The May/June issue of Irish Country Magazine is jam-packed with great content, here Editor Klara Heron shares some of her favourite pieces
Welcome to the May/June issue, which we have been calling ‘the music issue’ within the team for months. That’s thanks in no small part to the wonderful Sharon Shannon who graces the cover.
We were delighted to be able to capture Sharon in County Clare, not far from her home village of Ruan. Despite the yellow weather warning and torrential rain, the west of Ireland still put on a show for our photoshoot and between showers we captured effervescent shots of Sharon, who is as warm and bubbly in person as she seems on stage. It was a joy to chat to her about her 40-year career in music.
Elsewhere, we have the ultimate summer set list – a roundup of events and festivals to get excited about, and Niamh Devereux meets Pillow Queens, the band you should add to your sunshine playlist. Anne O’Shea shows us how to shop vintage (page 40), Leonie Cornelius guides on growing lemons (page123), and Sophie White’s essay on female friendship hits home (page 36).
I’m also very happy to say that the Irish Made Awards are back once again. Now in their seventh year, these awards show us time and time again the breadth of talent and creativity on our little island. They are all about celebrating the people creating beautiful products in Ireland, and I hope you will help us spread the word far and wide – entries for 2023 are open now until 30 May.
My favourite thing about being the editor of this wonderful magazine is seeing the fresh batch of features and columns that come in for each issue from our stable of brilliant writers. And reading about Lily Champ’s amazing home garden has always put a smile on my face. It’s no ordinary thing to start writing a column for a national magazine aged 80, but that’s Lily for you – as she has written herself many times, it’s never too late to start.
Now aged 91, Lily is hanging up her boots after 11 years’ writing for us. I will be forever grateful to her for her sharing her words of wisdom and encouragement with our readers through the years. I know so many of you got into gardening because of Lily, and we will miss her column dearly (although photographer Phillip and I do plan to visit Lily again in future, so watch this space!).
The May/June issue is in shops nationwide now, find your local stockist here.
Happy reading!
