9/11- Seven years ago today- Where were you?

It was about half past four on a really hot day in Rome. I was leading a group of tourists along the Via Sacra in the Roman forum. Now if you know it at all, you’ll know it’s kind of in a valley. It’s like a little bowl down there, so it was really hot and the group were beginning to suffer.

There were only eight tourists that day as far as I can remember, all of them were from the U.S.A.- none of them New Yorkers. Everyone had had a pretty good time on the tour; the usual stuff about the ceasars and all their shenanigans seemed to go down well. They were a laid-back bunch, a nice group of Southeners.

As I was winding up the tour I noticed there was a kind of a commotion in the Forum, it was a particularly busy day but there seemed to be an inordinate amount of chatter ripping through the dusty site.

As I was thanking people, I noticed a slightly dodgy looking character leaning against a railing, watching us intently. He was standing, wearing shades and an open necked shirt, in the shade of a triumphal arch-that was built to honour the victories of Septemius Severus over the Parthians (present day Iran). He let me finish my speil and then approached us in a very calm fashion-I thought he was a cop for some reason.

“Are you American?”, he asked in a strong French accent.

“I’m not,” I replied, in a slightly,what do you want sort of a way. “But they are,” I said, pointing at the group of slightly baffled tourists.

“Well, I think I should tell you that a plane has just crashed into the World Trade Centre.”

I believe the Forum hadn’t witnessed such news for centuries.

Books in the Park

This Saturday September 13th a host of acclaimed Irish authors including Derek Landy and Marita Conlon McKenna take their books and their brilliance to Marlay Park for a free fun day for all the family. 

Books in the Park, is sure to be a lively day out, featuring a host of top authors and lots of other activities including face painters, jugglers, balloons andchildren’s entertainment.

 

If books aren’t your thing, there’s the ever-popular CoCo Market which produces delicious farmers fare.

 

In June, a similar event took place in Cabinteely Park and proved to be very popular.

 

Kick off is at 1pm and the authors will be there until 5pm. So go early to make sure you get the best of the food and meet the writers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beggars Bush-A pint in the hand is worth two in the bush- By Jonathan deburca Butler – as published in Totally Dublin June 2008

Tasty pints

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to the Rough Guide, the Beggars Bush was considered by the British to be  “ a lawless area on the edge of Dublin.”  Things have changed a lot over the years and these days the price tags on houses are the only criminal element still resident in the borough.

      

        So right in the middle of this fairly affluent part of Dublin 4, it is heart-warming to find a boozer that doesn’t rob your eyes and come back for the lashes.

      

        When I told my Spanish mate Xavier that a pint of St. James’ Gate finest was only €3.80 in here he looked at me as if I had just told him I wanted his babies. Xavi, a newcomer to our shores, has no experience of that time, not so long ago, when any combination of drink, crisps, fags etc. cost less than a fiver. He has come to Ireland in an era when it is impossible to enter a bar with less than five bills in your pocket, unless your poison is Pringles.

       

          Go to the Beggars on Friday after work and the place is buzzing. The front courtyard is packed with all sorts: the young, the old, the pleasantly tipsy and the chilled observer.

        

           Inside is a nice, clean, simple bar that doesn’t seek approval. The pint is world class, poured expertly by a staff that are positively sound. The whole place has an atmosphere and smell of proper pub [The aroma of farts does not constitute a proper pub smell]. Add to that, that this is one establishment where the Celtic Mutt (eat that McWilliams) has yet to cock its capitalist leg to leave the foul stench of class division, and you have a classy classless classic Dublin pub. You’ll see the lads from the taxi trade exchanging pleasantries and banter with the chaps from the medical profession in here.

        

           I sat down with Alan and Noel, two regulars. They told me that the original owner’s family still runs the place.

      

           “That’s him up on the wall there,” said Noel pointing at one of the many photos that add a real sense of history to the place. “Jack Ryan.  He was from Tipperary originally.”

        

            Between them Noel and Alan went through a whole history of the place.

        

            “ They were going to build a concert hall here in the 60s and name it after JFK but the OPW ran out of money,” said Noel.

           

             “ Thanks be to Jaysus,” said Alan lifting his eyebrows over his glasses.

           

              I had to agree with Alan. The JFK Concert Hall instead of the Beggars Bush? Now that would have been criminal.