The Dublin Community Blog

I hope that this year St. Patrick impersonator will be the same person that last year. I call him ‘de Niro’

This year, I will actually be away for Paddy’s Day but wanted to share things that I have learned from previous Paddy’s Days experiences:

• If going to the parade, I would suggest getting there about two hours before it starts if you don’t want to be trying to see around lots of people.  Take some warm beverage with you as well since it gets cold standing around for two hours.   If you are standing near the barricades for the parade, children and  adults will try to push their way in so they can see better.
• Dress in layers.  The weather is every changing here in Dublin.  You need the warmth when outside, but not inside. 
• Bring rain and sun gear.  You’ll probably need both.
• Face painting, dressing in all green, or other forms of costumes makes it more likely that your picture will be taken many times, maybe even published on a blog. 
• After watching the parade, duck into an out of the way little cafe for lunch.  Most places along the parade line will be packed but if you go off the parade line, you can frequently find a little place to eat. Or just go to the pub (also probably very busy) and get lunch there.
• Go to the pub!!!!  Our first Paddy’s Day, we ended up at Cafe En Sein because it is a nicer place and wasn’t packed full of people.  We were rewarded with a Ceili band.
• A lot of places will have traditional music during Paddy’s Day weekend.  Check them out.  Just duck into a pub or two to feel the atmosphere and then move onto another if you don’t like the one you’re in (Dublin has enough pubs that you are sure to find one you like)
• Just wander around and see what you see.  Many of the windows in Temple Bar are decorated for the Six Nations and Paddy’s Day.  Have a wander around and you just may learn something while being entertained. 

Other people have posted about the official events.  I would highly recommend the Ceili Mor in Earlsfort Terrace.  It was fun last year to see people jumping around and dancing to the songs, even if you don’t know how to dance, it is still good fun!

The ever-popular Porterhouse microbrewery and bar is currently holding its annual Stout Festival, nicely timed to coincide with the St. Patrick’s festivities. Their city centre bars on Nassau Street and Parliament Street, as well as Porterhouse North in Phibsboro, are all taking part, and full details can be found here.

The various Porterhouses will also be showing the final round of Six Nations matches, which includes England vs Ireland in Twickenham at 3pm. Not a bad way to get the party started!

If you’re reading this blog, no doubt you are familiar with RSS feeds. But, perhaps you are not. RSS feeds allow you to use a RSS reader to subscribe to your favourite blogs, and have any new articles that are created on your blogroll automatically placed into your reader. One such reader that is exceptionally easy to use, is web based allowing you to read from anywhere, and has a raft of filtering tools is Google Reader. If you already have a Gmail account setup, you can just use these details to log into Google Reader. When you’re there, you can then add a feed as you desire. In order to subscribe to this blog, you can add our feed which is at http://www.dublinblog.ie/feed

With St Patrick’s Day (March 17th) coming closer and closer, the question is what on earth are you going to do over the five-day festival?

Whether you are from Dublin, living in Dublin or just coming for the craic there is bound to be something for everyone. Now an annual feature the funfair in Merrion Sq will run from Friday March 14th until Monday March 17th, there is a Babyrave in Temple Bar running from Friday till Sunday and the Ceili Mor will be held in Earlsfort Terrace on St Patrick’s Day itself.

But there is more, Kila play the Olympia on St Patrick’s Day, Mary Black is in the National Concert Hall. There are various Irish language and culture workshops and Irish language tours as well as speed dating As Gaeilge so brush up on your coupla focal.

You can find out lots lots more on the Festival website. You can book tickets for different events on the website though some things are already sold out. However don’t worry about not getting tickets for something you wanted, there will be something else to take its place. And let us not forget the stalwart of every St Patrick’s Day, the parade, two hours of fun and frolics and a long way away from the parade that used to happen when I first moved to Dublin 17 years ago. Then it was just groups of tourists with shamrock hats walking in formation waving, marching bands and being very very cold looking at the back of the people in front. Trust me it is a lot more fun now The festival map is located on the website at this link.

All of this is of course only a fraction of things that are taking place, different things will be happening all over the city and they will be hard to miss, just follow your nose.

Last year some of the Dublin Blog contributors were out and about taking pics and here is what we had to say last year. No doubt you can expect more of the same and probably even better this year. You can also see lots of images of St Patrick’s Day from all around the world on Flickr and don’t forget to keep an eye out over the festival on photographs as they are uploaded to our own Dublin Blog group on Flickr.

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In all the melee and mess of Paddy’s day and its related celebrations, there is one exhibition that you should defo take time from your shamrock-wearing schedule to check out.

Every weekend this month, Gallery Number One on Castle Street, D2, will be showcasing the work of Belgian-born New York-based pop artist Daniel Dens. To sweeten the deal, they’re throwing some cool choons from resident DJ Alex Donald and even a free Innocent smoothie!

The Sophia Loren silkscreen pictured here is in the gallery’s window and has been drawing quite a few punters in. (As beautiful as it is, I don’t think I have the €1,200 asking price handy.)

Also on show will be 70s Rock ‘n’ Roll photographer Mick Rock‘s collection of limited edition pics of David Bowie, Freddie Mercury, Lou Reed and Debbie Harry, as well as work by Irish-born artist Ciaran Tully who now lives in New York.

It’s great when art galleries do stuff like this. They are very eager to show that art is something to be enjoyed and appreciated, not just purchased; so don’t be afraid to call in, even if, like me, you’re completely broke!

You can see some pics from their first smoothie Saturday on their Flickr page.

A flood warning has been issued for Dublin this weekend due to high tides and stormy conditions. Sandbags are being delivered to the Clontarf and Sandymount and the Liffey Boardwalk may be closed on Saturday but it will be Monday morning when the risk of flooding is at its greatest.

Going to the movies for free sounds too good to be true, eh? Especially in Dublin, where I know the prices of going to the movies are just crazy! But, it appears, based on the email that’s just landed into my inbox that you can in fact go to the movies for free….if you are interested in providing some feedback on the experience as well. This comes in the form of a mystery shopping service. More details here:

I am just browsing the net, looking for suitable places to contact
people in Dublin.

Basically, I am looking for mixed couples who like to go to the
cinema – specifically I am looking for new Dublin Mystery Shoppers
for the following areas……

Tallaght, Coolock and Blanchardstown.

The visitors get to see a film of their own choice and receive a
refund of the price of two adult tickets plus E20 fee to include the
purchase of some refreshments of their choice. Following the visit
there is a feedback form to complete online.

I am wondering if maybe you could point me in the direction of anyone
who may be interested, please?

Our website is www.marketchecker.co.uk – there is a registration form
on there if anyone would like to apply.

Ok, so, seeing as most of the Irish Blogging Community is no doubt drunk or sleeping at this stage, and I’m sitting on my balcony in Oz sunning myself, I thought I ought to post the winners from the Irish Blog Awards which took place a few hours ago. Unfortunately, we here at The Dublin Community Blog didn’t win the Best Group Blog award, but at least our own Rick won an award!!

So, without further delay, here’s the winners:

* Best Popculture blog
DZ-015 by Rick O’Shea

* Best Blog from a Journalist
Present Tense – Shane Hegarty

* Best Food/Drink Blog
Italian Foodies

* Best Crafts Blog
A Simple Yarn

* Best Arts and Culture Blog
The Sigla Blog

* Best Political Blog
Irish Election

* Best Group Blog
Beaut.ie

* Best Use of the Irish Language in a Blog
Blag Ghael gan Náire

* Best Technology Blog/Blogger
Robin Blandford’s ByteSurgery

* Best Designed Blog
Sabrina Dent

* Best Sport & Recreation Blog
Arseblog

* Best News/Current Affairs Blog
Joint winners: The Limerick Blogger & Maman Poulet

* Best Specialist Blog
The Voyage

* Best Newcomer
John Braine

* Best Business Blog
Ice Cream Ireland

* Best Music Blog
nialler9

* Special Recognition Award
Simon McGarr from Tuppenceworth.ie & Ryan from Rymus.net

* Best Personal Blog
Joint Winners: Grannymar & Head Rambles

* Most Humorous Post
Twenty Major – Tonight’s Debate

* Best Photo Blog
Gingerpixel

* Best Blog Post
Fatmammycat.com – Fox hunting, horses and a girl’s awakening

* Best Blog
Twenty Major