The Dublin Community Blog

From today on you will be able to see a vast selection from the Natural History Museum’s collection in Collins Barracks. As the original Natural History building on Merrion street is closed for renovation, the museum have decided to set up this temporary exhibition for the time being.
A mix of familiar and new animals and geological specimens will be there to greet you!

Opening hours are Tuesday-Saturday 10:00-17:00 and Sunday 14:00-17:00 at Collins Barracks, Benburb Street, Dublin 7

The unofficial strike at Dublin Bus escalated this morning with pickets being places on 5 depots. Dublin Bus are claiming that windows on buses in one of the depots were broken and that drivers who are driving buses from unaffected depots are being intimidated. The drivers claim that the strike was called because there was no agreement on the new schedules.

I would list the affected bus routes but there are too many and they are changing regularly (now only 4 depots are listed as affected) so you should go to DublinBus.ie to check your bus route.

Personally I cannot understand how one driver can be allowed to cause disruption to 150,000 commuters on the affected routes. If trade unions cannot control their members then what good is negotiating with them? Why did Dublin Bus and the Labour Court sit down with the unions for weeks of talks, negotiations, agreements, votes and re-votes if at the end of the day the workers those unions claims to represent are still free to act how they want? Dublin Bus managers wouldn’t be allowed to turn around and announce to their workers that despite a company agreement they personally wont hold to the deal in their depot and half the drivers are fired.

Perhaps the only long term solution to this problem is to look at privatising Dublin Bus. Privatisation has it’s risks, the argument for keeping Dublin Bus in public ownership is that private companies would cut unprofitable routes but Dublin Bus are doing that anyway so now may be the time to address the privatization issue once and for all. If achieves nothing else, putting privatization back on the table might focus the minds of the drivers and bring them back under the control of their unions.

Update: The strike is over and the bus service is back to normal in time for the evening rush hour. At least some sanity has been restored to the situation.

We seldomly write about direct internet-related issues here at the Dublin Blog; however – I think it’s time to raise awareness about certain tendencies in the online world (and the real one as well) that are threatening our personal freedom.

After last year’s sueing of Eircom by four of the major record companies in this country and this April’s conviction of the Pirate Bay operators, I was shocked today to read a statement of the German minister for family affairs where she condems all internet users capable of using a search engine as “possible pedophiles”. This makes one thing clear: in times when most people are considered lucky in still having a job and have other things on their minds than worrying about the internet, menaces to what we consider guaranteed will crawl from whatever dark space their were inhabiting before. Either major record and gaming companies, like the online casino are unable to adjust their business models to reality (jaysus, they are still thinking there’s money to be made with CD’s), or governments who were unable to tighten their grip on their citizens with the fear of terror will come up with even more phoney reasons why the internet should be better “controlled” and made more “safe”.

Don’t get me wrong: in times when established local businesses such as Road Records are almost forced to close their doors because of filesharing and downloading (I’m skipping the word “illegal” here), there obviously is a negative side to this. But just think about it. And don’t take everything for granted – they may take it away from you sooner than you expect.

It seems like theres a transport strike every second week these days – if its not taxis, its Dublin Bus. Its getting beyond annoying.  The current Dublin Bus strike caused traffic chaos across north Dublin this morning. And there is likely to be further traffic chaos this evening. What I want to know is how 1 employee can cause so much disruption. Note to Dublin Bus drivers, be grateful you have a job!

From RTE:

Commuters are facing further disruption this evening due to unofficial industrial action at Dublin Bus.

Two depots at Clontarf and Harristown have been affected by the action which led to the cancellation of 29 routes this morning.

A number of drivers returned to work this afternoon, however there are still no buses on 23 routes.

Services on a further 14 routes, mostly on the northside of the city, have been curtailed.

Gardaí have advised motorists that all outbound bus lanes in north Dublin will be open to all traffic from 4.30pm until 7pm.

Limited service: 27 – 29a – 31 – 32/b – 37x – 38/a – 38b/c – 39 – 39x – 41 – 41x – 42/a/b – 103 – 130.

Cancelled routes: 4/4a – 13/13a – 17a – 27b – 27x – 31b – 32a – 32x – 33b – 40/a/b/c/d – 42 – 42a – 43 – 53 – 53a – 83 – 102 – 104 – 128 – 140 – 142 – 237 – 238 – 239 – 270.

The dispute follows the suspension of one driver who refused to work a new schedule on the 128 route.

Further information:
Dublin Bus
AA Roadwatch

UPDATE: 29/04/09 at 11:00
Service disruption has escalated to Conyngham Road depot. Further details on services can be found here.

And I’m afraid that’s putting it mildly…

The Gourmet club decided to reunite for the dine in Dublin week and we managed to get a table in Marco Pierre White Steakhouse & grill on Dawson street (formerly Fitzers). Their set menu for this special week was €29.95 for three courses and coffee. A good deal, considering their normal prices. With a name like that you can imagine that we had been looking forward to this one!

The restaurant itself had a nice atmosphere, but just had too many tables to allow the waiters to move comfortably between them and for the guests to hear the conversation at the other end of the table. We were seated at a round table, which I personally always like, because it enables you to easily have a chat with all the people at the table without having to shift in your seat. The menu allowed for quite a few choices. 6 starters, 5 mains and 3 desserts, which is a nice selection for a set menu.

I chose the asparagus with Hollandaise sauce to start, followed by a goats cheese salad and creme brulee tot top it off.  The asparagus themselves were nice enough, but the Hollandaise sauce certainly lacked the tangy lemonyness that sets it apart from other butter based sauces. But at that time I was still looking forward to some goats cheese goodness. Until my plate arrives that is…. I got a starter size salad which was made up out of three goats cheese circles on top op 3 deepfied croutons surrounded with watercress lettuce and a few walnuts. And that was literally it. No dressing, nothing tangy or sweet to balance the flavour, no other ingredients at all.  The cheese itself was quite bland as well and tasted as if it was deepfried with the croutons it was presented on. The croutons were drenched in oil and it wasn’t a nice olive oil either, but something generic which leaked out of them and continued to grease up the rest of the plate as I was eating my meal. I decided to give up after I only ate about 2/3 of the food. My dessert, creme brulee, was very nice and what you’d expect from a creme brulee. Nothing more, nothing less.

The service we got was below standard for a restaurant that links its name to a high profile chef like Marco Pierre White. Our waiter needed us to point ot the selected wines on the menu and handed us our plates across the table, instead of serving them out the normal way. At one moment he even slid a spoon across the table for Orla’s dessert. When clearing the table after our main courses he put the cork he had in his hand from opening a bottle of wine at another table on Dervla’s plate before removing it from the table. I’m not sure where they had learnt their etiquette and hospitality skills, but it was sub-standard to say the least.

After having to ask for our change back, we decided that we would not return here. ever.

And now for the grades…

Atmosphere: 6/10. The decor was nice and well done, but there were too many tables, which made it very crowded and noisy.

Starter: 5/10. a pass but just barely

Main: 2/10. I think Supermacs would do a better job at a goats cheese salad

Dessert: 7/10. Nice

Overall experience: 4/10. I’d rather spend my money elswhere.

I’ll now pass on the mic to the other Gourmet club members for additional comments and reviews about their own meals.

As the line-up of this year’s Electric Picnic was announced last week, Oxegen tickets are already getting sparse and Castlepalooza is trying to be nominated for “Best European Festival” again this year, I thought this to be a good opportunity to draw your attention to the one festival that marks the start of the Irish festival season: Sibin, kicking it of next Saturday, 2nd of May.

The word Sibín, or Sheebeen, is of Irish origin and has been used in Ireland, Scotland, Southern Africa and the Carribbean for centuries to describe various kinds of illicit and after hours establishments. Places where alcohol was consumed, music played and merriment had. In the sixties and seventies the word was commonly used among the West Indian community in the UK to describe the kind of after hours sessions often held in private houses where reggae sound system played, chalice blazed, and man and woman danced till the early hours.

2009 it may be, and yes we are fully licensed, but we intend to recapture the magic and spirit of the late night sessions of yore with our Sibín. Musically we want to promote both new and old sounds, electronic and acoustic alike. It will also be a celebration of artistic creativity and expression of all kinds, with the venue being transformed into a visual and auditory wonderland for the day.

Located only 30 minutes North of Dublin (and easily reachable via public transport), this year’s line-up features loads of up-and coming bands from genres that you won’t find in bigger festivals – techno, salsa, reggae, hip-hop or drum and bass amongst other. All this is cramped into a one-day festival with six stages and 50 acts altogether, and with a capacity of 2000 festival visitors this promises to be one nice & cosy Saturday afternoon (and night). Personally, I am really looking forward to the performance of Dublin instrumental outfit Friend?.

PS: Connected magazine still has some discounted tickets available. But you better hurry.

I love markets and its so exciting to see a new market start up.  May 3rd next sees the launch of the Art & Crafts Market in Newmarket Sq, Dublin 8 – 5 minutes walk from St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It is held on the first Sunday of every month from 11am to 5pm.

In these tough economic times, the market also encourages people to embrace their creative side and make some extra money doing it. So if you think you have a great idea that will sell or think that you can make some money from your favourite hobby then why not take a stall?

On the first Sunday of each month, 35 stall holders will set out their wares and with stalls priced at just €30, the ethos is low rent equals low price and haggling is encouraged!

With free parking on a Sunday and an ideal indoor location, come rain or shine the Art & Crafts Market is a great, fun day out for all the family with entertainment and a cafe offering delicious home made treats.

And if that wasn’t enough we also will be giving away two artworks absolutely free to a lucky winner each month!

Further information including location directions, stall booking and featured stall holders can be found on the Arts & Crafts Market website.

Happy shopping and selling!

Tomorrow is Ben & Jerry’s Free Cone Day, and to mark the occasion there’ll be free scoops on offer at the following locations and times:

11:30am-1:00pm: IFSC George’s Dock

2:30pm-4:00pm: Grand Canal Dock (near Fresh)

5:30pm-7:00pm: Heuston Station Luas stop

More details can be found at the Free Cone Day Facebook page here. Hopefully the sunny weather will hold up!

ANYONE with an interest in photography will be interested in this post, its something I am late coming too but I figure better late than never. Every now and again a gang of us have photomeets which are not only a great way to meet people and take photographs but they are also a great way to discover new techniques, tips and just have fun with photographs.

Last weekend Phil from Iced Coffee organised a photomeet in Dublin so we all met at the Spire before heading up to Dublin Castle via the boardwalk and Temple Bar. Course a visit to Temple Bar on a Saturday involves a visit to the Food Fair in Meeting Town Square, which inevitably involves everyone getting something to eat before heading onwards.

From Temple Bar we mosied up to Dublin Castle, then Christchurch and then finishing a couple of hours later in the pub. All in all I cannot think of a better way to spend a Saturday afternoon and the fact that despite the weather reports, the sun shone perfect for a day hanging about the city.

So now that the days are longer, brighter and sometimes warmer even, there will be more photomeets and I’ll be sure to let you know about them here when they are organised. In the meantime here’s some of the pics I took during the day and you can check out everyone else’s on Pixie.

From the 20th of April for 6 days, selected restaurants are participating in this offer. Check out www.dineindublin.ie for details. Some decent places in the list, but book soon!