mSS Featured Product, Chesneau Handbag, in Affluent Magazine

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From Affluent magazine:

Go Green.

For a punch of color that's modern, classic and built to last, nothing compares to the chic Kelly green Lotus bag by luxury handbag maker Chesneau. Based in Kilkenny Ireland, Chesneau handbags have a worldwide reputation for high quality craftsmanship and elegant design. The attention to detail that goes into each handbag is evident in this roomy soft shoulder bag made of Kalahari leather. The Lotus bag features the Chesneau brass “ C” plaited secure zip closing, a special leather loop strap feature, functional zip detailing/pockets on each side, an inside zip pocket. The entire bag is leather lined and brass studs protect the bottom of the outside of the bag.

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Take a journey to the Burren this St. Patrick's Day with Sadie Chowen

For those outside Ireland, St. Patrick's Day is known for its grand parades, extravagant floats, marching bands and dancing troupes. Crowds of revelers (often with tenuous claims to Irish ancestry) paint their faces green, put on silly hats and line the streets of great cities. What one doesn't see on the TV is that, alongside the grand spectacles, every small town and village is having its own St. Patrick's Day parade, albeit on a reduced scale. At Kilfenora, a village of perhaps a few hundred people, local organizations like the GAA, the music school, the girl guides, and the nearby schools march or ride on floats, and crowds line the streets and cheer. Never mind that sometimes the paraders outnumber the onlookers, that the floats are thinly disguised tractors and trucks, or that the skirted Irish dancers are stepping and leaping in the teeth of an Atlantic gale, laced with icy rain - these local parades have all the pride, enthusiasm and fun of their televised counterparts in Dublin and Cork, Chicago and New York.

At the Burren Perfumery we are in the heart of a part of Ireland where communities are tight knit and rural and St. Patrick's Day belongs to everyone. Everybody is involved or has a family member who is involved in at least one of the parades and we all arrange our working hours on St. Patrick's weekend so we can cheer on whichever village we have allegiance to. The local villages arrange it so that parades are staggered and floats and children can do double duty when necessary as families are scattered over wide areas. St. Patrick's Day itself is very much a family holiday and a spirit of Irishness, fun and family pervade.

We make the effort at the Perfumery to sport a few festive decorations and welcome many visitors on their way to or back from local parades. It is one of my favorite dates in the Irish calendar, as much for its uncommerciality as its true Irishness. If for any reason you find yourself in Ireland on the 17th March then consider venturing away from the spectacular city parades and join in the fun at one of the many and varied local shows. Generally the village pubs will be full to bursting with locals and their children enjoying the fun and with their usual hospitality will welcome visitors with humor and warmth.