By Aoife Rooney
Nothing screams summer more than a punchy, colourful outfit. The team at Never Fully Dressed have always understood the assignment when it comes to this brief, with their creations always bringing the welcome introduction of fun to any summer event. Whether it be for more formal dos like weddings or casual summer days out, the pieces make for really effortless wearing. We love the green shirred ‘Nara’ dress (€185) for its flexibility in being able to be dressed up or down depending on the event. While the brand’s flagship stores in the UK and New York are an experience in themselves, Avoca stocks the gúnas for those of us looking to try them on in person. avoca.com
Tara Marzuki has always had an eye for aesthetics. It only takes a cursory glance at her well-curated Instagram account to see it. The stylist turned photographer turned content creator has made a name for herself online documenting her life in New York, and now back in her native Co Cork. The creator, who is also a hypnosis and past life regression practitioner, has just launched Conscious Clarity, a beautifully designed deck of cards intended to nurture and navigate your intuitive senses. The product was born out of Marzuki’s realisation that people found tarot card reading inaccessible and overwhelming, and decided to bridge that gap in the market. A great gift for the spiritual person in your life. consciousclaritycards.com
The 9 Below Bar on Stephen’s Green is a gem of a cocktail spot. With its dark and cosy corners, it’s the perfect date spot or place to catch up with a friend. If that wasn’t reason enough go to, staff member Isadora Petinari has been crowned best bartender in Ireland at the World Class Ireland finals 2025. The Dublin 2 bar is known for its creative and imaginative cocktail concoctions, including Pineapple Express and Bour(bo)ne Supremacy, which use Roe & Co and Bulleit Rye whiskeys. Every drink is created with precise attention to detail, and it is clear from the first sip that considerable thought has gone into the flavour profile of each drink. 9below.ie
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Returning for its third year this autumn, the Common Threads festival will take place in the Burren, Co Clare. With a journey through the landscape playing a pivotal role in the festival, attendees will travel by bus to unique performance settings, including caves and historic castles, making for a different festival experience to say the least. They can expect performances from Martin Hayes, Morgana, Daithi and Sally Cinnamon to name a few. The aim of the festival is to explore the ‘common threads’ between local community, cultural spaces and the natural landscape, while embellishing them all with art, live music, wellness and food. commonthreads.events
Cush restaurants continue to move from strength to strength. Hot on the heels of opening its second location, this time in Midleton, the brand has just recently announced the start of a lunch menu. Running from Friday to Sunday, the menu is the perfect opportunity to taste award-winning cooking without committing to an entire evening out. Seasonality plays a big role in the offerings on the menu, and local seafood is something Cush is keen to champion too. Guests can expect to see Ballycotton lemon sole as well as Irish rhubarb in some of the sweet creations. Make it your excuse for a day out in east Cork. cush.ie
The offering at Kilkenny Design stores has always been indicative of its commitment to championing Irish brands and home grown designers. After a successful run of its Christmas pop-up at Kildare Village, it has recently announced that it will launch a standalone store in the discount outlet this summer. To celebrate, Kilkenny Design will host a series of ‘Meet the Maker’ events in the new store, with the names behind brands like Max Benjamin, Lennon Courtney and Green Angel taking guests for a behind-the-scenes look at these top Irish brands. kilkennydesign.ie