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Note: this is an ARCHIVED section of the site.
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· WHOLE NEW LOOK SITE ::
(Nov 08, 2007)
· Cains Liverpool Irish Festival 2007 Oct 17 - Nov 4::
(Oct 05, 2007)
· North London Comhaltas branch need help ::
(Oct 05, 2007)
· Annual General Meetings of Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann branches / Information ::
(Oct 05, 2007)
· Heaven Rejoiced As Parkhead Erupted ::
(Oct 05, 2007)
· Outrage as vandals trash memorial to bothy fire victims ::
(Sep 29, 2007)
· The Jacquelyn Hynes Music Collective in Hammersmith ::
(Sep 26, 2007)
· Irish Short Courses at London Met ::
(Sep 26, 2007)
· major history conference on the manchester martyrs ::
(Sep 26, 2007)
· Candid Jazz Festival, London 30th Oct - 4th Nov ::
(Sep 26, 2007)
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 Topic: Mattie Lennon
The new items published under this topic are as follows.
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Posted by: IIB TEAM on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 - 09:16 PM |
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By Mattie Lennon
Once again I paid my annual visit to the most prestigious literary festival in Europe, if not in the world. On Wednesday 30th May Writers’ Week 2007 was officially opened by renowned writer Joseph O ‘Connor. The author of such masterpieces as Star Of The Sea and more recently Redemption Falls, as well as many humorous works, complimented the Kerry people on their organising skills, literary and artistic prowess, footballing ability and of course . . . their great humility.
He later gave an example of Kerry wit when he told about meeting a friend of his who was on his way to meet Carlo Gebler and Joseph was asked, “Will you follow me up to Carlo?” Prize-winners were announced (Roddy Doyle won the €10,000 Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award for Paula Spencer). Pauline Scanlon who spent three years with the Sharon Shannon Band provided music, to a packed house.
On Thursday a full schedule started with a recording of Sunday Miscellany in Saint John’s Theatre where local writer Cyril Kelly regaled us with the story of how he had been in that particular venue when it was a mortal sin (Saint John’s was a Protestant Church at the time).
Through the day readings by Joseph O’Connor, Colm Tobin, John McGrath (whose book of poetry Blue Sky Day was launched), Roger McGough, and others stimulated the literary minds of the visitor.
Food for thought was in plentiful supply at Amnesty Event with Fergal Keane, Gerard Stembridge and Zlata Filipovic. Next Door by Listowel man John Mcauliffe was launched and Poet Laureate, Andrew Motion read from his autobiography In The Blood; A Memoir of My Childhood.
Poets, essayists and others got a chance to perform their own work at the microphone at Poet’s Corner where the Master-of-ceremonies was the inimitable George Rowley.
On Friday self-taught painter Liam O’Neill had an exhibition of his paintings in Saint John’s Theatre. This was followed by a one-person show written and performed by Martha Furey. It tells the, sometimes, tragic story of Isadora Duncan the American dancer who introduced the art of modern dance.
Roger McGough, OBE , one of Britain’s best loved poets, made an appearance in the Listowel Arms at 1.30 and Alice Hogg and Aslison Weir “ Brought History to Life” in The Seanachai Centre at 4. O’clock. This was followed by an art exhibition (the work of Maria Simonds-Gooding) titled The Dingle Peninsul at 5. O’clock.
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Posted by: IIB TEAM on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 - 06:44 AM |
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If you look up "George Rowley" on the net or at your friendly
reference library you will probably find that he was Vice
Chancellor of Oxford University from 1832 to 1836. He no doubt,
left his footprints on the sands of time but George Rowley, the
complex character, who has recorded his fears, ambitions,
hardships and redemption between the covers of this memoir, was
born in Dublin, to Leitrim parents, on Wednesday 22nd September
1943.
He takes the reader through Ration-books and his early
schooldays, at Stanhope Street Convent- where if a boy misbehaved
he was threatened with the mortifying punishment of sitting with
the girls. At First Communion time his mother was told that he was
too immature to comprehend the meaning of the Sacrament. His
mother negotiated and when the day came George made his First Holy
Communion, and twenty-five shillings.
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Posted by: IIB TEAM on Monday, March 26, 2007 - 09:33 PM |
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Ciaran McCann is a Dublin bus driver. He studied engineering for five years and spent a further four years in University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. He is a published novelist, has been married for eighteen years, lives on Dublin's southside and owns a happy cat. He drives the number 14 bus.
Dr. Joseph Carlton lives in a plush residence on Aylesbury Road in fashionable Dublin 4.
He is tanned, educated and women find him irresistible. He drives a Nissan Maxima and shares his plush abode with a Great Dane called Jet.
Jet, like most servile inhabitants of Ballsbridge does not appreciate his Master's lifestyle. Neither was he impressed when he took first prize at last year's Saint Patrick's Day Dog Show at the Royal Dublin Society. And the good Doctor's choice of kennel name, "Shakespeare's Mercedes" didn't appeal to his canine sensitivity. In his stream of (dog) conscienceless he refers to Dr. Carlton by names taken from a list of descriptions of the lower anatomy.
Mattie Morcam is a bus driver in Dublin. His parents have been separated for a number of years. He finishes almost every sentence with "but..." and refers to that tasty crackling snack, made famous by Mr.Tayto, a " a packet o' cripps." As a youngster he "went to the pitchers in Fizzzburrow". His tattooed knuckles don't look any more out of place than the used condoms and graffiti, which adorn the multi-storey flat complex, where he lives.
Through a bizarre set of circumstances and unlikely situations, in both their places of employment, Mattie Morcam and Doctor Carlton, who had each often wondered what it was like on the other side of the tracks, succeed in swapping identities.
The sophisticated Joseph spends a number of days driving a bus while Mattie prescribes capsules with unpronounceable names for old ladies with psychological abnormalities, in Saint Bernadette's, an up-marker Psychiatric Hospital on Dublin's north side.
It has been said that we are all ignorant, but of different things. Well, while Mattie in not overly familiar with the finer points of the Hippocratic Oath Dr. Carlton isn't all that fluent in the lingo of the housewives of Dublin 11.
His rounded vowels cause raised eyebrows among the marginilised going to collect the "labour" and Mattie prescribes suppositories for depression.
When a Chief Surgeon, in Theatre said, "I feel we can now safely remove the Sternum Retractor. Would you agree, Doctor." Mattie didn't have an answer. But he was only slightly less nonplussed than Dr. Carlton when a denim-clad peroxide blonde in her fifties asked, "What's wrong wit' yer mouth son? yer talkin' funny" Both survive without detection until they revert to their relevant roles.
In the above catalogue of characters there is one who is not fictitious. It is Ciaran McCann. The others people (and "dog") the pages of his novel "Open Day At The Asylum."
"Open Day at the Asylum" took four years to write and has just appeared on the shelves to very favourable reviews. Is there any more favourable comparison than that used by Lady Renie in the Belfast People; " McCann's superb mastery over Stream of Consciousness techniques heralds the greatest Wizard of Wordplay since Joyce."
Speaking of which, I didn't finish Ulysses but I burned the midnight oil to devour Ciaran's outstanding debut novel. And I don't think that even Roddy Doyle would dare to suggest that Ciaran McCann, "could have done with a good editor."
Critic, Anne McRicen says that the author, "......runs his readers through the full spectrum of sentiment. Undulating emotional peaks and troughs. From buttock clenching tension to thigh slapping hysteria. From violent drama to the passions of romance." If you didn’t let your maiden aunt see “Lady Chatterly’s Lover” or “The Ginger Man” I would advise you to keep “Open Day At The asylum” under lock and key as well.
"Open Day At the Asylum" is published by Lisieux Publishing Ltd. Manchester and is available from the author Ciaran McCann, 10 Llewellyn Grove, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16, at the modest price of €10 (including postage). You can contact Ciaran at; reeforever@eircom.net
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Posted by: IIB TEAM on Wednesday, February 21, 2007 - 06:33 PM |
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RTE News 19th February 2007 16.25PM
British & Irish Governments Plan Ceremony in Croke Park
Northern Ireland Minister Peter Hain has announced details of a joint ceremony before Irelands crunch game against England in Croke Park on the 24th February.
The significance of the game is not lost on GAA followers and republicans who remember the infamous shooting of 14 players and supporters by the British Army on the 21st November 1920.
However according to GAA spokesman Ulick Magee a plan being devised by the GAA and the Northern Ireland office, will attempt to draw a line under the incident.
"We've spoken to the British government and they understand the significance of the event back in 1920. Back then 14 people were killed by British forces so in the spirit of the peace process and friendship we're proposing that we shoot 14 of their lot before the match. Then maybe have fireworks afterwards or something." Said Mr Magee.
Government Reaction
The plan has had a mixed reaction from Downing Street. Prime Minister Tony Blair thinks the idea has merit but said that it needs to be done properly and with dignity.
"Frankly I think its a small price to pay for progression in Anglo-Irish affairs, but I think the idea of getting Ray Houghton to do the shooting would be too much for many English fans to take particularly after his goal against us back in 1988. And he's Scottish which is worse."
Proposed Victims
According to informed sources, the GAA and Number 10 have already drawn up a list of names for those to be shot. The list, which is not yet agreed, is thought to be a compromise of people that both the Irish and English public dislike. Among the names are moaney-hole singer James Blunt, foul mouth idiot Jade Goody, Trinny & Suzannah, Man Utd donkey Rio Ferdinand, cream cake expert Vanessa Feltz, "comedian" Russell Brand and any of the blokes who do outside broadcasts for Sky News.
But discussions took an ironic twist when both sides agreed on shooting Belfast singer Brian Kennedy, but neither side agreed on what nationality he was. GAA representatives claim he's British with their Foreign Office counterparts claiming he's Irish. The Irish claimed no Irishman should sing or dance in such a manner and the English saying he couldn't be a Brit because he had no tattoos on his forearm and didn't wear Ben Sherman shirts. However there was eventual consensus that he should be shot regardless of his nationality.
Plans agreed
The shooting will be carried out my members of the 2nd Infantry Battalion from Cathal Brugha Barracks in Dublin. The original idea to get the FCA to carry out the executions were dropped when they revealed that their rifles are in fact made of baked-plastercine. Similarly the Garda Emergency Response Unit was discounted for fear they'd shoot more innocent civilians then claim overtime for it.
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Posted by: IIB TEAM on Sunday, January 21, 2007 - 09:18 AM |
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By the time you read this we'll probably have beaten Dublin. aren't we going through the neighbouring counties like butter throuh a cat.
Even those of you not all that well up to date in sporting information will know that up to today no senior Wicklow football team has ever graced the hallowed sod of Croke Park on the penultimate Sunday of September. Of course now that we have Mick O' Dywer sure God is good.
But Wicklow men and sons of Wicklow men have played for many another county's winning team.
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