Galway Advertiser 2003/2003_11_27/GA_2711_E1_024.pdf 

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24 N E W S

Galway Advertiser

November 27 2003

TALK O' THE TOWN
COMPILED BY JULIE TIERNEY (e-mail: jtierney@galwayadvertiser.ie)

Fitness by text -- Win a hamper "gt ov dat couch" for a friend
This is the time of year when many of us contemplate New Year's resolutions like quitting smoking, giving up chocolate, or getting fit by joining a gym. Those of you considering the latter should consider joining the Quality Leisure Club in the Quality Hotel Oranmore where they are making an extra effort to keep gym members committed to their get fit resolutions. The leisure club has come up with a clever motivational tool to give the occasional gym user that extra push
Keith GIldea

when it comes to weekly workouts. According to the leisure club manager at the hotel, Keith Gildea, it involves using text alerts to keep club members up-to-date on new classes, social events, etc, and it will also be a key motivational tool in helping to encourage the occasional gym user. It's the first time such a service has been introduced to a Galway leisure club, and given the number of people who now have mobile phones I'm sure other leisure and golf clubs will soon follow.

Host a high school student this summer
Organisers behind a summer study abroad programme are looking for Galway families to host American high school students in their homes for one week in July. Every summer the Irish American Cultural Institute in Morristown, New Jersey sends approximately 100 students to Ireland on the Irish Way programme for five weeks. The IACI is the only Irish American organisation with the distinction of having the President of Ireland as its patron. While in Ireland students stay at schools in Dublin, Waterford, and Galway, but for one week in the middle of the programme (July 8--15) each student embarks on a home stay with an Irish family. Many students say this is the highlight of their trip. For more information on becoming a host for the Irish Way contact Taryn Harrison at 1 Lackawanna Place, Morristown, New Jersey 07960, or phone 001973-605-1991, or e-mail at tharrison@iaci-usa.org

Fancy not having to trudge through town for gifts this Christmas? Well 4gifts.ie looks set to be an online shopper's best friend to get you through the festive frenzy. With a vast range of gifts from books and bubbly to pamper kits and handmade chocolates, this Irish web service has got Christmas shopping in the bag. Worldwide delivery is available for many of the gifts which makes it perfect for friends and family living abroad. Launched in 2001, the site is the brainchild of Lulu O'Sullivan whose business has grown from a temporary office of one to a full time staff of 22 with up to 70 for the season that's in it. Web

sales have increased by up to 300 per cent as Lulu's service became a tried and trusted service on the internet. And this year she's looking at her busiest Christmas ever. Each year the service has grown to include more gift ideas for everyone, from the son in the States who'd like to send a gift home to mum, to the husband who's just remembered his wife's birthday, a company gift, a box of hand-rolled cigars, or a customised hamper -- one of which even managed to wind up on an episode of MTV's The Osbournes! 4Gifts also caters for the old trusty method of ordering by phone or fax. A catalogue of the gifts is available from 1850 210021.

So why get on a bus this Christmas when you can shop online or over the phone? Win a hamper for a friend To get you in the festive mood, 4Gifts.ie is offering one Galway Advertiser reader the opportunity to send a Donegal hamper (valued at 59.29) to a friend or family member anywhere in the EU. To be in with a chance send your name, address, and daytime contact number to Talk o' the Town competition, Galway Advertiser 41/42 Eyre Square by December 4. I'll be in touch with the winner to get the address of the person you'd like to surprise.

Get yourself the ultimate gift this Christmas...a partner
At the Share A Dream Ball in the Radisson SAS Hotel Galway on Saturday night were Gerry and Imelda Dolan, Kilcolgan.

Galway's biggest Christmas party takes place on Saturday December 6 at the Galway Radisson SAS Hotel when 500 single women and 500 single men will mingle and dance the night away to top band Pyramid and Galway Bay FM's top DJs Jimmy Norman and Ollie Turner. The night kicks off at 10pm with a champagne reception to get you in the mood for love, there will be loads of spot

prizes with the top prize draw being a one year platinum VIP membership of the Spirit One Spa, valued at 1,500 at the Radisson. There will be a membership each one woman and one man. Tickets for what promises to be the most talked about night in Galway this Christmas are on sale at Red Light Records and cost only 25.