English hip-hop duo Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip will be making a welcome return to Irish shores in April when they’ll be travelling the country in support of their forthcoming second album, The Logic of Chance.

April 21st: The Pavillion, Cork
April 22nd: Roisin Dubh, Galway
April 23rd: Trinity Rooms, Limerick
April 24th: Whelan’s, Dublin
April 26th: Nerve Centre, Derry
April 27th: Mandela Hall, Belfast

Information on ticket prices and availability will be available on www.ticketme.ie soon.

Primero haré un breve resumen de los dos días que pasamos en Irlanda, para luego darle al objetivo real del viaje: los 3 días en Ámsterdam.

Salimos de Barcelona el sábado de mañana y al mediodía aterrizamos en Dublín. Fuimos hasta la estación de buses Eire donde nos encontramos con Johnny y Carol, y por 19 euros ida y vuelta cada uno atravesamos Irlanda hasta la otra punta. El viaje duró casi 4 horas, pero el paisaje era bastante entretenido, pasando por todos los pueblitos irlandeses con sus casitas, sus pubs, y una cosa que me llamó la atención: los viejos cementerios que no se escondían tras altos muros sino que eran como un jardín entre casa y casa, algunos con muchas flores y otros con lápidas muy viejas y torcidas. El paisaje irlandés es como el de Uruguay: chato, con mucho verde, campo, vacas y ovejas.

Se vende casa en el Irish countryside, con vistas al futuro.

Al fin llegamos a Galway. Un pueblito con una plaza y una calle peatonal con muchos pubs, restaurantes y tiendas, muy colorida y llena de gente, que termina en un río donde se ven patos y cisnes a sus anchas.
Dimos unas vueltas por la tarde y por la noche nos fuimos al club Cuba, donde tocaba Mr. Scruff, un DJ de Manchester bastante bueno por cierto. Johnny es un gran fan de Mr Scruff y lo ha seguido a varios lugares donde ha tocado y se conocen bastante. Por eso estábamos en la lista de invitados y nos salteamos la cola que había afuera para entrar al club y lo mejor de todo es que no pagamos los 13 euros que salía la entrada.
Adentro del club estaba lleno de gente. Bailamos toda la noche y al terminar, cuando se fue toda la gente, nos quedamos en el backstage con los “artistas”, tomando cerveza gratis. Nada mal para la primera noche en Irlanda.

Galway

Al otro día baño, desayuno, y otra vez 4 horas en el bus hasta Dublín. Paseamos un poco por la ciudad y luego nos fuimos a dormir la siesta. Pero se nos fue la mano y nos despertamos casi a la medianoche del domingo. Lástima que no me dio el tiempo para ir a tomar una Guinness en un pub irlandés EN IRLANDA, pero eso solo significa que tendré que volver a hacer la ruta turística.

Dublin - Penny Bridge

Temple Bar, área de concentración de pubs

Gaélico, Eire y el arpa

Al otro día salimos para Ámsterdam. Llegamos el lunes por la tarde y lo primero que vi cuando salí de la Centraal Station fue un parking de bicis totalmente atiborrado de bicicletas. La cantidad era impresionante. Cruzando el puente frente a la estación también estaba lleno de bicis, todas amontonadas, parecía que sería muy difícil encontrar la propia y poder sacarla de entre esa maraña de fierros. La verdad es que me pareció ver muy pocos autos. Con tantos canales, puentes y calles estrechas, parece que todos andan a pie o en bici.

Bicing anyone?

Cruzamos la plaza Dam que es la principal en el centro de Ámsterdam, y caminamos un par de calles hasta llegar al hostal The Bulldog. Quisiera recomendar este hostal para quienes vayan a Ámsterdam, aunque es caro vale la pena. Claro que también depende del tipo de habitación que se elija. Nosotros reservamos una habitación doble privada con baño, que es lo mismo que estar en un hotel, por 200 euros por 2 noches para los dos, con desayuno incluido. Pero es un hostal muy céntrico, sobre un canal, a pocas calles del barrio rojo, y se podía ir caminando a casi todos lados. Pero creo que lo mejor era que tenía en la planta baja un gran lounge bar, con sillones y tele y Nintendo Wii y mesas de pool y un decorado muy lindo, con juegos de mesa, internet, donde se podía uno sentar tranquilamente a fumar, y estaba abierto para los huéspedes casi toda la noche. Justo al lado del hostal hay un coffeeshop también del Bulldog. Hay varios locales del Bulldog en Ámsterdam, además del hostal hay como 2 ó 3 coffeeshops y una tienda de souvenirs. Tienen hojillas y molinitos con su propia marca.

Calle/canal del Bulldog Hostel

Luego de acomodarnos en el cuarto y comer algo, fuimos al coffeeshop de al lado y miramos el menú que tiene variedades de “weed” (marihuana) y “hash” (hashís). El precio de una bolsita de 1 gramo de marihuana “Haze” es de 10 euros, y una bolsita de 1 gramo de hash de Marruecos (había de Afganistán, Nepal, etc.) también salen entre unos 10 ó 12 euros. Los venden en bolsitas tipo ziplog miniatura. Para que se hagan una idea con 1 gramo de marihuana se pueden armar unos 3 ó 4 cigarros y el gramo de hash igual, dependiendo de cuanto se le ponga al armarlo, porque aquí siempre arman el cigarro de marihuana o hash mezclado con tabaco.

Coffeeshop Old Church

Como en la mayoría de los coffeeshops que fuimos no permiten fumar tabaco (si, leyeron bien, te podés fumar un porro pero un cigarro no, para dejar bien en claro que el tabaco es mucho más nocivo que el porro). Como decía, como no permiten fumar tabaco, tienen unos tarros con unas hierbas con gustos para sustituirlo.
Para Johnny esta era su sexta vez en Ámsterdam y nos decía que siempre es bueno preguntar en cada coffeeshop cuál es la “smoking policy”.
Algunos dejan fumar tabaco pero la mayoría no. Algunos intentan ser simpáticos y te dicen que se puede armar el porro con tabaco pero que luego escondas los cigarros. En los coffeeshops se puede fumar la marihuana o hash que hayas comprado en otros coffeeshops, no te obligan a consumir el que ellos venden, pero si tienes que consumir algo de tomar o comer.
Muchos coffeeshops tampoco venden alcohol.

Coffeeshop Free Adam

Los precios varían según los coffeeshops. Algunos te dan por la misma plata 0.2 gramos más o por el estilo. También las variedades que ofrecen de marihuana y hash son diferentes.
Yo no sabía, pero parece que todos los años hacen un concurso de marihuana, y los mismos coffeeshops son los que presentan sus productos. En el 2008 ganó una con el nombre “Cheese” (personalmente no me gusta el nombre, prefiero los nombres como “Bubble Gum”). También había una bautizada como “White Dolphin” que fue la ganadora creo que del 2007, en el coffeeshop Dolphin, que en su planta baja tenía las paredes pintadas como un gran acuario.

Coffeeshop Dampkring

Hay que hacer una mención aparte a la decoración de los coffeshops. Algunos eran de película. Estuvimos en uno llamado “Dampkring”, creo que fue el que más me gustó. Ahí filmaron unas escenas de la película Ocean’s Eleven. Por dentro la barra, las paredes y las lámparas tenían motivos sicodélicos en colores vivos pero todo con mucho gusto.
Supongo que se esmerarán en los decorados para que cuando la gente fume y se quede colgada mirando cualquier cosa, encuentre decorados que realmente estimulen la vista. En el Dampkring había una mesa con unas chicas fumando, pero de repente apareció una con una bolsa de nylon transparente inflada, que tenía en una punta como un tapón negro con agujeritos, como si fuera un salero, y arriba otra tapa que cubría los agujeros y mantenía el aire dentro de la bolsa. La chica sacó la tapa y se llevó a la boca el tapón con los agujeritos y empezó a succionar el aire dentro de la bolsa. Tomó un poco y se lo pasó a sus compañeros. Yo no tenía ni idea pero parece que tienen unas máquinas donde ponen la marihuana y la vaporizan dentro de la bolsa. No sé si el efecto es menor o mayor que fumándola pero es original y no tira humo.
Otro coffeeshop que me gustó mucho fue el Rokery, con mesitas y sillitas bajas, muchos almohadones, velas de colores, lámparas a media luz y dibujos tribales en las paredes.
Hubo otro que me encantó porque cuando entrabas era un largo pasillo con la barra sobre un lado, pero siguiendo hacia el fondo bajabas unas escaleritas y había un gran salón con sillones muy cómodos, con grandes ventanales que daban a un canal. Las paredes, el techo, los sillones de cuero tachonado, y las mesas estaban totalmente pintados con letras a modo de graffittis, como si todos los que hubieran ido hubieran escrito cosas con marcadores.
El día que fuimos a ese estaba lloviendo. Eran las 11 de la mañana y estaba gris y llovía, pero era romántico mirar las gotas caer sobre el agua del canal, al otro lado las casitas tan características de Ámsterdam, que parecen caerse de tan inclinadas, y adentro buena música rockera mientras unos leían el diario, otros hablaban, todos tranquilos con su cigarrito.
No todos los coffeeshops eran obras de arte, algunos eran simplemente bares, como el bar de Manolo de la esquina pero con menú de marihuana y hash. Seguro que esos son los que frecuentan los locales, los menos turísticos.
La verdad es que está lleno de coffeeshops, hay para todos los gustos, y eso que había leído que hace poco cerraron unos 200 por estar muy cerca de escuelas.

Deben saber que por más que en Ámsterdam el cannabis sea legal, uno no ve gente por la calle fumando grandes porros desinhibidamente. Supongo que no habrá mucho problema si uno lo hace pero la idea es que la gente se fume lo suyo en los coffeeshop, que para eso están, o se pueden sentar a fumar en las terrazas de los coffeeshops, pero prefieren que hagas el despliegue de elementos para armar adentro, ya que vi varios carteles que decían “please roll your joints inside”.
Otra cosa que hay para probar es el Space Muffin, una magdalena grande de chocolate y 5 gramos de marihuana. Cada Space Muffin salía unos 6 ó 7 euros (nota: una magdalena de chocolate normal en un Starbucks en Barna sale 2,50 euros).

Grow shop

Demás está decir que con tanto consumo de cannabis también está lleno de grow shops, donde venden plantitas de marihuana, semillas, y todo tipo de elementos y herramientas, pipas de todos los tamaños y colores, molinos, hojillas, tucas, porros de papel ya hechos donde solo tenés que ponerle la marihuana adentro, galletitas de marihuana, chupetines de marihuana, shampoo de marihuana, jabón de marihuana… etc. etc.
También hay unos locales donde venden hongos para cultivar. Antes era legal vender los hongos frescos o secos para comer, pero ahora ya no es legal y estas tiendas lo que venden es un pote del tamaño de una tarrina de helado de un litro, que las tienen en heladeras para mantener la humedad, y que tienen todos los honguitos en miniatura creciendo.
Entramos a una de estas tiendas para averiguar cómo era el asunto vimos un par de chicas que estaban pidiendo hongos para comer. El hombre que los atendió era muy amable y les dijo: “si tengo pero ahora no es legal así que yo les doy pero ustedes acá no vieron nada”, y se reía. Les dijo que no tenía hongos frescos sino solo secos, y sacó unas bolsitas con unos hongos de cabeza chiquita y muchos palitos. Decían “Hawaiian”. Cada bolsita traía 0.8 gramos y salía 20 euros. Le preguntaron al pibe como se comían y les dijo que no comieran nada ni fumaran porro 3 horas antes de comer los hongos, que los masticaran despacio y que tomaran mucha agua. También que no lo mezclaran con alcohol ni con porro y que si el efecto era muy fuerte comieran algo dulce para bajarlo, pero no chocolate porque lo haría más fuerte. Había además un papelito con instrucciones que transcribo a continuación:
“EFFECT: The holy, magic mushroom brings you a visionary, dreamy state of consciousness.
USE: You can eat the mushroom so the psylocibine will be absorbed in your body through your mouth. Chewing it well slowly improves the effect and saves your stomach. You can also make tea from the mushrooms. Cook some water slowly, keep the fire low and leave the mushrooms in for about 20 min. Pour the water and mix with a caffeine-free tea. Don’t sweeten the tea! If you like you can eat the residue.
DOSAGE: Take mushrooms on an empty stomach in a quiet natural environment or at home.
DRIED FRESH
0,3-0,5 gr 3-5 gr gives a mild trip
0,5-1,0 gr 5-10 gr gives an intense trip
IF THIS IS YOUR FIRST TRIP, DO NOT EXCEED THE DOSE OF 0,3-0,5 GR DRIED OR 3-5 GR FRESH!!! After 45 minutes you will notice the mushrooms start working. You will get relaxed, laughy, depending on the amount you take.
SOME ADVICE: Drink lots of water. If you feel sick or if you want to neutralise the effect, eat something light, take a high dose of vitamine C (1gr), or eat something sweet.
We do not advise you to smoke a joint before or during the trip. This may cause flashbacks in days after you’ve tripped. Smoking a joint afterwards is no problem. Don’t use mushrooms more often than once every few weeks. Take time to do something with the insights you received.
DO NOT USE IF: pregnant, nursing, depressed, you use medications, when driving motorized vehicles, younger than 18 years old, combined with other stimulants or alcohol.
CAREFULL: Treat the mushroom with respect, be alert to your environment and help those who take mushroom for the first time. If so, the spirit of the mushroom will show you more of the secrets of the Universe.
HAVE A WONDERFULL FLIGHT TO YOUR INSIDE.”

Más tarde salimos a caminar de noche por Ámsterdam. La noche anterior habíamos paseado por los lugares más concurridos, y llegamos hasta la plaza Leidseplein, un buen lugar para sentarse en la mitad repleta de terrazas a tomar unos tragos y ver las bicicletas pasar.

Leidseplein Square

Esta vez quisimos evitar los lugares con demasiada gente y ruido y dimos una caminata por los tranquilos canales de la ciudad. Es precioso ver las luces de la calle iluminando las casitas y reflejándose en el agua.
Más tarde esa noche nos fuimos a dar una vuelta por el barrio rojo. A mí personalmente me pareció alucinante. Admiro a los holandeses y me parece perfecto que admitan y controlen la prostitución. Sin duda es mucho mejor que cuando estás en el Gótico en Barcelona dando un paseo y sin quererlo se te aparecen las prostitutas en el medio de la calle, y uno no puede hacer nada para evitarlo. En cambio aquí, si las ves es porque querés, porque estás en su lugar.
Seguramente habrán visto videos (aunque supuestamente no se puede filmar ni sacar fotos) de lo que es la zona roja de Ámsterdam, y es así, tal cual la muestran. Las vidrieras que dan a las calles donde se asoman a exhibirse las mujeres en paños menores. También había travestis, lo notas en las caras. Lo que me llamó la atención es que yo pensaba que estaban las vidrieras y detrás una casa donde se meterían a los cuartos con los clientes, pero no, cada vidriera era un cuarto cerrado y la ventana-vitrina parecía ser la única puerta de acceso. Se veía detrás de las chicas la pileta, la cama, algunas tenían bañera, algunas eran muy pequeñas. La mina abre la ventana y el tipo se mete directamente por ahí, corren la cortina y hacen todo ahí mismo. En la zona roja hay para todos los gustos, rubias, pelirrojas, asiáticas, negras, grandes, pequeñas. Algunas chicas eran de película, rubias de pelo largo super delgaditas y muy producidas, pero la mayoría eran mujeres normales con sus redondeces, y hasta había alguna que otra gordilla. La zona roja está llena de hombres deambulando pero también de mujeres, porque se ha convertido en una atracción turística, y como tal, también se veían los grupos de japoneses asombrados y sonrientes. Luego de dar vueltas y vueltas por las calles del barrio rojo, en un momento nos metimos por una calle que se hacía cada vez más estrecha y más estrecha hasta que se terminaron las vidrieras y caminábamos en fila india por un pasaje super angosto entre dos altos muros. Y así caminamos unos cuantos metros entre otros desconocidos sin saber donde terminaba el pasaje porque íbamos últimos en la fila y no se veía nada hacia adelante. Caminábamos cada vez más rápido como queriendo escapar y empezamos a hablar alto preguntando que pasa? adonde vamos? Y de golpe salimos todos disparados como de un embudo a una calle normal sobre un canal, tranquilo y silencioso, sin luces rojas.

Otra cosa que vale la pena ver es el barrio de Begijnhof. Es curioso porque está en el medio de Ámsterdam pero escondido. Una de las entradas (tiene dos) parece una puerta normal de casa pero la abres y te encuentras en un pasillo que luego te dirige a esta especie de barrio privado. Todo muy cuidado y pintoresco, las casitas típicas holandesas, los jardines y hasta su propia capillita. Pero hay que ser un poco discretos porque antiguamente era un barrio de beduinas y hasta hoy lo habitan mujeres religiosas, y tiene como un aire a convento.

Begijnhof

Una tarde nos fuimos a dar unas vueltas por el Vondel Park, enorme y muy tranquilo. Mucha gente sentada en el pasto relajándose al sol, mirando los patitos que nadaban libremente.

Vondel Park

El último día paseamos por el canal Amstel, y vimos esos preciosos barquitos-casa amarrados a orillas del canal, con sus simpáticas entradas con buzón de correo y hasta número de puerta. Ya me gustaría a mí vivir en Amstel 27, Amsterdam.

Amstel

También pasamos por una feria (flea market) que se llama Waterloopein. Yo me esperaba algo más original, pero la verdad que era igual a Tristán Narvaja (sin los planchas claro), con los puestos de ropa, antigüedades, libros y porquerías varias (ver foto debajo):

Waterloopein

Luego llegó el momento triste (como siempre) de volver al aeropuerto. Allí compramos los últimos souvenirs: un tulipán de madera pintada y una caja de esos exquisitos waffles redondos rellenos de caramel que usan para tapar la taza de té, así el vapor del té derrite el caramel, mmm deliciosos. Ahora mismo me estoy comiendo uno mientras escribo esto para rememorar.

Tres días en Ámsterdam es poco tiempo, sobre todo no alcanza para contagiarse de ese ambiente de relax que parece inspirar la ciudad, ya sea por el poco ruido de coches o por el observar de los patitos nadando en los canales. No me dio el tiempo para hacer los museos, sobre todo quería ir al de Van Gogh que me gusta bastante, ni de ir al mercado de las flores a ver los tulipanes ni de ir hasta uno de los 4 molinos que aún sobreviven en Ámsterdam. Pero pienso volver. Y la próxima vez quizás me gustaría alojarme en uno de esos barquitos-casa atracados en los canales… ahhh… SO BEAUTIFUL!!!

The photo shoot with the model has been done and the patterns are being finalised! You should find these in stores soon.

Diamond Luxury Collection MILKY WAY "Diagonal pattern top" new for spring.

 MILKY WAY is a new yarn for spring, very drapey. Made from milk ! check out the colour card http://www.diamondyarn.com/d/yarn/4-milky-way/

Diamond Luxury Collection MULBERRY & MERINO "Ruffled wrap"

Diamond Luxury Collection MULBERRY & MERINO "Ruffled scarf"

 These items, scarf and wrap are one pattern. Easy and fast!

Diamond Luxury Collection TAFI "Spiral cowl"

 Could be the hottest fashion accessory this year!  (Actually practical too)

Diamond Luxury collection GALWAY CHUNKY "Family of hats"

This is an easy beginner pattern.

Diamond Luxury Collection PILAR "Collar, arm warmers, legwarmers and cummerbund"

This is a kinda funny picture, but these items are very easy to make for the beginner and fashionable to wear!

It’s official: Ireland is now just “two hours wide”, thanks to the official opening yesterday of the first “inter-urban” M6 corridor between Galway city and Dublin.

They had to open it unofficially last month to provide the only direct road route from the east to the west during the big flood, but that’s another story.

Anyway, the headline in this morning’s Irish Times sums it up: “Republic now two hours wide”.

The new motorway, with a speed limit of 120 kilometres an hour, should cut the journey from the M50 junction outside Dublin to the suburbs of Galway to around two hours, in theory at least.

The question of scale must have a huge effect on countries such as Ireland and France. You don’t have much scope to make a “road movie” in Ireland, compared with the vast expanses of continental Europe or North America.

Ireland’s extreme width is 280 kilometres (174 miles). Its maximum length from north to south is just 486 kilometres (302 miles). If you wanted to drive the length of France, from north to south, it would take a good day or more.

Travel times from Paris

Here are some estimated travel times from Paris to various far-flung corners of France:

Metropolitan France is vast in other ways. It straddles several climatic zones, from the Belgian border down to the Mediterranean and Pyrenees (and that’s not including Corsica). That means huge differences in weather, regional foodstuffs and local cuisines.

By comparison, Ireland’s climate and weather aren’t that different in the south and west compared with the Midlands or east coast or the north.

Stats about France and Ireland

Here are some more facts about the differences in scale between Ireland and France, taken from the CIA Factbook.

“L’Irlande est une petite île derrière une autre île.”

“L’île derrière une autre île,” that’s how de Gaulle apparently described Ireland. Geography plays its part in our history, and in how we live today. And regional planning too: over two fifths of the population of the Republic lives within 100 kilometres of Dublin.

The question of scale comes into play in many other ways when you are the small island behind a bigger island.

It must surely have some effect on the possibility of reaching a critical mass in many areas of life – from economic activities and market masses to TV production or intellectual activity.

It must even have some role in whether you have “an island mentality”, whether good or bad.

On Inisheer beach - ND on anchor in background

T42 (Johnny Sothern) and Crystal Voyager (Capt. Ron) and ND set sail for Inisheer with sunshine and a following easterly wind. Beautiful conditions. Wind died and we motored into Inisheer for lunch in Ti Ruairi’s ( couldn’t be anywhere else with Ruairi on board!

 Ruairi Tony and Aonghus rowing ashore on Inisheer

After lunch we headed over to Kilronan and had the pleasure of entering Killeanny Bay (Aonghus’s home port) under spinnaker

Johnny Ruairi Aonghus and Ron – all feeling very pleased after a great day’s sail. 

We had dinner in the local hotel and all three boats planned to leave next morning for Roundstone. Poor old Ron had an argument with his toe during the night and toe came off worst so T42 and Nighean Donn set sail for Roundstone while Crystal Voyager pointed for home.

En route to Roundstone we decided to pay a visit to the holy island of St Macdara. Well worth a visit but some careful navigation required approaching  Macdara Strait. Several other local boats visited while we roamed the island – very popular place. Church had been nicely restored I had seen images of it in books with the roof fallen in dating from the 70’s. Ruairi wasn’t too impressed with a dead sheep in the gated doorway of the church.

Johnny was great company on the trip and we enjoyed the “cruise in company”. He was very proud of his “wireless technology” on board T42 and we were very impressed with his spinnaker bag!

We arrived in Roundstone to be met by Louise, Rian and Agnes, and by a stroke of good fortune we were able to enjoy the great sight of the many winners of the Roundstone Connemara Pony show being paraded up the street, introduced as they came down the hill onto the main street,  by the great Paddy the Yank, who joined us in O’Dowd’s afterwards for a celebratory drink.

We also met up with fellow GBSC sailor John Coyne who sailed in with his boat Lir. 

Johnny gave us a great fry up on T42 that night. (Aonghus was concerned the grub would go off if not eaten,……)

Next morning we headed south under Aonghus’s guidance we sailed close by Mace Head and anchored off Mason Isalnd which in the lovely sunshine we were enjoying was like finding a little piece of heaven on earth

Johnny took some lovely snaps which he posted on his family site – think we were all struck by the lonely beauty of the place.

After we left Mason, we headed back up to Macdara before we could safely steer southwards towards Golam and home.

Having rounded Golam, we found we were still beating into an easterly so we started up the iron tops’l for the long slog east to GBSC. Johnny reckoned his OB was running on fumes by the time we landed!

In June, Tina and I were fortunate enough to photograph a wedding in Galway, Ireland. You can see more than 1oo pictures from the wedding at: http://www.jefffoley.com/#Photos/Featured%20weddings/Matt%20&%20Fiona/1

You also can see the Foley Photography wedding portfolio at: http://www.jefffoley.com/#Photos/Wedding%20portfolio/Weddings/1

I think it’s important that couples looking for a wedding photographer ask to see more than just a portfolio. I always show my couples my work from a specific wedding rather than just my best/favorite work. This works for them in several ways:

1. It gives them an idea of how I work when I’m shooting a wedding, and they can see what my style is like.
2. It gives them a true expectation of what my work looks like (and what they can expect when I photograph their wedding).

Matt and Fiona’s wedding took place at Clonagh Castle and it was a great event. 

Tina and I also wandered Galway the day before the wedding with all the guys from the wedding party. They were dressed in their kilts and, let me just say, that was quite an experience. We very quickly discovered that kilts are a Scottish thing and that Irish women coming out of bars are not shy!

Oh, and we found out that the Guinness truly is better in Ireland.

Matt and Fiona are from upstate New York and they met in Ireland about a decade ago. Matt traveled to the country to explore his roots and spent about six month working as a bartender. He met Fiona and she made the trip back to the States with him. They make a great couple!

Part of my “job” as a Mitchell Scholar is to write quarterly reflections on my experiences in Ireland.  Our reflections were published last week.  You can read mine, reposted below, and what the other scholars have to say, here.

I have a thing for birds. Last year, while living in Uganda, I became obsessed with identifying every weaver, hornbill, and crane that crossed my path. And although the birding is a bit less thrilling here in Ireland, I swoon every time I see a swan gently paddling down the canal that feeds into the River Corrib. So back in September, when Michael (Mitchell scholar), Jon (my husband), and I stumbled across a flock of 40 (yes, 40) swans while on a walk through the Claddagh, I knew that living in Galway would make me very happy indeed.

This year in Galway marks my second year living as an expatriate, and I find myself constantly comparing my life in Kampala to my life here. I’m sure you can imagine the many differences: in Galway, I wash our clothes in a spiffy little machine that resides in the kitchen. In Kampala, laundry was a chore I spent hours doing every week by hand (although, believe it or not, I rather enjoyed it). In Galway, every time the sun shines, I soak it in, because I know it won’t last long. In Kampala, I was constantly seeking out a patch of cool shade. In Galway, the language is English, and I manage to blend in, despite my painfully American accent and fashion sense. In Kampala, I struggled to use my hard-earned Luganda (the local language) correctly and became accustomed to the feeling of being watched. The similarities between my two adopted homes are apparent as well. In both Galway and Kampala, drinking tea is an important social custom, the soccer fans are zealous, and the people are so warm that you are immediately put at ease. Both Kampala and Galway have made their mark on me, and in Galway, I know that the process is still just beginning. Galway, with its twisty cobblestone streets, omnipresent street musicians, and sweet salt air, affords me with somewhat of a fairytale existence. It is easy to while away a day exploring the passageways near my apartment, in the center of the city, window-shopping when the weather is dry and escaping into a café when the rain inevitably begins again. And since Galway is a big tourist city, it’s easy to forget that I’m not actually on vacation; that I’m here to do work.

Work is definitely a big part of my life in Galway. Although at times it is frustrating to have my laid-back vacation bubble popped, I am so grateful that my program is turning out to be exactly what I hoped it would be. The MA in Gender, Globalization and Rights is a part of the Global Women’s Studies program at NUI Galway and is introducing me and my 10 classmates to the intricacies of feminist theory, the Bretton Woods institutions, the UN’s Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, grassroots development methods, and how they are all connected. In other words: more than I bargained for, but in a good way. I am confident that what I’m learning now will be useful in the near future, and that’s a good feeling.

Although I love Galway, I have used the majority of my weekends to escape to other places in search of adventure. Traveling throughout the island of Ireland has been a main feature of my travel thus far, and I’ve spent time in Belfast, Cork, and Dublin with the Mitchells. In fact, tomorrow I’m taking a day trip to Limerick to learn more about Irish Aid and to pay a visit to Shane. I’ve also had the chance to visit London with friends from home, and Bremen, Germany, with Irish friends, Michael, and Jon. All of the travel has given me an excuse to improve my photography, a hobby I’ve kept up since my Uncle Cliff taught me how to use a darkroom in the fifth grade. Meanwhile, I am watching Jon and myself become more and more Irish as the days go by. Jon is starting to add “like” at the end of his sentences. I prefer “Dja know?” as it is awfully close to the old Minnesotan saying, “Dontcha know?” I’ve stopped complaining about the rain and started drinking tea several times a day. The familiar process of acquiring the idiosyncrasies of a place is beginning to happen to me once again.

I can’t write a about my first couple of months without mentioning my fellow Mitchell Scholars. So many words come to mind when I think of the group: energetic, social, well-read, empathetic, hilarious, loyal, open-minded. I’ve already had so much fun with the group, as well as with people one-on-one, that it’s exciting to think that we have much more in store this year. I feel especially lucky to have Michael in Galway with me, to share the joys of our Mitchell year, and look forward to having Rebekah join us here in January. To my fellow scholars: Here’s to many more weekends where we all sleep on the floor, meals that are cooked communally, days exploring whatever locale we end up in, and nights dancing to a certain Black Eyed Peas song.

I think it’s pretty clear that my life in Galway, and in Ireland more generally, is turning out to be pretty fantastic. Between the traveling, the perfection that is Galway, the Mitchell scholars, and my program, I’ve basically got it all. It is truly humbling to be a member of the Mitchell class of ’10, and I’m so grateful for this incredible opportunity. But the cherry on top has got to be this: a flock of swans lives less than a kilometer from my front door.

Living far away from friends and family is hard sometimes, but not nearly as hard as it used to be. I can remember my Grandpa telling me about how when he and my grandma lived in Alaska in the 1940s they used short-wave radios to communicate with family back in Illinois. Each comment was accompanied by several seconds of delay and fuzz. When I was doing fieldwork in Northern Uganda last year, Dr. Chris Dolan – Director of the Refugee Law Project where I was based – told me about how when he was doing dissertation research there in the 1990s he had to send written notes along with people on buses to get a message to Kampala. No texting, just good old word-of-mouth.

Contrasted with these former realities, the revolutionary power of Skype becomes obvious. While sitting in the same chair in my Galway apartment on a random afternoon I can see and listen to my Grandma in Belvidere, friends in Chicago, a former Ugandan colleague now studying at Notre Dame, parents and parents-in-law, etc. I can walk them around my apartment, even a little bit down the street…I can smile, laugh, choose to make eye contact or look away. In short, I can relate…and that means the world. Theoretically, I could even connect these people directly by doing a conference video call. In the click of a button my mom could see and talk to a friend I made a world away in Northern Uganda.

Of course, the joys of Skype are restricted to those who are privileged enough to have  high speed internet and a computer that can run the program. Thus, access is denied to billions. This is the curse and conundrum of the digital divide. I can only hope that with time, the divide will decrease and more and more of us that are separated by oceans will be able to walk each other around our homes, share pieces of ourselves, build relationships to the extant that the virtual world will allow, and begin the process of understanding each other just a bit better.

So on Saturday, Melanie Vinny and I got on a flight to Ireland. We had to get up at the crack of dawn (aka 4am) to get the bus to the airport. We took RyanAir from Gatwick to Knock. Upon landing, Vinny asked if they spoke English in Ireland, and the two Irish men sitting behind us started laughing at us. Great. Immediately it became clear that people in Ireland are about 13x friendlier than the Londoners. Airport staff are helpful, people talk to you, though perhaps part of this is because they have Irish accents…

We arrived two hours before the next bus would bring us to Galway, so we ended up visiting the Knock Shrine, a place where apparently 10,000 people showed up last year. There is a man, something like a crazy evangelist I think, who thinks that he saw the Virgin Mary, and convinces others that they see her too. The place is beautiful, tucked away in the countryside. We then took the bus to Galway.

Galway was pouring rain and kinda miserable outside, but it is a beautiful city. The streets are quaint and despite the awful weather, it was a wonderful time. We met up with them for lunch at a pub, and oh man, Ireland has the best bread ever. It’s brown and thick and absolutely wonderful. It turns out that one of Vinny’s friend’s friends dated Alex’s best friend, which made me laugh.

We toured the city for a while, visited the Galway museum and the Spanish arch, then made dinner at Vinny’s friend’s flat. After dinner, an entire hoard of his Stone Hill friends showed up, which was a bit uncomfortable for Melanie and I, but that was alright. We went wandering the streets for a place to drink, and we ended up in what I believe was a pub called The Kings Head. That was super fun, Mel and I made friends with some Irish people and a Norweigian.

After a while, the lack of sleep caught up with us, and when the hoard headed to the next bar, we went and found Supermacs, my new favorite thing. They have a muffin with ice cream inside. It’s AMAZING. Anyways. After a bit, Vinny came to get us and we managed to find our way back to their flats.Mel and I made a love nest in front of their FIREPLACE (so jealous) and had an amazing sleep.

Sunday morning, we took the bus to Dublin, which was a crazy long ride, but it was good. We checked into a hostel recommended by Ellen (one of Vinny’s friends) and proceeded to wander our way through the city. We got to a cafe to have lunch, and we met up with Jess, which was amazing. She gave us a small tour through Dublin, we saw Trinity College, the ‘high street’ of sorts, a church, but ended up going to the Guiness Factory. There’s a bar on the roof that has a 360 view of the city. It’s amazing.

Monday morning, Mel and I took a later flight than Vinny and wandered the city for a bit before heading back. It was an amazing weekend, but I feel like it was a black hole in my life that really threw me for a loop once I got back.

Sean Kangataran works under the musical pseudonym of “El Scamperino”, a childish nickname which cleverly disguises the deep and moving  songs which can be heard on The Growing up EP. The Galway singer/songwriter has already reached heights most of his compatriots would be envious of, having worked with The Swell Season. Glen Hansard himself thinks very highly of Kangataran, saying that the EP is a “great sign of things to come.”

There are four tracks on the EP, all interestingly titled, and all very similar to words Morrissey groaned when he was lead singer of The Smiths. When you know that he is associated with the likes of Mic Christopher and Glen Hansard, you would be forgive to expect the same style, the same depressing undertones, the same wails and the same run-of-the mill acoustic guitar. Kangataran however has in own twist on things. His voice is husky and adds an approachable lilt to what otherwise may be considered as bland and disinteresting songs. Another twist to his music is the difference in musical arrangement. Many of his fellow singer/songwriters fail to add anything extra to their acoustic melodic complaints, except maybe the odd piano, or crying violin. Kangataran on the other hand, adds twangy guitar, pianos and distorted acoustics to create a hypnotising effect that makes his songs more pleasurable to listen to.

This is most apparent in “sometimes I feel like the punch line in your joke”. It is a haunting tune, made all the more interesting by the singers gravely voice and the twang of the guitar. It is the best track on EP, competing with the opening track, “I hope I don’t expect too much”, which is more understated and muted than the songs that follow. It is once again, at risk of sounding like a clone of many other Irish artists’ musical endeavours, however Kangataran cannot seem to help but be that little bit unique. The only let down on the EP is final track, “Growing up has thus far proven to be a huge disappointment”. Now you understand the earlier reference to Morrissey. The first qualm with this track is indeed the title of the song, too long winded, and trying too hard to be like the infamous, bequiffed Mancunian. The song itself attempts to cleverly disguise the underlying misery with a more flippant melody, however this fails to do the job, as the song just sounds sloppy. It must be said that this one negative does not take away from the previous beauty of the EP. Sean has come a long way since the production of the CD, having worked with people like Hansard, so we can only presume that his next offering with be even more impressive.

Hotels in Galway, Ireland are always in high demand, especially during the summer months. Nowhere in Ireland Galway beats – it's full of activity throughout the year, not the nightlife in the first place and the general consensus of his horde of visitors, is that there is "great craic".

There are many hotels in the Galway city center with easy access to the famous attractions, shopping, and you will surely not too far from a lively traditional Irish pub. The most requestedLocation in the center of the city of Galway, of course, in and around Eyre Square, and you will find it difficult, the central location, the hotel Skeffington strike weapons. The 3-star hotel is actually on Eyre Square, Galway, that is the perfect place for itself on the

Forster Street is just around the corner of Eyre Square and there are a number of Galway hotels located here. These include the 3 star Forster Court Hotel, very comfortable and extremely elegant 4-starPark House Hotel & Eyre House and the 3-star Eyre Square Hotel.

Other top Galway a few minutes walk from Eyre Square are the 3-star Hotel Victoria Towers, located in Victoria Place, just a stone's throw from Eyre Square and the popular 4-star Radisson SAS Hotel, Lough Atalia Road. It has a spa and leisure facilities and is ideal for a relaxing holiday.

The 3-star Jurys Inn Galway Quay Street is always a favoriteChoice when it comes to Galway. It is right beside the Spanish Arch, Galway, while another hotel in this area in the Lower Merchant Road, this 4-star hotel, hotel.

Other popular Galway hotels in and around the city center and offers an excellent quality of accommodation, the 3 star Galway Harbor Hotel, which is only about 5 minutes walk from Eyre Square, this 3-star Western Hotel on Prospect Hill. This family-run Hotel Galway is composed ofthree Georgian buildings and has such an atmosphere of bygone days.

If you are not one of the bright lights of the big city, why not a Galway hotel in a green and relaxing suburbs?

Again, there is a good selection of Galway hotels on the outskirts of the city to choose from. The 4-star hotel is located on Ardilaun Taylors Hill, located about 1 miles from the city center. Other options are the 4 star hotel in Westwood near the University in Upper Newcastle, the 3star Travelodge Galway Central on the Tuam Road – Galway, these two hotels are located less than a mile from the city of Galway.

Other Galway hotels just a short drive from the city center, the 3 star Best Western Flannery, the 3-star Days Hotel Galway, both on the Dublin Road, and on this particular weekend, you can treat themselves to the 5 star luxury The G Hotel is in Wellpark.

If you are in Galway for a race meetingtwo excellent 3 star Galway hotels are the Racing Lodge Hotel, right on the Galway to Dublin road and the luxurious 4-star Clayton at Ballybrit on the Old Monivea Road.

Other Galway hotels on the outskirts of the city are the Quality Hotel & Leisure Galway Oranmore, as you are heading south out of town, this 3-star Huntsman Inn, Menlo Park, this 4-star hotel located on the Headford Road and the Courtyard by Marriott at Headford Point.

Also be sure to checkfrom near Salthill. This lively resort is only about 3 km from the city but you're right on the coast overlooking the Bay of Galway. There is a good selection of Salthill hotels to choose from.

Or, conversely,  fill to me the parting glass, goodnight and joy be with you all.  Just choose your song of farewell.

Yesterday, I turned twenty-one, and the day was simply brilliant.  JP had the pub open on Wednesday and everyone sang when midnight rolled around.  Thursday was a perfect day, weather-wise, and it was perfectly lazy.  I had a slow breakfast with my cottage mates, took a walk to Spiddal with Megan, relaxed and had a nap in front of our fire, and then we went to Galway for a party night out.  It was brilliant– the tradition is that on your twenty-first, people give you kisses on the cheek.  There were loads of people out at the pubs, and our entire group started out at Hole-in-the-Wall and we all partied together.

I will be honest, I did my twenty-one years proud and accepted the free drinks coming my way and ended up as a extremely chatty and complimentary drunk.  Everyone thought I was so funny, and I provided the after-pub entertainment on the cab ride home.  Thankfully, no one noticed when I attempted to beatbox and Katie managed to quiet me before I really made a fool of myself.  Of course, I managed to look completely foolish anyway, but there was no residual effects and I didn’t offend anyone in my chattiness, so we’ll call it a success.

Today, however, has been sobering (harr harr.)  We packed up our bags and cleaned out our cottage, all while Ireland was giving us incredibly beautiful weather and tempting us away from our duties.  But since our bus is leaving for Shannon at 2:30 a.m. and the cottages have to be clean, we couldn’t deviate from the scrubbing and hosing-down plan.

But here we are.  End of the term.  Papers have been turned in, tests taken (I’ve done well on said papers and tests, so far, I believe) tickets printed and flights confirmed.  So now, dear readers, I must say a fond farewell to both your readership and this dear, wonderful country.  Thanks for coming along for the ride.

Slan.

Ok so its technically a bad photo, but trust me, we laughed and laughed and laughed when I said I was stopping to take a picture of a window full of micky!! (Im still laughing!)

2008 had a slight folk-tinge to it and 2009 was to be no exception. February saw the arrival of a mass of Fence Collective stuff. I had a bit of a Fence-freakout and ended up placing a huge order on their website; Adrian Crowley, John Hopkins, Reuben Taylor, On The Fly, Reporter, Found, Weasel Squealer, King Creosote, James Yorkston, Skuobhie Dubh Orchestra, Gangplank, Viva Stereo, Clock, The Pictish Trail and Kwaing Creasite. Obviously Mr. Yorkston and King Creosote have had some considerable success, but I’d advise that you at least give some of the Fence Samplers/compilations a try.

Hot on the heels of Fence, and in a similar folkish-bent “The Best Of Steeleye Span“. Aw, come-on, it’s part of my British musical heritage – the missing link between Robin Hood, Morris Men and LSD. Fender’s playing recorder riffs! When you think that only 1 year after “All Around My Hat” a certain J. Lydon was to join a fledgling punk outfit called the Sex Pistols, this band occupies an interesting (and uneasy) mid-point in the progression from the 1960’s to the 1980’s. (And that’s the beauty of British music).

“Checkmate Savage” by the Phantom Band was vying for album of the year back in Feb. It’s still up there. It was an early gem. It’s slipped a bit since then, but the hints of Krautrock and folk ensured that it’s a favourite almost 12 months later.

Compilation of the year – “Dark Was The Night: A Red Hot Compilation“. What a lineup. Introduced me to The Decemberists so for that alone it was worth the price of admission. The Antony (with Bryce Dessner) track “I Was Young When I Left Home” is stunning.

(Oh, by the way, we’re in March!)

I wasn’t sure what I’d purchased when I received the Beirut “March Of The Zapotec” CD. For some reason the 2 CD format containing less than 35 minutes in total turned me off. To this day it’s still largely unplayed. The music isn’t bad. I think I feel cheated. The listening effort is decidedly one-sided (all mine). And who/what are Realpeople Holland?

Another collective sparked my interest in 2009 – Willkommen Collective. I heard an interview with Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society on Guy Garveys Finest Hour. Guy played “The Last Of The Melting Snow” and I was hooked. Cue some crazed googling followed by some equally random spending and I became the proud owner of releases by; The Miserable Rich, Sons Of Noel And Adrian and The Shoreline. (Unfortunately I had to wait for The Leisure Society). Definately a label you should follow. The bands all exhibit varying levels of “folkiness”, but that’s a good thing. Right?

Polly Jean and J. Parish gave me a jolt in April. I was stood in Galway City HMV desperately trying to find something worth buying and I recognised Ms. Harveys voice drifting, and then shrieking, over the in-store sound-system “I want his fucking ass, I want his fucking ass, I want his fucking ass, I want your fucking ass”. Apologies were extended by the young lad being the counter to the lady with the child. Not suitable? Noise? Fucking U2 – that’s unsuitable. Bring your child up with a discerning ear. PJ Harvey. Anyone who can write lyrics like her should be enshrined as a national treasure. Add the CD to your already bulging Polly Jean collection.

I bought “Kingdom Of Rust” that day. Just “Rust” would have been more appropriate. This really didn’t hit the spot for me. Now, hearing the Doves play these tracks live at Dubai Sound City they took on an altogether different feel. Dynamic, raw and interesting. Not over-engineered background music. Disappointed.

At this point I’m going to stop. We’re in earl April 09. Elbow and shoegazing in next post.

By Michael MacLeod

CRIME writer Ian Rankin has revealed his plans for a world tour in 2010 – and dropped another hint that his hit Detective Rebus could return.

The Edinburgh author was hoping for a year-off between books, but instead will find himself taking his book tour global.

Stops will include readings and literary festivals in India, Sri Lanka, Barcelona, Germany, France and Italy.

Rankin, 49, joked: “It will be great for my air miles, but meaning a lot of carbon offsetting.”

He put the pen down after finishing his most recent best-seller – The Complaints – which topped bookshop charts in September.

But he says fans loved his new star character, Malcom Fox, so much that he is pondering pairing him up with Inspector Rebus.

Fans’ feedback

Rankin “retired” the popular fictional Lothian and Borders Police sleuth from his books in 2007.

But the grizzled detective lives on in a successful television series played by John Hannah and Ken Stott.

Rankin said: “There were good reviews, along with plenty of positive feedback from fans.

“So maybe we’ll be seeing DI Malcolm Fox again.

“I certainly enjoyed getting to know him, and wouldn’t mind spending some more time with him.

“Maybe I could even introduce him to John Rebus. I’m sure Rebus would be thrilled to be talking to someone from Internal Affairs: no skeletons in his closet.”

In an internet message to fans, Rankin also revealed film crews are keen to recreate The Complaints and his previous story, Doors Open.

Film script “getting close”

But before they can take place, he has silver-screen plans of his own.

Having just returned home after working in four Greek cities in five days, Rankin is knuckling down to scripting James Hogg’s 19th Century novel, ‘Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner.’

He said: “My screenwriting friend James Mavor and I have been working on this project for a while.

“Many have tried before us to create a workable script from what can often seem an un-filmable novel.

“We feel we’re getting close, but that may be the drink talking.

“In most of the interviews I’ve done recently, I’ve been saying that I’m taking a sabbatical in 2010. This is because I’m moving from one book a year to one book every two years.

“But looking at my diary I can’t put my feet up.

“I’ve already agreed to a tour in India and a literary festival in Sri Lanka in January, an event in Barcelona in February, a German tour in March, events in Lyon and Paris in April, plus the Cuirt Festival in Galway.

“I’ll be at the Harrogate Crime Festival in July and the Mantua Festival in Italy in September.

“Great for my air miles, but meaning a lot of carbon offsetting.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

Today is Day 14 of the 16 Days of Action Campaign and here are some of the events taking place:

Women’s Aid Events:

• 16 Facts for 16 Days email campaign (email 16days@womensaid.ie or phone 01-8684721 to sign up)
• 16 Books for 16 Days in Chapters
• Women’s Aid Public Awareness Campaign
• Women’s Aid Online Advertising Campaign
• Women’s Aid ‘Support a Friend’ Phone Charm Campaign

Events Around Ireland:

• Information Stand and Ribbon Display in McDonagh Junction, Kilkenny
• The ‘Lantern Experience’ in Belmullet
• March of Hope in Portlaoise
• Near 90 FM’s “A Woman’s Voice” Broadcast
• Violence Against Women 365 International Poster Exhibition continues in Waterford
• Displays at various venues around Mayo
• Human Rights in Ireland continue their 16 Days Campaign daily blog
• “In Her Shoes” exhibition in Longford, and also in the Mid-West
• Information Stands are placed around Sligo and Leitrim
• Aoibhneas Refuge urges all of us to “Step Out of the Shadows”
• Clare Women’s Network is running a powerful daily poster campaign
• Galway Rape Crisis Network is running a daily fact campaign
• Donegal has a poetry and art display

Cyber Events:

• Take Back the Tech continue their fabulous campaign with daily actions that are available to everyone! (www.takebackthetech.net)

International Events:

• Kenya North Rift Women Voices training events in Kenya
• FemLINKpacific Community Radio Broadcasts in the Figi Islands

There are also lots of messages of support for the Campaign from a variety of important Irish people and organisations, and from some international organisations, explaining why the 16 Days Campaign is so important to each of them. Use any of these events and campaigns as a way to get involved yourself, and share the information with your friends and family!

On Friday 27th November, COPE Galway, Waterside House launched its poster campaign. The campaign was launched by the Connaught Rugby squad with the tagline “REAL MEN SAY THERE ARE NO EXCUSES FOR VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN”. The reference to “REAL MEN” is to draw attenstion to the fact that in general sportsmen provide very positive role models for many men and as such thay are ideally placed to deliver powerful messages about men’s behaviour.

Further information is available at 091-565985 or watersidehouse@copegalway.ie

GALWAY UNITED are believed to be considering legal action in the event they are refused compensation from Dundalk after the Louth club unveiled Ian Foster as their new manager at a press conference last night.

Foster and Dundalk officials had approached the United board for permission to hold talks as the Englishman had another year to run on his contract with the Terryland Park club but the requests had been turned down.

By Friday afternoon it became apparent a deal had been done anyway and Foster said last night he would be “astonished” if the matter was pursued by his former employers as there had been a “fundamental breach” of his contract, relating to payments he was due, and that he had been free to leave on that basis.

Model: Joana

The above picture is one of my favorites in the whole sequence. Apart from the slightly burned stain between the eyes from the too powerful softbox it is still the most naturally looking portrait. The problem with strobe light in my opinion is that once you exercise with it you want everyone to see that you actually used it, which is of course wrong. The softbox should only fill the light where it is missing as gentle and equal as possible. This is what I’m aiming for … and hopefully in the near future skin tones and structure will stay visible and not disappear as below. Please let me know your opinion about this.

Model: Joana

Model: David

Luan’s PortFolio Shoot in Galway

Luan had to complete an assignment for her current photography course and asked me to join in to assist with technicalities and as a location scout around town. We did not have o go far and shot most of the images behind Riosin Dubh and Monroe’s car park. It was a very wet undertaking and we could not have chosen a more miserable day. Everybody was in good form and we got quite productive. I snapped along on the side but wanted to share these few images with you anyways.

Joana’s photographs were taken with a small softbox and an Nikon SB800, David’s shots were taken in natural light. All images were worked on in Adobe Lightroom Beta 3.0. Even if it does not look like it on the pictures it was a very dark afternoon and I had to push the ISO up to 500. Wait a minute will you think … ISO 500 is nothing considering the latest release of Nikons D3s. I’m very sensitive when it comes ISO and try to stay as close as possible to ISO100 with my current Nikon D300. An upgrade is necessary I think

Yesterday, during a marathon knowledge creation session at my knowldege table, I wanted to send a text message to Louise to suggest tea and lighthearted discourse in Smokie Joes, the University sitting place.

But an article in The Irish Times about the Irish poet Paul Durcan failed miserabley as it simply made me consider Yeats, and the proposed text message for tea in smokie joes became violated by County Sligos most googled son. The original poems are below for consideration and comparison.

Had I the heavens’ brewed cafes

Percolated with vanilla and caramel

The small, tall and the skinny lattes

Of orange mocha and gingerbread smell,

I would serve them to you in a silver mug

But I being poor have only Barrys tea

I have given you my tea in your favourite red mug

Slurp softly, for you slurp my tea

HAD I the heavens’ embroidered cloths,
Enwrought with golden and silver light,
The blue and the dim and the dark cloths
Of night and light and the half-light,
I would spread the cloths under your feet:
But I, being poor, have only my dreams;
I have spread my dreams under your feet,
Tread softly because you tread on my dreams

——————————————————-

I will arise and go now, and go to Smokies,

And a small treat enjoy there, of oats and chocolate made,

Long chats will I have there, a haven for you and me,

And sip coffee in the long loud hall.

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.

-------------------------------------------------------

Come away, oh human child! 

To the couches and my smiles 

With an oatbar, warm in hand, 

For the worlds more full of tea, than you can understand

Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand

How cool is this building in Galway. When digging the foundations for it they discovered the ruins of a old Celtic building. So what did they do? What you see above, they incorporated the ruins into the design of the building. They found the ruins of a viking town when building in Dublin city, and what did they do? Gave some archaeologists a few months to excavate what they could, then dug it all up and cemented over it. Dont worry about our history, or the roots of our culture. A few hundred fancy apartments for bankers was more important. Bah!!

Today is Day 10 of the Campaign, Freedom From Pornography Day, and here are some of the events taking place:

Women’s Aid Events:

• 16 Facts for 16 Days email campaign (email 16days@womensaid.ie or phone 01-8684721 to sign up)
• 16 Books for 16 Days in Chapters
• Women’s Aid Public Awareness Campaign
• Women’s Aid Online Advertising Campaign
• Women’s Aid ‘Support a Friend’ Phone Charm Campaign

Events Around Ireland:

• Coffee Morning and Poster Display in Athy
• Wellness Workshop in Kildare
• Lilac Ribbon Campaign begins in Dublin
• Near 90 FM’s “A Woman’s Voice” Broadcast
• Violence Against Women 365 International Poster Exhibition continues in Wexford
• Displays at various venues around Mayo
• Human Rights in Ireland continue their 16 Days Campaign daily Blog
• “In Her Shoes” exhibition in Longford, and also in the Mid-West
• Information Stands are placed around Sligo and Leitrim
• Aoibhneas Refuge urges all of us to “Step Out of the Shadows”
• Clare Women’s Network is running a powerful daily poster campaign
• Galway Rape Crisis Network is running a daily fact campaign
• Donegal has a poetry and art display

International Events:

• Kenya North Rift Women Voices training events in Kenya
• FemLINKpacific Community Radio Broadcasts in the Figi Islands

There are also several messages of support for the Campaign from a variety of important Irish people and organisations, and from some international organisations, explaining why the 16 Days Campaign is so important to each of them. Use any of these events and campaigns as a way to get involved yourself, and share the information with your friends and family!

Given inward migration and social change in Ireland over the past twenty years it is a useful exercise to determine the extent to which Ireland’s population is socially and spatially segregated.  Reported here are the results presented at the Social Sciences and Public Policy conference held in Galway, Dec 1-2.  Segregation has been calculated using a straightforward aspatial index of dissimilarity that computes the relative size of population of two groups in an area using the demographic data reported in the 2006 census.  In this case, 22 groups were compared with a reference group – so Polish nationals to Irish nationals, Travelling community to white Irish community, lone parent families to nuclear families, etc.  The data were calculated for the Enumerator Area scale, which have an average population of 968, for the cities of Cork, Galway, Limerick, and Waterford.

In the table, red represents a very high degree of segregation through to green which is a relatively low degree of segregation.  What the results show is that the greatest degree of segregation is experienced by the Travelling community, followed by people in local authority housing, followed by non-nationals and ethnic minorities.  There is relatively little segregation around social class or status.

There is a clear difference between the four cities, with Limerick having the highest levels of segregation followed by Cork, Waterford and Galway.

The data are in the process of being computed on a time series basis between 1991 and 2006 at the Electoral District scale, and mapped for the four cities at Enumerator Area scale using location quotients and posts about those will follow at some point.

Des McCafferty