Excursion in Dublin

So I went to Dublin, this Saturday, leaving the west for a tour in the big city... drop my car at the infamous red cow roundabout and took the luas for the town ( the best way to spend a day in Dublin, and not being bothered by your car).
As soon as i went through Temple Bar a strange feeling took control...

Yep french-attitude, the street were full of french tourist, students, I probably headed to the wrong part of the city between the Temple Bar Food Market to pay my homage to sir rory
and the Irish film Institute who is organizing this month a French Film Festival.
Did not have time to go to Howth as planned (next time).

As a result, during the all afternoon, I heard principally french followed by Italian and finally some english.

But where there the Irish ?

Actually they were all in the pubs, in great expectation of the: Ireland vs New-Zealand rugby game in Croke Park.
It did not turn out to be a success, as Ireland failed to beat the All-Blacks, again in 22 games, Ireland only manage to get one draw and 21 defeats.
All hopes are now on the shoulder of might Munster.

[FR] En avant la musique...

Noir Désir is back with some new music, you can see it there: Site Officiel http://www.noirdez.com/.

I want snow....

Please....

Feud

In those doom and gloom times, while Limerick was preparing itself for the replay of the big game, there is one word I wished would not appear: feud.
Last Sunday an innocent man died in a usually quiet area of Limerick, not very far from where I used to live. After a 6 months break, a 14th life has been claimed by the feud between rivals drug gangs of the city. This time, the victim is not even remotely related to the gang activities, but it was also the case for the burn children. Seems Saint Liam is replacing the saint patron of the city.
Limerick has a drug problem, actually Ireland too ( Cork and Dublin are no better ), with a very exposed coast ( 8 vessels to protect a 1,970.5 miles coast ), which means it's a gateway for drug coming from seas (this month another yacht full of drugs has been catch on the cork coast of Ireland ), and a sadly growing population of consumers.

The Limerick Blogger has more on this issue, with reactions of people of Limerick.

Note: There will be a march organized in Limerick: start at Perry Square, at 2pm on Saturday the 15th of November.

Addendum: The Limerick blogger community has been quite active, over the event.

Bock the robber

lo que dice candela (spanish blog)

Looking forward 2009

In those depressing time, where everybody's talking about recession, something to look forward in 2009, the next Pixar movie Up:



(From Trailer Addict)

Top ten things to do in Ireland

Recently Alison Curtis on her Today FM show, listed with the help of the listeners the top 10 things to do in Ireland, and this is what they came up with:

Top 10 things to do in Ireland before You Die
10. Wake Up Beside a Galway Girl
9. Visit Newgrange
8. Road Bowling
7. Pint in the Grave Diggers Glasnevin
6. Climb Carrintool
5. See a gig in De Barras Clonakilty
4. Paddys day in Doolin
3. Go to the Ploughing Championships
2. Attend the Culchie Festival
1. Watch an All Ireland Hurling Final in Croke Park

I personally only manage to do only one of those ( number 9, and it was worth it ) in the list.
So here's my personal top ten:

11. Listen ghost stories in Kinsale.
10. Watch the sunset over Rock of Cashel.
9. Circumnavigate Ireland in a sea kayak.
8. A night out in a Doolin or Brandon pub.
7. Spend a night on one of the Aran Island, after a day of cycling, you'll enjoy the best guinness in the world.
6. Watch a hurling game in Croke Park ( an all Ireland final would be a best, but even the club final on Paddys day is interesting ).
5. Visit Newgrange ( Ideally, on a solstice day, but you have to be drafted ).
4. Drink a pint in the South Pole Inn, on your way to Dingle.
3. Have an unexpected encounter with dolphins on the west coast of Ireland ( can be expanded to seal and basking sharks).
2. Climb all the way up to the Skelligs.
1. Participate to a Currach race down in Kerry or a Galway Hooker race up to the Arans.

Tom Crean

English: Photo of Tom Crean taken aboard the Endurance, 1914.

I went to the theater last night to see a wonderful performance about Tom Crean, at the Belltable. I've already talked about him in a previous post.

He went three times to the South Pole with Scott and Shackleton, and survive all of them.
Terrific story, remarkably brought to life with some humor by the comedian Aidan Dooley. The piece is called : "Tom Crean - Antarctic Explorer" (Written and Performed by Aidan Dooley).

There is a highly recommended book by Smith, Michael: Tom Crean: Unsung Hero ( Mountaineers Books ).

And if you're on your way to Dingle, don't forget to stop in Anascaul, and have a pint in the blue pub after the bridge: the South Pole Inn.