Desire Lines: Dress rental for summer occasions, gluten-free menus, and more
The dress
One of many fashion rental platforms now operating in Ireland, Drobey's mission statement is to take the guilt out of keeping up with fast-changing fashion trends and experimenting with one-off looks. The idea is to invest in your staple everyday items, and they'll take care of the rest.
Whether it's a summer holiday, a wedding or a black-tie event, don't buy a one-off item, rent it! They've just opened their first brick-and-mortar store in Blackrock, Dublin, so you can try before you rent. We're lusting over this Jovana dress, €120 to rent, previously worn by Roz Purcell.
drobey.ie
The chocolates
Lir Chocolates have launched Guinness chocolates in a pint tin – just in time for Father's Day shoppers. Filled with rich and malty Guinness-infused chocolate caramel truffles, the range also includes mini chocolate pints, and a chocolate rugby ball.
www.lirchocolates.com
The restaurant
May is Coeliac Disease Awareness Month. With Glas, on Dublin's Chatham Street, operating as Ireland's first fully gluten-free restaurant, it's not only good for coeliac and gluten-intolerant diners, but the vegetarian ethos is good for planet earth too.
There's no wheat, barley, or rye handled in the kitchen and each dish is guaranteed to be completely free of gluten. The fully vegetarian menu includes vegan choices too, with menus updated regularly to reflect the seasons.
glasrestaurant.ie
The summer terrace
We know summer has finally arrived when The River Lee transforms its terrace. The new theme at the River Club is Cork in Bloom. This year they have partnered with The Boatyard Distillery to invent a new cocktail menu just in time for the sunshine. Created with Cork florist and long-time collaborator, Fox Flowers, the new décor is a tribute to the florals found growing wild in the West Cork countryside. A lush, green escape, the Cork in Bloom Terrace is adorned with apple blossom, hydrangea, primrose and foxglove, rambling fuchsia and crocosmia. From weekend brunch to light bites, book now for a taste of summer.
theriverclubcork.ie
The exhibition
An exhibition by over 50 Irish illustrators, celebrating the life and work of the internationally renowned illustrator and artist Tomi Ungerer has opened at the Laneway Gallery in Shandon Street, Cork.
Born in Strasbourg, Ungerer spent much of his final decades in West Cork and made an extraordinary impact on the illustration scene here.
The 'In Memory of the Future' exhibition sees all members of Illustrators Ireland select a work by Ungerer and create a response to or interpretation of it. Open until June 14.
illustratorsireland.com
The family must-see
Don't miss the Dream Point experience at Dublin's Docklands. Open for a limited time, this is a wonderland for kids and grown-ups. From balloon rooms to dream cafes, the highlight is Ireland's largest ball pit, overflowing with 250,000 pearl-toned balls beneath floating clouds. The space is also fitted with 'lifeguard chairs' for a poolside vibe.
This massive, 21,000 sq ft 3D world of dreams comes to Ireland from Dan and John Gleeson — the Irish brothers who previously brought The Van Gogh Experience, the Friends Experience, the Lego Bricktionary Experience and more to Dublin.
This has to be seen to be believed. Book it now.
dreampointexperience.ie
The beauty refills
The Handmade Soap Company has a host of green credentials, including using all-natural ingredients and 100% recycled plastic bottles. Handmade in Ireland, their fragrant collections are vegan-friendly and include body and skincare, and home fragrances.
We're fans of their refills, too, from handwash (€19) to reed diffuser oils, which use minimal packaging to keep you and your home smelling fabulous. You'll find these and plenty more cool Irish brands at Faerly, the online Irish store for sustainable living.
faerly.ie
Compiled by Vickie Maye, Nicole Glennon and Jillian Bolger, weekend@examiner.ie
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The Irish Sun
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- The Irish Sun
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Extra.ie
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Father's Day Gifts: Irish whiskeys guaranteed to make you the favourite child
It seems a little unfair sometimes that Mother's Day is all about flowers, chocolates and spa treatments, while Father's Day is socks, ties and gardening tools, but if dad will insist on being difficult to buy for, what does he expect? If you want to cement yourself as the Favourite Child, however, you can't go wrong with a bottle of decent whiskey. And if he doesn't like whiskey? Well, it's the thought that counts and perhaps he'll let you have a drop whenever you pop over to visit. Win-win. There's a lot of great Irish whiskey on the market these days, so navigating it can be a little daunting. Here's a guide to some of the most delicious distilled beverages available, so you can pick up something he'll love no matter what your budget. Bushmills Antrim's finest, and the oldest licenced distillery on the island, Bushmills should be a staple of any home bar. At the €20-30 end of the scale, you really can't go wrong with a bottle of Bushmills Black Bush - a very affordable premium whiskey that punches way above its weight. It's great on its own, and mixes really well in whiskey sours, old fashioneds or straight up whiskey sodas. If you want something a little bit extra this year, however, then take a look at the Bushmills Single Malts range. The light and fruity 10 Year Old is a great starting point, but if he's a bit more experienced then the bold and unusual 14 Year Old might be just the thing. Or, if you really want to push the boat out and have €12,000 to spare, Bushmills introduced their oldest ever expression earlier this year with a 46-year-old single malt 'Secrets of the River Bush'. This one's guaranteed to grab his attention - even if you're a middle child! Redbreast This perennial favourite picks up awards all over the world every year, and with good reason! You can't go wrong with any of the whiskeys in the Redbreast family, so it all comes down to budget. At €70, Redbreast 12 is a great starting point and an absolute cracker of a whiskey. If you've got a bit more to spend, exploring the 15, 18 or 21 Year Old expressions would make this a Father's Day to remember. There are also a few slightly more obscure entries to the range, including the recently released Cask Strength 15 Year Old, which was launched to celebrate 20 years since the release of the original 15 Year Old. Tullamore D.E.W. Tullamore D.E.W. doesn't always get its props, but we're here to tell you it's an absolutely delicious drop. Whether you go for the standard blend or the rum-cask finished XO, these are lovely whiskeys that can be enjoyed alone or in a cocktail. If dad has a sweet tooth, the recently released Tullamore D.E.W. Honey liqueur is definitely worth a taste. For that extra-special occasion, however, we'd recommend Tullamore D.E.W. 12 Year Old. Retailing at around €50, this is a very classy whiskey and really should be a staple of all liquor cabinets. Teeling As one of the trailblazers of the new wave of Irish distillers, Teeling haven't been shy about pushing the boundaries of what's possible with Irish whiskey. In addition to their phenomenal core range, The Teeling 'Trinity' of Small Batch, Single Grain and Single Malt whiskeys, they boast an unbelievable range of experimental, limited edition and super-premium expressions. A great way to explore them is a visit to the Teeling Distillery, in Dublin's Newmarket, where you and dad can tour the working distillery and try a few of their tasty drops. Boann Another relative newcomer, Boann distillery is home to the Whistler whiskeys, which include the wonderfully named PX I Love You, the beautifully rich Irish Whiskey & Honey Liqueur and a delicious Irish Cream liqueur - plus several other excellent whiskey expressions. In addition to the Whistler, Boann has recently branched out into Single Pot Still, with a trio of different finishes using traditional recipes that are picking up awards all over the place. Definitely worth checking out if dad has a bit of the whiskey nerd about him. McConnell's McConnell's is a brand that can trace its history back to 1776, and has been recently revived with a new, state of the art distillery in Belfast's Crumlin Road Prison. Their entire range is worth exploring, but the just-launched 5 Year Old Cognac Cask Finish is a definite winner.
