Posted in great irish bands, irishness, irish culture, Irish music on Nov 13th, 2008 2 Comments »
I’m hoping to have a retrospective of Barry McCormack’s work soon for Dublin Opinion. In the meantime I just want to highlight his gig tonight in Crawdaddy, on the occasion of the launch of his new album, Night Visiting.
Songs from the new album are available for listening on his myspace profile.
Barry’s older work is […]
Posted in irish culture, irishness, Fianna Fáil, Irish Society, Irish Diaspora, Ireland, politics/Ireland, Politics on Jun 18th, 2008 No Comments »
NONE of Foreign Minister Micheal Martin’s EU counterparts blame the Government for the crisis caused by the ‘No’ vote on the Lisbon Treaty, he said yesterday.”
As Ciarán Fitzgerald famously said, “where’s your fucking pride?”
So the EU doesn’t blame Micheál Martin. That’s the big message he brought back from Europe. Well, that’s what matters, I suppose. […]
Posted in great irish bands, irishness, Irish working Class Culture, Art, poetry on Apr 20th, 2008 3 Comments »
(Photo by Graham Keogh.)
A lot has been written about Jinx Lennon. All positive, and all well-deserved. A true original voice. He’s been the subject of RTE’s Arts Lives, clips from which are available on YouTube here.
From his website biog:
Jinx takes the word singer songwriter,douses it liberally with petrol lights it up and then takes a […]
Posted in RTE, irishness, irish culture, Irish Society, Film on Mar 20th, 2008 19 Comments »
I tied up my hands
With the chains of loneliness
I will miss you no more
I put my memory into disrepair
Under the weight of forgetfulness
I will long for you no more
Now I send you my heart
In this dish of poetry
So that I won’t fall in love with you
Again
These are the words with which Neasa Ni Chianain […]
Posted in irishness, irish culture, Irish Diaspora on Mar 15th, 2008 4 Comments »
During the entire day the state of the city was remarkable for the appearance of tranquillity and order which the streets presented. There was no fighting, and not even the most trifling disturbance was reported. In this respect the day will bear a favourable comparison with previous anniversaries. At night there was little drunkenness and […]
Posted in Irish journalism, irishness, irish culture, Irish Middle Class, Art on Mar 2nd, 2008 9 Comments »
Karen Dervan is not well.
In today’s Sunday Tribune review section she tells us that her blood is boiling. The reason is simple: Glen Hansard and his “make art” speech at the Oscars.
There are Irish artists struggling to “make art” every day, artists who will most likely never earn any recognition for their efforts until, […]
Posted in great irish bands, irishness, Irish working Class Culture on Feb 22nd, 2008 6 Comments »
For what use is anything
If I don’t have the wisdom and warmth
Of my past generations
If I need strength
To take bad on,
I just look back to
where I came from. (My national pride)
Formed in 1978 by Kevin Rowland, Al Archer and Pete Williams, Dexy´s Midnight Runner´s first hit was “Burn it down”, a song that looked at […]
Posted in Cork, great irish bands, irishness, irish culture, Irish music on Nov 18th, 2007 3 Comments »
I think that you’re a nice girl,
I’ll take you home and meet my daddy,
And he’ll make a nice cup of tea.” (Elephants For Fun and Profit)
The search for Stump got me thinking about Finbarr Donnelly and Five Go Down To The Sea? Finbarr was the subject of a documentary broadcast on Cork Community Radio a […]
Fishes For Compliments: Play Now | Play in Popup Elephants for Fun and Profit: Play Now | Play in Popup There's a Fish on Top of Shandon (Swears he's Elvis): Play Now | Play in Popup Why Wait Until April: Play Now | Play in PopupPosted in great irish bands, irishness, Irish music on Nov 17th, 2007 3 Comments »
How much is the fish?
How much is the chips?
Does the fish have chips?” (Buffalo)
you know, there’s a lot to be said for dropping this whole tenuous link with reality that the Irish have nurtured in the past ten years or so and just get back to the brass tacks of Irishness: you know, being fucking […]
Posted in irishness, irish culture, Irish working Class Culture, Film, Ireland on Nov 13th, 2007 5 Comments »
This article owes its existence to two things: one is the situationist ideas of René Viénet; the other is Sinéad Gleeson. Recently, Sinéad had a post on Irish film, and mused on a possible definition of what constitutes an Irish film.
If it’s made by Hollywood is it Irish? Does it have to be set here? […]