oldest items brought in last Sunday was a programme from 1927, owned by Jennifer Nolan. 'My husband's family was very involved in the Operatic Society,' explained Nolan. The programme is a time capsule of 1920s Cork and includes ads for businesses which are still part of the city fabric, like Henchy's Bar in St Luke's. Michael Canton holds a picture of the cast from The Student Prince where he starred with his sister Gertie in 1951. Picture: David Creedon In Michael Canton's hands when he arrived were photographs of his older sister Gertie, and a programme from when she played Gretchen in the Cork Operatic Society's production of The Student Prince in 1951. When he heard the call for memories, Canton went searching. 'St Anthony found them,' he said of the photographs. Gertie's first show was Show Boat when she was 18 but after she married at 24 she stopped performing regularly. A GREAT OUTLET In the 1940s and 1950s, the Opera House was 'a great outlet' during quieter times in the city, said Canton. He too was there on the night of the fire. 'It was terribly sad to see it go,' he said, recalling how afterwards the ballet doyenne Joan Denise Moriarty began putting on sellout shows, such as Swan Lake, at the City Hall. Moriarty founded the Cork Ballet Group in 1947 and its first performance was that year on the Opera House stage. Two others handing in their memorabilia were Lorraine Manley and Sheila Healy. They shared memories of a 1987 performance of Sive, when 16-year-old Manley took on her first lead role on the Opera House stage and Healy was wardrobe mistress. 'I remember her dress — I had to wet the costume every night because Sive was found in a bog,' said Healy. Frank Mackey and Lorraine Manley in a promo picture for a 1987 production of Sive at the Opera House. Manley brought along a large book of memorabilia, including photographs taken by her father of her acting journey, which began in the Montfort College of Performing Arts (Montforts). Starring alongside Manley in Sive was Frank Mackey, now a longtime fixture on stage at the annual panto, which he co-writes with Trevor Ryan. Healy was wardrobe mistress for countless productions at the Opera House, starting in 1953 with G&S Group shows including The Pirates Of Penzance. Two years later, the fire struck. She was nearby rehearsing for a show, and headed with others to Camden Quay when they heard the news. 'We were crying our eyes out,' she said. Lorraine Manley from Douglas goes through her fathers scrap book of her preformances on the stage of the Opera House at a Drop-Off Weekend for the Send It Home campaign where members of the public were invited to bring in memorabilia, including programmes, posters, photographs, letters, and any other historical items related to the Opera House, Cork. Picture: David Creedon Some years later, Bill Twomey, former manager of the Opera House, asked her to help with the costumes for the pantomime Goldilocks And The Three Bears. She worked closely for years with James N Healy of the G&S Group, Frances Barry, and theatre designer Patrick Murray. She was also heavily involved with Summer Revels, a revue-type variety show which started in 1971. Key figures involved in Summer Revels included writer and director Michael Twomey (of the duo Cha and Miah, alongside Frank Duggan), performer Paddy Comerford, musical arranger Ronnie O'Shaughnessy, Healy's husband Dick Healy, and Montforts director Eileen Nolan. Wardrobe designer Sheila Healy from Douglas with one of her dresses from 1962 at a Drop-Off Weekend for the Send It Home campaign where members of the public were invited to bring in memorabilia, including programmes, posters, photographs, letters, and any other historical items related to the Opera House, Cork. Picture: David Creedon Healy also worked with Billa O'Connell, the legendary panto star who died in 2021 and whose career traversed 70 years of the Opera House. And she once met Ella Fitzgerald when she played at the venue during Cork Jazz Festival in 1980, describing the night as 'just magic'. She donated many costumes to the Opera House for the Send It Home campaign. Her daughter Mary remembered the children standing on the kitchen table, 'twirling in tulle as they made costumes for the ballet… you'd go to the cupboard to get a saucepan to find your father had taken it for a show'. REVELATIONS Manley joined the Montforts at seven. She performed in Rock Nativity in 1980, a musical written by David Wood, which was filmed at the Opera House and broadcast on RTÉ that Christmas Eve. It starred Johnny Logan, fresh from his Eurovision success. 'He used to give me piggy-backs and buy me Club Milks,' recalled Manley, who also starred in the Summer Revels and pantos for years. Her performing peers became family, she said. 'Any time there's a Montforts reunion, it's like we never parted.' Marie Cotter from Boreenmanna Road, with a tape recording of a 1973 production of The Wizard of Oz. Picture: David Creedon Another person who brought along memorabilia was Marie Cotter, who was with the Montforts from its 1960s beginnings and took part in pantomimes every year. 'It was a way of life that was absolutely fantastic,' she said. 'We'd be up in Dublin with RTÉ doing some shows. We [the Montfort Singers] made a record in 1971, Butterfly, with Cathal Dunne. We were doing things that people weren't doing.' She was also involved in The Swans of the Lee, a revue show that ran in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and in 1971 married Michael Cotter, son of comedian Paddy Cotter, who was involved in The Swans. 'Everybody married nearly everybody else because you hadn't time to meet anybody else,' laughed Cotter. The children of actor and director Twomey — Des Twomey, Laura Eldoh, and Sharon Neville — arrived with scrapbooks, posters, and other memorabilia. Twomey passed away in 2017 at the age of 84. 'Dad was meticulous. Every year when he put on a new show, he would take all the little paper clippings and he would fill in this huge scrapbook,' said Des. A photograph of one of the many Summer Revels shows to have happened at the Opera House. The children described a father constantly writing or rehearsing shows such as Summer Revels and the pantomime. One night in the early 1970s, Summer Revels took place during a national ESB strike, recalled Des. 'But the show must go on. So dad sent out for candles… and they put a line of candles down the auditorium and put loads of candles around the stage, and the show did go on,' he said. The children would be brought along to the Opera House during rehearsals, and Des described the venue as 'our little playground for years'. Twomey worked as an insurance broker but, even before his retirement, he was focused on the stage. 'They weren't concerned about who knew them and how important they were,' said Sharon of her father and his peers. 'They really were dedicated to what they were doing.' UNDER YOUR SKIN Today, Ashley Keating is programming manager at the Cork Opera House. 'It gets under your skin. It's less a place to work and more part of what you are,' he said. He's worked on many shows — music, theatre, panto, and more — but some stick out in his memory, such as Gregory Porter's 2024 Cork Jazz Festival performance and The National's and Bon Iver's performances at the Sounds From a Safe Harbour festival, which is curated by Bryce and Aaron Dessner of The National, Cillian Murphy, playwright Enda Walsh, and Mary Hickson, former CEO of the Cork Opera House. Many comedians return regularly to the Cork Opera House, including Michael McIntyre and Kevin Bridges. 'Once you have a Cork audience on your side, they're with you for life,' said Keating. Now, 170 years on from its founding, the Opera House (which is a non-profit with charitable status) aims to keep evolving and reflecting the interests of artists and audiences in Cork. This has meant, for example, establishing a concert orchestra in 2015, putting on the Cork Proms, and setting up artist-in-residence programmes. Eibhlín Gleeson, CEO, Cork Opera House. Picture: David Creedon 'It's about making sure that we are helping artists develop careers, that we are providing consistent opportunities across a number of areas,' said CEO Gleeson. After the Opera House burned down, it was largely through the support of the local community that it was able to be rebuilt and reopened. 'The community stuck with it. That resilience and that rigour still exists in the Opera House today,' said Gleeson. 'This idea that we will do whatever we can to be healthy, successful, and inclusive, and make sure that we exist for another 170 years.' The Cork Opera House 'Send It Home' campaign, in partnership with Pure Cork and Fáilte Ireland, is accepting memorabilia until July 1. Contributions can be delivered to Cork Opera House's foyer. Email sendithome@ or call 021 427 0022.
Irish Examiner
30-05-2025
- General
- Irish Examiner
Taste of Italy: These delicious pizzas are the perfect freezer fillers this summer
Summer and pizza go well together, what with lazy days, smaller appetites, and a reluctance to cook when the sun is shining. A few pizzas in the freezer are ideal for those days when a sandwich seems insufficient, yet the same combination of ingredients hot out of the oven is a satisfying treat. For this week's top 8, we kept an eye out for old favourites along with new flavour combinations. We also spotted pizza dough in freezer compartments, for those who want to choose their own toppings. Even better, if the weather isn't so good, amuse the children by making pizza dough from scratch, and save a few euros. Use 500g strong flour, ½ teaspoon dried yeast, 1 teaspoon salt and 300ml warm water to make a dough by hand or in a blender or mixer. Mix until well combined. A dough hook in the mixer will knead it for 5-10 minutes, until it becomes spongy. Tip onto a floured surface and, if making it by hand, knead with the heel of your hand until it feels bouncy – this can take 15 minutes, depending on the weather. Set aside for a few hours in a covered, oiled bowl until doubled in size. Flatten out and top with your favourites, topping with basil leaves after cooking. For a quicker result, though a little heavier, scone dough, rolled thinly, also works. Slice of Life healthy pizza cauliflower pepperoni 349g €5 Slice of Life Pizza. A light thin base of white and wholemeal flours has puréed cauliflower and carrot, which lighten the texture and add to the flavour of a tasty crust. The topping has a natural, flavoursome sauce made from tomatoes, salt, sunflower oil, herbs and garlic, finished with a generous amount of mozzarella. This topping comes with finely sliced and mildly spiced pepperoni. Produced in Dublin, we bought it in Lidl Ballincollig. Score: 9.5 Saturday Pizzas margherita 400g €4.99 Saturday Pizzas, Margherita Pizza. Picture: David Creedon Good, natural pizza base of just flour, water, salt and yeast makes for a flavourful crust and a light base. The topping of simple tomato sauce made from tomatoes, salt, a little sugar and pepper is nicely balanced and topped with olive oil and fresh basil leaves. A hit with all tasters. Produced in Cork. Score: 10 M&S Food woodfired roasted vegetables 440g €7 Woodfired Italian Ham & Mascarpone Pizza. - Picture: David Creedon Good, thin, pizza base here made from basic ingredients - flour with malted flour, yeast, water and salt. The topping has decent chunks of juicy peppers, courgettes, and tomatoes drizzled with olive oil and herbs. Enjoyed by all. Score: 9 Dunnes Stores gluten-free mozzarella & tomato pizza 300g €3.49 Dunnes Stores Gluten Free, Mozzarella & Tomato Pizza. - Picture: David Creedon Expecting the dry taste of some gluten-free products, tasters were pleasantly surprised by the taste and light texture of this pizza. The crust is made with rice flour, cornflour, pea flour, flaxseed, and various starches. The tomato sauce is quite rich, the mozzarella is generous, and it's seasoned with oregano. Made in Italy. Score: 8.75 Dr Oetker Suprema cinque formaggi 424g €5.99 Dr. Oetker, Suprema CinQue Formaggi.- Picture: David Creedon Tasters liked this balance of a crunchy base, which was not too thick, topped with rich tomato purée and the five cheeses mentioned in the Italian title – mozzarella, smoked white cheddar, provolone, ricotta and blue. The five make for interesting textures – creamy and chunky, dry and stringy. No chemical additives in the base or topping. Made in the EU. Score: 9 Tesco Finest ham, mushroom and mascarpone 430g €5.50 Tesco Finest, Ham, Mushroom & mascarpone Wood Fired Pizza. - Picture: David Creedon Tasters liked the blend of creamy mascarpone cheese with garlic-flavoured mushrooms. The ham was unremarkable but there was plenty of flavour overall with the topping of Parmesan. Score: 8.5 Lidl Deluxe four cheese & semi-dried tomato pizza 430g €3.29 Deluxe Four Cheese & Semi-Dried Tomato, Wood Fired Pizza. - Picture: David Creedon A good blend of cheeses here – smoked provola, emmental, asiago cheeses, as well as unspecified 'hard cheese', topped with tasty buffalo mozzarella pearls. The base made from wheat flour, dried wheat sourdough, malted wheat flour, black pepper and yeast, with maize starch and dextrose, makes a tasty and crisp crust. The sun-dried tomatoes with garlic add a rich flavour to the topping. Made in Italy. Score: 8.25 Goodfella's ham & pineapple stone-baked thin 365g €4.19 Goodfells Ham & Pineapple Pizza. - Picture: David Creedon The pineapple-on-pizza debate will continue as long as people enjoy this combination. Here, it works well with plenty of mozzarella to bring a genuine Italian feel to this pizza. Ham and pepperoni both have preservatives and stabilisers. As an occasional treat, these are fine, but it's best to avoid UPFs in the form of processed meats daily. Irish made. Score: 8 Read More Munster producers championed at Euro-Toques Ireland Food Awards
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Two men arrested over suspected arson attack on elderly couple's Cork home
Two men have been arrested in connection with a suspected arson attack that left an elderly couple's home extensively damaged in Cork last month. The men, both aged in their 30s, were detained during an operation carried out in the Dublin area on Tuesday, May 6. Detectives from Cork searched two residential properties in the capital as part of the ongoing investigation. The men are currently being held at a Garda station in Cork City under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. The arrests relate to a fire at a home in the Dublin Pike area of Ballincrokig, Cork City, on the night of April 24. The interior of the home in Ballincrokig, Cork where two petrol bombs were thrown through the bedroom window causing extensive damage. Picture: David Creedon Shortly after 9pm, Gardaí and fire services responded to reports of a blaze at the property, where an elderly couple in their 80s were rescued from the burning house. Four units of Cork City Fire Service responded to the scene, and the couple were treated for smoke inhalation by fire personnel and paramedics from the National Ambulance Service. The home sustained extensive damage and was later sealed off for a technical and forensic examination. It is understood one line of inquiry is that the house may have been mistakenly targeted. The investigation is being led by the Serious Crime Investigation Unit in Cork and remains ongoing. Further updates are expected. Read More Couple arrested in Cork City after elderly woman robbed by fake animal inspectors
