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‘A gentleman with the mad soul of an Irish convict poet’: remembering Chris Bailey, and the blazing comet that was The Saints

<p>Inala in the early 70s was bleak. A Brisbane suburb of wide dusty streets, treeless and bland. A planned community, meant to grow over time. Austerity, accented by the cheap houses – weatherboard, red brick, concrete – stifled the suburb like a blanket on a hot February night. </p> <p>It was boring. Beyond boring. The only concession to communal childhood joy was the pool, and the crazy concrete skate rink. But if you wanted a creative outlet, you needed to search elsewhere. </p> <p>Ivor Hay, (future Saints drummer), was heading to the picture theatre in Sherwood one Saturday night in early 1971, "and I saw Jeffrey [Wegener – another Saints drummer] with these two longhairs, Chris [Bailey] and Ed [Kuepper]. They were off to a birthday party in Corinda and asked me along. That was our first night."</p> <p>Bailey was raised by his mum, Bridget, in a house alive with siblings – mostly girls, who looked after the kid. He got away with a lot. </p> <p>“None of us had a lot of money,” Hay tells me. "Both Chris and I were raised by single mums in reasonably sized families. Chris’ mum was pretty feisty, with this Belfast accent which was just fantastic. They all looked after ‘Christopher’, he could do all sorts of things and they would accommodate him. His mum would have a go at him about the noise, but we’d just go to his bedroom and rehearse and bugger everybody else in the house!"</p> <p>Kuepper taught Hay to play the guitar: Stones and Beatles and Hendrix. Hay passed the knowledge down to Bailey, who was keen to learn. Neither Kuepper nor Bailey learned to drive, so Hay became the driver in those wide suburbs where driving and cars were everything. </p> <p>There was politics in Bailey’s house – his sister Margaret chained herself to the school gates to protest uniform policy – but this pervaded the town. The conservative government had no time for the young, and the police force did their best to make life difficult. </p> <p>But there was a sense that these young men were making something new. As Hay says, "We used to sing <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Internationale">The Internationale</a> at parties. I don’t know if we were revolutionaries, but we had that sense that something was happening. [With the band] we were doing something that we thought was going to change something. Chris was particularly good at pushing things, at being anti-everything."</p> <h2>Out of Inala</h2> <p>To escape the suburb was to head north to the railway line. It was the lifeline to the centre of Brisbane – record stores, bookshops and other forms of life. </p> <p>Kuepper remembers going into the city with Bailey. "We had intended to steal a record, and we went into Myers […] both wearing army disposal overcoats […] these two long haired guys walking into the record department with these overcoats […] surprisingly enough, we were successful!"</p> <p>Like the railway line, Ipswich Road joins Brisbane to the old coal town of Ipswich. It slices through these western suburbs, carrying hoons in muscle cars and streams of commuters, the occasional screaming cop car or ambulance.</p> <p>On Thursday nights, the boys used to sit at the Oxley Hotel, overlooking Ipswich Road, “just sit up there having beers, we wouldn’t have been much more than 17 or 18 at that time. Chatting about all sorts of stuff,” says Hay.</p> <p>"Chris and Ed were comic collectors and Stan Lee was the hero […] there were political discussions, philosophical discussions. Those guys could talk underwater."</p> <p>They talked and played and sang. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5YP_tsPzmg&amp;t=905s">And Bailey had the voice</a>. It was a force, not just loud and tuneful, but full of snarl and spit. </p> <p>Soon they had songs, and in 1976 scraped the money together to record and release their first single on their own Fatal Records label. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpMwMDqOprc">(I’m) Stranded</a> took Bailey out of Inala, out of Brisbane and into the world. </p> <p>He never looked back.</p> <h2>A changed city</h2> <p>The Saints released three albums in as many years – (I’m) Stranded, Eternally Yours and Prehistoric Sounds – before Kuepper and Hay returned from the UK to Australia, leaving Bailey to his own devices. </p> <p>Bailey remained in Europe, releasing a cluster of solo albums and many Saints records over the next 40 years. He wrote some achingly beautiful songs. It is a testament to his talents as a songwriter that Bruce Springsteen <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJ4a_tgJp4I">recorded a version</a>of Bailey’s Just Like Fire Would in 2014.</p> <p>There’s no doubt that Bailey and The Saints changed Brisbane forever. People around the world who love music know Brisbane exists because of The Saints, The Go-Betweens and bands like them.</p> <p>Peter Milton Walsh (The Apartments) was one of many who benefited from The Saints legacy, "They blazed through our young lives like comets. Showed so many what was possible – that you could write your way out of town."</p> <p>“Without The Saints,” Mark Callaghan of The Riptides/Gang Gajang told me, “we probably wouldn’t have started. ” </p> <p>"They just made it all seem doable. It was like, ‘Well, they’re from Brisbane!’ So we started our first band, and at our first gig we covered (I’m) Stranded! We even took a photo of the abandoned house in Petrie Terrace with (I’m) Stranded painted on the wall. But it never crossed our minds to stand in front of this. It would be sacrilege, you know? And we were trying to work out a way that we could get it off the wall intact, because we recognised it was a historical document."</p> <p>Chris Bailey isn’t the first of our creative children to leave this life behind and move on into memory. With their passing, like the returning comet, the past is freshly illuminated, allowing us to look back at our young lives. Back when the future was broad in front of us, urged on by voices like Bailey’s to open our eyes and see the world.</p> <p>And Bailey’s was a unique voice. Kenny Gormley (The Cruel Sea) remembers him singing <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yYA5WdP47Y0">Ghost Ships,</a> "But ah, I’ll never ever forget seeing Chris pick that shanty, alone at sea in a crowded room, holding us sway, wet face drunk and shining, quiet and stilled in storm, cracked voiced with closed eye and open heart. And that was Bailey, a gentleman with the mad soul of an Irish convict poet.“</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article originally appeared in <a href="https://theconversation.com/a-gentleman-with-the-mad-soul-of-an-irish-convict-poet-remembering-chris-bailey-and-the-blazing-comet-that-was-the-saints-181059" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. </em></p>

Music

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Irish locals "protecting Matt Damon like a glorious gem"

<p>Matt Damon has been quarantining in a tiny Irish village with his wife and children, and it seems everyone including the locals are loving it.</p> <p>The Hollywood heavyweight has become one of the world’s “nicest” celebrities and while living in Ireland to wait out the coronavirus, the star says it has been a “fairy-tale”.</p> <p>The US-based actor has been renting out a home in Dalkey, Ireland, on the outskirts of Dublin, since early March when he arrived with his family to finish shooting <em>The Last Duel</em> with Ridley Scott.</p> <p>However, the star, his wife and his three younger daughters chose to stay put rather than rush home on a private jet when the world plunged into a pandemic.</p> <p>While his presence in the small town was a tightly-kept secret, he was pictured taking a swim with his towel in a supermarket bag.</p> <p>The sight was quickly reported to a local radio station.</p> <p>“I honestly feel like I’m about to throw up … this doesn’t seem real,” said Nathan, of the <em>Fully Charged with Graham and Nathan</em> show.</p> <p>“I don’t know if you are aware but the Dalkey people are protecting you like a glorious gem,” he said. </p> <p><span>Damon laughed at the news and said he had “no idea” but it made him “realise how great this place was.”</span></p> <p>“It’s incredible, this is one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. Obviously what’s going on in the world is horrible but for my family it timed out.”</p> <p>The star explained that he moved there for what the family thought would be just eight weeks to shoot the movie.</p> <p>He and his wife also brought teachers for their three younger children as they would be out of school.</p> <p>“We’ve got what nobody else has which is actual live human beings teaching our kids. We feel guilty. We’ve got this kind of incredible set up in this place.”</p> <p>“It feels a little like a fairytale here.”</p> <p>The woman behind the photo of Damon explained excitedly what happened the day she bumped into him having a swim at a local beach.</p> <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAIKcAKnBIY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAIKcAKnBIY/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Siobhan Berry (@mummycooks)</a> on May 13, 2020 at 5:10am PDT</p> </div> </blockquote> <p>“We were out for a family swim and we bumped into Matt and his family. It was all very cool – no one else around … just his (and my family) enjoying the freezing cold water and having a laugh!” Siobhan Berry of Mummy Cooks wrote on Instagram.</p> <p>“As we were all leaving, he very politely obliged for a photo, leaning in with his @supervalu_irl bag keeping the social distance!”</p> <p>“As he confirmed on the radio, he was holding a bag of swim gear and towels – not cans!!”</p> <p>She said the pair had initially agreed not to share the photo, but it leaked out via a family WhatsApp group.</p> <p>“We felt awful and really sorry about the whole situation; we wrote an apology letter to him but never got to deliver it. After hearing him on radio today, he obviously sees the funny side and the fact that the photo ultimately turned into one of the feel-good stories of the early summer.”</p>

International Travel

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6 Irish films to watch this St. Patrick’s Day

<p>Looking for a way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day that doesn’t involve drinking green beer and wearing a sequined hat? Why not snuggle into the comfiest couch you own and watch some of these wonderful Irish films?</p> <p><strong>1. <em>Once</em></strong></p> <p>This 2007 film is a pure delight to behold. Simultaneously an inspiring musical and tender love story, <em>Once</em> features mesmirising performances from Markéta Irglová and Glen Hansard, and unforgettable music. The film won an Academy Award for its signature tune, “Falling Slowly”, and was reimagined as an award-winning Broadway musical in 2012.</p> <p><strong>2. <em>In the Name of the Father</em></strong></p> <p>A co-production between Irish, British, and American creative forces, this 1993 courtroom drama is based in the true story of four people falsely convicted of the 1974 Guildford pub bombings. <em>In the Name of the Father</em> is captivating, with standout performances from lead Daniel Day-Lewis, and from Emma Thompson.</p> <p><strong>3. <em>Sing Street</em></strong></p> <p>Hailed by some as the best original musical of 2016 (over the beloved <em>La La Land</em>), <em>Sing Street</em> follows the exploits of a boy growing up in 1980s Dublin. As a way to escape his troubled family life, and in an effort to impress the girl he likes, Robert Lawlor starts a band. The rest is pure, musical joy.</p> <p><strong>4. <em>The Crying Game</em></strong></p> <p>This thriller explores nationality, sexuality, gender, and race, with the perfect backdrop of the Northern Ireland conflict setting the scene. Considered one of the greatest British films of all time, <em>The Crying Game</em> explores a member of the IRA, who has a brief but impactful encounter with a soldier. To say more risks ruining the film, and that would be a shame.</p> <p><strong>5. <em>Brooklyn</em></strong></p> <p>This endearing romance from 2015 solidified Saoirse Ronan as a bona-fide star, reminding the world why she earned her first Oscar nomination at the age of 13 (in Joe Wright’s <em>Atonement</em>). Ronan’s Eilis immigrates to Brooklyn from her small Irish town, hoping to find employment. After arriving in Brooklyn, Eilis finds work, studies bookkeeping, and meets a charming young suitor, but misses her beloved sister. A true love letter to both Ireland and Brooklyn, this film is a delight you shouldn’t pass by.</p> <p><strong>6. <em>The Secret of Kells</em></strong></p> <p>If you’re looking for a way to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with your grandchildren, this charming animated film might just be the perfect way to do it. With a cast of characters that includes a brave monk and a fairy, and a captivating setting of a fort-like monastery and a gorgeous forest, <em>The Secret of Kells</em> is sure to join the ranks of your family’s favourite animated classics.</p> <p>Which of these Irish gems is your favourite?</p>

Movies

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Irish stew

<p>For a healthy and delicious meal you can’t go past this tasty Irish stew – it’s hearty and heart warming.</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Serves</span>: </strong>6</p> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Ingredients</span>:</strong></p> <ul> <li>1kg lamb neck chops, trimmed</li> <li>¼ cup plain flour</li> <li>¼ cup olive oil</li> <li>2 brown onions, sliced </li> <li>1kg potatoes, peeled, roughly chopped</li> <li>2 carrots, peeled, roughly sliced</li> <li>4 cups beef stock</li> <li>1 cup flat leaf parsley chopped</li> <li>1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves</li> <li>Salt and pepper</li> </ul> <p><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Method</span>:</strong></p> <ol> <li>Cut chops in half. Place flour and salt and pepper in snap-lock bag. Shake well until chops are coated. Transfer chops to plate, saving lour.</li> <li>Heat one-tablespoon oil in large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and thyme. Cook for three to four minutes or onions are tender. Transfer to bowl.</li> <li>Add 1 tablespoon of oil and increase heat to high. Add half the chops and cook for 4 minutes or until browned on each side. Place on plate and repeat with remaining chops and oil.</li> <li>Layer chops and half the carrots, potatoes and onion mixture in pan. Repat layers with remaining ingredients. Pour stock into pan and bring to boil. Cover and simmer for one and a half hours. Skim fat off when necessary. Remove lid and simmer for half hour or until chops are tender and sauce has thickened. Season with salt and pepper and garnish with parsley. </li> </ol> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/02/chicken-and-leek-pie/">Chicken and leek pie</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2014/12/meat-pie/">Meat pie</a></strong></span></em></p> <p><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/lifestyle/food-wine/2015/07/tuna-cannelloni/">Tuna, spinach and ricotta cannelloni</a></strong></span></em></p>

Food & Wine

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CCTV catches “ghost" haunting Irish school

<p>An old high school in Cork, Ireland, is no stranger to spooky happenings, but the latest incident – which was captured on CCTV – has to be the scariest. Deerpark CBS has shared a video of its halls, recorded at 3 am on a Sunday, showing some seriously creepy goings-on.</p> <p>In the video, a door can be seen swinging in the corridor, a set of lockers starts shaking violently then ejects its contents, and a wet floor sign appears to be kicked over by an invisible force.</p> <p><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FIndependent.ie%2Fvideos%2F10155914204228470%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true"></iframe></p> <p>As easy as it is to dismiss the events as an elaborate prank, apparently this isn’t an isolated incident. The school, founded in 1828, has a long history of paranormal activity.</p> <p>Deerpark Principal Aaron Wolfe told Unilad that the caretaker once reported hearing “the last call” played on the trumpet in the middle of the night when the school was empty. A pupil once heard crying in the bathroom – despite being alone.</p> <p>But that’s not all. “The female members of staff do complain that this particular part is extremely cold,” he said. “It’s also outside the Religion Room – which is weird.”</p> <p>The plot thickens! Tell us in the comments below, do you believe the school is haunted? Or is this just the product of cheeky students and some very suggestible staff members?</p>

News

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Irish restaurant owner has the funniest response to Aussie tourist’s review

<p>An Irish restaurant owner’s hilarious response to a disgruntled Australian diner’s TripAdvisor review has gone viral, and when you read it, you’ll see why.</p> <p>User “Graham367” left a less-than-positive review on the TripAdvisor page for Eala Bahn restaurant in Sligo, Ireland, after leaving his jacket and glasses behind and the owner failing to return them to him.</p> <p>“The food was quite reasonable, however we were extremely disappointed to find that the operator lacked integrity,” Graham wrote. “This comment is based on the fact that I accidentally left my wind breaker with eye glasses in pocket. We only discovered this when we arrived at our next destination, so rang and spoke to the restaurant manager (Anthony Gray) who confirmed that the jacket was with them."</p> <p>Graham added, “Based on his agreement to forward the jacket to me, I emailed details of my credit card to cover all costs to return the garment to me. When it did not arrive within a week or so, I re-emailed twice with no response. My wife and I have since returned to Australia, short of one jacket and one pair of glasses. Bottom line is food might be OK, but integrity is seriously lacking.”</p> <p>It might seem like a perfectly reasonable complaint, but when you hear Anthony’s side of the story, you might change your mind. His response is a bit on the long side, but trust us – it’s worth the read!</p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Dear Graham,</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>I never usually respond to reviews but have made an exception in your case.</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>We are delighted you enjoyed your meal at multi-award-winning restaurant here in Sligo serving the finest local sourced ingredients on the very edge of the beautiful Wild Atlantic Way!</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>I apologise that you forgot your jacket and glasses while dining with us. I apologise that I had not immediately sent your belongings back to Australia. I should have done a Joe ninety on it and hot-tailed it up to the local post office and made your jacket a priority but unfortunately these things don't always happen the way you may have planned.</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>I mean I'm only trying to run two restaurants in the middle of summer while my manager whom I'm delighted to say is 6 months pregnant but unfortunately is suffering God bless her wee soul and out of work resting which I insisted on!</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Having 3 children myself under the age of 10 running around the house like gladiators and tearing to pieces while not going to bed on time, rising like ninjas at dawn, I am what you might say just a little tired and a tad busy.</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>I should have pushed this way up my priority list but forgot and while all of this is going I'm very busy busting a gut here and in the UK promoting my beloved Sligo. Why do I do this? I love my town, I love its people, I love every tourist that graces this beautiful part of the world and provides me and my staff with a living. </em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>People make mistakes and forget things just like you did with your possessions. But to come on TripAdvisor and review me about my lack of postal skills, honesty and integrity beggars belief considering I never laid my mince pies eyes on you! I mean you are butchering my name insofar as my forgetfulness yet it was your forgetfulness that has us here! POT KETTLE BLACK (Google it).</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Finally, I just checked the weather forecast in your part of sunny Australia and I reckon you will be fairly safe insofar as your lack of windbreaker... jaysus it's roasting in your spot boy! You lucky duck! Your possessions are en route you will be glad to know! And as far as my honesty is concerned I'm not even going to charge your credit card for the post furthermore the next time you visit the beautiful Emerald Isle and my county I'll bring you shopping locally for a new wind breaker – as far I see it’s a bit of a crime against fashion. </em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Next time you feel like writing a review for a restaurant try to remember us for our qualities which we provide in the abundance of good locally sourced food, wine, atmosphere at least that's what we hear consistently from our customers.</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>So eventually when it cools down in Australia and you put your wind breaker on think of your honest Irish restauranteur who's full of integrity but you never met and who knows you may even break into a smile and give your face a holiday until then keep her lit. </em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>WE MAKE OUT OF THE QUARREL WITH OTHERS, RHETORIC, BUT OF THE QUARREL WITH OURSELVES – W.B YEATS.</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Regards and good day mate,</em></p> <p style="padding-left: 30px;"><em>Anthony Gray</em></p> <p>Now <em>that’s</em> how you handle a negative review!</p>

Books

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The Queen’s hilarious exchange with an Irish minister will have you in stiches

<p>We all know Queen Elizabeth II has an incredible work ethic and is the patron of many causes, but one thing that sometimes gets lost is her delightfully dry sense of humour.</p> <p>This very humour is on display in the above clip.</p> <p>In a meeting with Northern Ireland's Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, Her Majesty couldn’t resist the opportunity to throw in a couple of funny lines.</p> <p>The Queen’s trademark dry humour was on display in this video, where she quips to a North Irish minister that she’s been quite busy but is “still alive”.</p> <p>The pair had a 20 minute talk with the Queen Elizabeth II noting that she had been "quite busy," adding "there's been quite a lot going on."</p> <p>She also jokingly adds as an aside, “I've had two birthdays, so we've been quite busy.”</p> <p>Her Majesty met the minister at the Hillsborough Castle in Belfast as part of a jam-packed two-day royal visit to the province.</p> <p>To see the full exchange watch the video above. </p> <p>Isn’t it refreshing to see Her Majesty has such a good sense of humour, and is not afraid to poke fun at herself? Share your thoughts in the comments. </p> <p><em>Video credit: YouTube / NFY </em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/06/duchess-of-cambridge-spectacular-outfit/"><em>The Duchess of Cambridge steps out in her most spectacular outfit yet</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/06/queen-sends-her-second-tweet/"><em>Queen sends her second tweet</em></a></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><a href="/news/news/2016/06/queens-scolds-prince-william/"><em>The Queen scolds Prince William on live television</em></a></strong></span></p>

News

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Irish Apfel the new face of Aussie fashion brand, Blue Illusion

<p>The fabulously eccentric Iris Apfel has taken on the stylish role of ambassador for Australian Fashion brand, Blue Illusion.</p> <p>The interior designer and businesswoman speaks in a series of thee videos on accessories, denim and ageless style.</p> <p>It's a coup for the brand, as Iris has accumulated a huge following of dedicated fans over the last decade. She burst her way to superstardom in 2005 after an exhibition at The Costume Institute showcasing her imaginative costume jewellery. Following this, a documentary titled <em>Iris</em> premiered at the New York Film Festival in 2014, which cemented her status as an icon.</p> <p>Some words of gold from the icon herself on what defines style: "Fashion you must buy, but style you possess. It is hard to define but I don't think style has any age, it is a matter of attitude”.</p> <p>Blue illusion’s co-founder Donna guest expressed her excitement in partnering with Iris to Mashable Australia.</p> <p>"Iris makes it okay and a non-issue to embrace your age. I think she allows older women to feel good about themselves, to know that you can feel and look good as you age," Guest said. "There’s no better time to start or stop."</p> <p>Watch Iris speak in the video above on ageless style and attitude. </p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2016/01/favourite-looks-from-advance-style-blog/">The best looks from the advances style blog</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/09/senior-fashion-icons/">Fashion icons that prove style is timeless</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/lifestyle/beauty-style/2015/12/senior-style-instagrams-to-follow/">5 senior style Instagrams</a></em></strong></span></p>

News

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Touching surprise for Irish grandparents

<p>It was a touching video that would strike a chord with any ex-pat separated from the ones they love.</p> <p>Sitting in their living room in Cork, Irish couple Martin and Mary O'Regan thought they were watching a slide show of their 11-week-old grandson, Niall, born 17,000 kilometres away in Brisbane.</p> <p>Little did they know their first grandson was waiting just outside their front door.</p> <p>At first the video features only scenes from Brisbane, but eventually sights much more familiar scenes started flitting up on the couple's living room wall.</p> <p>The O'Regans weren't expecting a visit from their son John, his wife Claire, and their baby boy Niall for another week.</p> <p>But John had planned a touching ruse to the surprise the new grandparents.</p> <p>Images of Niall's first weeks alive gave way to other scenes: first a car driving to Brisbane airport's international terminal, a plane flying into Dublin, driving along the M8 to Cork, and pulling into Martin and Mary's driveway.</p> <p>Another two cameras captured the grandparent's reactions as they took it all in. Mary held back her tears, and Martin laughed with delight.</p> <p>When Mary realised what was about to happen she jumped up clapping and threw back the curtains at the back door. Her son John was already standing behind her, with Niall in his arms.</p> <p>"We were absolutely flabbergasted — speechless really," Martin O'Regan told the Irish Examiner.</p> <p>"That moment, when you get to hold a new baby, especially your first-born grandchild for the first time, well, it's just very, very special," Martin O'Regan said.</p> <p>"It was a bit surreal when they walked in, especially when it was a week earlier than planned," Mary O'Regan said.</p> <p>"We hadn't gone through the process of anticipation of their visit and Niall was in our arms before we even had time to think."</p> <p>The video posted to Youtube by John's brother Dave O'Regan has notched up almost 1 million views since it was published on July 6.</p> <p>In the video John explains that he had moved to Australia over a decade earlier, had met and married Claire, and had their first child Niall.</p> <p>The couple planned to take Niall to visit Claire's family in Tipperary before flying back to Australia August 13.</p> <p>"Now we have a great reason to visit them," said Mary, who has never been to Australia.</p> <p><em>First appeared on</em> <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank"><em><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong>Stuff.co.nz</strong></span></em></a></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/sacrifices-grandparents-make-study/">The many things grandparents sacrifice for their family</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2015/11/life-advice-from-over60-community/">20 crucial pieces of advice from you, the Over60 Community</a></strong></em></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><em><strong><a href="http://www.oversixty.co.nz/lifestyle/family-pets/2016/01/best-advice-ever-received-video/">People aged 5 to 105 reveal the best advice they’ve ever received</a></strong></em></span></p>

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