Thursday, July 25, 2013
Opera in the Open - August 2013 in Dublin's Civic Offices
Following on from my post about the Opera in the Park that was held in Merrion Square, August sees the launch of Opera in the Open. These are held in the amphitheatre that is behind the Dublin Civic Offices on the Quays at the end of Temple Bar. Get there early because the concrete amphitheatre seats fill up quickly but there is a large grass area around where you can sit with your blanket or deckchair. The lovely thing about watching opera this way is you can wander in and out as you like popping in during your lunch hour or after a shopping visit. It's free, and depending on the weather it's just a lovely way to spend a couple of hours in the city.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Summer Reading- Red Sky in Morning, The Herbalist, The Captain's Table
The heatwave is still here even if it is a bit overcast. Step outside and the air is warm and fuggy and everyone says that we need a bit of rain to clear the air. We love to discuss the weather and a prolonged summer heatwave and a real drought has caused much material for discussion. What the weather doesn't encourage is indoor keyboard tapping. The review rate has dwindled to very low as the appeal of lolling in the garden instead has risen to very high. Despite this we all like to have recommendations of what to read as we lie in the sun so here are my three books for backgarden/ beach/ poolside reading.
Red Sky in Morning by Paul Lynch caused much excitement on publication. And not without cause. It is a thoughtful and subtle piece of work with a moving and tragic close. The tale of Coll Coyle and his treatment at the hand of his landlord's son is one that escalates out of control. A small act leads to a large event and leads to his journey away from his wife and family in Donegal to America, to join those who chipped away at the rocks to lay the railway lines. But Coll can never escape his original act and when we find what this was it makes the tale all the more tragic.
This is Paul Lynch's first novel. A journalist and former film critic for the Sunday Tribune, the novel has a cinematic and reportage feel to it as the reader is taken through Coll's experience. There is no excess language here- it is roughly hewn and gets straight to the core of the story. It is one that lingers in your mind after the reading as you dwell on the escalation of events that occurred and the impact of real events on real people at that time.
Red Sky in Morning is published by Quercus Books http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/
The Herbalist by Niamh Boyce has gone straight into the Irish Bestseller Charts after publication in early June. Another first novel this story is one that gives the reader a real feel for small town gossip in 1930s rural Ireland. Opening with the arrival in the town of the herbalist to sell his wares in the market place, his effect on the womenfolk, in particular one young girl Emily, will cause disruption and heartache, suspicion and spite. Accepting an unwanted pregnancy for one is balanced with loss of a child and inability to conceive again for another. The attitudes of a small town towards a woman who lives her life as she wishes rather than following the conventional rules of society make her an outsider. In fact, despite the herbalist being the catalyst for this story it is the women whom we are following and the ways that they make life so awkward for each other.
Niamh Boyce won the 2012 Hennessy XO Award for Irish Writing and her debut here is a confident piece of writing telling an unusual and interesting tale. The characters are strong and believable set in a period of Irish history that was restricting and claustrophobic for women.
The Herbalist is published by Penguin Ireland http://www.penguin.ie/
Muriel Bolger's new book The Captain's Table is a great story! I wasn't sure to start with; set on a cruise ship- is this really my cup of tea? But despite my initial reservations I raced through this fun lighthearted story of Jenny who has left her well-known Irish husband who is in the early days of a scandal to escape for a couple of weeks on a Mediterranean cruise. Gathering together with other solo passengers and a few other's, one being a colourful newly-wed gay couple we are initiated into the daily goings on of a cruise ship. The Captain is a charmer but has a troubled wife at home. He explains the staff manner of bumping hips and knocking elbows to greet passengers to ensure they do not get any germs that would affect the smooth running of the ship. I spent several days sharing this nugget of interesting information with friends!
The passengers all have their own interesting stories and the well rounded characters each quickly emerge to be followed as they quickly make friends and reveal their own reason for taking a cruise, which seems to be shared much more quickly on the decks of the ship with it's feeling that fellow passengers may never be encountered again. The author is a huge fan of cruises and her knowledge and experience comes through in the detail and credibility of the story. Great fun, good reading and a great choice for summer reading.
The Captain's Table is published by Hachette Ireland https://www.hachette.ie/
Red Sky in Morning by Paul Lynch caused much excitement on publication. And not without cause. It is a thoughtful and subtle piece of work with a moving and tragic close. The tale of Coll Coyle and his treatment at the hand of his landlord's son is one that escalates out of control. A small act leads to a large event and leads to his journey away from his wife and family in Donegal to America, to join those who chipped away at the rocks to lay the railway lines. But Coll can never escape his original act and when we find what this was it makes the tale all the more tragic.
This is Paul Lynch's first novel. A journalist and former film critic for the Sunday Tribune, the novel has a cinematic and reportage feel to it as the reader is taken through Coll's experience. There is no excess language here- it is roughly hewn and gets straight to the core of the story. It is one that lingers in your mind after the reading as you dwell on the escalation of events that occurred and the impact of real events on real people at that time.
Red Sky in Morning is published by Quercus Books http://www.quercusbooks.co.uk/
The Herbalist by Niamh Boyce has gone straight into the Irish Bestseller Charts after publication in early June. Another first novel this story is one that gives the reader a real feel for small town gossip in 1930s rural Ireland. Opening with the arrival in the town of the herbalist to sell his wares in the market place, his effect on the womenfolk, in particular one young girl Emily, will cause disruption and heartache, suspicion and spite. Accepting an unwanted pregnancy for one is balanced with loss of a child and inability to conceive again for another. The attitudes of a small town towards a woman who lives her life as she wishes rather than following the conventional rules of society make her an outsider. In fact, despite the herbalist being the catalyst for this story it is the women whom we are following and the ways that they make life so awkward for each other.
Niamh Boyce won the 2012 Hennessy XO Award for Irish Writing and her debut here is a confident piece of writing telling an unusual and interesting tale. The characters are strong and believable set in a period of Irish history that was restricting and claustrophobic for women.
The Herbalist is published by Penguin Ireland http://www.penguin.ie/
Muriel Bolger's new book The Captain's Table is a great story! I wasn't sure to start with; set on a cruise ship- is this really my cup of tea? But despite my initial reservations I raced through this fun lighthearted story of Jenny who has left her well-known Irish husband who is in the early days of a scandal to escape for a couple of weeks on a Mediterranean cruise. Gathering together with other solo passengers and a few other's, one being a colourful newly-wed gay couple we are initiated into the daily goings on of a cruise ship. The Captain is a charmer but has a troubled wife at home. He explains the staff manner of bumping hips and knocking elbows to greet passengers to ensure they do not get any germs that would affect the smooth running of the ship. I spent several days sharing this nugget of interesting information with friends!
The passengers all have their own interesting stories and the well rounded characters each quickly emerge to be followed as they quickly make friends and reveal their own reason for taking a cruise, which seems to be shared much more quickly on the decks of the ship with it's feeling that fellow passengers may never be encountered again. The author is a huge fan of cruises and her knowledge and experience comes through in the detail and credibility of the story. Great fun, good reading and a great choice for summer reading.
The Captain's Table is published by Hachette Ireland https://www.hachette.ie/
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Sick of the Heat? Rent a Movie-Top Summer DVD's
Come on - you can tell me. You're feeling a bit hot and would rather come in out of the sun. There now- now you've said don't you feel better? We are all loving this most un-Irish heatwave but at some stage you have to come in out of the sun. Saturdays spent sunning ourselves in the garden are all very nice but two and three weekends on the trot? Here now, this is a bit much!
Well despite rumours that Xtravision was closing down, they are still crawling along and at the moment are running a most excellent Summer Pass offer of one months rental of DVD's and games for €20 for 31 days from purchase. You can rent two at a time and the last date for sign up is the 31st July. Rental is for one night only but you can renew it. I know everyone streams/ downloads movies now but for the price of less than four regular rentals and a guaranteed good quality movie I think this is a really good offer. Details here http://www.xtra-vision.ie/summer-pass
Wanting to make the most of my 'Summer Pass' I have made a list of the movies I want to rent between now and the end of August. Long term plan looks like this;
-go to work
-come home to guaranteed sunny evening
-quick supper of no more than 10 minutes prep
-retire to sitting room to watch rented DVD picked up by kids from list during the day (sure what else have they to do all day with such stupidly long holidays?)
My list at present is looking like this- recommendations accepted of movies available from Xtravision or warnings that a film on the planner is not worth my planned evening's time.
1. Good Vibrations
2. Side Effects
3.Welcome to the Punch (?? maybe/maybe not)
4. Arbitrage
5. The Assassination (Bruce Willis- could be crap?)
6. Stoker
7. Oz the Great and Powerful
8. Cloud Atlas
9. Mama (too scary? I'm a wuzz)
10. Hitchcock (had poor reviews but worth a look?)
11. Give it a Year
12. Warm Bodies
13. The Last Stand (Schwarzenegger- give it a look)
14. What Richard Did
15. The Impossible
16. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
17. Anna Karenina (strong dislike of pout-ey Knieghtly but interested to see how the book was adapted)
18. Lincoln (heavy going but won so many awards feel obliged to give it a go)
19. Ill Manners
20. Trance
21. Seven Psychopaths
22. Ted
23. Pitch Perfect (recommended by my daughters)
24. Marvel Avengers
25. Warrior
Enjoy the rest of this fabulous weather!
Well despite rumours that Xtravision was closing down, they are still crawling along and at the moment are running a most excellent Summer Pass offer of one months rental of DVD's and games for €20 for 31 days from purchase. You can rent two at a time and the last date for sign up is the 31st July. Rental is for one night only but you can renew it. I know everyone streams/ downloads movies now but for the price of less than four regular rentals and a guaranteed good quality movie I think this is a really good offer. Details here http://www.xtra-vision.ie/summer-pass
Wanting to make the most of my 'Summer Pass' I have made a list of the movies I want to rent between now and the end of August. Long term plan looks like this;
-go to work
-come home to guaranteed sunny evening
-quick supper of no more than 10 minutes prep
-retire to sitting room to watch rented DVD picked up by kids from list during the day (sure what else have they to do all day with such stupidly long holidays?)
My list at present is looking like this- recommendations accepted of movies available from Xtravision or warnings that a film on the planner is not worth my planned evening's time.
1. Good Vibrations
2. Side Effects
3.Welcome to the Punch (?? maybe/maybe not)
4. Arbitrage
5. The Assassination (Bruce Willis- could be crap?)
6. Stoker
7. Oz the Great and Powerful
8. Cloud Atlas
9. Mama (too scary? I'm a wuzz)
10. Hitchcock (had poor reviews but worth a look?)
11. Give it a Year
12. Warm Bodies
13. The Last Stand (Schwarzenegger- give it a look)
14. What Richard Did
15. The Impossible
16. Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
17. Anna Karenina (strong dislike of pout-ey Knieghtly but interested to see how the book was adapted)
18. Lincoln (heavy going but won so many awards feel obliged to give it a go)
19. Ill Manners
20. Trance
21. Seven Psychopaths
22. Ted
23. Pitch Perfect (recommended by my daughters)
24. Marvel Avengers
25. Warrior
Enjoy the rest of this fabulous weather!
Friday, July 19, 2013
Royal Babies...Waiting for Wills and Kate? Read the ebook instead.
Royal baby fever is big news in the UK at the moment. The Queen has even said that she hopes he or she comes soon because she is going on holiday! That's what I like - a woman who is practical and speaks her mind! Anyway, anticipating the interest in babies of the royal persuasion Amy License has written Royal Babies: A History 1066-2013. Not due for release until after baby Windsor is born, the cover will be one of the first pictures of the baby.
Including the details of "the 25 most important poignant and downright bizarre royal babies and births", the book is due for release by Amberley in August. The ebook however is for sale this weekend in Kindle format. The details will be announced on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/amberleybooks
Including the details of "the 25 most important poignant and downright bizarre royal babies and births", the book is due for release by Amberley in August. The ebook however is for sale this weekend in Kindle format. The details will be announced on their Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/amberleybooks
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Tramp Press- a New Irish Publisher
Good news for publishing in Ireland is that a new publishers has ventured into the market calling itself Tramp Press. An independent company, they are actively seeking fiction of all genres and from July to September there is an open call for submissions.
They have a very inspiring 'Stuff We Like' link that takes you to some funky websites that are well worth exploring including book sites, review sites, design and editing.
With several cool black and white images on the site like that above "Good Luck!" wishes must be sent to anyone with a new venture and we hope to be seeing Tramp Press books in Hodges Figgis and other bookshops in the near future.
http://tramp.ie/ Email info@tramp.ie
They have a very inspiring 'Stuff We Like' link that takes you to some funky websites that are well worth exploring including book sites, review sites, design and editing.
With several cool black and white images on the site like that above "Good Luck!" wishes must be sent to anyone with a new venture and we hope to be seeing Tramp Press books in Hodges Figgis and other bookshops in the near future.
http://tramp.ie/ Email info@tramp.ie
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Mr Tayto at Croke Park- Sunday 14th July
Ah sure- we all love Tayto, and Mr Tayto is coming to everyone's fave GAA ground, Croke Park, this Sunday 14th.
The press release reads; This Sunday, 14th July, Meath GAA senior football team, sponsored by Tayto Park, take on Dublin in the Leinster Senior Football Final in Croke Park. Mr. Tayto and the Tayto Park bus will be at Croke Park handing out thousands of bags of Tayto crisps to supporters as they make their way to the grounds.
Mr. Tayto Goes To Croke ParkThis Sunday, 14th July at 2pm in Croke Park, Meath GAA Senior Football team, sponsored by Tayto Park, take on Dublin in the Leinster Senior Football Final. Mr. Tayto and the Tayto Park bus will be at Croke Park to show some Tayto love to supporters as they make their way to the grounds. Thousands of bags of Tayto Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar, Smokey Bacon and Prawn Cocktail will be handed out by Mr. Tayto and his merry band of followers.
In October 2012 Tayto Park was unveiled as the Official Sponsor of the Meath County GAA in a two-year deal. The sponsorship covers all four Inter county Football teams – Senior, Under 21, Minor and Junior.
(Meath footballer Graham Reilly, Meath goal keeper Paddy O’Rourke, Mr Tayto, Meath Captain Kevin Reilly and Tayto Park employee and Meath footballer Bryan Menton)
Raymond Coyle, creator of Tayto Park and a native of Meath said today, “We are immensely proud of the Meath GAA Senior Football team. As Tayto Park is located in the heart of Meath, this is a perfect sponsorship for us and we wish Mick and the entire senior panel the very best of luck this Sunday".
(Tayto Park employee and Meath footballer Bryan Menton, Mr Tayto, Meath Captain Kevin Reilly, Meath goal keeper Paddy O’Rourke (yellow jersey) and Meath footballer Graham Reilly)
Tayto Park receives thousands of visitors each year and earlier this week a few Meath Senior team players, including recent man of the match Graham Reilly, Meath goal keeper Paddy O’Rourke, Tayto Park employee and Meath footballer Byran Menton and Meath Captain Kevin Reilly met with Tayto Park Keeper Aishling Power.
(Meath goal keeper Paddy O’Rourke with Barney the Barn Owl and Tayto Park Keeper Aishling Power)
Meath Manager, Mick O’Dowd said, “To have the support of Ray and his team at Tayto Park is vital for the ongoing growth of Meath GAA ”.
Kevin meet Kevin! - Meath Captain Kevin Reilly meets his name sake 'Kevin', the newest addition to the Meerkat family who was born in Tayto Park recently.
For Tayto Park opening hours and ticket prices log onto www.taytopark.ie
The press release reads; This Sunday, 14th July, Meath GAA senior football team, sponsored by Tayto Park, take on Dublin in the Leinster Senior Football Final in Croke Park. Mr. Tayto and the Tayto Park bus will be at Croke Park handing out thousands of bags of Tayto crisps to supporters as they make their way to the grounds.
Mr. Tayto Goes To Croke ParkThis Sunday, 14th July at 2pm in Croke Park, Meath GAA Senior Football team, sponsored by Tayto Park, take on Dublin in the Leinster Senior Football Final. Mr. Tayto and the Tayto Park bus will be at Croke Park to show some Tayto love to supporters as they make their way to the grounds. Thousands of bags of Tayto Cheese & Onion, Salt & Vinegar, Smokey Bacon and Prawn Cocktail will be handed out by Mr. Tayto and his merry band of followers.
In October 2012 Tayto Park was unveiled as the Official Sponsor of the Meath County GAA in a two-year deal. The sponsorship covers all four Inter county Football teams – Senior, Under 21, Minor and Junior.
Raymond Coyle, creator of Tayto Park and a native of Meath said today, “We are immensely proud of the Meath GAA Senior Football team. As Tayto Park is located in the heart of Meath, this is a perfect sponsorship for us and we wish Mick and the entire senior panel the very best of luck this Sunday".
Tayto Park receives thousands of visitors each year and earlier this week a few Meath Senior team players, including recent man of the match Graham Reilly, Meath goal keeper Paddy O’Rourke, Tayto Park employee and Meath footballer Byran Menton and Meath Captain Kevin Reilly met with Tayto Park Keeper Aishling Power.
Meath Manager, Mick O’Dowd said, “To have the support of Ray and his team at Tayto Park is vital for the ongoing growth of Meath GAA ”.
For Tayto Park opening hours and ticket prices log onto www.taytopark.ie
Sunday, July 7, 2013
The Street Performance World Championships 2013
Next weekend (12th, 13th and 14th July) sees the 2013 Street Performance World Championships descend upon Dublin's Merrion Square. Quite simply it is a great day out, and it's free! Starting at 12noon on Friday it continues over the whole weekend with several repetitions of acts. For a full timetable see here http://www.spwc.ie/sites/default/files/Dublin_Timetable_2013.pdf
With a fairground roundabout, food areas, a buskers stage, a kid's court and a 'layabout area' as well as all the acts that are going on, it is a well organised event and weather permitting, a great day for all.
There are 16 act that will be competing over the weekend from the UK, Europe, the US and Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan;
Nigel Blackstorm- a heavy metal magician!
Lords of Strut- leotard wearing eejits
Red Trouser Show- acrobatic knife and fire juggling
Rubberband Boy-facial contortions and straitjacket escape
Senmaru- a Japanese acrobat tea-pourer?
The Chairmen- something clever with white plastic chairs?!
The Doogans- a juggling duo
Zap Circus- Fire, acrobatics, circus and comedy
Alakazam- contortionist with feats of danger
Ernest the Magnifico- the name says it all, a moustachioed dangerous stuntman
Cirque No Problem- last years winners, with acrobatics, clowning, juggling and balancing
B-Xtreme- a cool hip-hop break dance troupe
Rob Torres- a silent miming comedian
Bellatrix- beat boxing world championship
Miss Behave- a sexy sword swallower
Pancho Libre- a high flying stunt man.
All these details and more are on www.spwc.ie
With a fairground roundabout, food areas, a buskers stage, a kid's court and a 'layabout area' as well as all the acts that are going on, it is a well organised event and weather permitting, a great day for all.
There are 16 act that will be competing over the weekend from the UK, Europe, the US and Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Japan;
Nigel Blackstorm- a heavy metal magician!
Lords of Strut- leotard wearing eejits
Red Trouser Show- acrobatic knife and fire juggling
Rubberband Boy-facial contortions and straitjacket escape
Senmaru- a Japanese acrobat tea-pourer?
The Chairmen- something clever with white plastic chairs?!
The Doogans- a juggling duo
Zap Circus- Fire, acrobatics, circus and comedy
Alakazam- contortionist with feats of danger
Ernest the Magnifico- the name says it all, a moustachioed dangerous stuntman
Cirque No Problem- last years winners, with acrobatics, clowning, juggling and balancing
B-Xtreme- a cool hip-hop break dance troupe
Rob Torres- a silent miming comedian
Bellatrix- beat boxing world championship
Miss Behave- a sexy sword swallower
Pancho Libre- a high flying stunt man.
All these details and more are on www.spwc.ie
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