The Dublin Community Blog

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.

As I am still fending off yesterday’s aftereffects, just a short post of a flashmob performing a nice jig outside the Central Bank on St. Patrick’s Eve. Via Darragh.

THANKS to Pixie a gang of us had great viewing spots on the parade route yesterday, needless to say such a vantage point meant I took about 1,000 pics which will take me a good few days to sort through. In the meantime here’s a taster of some the pics, with more being uploaded to the St Patrick’s Festival group on Pixie as as when I finish them.

Hope you all had a great day, it was absolute bedlam in Dublin, crazy, I have never seen so many people hanging about the streets after a parade, mostly due to the wonderful weather I suppose. Anyway it is my intention to write more about the parade when I get a chance but for now here’s some images from the day.

Going to bend the rules here slightly, but, it’s St Patrick’s Day (in Oz already!) so that’s my excuse, and I’ll mention Dublin somewhere, promise!!

Attended the Paddy’s Day Parade here in Brisbane at the weekend, along with the younger brother and best mate. I was actually surprised by just how many people turned out (there were estimates of 30,000, which knocks the socks off London’s 10,000) and how good everything was. It was a nice balmy autumns day, temp hovering around the late 20′s and the sun shining and everyone out in shorts, not quite your typical Paddy’s day!!

There was a good mix of Aussie’s, Paddy’s and just about every other nation in the world around town to watch the parade too! St Patrick himself even turned up for the occasion, and in true Aussie style, traveled on the back of a ‘Ute’

But, just to remind us that we are Irish, and to ensure that we don’t miss home too much, about 10 minutes into the parade, the sky opened and the rain began! Now, being Irish we’re well used to rain, however, rain in Queensland is slightly different (warmer and a hell of a lot heavier) than anything we’re used to back in Ireland.

However, the bands marched on, and everyone continued to have a fantastic time. More photos below and at this link. Hope everyone, no matter what part of the world that they are in today has a fantastic day.

WELL the funfairs up in Merrion Square and all sorts of events are happening around Dublin as part of the annual St Patrick’s Festival 2009. We were one of the first to get on the ferris wheel and the views over the city at night were fantastic.

There are loads and loads of things happening, culminating in Tuesday’s St Patrick’s Day parade. I’m going to be there in a special viewing area on O’Connell Street where I’m hoping I can get some great shots of the parade without the back of someone’s head, all thanks to Pixie who have managed to secure all sorts of fantastic passes for people to cover the parade. I will upload some pics here for those of you who will miss out n the day. Also keep an eye on the Pixie festival pool of pics for a flavour of the festival. And why not upload your pics of everything too.

So if you are in Dublin over the next couple of days you’ll find something for everyone. Check out the different events on the St Patrick’s Festival website. And keep checking back here as I am sure the Dublin Blog team will be out in force over the festival. Have fun and remember its St Patrick’s/Patrick’s/Paddy’s Day NOT Patty

As some of you may now, this year’s Jameson Dublin Film Festival has started today; and this year yours truly will work for the festival as a volunteer. Therefore over the next ten days I’m planning to share my experiences with you, and maybe I can even sneak in one interview or two. And of course some gossip, who knows who I’ll be meeting while ripping of tickets

But the festival is not mainly about stars, but movies:

Here are just a few of the highlights for opening weekend……

Dive in to Documentaries
Experience a new world with our opening weekend documentaries including Creative Chaos (13th @ 4pm), Pirate for The Sea (14th @ 4:40pm), Bigger Stronger Faster (15th @ 6:10pm).

Turkish Delights
Get a taste of the Eastern delights at the festival with Dot (14th @ 2pm), Havar (15th @ 6:10pm) and Takva (15th @ 8:45pm).

Not Just Another Manic Monday
Get the week off to a good start and beat the Monday blues with Snow (16th @ 6:30pm) and Exterminating Angels (16th @ 8:45pm).

Guaranteed Irish
Come and see whats on offer from some of the shining lights of Irish film with Christine Molloy & Joe Lawlors Helen (15th @ 4pm), and John Crowley’s Boy A (16th @ 6:45pm).
Going, going, gone..

I am really looking forward to the ecletic mix of European and American movies, with not few classics and Cannes-winners featured. My personal picks for the festival are:

“I sell the dead”. A 18th century grave-robbers tale featuring Ron Perlman and Dominic Monaghan.
“Exterminating Angels (Les Anges Exterminateurs). Controversial French director and writer Jean-Claude Brisseau created a wild mix of sexual tension and suspense in this thriller from 2006.
“Anvil! The Story of Anvil”. As the old metalhead that I am, no one’s gonna stop me from watching this extraordinary documetary about one of the most understimated bands in Rock. Hellyeah.
And last but not least “Tokyo!”, a cinematic triptych of three Tokyo-set stories filmed by three different directors, one of them the brilliant Michel Gondry.

So, see you at the movies!

Saw this stuck to the inside of a florist’s window last Saturday in Ranelagh. Not going to say much more about it, but… what was the ‘red suede ladies shoe’ doing while ‘last seen’?

Answers on a postcard please!

Seasons Greetings to one and all! This is just a quick post to let you know of a very rewarding alternative to bringing your kids/siblings/nieces/nephews etc to see Santy at the local shopping centre.

I spent the afternoon with three nephews at the DSPCA Cat and Dog home in Rathfarham where we met Santa, saw lots of cats, dogs, goats, geese and other animals who live at the shelter, had some cocoa and cookies and learnt a little about the DSPCA’s tireless work around the city and county.

Admission is very reasonable- €5 for adults and €12 for children (which includes the visit to santa, their cookies and a present). There are also free goody bags for pet owners with all manner of treats inside.  Most importantly, your money is going to a very, very worthy cause at the time of year when its resources are stretched to the absolute limit and literally every cent counts towards rescuing an abused or abandoned animal. 

Book online here for the last available dates- Sunday 14th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st December (or just make a donation!).

 

 

 

While searching around the radio dial for something to listen to last night I stumbled across a new radio station, Christmas FM on 89.9 FM. Playing Christmas music 24 hours a day in the Dublin area and online until December 26th.

One solid month of Christmas music 24 hours a day may seem like a bit much for most people but it all for a good cause. They are collecting money for ISPCC. All revenue from the broadcast goes to charity. If you are feeling in the Christmas spirit and cant find a decent Christmas carol on your iPod or radio then tune in here and you’ll hear Christmas songs you never knew existed (and probably wish didn’t).

It really doesn’t matter that we are 45 days before the Christmas – we already have Christmas lights! A plenty of people gathered yesterday on O’Connell Street. A lot of kids, some entertainment and,  finally, the Christmas Tree. The structure weights five tonnes and is composed of 100,000 bulbs of different sizes.

Dubliners, go to shopping! (actually, the Lady Mayor said that, not me)