Arthur Scargill To Speak in Dublin tomorrow.

Arthur Scargill, the (in)famous trade union leader of the National Union of Miners, is to address the upcoming May Day rally in Dublin. There is something about seeing Scargill speak that makes you feel almost entitled to a badge yourself, like you’ve ticked something off some imaginary list. He is, afterall, renowned for his ability [...]

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“The Saints” (Sunday 30th August 1981) St. Patricks Athletic F.C versus Shamrock Rovers F.C

“Since the end of last season I have been acquiring new players: three are local lads from junior clubs- Billy Reid (Fatima Rangers) Paul McGrath (Dalkey United) and John Cleary (Ballyfermot Utd.)” Ooh Ah Paul McGrath. With “..a bit of time and encouragement” he won’t be a half bad player. Not a bad call. This [...]

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A plaque on Henry Street you’ve probably walked past.

Plaque to mark the home and business premises of Jennie Wyse Power at 21 Henry Street, put in place in 1991 by the 1916-21 Club. Jennie Wyse Power operated a restaurant and shop (The Irish Farm Produce Company) at 21 Henry Street. She lived above it. She was a veteran of the nationalist movement, having [...]

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Punky Reggae Party (Vol. 7)

This Friday sees the seventh installation of the Punky Reggae Party. It will be my last blow out before my summer university exams, so hope to see you there.

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Woody Allen: Part One.

” I think people should mate for life, like pigeons or Catholics.” Woody Allen’s Manhattan is one of my favourite films. Most student flats I’ve entered seem to boast a copy, and it is just as bittersweet as you’d expect. I put off watching it for a long, long time. It made it’s way into [...]

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“Dublin ‘Red’ Headquarters Set On Fire, Twenty Injured In Riots”

I’ve had the image below for quite a well now, a fantastic old press snap of two Gardaí inside Connolly House (located on Great Strand Street) after the attack on the premises in March 1933 by an anti-communist mob. Accounts of the night are always chaotic, for example in Pat Feeley’s wonderful article “The Siege [...]

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Swastika Laundry (1912 – 1987)

The Swastika Laundry operated from the Shelbourne Road in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 for 75 years. It was founded by John W. Brittain (1872 – 1937) from Manorhamilton, Co. Leitrim who was one of the “pioneers of the laundry business in Ireland” having founded the Metropolitian and White Heather Laundries in 1899. He was also the [...]

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Ghost-ly Estates

With the government set to introduce measures to tackle the growing problem of ghost and unfinished estates that have blighted many parts of the country, I’ve been musing over a few pieces that discuss how many vacant or half built estates there are out there. And to be honest, the result is shocking; It does go someway [...]

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The Sweet Life will make your day.

I don’t swing through George’s Street Arcade as much as I should, to be honest. Some of my favourite records (Yes, records), books, clothes and other odds and ends came from that place. It normally involves having a bit of time to root, and maybe it is a matter of time. Us Arts students are [...]

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A Terrible (Yet Somewhat Compelling) Children’s DIY Film Is Born.

Ah, Mr. Duignan. What were you at. Quite the find this. Using a variety of Windows Movie Maker sound effects, toy guns that make noise and doing their best not to laugh and ruin the whole thing, this effort is crude, historically all over the shop and a bit strange. Still, it is compelling, and [...]

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“Sean Fitzpatrick- Guilty Of Treason”

“A number of people are occupying the head offices of the Anglo-Irish Bank in central Dublin” BBC News, 10:54 this morning. Just a few snaps from today, when Eirigi activists staged a sit in at Anglo Irish Bank, grabbing media attention for most of the day. I was nearby at the National Museum so swung [...]

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Bit of red.

Passing the Sean Russell statue in the car, noticed this. A serious glisten of it from the road grabbed my attention. Is it the remains of the last attack, from the ‘day of the swastikas’, or something new? In retrospect,the serious glisten off the statue could be the result of an attempted clean up, for [...]

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