Coverage of the Dublin Wedding Journal Shows will be featured heavily across Ireland AM’s programming. The extensive airtime will include show highlights, interviews and exciting competitions and will help to create maximum awareness of the show as the biggest commercial wedding exhibition in the country.

Now in their 14th year, the NR Awards, sponsored by Bank Machine, will take place in October as we aim to find the very best independent grocery retailers in Northern Ireland.

Last year saw a record 600 entries and more than 450 people attended the industry event. SuperValu Aughnacloy was the overall winner after scooping the Neighbourhood Retailer of the Year 2011 title.

Now we’re looking for Northern Ireland’s finest retailers and announcing the winners on October 19, 2012 at the Ramada Hotel in Belfast.

As ever, retailers across the island of Ireland will be gearing up for the industry event of the year.

The seventh IFCR Awards will be supported by platinum sponsor PostPoint and will feature a brand new category – Store Manager of the Year.

Last year we were inundated with entries across 14 awards categories and the judges were overwhelmed the calibre of applicants. This year we are expecting more entries to once again ensure the IFCR Awards 2012 and gala dinner are a spectacular affair.
We will shortly be announcing entry details plus this year’s celebrity host who will join the finalists at Dublin’s 5-star Shelbourne Hotel on Friday, September 9.

Celeb spotting

Flights are getting booked, hotel rooms in Belfast are filling up, and Belfast is gearing up for one of the hottest nights in town!

The celebrity guest list is being added to by the day, with a number of UK stars checking their busy filming schedules! We can confirm that the gorgeous Kirk Norcross from The Only Way Is Essex is Belfast bound, along with Paddy Doherty from Big Fat Gypsy Weddings, who is flying into town with his wife for the showbiz bash of the year.

We can also reveal that a number of our very own home grown talent such as gorgeous ladies Zoe Salmon, Niamh Perry, Jayne Wisener, Georgia Maguire, Gayle Williamson, Seainin Brennan, Pamela Ballentine and Gemma Garrett will be attending. Along with Dublin lass and MTV presenter Laura Whitmore and her boyfriend Coronas front man Danny O’Reilly.

As for the NI lads we have Gerard McCarthy, Jim Eastwood, Terry Bradley, Pete Snodden, Julian Simmons and a whole host of other well know faces and television stars. Have your camera at the ready, because spotting famous faces will certainly be on the cards.

If you think you’ve got what it takes to write for Northern Ireland’s Number One glossy lifestyle and entertainment magazine, we want to hear from you.

Interested parties should email a selection of writing samples and five feature ideas to GO editor, Sinead Doyle at sinead.doyle@pentonpublications.co.uk

The fifth annual Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards 2010 has been a huge success and the gala dinner was attended by more than 350 industry professionals.

Supported by platinum sponsor Cuisine de France, 27 of Ireland’s top independent forecourt and convenience retailers went head to head to land a prestigious industry accolade.

The Awards took place at Dublin’s five-star Shelbourne Hotel – reflective of the first-class service provided by the evening’s 13 category winners and the overall winner, who was crowned Ireland’s Forecourt Retailer of the Year 2010.

Topaz Newlands Cross scooped Newcomer of the Year, sponsored by Maryland, before being crowned Ireland’s Forecourt Retailer of the Year 2010, sponsored by Post Point.

Forecourt Retailer of the Year winner Vlada Tsapova, Manager, Topaz Newlands Cross (centre), with Brian O’Casey, National Account Manager, Cuisine de France (left) and Enda Kelly, Managing Director, PostPoint (right)

Speaking at the awards, Vlada Tsapova, Manager, Topaz Newlands Cross said: “I am absolutely delighted to have won Forecourt Retailer of the Year. Newlands has won a couple of awards tonight but this is the only award I was seriously looking forward to winning. I am just over the moon and I would like to thank my team for all their hard work in achieving this fantastic accolade.”

Enda Kelly, Managing Director, PostPoint, added: “We are delighted to once again be associated with Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards and congratulations to all the winners and finalists. As far as Postpoint is concerned, the IFCR Awards are a major competition in this industry and we are thrilled to be involved.”

With more than 500 individual award entries received from throughout Ireland, being shortlisted for these awards signifies a major achievement for local retailers and oil companies throughout Ireland.

Bill Penton, Publisher, Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer, was delighted with the event, and said: “Now in their fifth year, the awards are growing from strength to strength. I would like to congratulate all our winners on their achievements and also to thank our many sponsors including our platinum sponsors Cuisine de France for their generous support.”

Brian O’Casey, National Account Manager, Cuisine de France added: “As a global company, we are totally committed to the Irish market and are delighted to support Ireland’s Forecourt & Convenience Retailer Awards, which enables us to recognise and support our valued customers.”

Neighbourhood Retailer is delighted to welcome the MS Society Northern Ireland as charity partner for the 2010 Awards. Over the past 12 years, Neighbourhood Retailer has raised in excess of £100,000 for various charities and this year the Awards will aim to help to raise much needed funds and awareness for the MS Society NI.

NR editor Mark White, model Julie Doherty and Frank Boyle, senior commercial manager, Bank of Ireland, Newry, launching the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards 2010

Tom Mallon Fundraising Manager at MS Society Northern Ireland said: “I am absolutely delighted that the MS Society Northern Ireland has been chosen as the partner charity for the 2010 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards and I look forward to working with the event team.

“Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition of the central nervous system. It is the most common disabling neurological disease among young adults and affects more than 4,000 people in Northern Ireland. Once diagnosed, MS stays with the person for life. There is no cure. Few people will be aware that in Northern Ireland we actually have the highest incidence of MS per head of population in the world.”

Tom continued: “Increasing awareness about MS is an important part of the work that we at MSSNI and this partnership not only enable us to increase awareness and understanding of ms but obviously the funds we raise will be invaluable.

“We provide services and support for individuals and families affected by MS across Northern Ireland and the funds raised as a result of this partnership will be used to help fund a number of projects in 2011 focussed primarily on or work with families.

“We offer our sincerest thanks and appreciation to everyone involved in the 2010 Neighbourhood Retailer Awards – here’s to a very successful evening.”

To book your place/table at the Neighbourhood Retailer Awards 2010, simply contact Michelle Morgan on 028 90 457 457 or email michelle.morgan@pentonpublications.co.uk.  Alternatively, visit www.neighbourhoodretailerawards.com

The autumn issue of Ireland’s Wedding Journal is on sale now and is packed with inspiration and ideas for your wedding day and honeymoon, including getting into shape with our exclusive Drop a Dress Size in a Month diet and exercise plan, stunning couture dresses, elegant groomswear, autumn make-up, celebrity weddings, designer interviews and fantastic competitions such as the chance to win a £7,000 wedding and £1,500 of wedding cars…

If there’s one thing that every bride-to-be wants, it’s to look fantastic on her wedding day. Whether it’s losing a few inches or just toning up, getting into shape is a major priority. Wedding Journal has teamed up with nutrition guru, Suzanne Chalkley and fitness expert, Lynne Hanna to devise an exclusive 28-day eating and exercise plan to have you trim and toned in time for your big day.

Starting on page 189, Drop a Dress Size in a Month is based on simple healthy meals and exercises you can do at home. It’s tough, but so worth it.

And once you’ve achieved your ideal shape, what better way to show it off than in a stunning couture dress. Our twelve-page photoshoot on page 74, features some of the most inspiring and gorgeous gowns around at the moment. We haven’t forgotten the boys either – starting on page 139 are twelve-pages of gorgeous groomswear, shot exclusively for WJ inside Crumlin Road Jail.

We’ve also got the cutest children’s wedding wear on pages 124 & 125 and the latest autumn bridal accessories starting on page 108.

Model and former Miss UK Lucy Evangelista tied the knot with Ulster Rugby star Matt McCullough in a stunning ceremony at the Culloden Hotel. Starting on page 24. She talks to Sarah-Jayne Cassells about her dream day in the first of our celebrity wedding features.

Another well-known newly-wed is Fair City actress, Sarah McDowell. Sarah married fiancé Laurence Flood during a three-day celebration at Kilronan Castle, Co Roscommon. Read all about it on page 100.

Also, RTE’s Morning Show host Sybil Mulcahy recalls her hilarious wedding night capers in Wedding Memories on page 132.

We’ve also got a host of exclusive interviews for you to enjoy. On page 36, one of Ireland’s favourite bridal designers, Ian Stuart, tells WJ about Revolution Rocks, his latest amazing collection. Fashion stars of the future, Grainne Maher (millinery) and Nina Divito (shoes) chat about their work and latest designs and John Charles Design Director, Regine Ellis reminisces about her exotic life and gives advice on choosing a mother of the bride outfit.

Celebrity marriage break-ups happen every day, but some stars do actually stay together – check out the A-list couples who’ve lasted the distance on page 95.

If you are having trouble choosing a venue for your reception, Wedding Journal has four of the most spectacular locations in Ireland for you to choose from on page 220 and we’ve asked three of our top chefs to each create an exclusive dessert recipe suitable for a wedding or family get together. See page 234.

Our regular real-life wedding section is a bit special this issue as bridal designer Lizzie Agnew has given WJ exclusive access to pictures of her unusual urban wedding and don’t forget to log on to: www.weddingjournalonline.com and register to win some amazing prizes including, a £7,000 wedding and wedding cars worth £1,500.

Updated daily, www.weddingjournalonline.com is also the place to keep up-to-date with celebrity wedding news, find out about the latest bridal offers and chat and get advice from other brides-to-be in our popular forum.

The company, which owns a diverse portfolio of beer brands including Carling, Coors Light and Grolsch, and is the world’s fifth largest brewer, will take centre stage at this year’s LCN Awards, which take place on Friday 8th October 2010.

Having established its own direct sales and marketing operations in Northern Ireland in March 2010, Molson Coors is now putting its considerable weight behind the search for Northern Ireland’s true hospitality stars, with its guaranteed two-year headline sponsorship of the LCN Awards.

Commenting on the announcement, Bill Penton, publisher of Licensed & Catering News said: “We are delighted to welcome Molson Coors on board as the headline sponsor of the LCN Awards.

“Licensed and Catering News has been championing the industry for 70 years, and the launch of the LCN Awards last year was highly welcomed by the trade, who recognised and applauded our endeavour to provide a positive focal point for the industry, in what is an exceptionally challenging time.

“Molson Coors share our vision to celebrate and reward those businesses and individuals that continue to strive for excellence, and their significant investment in the LCN Awards is testament to their commitment to the Northern Ireland licensed trade.”

The most prestigious Awards for the licensed, catering, tourism and hospitality industry, the Licensed & Catering News Awards in Association with Molson Coors remain the only comprehensive awards for Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry. Independently judged by industry watchdog Spotcheck NI, the Awards will continue to help raise industry standards, rewarding innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and professionalism across all sectors.

Niall Phelan, country manager Ireland, Molson Coors said “We are delighted to be the title sponsors of the Molson Coors Licensed & Catering News Awards 2010. The awards recognise the hard work and dedication of people and businesses within the licensed, catering, hospitality and tourism industry and celebrating the industry is something Molson Coors believes is very important.

“We have enjoyed continued success of our flagship brands – Coors Light, Northern Ireland’s fastest growing bottled beer and Carling which has exceeded all initial sales targets. Having set up our own direct sales and marketing operations in Northern Ireland in March, we are dedicated to supporting the trade and recognising the successes of the industry especially, during such difficult trading conditions, through the Licensed & Catering News Awards in association with Molson Coors 2010.”

Alongside its headline sponsorship of the LCN Awards, Molson Coors’ will also sponsor the Pub of the Year and Publican of the Year Awards, which seek to uncover Northern Ireland’s most successful Pub and Publican, respectively.

Entries have been flooding in since the launch of the 2010 Awards in March. Over 350 entries were received for the LCN Awards in 2009, and with the industry backing the Awards once again, it is anticipated that over 450 entries will be submitted for the LCN Awards 2010.

To enter the LCN Awards 2010, complete and return the entry form in the centre of LCN magazine, or enter online on the dedicated Awards website at www.lcnawards.com Deadline for entries is Wednesday 30th June 2010.

The Molson Coors Licensed & Catering News Awards 2010 will take place on Friday 8th October 2010 at the Ramada Hotel Belfast.

For more information, call Pamela Beers on 028 90 457 457 or log on to www.lcnawards.com

The most prestigious Awards for the licensed, catering, tourism and hospitality industry, the Molson Coors Licensed & Catering News remain the only comprehensive Awards for Northern Ireland’s hospitality industry. Independently judged by industry watchdog Spotcheck NI, the Awards will continue to help raise industry standards, rewarding innovative and entrepreneurial spirit and professionalism across all sectors.

In 2010, Licensed & Catering News celebrates its 70th year in publication. To mark this massive milestone, the LCN Awards 2010 will be adopt a 1940s theme. In keeping with the retro mood, festivities will be hosted by none other than Belfast born comedian and former presenter of Catchphrase Roy Walker – who also celebrates his 70th birthday in 2010.

To enter the LCN Awards 2010, complete and return the entry form in the centre of LCN magazine, or enter online on the dedicated Awards website at www.lcnawards.com Deadline for entries is Wednesday 30th June 2010.

The Molson Coors Licensed & Catering News Awards 2010 will take place on Friday 8th October 2010 at the Ramada Hotel Belfast.

For more information, call Pamela Beers on 028 90 457 457 or log on to www.lcnawards.com