Out And About Archives - Alison Canavan

Inspiration / Motivation, Newsletter, Out And About

FROM HOMELESS TO HOLLYWOOD – MIRACLE MAN

In life our paths cross with certain people who have a massive positive impact on our lives and one of those for me was Glenn Gannon.

Last week I had the honour of attending his book launch “Miracle Man – From Homeless to Hollywood” a book based on his life.

I knew Glenn as an actor & playwright; we trained at The National Performing Arts School at the Factory every Thursday night the school ran by Jill Doyle & Eamon Farrell.

But sharing a stage with Glenn and chatting in the dressing rooms I never knew about a life he once lived on the streets of Dublin. Until he was on the Pat Kenny Show one night on RTE and he was telling his story. The next day I just gave him a big hug. We chatted for hours over a coffee.

He loved the fact I knew him as an actor & playwright and not as a man who was once homeless. People will always ask him questions about his experience and the same happens to me when people find out I was hit by lightning and survived. We as humans are always inquisitive, it’s in our nature. But like me he doesn’t mind talking about it now. In fairness you can’t shut us up.

But at the darkest point in Glenn’s life he was homeless on the streets of Dublin for years. Now he is an ambassador for the Simon Community. Travelling around Ireland talking to school children throughout the country and raising much needed finances for the homeless crisis in Ireland.

He went on to lead a successful career in the arts & moving over to Hollywood to train as an actor. You could listen all day to his stories & passion for the arts & Simon Community. But I urge you to buy his book “Miracle Man – From Homeless to Hollywood”.

Glenn believes in the power of a positive outlook can overcome the darkest of shadows. Glenn is one of many reasons why I still battle on through everyday life. He picked himself up off the ground, off the streets & now he is an author with a book that will stand the test of time.

He often tells me on days of misfortune, or bad luck that “David at the moment you have nothing but you are not minus nothing, you have a bed and a roof over your head tonight” when projects fail, or funding is pulled I beat myself up but then I think of Glenn and “minus nothing” so I shake it off, leave the bad news and misfortune on the ground and I move forward.

Glenn Gannon has overcome the darkest parts of our society being a faceless man fighting for survival on the mean streets of Dublin fighting to live another day.

Now he is a beacon of light, a bundle of love & energy. Now the book is not all doom & gloom but full of Dublin wit and banter with warmth & heart.

So in life we can overcome the shadows and the darkness and achieve our wildest dreams. Like GG living his right now, an author of a book about turning a negative into positive. Shine On Brother – Shine On – So proud of you.

You embrace every meaning of Lightning Positivity.

November 24, 2015/0 Comments/by Alison

Nutrition, Out And About

COUNTER CULTURE MAKES HEALTHY TASTY

If you are in town in the run up to christmas looking for somewhere to eat that’s tasty, healthy and has a great christmas atmosphere you must head to “Counter Culture” in The Powerscourt Center.

Ronan Ryan and Pamela Flood have recently opened a new restaurant which has managed to make healthy tasty which in turn makes healthy cool. One of the biggest lies we have been told is that healthy food is boring which is simply not true as Ronan demonstrates with his food here. For years if you tried any sort of diet it meant bland food and a boring dinner plate tempting you back to your old habits which got you into trouble in the first place.

A healthy lifestyle is not a temporary phase and it should also be tasty and enjoyable. We are told to eat a variety of coloured fresh food every day that appeals to our eye as well our body and health. I have always believed that food is an experience and ‘Counter Culture’ ticks all those boxes and more.

When I popped in last week I had a quick chat with Ronan and here’s what he had to say:
RONAN WHAT INSPIRED THE IDEA FOR COUNTER CULTURE?

I saw a place in Washington called ‘The Protein Bar’ and a friend of mine lived there and was raving about it (so was Oprah!!!) It had substantial healthy cooked to order food as opposed to pre prepared salads.

WHAT DOES THE TERM EATING CLEAN MEAN?

To me it means.. Insecticide free.. Processed food free, sugar free etc.. Freshly prepared really..

WHAT INSPIRED YOUR MENU?

American influence is the main source of ‘ideas’ then just add the Irish local produce to it.

YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE RESTAURANT BUSINESS FOR A LONG TIME IN DUBLIN. HOW HAS IT CHANGED? ARE IRISH PEOPLE NOW MORE HEALTH CONSCIOUS?

There’s a massive difference. We have mostly men coming to us with cholesterol issues or diabetes etc. People are now paying for years of excess. I include myself in that!!!

I have tried quite a few dishes but last week i decided on the delicious baked sea bass fillet above which was served with diced sweet potato and sun dried tomato pesto €15.00. It was a perfect lunchtime meal and I added a smoothie and I might have indulged in a dessert (see below) just to taste obviously and I was not disappointed.

My friend had the vegan salad which had spinach, kale, avocado, quinoa and hempseed pesto (€12.00) and its was so tasty. In fact both were so good we split them to save arguments.

But there is so much to choose from from at Counter Culture theres the veal ragu with Moroccan cous-cous and beetroot salad (12.00), turkey escalope with tossed vegetables and salad (€13.00) and then a delicious vegetarian wholemeal wrap with avocado, cucumber, pesto, leaves and tomato & a cup of soup (€10.00)

For dessert they have great protein energy bites and warmed peanut butter brownie with coconut and berry ice-cream but my favourite part of the menu are their fresh juices and all natural protein shakes which Ronan tells me trainer Paul Byrne from Body Byrne helped him with.

I had an ‘afternoon slump booster’ which I needed badly and it had avocado, almond milk, coconut flesh and premium matcha tea. (€5.00) Everyone knows how much I love my matcha tea and this was a tasty and great twist on my usual matcha latte.

With the shakes you get to choose your base: (€4.00)

Almond milk, coconut milk, soy or cows milk
Add peanut butter or almond butter
Then they add chis seeds, pinhead porridge oats , whey
Add fresh strawberries or 85% dark chocolate to make a strawberry of chocolate shake

So really there is something for everyone but don’t take my word for it pop into The Powerscourt Townhouse Center yourself on the top floor. Believe me there is no better way to get renergised for the day!