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Support Solas Cancer Care Waterford – Film for Life 2018

Support Solas Cancer Care Waterford – Film for Life 2018

by | Jun 8, 2018 | Ireland

Film for Life 2018

Film for Life is in it’s second year. This year, I decided to give it a go; not in the area of photography (being the camera) rather as an actor. Over the past 6 weeks rehearsing and filming, I have been involved in acting out a scene from a famous movie.

This years movie is The Hangover and I play Phil, the Bradley Cooper character. 

Over a 6-week training programme we were tutored by a professional actor. And at the end of May we shot a few scenes from The Hangover. The Film for Life premiere will take place at a red carpet themed event in the Tower Hotel, Waterford on Saturday 16th June. The inaugural 2017 Film for Life event was great fun and seemed to be enjoyed by all who took part.

Tickets for Film for Life 2018 has now passed and is over – but check out the Solas Cancer Care website for details of the next events This exciting Film for Life event helped to fund the activities and services that will be provided by the Solas Cancer Support Centre in 2018.

I have really enjoyed bring involved and I hope you can support my sponsorship to raise funds for Solas Cancer Care – click here for details.

Solas Cancer Care - Film for Life 2018

About Solas Cancer Care, Waterford

The Solas Cancer Support Centre offers free cancer support to those affected by cancer, their families and carers in the South East. These services are available in their centre at Williamstown in Waterford City and in their West Waterford service based in the Alternative Health Clinic in Dungarvan.

Support my "Film for Life" Fundraising event

If you wish to donate to my “Film for Life” fundraising event please click the button below. Any amount will make a difference and I appreciate all donations to this worth cause.

Everyone who supports the event will be mentioned later on shanemcdonald.ie !

DONATE NOW

Total € Donations So Far including Offline Contributions

Thank You …

I would like to thank the following people and businesses who have donated so far.

Maria McEvoy

Vera McEvoy

John & Caroline Duggan / Hawkeye Falconry

Greg Porter

Fergus McDonald

Mary Murphy

Sarah McGrath

Kay Murphy

Maria McDonald

Karen McDonald

Elaine O’Sullivan

Carol McGrath

Brian Kavanagh

Valerie Leahy

I will add the names of individuals and businesses here as donations are received

Lunch at The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford – Restaurant Review

Lunch at The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford – Restaurant Review

by | Jun 8, 2018 | Reviews

The Bay Tree Bistro

The Bay Tree Bistro opened in Waterford in 2015. Within a few months I was hearing about this amazing restaurant above a pub in Ballybricken. The restaurant later moved to the quays in Waterford and it has established itself as ‘the’ place in Waterford for fantastic food. In fact the Bay Tree Bistro was voted the Best Restaurant in Waterford 2018 by the Restaurant Association of Ireland.

I have eaten in the main restaurant upstairs and I can guarantee that it is a full-on dining experience. The tastes and combinations of ingredients are sublime. I will review this very soon when I return…

Earlier this year the Bay Tree Bistro started doing a lunch menu. The menu is served downstairs and is very different from the usual lunch menus. I spotted a few dishes I wanted to try and on one particular day I found myself being nearby and I just had to try it.

Lunch – Croque Madame

One of my favourite snacks / comfort foods is the croquet madame. You have bread, cheese, ham and a soft fried egg. What’s not to like? To my surprise and delight the croquet madame at the Bay Tree had 2 fried eggs. I was hoping to have the duck eggs, which are a small bit extra, but there were none on the day. The 2 eggs which were there were indeed delicious and perfectly cooked.

The red cabbage slaw which accompanies the dish is a perfect contrast to the croque – I also found that the raisins in the slaw were an unexpected taste sensation. There was also a delicious fresh side salad. The salad had cucumber, tomato, onion, spring onion, and leaves have a dressing which is fresh and contrasts with the heartiness of the egg, cheese and bread.

The relaxed atmosphere and nice music was a relaxing setting to enjoy a lunch at leisure. There was a lot on the menu which I would like to try on a repeat visit.  The specials of the day were very nice also, one was an asian pork noodle dish. I later saw photos on twitter and that might be one for a return lunch.

If you are in Waterford and you don’t want the usual boring ham sandwich for lunch, then try the Bay Tree Bistro.

Croque Madame - Lunch at The Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford - Restaurant Review

The Lunch Menu

The Lunch Menu on the day I visited the Bay Tree Bistro was as follows;

SALADS

Warm Thai Chicken
Waldorf Salad 
Tuna or Chicken Nicoise
Mediterranean Vegetable and Feta Cheese
Add Homemade Chips

SANDWICHES

Croque Monsieur
Croque Madame
With Hen Egg or Duck Egg
Tuna Melt           Ploughman’s          Vegetarian Ploughman’s
Chicken, Sundried Tomato and Smoked Cheese
Roasted Vegetable, Tomato and Mozzarella

SAVOURIES

Pork and Caramelized Onion Sausage Roll         Quiche of The Day

Soups, chowders and cheese boards were also available and are very reasonably priced. 

There are a few options on the menu I would love to try, including the sausage roll, the ploughmans, and the warm thai chicken. There is something for everyone on the menu and you won’t be disappointed – portion size is just right!

Bay Tree Bistro – Contact Details

Website : http://www.thebaytreebistro.com
Twitter : https://twitter.com/baytreebistro
Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/thebaytreebistro
Phone : 051 858517

 

Bay Tree Bistro – Map Location

Bay Tree Bistro, Waterford, Ireland

Bay Tree Bistro

16 Merchants Quay, Waterford, Ireland

Website : http://www.thebaytreebistro.com

Restaurant Detail Update – November 22nd 2018

I have just seen on TripAdvisor that the Bay Tree Bistro is now closed. I passed the establishment a few nights ago and just thought they were closed on that evening. I hope that the Bay Tree Bistro will reopen soon as I truly enjoyed the food at this great restaurant.

My Butternut Squash Massaman Curry Recipe

My Butternut Squash Massaman Curry Recipe

by | May 22, 2018 | Lifestyle

There is nothing more delicious or satisfying then a lovely home made curry. Cooking something from scratch allows you to customise the recipe to your taste. By cooking from scratch you also know what has gone into your food. Using a set of prepped ingredients you can get this delicious Massaman Curry Recipe from chopping board to plate in under 90 minutes. This Massaman Curry Recipe is vegan but you could add chicken or meat if you wished.

Massaman Curry Recipe – Ingredients

SPICES
1 tsp of Garam Masala
1 tsp of Cumin
1 tsp of Tumeric
2 tsp of mild curry powder
1 tsp of smoked paprika
Pinch of salt
Pinch of Black Pepper

OTHER ITEMS
2 tsp of oil (I used rapeseed oil but Olive oil can be used also)
1 Garlic clove minced
1 large onion finely chopped
1 inch of fresh root ginger grated and peeled
Can of chopped tomatoes or 450g of chopped tomatoes
Can of Coconut Milk
1 Butternut Squash (you will only use half of the squash, peeled and chopped into 2cm pieces)
100g of baby spinach leaves
3 large potatoes, cut into eights
1 vegetable or mushroom stock cube
10-15 large button or chestnut mushrooms (optional)
Handful of Cashew Nuts (toasted)

This is my own Massaman Curry Recipe and it is a mixture of a few different recipes which I have cooked. This always works well for me. Apart from the first 25 minutes of cooking the rest of the cooking time requires little work on your part.

Recipe Method

  1. In a pan, heat the oil on a medium head and cook the onion and ginger until it begins to soften. Then add the garlic and stir so the garlic does not burn.
  2. On another pan fry and caramelise the butternut squash on a medium heat for about 15 minutes until you start to see a colour and the veg begins to soften a little.
  3. Place the chopped potatoes into boiling water and par-boil while the butternut squash is cooking in step 2.
  4. Make a paste with all the spices using a drop of warm water
  5. Once you have been cooking the onion for a few minutes add the spice paste to the onion, garlic and ginger mix.
  6. Cook off the spices for a few minutes and then add the chopped tomato and the caramelised butternut squash. Mix to coat the added ingredients.
  7. After a few minutes add the coconut milk and the par-boiled potatoes
  8. Mix the stock cube with 250ml of boiling water and add to the ingredients.
  9. Simmer on a medium heat for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking to the pan.
  10. Taste the sauce at this point and if you wish to add more elements from the set of spices used then feel free to do so. e.g. if there is not enough of a kick, add a few dashes of chilli powder or even a whole finely chopped chilli with the seeds. This is your opportunity to customise the flavour of the curry.
  11. Meanwhile, toast some cashew nuts lightly under the grill and ensure to toast both sides. You can also add some sesame seeds to the toasting mix also if you wish.
  12. Reduce the heat and on a low heat (3/9 on my cooker) leave to cook slowly for another 40 minutes until the sauce has thickened. If it has not thickened to your liking, you can increase the heat for a few minutes and this should do the trick.
  13. Once you are ready to serve, blanche the baby spinach in boiling water dry and place on the plate. Serve the curry on the bed of warmed spinach leaves (they will cook slightly in the heat also), top with the toasted nuts.
  14. Enjoy !
Butternut Squash Massaman Curry

Suggested Accompaniment for this Massaman Curry Recipe

One thing which goes really well with this Massaman Curry Recipe is Chapati. These Chapati, known also as roti, safati, shabaati and roshi, are unleavened flatbread. They come mainly from the Indian Subcontinent but are really similar to other middle-eastern and asian flatbreads.

To make you need around 1 cup of flour, preferably chapati flour. (I don’t have this so I use half bread flour and half plain flour.)
Now add a good pinch of salt and 1/3 cup of warm water (added slowly). You need to get a non sticky dough. So keep working the dough until you have a wet-isa dough which is not sticking to your hands.

Flour the surface and roll 2-3 inch pieces into a very thin sheets. At this point you can add some crushed fennel seeds to taste (i like this).

On a medium hot pan, place the rolled dough onto the pan and press down. Once it starts to colour or small humps form , turn over. It might swell with air and puff up, if it does, just press it down with a spatula until it is slightly coloured and warmed on both sides.

You may need to experiment on temperatures but you will soon get the perfect thickness of dough and perfect temperature for a delicious chapati.

The most people applying sunscreen World Record Attempt

The most people applying sunscreen World Record Attempt

by | Apr 17, 2018 | In The News

Sunscreen World Record Attempt – Waterford, 4th May 2018

With the weather getting warmer and sunnier we all need to be aware of the risks of UV rays. After a long winter, people will jump at any chance to get a bit of sun. There are a lot more cases of skin cancer these days. You may not know this but, skin cancer is the most common cancer in Ireland and indeed the most preventable. Every year there are over 10,000 new cases are diagnosed in Ireland. With this in mind, there is a very novel way to get the message of sun-protection out there…. while raising funds for cancer support. There is a very unusual event taking place in Waterford, Ireland on Friday 4th May 2018. The Solas Cancer Support Centre is attempting to break a Guinness World Record. The record is for ‘The most people applying sunscreen’.

This Sunscreen World Record attempt was scheduled for July last year but the weather wen’t against the event. This rescheduled event is taking place in The People’s Park, Waterford on 4th May 2018 and participants will need to arrive at 10.30am.

Now, I was not aware that there was even a category for this. Apparently, there was already a World Record for ‘The most people applying sunscreen’. This was set in the USA in May 2014 by the Ann’s Hope Foundation of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. In that world record 1,822 participants were involved.

Hopefully there will be a good turnout for this Sunscreen World Record attempt. It would also get the Solas Centre and their great work into the news and on the map.

More Details on the Sunscreen World Record Attempt

For more details or to register to take part in this free event please go online to www.solascentre.ie . Once registered you will receive details about the Sunscreen World Record attempt. You must bring this confirmation email with you on the day.

Only pre-registered participants will be able to take part. Also, the Sunscreen World Record terms asks that participants must apply their own sun screen for 2 minutes. Therefore, any children taking part must be over 5 years of age.

Best of luck to all involved in the world record attempt on May 4th!

Sunscreen World Record Update May 2018

As it turns out the Sunscreen World Record for the most people applying sunscreen was indeed broken by the Solas Centre. All that remains is for the world record to be verified which should take a few weeks.

Well done to all involved !

Solas Centre Film for Life 2018

On another topic Film for Life is in it’s second year. And this year, I decided to give it a go. So I will be involved in acting out a scene from a famous movie.

Over a 6-week training programme we will be tutored by a professional actor. At some point in May we will act-out a scene from a famous film. The Premieres will take place at a red carpet themed event in the Tower Hotel, Waterford on Saturday 16th June. The inaugural 2017 Film for Life event was great fun and seemed to be enjoyed by all who took part.

This exciting Film for All event will help fund the activities and services that will be provided by the Solas Cancer Support Centre in 2018.

I am looking forward to being involved and I will post more about the event in the coming weeks on shanemcdonald.ie!

The Solas Cancer Support Centre offers free cancer support to those affected by cancer, their families and carers in the South East. These services are available in their centre at Williamstown in Waterford City and in their West Waterford service based in the Alternative Health Clinic in Dungarvan.

Support my "Film for Life" Fundraising event

If you wish to donate to my “Film for Life” fundraising event please click the button below. Any amount will make a difference and I appreciate all donations to this worth cause.

DONATE NOW
Cat The Play Returns to Waterford – Book CAT THE PLAY Now…

Cat The Play Returns to Waterford – Book CAT THE PLAY Now…

by | Apr 16, 2018 | Ireland

CAT the Play returns to the Theatre Royal, Waterord after a recent stint on London’s West End.

This is a show not to be missed. This show is written by a good friend of mine and well known Waterford actor Jamie Beamish along with Richard Hardwick. I saw this show on it’s last visit to Waterford and it is a hilarious show with a bit of an edge where you least expect it. It strings you along with song and well written script and then it …. well, I will leave you find out for yourself!

DAVE WAS IN THE ORIGINAL CAST OF CATS.ON OPENING NIGHT HE WAS SACKED. HE WAS NOT A HAPPY PUSSY…

Visit the Official ‘Cat the Play’ Website for details

A roller coaster, tongue-in-cheek homage to the world of musical theatre, CAT (THE PLAY!) is the fictitious account of how Dave the Cat was sacked from the iconic musical CATS just minutes before ‘curtain up’ on opening night.

As dreams of West End acclaim and adulation turn to tatter, this riotous parody of show business offers audiences a comedic, fictional insight into Dave’s turbulent theatrical career, beginning with his first role as Jesus’ donkey in the original cast of Jesus Christ Superstar and ending with a grand finale of backstage drama, romance and anarchy that led to his hopes of stardom becoming nothing more than a distant ‘Memory’.

After a sold out run at the 2014 Edinburgh Fringe Festival, this comedy about the greatest musical star that never got to shine. Starring Gerard McCarthy, CAT isn’t so much a love letter to musical theatre more a death threat. It is humorous while still having a darker undertone. There’s a lot to keep you entertained and I feel you will be listening to ever word which CAT utters.

Reviews of 'Cat the Play'

“A WOW OF A ONE MAN SHOW”, Liam Murphy

“AN AMAZING PIECE OF THEATRE!”, Pat McEvoy

“A quirky, sometimes awkwardly funny and always appealing package of melody and movement, CAT offers something for just about everyone – even a darkly unexpected conclusion (Five Stars)”, Belfast Telegraph

Book Tickets to CAT The Play - Theatre Royal Waterford , 11th May 2018

Tickets for ‘Cat The Play’

11th May,
Theatre Royal,
Waterford,
Ireland

Click Here to Book Now
Cat The Play - London's Westend April 2017 - Book NOW

Map Location – Cat the Play, 11th May 2018, Theatre Royal, Waterford

Cat the Play at Theatre Royal Waterford