Monday, January 30, 2006
I had a real cinema weekend this weekend. First of all I went to see Jarhead, which despite the bad reviews was a lot better than what I expected. A lot of fine performances portraying the life of American marines during Gulf War 1.
Trip number two was A Bittersweet Life. Korean cinema at its finest.
Trip number two was A Bittersweet Life. Korean cinema at its finest.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
"Aisle" by John Berger and Marisa CaminoMonday, January 16, 2006
To all our friends in Bosnia we wish Bajram Serif Mubarek Olsun.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Issue two of the Paris Bitter Hearts Pit, containing short stories by Paul Ewan and Lee Rourke, an extract from Matt Thorne’s forthcoming novel “Privacy”, as well as poetry by Tony O’Neill and Jacob Sam-La Rose amongst others, is currently available in Anthology Books in Meeting House Square, Dublin. Cost: zilch, nada, nothing, €0. Highly recommended cutting edge writing.
Speaking of highly recommended and something we neglected to mention, Freakshow Book 2, written by Rob Curley and drawn by Stephen Mooney, is currently on sale in all good shops in Dublin.
Finally keep a look out in late February early March as Rob Curley, in partnership with Amnesty International Ireland, will be producing a collection of graphic stories based on the theme of human rights. Watch this space for further information.
Speaking of highly recommended and something we neglected to mention, Freakshow Book 2, written by Rob Curley and drawn by Stephen Mooney, is currently on sale in all good shops in Dublin.
Finally keep a look out in late February early March as Rob Curley, in partnership with Amnesty International Ireland, will be producing a collection of graphic stories based on the theme of human rights. Watch this space for further information.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Currently listening to
Friday, January 06, 2006
I’ve just been ‘memed’ to coin a phrase by Pampooties. It’s the five weird habits meme. Ok here goes....
The first player of this game starts with the topic “five weird habits ofyourself,” and people who get tagged need to write an entry about their fiveweird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choosethe next five people to be tagged and link to their web journals. Don’t forgetto leave a comment in their blog or journal that says “You are tagged” (assumingthey take comments) and tell them to read yours.
1. I can’t save money. Money has to be spent, got rid of, disposed of in the quickest way possible. Money left lying in my pocket gets on my nerves. Get rid of the money quick it’s killing me having it around. Inevitably I end up asking myself the question, what did I spend the cash on?
2. I hardly ever listen to an album straight through. I continually skip through tracks. I listen to the first minuet of a track, if I like it well then all well and good, if not then I move onto the next one. This means that it might take me months or years to listen to every track on an album.
3. A strange tendency to have long rambling argumentative conversations with myself. This happens mostly on a weekday morning and start with something along the lines of “Oh no not work again. Why?”. Conventional wisdom tells us that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, perhaps. Personally I believe that you couldn’t talk to a better or more intelligent friend.
4. Most of my reading take place in the bathroom not for the obvious reasons but because it’s the quietest room in the house. There I cannot be reached by noise emanating from bland programmes on tv. This inevitably leads to arguments and concerns ranging from, he’s been in there ages, to, everything alright in there?
5. I keep telling everybody that League of Ireland football really isn’t that bad. The game played on the shamrock shore is still the beautiful game. Just open your eyes and see. Usually by this stage I’m left standing on my own in the pub.
I know this is a bit of a cop out, but is there anyone left out there to meme?
The first player of this game starts with the topic “five weird habits ofyourself,” and people who get tagged need to write an entry about their fiveweird habits as well as state this rule clearly. In the end, you need to choosethe next five people to be tagged and link to their web journals. Don’t forgetto leave a comment in their blog or journal that says “You are tagged” (assumingthey take comments) and tell them to read yours.
1. I can’t save money. Money has to be spent, got rid of, disposed of in the quickest way possible. Money left lying in my pocket gets on my nerves. Get rid of the money quick it’s killing me having it around. Inevitably I end up asking myself the question, what did I spend the cash on?
2. I hardly ever listen to an album straight through. I continually skip through tracks. I listen to the first minuet of a track, if I like it well then all well and good, if not then I move onto the next one. This means that it might take me months or years to listen to every track on an album.
3. A strange tendency to have long rambling argumentative conversations with myself. This happens mostly on a weekday morning and start with something along the lines of “Oh no not work again. Why?”. Conventional wisdom tells us that talking to yourself is the first sign of madness, perhaps. Personally I believe that you couldn’t talk to a better or more intelligent friend.
4. Most of my reading take place in the bathroom not for the obvious reasons but because it’s the quietest room in the house. There I cannot be reached by noise emanating from bland programmes on tv. This inevitably leads to arguments and concerns ranging from, he’s been in there ages, to, everything alright in there?
5. I keep telling everybody that League of Ireland football really isn’t that bad. The game played on the shamrock shore is still the beautiful game. Just open your eyes and see. Usually by this stage I’m left standing on my own in the pub.
I know this is a bit of a cop out, but is there anyone left out there to meme?
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Pat Tierney Remembered
Who out there remembers Pat Tierney? Who can recall Pat Tierney, diminutive in stature, gigantic in spirit standing in Grafton Street reciting poetry to the passing populous? Who would have stopped to listen as his belted out poems by Yeats and Kavanagh and Clarke? Who would have seen the vitality he breathed into the written word like the seanachai of old?
Pat Tierney was born on the 7th of January 1957 in Galway city. His mother, who was 17 years of age gave birth out of wedlock, which at the time was seen as not being socially correct. From a very young age Pat was shunted from religious institution to institution before ending up in St. Patricks institution (prison) for young offenders. In St. Patricks, Pat made contact with his family in England and on release he travelled to England to meet them and for a reunion with his mother.
Unfortunately this reunion did not work out and after a run in with the law Pat was deported back to Ireland. Pat didn’t remain long in Ireland before leaving for America. He travelled extensively around the United States residing in Michigan, Wyoming, California and Florida. In each place Pat played an active part in the social and cultural life of the Irish American community.
However Pat did encounter the dark side of life with excessive drinking and intravenous drug use which was later to come back to haunt him.
Pat’s final journeying in the New World took him to rural New Foundland where he discovered the joy and freedom which poetry can be. Indeed he became something of a local celebrity in Newfoundland appearing on the radio and TV. However his stay in New Foundland was cut short when local authorities began to investigate his status in the country. In fact Pat was in the country illegally and had to get out of the country quick.
He decided to return once more to Ireland.
Upon returning Pat decided to take poetry to the people and started reciting poems in Henry Street but due to a lack of response he moved his patch to Grafton Street. Pat moved into Ballymun on Dublin’s northside and became active in various community activities throughout the area. He published several chapbooks containing his poems as well as an autobiography entitled "The Moon On My Back", which tells of his life story.
Not afraid of the limelight, Pat used the media to highlight his story and the many causes he worked for and promoted.
The story for Pat did not have a happy ending. He returned to England in order to make a final effort at reconciliation with his mother but this did not happen. Finally as a result of his intravenous drug use and sharing dirty needles, Pat was diagnosed as being HIV positive.
Seemingly undeterred Pat continued working on several community projects as well as with the Dublin Aids alliance. "The Moon On My Back" was adapted for stage by Pat and seemingly ran successfully for a while in Dublin. A second autobiography was planned and on the surface all was well. This however was not the case.
Pat’s health worsened. The play was not the commercial success Pat needed and he ended up getting into debt. Debts he could not afford to have. The second autobiography did not materialise.
On the night of January 5th 1996, disheartened by his apparent failures and a rapid decline in his health, Pat Tierney took his own life.
Pat Tierney on the 10th anniversary of your death, you are not forgotten.
Who out there remembers Pat Tierney? Who can recall Pat Tierney, diminutive in stature, gigantic in spirit standing in Grafton Street reciting poetry to the passing populous? Who would have stopped to listen as his belted out poems by Yeats and Kavanagh and Clarke? Who would have seen the vitality he breathed into the written word like the seanachai of old?
Pat Tierney was born on the 7th of January 1957 in Galway city. His mother, who was 17 years of age gave birth out of wedlock, which at the time was seen as not being socially correct. From a very young age Pat was shunted from religious institution to institution before ending up in St. Patricks institution (prison) for young offenders. In St. Patricks, Pat made contact with his family in England and on release he travelled to England to meet them and for a reunion with his mother.
Unfortunately this reunion did not work out and after a run in with the law Pat was deported back to Ireland. Pat didn’t remain long in Ireland before leaving for America. He travelled extensively around the United States residing in Michigan, Wyoming, California and Florida. In each place Pat played an active part in the social and cultural life of the Irish American community.
However Pat did encounter the dark side of life with excessive drinking and intravenous drug use which was later to come back to haunt him.
Pat’s final journeying in the New World took him to rural New Foundland where he discovered the joy and freedom which poetry can be. Indeed he became something of a local celebrity in Newfoundland appearing on the radio and TV. However his stay in New Foundland was cut short when local authorities began to investigate his status in the country. In fact Pat was in the country illegally and had to get out of the country quick.
He decided to return once more to Ireland.
Upon returning Pat decided to take poetry to the people and started reciting poems in Henry Street but due to a lack of response he moved his patch to Grafton Street. Pat moved into Ballymun on Dublin’s northside and became active in various community activities throughout the area. He published several chapbooks containing his poems as well as an autobiography entitled "The Moon On My Back", which tells of his life story.
Not afraid of the limelight, Pat used the media to highlight his story and the many causes he worked for and promoted.
The story for Pat did not have a happy ending. He returned to England in order to make a final effort at reconciliation with his mother but this did not happen. Finally as a result of his intravenous drug use and sharing dirty needles, Pat was diagnosed as being HIV positive.
Seemingly undeterred Pat continued working on several community projects as well as with the Dublin Aids alliance. "The Moon On My Back" was adapted for stage by Pat and seemingly ran successfully for a while in Dublin. A second autobiography was planned and on the surface all was well. This however was not the case.
Pat’s health worsened. The play was not the commercial success Pat needed and he ended up getting into debt. Debts he could not afford to have. The second autobiography did not materialise.
On the night of January 5th 1996, disheartened by his apparent failures and a rapid decline in his health, Pat Tierney took his own life.
Pat Tierney on the 10th anniversary of your death, you are not forgotten.
