A Random Drop Inn: Doyles

This place has always been a sort of unofficial Trinity student bar. It is a favourite post college boozer of the Trinity faithful, or in some cases a favourite between lectures haven. Downstairs is cozy, often quiet and the Guinness good. Upstairs? I’ve not been in a while. The night before Halloween seems as good [...]

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The Irish Revolution (Rare pictures)

While reading Francis Costello’s excellent The Irish Revolution and its Aftermath, 1916-1923, I came across these three fantastic pictures. What struck me first was that the fact that I didn’t recognise any of them. The second thing that was surprising was that I couldn’t find any of the pictures online after a rake of google [...]

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They Think It’s All Over (It actually is)

What’s another year? Hard to believe another season of football in the capital is over. This is the time of year when many will go into hibernation, unimpressed by antics across the sea. For me, it’s a time to turn to Scotland, but it’s not the same really is it? Below, to mark the end [...]

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Brother, can you spare a dime….

DCTV are still knocking these out, excellent weekly ‘Dole TV’ pieces. This episode makes for particularly interesting viewing, with someone on hand from the Liberty Citizens Information Centre to explain just how you actually do go about applying for the big D. The usual mix of news, politics, humour and music features.

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Thomas Farren (1880-1955)

An interesting character I came across while reading Liam Cahill’s ‘Forgotten Revolution: Limerick Soviet 1919′. Farren was one four trade union leaders who traveled to Dublin to offer their support. He is described as having ‘had taken part in the 1916 Rising and was one of a group of trade union leaders with nationalist sympathies [...]

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The Beautiful Game- Ballyfermot Late Night League.

Ballyfermot Late Night League is being run in conjunction with the BASE youth Centre at Kylemore Park on Thursday nights at the following times. Times: 6pm to 7pm (12 to 13years old) 8pm to 10pm 14 to 17years old If interested pleae contact The BASE Damien Finneran or FAIDCC Michael Moore on 087 9805772. Late [...]

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Frank Harte- Singing Voices

“Luke (Kelly) also opened our eyes to the working class songs from the north of England. Songs that we never knew existed before. The geordie songs. The songs of the miners….” One of my biggest regrets of the summer just gone is missing the excellent Frank Harte Festival, a tribute to one of the cities [...]

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Dusty books on dusty shelves.

Inspired by a post here yesterday on the upcoming Cor Klaasen exhibition from the Vintage Irish Book Covers blog, the younger brother has taken the initiative to upload some bookcovers from our own collection. There are a rake more to follow. You can see the first few here.

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I had a dream last night

I had a dream last night. It went like this. Its a cold, dark Friday evening;  I am in Dalymount Park, on the steps of Block G in the Jodi Stand. With ten minutes to go in the League of Ireland’s last round of games, Shamrock Rovers are trailing 2 – 1 to Bray in the Carlisle Grounds and [...]

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RTE to show Shamrock Rovers versus Bray Wanderers

Airtricity League Premier Division leaders Shamrock Rovers’ clash with Bray Wanderers will be shown live on RTÉ television and to a worldwide audience on RTÉ.ie/sport. If Rovers win the match, which will be screened on RTÉ Two and on RTÉ.ie, they will secure their first league win in 16 years, while a draw should also [...]

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Cor Klaasen exhibition from the Vintage Irish Book Covers blog.

One of the highlights of Culture Night for me was an excellent exhibition of vintage Irish bookcovers from Niall McCormack’s collection. In my own house we’ve an impressive enough collection of O’ Casey’s, O’ Faolain’s and O’ Flaherty’s, but nothing near the excellent collection McCormack has built up. I have been attempting to bully the [...]

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Game On! Review

The Barbican Art Gallery in London had a real brain wave with this one. Like footage of Italia 90 or the times when you spent more time in the air than in the airport, people are nostalgic for classic video games to say the least. I actually still have a Sega Mega Drive upstairs, and [...]

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