Thursday, September 30, 2004
"Fortunately, somewhere between chance and mystery lies imagination, the only thing that protects our freedom, despite the fact that people keep trying to reduce it or kill it off altogether." - Luis Buñuel
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Currently reading "Call Me The Breeze" by Pat McCabe. However my struggle with “Ulysses” continues. At times it resembles a war of attrition. I'll get there in the end though.
Thursday, September 23, 2004
There's nothing like spending an hour or so over a coffee in Simons Cafe in Georges Street. I'm still smothering with a cold (cough, cough, sneeze). Anyone got any recommendations for the Dublin Theatre Festival?
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Well wouldn't you know. It's cold and miserable and I've got a cold and I'm miserable. Not to mention the fact that Man U beat Liverpool 2-1 on Monday night. And the less said about St. Pats the better. (Beaten 3-1 by Shelbourne on Monday also and two players sent off).
Below is a poem by WB Yeats. It's entitled "Politics". This poem often comes to mind whenever I go into to Winding Stair Bookshop and Cafe.
- Politics
How can I,
that girl standing there,
My attention fix
On Roman or on Russian
Or on Spanish politics?
Yet here's a travelled man that knows
What he talks about,
And there's a politician
That has read and thought,
And maybe what they say is true
Of war and war's alarms,
But O that I were young again
And held her in my arms!
Below is a poem by WB Yeats. It's entitled "Politics". This poem often comes to mind whenever I go into to Winding Stair Bookshop and Cafe.
- Politics
How can I,
that girl standing there,
My attention fix
On Roman or on Russian
Or on Spanish politics?
Yet here's a travelled man that knows
What he talks about,
And there's a politician
That has read and thought,
And maybe what they say is true
Of war and war's alarms,
But O that I were young again
And held her in my arms!
Sunday, September 19, 2004
Sarajevo by night
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Guernica by P. Picasso
Monday, September 13, 2004
Hey here I am in Madrid sheltering from the sun which makes a nice change to sheltering from the rain you get enough of that in Dublin throughout the year.
I've been relaxing around Madrid, taking it easy, enjoying the lie in´s and the food, not to mention the one or two drinks at night. D´s floor is as comfortable as ever, though last night he decided to redesign his room so it was fun moving tables, chairs and a press from one side to another. But I can´t complain as D is the most cordial of hosts. I can come and go as I want with no prohibitions. What more could you ask for.
When I was here in March I got to see all three main galleries in Madrid, to tell the truth the Prado wore me down, "Gosh there´s yet another masterpiece", was my reaction. On this occasion I´m here to relax and enjoy myself, though in saying that I´ve not ruled out culture. Friday I went to the Sofia with the intention of seeing once more Picasso´s masterpiece "Guernica". In all probability I´m talking gibberish here but "Guernica" is an almighty powerful painting in size, stature and content. A book entitled "Picasso´s War" tells the story of the painter and his creation. A wonderful read. Interesting to note that when C. Powell addressed the UN attempting to justify a war on Iraq a representation of "Guernica" which hangs in the main hall of the UN general assembly was covered over. The power of art.
Other wise I´ve been rambling about this wonderous city in particular the Parque del Rio, reading a book and taking it all in. D alas has to go to work. The book I´m reading is "Paris Interzone" by James Campbell. It´s subject is the literary scene in Paris between 1945 and 1960. A very importanty time in terms of literature.
Ok what else. Well the Cafe Commercial here in Madrid is well worth a visit. Get the brown line (line 4) to Bilbao and there ya go.
Oh yes I´ve discovered that the Irish pubs in Madrid are a sham. On Sunday I went into two hoping they might be showing the All-Ireland. Well they didn´t. Both had Spurs and Norwich. Cork won anyway so congrats to them.
Thats all for now.
Adios.
I've been relaxing around Madrid, taking it easy, enjoying the lie in´s and the food, not to mention the one or two drinks at night. D´s floor is as comfortable as ever, though last night he decided to redesign his room so it was fun moving tables, chairs and a press from one side to another. But I can´t complain as D is the most cordial of hosts. I can come and go as I want with no prohibitions. What more could you ask for.
When I was here in March I got to see all three main galleries in Madrid, to tell the truth the Prado wore me down, "Gosh there´s yet another masterpiece", was my reaction. On this occasion I´m here to relax and enjoy myself, though in saying that I´ve not ruled out culture. Friday I went to the Sofia with the intention of seeing once more Picasso´s masterpiece "Guernica". In all probability I´m talking gibberish here but "Guernica" is an almighty powerful painting in size, stature and content. A book entitled "Picasso´s War" tells the story of the painter and his creation. A wonderful read. Interesting to note that when C. Powell addressed the UN attempting to justify a war on Iraq a representation of "Guernica" which hangs in the main hall of the UN general assembly was covered over. The power of art.
Other wise I´ve been rambling about this wonderous city in particular the Parque del Rio, reading a book and taking it all in. D alas has to go to work. The book I´m reading is "Paris Interzone" by James Campbell. It´s subject is the literary scene in Paris between 1945 and 1960. A very importanty time in terms of literature.
Ok what else. Well the Cafe Commercial here in Madrid is well worth a visit. Get the brown line (line 4) to Bilbao and there ya go.
Oh yes I´ve discovered that the Irish pubs in Madrid are a sham. On Sunday I went into two hoping they might be showing the All-Ireland. Well they didn´t. Both had Spurs and Norwich. Cork won anyway so congrats to them.
Thats all for now.
Adios.
Thursday, September 09, 2004
!Hola from Madrid¡ just after having breakfast and am taking it easy. Last night I went to the Irish bar to watch the Ireland, Switzerland game, a 1-1 draw. Guess what they had no Guinness. Oh my God how terrible. Despite that it was wonderful to wake up and not have to wonder about the rain, though when I was here in March it snowed. So there ya go. D is in good form and as cordial as ever. Will blog again soon.
!Adios¡
!Adios¡
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Well here I am in Dublin airport an hour or so till take off. As usual way tooo much packed but so what. Anyway will blog from Madrid hopefully. Adios!
Friday, September 03, 2004
Madrid here I come. Booked the tickets last night over the web. A week on D’s floor is on. I fly next Wednesday. Yip ya. A good way to end whats already been a wonderful and rewarding summer.
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Dublin dockside dark and overcast
Again near Windmill Lane former recording studio
Windmill Lane again
From Windmill Lane Dublin, where U2 recorded many of their albums
Seeing red today with the headline in the Irish Indo. “GAA in favour of playing at new €300million Lansdowne”.
The headline is in reference to a statement made by the Minister for Sport zero tolerance (intelligence) John O’Donoghue stating that he had been in contact with the GAA and they would be delighted to play in a new re-developed Lansdowne Road.
In the meantime while Lansdowne Road is under reconstruction the football and rugby teams who represent Ireland will be playing home games in England or Wales. All the while the GAA’s Croke Park will be sitting vacant no “foreign games” allowed.
I’ll climb down from this high horse now. My rant is over!
The headline is in reference to a statement made by the Minister for Sport zero tolerance (intelligence) John O’Donoghue stating that he had been in contact with the GAA and they would be delighted to play in a new re-developed Lansdowne Road.
In the meantime while Lansdowne Road is under reconstruction the football and rugby teams who represent Ireland will be playing home games in England or Wales. All the while the GAA’s Croke Park will be sitting vacant no “foreign games” allowed.
I’ll climb down from this high horse now. My rant is over!
T whom I wrote about in a previous post has resigned. He sent around an email apologising for leaving. He's got nothing to apologise about as far as I'm concerned. T done a wonderful job in the group and we're all volunteers anyway so we shouldn't feel guilty about walking away.
Speaking of AI an exhibition will be launched at 6.30 on September 16th in the AI cafe in Fleet Street concerning post conflict Rwanda. It's the tenth anniversary of the genocide this year. Everyone taking part in this exhibit found it to be a daunting task as the material available had to be handled with the utmost sensitivity. Not to mention the fact that in some cases there were contradictory facts and figures.For the next year then the exhibit is scheduled to tour local libraries throughout the country.
Speaking of AI an exhibition will be launched at 6.30 on September 16th in the AI cafe in Fleet Street concerning post conflict Rwanda. It's the tenth anniversary of the genocide this year. Everyone taking part in this exhibit found it to be a daunting task as the material available had to be handled with the utmost sensitivity. Not to mention the fact that in some cases there were contradictory facts and figures.For the next year then the exhibit is scheduled to tour local libraries throughout the country.
Wednesday, September 01, 2004
The Scream
Change, change. All is change on the web as in life. Annette and Mary have both changed their URL’s. The Gravedigger’s blog is no more and Occasional Victories hasn’t been updated in quite some time. Salem Pax is back in action in a manner of speaking.
I’ve always felt a bit awkward when writing something really personal on this blog. I always think “My God what am I letting myself in for?” Once I wrote about the Magdalene Laundries and on seeing it published felt very very unsettled. I’m happiest with sport, social commentary and sarcastic political thought.
Those people who can freely put their inner most thoughts, feelings and emotions on the web I salute and send you my admiration. My blog is full of A’s B’s C’s D’s G’s and I’s. In short people whom I’m reluctant to name. For some strange reason most of my old girlfriends are C’s. Though the right one at the time was I.
I hadn’t really intended for this to be a kind of confessional blog more of what’s happening about and around me. But things develop and change.
Three days till my hols.
I’ve always felt a bit awkward when writing something really personal on this blog. I always think “My God what am I letting myself in for?” Once I wrote about the Magdalene Laundries and on seeing it published felt very very unsettled. I’m happiest with sport, social commentary and sarcastic political thought.
Those people who can freely put their inner most thoughts, feelings and emotions on the web I salute and send you my admiration. My blog is full of A’s B’s C’s D’s G’s and I’s. In short people whom I’m reluctant to name. For some strange reason most of my old girlfriends are C’s. Though the right one at the time was I.
I hadn’t really intended for this to be a kind of confessional blog more of what’s happening about and around me. But things develop and change.
Three days till my hols.
