The Dublin Community Blog

One of the consistent features you’re likely to come across (and maybe even trip over) as you walk through Dublin town centre is on the corner of College Green and Grafton Street, right across from Trinity College, where a rather amiable man by the name of Dave creates some meticulous art work. I’ve chatted with Dave a few times and he’s always happy to have a conversation.

The picture below is a new project Dave’s begun where he’s actually drawing on the pavement with chalk, rather than the large canvas that he usually draws on. When he’s not there, it’s covered up with a scrap piece of canvas and weighed down by a few traffic cones. It’s people like Dave who bring a creative touch and artistic charm to Dublin. Now, if we can just get him to do something a little more like this . . .

“Own your very own piece of Irish History”

I don’t bloody think so. The last time yours truly checked, a rusty old turnstile or a dusty/unwanted rugby magazine wasn’t an historical item.

There are currently discussions taking place over on the flickr Dublin Group about arranging a flickr meetup in Dublin on Saturday May 12th. I’ve added it to my diary and hope to get along, it would be great if this got a bit of PR and turned into a pretty big event, so, anything that people can do to spread the word and turn up would be cool.

Hopefully at least some of the bloggers here will turn up and grab some shots and write home about it and we can make this a more regular event.

Ok, I admit, I’ve not posted since July 2006 for several reasons … (1) Busy (2) Busy and (3) Busy. Now that’s sorted, here’s a catch up on all things sport.

• Dublin GAA – The Dubs again came short in their quest for the Holy Grail that is Sam Maguire. Alot of analysis has been written and put forward as to why Pillar’s men fell just short of the final hurdle in what was one of the weaker All Ireland’s in recent years. The fact remains that an over-hyped team with forwards who have the inability to take scores when it matters will never win an All-Ireland. Dublin’s best forwards throughout the championship being Alan Brogan and Conal Keaney are the only forward’s in a blue jersey one would trust with taking points from the 45 metre line from hand. Pillar’s new forwards in 2006 being Kevin Bonner, Declan Lally and to an extent, born again Ray Cosgrove do not have what it takes to be All Ireland winning forwards. Consistency is key but consitency against stronger counties OUTSIDE Leinster is paramount.

  The Allianz National League of 2007 was another groundhog day tournament in the life of Dublin Football. Brutal away form and the odd win at home get’s teams nowhere. There is light at the end of the tunnel … with every one of Dublin’s games in the 2007 Championship being in Croke Park then it’s sure to be a “Home Game” every game. Get out the jump leads, the Bandwagon needs starting.





• Leinster Rugby – Where does one start, at the beginning. Another slow start off the blocks in the Magners leage with disappointing away form dogging Leinster’s quest for Magners League glory. Losses to Edinburgh and the Scarlets away with the usual fortress Donnybrook that follows Leinster’s away losses were par for the course (And still are coming to the end of the Magners League season). What’s surprising that Leinster sit on top of the Magners League and 5 points clear too! With such sporadic form in the league, one has to ask the question whether it’s a drop in quality as a whole or are Leinster acting the mickey just to create an exciting end to the season? Leinster have 3 games left to wrap up the Magners Leage with an inevitable 5 pointer at home to the Borders sandwiched in between 2 tricky away ties to the Ospreys and the Blues on the final day. What’s worrying is Leinster’s away form, who knows what team turns up in Swansea and Cardiff? Yours truly prays that it’s the one with Brian O’Driscoll in phenominal form oozing leadership from forwards to backs.

  As for the Heineken Cup, I don’t want to talk about it. Maybe another time I’ll share my joy/anger/sorrow with you fine people.

The New York Times frequents runs a “36 Hours In…” series in their Travel Section, highlighting the ‘must see’ things to do in a given city during a 36 hour visit.

Today sees the turn of Dublin to get the 36 hour treatment, that’s well worth checking out, regardless as to whether you live in the city or are planning a trip here.

I’m having a yellow box rage day today. It just amazes me that motorists continue to ignore yellow boxes and stop in the middle of them. This morning on my way into work sitting on the bus at the junction of James St and Thomas St the Luas had to stop because some idiot motorist had stopped in the yellow box. Then ensued manic reversing of a line of cars/buses/vans. Comical watching really – except its downright dangerous driving. At lunchtime at the Halfpenny Bridge Liffey St side a truck and a car were parked in the middle of the yellow box making it difficult for pedestrians to walk across – especially those with prams.

I’m sure our readers are all responsible motorists, fully aware of all road rules, but if your interested, the new version of the Rules of the Road is available online on the Road Safety Authority website. Page 104 details correct Yellow Box behaviour – extract below.

I feel like printing that out on sticky paper and sticking it on the windscreen of all offenders! Theres a list of penalty points here, but I’m not sure which offence yellow box ignorance comes under.

Rant over

One of the most fascinating things about living in Ireland for many of us “Yankees� is the ancient history. This fascination is due in part to the relatively brief history of our own country. I just can’t help but look at old Irish churches and castles and cathedrals and think to myself, “This structure is hundreds of years older than my home country!�

Okay, maybe I’m just a nerd. But bear with me.

Recently, I’ve discovered a few historical sites of interest on the outskirts of South Dublin, all within a 10 minute drive from our estate. The gorgeous weather over Easter weekend afforded my wife and I the opportunity to explore them.

First, there’s Kilgobbin Castle, located on what looks to be private property on Kilgobbin Road. However, the large gates are always open and the castle is far removed from the residence. The castle (or what’s left of it) is only a few walls overgrown with wild shrubbery and locals just think of it as a pile of rubble. However, given the height of the walls, there’s still enough there to imagine what it may have looked like when it was in use, circa 17th century.

Just up the road further into Stepaside are the ruins of Kilgobbin Church and cemetery. Also at the site is a granite high cross from the 12th century which was uncovered in the early 1800’s.

Moving on past Stepaside, through Kiltiernan and down to Rathmichael is another castle known as Puck’s Castle (pictured below). Situated in a farmer’s field, it has a great view of Dublin and the bay. King James II is known to have visited the castle in 1690 after he was defeated at the Battle of the Boyne.

Down a little further and up a gravel road is what remains of Rathmichael Church. According to Megalithomania.com, some of the stones hanging on the walls of the church show traces of pre-Celtic Neolithic art forms. (This of course isn’t to suggest that the actual church has been around since then, given the fact that neither Christianity nor “churches” existed.) While we were there, we noticed that the wall surrounding the church yard was very much intact, though overgrown in places. The place feels very secluded, until you stop long enough to realize you can hear traffic on the M50 in the distance.

Tom over at Megalithomania.com documents loads of these kinds of things around Ireland and even provides GPS coordinates for the ultra-nerdy. (Personally, I haven’t gone that far . . . yet.) He also provides decent directions to the sites that we visited in particular.

Tonight sees the preview of a new exhibition in the Gallery of Photography in Meeting House Square, Temple Bar. Every month to 6 weeks the Gallery changes it’s exhibition and puts on display photographs from Ireland and around the world. Some exhibitions are artistic, others news focused and others documentary.

This months one entitled “Another day in my Kingdom” from The Potlatch Foundation looks interesting. Quoting from their website:

Another Day In My Kingdom is a collaborative project, which involves five international aid workers based in Afghanistan, Argentina, India, Kenya and Palestine. We contacted all of the aid workers randomly through the internet, asking if they would be interested in developing a project with a visual artist.

I sent each of these volunteers a disposable camera and asked them to use it to document their daily routines. The cameras were posted back to me and developed. From these the Foundation has chosen a selection of images to exhibit. Along with this body of work, we aim to develop a book as a collaborative project with David Joyce of Language Design in Dublin.

Many of the photographs are on-line at their website but it’s always interesting to go along to the gallery and see the exhibition. These exhibits are open to the public and usually free (I can’t remember ever having to pay for any). Tonight’s preview is open to the public, they were giving out cards in the Gallery at the weekend. Usually someone involved in the exhibition gives a talk about the photographs and the project on the opening night so it adds some background information for those interested in photography. It should be well worth a visit tonight or any time until next month.

Pre-theatre Menu

DONE – 101 Talbot
Chapter One
DONE – Eden Restaurant
DONE – La Mere Zou
Peploes – group menu for parties of 8 persons or over
DONE – Town Bar & Grill
Trocadero
Dax
Les Freres Jacques
Fire at the Mansion House
Bleu

No pre-theatre menu

Bang
Brownes
Diep Le Shaker
L’ecrivain
Rhodes D7
Patrick Guibauds
Venu
The Winding Stair
Mint

Pre-theatre don’t knows

La Maison des Gourmets – 15 Castle Market
Thorntons Restaurant – Fitzwilliam Hotel
Fallon & Byrne
Halo at the Morrison Hotel
The Unicorn
Jaipur

Recently, my sister and niece came out to visit us.  They were here for a little over a week and we spent time in Dublin and on the west coast.  On the first day of their visit, we took the Dublin Bus Hop On and Off Tour. The tour is 14 Euro for adults and 6 for children under 14.  It takes you around the city and to most of the main tourist destinations  (e.g. Dublin Castle, ChristChurch, Guiness, Kilmainham Goal, etc) and the ticket is good for 24 hours.  We took the tour most of the way to give my sister and niece a general idea of the size and layout of the city.  The drivers have commentary and give some city history.  They run every 10 minutes during the day and less often in the evening.  If you are going to try to see many of the sites of Dublin in a short amount of time, I’d definately recommend one of the hop on and off tours (there are other companies but I don’t know anything about them).