New bus corridor College Green Dublin

For the next two weeks An Garda Siochana in association with the drivers of Dublin are putting on free entertainment around College Green. Yesterday I grabbed myself a coffee and went down to have a look at the opening day.

16:59 (College Street) A minute away from kick off and no sign of An Garda Siochana at the junction of Pearse Street and Tara Street. Great big sign tells traffic to divert. The big question is, will they?
17:03 Ah! There they are. Two Gardai- one at The Irish Yeast company, and the second a little further on just in front of the traffic island. Both are directing traffic to their left up towards Westmoreland Street. Remarkably few cars.
17:05 Garda number 2 is delighted with himself when an RTE cameraman asks to film him in action. He’s no T.J. Hooker but he does a fine job.
17:06 Man in a blue Lexus stops to ask what’s going on as a helicopter hovers overhead. I wonder if the day U2 are playing to 80,000 people is the day to roll this out but it seems fine so far.
17:09 A third Garda strolls over to ask something and goes away. Two skinny lattes are on their way perhaps.
17:14 (Dame Street) This poor fella got the short straw by the looks of it. He’s charged with telling traffic to U-turn just in front of the Bank of Ireland, College Green. Nightmare. He looks very serious. No messing with this tulip.
17:16 Man in a white lorry is told to shift in no uncertain terms, curses, then blows a taxi-driver out of it as he swings into the road going the other way. A bit dangerous. It’s quite warm.
17:17 Garda takes his eye off the ball for a second as a leggy dark foreigner embraces her friend right in front of him. Can’t say I blame him.
17:19 Man in a red lorry, dressed like a camper van driver, holds up a piece of paper-no joy. Is forced to do a U-e. Viking Splash tours let out there customary roar as they pass Trinity. Doesn’t help the tension.
17:22 An irritated rich kid in a silver BMW demonds an explonation roight. The garda’s hands say it all. Stop-a-nnoy-ing-me. Turn your car and get on your way
17:25-17:35 In this 10 minute spell I count 45 cars that are made to turn.
17:25 Woman who looks like she’s on her way either to or from an audition for the latest Tango ad pleads with the Gard to let her through. No dice.
17:28 Here’s trouble- an ambulance. No it’s OK. Going the other way. Close one.
17:30 Action, action, action. A yellow sports car uses a van as cover, blindsides the Garda and slips through. The Gard sees it and pursues. Should he stay? Should he go? Maybe others will do the same and then there will be chaos. He stops her, admonishes her but lets her continue. A red Ford Fiesta carrying two rotund young ones gets the brunt of his ire. He points vigorously at the sign and angrily gestures them to turn the car. They gesture him back but they turn quickly enough. Girl in the passenger seat calls him something unprintable. Tempers are frayed a smidgen.
17:35 A colleague approaches him and asks if he’s OK. The poor chap gives a wry smile. The new Garda pitches in with one or two fairly flamboyant waves (perhaps he’s Italian) and strolls off again.
17:36 Hot stuff in a fancy silver Merc tries her luck. Not even Angelina Jolie would get past this guy. He’s good.
17:38 The taxi-drivers are loving it all. A grey haired man sits calmly under the statue of Henry Grattan and watches proceedings. Grattan would have made a fine traffic warden by the looks of this exuberant statue.
17:45(Back at College Street) Black Bmer slips through. Government official perhaps?
17:50 Not nearly as busy or as much hassle over this side. Notifacation into College Street is good. Motorcyclist points out to Garda the Silver Ford that has just passed them both by on the wrong side. Garda shrugs.
17:57 (College Green) Substitution back at College Green. The older and slightly grumpier fella is replaced by a younger chubbier chap.
17:58 Nearby, charity fundraisers do there bit to divert pedestrians.
17:59 A trickle of rain? This could be interesting but I ain’t going to stick around. No crashes, no incidents. Worth all the hassle? Not sure.

Angel of Harlem

Here in my apartment in Dublin 2 and Bono and the lads are soundchecking for tonight’s gig in Croke Park, Dublin. He’s in fine voice by the sounds of it. It’s going to be damn loud tonight, if I can hear it all the way over here on Fenian Street. Anyway, sounds like ‘Angel of Harlem’ is on the set list……now he is just doing a few oo oo oo’s, you know the high pitched ones that he does (14:04)

Cafe Novo-Dublin-As published in The Dubliner

By Jonathan deBurca Butler as published in The Dubliner

 

A sleek and modern eatery, Café Novo, beside the Westbury hotel, isn’t unlike walking onto the bridge of the 1960s Star Trek series with its white, oval shaped plastic lampshades hanging long from the exposed warehouse like ceiling-it’s all steel girders, nuts and bolts. Open since October of last year, there’s ample room for buggies, so it’s ideal for young families, without being poky, making it perfect for that quick business meeting or a good girlie chinwag.

 

We recommend the fish cakes (€8) for starters, followed by the Beer battered hake with chips (€12.95). Swill it down with a €7 glass of Sauvignon Blanc or if you’re feeling healthy try the many fruity alcohol free cocktails they have to offer and watch the world go by as you sit beside the large open windows looking onto Clarendon Street.

 For dessert we tried and can recommend the crème catalan (€8), a lemon and cinnamon take on the classic brulle . Inexpensive, well-located with quick and friendly service. We think that this one boldly goes where none have gone before.

The Leeson Lounge

By Jonathan deBurca Butler

 

Judging by the photos on the wall the owner of the Leeson Lounge is a big fan of GAA and particularly hurling. Unsurprising then that it’s a bit of an oasis for country folk in Dublin

 

Sit up at the long counter and watch the football, hurling or darts on the TV that’s perched up in a corner or hideaway in one of the many comfortable couches for a heart to heart with the missus. We’re not sure who did the decorating but there is a red hue in this pub that’s reminiscent of some 1950’s private members club in London’s Soho. But far from being seedy it’s lulling.

 

The atmosphere is quiet but chatty. If you’re feeling peckish we can recommend the excellent toasted sandwiches. Wash that down with a very fine pint, sit back to watch Match of the Day or get an aul’ game of darts in-we think we’re going to enter the regular Monday night competitions.

 

Scores 180 on all fronts.

 

Morrisey’s, The Leeson Lounge, 148 Leeson Street Upper, Dublin 4