The Dublin Community Blog

For a few brief hours last Friday (and probably Saturday and Sunday too), every wine bar in the city lay dormant as the entire middle class population of Dublin descended upon the beautiful Iveagh Gardens for this years Taste Of Dublin. Fortunately I managed to get my hands on a couple of cheap tickets too and so with 50 “florins” (Taste of Dublin currency) in one hand and my beautiful date in the other, I set off for some top notch grub.

The weather was a little on the soft side but this had no effect on the number of people who turned up and fifteen to twenty minute queues were the norm in order to get served by most of the exhibitors. I quickly discovered that the Taste of Dublin “currency” (florin) was a scam by greedy promoters to ensure that the squeezed the maximum amount of money from the crowd, as every tent I visited also accepted euro and indeed some wouldn’t even accept the florins.

The samples given by the main exhibitors cost an average of seven euro and were a little on the small side for that price, however we were treated to plenty of free samples by friendly staff at many stalls and I enjoyed some really tasty offerings especially from the nice folk at Donnybrook Fair.

In the end I had a good night with plenty of wine, beer and food (not so much song, though the Caribbean band in the pub tent were very good) and I’d recommend the event to anyone thinking of going next year – just don’t bother with the florins.

More pictures available at the Dublin Blog group pool on Flickr

Just a quick post to let you know the Dublin Writers Festival will be running from the 13th – 17th of June 2007 at various locations throughout the city.
Guests will include: Meg Rosoff, Derek Landy, Nell McCafferty, Jackie Kay and Xiaolu Guo.

Full details are available here:
http://www.dublinwritersfestival.com
and here
http://www.ark.ie/index0.html

I’m a bit late but you may find this useful if you have to heave heavy shopping across the city like I did today, fair play to Clearwire for the Christmas shuttle:

The free Clearwire Christmas shuttle will be running between O’Connell Street and Grafton street on Thursday, Friday and Saturday this week to save the weary shopping feet of the people of Dublin.

The shuttle will be running tomorrow from 10am till 4pm and you can hop on outside Topshop at the top of Grafton Street or outside Cleary’s. You can hop off outside Penny’s on O’Connell Street, at the bottom of Grafton Street outside Trinity or outside Topshop. So if you are in town be sure to check it out!

 

The artists studio is an exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery which investigates the role of the studio in the making and production of art.
It’s inspired by the studio of Irish painter Francis Bacon which is housed at the gallery. The show features work by Andy Warhol, John Baldessari, Thomas Demand, Urs Fischer, Martin Kippenberger, Paul McCarthy, Bruce Nauman, Dieter Roth and Wolfgang Tillmans.

A symposium on the role of the studio in creative production, will take place on February 8 and 9, 2007.
Speakers include internationally active artists, curators and critics such as: Sara Arrhenius, Iwona Blazwick, Daniel Buren, Thomas Demand.

Full details are available at:
http://www.hughlane.ie/exhibitions/exhibc.asp

And Cool Hunting have a good post on the exhibition here:
http://www.coolhunting.com/archives/2006/11/dublin_city_gal.php

From the Hugh Lane site:

The concept of the studio has long captivated audiences with its associations of unbridled creativity, freedom from convention, bohemian lifestyle and struggle for success. THE STUDIO wants to offer an indepth examination of the historic and contemporary role and function of the studio for artists. What does the studio mean for artists today whose creative production is based on ideas and process and for whom the notion of the permanency of the artwork is often redundant? Addressing this subject provides fascinating insights into art in the contemporary environment and the role and activities of the artist within those structures, social, economic and political, which inform society locally and globally.

LECTURES AND SCREENINGS
Sunday 3 December 2006 3pm
Lecture: The Studio as Spectrum
Christina Kennedy, Head of Exhibitions and co-curator of THE STUDIO, will give a lecture and walk-through of the exhibition.

Sunday 7 January 2007 3pm
Film screening: Kippenberger-Der Film
Jörg Kobel, Germany 2005, 75’
This documentary features film footage and rare interviews with German artist Martin Kippenberger and looks at his connections with the Berlin art and punk scenes of the 1970s and 80s.

Sunday 28 January 2007 3pm
Artist’s Talk: Andrew Grassie
London based painter Andrew Grassie, who is currently using the gallery as a studio, will discuss his work in the context of the exhibition.

Sunday 4 February 2007 3pm
Lecture: Sean Shanahan in conversation with Aidan Dunne.
Artist Sean Shanahan will discuss his studio in relation to the exhibition with the Irish Times’ art critic Aidan Dunne.

Sunday 11 February 2007 3pm
Film Screening: Buren and the Guggenheim
Stan Neuman, France 2005, 54‘
Made during the installation of Daniel Buren’s 2005 exhibition at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, this film provides a background to Buren’s work and longstanding history with the museum. Produced by Les Poissons Volants

Sunday 25 February 2007 3pm
Lecture: “What’s all the fuss about? Artists just have studios, don’t they?�
Mick Wilson, Head of Research Postgraduate Studies at the National College of Art and Design, will discuss the artist’s studio in context with the exhibition.

The Studio
1 December 2006–25 February 2006
Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane
Charlemont House
Parnell Square North, Dublin 1
Ireland
Tel. +1 +353 1 222 5550 

I was strolling along O’Connell Street yesterday around 5pm and I noticed it was closed off to traffic, so being the curious type that I am I took a walk up to the GPO and happened upon the unveiling of this years Christmas tree. Yes, love it or hate it, it’s that time again already folks…

Unfortunately had a pressing engagement to get to (ok, it was a pint of Guinness), so I didn’t hang around for the official light up.

Here’s a list of some of the events taking place in the city over Christmas taken from the official DublinCity.ie press release :

Live Animal Crib – (11 – 23 December) For the 11th year running, The Mansion House on Dawson Street will host a traditional nativity scene set with live animals in a specially constructed lifesize stable. This event has become a beloved Christmas tradition amongst families and has collected over €110,000 for the Lord Mayor’s Charity Fund. Organised by the Irish Farmers Association and Dublin City Council, this wonderful event is free but everyone should donate money to this worthy cause! A wonderful opportunity to bring a little bit of the country to city kids. ·

Smithfield on Ice, t.0818 946900 / http://www.smithfieldonice.ie/ – (10 November – 7 January)

Dublin’s original open-air Ice-Rink, returns to Smithfield for the fifth year running. A large skating rink, a Victorian carnival and Christmas market all contribute to a sense of the ‘White Christmas’ Bing Crosby sang about. Santa will be up the 170ft Smithfield chimney, there will be carols every Sunday, and everyone can get a chance to bump and slide on the ice! All together now: “I’m dreaming of a white Christmas!� ·

Santa’s Workshop – (every weekend in December) This year for the first time Santa has moved his workshop from Lapland in the North Pole to Dublin’s City Hall!! ·

Christmas Market – (1 – 10 December)

Dubliners will have the opportunity to savour the atmosphere, tastes and smells of a traditional Christmas market in Wolfe Tone Park with Christmas fare available from over 20 stalls offering a wide selection from which to choose. Dublin Docklands Authority, Georges Dock, IFSC, D1: http://www.ddda.ie/ · 12 Days of Christmas –

Traditional Festive Market – (12 – 23 December)

Featuring over 40 traders selling Christmas decorations, seasonal food and craft gifts from decorated stalls the market also offers the scent of mulled wine, a German-themed bar, carol-singing, an eating area and fairground attractions. Not only will it bring a bit of Christmas spirit to the city but it will also be an opportunity to see how the Docklands is changing.

The National Museum of Ireland, t.01 6777444: http://www.museum.ie/ ·

Christmas Open Day, Museum of Decorative Arts & History, Collins Barracks, D7 -(Saturday 2 December): children can make Christmas decorations and learn about old fashioned toys. ·

Get Ready for Christmas!, Museum of Archaeology & History, Kildare Street, D2 – (Saturday 16 December): children will be encouraged to make their own Christmas decorations and decorate a tree at this children’s art workshop (booking is essential). ·

 A Medieval Christmas, Museum of Archaeology & History, Kildare Street, D2 – (Sunday 17 December): presented by the Irish Arms Living History Group, enjoy the fun of the Medieval Fair – education amidst Christmas fun, what more could you want for your kids?

 Irish Museum of Modern Art (IMMA),Royal Hospital Kilmainham, D8: http://www.modernart.ie/ ·

A number of exciting exhibitions will be running for all the family to enjoy including Michael Craig-Martin (Until 14 January),Hearth: Concepts of Home from the IMMA Collection in collaboration with Focus Ireland (Until 1 April), Iran do Espírito Santo (Until 21 January) and All Hawaii Entrées (Until 18 February)

Dublin City Gallery – The Hugh Lane, Parnell Square North, D1: http://www.hughlane.ie/ ·

Children’s Art Workshops (see website for further details) Why not bring all the budding artists in the family along to explore their creative side:- Making Winter Tophats – (Saturday 2 December) 12 Days of Christmas – (Saturday 16 December) Little Christmas – (Saturday 6 January)

The Gaiety Theatre, South King Street, D2: http://www.gaietytheatre.net/ · Mother Goose Panto – (3 December – 4 February)

“He’s behind you! Oh no he isn’t! Oh yes he is!� The Gaiety Panto is the largest in the country and it’s always a great night out for the whole family. Expect lots of good guys, bad guys, good girls, bad girls, men dressed as women and the most important ingredient lots of happy, loud, shouting children.

The Olympia Theatre, 72 Dame Street, D2: t.01 670 3323/0818 719330 ·

 Cinders Panto – (26 December – 7 January) 98fm’s Little Becky and ITV’s Bel from Bel Boys are appearing live in pantomime this Christmas in the all time classic Cinders at the Olympia. With an all-Irish child cast of over 110, 4-16 year olds, two live ponies, Bebo the Dog and the biggest kid in the world, June Rogers, returning to panto for the first time in many years – this is bound to be an evening of fun and frolics for the entire family!

Liberty Hall, Eden Quay, D1:01 872 1122 / http://www.libertyhall.ie/ ·

Sleeping Beauty – The Lyons Tea Panto – (15 December – 21 January) Ireland AM’s Alan Hughes appears as Sammy Sausages with a host of other celebrities including Joe Conlon, George McMahon and Hazel O’Connor in this year’s classic panto production which is bound to entertain young and old alike!

The National Concert Hall, Earlsfort Terrace, D2: http://www.nch.ie/ ·

Christmas Crackers – (7 December, 8 pm) Hosted by showband legend Dickie Rock and Niamh Kavanagh the evening features a host of popular seasonal carols and Christmas hits including Silent Night, I Saw Mummy Kissing Santa Claus, Christmas Song, O Holy Night and lots more. ·

 A Christmas Festival – (9 December, 8pm) Presented by Niamh Murray, this event will feature the Dublin County Choir, the Billie Barry Children and the Royal Irish Academy of Music Wind Ensemble. If you’re a fan of Christmas music then there is no better way to get into the spirit of the season!

A Silver Christmas ·

Dublin City Centre Christmas trees will be adorned with the glow of silver stars from Newbridge Silverware this year who have donated a series of 3,500 exclusively designed and crafted silver stars to Dublin City Council. They will be featured in Christmas trees in O’Connell Street, Lower Grafton St., City Hall and the home of the Lord Mayor – the Mansion House and will be auctioned off in aid of the Lord Mayor’s charity TRUST after Christmas.

Contemporary Music Centre,19 Fishamble Street, Temple Bar, D8: http://www.cmc.ie/ ·

 Mornington Singers – (7 December, 6.30 – 7.30pm) Will perform Christmas Carols old and new followed by seasonal refreshments at the Contemporary Music Centre and Handel Courtyard.

St Martin’s Church, 42 Parnell Square, D1, t.01 8745465 ·

The Moving Crib – (1 December – 15 January) Established in 1956 by Fr. Louis Coffey, the Moving Crib has now entertained generations of Dubliners. It does more than it says on the tin with a selection of biblical scenes acted out by mechanical puppets including Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, the Three Wise Men and of course the Nativity. A reminder of what Christmas is all about.

The Ark, Cultural Centre for Children,11a Eustace Street, Temple Bar, D2: http://www.ark.ie/ ·

The Butterfly Effect: An Arklink Retrospective – (29 November – 7 January) An exhibition celebrating the captivating artwork of the participating children of ArkLink, a six-year programme in the community of Fatima Mansions. Together with resident artists Jole Bortoli, Kieran McNulty and Katie Lincoln, the children have created a imaginative body of original paintings, sculptures and films. A truly inspirational exhibition not to be missed.

Phoenix Park, D8: tel.01-820 5800 ·

Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer – (17 December, 2pm) Take a guided walk with Don Doran, Deer Keeper at the Phoenix Park and meet Rudolph and all his friends before they get ready to take flight around the world on Christmas Eve! This event is organised by the OPW. The James Joyce Centre, 35 North Great George’s Street, D1: http://www.jamesjoyce.ie/ ·

Christmas Magic – (1 – 21 December) The James Joyce Centre will transform from this date into a Victorian wonderland straight out of a Charles Dickens novel. Two period Christmas Trees and sumptuous décor will blend with the smells of mince pies, roasted chestnuts, mulled wine and apple cider, and the sounds of carols from the likes of the Belvedere choir. Every guest will receive a mince pie and a glass of warm spiced apple juice or mulled wine.

 Temple Bar Cultural Trust, East Essex Street, D2: http://www.templebar.ie/ ·

Christmas Movies on the Square – (every Thursday & Saturday in December) All movies take place on Meeting House Square, Temple Bar and are FREE. Movies DO NOT require tickets – just come along! Love Actually – Thursday 7th December, 6pm It’s a Wonderful Life – Saturday 9th December, 8pm Miracle on 34th Street – Thursday 14th December, 6pm The Santa Claus – Saturday 16th December, 8pm Santa Claus the Movie – Thursday 21st December, 6pm Scrooged – Saturday 23rd December, 8pm ·

Temple Bar Christmas Market – (14 – 17 December, 10am – 7pm)

A spectacular outdoor Christmas market in Old City Temple Bar, Essex Street West, for 4 days only this December! Over 50 stallholders will take to the streets offering you that alternative gift this Christmas. Santas in the City! · From Santas Grottos to snow mountains and a word with the man himself about what you want for Christmas – Christmas isn’t Christmas without a visit to see Santa in the City!
 

I finally paid a visit to one of northside Dublin’s most well known restaurants last weekend: 101 Talbot restaurant.

Taking a chance, I rang them at 8pm on Saturday night hoping a table might be free and thankfully my gamble paid off (The bank holiday weekend may have helped). We arrived at 9.30 to find the restaurant buzzing and full of people. There’s no background music but because of the layout of the dining area you don’t really miss it. The hum of people talking gives the place enough background noise so you don’t feel like your neighbour’s table is listening to everything you say. We ordered our meals (Garlic bread and olives to start, steak and cod for the main courses) and apart from a mix up with the starters, the grub was great and the wine was excellent. The coffee was good too, oh and for dessert you have to have the creme brulee!

We especially liked the fact that even the most expensive wines cost no more then €25. No pretension here, just good food and wine at a good price.

By the way the restaurant wasn’t as empty as it seems in these pictures, I took the pics at the end of the night!

I’m a big fan of all variations and types of coffee, depending on my mood or the time of day I might have espresso, latte, cappuccino or good old black coffee. In fact for me one of the great benefits of living in Dublin city is the ability to pop out and sit in a cafe reading a book and enjoying a good cup of joe.

Last Saturday I visited Starbucks on Dawson Street and ordered a grande latte with whipped cream and caramel drizzle (I know, I know, it’s such a pretentious order that I felt like slapping myself in the face but damn it tastes good!). Then I sat down and texted a few friends to see if they’d be interested in joining me. Whow you get some interesting reactions from people when it comes to Starbucks, “They’re Evil!” for example, tends to pop up a lot.

For me they’re safe, by that I mean I always have a good coffee when I visit. I’ve quite often bought a coffee from O’Briens or West Coast Coffee and two minutes later ended up throwing the foul tasting muck in a bin. They’re just not consistent enough in their coffee for my liking, in fact I’ve yet to find a take-away coffee establishment as dependable as Starbucks.

They also seem to support fair trade coffee and have been ranked 45th on Business Ethics’ list of “The 100 Best Corporate Citizens” of 2004, I presume that’s a good thing.
One bad point I can agree with is Starbucks’ tendency to start popping up everywhere and putting the little guys out of business (then again if the little guy’s coffee tastes like mud, should we really weep at their demise?!)

What do you think, should we start defending Dublin against an onslaught of Starbucks cafes?
Are they evil?

Sorry about the shaky picture, took it after my caffeine fix :)

A lot of people are surprised when I tell them where I come from: Summerhill, north inner city Dublin. I think the thing is that they have a preconception that once I’m from there, I’ll only able to communicate in short guttural grunts and by hitting myself repeatedly on the head with a stone or something. Well I’m proud to come from north inner city Dublin, sure some of the people are bad (like anywhere) but some are great too. With that in mind, my aim in blogging on The Dublin Community Blog is to show you some of the great places, people and events of north inner city Dublin, you might be surprised how great life can be living here.

I’ve been living in a new apartment which I’ve just bought (thank you affordable housing scheme) on middle Gardiner street for 2 months now and I’m loving it. Surrounded by restaurants, pubs, markets, shops and people of every nationality, there’s a great buzz about the area. The only thing that’s put a damper on the whole thing has been some other narrow-minded people’s reaction to the location of my new place: usually a sharp intake of breath followed by a pained expression and “Bit of a dodgy area though isn’t it?”

Now I might be tempting fate here (I’ll probably get mugged tomorrow now) but I can’t see what they’re talking about. Maybe it was a dodgy area 20 years ago but truth of the matter is I’ve lived in north inner city Dublin for 30 years and never had any trouble, so enough people, get over it and quit the snobbery. Actually either way I’m still going to enjoy myself so I guess really it makes no difference

Dublin skyline from my apartment block

Site for new Chapters store opening on Parnell street, looking forward to that (Egghead likes his bookie-wooks).

Look! On Parnell street! Trees! And in such a dodgy area! Nobody’s even puking on them or trying to steal them! Shock! Horror! Ok I’ll stop now.