Lovely day for a stroll#3

There was a short gap there. A gap of maybe an hour. The day timed it perfectly. And I took the chance to get out for a walk down the Shelbourne Road and beyond. Stopping into Roly’s to get the brown bread for the morning-ostensibly to be generous but really because I knew I couldn’t be arsed to make it and figured that it wasn’t fair to expect Ciara to do the same.

I kept going.  The silence on  Elgin Road’s tree lined street with its lovely protestant church was interrupted by a family of boxers being taken for a walk by their very proud (maybe a little precious) owner. Judging by its straight tail and unrelenting barking, the dalmatian up the road is not a fan. Silence was soon restored and the road belonged to me and an invigorated but sunny wind. 

A wood pigeon cut in with that soothing rhythmic coo-my favourite sound and even the magpie’s gurgling cackle didn’t sound too bad. Easy to see, even today, how Patrick Kavanagh found the streets around here so romantic with their regal houses and leafy boulevards. Even the usual bustling Baggot Street seemed quite calm today and the folks outside Smyth’s of Haddington Road were taking advantage of the dry spell.

It looks like it’s going to rain now. The day timed it perfectly.

Sinead’s Hand

I’m probably way behind on this but I think it’s class. Hugh O’Conor is such a great actor. Good footballer too.

Karl Sigfrid-Swedish politician takes a pop at the new blasphemy laws

I was interested to see that a Swedish politician has spoken out against the recent introduction (or is it reintroduction or indeed amendment) of our blasphemy laws. I think it may be worth while considering tranfers for politicians. Just like in football. Perhaps we could have an Italian as Minister of Defence, a Dutchman or woman as Minister for flooding, a Dane or a Swede as Minister of Common sense etc. Who would be the Ronaldo of a transfer market like that I wonder?

Anyway, Mr. Karl Sigfrid brings up some very valid points according to this report. There is a problem with the report though. Is it being reported because no Irish politician has said the same or because he is foreign and we are more inclined to listen to foreigners, in the ‘jaysus Maire look at dat, sure we’re that  brilliant they’re talking about us in Sweden’ sense?

Or do we just not really care about this kind of thing here and they really do in Sweden? Read on Mac Duff. 

http://news.ie.msn.com/world/article.aspx?cp-documentid=149235590

Lovely Day for a Stroll#1

The South Wall, Dublin

 
It may not look like much on the way to it and be sure to keep your car windows up while you speed past the stench from the waste treatment plant. But just beyond the pigeon house is surely the city’s number one walk: The South Wall.
Built in the 18th century over a period of roughly 80 years its function was to alleviate problems with sandbars and swells for ships arriving into Dublin port. Today you can watch the boats cruise safely past you on their way towards the Liffey as you walk out into the middle of Dublin Bay.
It’s a 45-50 minute jaunt up to the red lighthouse and back. The summer heather on Howth head is just lovely and on your right the Dublin mountains unfurl themselves down towards the dollhouse like sails twinkling off Dun Laoghaire. If you’re lucky a member of the half-moon swimming club might accidentally flash you a full moon.

The Bay City Stroller

The South Wall, Dublin

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

Mc Daid’s – As reviewed in The Dubliner magazine

Mc Daid’s

By Jonathan deBurca Butler

The large tiled decoration behind the bar proudly declares that McDaid’s of Harry Street has been on the go since 1873. The portraits of Dublin’s literary greats are particularly poignant as most of them frequented this old Victorian haunt. It’s not hard to imagine Behan or Joyce sitting at the ‘h’ shaped bar or tucked under the stairs at the back.

We love the sublime details; the high ceilings painted a deep red wine, the four small arched windows above the door are wonderfully colourful and would be fit for a Parisian Cathedral, the large and grandiose mirror opposite the bar, and the bookcase high up on the wall must be as old as the dusty books it holds. And all of this under the electric light of two modified gas lamps which dangle lazily looking over the patrons whose Italian leather shoes and high heels clack on the wooden floor.

A Dublin gem.

Mc Daid’s, Harry Street, Dublin 2 6794395

Sometimes it’s good to say no

When the Irish people voted no to the Lisbon treaty earlier this year, we were given a good ticking off by all the yes advocates both at home and abroad. We were looked upon as fools and paranoid freaks. People were tearing their hair out and looking to heaven as if the sky was about to fall on Ireland. We were told ‘this is it, there is no better deal’. We were told that we would be left behind. Nothing could be done.

Less than a year later there is, it seems, a better deal on the table, I’m delighted I said no. There is always a better deal. 

And what today’s result shows more than anything is that those people, in Ireland particularly (and particularly certain parts of Dublin where the most ‘educated’ people alledgedly come from), who feel that we shouldn’t be bothered to question, debate and vote on our future in Europe because we can’t influence anything are and were wrong. The rejection of this treaty will now result in all E.U. countries keeping a commissioner. And even if this is the only ‘concession’ granted, at least the Irish have made the E.U. think again. The rest of Europe’s citizens, if not the politicians, will wonder why they weren’t given the same opportunity.

Merrion Square Facelift – New Memorial/Rutland Fountain Restoration

The Old Fountain is being cleaned

By Jonathan deBurca Butler

 

 

 

 

The west side of Merrion square in Dublin 2 has been undergoing somewhat of a facelift in recent weeks and months with the imminent unveiling of a new memorial to the Defence Forces and commencement of restoration on an 18^th century fountain.

 

The unveiling of the memorial, which is being erected to honour members of the Defence Forces who have died in service, was originally pencilled in for June.

 

 However, the complexity of the structure has led to delays in the realisation of the project and it is now set to be presented to the public by the Minister of Defence, Willie O’Dea and President Mary McAleese next Saturday, November 8th.

 

The monument itself, designed by the artist, Mr. Brian King, is a pyramid standing 3 metres high made primarily of granite slabs resting on a steel frame and interspaced with toughened glass panels. Inside the structure, which has just been completed at a cost of €175,000, are four bronze figures in relief representing members of the Defence Forces.

 

In a statement to the Sunday Independent a spokesperson for the Department of Defence said: “The National Memorial to members of the Defence Forces will provide a place for contemplation and remembrance, where families, relatives and members of the public can reflect on the contribution and sacrifice made by members of the Defence Forces who died in the service of the State.”

Mr King’s design was chosen in March 2007 following an open tender competition in which more than 30 artists from across Europe applied. Mr. King studied at the National College of Art and Design, where he became a lecturer and was head of its sculpture department between 1984 and 2004. He is well known for typically large-scale geometric pieces incorporating the use of metals.

 

 Just a few metres down from the new memorial, scaffolding has been erected for the cleaning and part restoration of the Rutland fountain. Dating from 1792, the fountain, designed by Francis Sandys, is a commemoration of the Duke of Rutland, Charles Manners who commissioned the piece before his untimely death at the age of thirty-three.

 

In its full glory, water poured from the two bronze lion heads on either side and from the small central conduit water flowed into a large stone conch shell at the base of the fountain. Many of the figures in the roundels that adorn the fountain have been vandalised and damaged since its building over 200 years ago and the water element has been cut off.

 

None of these features are expected to be resurrected but the work is being done in order to preserve what is left of the monument.

 

The clean up is being undertaken by Dublin based company, Interclean on behalf of the Dublin City Council at a cost of approximately €230,000 and is expected to be finished before Christmas.

 

Interclean has been responsible for many successful restorations in the past including the cleaning of the Bank of Ireland, College Green and the façade of Trinity College, Dublin.

Review-Hedda Gabler-The Gate-Saturday Matinee 11th October

There’s quite a bit of attention to detail in the Brian Friel’s version of Hedda Gabler, directed by Anna Mackmin. Lez Brotherston’s beautiful grey drawing-room gives off an impression of grim decadence and the feeling is rather cinematic. Although from an utterly different era, the atmosphere is not unlike Elia Kazan’s film version of ‘A Streetcar named Desire’.

As the focal point, actress Justine Mitchell plays the role of Hedda, a 19^th century frustrated housewife who through boredom wishes to manipulate and destroy the lives of those around her. In an effort to appear cool and calculating the character suffers from being slightly one-dimensional. For me she’s actually not really cruel enough. If she were, you would feel something towards her, namely contempt or satisfaction at her ultimate demise. But in the end, which is rather dramatic, you end up feeling apathetic towards her. She’s not quite the larger than life character she is supposed to be.

She is manipulative but she could have been so much crueler. Her idiotic and naïve husband George, played here brilliantly by Peter Hanly, is, on the surface at least, so trusting and loving that he could have been twisted into all sorts of shapes. Instead he is allowed to come and go; and although he is in the play quite a lot, it is only really for comic effect, which at times-although always funny-runs on a bit too long.

John Light as Eilert Loevborg, the focus of many ladies attention, doesn’t do much to demonstrate the reasons for their amorous consideration. And in many respects it is a pity that the sexual tension between Hedda and the Lawyer Brack, although at times somewhat adolescent, wasn’t developed more.

Andrea Irvine as Thea Elvsted is really the stand out performer here. This is in no small part down to her own talent and skill as an actress; but the fact that her character is the most complex of all the characters allows Irvine to play her part with greater depth.

The Gate is a wonderful space. This play is a thoroughly enjoyable way to spend two and a half hours and well worth going to. It just suffers from having too many characters whose complexities aren’t developed enough.

 

 

Metamorphosis-Review-Dublin Theatre Festival (Olympia Theatre Monday 29th September)

At one point, about ten minutes into last night’s performance of Metamorphosis, the audience had a mild and satisfied smile to itself. The smile was induced by the slow realisation that the stage had been transformed. Having looked upon Gregor’s room pinned against a wall, we were suddenly, through a trick of light and brilliant set design, gazing into his room from above.

 

It was an amazingly clever piece of trickery and one that certainly gave the performance some oomph. As we followed Gregor(Gisli Orn Gardarsson) who, having been transformed inexplicably into a beetle of some sort, had to crawl his way around the house; his family’s life gradually continues in the kitchen under his room. Although his adoring sister Grete initially tries to take care of her brother her parents are not interested. Gradually, Grete herself begins to shun Gregor, treating him more and more like an animal than a beloved brother. Throughout, Gregor tries to communicate with his family for whom he was the sole breadwinner but his voice has been transformed into a loud and incomprehensible screech.

 

Over the course of the play, the family’s former hero is dehumanised and becomes referred to as vermin and disgusting. The Nazi overtones are striking and clever. When Gregor’s father, played here by the somewhat shaky (opening night nerves I suspect) Ingvar E Sigurdsson, finds a new job, which involves the wearing of a uniform, the family begin to change. The mother’s former floral attire is replaced with black clothing but most strikingly Grete’s caring and sunny demeanour is replaced by strict respect and punctuality, her innocent school uniform by a sharp grey suit and black leather boots.

 

When a potential lodger, a well to do and handsome man played by Jonathan McGuinness, comes to inspect his would be lodgings the family are beside themselves with admiration. Gregor interrupts them by crashing through the ceiling and the horrified lodger bolts out the door while expressing his disgust. The family draw the only conclusion possible and encouraged by the now frustrated Grete, Gregor’s fate is sealed.

 

 The star of this show, with Grete a close second, was the physically impressive Gardarsson. Although he did have a nice rest for approximately ten minutes during which the family try to sycophantically impress their would be lodger, he spent most of the play hanging from the wall, crawling down stairs or being thumped on the head. Throughout all this suffering he managed to keep the soft and sympathetically selfless character of Gregor alive. Perhaps his role as an actor was not as tough as the rest of the cast but he played to his strengths making his ending all the more potent.

 

This is not a word for word adaption of Kafka’s story but it is well done and stays true to the story’s main themes. And for the set and Gardarsson’s performance it is definitely worth seeing.

Kehoe’s – An Unseasonable treat – As published in Totally Dublin – August 2008

By Jonathan deBurca Butler

 

Migration is a funny and wonderful fact of nature.  In winter for example, some breeds of whale move to warmer waters to breed and give birth, moving back in the summer to the colder climes of the north to feed. Perhaps, the steak and chips are better in the northern hemisphere. But whatever their motives this is what some whales do.

 

 In the same way there are certain pubs that I don’t go to at certain times of the year and I wondered if this bent was instinctive. I had this on my mind as I went, with my girlfriend, to have a few unseasonable jars in Kehoe’s of South Anne Street.

 

I hadn’t been here for months. So I say unseasonable, because this famous pub, which sits just off Grafton Street, is a place that I associate with the winter months. It is a warm, welcoming and cosy pub, synonymous with Christmas and annual reunions. So I found it a bit odd coming here on a warm summer’s evening; a bit like a fish in the wrong waters. However, as we approached the flower-laden exterior, it dawned on me that I shouldn’t have felt that way.

 

  Around about the time RTE newscasters were getting ready to give us more doom and gloom recession news, we ambled through the rather relaxed crowd that was lapping up the sunshine underneath the pub’s well-known neon-sign and strolled into the bar, where punters anxiously watched the gee gees on the box. A convivial atmosphere is never far from this spot and this evening, albeit a Monday, was no different.

 

 We ordered our drinks, a pint of Guinness for myself at €4.60 and a Heineken for herself at €4.95(a bit hefty?), and headed straight for the snug- a small and comfortable room just off the main bar (mind your head).

 

As we sank into the small leather couch and chatted about the day’s events, we took in the atmosphere of the place that has given both of us quite a few memories, and blackouts, over the years. We both agreed that there has always been a good mix of people in here. Both country-folk and rugby jocks in their suits mix quite freely with the musos and arty types. All groups hang about on a Friday or Saturday night looking at themselves, and others, in the many mirrors that adorn the walls and the warm mahogany interiors.

 

For our second pint we went up the broad, creaky stairs to the living room area, which wasn’t too busy at all. Save for the very courteous barman and what seemed to be an admirer of his twirling her hair, we had only ourselves and framed calendars recalling Ireland’s sweet and sour history for company.

 

Half way through the pints we decided to go up to the smoking terrace -and it is just a terrace- where we spoke about the good weather and how it can transform this city. We spoke a little bit about whale migration too, until we figured it was time to eat.

 

“Fish and chips?” I suggested.

 

“Sounds good to me,” said my missus and we headed for the chipper, safe in the knowledge that Kehoe’s is a good spot all year round.

Celtic only manage draw

Bad start for the ‘tic against lowly Aalborg. Having missed a penalty in the first half and battering against a ten-man team for the last twenty minutes when the referee sent off the wrong player, the Scottish champions only managed a scoreless draw.

It’s going to be a hard slog now with games against Man U and Villareal. However it looks like they may draw against each other at Old Trafford tonight.

Either way Hail! Hail!

Dublin Theatre Festival Preview – As published in September’s Temple Bar

The Cast of 'Black Watch'

By Jonathan deBurca Butler

In 1957 the Dublin Theatre festival opened with Tennessee William’s controversial ‘The Rose Tattoo’.  Garda reports at the time, spoke of some “objectionable passages” and scenes that were “lewd, vulgar and offensive”. Alan Simpson, who ran the Pike theatre with his wife Carolyn Swift, was arrested, somewhat bizarrely, after the show ended its run. The charges against him for his part in “producing for gain an indecent and profane performance”, were eventually dropped but his theatre was ruined and his marriage collapsed due to the pressures surrounding the bad publicity.

It is unlikely that such real life drama will be played out at this year’s festival, and unlikely the authorities, in an effort to protect our morals, end up ruining a marriage. But such is the rough and tumble world of the arts that you just never know.

 The line up for the 2008 Dublin Theatre festival may not prove to be as controversial as the inaugural festival. However, if the (allegedly) increasingly obese, soap-opera obsessed couch potatoes of this fair city decide to get up of their posteriors and go to see one or more of the plays on offer, they should be royally entertained.

Last year was a record year for the festival, taking in over €1million for the first time in its 51-year history. Attendances were up by twenty three per cent on 2006 and the organisers are hoping for a similar turnout this year. Inevitably, as with every sector of Irish life these days, the economy may have a part to play in the number of rumps on stools, but judging by the fact that Michael McDowell’s utopian café culture seems to be still thriving (heck not even the Italians know what all these different Italian coffees are), the festival organisers shouldn’t have too much to worry about.  

One reason to attend this years festival will be the appearance of Vanessa Redgrave in Joan Didion’s The Year of Magical Thinking. The production, which centres on a woman’s efforts to deal with the sudden death of her husband, is taking place at the Gaiety and is a massive coup for the festival, considering this is only one of three cities where the play is to be staged this year. The 71 year- old star, famous for her roles in films such as Blow up and Venus, has won acclaim for her powerful performance from both the media and her peers and tickets for this show are expected to go quickly.

 Other eyebrow raisers are plays and performances based on the work of Virginia Woolf (Waves), Fyodor Dostoevsky and F.Scott Fitzgerald(Gatz) as well as fresh interpretations of Albert Camus’ ‘Caligula’ and Beckett’s ‘Happy Days’.

But perhaps one of the most intriguing productions of this year’s festival is an adaptation of Franz Kafka’s freakishly dream-like short story ‘Metamorphosis’, a collaboration with Iceland’s Vesturport Theatre Production and the Lyric Hammersmith of London. This darkly decadent treat promises to be very physical and vibrant, using as it does climbing cables and a split stage to heighten the drama and tension; it also features music by Nick Cave and long-time collaborator Warren Ellis.

There are, of course, many home productions to choose from over the two-week period. The Gate Theatre, which is celebrating eighty years this year, is putting on Brian Friel’s new version of Henrik Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler.

Druid’s Irish premiere of Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan directed by Garry Hynes- the first woman to win a Tony award for direction- takes to the stage at the Olympia from the 6^th October, while at the Helix Fishamble are doing a new play by Irish playwright Robert Massey called Rank, which deals with Dublin’s transformation over the last ten years. Including, I assume, our uncanny ability to mispronounce Bruschetta.

The National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Black Watch, based on interviews with soldiers from the regiment of the same name and their time in Iraq, will be staged at the RDS. Having just gone on a sell-out run in Edinburgh, this production is expected to get a lot of attention not least for its strong language and somewhat contentious if relevant subject matter.

 Mark Donford-May’s reworking of Mozart’s The Magic Flute moves the 18^th century opera to a modern township setting in South Africa and offers something a little different for supporters of opera.  CoisCéim Dance Theatre will present Dodgems transforming the O’Reilly Theatre in Belvedere College into a fairground where a real bumper track is the stage for the clashes of lives and personalities that take place during the show.

This year’s festival also includes some workshops and panel discussions. The pick of the bunch is Vanessa Redgrave in conversation Colm Tobin. Perhaps they’ll talk about the development of the lewd, vulgar and offensive in today’s theatre.

Whatever the topic of their discussion, like all the festival, it’s sure to be quite memorable.

By the way the prices vary quite a bit from €20 to €45 but there are student stand-by tickets from about a half hour before the show depending on availability and OAPs also get a discount. Bear in mind that if your booking they’ll charge you €2 per ticket, so book on the net.

Vanessa Redgrave

Be sure to come back September 30th for  a review of Metamorphosis

Bring us home the (Francis) Bacon – A citizen’s plea

Bacon’s studio in Hugh Lane Gallery Dublin

      Although Francis Bacon was born in Ireland, it is questionable how ‘Irish’ he felt. In order for a gay man of his talent to flourish, it was somewhat inevitable that he moved away from good old conservative and catholic Ireland to the flambouyant and happening London. When he left in body he also left in spirit and little reference is ever made of Ireland in his life beyond his teenage years.

         

          So when the great man’s studio was(fairly) recently given to the Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin it was a real coup for the city. Not only did it give that gallery, which was already a great gallery, increased kudos; but it also allowed Dublin to reconnect with one of its own. To embrace one of its runaways. To cuddle him in its arms and say: “we knew you had it in you but we had to send you away.” (It’s also great for marketing obviously) 

         The only pity of it is, that there are really very few paintings by Bacon in the Gallery itself-and what is there is incomplete. The poor galleries of Ireland are unable to compete with the likes of enlightened, and clearly tasteful, football chairmen  such as Roman Abramovich who recently purchased a triptych by Bacon for an astronomical if not nearly comical amount of money.

        What I’m saying is, we need some more Bacon. Feed us the art, feed us!

       So, if anyone has a spare Francis Bacon piece lying about, please send it to Ireland. Thanks. To Adam Clayton(we know you collect the stuff): If you have any up in that attic of yours give us a lend of them for a while-share the wealth! And if anyone is mulling over what to do with their Bacons when they’ve gone to that great gallery in the sky. Leave them with us, we’ll look after them. And to the Tate: when your finished your Bacon exhibition over there, any chance you could ship the stuff over here? Just for a while even.

Please feel free to leave a comment