The Dublin Community Blog

One of the topics I said I’d start looking at covering is GAA games in Dublin. Seeing as the National League campaign is now winding down, I’ll sum up how both Hurling and Football teams have done so far.

Football
Having started out in a blaze of glory (literally) in Healy Park in Omagh against the All Ireland Champions, Tyrone on a very wet and cold day Sunday afternoon, Dublin’s league campaign looked like it was going to be the first succesful one since they last won it back in 1993. Alas, with a hammering dished out by the mighty Monaghan men that very next Sunday, it was starting to look like the REAL Dublin again with lack of imagination going forward and failure to take the easy chances when gifted to them. The following 3 games against Offaly, Cork and Fermanagh respectively were certainly not ones to write home about with Dublin just edging out Offaly after they went asleep and allowed a Hat-Trick of goals by the genius that is Ciaran McManus go in the back of the next. Losing away to Cork and Fermanagh by single point in both games was disappointing as Dublin again had the chances to finish off the opposition but fell short. But, there is hope (there always is!) … Last Saturday night, yours truly was treated to what I can only hope is what Dublin will have to offer in this years Championship. An anhialation of Mayo by 4-10 to 1-10 was certainly a welcome surprise. Granted, a certain Ciaran McDonald was nowhere to be seen but can one man actually change a match to the deficit of 3 goals? Anyways, a trip to Tralee is what awaits Dublin in their final national league game on Sunday next. It’s been an up and down league campaign with a few groundhog day type mutterings of “Why can’t we beat the teams we’re supposed to beat yet we beat the teams we’re not supposed to beat”. Ah well, sure if it wasn’t this exciting then why would you bother being interested in it at all!

Hurling
If only the footballers could take a leaf from the hurlers books! Dublin are sitting pretty on top of the Division 2A leage with 4 games played and 4 games won. Then again, I must point out that our opponents are not exactly challengers for the Liam McCarthy Cup … FAR FROM IT! Wicklow, Roscommon, Derry and Meath have all been shown the exit door so far this year with Carlow up next in their final game. Going on their current form, Carlow should not be any opposition for Dublin and some respect will have been earned for the hurlers of Dublin. If we could only turn this positive step into one that could see us win the Liam McCarthy Cup one day …. Hmmmmmm, I’d have more luck betting on a 3 legged donkey in Aintree next week.

In the Ireland of 2006 I can’t be the first person to ask this question and I hope someone out there has an answer and a definitive list. Where do you go when you are in Dublin city center and want cheap (free?) Wi-Fi access? The internet is full of lists, all of which seem to be out of date.

Now I’m not talking about standing outside Apt 123 on 456 Capel Street and sponging off their unsecured Wi-Fi, nor am I on for paying €5 euros for 30 minutes access in a pub with a Wi-Fi logo on the door and a barman who thinks Wi-Fi is some new D4 slang for wine from Fiji. No, instead I’m talking about civilized wireless internet access from the developed world. The type you get in other countries that have embraced the new millennium. I’d like to go into a coffee shop, order a cup of coffee, preferably from an espresso machine, and get say 20 minutes free Wi-Fi. All I’m planning on doing is uploading a blog entry or two, maybe read a couple of RSS feeds, nothing complex as I am using a Wi-Fi enabled PDA.

Or am I deluded and doomed to remain disconnected in the Rip-off Republic?

Update 26 April 2006: I found a cafe chain, Cafe Java have a sign up in one of their shops saying they have free Wi-Fi in all their restraunts. The shop was closed when I got there and the wi-fi was open, but too weak for my PDA to connect to.

Hi all! “Dublin Community Blog”… I like the egalitarian vibe that brings to the whole enterprise

Thought I might address one “Mea Culpa” as a first foray here. Firstly I’d like to apologise for radio ads. Yes, I work there, no I don’t write them but I have, to my shame, taken part in them in the past. The ones I’m referring to are quite specific – the “overheard” conversation between two gimps who are blathering on in a way no real members of the species ever do about something so vastly unimportant you want to punch them in the mouth.

“Yes, Anne-Marie – Johnny’s Carpets are having a remnant sale this weekend!”

“Isn’t their number 5643393?”

“Why yes, yes it is Jacinta!”

The episode of The Simpsons where the ad agency guy who claims he invented them gets punched in the face is one of the greats… Not responsible for the success of Shayne Ward or Chico either…

R

April 13th represents the 100th anniversary of celebrated Irish Playwright, Novelist and Poet, Samuel Beckett. Beckett’s work is stark, fundamentally minimalist, and deeply pessimistic about human nature and the human condition, although the pessimism is mitigated by a great and often wicked sense of humor. His later work explores his themes in an increasingly cryptic and attenuated style. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1969 and elected Saoi of Aosdána in 1984.

Last night saw the launch of the Beckett Centenary Festival in Dublin Castle, with many notable Irish poets, writers and dignitary’s present. Amongst those invited along to speak, was U2′s Bono, who is a self confessed Beckett fan.

Bono was invited to create a pastiche, on the invitation of Michael Colgan, chairman of the Centenary Festival. What resulted, and was delivered by the man himself last night is a work of pure genius. Bono’s humour and delivery through the 4 minute pastiche are a pure joy to listen to.

I suggest that you take a listen to the clip and enjoy, it’s pure genius!

SINCE Daragh set up the Dublin Blog over the weekend I have been thinking about my first post and what I would write. Then it came to me on the bus…

I decided I would christen the new Dublin Blog with my first post about commuting in Dublin, something I do way too much.

And you would or maybe you wouldn’t be surprised by the things that people get up to on Dublin bus. Between the dope smoking (in both senses of the phrase) on particular routes on the top-deck to the revolting passenger clipping their finger nails (something I have witnessed on two occasions) to those who eat loudly, noisily and disgustingly in your ear – you cannot win.

So I thought a quick guide to travelling on Dublin bus or any bus for that matter would make for a good (!) first post.

• Where possible have the correct fare ready before the bus arrives. We all want to get to work quickly and as smooth a passenger-stop the better.

• Please please please if you are a man, please do not spread your legs on the bus into the person’s space next to
  

Half the time I am taller than the man who feels the need to spread, urrggghhh. Getting close is okay with people you are close to, the rest of us would prefer that you wouldn’t.

• If you get on a bus move to the furthest point of the bus where there is a seat or a space. The amount of selfish friggers who get on, stand in the middle of the front aisle and do not move at all even to let people past. Never mind the poor punters waiting at bus stops further along the road who won’t get on because the frigger has blocked the aisle and makes the driver think the bus is full. Cheers lads.

• By all means sit in the priority seats but get up off your arse when someone needs it more than you, as in elderly people, pregnant women or those who look like they need a seat, like women with small children. Pretending to not see these people by looking out the window does not wash with anyone.

• DON’T eat on the bus, okay that might be just me, but in fairness I get more buses than most people I know, so do it for me.

• When moving around the bus where possible watch the positioning of yer bum in people’s faces, unavoidable incidents are unfortunately unavoidable incidents.

• If there is the slightest chance you might be smelly whilst standing crushed against other commuters, do not lift your arm. Find somewhere to hold at waist length, no matter what it takes.

There are many more, I just can’t think of them all right now. Got any to add?

Burj al Arab at Night

Originally uploaded by jeffinmoscow.

As of today, you can now fly direct from Dublin to Dubai. Aer Lingus has just launched their first long-haul route (aside from their longstanding trans-Atlantic routes) out of Dublin to the jewel of the Middle East, Dubai, with it’s sun, sea, sand and seven star hotels.

This ties in nicely with this weekends Dubai Property Show which is taking place in the RDS. Aer Lingus are expecting to carry 70,000 passengers on this route over the coming year, and no doubt, with the Irish peoples fascination with investing in property abroad, most of these will be travelling over to either buy, or visit their properties in the sun.

Conformist No. 1 exists somewhere in Dublin…

Wow, Roll It there Roisin, stop the presses, Uncle Gay is about to save the day…

It’s one of those announcements that briefly causes your jaw to drop open… They’ve appointed Gay Byrne as the new Chairman of the Road Safety Authority. You, wha Gay? the road safety authority?

 But it is true. And in some strange way it makes sense…

 I know, he is most famous for presenting TV and Radio shows, possibly next most famous for owning a Harley Davidson, he’s also 72 years old.

So, how will Ireland’s celebrity retiree make a difference?

The point I guess is partly profile. He is the ultimate well known face, apart from Bono (who must have been busy). He also has probably the best contact list in the country. There are not many people, Uncle Gaybo, can’t get in touch with.

He also has a formidable reputation as someone who gets things done. You don’t host the world’s longest running chat show for that many years without a certain amount of steel. Equally you don’t survive that long in the bureacratic jungle that is RTE without picking up a few tricks…

So, Gay will be well able to deal with the bureacracy and the idiocy that is politics in Ireland… He’ll survive, but will he help anyone else to survive?

Currently almost 400 people die every year on Irish roads, there are also an horrific number of serious injuries. Despite what appear to be the Government’s best efforts and a considerable programme of road improvement, the numbers have actually gone back up.

Penalty points had a brief effect, compulsory seatbelt wearing reduced the number of head injuries, but there is still a huge problem with the culture and approach of Ireland and Irish people to the roads.

If any one person is equipped to understand and challenge parts of Irish culture, I think, that man might just be Gay Byrne.

Enough bickering in court about breathalyser legalities, enough fumbling with ham fisted IT from the Gardai, enough back pedalling and incompetence from the Department of Environment when it comes to the number of provisional drivers waiting for tests.

 Someone needs to put their foot down and point out the fact that more than one person dies every day – pointlessly.

Maybe, just maybe, Gay Byrne can make a difference 

I have recently had the pleasure of acquiring/usurping a window seat in the office in which I work. While a window seat is not a sign of authority or status within the company they are jealously guarded by those in procession of them and getting a free one is a feat similar to getting an Aer Lingus worker to cheer for privatization. Still following the recent departure of the previous occupant I staked my claim and moved my stuff before the vultures got sight of it and started circling.

The view from my new desk may at first glance not seem too appealing as I look down onto a small carpark but it does provide an unusual amount of comedy. You see while the carpark is small and awkwardly shaped a surprising percentage of drivers can’t actually steer or park. This can provide minutes of mirt for the people working in my building.

I’m not just talking about learner drivers. Learner drivers actually make an effort to park in a space and between the lines. No, I’m talking about the full license holder who haven’t parked correctly since the driving test. The ones who believe just being in carpark is good enough and just stop. Or the ones who park down the line, afraid of contact with other cars and willing to take away someone else’s parking spaces to protect their 03 reg. Mercedes.