Latest news with #ClaireGraham
Irish Times
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Live above the shop at detached 1930s home in west Cork for €455,000
Address : The Old Mill Stores, Millside, Connonagh, Leap, Co Cork Price : €455,000 Agent : Charles McCarthy View this property on In the early 1990s when Ireland was beginning to become cool in the eyes of the world and our top comedians, musicians and writers ruled pop culture, husband and wife Tom Keane and Claire Graham set up Urbana, an emporium of all things homeware with a focus on small designer items. The pair were also travelling regularly to Copenhagen to buy antique Scandinavian stoves through their company, Ovne Stoves, and to see family – Graham's nephew Lukas Forchhammer fronts Danish band Lukas Graham. It was on a trip to west Cork to install several of these stoves in actor Jeremy Irons's rose-pink keep, Kilcoe Castle, that they first spotted the large detached 1930s property on a bend in the road between Roscarbery and Leap. The Old Mill Stores. All photographs: Niamh Whitty The Old Mill Stores The Old Mill Stores The couple had a strong business and had even supplied wood burners to the production designers for the film Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. READ MORE As parents to young children, then aged two and four, they sold up their place in Kilmainham and headed southwest. Within a week at school the kids had Cork accents, says Keane. The couple fell for the fine-sized detached dwelling, formerly Moloney General Stores, with lands that run down to the river Roury, a waterway with salmon in it, according to locals, says Keane. They spent the next two years living in a house up a mountain and opened a home store in Leap, while work got under way on the refurbishment. They sold half of the property – an older mill with wheel and mill race – about 10 years later. Living over the shop, they built an interiors business that welcomed a variety of well-known faces to the premises, from locals such as chef Darina Allen to film producer David Puttnam, while actors Timothée Chalamet and Saoirse Ronan have both dropped in; Ronan has a property in Ballydehob. The lure is the high-low mix of practical Scandinavian designs, from cushions to throws and crockery, and things you don't think you need such as tide clocks, Charvet tea towels, cashmere socks and the Shelia Maid air drier, a contemporary take on the Victorian design that is really effective at indoor garment drying. The store won the craft gift shop category at the Irish Times Best Shop in Ireland awards in 2016 and was named best independent retailer at the 2017 Image Interiors & Living Design Awards. Sittingroom Livingroom Kitchen Dining area Dining area opens to back garden They renovated the top two floors first, dry-lining all the walls, adding new old floors from Victorian Salvage and insulating. 'The only thing we didn't do was modernise the single-glaze sash windows,' says Keane. A dozen years ago, they did the garden level, tanking it and insulating it to eliminate damp. This is where the kitchen's bifold doors open out to decks and terraces that lead down to the river and frame sylvan views. There's a living area and a guest bedroom with en suite also at this level. The mixed-use building is now D1 Ber-rated and extends to about 213sq m (2,300sq ft). This includes about 46sq m (500sq feet) of retail space, comprising two adjoining rooms. There is also a dual-aspect sittingroom at entrance level fitted with a 1920s Danish stove and French doors opening on to a Juliet balcony overlooking the garden. On the first floor there are views of Coillte-run Dromillihy woods from the back and at night they leave the windows open and are lulled to sleep by the sound of the river's running water. Landing Bedroom Bedroom Bathroom The couple initially put the property up for sale last year, seeking €595,000. This price included buying the business. They decided to continue to trade the business online as they remain agents for the aforementioned air driers and had sale-agreed the property, but it fell though earlier this month. The couple are downsizing and have already bought a place in Dublin, returning to Kilmainham, where Keane says they've kept a seat for him in the local, The Royal Oak. They're also looking for a smaller place in the area, for they are hooked on west Cork. 'It is incredibly creative and welcoming,' says Keane. The mixed-use property, including the shop, is on the market through Charles McCarthy, seeking €455,000.
Irish Post
06-05-2025
- Health
- Irish Post
Prisoners complete Belfast City Marathon for children's cancer charity
TWENTY prisoners completed the Belfast City Marathon over the weekend to raise funds for a children's cancer charity. The Maghaberry Prison inmates, who were all aged between 21 and 70 years old, ran the 26.2 mile marathon distance inside the prison's walls while the Belfast marathon got underway in the city on May 4. Two prison service staff teams, including Deputy Governor Claire Graham, also took part in the run, which raised money for the Cancer Fund for Children charity. 'This is the third Belfast Marathon held in Maghaberry Prison,' Maghaberry Prison Governor Tracy Megrath said. 'We started this in 2023 and it's been an annual event for the staff and prisoners ever since. 'The prisoners have been on a structured programme since January this year - as well as the fitness aspect they've been learning about good nutrition and diet,' she added. 'Several hundred pounds has already been raised through donations from staff and fellow prisoners, and we expect the final total to top £1000.' Chloe Walkingshaw, Governor in charge of Activities at Maghaberry Prison, pictured with Cormac McMullan, Community Fundraising and Engagement Lead with the Cancer Fund for Children, pictured with some of the prisoners who took part in the run Belfast Marathon administrators measured an official prison course for the prisoners to complete the 26.2miles. Ms Megrath added: 'The Prison Service challenge and support all those who are sent to us by the courts, and through various rehabilitation projects and purposeful activity we promote a sense of achievement and prepare them for the return to their community.' Cormac McMullan, Community Fundraising and Engagement lead with the Cancer Fund for Children, said the charity was 'incredibly grateful' for the prison's support. 'We are incredibly grateful to the Northern Ireland Prison Service at Maghaberry Prison for taking on this challenge to support families affected by cancer,' he said. 'Every week in Northern Ireland, three more children and young people are diagnosed with cancer, and many others are living with the impact of a parent's diagnosis. 'The funds raised will help us provide vital support in hospital, in the community, and at our therapeutic centre, Daisy Lodge - ensuring young people don't have to face cancer alone.'
BreakingNews.ie
02-05-2025
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
20 prisoners to run their own Belfast Marathon in aid of charity
20 prisoners are to run in the Belfast Marathon on Sunday – along their own course in Maghaberry Prison to raise money for charity. Administrators of the Belfast Marathon have measured an official course inside the maximum security facility for the prisoners to complete the 26.2 miles, as thousands of runners take to Belfast's streets. Advertisement The 20 prisoners, aged from 22 to 71, will make up four relay teams for the run. Two Prison Service staff teams, including deputy governor Claire Graham, and another team from the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust based in Maghaberry, will also take part in the marathon event inside the prison. Maghaberry Prison governor Tracy Megrath said the staff and prisoners are running to raise funds for the Cancer Fund for Children charity. 'This will actually be the third Belfast Marathon held in Maghaberry Prison. We started this in 2023 and it's been an annual event for the staff and prisoners ever since,' she said. Advertisement 'The prisoners have been on a structured programme since January this year – as well as the fitness aspect they've been learning about good nutrition and diet. 'Several hundred pounds has already been raised through donations from staff and fellow prisoners, and we expect the final total to top £1,000. She added: 'The Prison Service challenge and support all those who are sent to us by the courts, and through various rehabilitation projects and purposeful activity we promote a sense of achievement and prepare them for the return to their community.' Cormac McMullan, community fundraising and engagement lead with the Cancer Fund for Children, said they were 'incredibly grateful' for the support. Advertisement 'Every week in Northern Ireland, three more children and young people are diagnosed with cancer, and many others are living with the impact of a parent's diagnosis. 'The funds raised will help us provide vital support in hospital, in the community, and at our therapeutic centre, Daisy Lodge — ensuring young people don't have to face cancer alone.'
