EIREMEDIA BLOG – All Things Irish!!

I wouldn’t call myself a music critic. I do like music, but I wouldn’t say it’s my whole life. But, I do like to think that I know talent when I see it. The atmosphere in the video is upbeat and you really enjoy the performance. While I’m not a big of musicals .I did enjoy the song. So much, that I went and watched the original of it.

The singer does the song justice and you can feel the emotion in her voice. I really did enjoy watching this video and it’s good to know that there is natural talent out there. Also, events like Limerick’s Got Talent are very underrated and I feel like there should be more coverage and that more notice should be on them. I feel like people don’t take singing competitions seriously, especially in Ireland. When, for some people these competitions are the places where they’re noticed.

Anyway, back to the singer. She sings the song with great confidence. Even if she is nervous it doesn’t show. Her voice never falters and she can hit the notes. Over all the performance was good, and I really enjoyed watching the video.

Along with Sinéad there were many other acts with much more talent on show:

Group’s Song and Dance

Flawless(Dance)
Corrosive Theory (Singing and Electric)
Sarah and Alanna (Singing and Acoustic)
Chapter 2 (Singing and Acoustic)

Solo Song
Megan Hope
Sinéad O’ Mara
Laura Fitzpatrick
Chloe Henniger
Michelle Revins
Charlee Hurley
Emma Normoyle
Brian Finn

Entertainment
Kaitlyn Lowe Neill
Paul Roche
Sarah Turner Neville

Well done to everyone on the night for putting on such a great show and congratulations to the winners.

A couple of weeks ago Eiremedia went out one night to accompany some volunteers of the Limerick C.E.R.T. Search and Rescue Team to find out what this work entails. In the dark and cold these people go out of their way to patrol the Shannon waterways and ensure the safety of those at risk of being lost in the waters at night. This close knit team tell us of the work they do, the conditions they work in, the risks that are present and the problems they face working by a busy quayside area.
The video is a good reminder of what happens on an ordinary night and why we should be thankful that this service operates in the Limerick area.

Unfortunately these teams can only do so much with the resources available to them and require your help. Every year many lives are lost and it is through the help of volunteers or donations that help the organisation to keep saving lives. Even if you do neither of these it is worth your while to take up a water safety course or at least be vigilant around bodies of water as these accidents are truly all preventable.
For more information look up C.E.R.T. Search and Rescue.

Limerick C.E.R.T. Search and Rescue

I have never been to the Limerick Museum. Strange I know, since I’ve lived in Limerick for just over 2 years now. But, the Eiremedia video covering the Limerick museum is very helpful and I found that after watching it, I wanted to go and explore the little jewel for myself.

It was a very pleasant video to watch and informative. The curator was very enthusiastic about what he does. However, I did find that the stagnant look of the interviewer and the stiff in which he asked questions did take away a lot from the video. While the curator was relaxed and chatting away about this and that, the interviewer seemed to see no need to join in the conversation, only to ask a prompt question.

The museum itself seemed like a cosy little haven of historical intrigue. The video had a lot of ambience in it and made the museum itself feel warm and welcoming. After watching this documentary I feel like this museum would be worth the visit. After all it is important to know about our history and how Ireland became what it is today.

WARNING: Slight spoilers ahead for Avengers, Alien franchise,Hellboy, Lord of the Rings, Pan’s Labyrinth
“I solemnly swear to get through this article without saying that things were better in the old days”
In my Tremors review I said that I preferred the animatronic/prosthetic monsters to ones that would be composed of CGI. Although some of you might have believed that I’m rooted in the past from reading my classic reviews, the truth is that I respect it in the hope of learning for the future. It seems though that Hollywood in general is not so forgiving and tries its utmost to forget the past even existed. As can be seen in its recent jumping on to 3D’s shaky boat which I do genuinely hope will sink sooner rather than later.
But 3D is part of the problem I wish to talk about. Hollywood is infatuated with making everything look prettier than it actually is and it does so through obscene amounts of CGI. Now CGI is a natural progression in a form of storytelling and it literally has infinite applications. One application is creating a creature that one could not find on Earth today be it Dinosaurs, Myths, Mutants and Aliens. These creatures are vital to the telling of countless movies besides even the Sci-fi/Horror genre. It is directly up to the imaginations of the artists and producers involved to craft a unique creature. In this the majority of filmmakers are not testing their limits. I will take the most recent example of CGI magic I can think of and that is the aliens from Avengers. To be honest we hardly get a chance to see them properly without some needless use of motion blur, but when they have stopped for two seconds to get their faces punched we see that despite some effort in providing detail and complicated patterns it all turns out a bit boring. They do not look any more menacing than those stop motion skeletons from Jason and the Argonauts and that film is 50 years old!

We've got epic battles nailed....

Some might say that part of the problem is the colossal amount of time needed to create digital imagery for a big blockbuster. I don’t believe that because I’m sure that the aliens could have been more menacing had some more thought gone into their design and not just making them look like humans with body covering rashes. They aren’t scary, we feel sorry for the guys they look in pain! Good design is worth a million hours of computer work in my opinion. And yet again aliens provide a good example to go by. What better example than than the titular antagonist of Alien? 1979 and Ridley Scott’s team managed to create the most iconic and horrifying creatures ever to threaten a lonely girl in space. The Xenomorph as it was also known was not a CG stand in it was a man in a suit. Despite this its design was intentionally creepy, evoking thoughts of unpleasant nature to a cinema audience. Instead of wasting time trying to get the lighting right in a computer, the alien was put on set and the lights turned right down. Now the audience wouldn’t see that the alien was a man in a very large suit, in fact they would only catch glimpses of the creature and what little they saw was enough to really unsettle them. Alien is a useful example because its sequels went through all the motions of monster creation. Aliens provided even more advanced Alien designs on a grander scale such that it provided us with the most amazing physical prop ever made in the Alien queen: a towering monster that just screamed apex predator. When you stop just staring at it you wonder how in the world such a beast was created by man. Alien 3 provided the classic design which was undermined somewhat by some truly dated CGI. Think the original Tron lightcycles except now in the colour of bile green and much less fluid. More recent were the Alien V. Predator movies(Terrible movies, don’t waste your time) which used CGI in a way that was loyal to the franchise designs, but utterly hopeless in using them effectively. The best in the series for technical know-how I felt was Alien: Resurrection. Here we see a revamped Alien design that was much sleeker and modern looking without overzealous use of CG. In fact where CG was used in the film it was in scenes that no amount of puppetry could pull off well such as wide shots and underwater. But by far Resurrection was the best in bringing the disgust factor. Simply put, the Alien “Newborn” was a genuinely creepy monster whos birth was for one traumatic itself. But the monster itself was truly frightening; a combination of Human and Alien design it had xenomorphic features combined with human traits. If the human skull didn’t get to you, the doleful and vacant human eyes would. It says a lot about creature design that I don’t feel it would be appropriate to post a picture of it here.

Honestly...Which is scared the most!?

Most of the best aliens were those that were physically there with the actors. I mentioned before the word fidelity and that remains important. The process of acting in less realistic films involves the use of actors talking and reacting to thin air. And try as you might talking to thin air and pretending to be scared by it is quite difficult. As Daniel Radcliffe commented while filming scenes with “Dobby” in Harry Potter what he was actually talking to was a tennis ball on a stick. A tennis ball on a stick if you don’t know is neither scary nor awe inspiring, and so an actor must do their best to try and act as if something weird is in the room with them. Not easy at all.
CGI is a useful tool and at times it is difficult to tread the necessary/unnecessary divide in its use. However that said some creators provide a good example of CGI and physical effects combined to create a good solid creature movie. The two I will mention here who I feel know how to use both properly are Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro. Both are well steeped in the art of creature design. In Lord of the Rings, Jackson used CG to stage massive and epic battles between men, monsters and giants. But on a more intimate level all of the orcs were played by prosthetic wearing actors, and so they could interact with the human characters quite well. The human characters in turn had something truly gruesome with which to stand face to face to and it was easy to act scared when you genuinely were a bit unsettled. In del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth and the Hellboy series we see some truly original creature design through both CG, prosthetics and animatronics. Il take examples from both. Pan himself was comprised of both CGI and prosthetics but was as unique as being a faun could be. He wasn’t spry and youthful looking as is a popular image from the myth. He was old, haggard and creaked with every step. He felt like something not belonging to the world of the film but belonging to its reality. In Hellboy we see the same liberal use of prosthetics and make up as well as CGI. Coating Ron Perlman in red and decking him with horns proved one of the most seamless transition of characters from comic book to film that has hardly been matched save for Robert Downey Junior as Tony stark. The creatures that populated Hellboy’s universe were also a mix of the physical props (The Angel of Death) and the CGI designs of the Elemental and the Golden Army. These were hardly original concepts but it was their design that made them so unique and interesting.

CGI in LotR

Creepy CGI/Prosthetics from Hellboy 2

Next time I will look at CGI and Physical props less in creatures and more in creating the world around them.

When it comes to appearance everyone is judged by what we wear and how we wear it. As we reach our teenage years we become more aware of who we are and how we portray ourselves to others. Most of our teen years are spent searching for the little crack where we fit in. While some people do this with sports, music, games, ect. Others find it easier to use fashion as a way of showing who they are and where they fit in. While most teen girls tend to be fashion savvy, others seem to strive on being original. While I have no qualms with anyone being original, in fact I admire it, it just grates on me when they think they are above all because of it.

Hi, I'm a Satanist, pleased to meet you!

Some people go all out there in their search for originality. A lot of people claim it’s a “way of life.” This is where I tend to disagree. As you grow older people perception of you changes. When you’re 30something and still wearing that long floral dress with biker boots, you have to ask, has something gone wrong? Most women by the age of 30 have some form of career path made and while this sounds a bit mean, in order to get on the right career one needs to look professional. This is where originality should not come in. While some people are fine with wearing the usual suit and jacket, those who strive for originality do not.

Looking...sharp?

I know it sounds like I’m going an anti-originality rant, but I’m not. Really. I do tend to be one of those people that doesn’t wear what’s in, but I’m aware of what’s on trend. Right now, I’m not a big fan of the whole neon thing, but pastels I really like. Anyway, like I said, when we’re younger we tend to strive for originality and that really only leads to, a group of people being “original” together, wearing the same type of clothes. For some people, and I speak from experience, letting go of this youthful desire to be original can be hard. I’ve found that as I get older, it’s not the clothes that make me original, it’s my personality and the way I portray myself to others. You can have two people wearing the exact same outfit but their personalities will be different, granted the clothes don’t speak “original” but when you talk to them you see them as two separate entities.

Pretty in Pastel.

Nowadays people are depending too much on clothing to help portray themselves. This can cause even further stress to try and conform to some type of fashion and feel the need to fit in. It can also cause people to have stereotypical views, for example: All goths are satanists, anyone wearing a tracksuit is a chav. So in a way, clothes don’t provide a lot of the freedom to be creative as we think they do, because no matter what we wear, someone will judge us on it. To strive for originality is to leave the status quo, and people tend to judge you harsher for it. But, when it comes to clothing, everyone wants that statement piece that makes everyone stare. Whether it’s red shoes, a floral headband, snakeskin boots, we all strive for that piece that sets us apart from others. With this in mind, it shows that we all strive to be original together.

Ok I have to get through this review without gushing about this film so much I need to stop writing to fan myself with my hands. A difficult task for me because Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is the movie equivalent of solid gold encrusted in diamonds and dipped in chocolate. If I told you it was one of the most finely scripted thrillers in this modern age would you be interested? If I told you it blends beautifully the thriller elements with a classic hardboiled detective style as well as being a buddy comedy? No,Maybe? What if I told you it is directed by Shane Black, the same man who wrote and produced the Lethal Weapon films? And that it stars Michelle Monaghan, one of the wittiest and most beautiful actresses today? Are you still unsure? It stars Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer who play a thief and a gay detective. Yeah NOW you’re interested.
Ok to be fair I will start with the faults present in this film, there aren’t many but they must be noted. For one, the story is incredibly convoluted. It is a very good story but the methods of telling it are somewhat messy. The pace is too fast for a detective movie and we are left with as many red herrings as we are actual clues. And this is not a problem just with me as anyone who has seen the film has asked me to explain to them what exactly was happening at all. The blisteringly fast pace can become problematic for when lets say you pause the film for a moment to go to the bathroom or get something to eat. It is very possible that you will return, resume the film and will immediately forget why these characters are here and where they are going. It’s just the case that this film is a bit too smart sometimes.
Is a paragraph enough criticism? It is? Good.

Less Good Cop Bad Cop, More Gay P.I. and New Yorker

Go out there to any good entertainment retailer and scour them for this film. You may find it and when you do go to the counter and pay whatever they ask, it doesn’t matter how much. Return and watch Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Your mission is complete. I could not recommend this film too much for it is absolutely awe inducing. I must say it is the perfect film for home video as no matter how much you pay attention at first it will always be of benefit to watch it again. There is always a little detail that you missed the first time around that will only make the labyrinthine story more intriguing. And do not worry if you will only see this film once, because there is plenty here for those of you with zero attention spans. Probably first and foremost is the sparring between Kilmer and Downey Jr.’s characters. Harry Lockhart is a two-bit thief who got lucky enough to get to a who’s who party in L.A. Mistaken for an actor he is paired with a P.I. known as “Gay Perry” in order to prepare himself for an upcoming role. On a stakeout the pair come across a crime in progress and eventually work with Harry’s old flame Harmony (Monaghan) to find out the truth. I will not go into detail as I don’t want to spoil any more details before you see the film for yourself.

Putting the Femme back in Fatale

Harry, Perry and Harmony own the show here. The trio bring heart and soul to the show in spades with their individual charm and wit and are characters we can root for; Harry is a lowlife trying to make something of himself, Perry is a no nonsense detective who tries to keep Harry in line and Harmony is trying to solve a mystery that is close to her heart, all the while helping and hindering the other two in equal measure.
Well I think I failed in being reserved for this review and I must apologise. The judgement rests though that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is an excellent film and you owe it to yourself to go and watch it if only just to see Downey Jr and Kilmer kiss each other in probably the most awkward homoerotic situation in film history.

With Anime style cartoons and films becoming popular in Ireland, it’s definitely worth a look at some releases that have not seen the silver screen.

Your brain on anime

Satoshi Kon, director of other notable movies such as Tokyo Godfathers and Millenium Actress, has created a mind boggling and riveting masterpiece in Paprika. Originally released in September 2006, Paprika is based on Yasutaka Tsutsui’s book of the same name. This film can in truth cover a number of different genres, science fiction being the given.

Set in the near future, Paprika is driven by the initial theft of a DC- mini, an advanced piece of technology that allows the user to enter the dreams of others. The chase of this “terrorist” results in a suspense ridden, aesthetically astonishing tale that twists and loops more then any roller coaster I’ve ever been on.

This classic madhouse animation has since been produced and sold by Sony Picture Classics. It received massive critical acclaim receiving nominations, and winning, for best animated film awards.

Watch the trailer here: Paprika HD trailer

At the beginning of the movie you may find you absolutely baffled by what is occuring, but never fear, Satoshi Kon has managed to manipulate and mould this film more skilfully then  even the most experienced puppeteer. The complex components weave themselves together as you watch, and each scene offers the viewers one eureka moment after another as they watch.

I will warn you though, if you are used to watching more westernised anime e.g. Ponyo or Howl’s moving castle then you might find Paprika a little ‘up front’. The “R” rating given to it in America is definitely deserved, not for excess of gore or sex, rather for the sheer psychological trauma you’re going to experience if you watch this, especially if you’ve never branched outside of these kid friendly movies before. Pure blooded anime is unlike anything you have probably experienced before with an animation. Paprika is definitely one of those anime to watch if you like the purer un-westernized kind of anime.

Look away now if you don't want spoilers.

If you do happen to be an anime fan, and have already seen this film, then there have probably been a few things that have caught your eye.

Being the brainchild of Satoshi Kon, you’re bound to notice the huge nods given to some of his other creations, and to the writer and the director themselves.

During certain dream sequences if you pay close attention you will see that posters for Satoshi Kon’s Millenium Actress, Tokyo Godfather and Perfect blue in the background. Also, as another little nod to the viewers both Satoshi and author Yasutaka Tsutsui play cameos as barmen in the movie. You’ll see them pop up throughout.

Okay, so after all this, you’re probably wondering why it’s called Paprika. Well that’s because I have neglected to explain the characters so far.

So all out of all I’d rank this film as an 8.5 out of 10, pretty damn good, but to realise why it deserves this score requires watching it a couple of times, hence why it isn’t higher.

“Damn it listen to me. I’m older n’ wiser!” “Yeah well…..You’re half right”
Tremors dropped in cinema’s way back in 1990 before I was even born if you want perspective. It centres on the small town of Perfection that is undergoing an attack from brutal underground creatures. The town handymen Valentine and Earl (Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward) as well as a student geologist (Finn Carter) become the last line of defence against the monsters. As you may guess this was not necessarily a film that would worry Oscar contenders. It was a B-movie with a capital B but by no means was it a bad film. On the contrary Tremors is a ton and a half of fun, never taking itself too seriously but never becoming a farce either. Some say that looking back on old films before the advent of CGI can be a culture shock because of the dated look. I disagree because in this movie the monsters are all prosthetics and animatronics, which I feel adds an extra layer of fidelity to the movie. Modern films are bogged down with recreating reality when it looks so much better to have an actual physical monster for actors to work with, instead of the usual interacting with thin air for the green screen work later. That said Tremors is helped by the fact that the monsters are so well done. They are hulking, fetid, and slimy buggers that made me feel quite ill. They also provide a nice and genuinely scary threat to the main characters. So I award top marks for getting the monster part right.

Ok, No one say I think they're gone

Now for the human part, for if a monster movie wants to be scary we must care that our heroes live or die. In this film we do care because the residents of Perfection are an eclectic mix of oddballs. Val and Earl are the go-to men of the town; usually left with the heavy lifting and dirty jobs and endlessly trying to find a way out of this deadbeat town. Bacon and Ward’s bickering brotherhood is a joy to watch onscreen as the guys who have to deal with each other before they even get to the monsters. Carter’s Rhonda is a practical sort of girl and is likeable in her role as the brain to work with Val and Earl’s brawn. All of the supporting cast get their time to shine as well, especially the gun toting neighbours Burt and Heather. This monster film hits all the right notes: bringing a grisly monster to terrorise a small town, having the survivors band together in order to survive and have them bicker and make up just as if they were a family. The people of Perfection are who we root for and as the fight against the monsters gets messier we care more and more about them.
Tremors is a great throwback to the days before the advent of CGI in monster movies popularised by Jurassic Park. It is one of the last of the prosthetic movies and it is quite a way for the genre to bow out one last time.

Cute little guy isn't he?!

I was really surprised last week when I saw the billing for Beauty and the Beast in our local cinema this week. I tried looking up any reason I could think of. Release anniversary? As far as I could find, it wasn’t, and even if it was, it’d be the 21st anniversary for the release of the movie. Do Disney celebrate their movies being able to drink in America?

Time to party?

I was baffled, why were Disney doing this? They had already released the Blu Ray, and even if this was a 21 year celebration of the movie, they had missed their own party. The original movie was released in cinemas in November 1991. In the end I decided the best way to figure this out was to go, and so, I went.

But as magical as it was seeing Beauty and the Beast on the big screen, it was hard to ignore the Disney “short” that had occurred at the beginning of the film.

Perhaps Disney should take a page from Beasts book.

Tangled Ever After, Disney’s short based on their most recent hit, Tangled, was in my opinion, a fairly big let down.

The CGI short was everything you’d expect of Disney. Wedding starts, introduces main characters, shows source or conflict, conflict occurs, conflict is resolved, in this particular case, in a humorous way, happy ending. To me at least, that’s really all it was. Rather then be a fun and fulfilling way to tie up the loose ends and add closure to the story, the short seems to have been made for its own sake, and that of Disney’s wallet. Buzz about this upcoming short has been paramount to the popularity of the re-release of Beauty and the Beast in cinemas. I had heard about it as well, and it was one of the deciding factors for me forking out money from an already scant student bank account. Whilst for some the lure of seeing, or the chance for their children to see this much loved classic was reason enough to go see it on the big screen, many for their first time. However, if the Tangled Ever After short had been one of your main incentives, you may find yourself slightly disappointed, especially if you’re one of the more “mature” Disney fans.

I think Beast sums up the whole Tangled wedding experience up quite nicely.

Maybe Beast isn't just talking about his get up?

So what I’d like to say to readers, go see the movie for the actual movie, not the short that’s been raved about before hand. If you happen to like the short, it’s a viewing bonus, if not, you just have a slightly longer, albeit well made, trailer.

On inspection of my DVD library I have found quite a noticeable trend. Most of the films I have bought are either Science Fiction or Thrillers. This is not much of a problem at all because most of them are prized possessions that I can talk about endlessly. With some rooting around the video drawer I came to find an old favourite of mine from 2005. Thank You For Smoking is a snarky little comedy starring Aaron Eckhart and William H. Macy centred on the story of spin doctor Nick Naylor. Naylor is a representative of Big Tobacco, a heavyweight in the cigarette industry, of whom to Naylor’s admission sells itself already by being so addictive. Naylor’s job is to be the public image of all cigarette companies, to give these companies a handsome and likeable face and also to dissuade anyone with clout to bring any restrictions on the sale of tobacco. What makes him so good at his job is not only his ability to lie and cheat but his ability to lie and cheat so damn well. Smart and fast talking, he realised a long time ago that his job is not to hide the truth but tell it in such a way that no one will notice the glaring moral wrongs being suggested. His close friends are those who share his job in the firearms and alcohol industries and Naylor’s own morals are beyond sketchy; the only person he remotely cares for is his young son. He will lie to senators, judges, teachers and cancer patients but only to his son does he feel guilt for lying. It is when his son begins questioning his livelihood does Naylor start to get cold feet, albeit at a time when his career is on the line.

Merchants of Death

What is so interesting about this dark little comedy isn’t that it wants to make a message against smoking(it doesn’t anyway) but it sees how a man can skew his morals by focussing on being such a gigantic smartass to always gets what he wants. The cigarette industry is only a backdrop as Naylor could and probably would represent any hateful/evil industry if he had to. He is the perfect 21st century gentleman; smart, charismatic, handsome, sharply dressed, and Machiavellian in his outlook. Eckhart owns the role becoming the shady man behind good PR that oozes confidence. It says a lot that a well-timed grin at his introduction gives a good indication on who his character will turn out to be. This is all the more fun when he meets his match in a reporter(Katie Holmes) who is out to gather dirt on Big Tobacco. Jason Reitman has made a film that may not be a paragon of justice against cigarettes, but features such a charming and interesting character played by Eckhart. Macy also delivers with an equally morally ambiguous senator. He represents many facets of American politics. The issue of health isn’t what concerns him it’s the votes, and he will bend lower than anyone else to get what he wants. Macy’s condescending tone and equally sharp wit make this character unlikeable but certainly fun to watch. I recommend a film as an alternative to the endless flow of derivative comedies today. And there is no Seth Rogen, Michael Cera, Christopher Mintz-Plasse or Jonah Hill to be seen!

In the spirit of my review this week I like to think that there is an unstoppable force only allowing me to write reviews for thrillers with Morgan Freeman in them. That said does anyone object to me talking about Morgan Freeman? …… I did not think so! Now, The Sum of All Fears.
Based (loosely) on the book of the same name by Tom Clancy, the Sum of All Fears centres on a terrorist cell of Neo Nazis are who plan to stoke the fires of animosity between America and Russia. Ben Affleck plays a very young Jack Ryan compared to the books, a CIA analyst specialising in Russian politics who is tasked with helping to gauge the actions of newly appointed Russian president Nemerov (Ciarán Hinds). Meanwhile US President Fowler (George Cromwell) locks horns with his counterpart over civil unrest in nearby Chechnya, raising tensions before the cell can even carry out its plan. And what a dastardly cell it is! The villains in this film are almost cartoonish in their evil ways, they even have a muscular blonde bodyguard to make sure you know where they stand on the Jewish question. The cell is a bit lacking in subtlety but the late Alan Bates plays a great nasty villain; uncaring, unsympathetic and meticulous in his actions.

My Mustache Commands me to be dastardly!

The film does have a few issues, some minor plot holes that detract from the overall experience for example. But what it lacks in finesse, it serves as an immersive film. It sucks you into its plot of nuclear politics and provides a nice distraction. In 2002 when this film was released the whole of Hollywood was entering a phase of jingoistic “YEAH AMERICA.” While the Sum of All Fears shares some traits with its counterparts of the time, it is nice to see a Russian character, namely President Nemerov, get fleshed out a bit more. Hinds delivers an extremely convincing role, that of a man who on the outside must appear strong, ruthless and hard lined in order to please his countrymen. While on the other hand we see him in private becoming worried and frail, fearful of a meaningless war of attrition with America. It is also not bad for an actor who did not speak a word of Russian to pull off lengthy dialogue scenes with little trouble. Affleck plays Jack Ryan with youthful exuberance and while he proves charming on screen he had yet to fully develop as an actor at the time. Of course where we have the new guard in Affleck, the old guard proves just as talented as ever in Freeman’s CIA director Cabot. His sagely advice to Jack as well as his short bursts of humor adds a likeable aspect to a man whose role is to head a clandestine and dangerous organisation. Yet again a film boils down to how well it is delivered by the people in it, and I must say that the Sum of All Fears is one of my favourite films, because it grips you tight and good characterisation means that you can actually care for what happens to the people you see.

Where have i seen a poster like this before?

There’s nothing like a gift with a personal touch, and what’s more personal than a photograph. This video has been doing its circuits around the internet and caught my eye. Not only is it a really cool finished product it’s also really easy to do, many of the things you may have lying around at home or can fairly easily pick up.

You will need:

A black and white laser print of whatever picture it is you want to place on wood. Make sure the piece of wood is the size of the page or a small bit bigger. It being a small bit bigger means that if you centre the picture correct creates a cool and easy frame effect.

Gel Medium (see notes on this below)

Modge Podge (see notes on this below)

The actual block of wood.

The size used in this video is A4.

Since you’d probably much rather watch a video then read my blather, here’s how you do it courtesy of youtube.

For gel medium purchasing this can be quite expensive, but after some research here are some substitutes that may work. Wall paper paste or PVA may be suitable options, but these may not work for this particular task.

Also modge podge may be hard to get hold of in Ireland, but for any of you familiar with decoupage, decopatch glue may be the answer to this. I think they’re essentially the same thing under different names.

For the varnish just use a clear drying glue of any kind.

It’s important to use a laser printer rather then an inkjet printer as inkjet prints have been reported to run. Also, whilst not as effective colour prints can be used although in my opinion, they don’t look half as good.

So get busy, and enjoy.

Tea, to say that word conjures up images of comfort, home and warmth. It has become a part of the staple diet for many people. In Ireland you can’t go anywhere without being offered a nice, hot cup of tea. We even judge others on their tea-making ability, mainly on how strong or weak the tea is. But what I’m interested in is the importance of tea in other cultures. While in Ireland tea is seen as a comfort, in Japan a tea ceremony is held in high regard and you are expected to uphold every courtesy when attending one.

Tea Ceremony

Tea in Japan is very popular, especially green tea. Green tea is served everywhere and at most times of the day. Unlike here in Ireland, you don’t take green tea with milk/cream/sugar, however, people in Western countries tend to do so because they can find it bitter. “Matcha” is the tea leaf used in the tea ceremony. It’s usually a fine powder and it is bitter. Different seasons also means different ceremonies, for example, in Winter, a tea ceremony would be held at dawn to enjoy the sunrise. In November, they celebrate a new jar of tea by holding another ceremony.

Vending Machines offer a huge range of drinks.

There are other types of tea in Japan, “kocha” would be black tea (the one we are commonly used in the West.) and Chinese tea, such as Jasmine tea. Even though tea does hold some high regard in Japanese society, there is no difference when it comes to availability. Vending machines are located all around Japan which serve either hot or cold beverages alike. In a way this represents the traditional way of life against the fast-paced world we live in today.

It seems I will not be able to get through this classic review of Unbreakable without mentioning M. Night Shyamalan so il get it over with. I have seen four films of his in total; those being Signs, Unbreakable, The Happening and The Sixth Sense in that order. I saw Signs as a nine year old child so it frightened me too much to notice the glaring plot holes so I’ll give him some credit for that. I saw the Sixth Sense years after it had been spoiled for me, but it remained a very enjoyable and well put together film nonetheless. I saw the Happening despite all the negative press Shyamalan had been getting for the Village and Lady in the Water. I went in hopeful and I left weeping for the future of film entertainment. Now that disapproval of Shyamalan is out of the way; Unbreakable.
Unbreakable stars Bruce Willis as security guard David Dunn, a man who has just been involved in a horrific train crash of which he wakes to find that he is the only survivor. Shaken by the fact that not only did he survive such a crash, but he did so without a single scratch on his body. He immediately returns home in an attempt not to dwell on the accident, developing survivor’s guilt the more time passes. In parallel with this we are introduced to the childhood of another man Elijah Price, played by Samuel L. Jackson. Price in comparison to Dunn, is born with a congenital defect rendering his body extremely brittle and severely hampering his mobility and social life. He runs a gallery specialising in rare and valuable comic books and immediately takes an interest in Dunn’s case. His pressuring of Dunn to face the truth of his abilities forms the major plotline.

The Hero

Dunn himself despite the possibility of being superhuman, is a stoic everyman to the end. Willis portrays him not as a man who has gained superpowers, but as a man who has always feared his powers, to the point where he hides them even from himself. When he finds that he can withstand things a normal man could not, he does not immediately set out to abuse these powers, rather he grows ever more distressed by these revelations, and that is what sets Unbreakable apart from many other superhero movies. Besides his discovery of powers, Dunn must contend with family problems that only serve to make his insecurities all the more potent. His failing marriage is beginning to take its toll on his son, who in an attempt to help prove his father is an actual superhero, begins to endanger both himself and David. If there is one thing that Shyamalan’s later films lack that is present in Unbreakable it is subtlety, and this pays off the further into the film you watch, warranting repeat viewings to fully understand it.

The Mentor

In the end, Unbreakable is a film dedicated to comic books and superheroes, giving us the origin of the world’s most reluctant hero, the average man who means no harm yet fears his own strength. I wholly recommend it for anyone who wishes for an alternative to the action fests of late, for a more slow paced and well intentioned film.

In my last post I said that Léon provided a lighter slant to the thriller genre, now I look at film I mentioned which does the opposite. In fact it could be said that Se7en is a bleak portrait of human nature, a rabbit hole that only leads to more misery the further you delve into it. That said, it is one of the most intriguing and well made thrillers ever to play on screen. It is difficult to describe the whole experience as I wholly recommend seeing the film for yourself to understand my meaning.

Quite an Unlucky Number in this Case

The film starts out with a grisly montage of an unseen character laying out plans for a murder spree, planning every detail in pages and pages of notes, all the while a remix of “closer” by Nine Inch Nails plays to give a sense of discomfort throughout the grey and black of the intercut scenes. That is what best describes Se7en; discomfort. It takes us into dark and frightening places, but the real skill is in how it is never explicit. Nothing is shoved in our face for shock value. As is said of the horror genre, it is never what you see that is the scariest part, it’s what you believe to be in the shadows, and this also applies here. All of the horrors involved are rarely shown onscreen; we take what the characters say as our view of events. The film benefits from a strong cast to deliver the tension. Morgan Freeman plays the detective who is about to retire, doing this one last case before he does. Aiding him is passionate but hot headed new recruit Brad Pitt. As expected they play exceedingly well off each other, bringing a different view on the unseen menace terrorizing the city. And what a menace it is.
The basic premise of the film is the hunt for a serial killer; one who has decided to perpetrate 7 murders according to the seven deadly sins greed, envy, wrath, vanity, sloth, lust and pride. And aside from creating the antagonist to a murder mystery he also provides the question of human nature in the world. As one character puts it, this man’s actions will not be forgotten, in fact he will be studied, analysed and almost revered. It is sad that if one thinks on it, this is actually what would happen, as serial killers intentionally garner all the attention of the world, hoping to be studied on, feared and, chillingly, sometimes emulated. The killer of Se7en will prove a horrific and fascinating character.
The constant tone of a bleak and uncaring world permeates this film, and yet I could not recommend it more to anyone who wishes to see a cerebral and dark thriller that remains timeless in its execution.

For quite some time I had been searching high and low for this DVD. I suspect that as time goes by old classics such as Léon(Also known as The Professional) will prove more and more difficult to come by, even in digital form. (Those of you who suggest downloading it illegally don’t even dream about it.) But a copy of Léon took much searching and a little bit of luck for me to find. That said I am glad to report it was well worth the search.

You don't mess with this guy.

Released all the way back in 1994, Léon is a thriller that, maybe compared to the starkly realistic thriller genre of today is a bit less gritty than most. I found it also had a light hearted centre throughout the entire film. Despite the fact it starts off with a cop slaughtering a family it actually has a much more hopeful tone than most films of the time, not at all like the brilliant but downtrodden Se7en. This act of injustice serves as a catalyst for the youngest girl of the family, Matilda(Natalie Portman), to seek refuge with her reclusive neighbour Léon(Jean Reno). What she finds is that Léon is not only a shut in, he is one of the most deadly mob assassins in the city, his quiet nature a product of his strict self imposed discipline and the risks involved in his line of work. In him Matilda sees a chance to exact revenge on the corrupt cops who murdered her family. And if the man trained to kill is a calm collected individual, it only stands to reason that the man charged with enforcing the law is unhinged, sadistic and murderous himself. Gary Oldman plays the dirty cop in question, and his performance as a man treading the line of insanity and sociopathy set the standard for villains in movies until today. He serves as a symbol of society failing itself, even his fellow cops see he has problems, but he is too dangerous for anyone to even think of touching him.

Or These Two

This problem society only makes the interaction between Léon and Matilda all the more touching. For a man who battles with his urge to get rid of her in order to protect himself, his warmth shines throughout the film. Despite Matilda causing him plenty of grief, the two develop a long lasting bond. In the Director’s Cut version with which I have seen Luc Besson develops on their relationship even more to introduce a feeling of tragic romance to proceedings. Matilda can only trust Léon and despite his repeated attempts to distance himself from her, she refuses to give him a second chance. These scenes while certainly impacting make for some uncomfortable watching since at the time Portman was in her early teens and Reno is a grown man. I must applaud Besson for creating a film with such an eccentric premise that works so well. As I said this film is much more light-hearted than you would imagine. As it leaves us with a somewhat tragic end we are still given the sense that hope can prevail even in such a dark world such as Léon’s.

Since the Renaissance and the development of artistic modes and techniques, starting with Giotto in the 14th century art has developed in huge leaps and bounds, with movements spanning decades and artists gaining fame, and sometimes infamy with their work.

Giotto di Bondone, credited with the first uses of linear perspective was one of the major first steps in the development of more realistic depictions of the human figure. But it was the all round development of anatomical, botanical and spacial accuracy in art that has allowed modern art to develop and flourish as it has.

Like many things that stem from the human imagination and creativity art is hugely influenced by human nature, this resulted in the push pull type movements that developed after and during the Late Renaissance. Mannerism and Baroque are two hugely contrasting art movements that developed post- renaissance. Baroque, which came to prominence during the 1600s was a return to a more realistic and emotive way of painting. Artists during this period would have been more influenced by the chiaroscuro technique, rather then that of sfumato which would have more prominently featured during the mannerism period.

Mannerists, rather then focus upon natural studies as there predecessors had, focused upon the work of other artists for their inspiration. It was through this that personal style began to take effect and the artists own creativity, rather then the influence of the church, held sway over the finished piece.

Baroque can be seen as a pull away from Mannerism, which focused on an airier, softer style, whilst artists during this period would have been more influenced by the chiaroscuro technique, rather then that of sfumato which would have more prominently featured during the mannerism period. This was followed by the Romantic style, made popular by the Hudson River School.

Throughout the development this cycle of movement and counter movement continued on through the Rococo movement(above), which was pursued by the counter, neo- classical movement (below).

The Rococo movement shows a light, airy feel in keeping with the push-pull movements that had been occuring. Although it is considered to be at the end of the baroque movement the colours and subject is much softer and personally, rather then religiously based. A love of ornate and extravagant stylings and motifs made it particularly popular amongst the French gentry. This extravagance and frivolity in subject matter was one of the main motives behind the neo classical counter movement. In rebuke to the outlandish and indulgent rococo, a more subdued and classical approach was taken by their artistic successors during this movement, classical subjects and themes were considered most important, and characters were portrayed in simpler more modest manners by their artists.

This was followed by the Romantic style, made popular in America during the mid 19th century by the Hudson River School.

Romanticism was no exception to the cycle. Whilst artists did not once again pursue more flamboyant or extravagant styles or subjects, the themes many romantic artists chose were personal, exotic and exquisitely detailed. Landscapes took precedence,  especially in America, and the play of light and shade was used to great effect. Softer approaches were taken in lieu of the plainer styles of neoclassicalism.

It was these two movements, neo- classicalism and romanticism, that were the basis of many of the modern art movements to come. Though both styles were hugely contrasting in technique, both have influenced artists since to some extent. After these periods some elements of both movements featured in almost all works to varying degrees.

When I was asked by a friend of mine to go and see the Avengers I was relieved. Up until then I had done my best to avoid any hype, trailers, reviews or anything to do with this film. If one thing has taught me about the modern cinema it is that no matter how good (or bad) a film can be it is up to marketing to sell it. And since marketing has a habit of breaking good films by showcasing the good parts in a 30 second trailer I decided to avoid it to get the most out of the Avengers. (In fact I recommend seeing the film before reading on in this review.) First of all, for such a hyped film, it nevertheless delivers on everything it promised. A pure popcorn flick, it serves to bring together the heavyweights of the Marvel Comics universe(and also Hawkeye) into one film to bring an Earth shattering smackdown on whichever menace threatens the human race this time. Story wise, it really couldn’t be any thinner. You have heroes and villains and each must battle it out to see who wins in the end. In all honesty it is the same plot from the individual films of the heroes themselves. While I think of the films faults I may as well bring up the humor. Yes, modern superhero films are all very witty and clever, but at times this can get jarring during a big set piece, especially with some truly corny scripting. Also back again to Hawkeye, despite the fact that he may soon get a film to better flesh out the character, I feel Jeremy Renner is wasted on such a role that does not seem very important.
Now I have gotten my gripes out in the open I can pretend I am 12 years old again and say that this film is awesome! I say it is pure popcorn but it doesn’t need to be anything else. It is a barrel of laughs and explosions and Scarlett Johansson in a catsuit. Yes, some of the jokes fell flat with me but there was so many fun moments that it didn’t matter. The fact that Joss Whedon managed to bring seven heavyweight actors together in one film is commendable. The fact that he got seven of the largest egos in Hollywood to work together so well is another thing entirely. No one character gets to hog the limelight. Everyone gets their time to shine. Robert Downey Jr. of course owns the role of Tony Stark; snide, smart and flippant, but an audience only loves him more for it. Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth funnily enough, both play the outsiders to the modern world in the forms of Captain America and Thor. Cap brings what is said in the film some “old fashionedness that people need” in troubling times and his selflessness throughout truly is a throwback to the simpler days of heroism, in a good way. Thor meanwhile has the role of capturing his errant brother Loki(played with much camp menace by Tom Hiddleston) before he does anything to rip the universe apart again. The final hero is Bruce Banner, whose best moments come later as “the other guy” but Mark Ruffalo plays both to Banner’s tragic side as well as delivering some great scenes of tension between himself and the other Avengers. To round it all off we have Samuel L. Jackson doing what he does best and being the unapologetic tough guy Nick Fury.
Now I think back, even if the story was not paper thin,(which it is) it would not matter because it is the characters that truly sell this film. You only go and see the Avengers to see the God of Thunder duke it with the Incredible Hulk, and for the First Superhero to trade insults with the world’s most sarcastic billionaire playboy supersoldier. It is the way that these characters both resent and respect each other and the fact that they all know that they must band together to save the world that truly brings the warm glow to this blockbuster romp.

The Money Shot

F1 has always had a knack for courting controversy and today’s Bahrain Grand Prix was no exception. However the difference from before was that it was events surrounding F1 that brought media scrutiny to the island monarchy of Bahrain. In the past year Bahrain has experienced growing civil unrest between the majority Shiite population and the minority Sunni rulers. Like other Arab countries it experienced mounting public protest against inequalities and a lack of political freedom. The resulting forceful crackdown continues to this day. The previous Grand Prix had been delayed and eventually cancelled in light of this. Despite calls from protestors to cancel this event as well, it took place anyway. Defiant against a cancellation, Bahraini officials carried on with the race. The F1 organizers remained tight lipped on the matter of the protests.
This background of unrest did not distract many of the drivers. Most stayed focussed on the race at hand. And when your sport involves racing at speeds of up to 220 mph it’s hard to blame them for staying literally on track. The race finished with Red Bull’s Sebastien Vettel back on form with a fantastic win ahead of an equally excellent Kimi Raikonnen and Romain Grosjean bringing in 2nd and 3rd for Lotus Racing.
While problems were less evident in the drivers, what was unavoidable was the atmosphere at the Sakhir race circuit. The main highway to the venue was also flanked with armoured transports, while armed blockades encircled opposition party centres, dissuading any protestors from moving to disrupt the race.
While protestors could be seen chanting and holding banners decrying the actions of F1 and the sport, it seems that their frustration is more with the ruling members of the monarchy and the lack of support from Western countries for their cause as there was for other revolutions such as in Libya and Syria. The USA’s military has a fleet based in Bahrain to deter action there by Iran, and the island itself is a close ally of nearby Saudi Arabia, of which aided Bahrain in forcefully suppressing protests last year. Being one of the chief exporters of oil in the region also deters any action taken against it.
It seems as if F1 provided coverage for the protestors to voice their anger on a world stage, however with the situation as it is, one can find it hard to imagine anyone listening to them now the cars have moved off elsewhere.

Protest Mural in Bahrain

W.B Yeats

For anyone interested in the literary histroy of Ireland, Dublin hides a little gem called The Dublin Writers museum. This museum is must see for any literary fanatics. It covers everything from the Literary Revival to the present day. Upstairs is a library that holds 1^st editions, collections and many other items for you to view. It also has a cute little bookshop in the back of the building.

One of the first things to hit me as I entered the establishment was the smell of old books. It wanders through the hall and seeps into you. You feel like you’ve been completely transported into a whole different era. The building itself is beautiful. Stone steps lead up to the entrance, surrounded by an iron fence. The staff are more then helpful and really friendly.

The layout is really simple. The exhibition covers two rooms , you are given a handheld device that instructs you about everything that is present in each room. All the cases are numbered so you know where to go next. You don’t have to follow the numbers and you can stay for as long as you like. The handheld device (walkie –talkie for a better word) makes it feel really personal. As you’re looking at the items in question, whether it’s a 1st edition of Yeats or a personal letter you feel like you’ve been transported to that moment in time.  Even after your little personal tour is done you feel compelled to return to the things you’ve seen.  Tickets are reasonably priced for the experience, adults can expect to pay €7.50 and €4.70 for the little ones. A family ticket costs €18:00 with children under 12.

They also offer you the chance to the James Joyce Museum and The Shaw Birthplace, tickets do cost a bit more, but take into account that it’s the Writer’s Museum, the Joyce Museum and The Shaw Birthplace. Full ticket prices are available on their website, as well as other information: http://www.writersmuseum.com

Here are other websites that may interest you: http://www.jamesjoyce.ie/

Since film began there have been book to silver screen adaptations, however from the very beginning the process has been wrought with difficulties. One of these first attempts at adapting the Frank Norris’ McTeague which resulted in a 16 hour, 2 hours post editing, film called Greed. It was at this stage in 1924 that it was discovered that in order for a book to screen adaptation to make sense and be successful was to leave out some parts of the books.

But with so many ink to screen adaptations coming out in recent years, how much have they really improved?

As long as there has been film, and as long as there have been classics, there have been film, and Little Women has been a long time film adaptation favorite. With four movie adaptations since 1933, and a well known television series there has to be something there that keeps studios coming back to the much loved. The most recent adaptation of Little Women produced in 1994 stared a cast of budding starlets such as Winona Ryder and Kirsten Dunst, was one of my favorite films growing up. The movie, I felt, even at such a young age, captured all the quirks and personality of its female protagonists, from the rumbustious Jo, to the childishly vain Amy. That’s saying something considering my copy of the book that I owned was so well read the binding was cracking from use, I knew those girls as well as I knew my own sisters. But not all book to film adaptations can boast the same.

Stephenie Meyers “Twilight” has tried its best to replicate the resounding success that was J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter Book and Movie series. However, according to many critics what Twilight lacks was any sort of skill in writing or character depth what so ever, translation, perfect for your modern tween movie goer. The movie lacks any depth what so ever and requires no serious thought, its main draws are the minor action sequences and a topless Jacob, perfect for adolescent girls. But is this a case of poor adaptation or is it simply that the source material was so poor to begin with?

Now with Twilight in mind what about a successful Book to movie series. Well it would obviously have to be the aforementioned Harry Potter. Having racked in millions from the Harry Potter books alone, the movie adaptations were like icing on the cake. Not only did it make J.K. Rowling further millions, it also put solid faces on the much loved childhood characters. No corners had been cut in producing characters, sets and the fantastical world that forms the world of Harry Potter. While there are some notable differences between the movies and the books due to elision, scenes that are represented in the films are exactly like what I saw in my head as a child come to life, from the magnificient feasts at the beginning and end of term, the high flying action of Quidditch and a wizened Dumbledore, you were never disappointed.

At the end of it all I do have to say though, with book adaptations these days being almost as common as original screen plays, you’re bound to get a few stinkers, and whilst some may be bad adaptations, they might deserve their own merit. So next time you’re watching an adaptation and have read the book, try to keep an open mind, pretend you haven’t, you’ll end up pleasantly surprised if it is accurate, and if it isn’t it still might be a good movie.

With good food these days translating to money, and money these days being something many of us don’t have a lot of, people are turning to options such as frozen pizzas and processed foods. But if you obey a few golden rules you’ll find that cooking good fresh and eating right is cheaper then most ready prepared processed/ frozen foods.

One of the golden rules for keeping down food costs is limiting the meat you eat, that doesn’t mean cutting it out completely, just maybe eating it 2 or 3 a week rather then everyday, and in those instances using cheaper, less popular cuts of meat such as neck or other long cook cuts. But for this blog the focus is on vegetables. What many people don’t realise is that using vegetables that are in season not only have better flavour, but are also cheaper. You can also have a really good balanced diet at the same time, and depending on the way you cook, you can still get the same hearty filling satisfaction that’s gotten from a meal starring meat. It also helps to keep an eye on any special offers that are going on, these can definitely help save you some money.

So here it is a nice spring dish to fill your bellies and warm you after one of our april “showers”.

Home made vegetable soup.

Yours might look like this?

Everyone can and should cook soup. Not only is it cheap, but it’s versatile. This soup can be done a number of different ways and I’ll be giving you a few different ideas about what can be added and what extra steps can be done. This recipe can serve as few or as many as you want, just add or take away ingredients. You can take out and put in things according to taste as well.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

3 Medium Carrots

2 Medium Parsnip

2 Onions

1 Swede

2 Carrots

(All for €2.59 at tesco)

2 Large Potatos

(35c at Tesco)

1/2 medium cauliflour head

2 Leek (was €1.79 for 3)

Butter/ Oil

Salt/ Pepper

2 Chicken/ Veg stock cubes

Optional

Chilli Flakes

Worcestershire sauce

Sage

Parsley

Bacon

Honey

Bell Peppers

Red Onions.

Bay Leaf

Prep.

Dice up EVERYTHING barring your fingers, and anything that can’t logically be diced.

Click on the image for cooking tips

Boil Kettle for stock.

Prep done. How’s that for easy.

Spring veg soup (Option 1- The all in one)

Place 2- 3 tablespoons of oil or butter in a pan.

Once it’s warm add in your chopped veg and garlic.

Once all the veg are coated in the butter/ oil add in 1-2 tablespoons of flour. This will help thicken the soup. Or if you want a broth type soup as above, leave out the addition of flour.

Allow to cook for 5-8 minutes before adding in 2 pints of chicken stock.

To make the stock follow the instructions on the box.

Allow to simmer for 40 minutes to an hour. (Protip, if you don’t have a blender cook for longer and then use a potato masher to create a thicker soup.

Add in salt, pepper, butter and anything else you feel like, to taste.

Serve with any bread you like.

Option 2 ( Roast veg soup)

Heat your oven to 180 degrees C.

Place your diced vegetable into a baking tin lined with tin foil.

Sprinkle over any herbs if you have them, or for any extra something add a couple of tablespoons of honey. Drizzle over enough oil to coat the vegetables,

Place in oven and roast for 20-30 minutes. They don’t need to be cooked completely.

Remove from tray and follow same steps as above but reduce the cooking time by 20-30 minutes (See how that works out)

The benefit of doing this is that you get a much sweeter, nuttier flavour from your vegetables as it allows the sugars to break down and caramelise.

For those of you that haven’t tried already, clicking the pictures will send you to other recipes and a handy site for new cooks.

Everyone knows the big names of the main places to eat where they live, and Limerick is no different, just walk down the main street and once you get past the McDonald’s and Burger King, you’ll get to places like the Texas Steakhouse, Luigi Malones, Wok King, all of which are really good places to eat, but if you’re looking for something that you wouldn’t usually go for here are some of Limerick’s hidden gems.

First of all, if you’re looking for amazing fish, great atmosphere and fancy yourself a bit of a tea lover Mortells delicatessen and sea food restuarant on Roches street is the place to go. Not only is it great value, with hearty sandwiches starting from €3.50, and lunch from €7.50 no wonder it’s always crowded. This coupled with the daily specials, which just shows how fresh they get their food in, is a heart stopper, how can you not go there? As far as tea goes, the gloves are already off, it’s all loose leaf and sold by the cup here, no stewed tea bags, just the self proclaimed “best tea and coffee in Limerick”, and I’ve yet to find evidence of otherwise. If you find yourself drifting past unsure of whether to go in, just ask any of its loyal regulars whether it’s worth the visit or not, oh yeah, and you can thank me later.

If it’s fine dining you’re after, AZUR restaurant café has nailed it. Another sea food show stopper is on the menu for our hidden gems in Limerick with an absolutely amazing value menu available for just €23.50 that boasts mussels, a 24 hour roast belly of pork and sticky toffee pudding with Ice cream and butterscotch sauce, amongst many others as some of its choices,and if it’s a special occasion and you have more to splash out, don’t let the words Á la carte fool you, AZUR offers a stunning price of €31.50 for 3 courses from their menu (just take a peek at it here) If you find yourself with the whole family and looking for a place to eat, fear not, AZUR has it covered with a kiddie meal and dessert for €10.50, which is amazing value for money considering the awed look your child is going to have when their desert arrives on the table. It’s also a great place to have a birthday, all you do is ring ahead and book your birthday party and you’ll find yourself with a complimentary birthday cake, sweet right? Now what I haven’t told you where to find it and how to book. You’ll find this chic little spot at 8 Georges Quay, and if you want to make a booking all you have to do is call 061314995, or go to their website.

As a last sell, look how amazing their cocktails look.

When I heard that J.K. Rowling was writing a new book it left me feeling excited and a bit nervous. I know feeling nervous about a book sounds weird, but, in a way I’m nervous about my expectation and then the reality of the book. After the Harry Potter series no one can doubt that J.K. Rowling can write and write very well. We know that as an author at some point she was going to move away from Harry Potter and that tugs at my heart strings a bit. I grew up with Harry Potter, and at the age of 11 I was waiting eagerly for my letter from Hogwarts. (I knew it wasn’t really going to come, but people can dream.) My friends and I loved the world she had created, even my parents got lost in it. So when we heard she was writing a new book the idea was met with a mixed reaction of “OhMyGod?! Really?” and “I’m not sure about this.”

Yes? No? Maybe?

The books itself has been described as “blackly comic, thought-provoking, constantly surprising.”(full article can be found at articles.baltimoresun.com) After reading a few articles about the novel I find myself wavering more towards the excited half of the circle. Even though I still have my doubts, I know I will be there the day it comes out waiting to read it. Until then I can’t really pass judgement on the book. Right now I can’t say if I’ll love or hate it, if it’s good or bad. All I can hope for is something that is worth reading. But saying that, I have read the outline of the novel and it doesn’t seem too bad, to me anyway.

I’ve found as I’m writing this article that I’m getting more excited about it. I may have grown up with Harry Potter, but that doesn’t mean that my love affair with Rowling’s writing has to end. This will be her first shot at an adult novel so in a way I feel like I’ve grown up with her books, Pottermania saw me through my child and adolescent years and now her first adult novel comes out right on time as I seep further into my twenties.

I guess few of us can say that we have stuck with an author throughout our childhood to our adult years, but then again how many authors that come along can captivate children and adults alike?

Books, books and more books!

I started reading at a very young age and my parents and grandparents always fed my habit. Even when I was too young to understand letters I had a little plastic book that I could take with me into the bath. It had about four puffed up “pages” in it and each of them had a picture with the corresponding word underneath. Thus, my love affair with books started. At first I was just looking forward to hearing the story being read to me. Then, as I began to understand letters and words myself I began to read by myself.

I’ve always been thankful for the ability to read and that my family saw that it was an important skill for me to learn. For me, reading is important and I feel that every person should have the opportunity to read. Not only does it help develop and improve literacy skills but it also enables the person to gain some ability of creativity, to imagine a whole new world completely different from their own. With the development of games consoles and DVD’s we see more people opting for that choice, while books are still prominent I still hear the rare remark of “Why should I read the book? I can just watch/play it anyway.” Some people even stated that it’s a waste of time imagining something when it can just be materialised for them.

It saddens me to see people disregard books as a lesser form of past time. Especially when it comes to children. I know it’s difficult to get your child into reading when you have no interest in it. But the long term outcome for them is way more beneficial then sitting in front of a television watching cartoons. As I said before, it helps to develop and improve literacy skills. Everyone hates the “slow” reader in class. Whether they’re being purposefully slow or not, no child needs to feel that they are behind their classmates when it comes to literacy. Especially reading and writing since they are the first skills we learn when we enter school.

I know that not every child out there sits in front of the tv, and that most do enjoy reading. I just find that I’m coming across people that don’t read more often. Children that don’t like reading even more.  However, one day, when I walking to the bus stop I noticed in the house beside me that all their children (they have three) were sitting out the in the sun reading. I know it’s something small, but it brought a smile to my face. It’s nice to know that some children can take the time and slow down, to read a book.

I know I’ve ranted a lot in this, but I hope that it does open some peoples eyes to the joy of reading. Don’t see it as a hassle, but as a world that you can imagine in your own way.

We’ve all heard of the scenic beauty of the Cliffs of Moher, Connemara, The Burren and the Aran Islands. But it’s very rarely that we hear of the other less well known natural beauties of Ireland. In many cases it’s looked over completely on the larger tourism websites, but where would a local tell you to go if you were to ask?

Just south of Dublin, which is pushed as a hub of modern living and some of the best that Ireland has to offer is county Wicklow and for being so close to the countries capital there’s no shortage of scenic places to visit. If you’re the type of person that enjoys a drive with the family, breathtaking views, or a good hike then perhaps you should consider a trip through the Wicklow mountains, in particular the Sally Gap, part of the famed Wicklow way. Since the views at this site leave even the most articulate speechless, here’s a picture of the Sally Gap from  visitwicklow.ie, where you can also learn more about how to get there, and the history behind the location.

breathtaking views at the sally gap

and while your there, you might as well take the well worth it trip to the little town of Bray. This coastal gem will knock the socks off of any nature fanatic or artist boasting a strong local artistic community who are glad to show off and share their wares, as well as many wildlife spotting opportunities along the coastal mountain climb of Bray head, or a chance to view some of the most spectacular fish in their aquarium. Bray is also a hub for the film industry in Ireland, and is home to many film based industries, as well as its own production studios.

Have I gotten you all excited, why not relax to this soothing video of the Bray Sea Front featured on bray.ie.

If you happen to find yourself in Bray and the ice cream stand by the Promenade is still there, they do the best blue bubble gum ice cream ever.

From the rugged handsomeness of The Sally Gap and Bray head to the manicured beauty of Powerscourt Gardens, that features 4 different gardens, including a magnificent Japanese garden, a small stone tower lovingly called the “pepper pot tower” and Ireland’s highest waterfall. Whilst these gardens may not be free to enter, it is more then worth the money, after all, it is a priceless experience. This place sits very fondly with me as it is one of the first places I ever visited when I came to Ireland. It’s an amazing adventure for your entire family, as it offers both indoors and outdoors, with one of the nicest gift shops and restaurants I’ve ever been to (I actually bought something in the gift shop!) with a child friendly museum located in the house alongside the gift shop and terrace café. Running through their 250 different types of trees trying to spot squirrels and the occasional horse, listening to the deafening roar of the waterfall as you walk up alongside it, and filling hot food after a long day of running around is an experience you’ll always remember. Even 13 years after the last time you actually visited there, but unlike 13 years ago, you can get all this info in more detail including prices, etc at the Powerscourt website.

With summer coming and purse strings tighter then ever many are looking to a native holiday rather then a stint abroad to ease their need for some time away from the daily grind of home and work. Whilst students and families alike may be opting for trips to popular destinations such as Local beaches, or for the more extravagant, the unfamiliar pebbles of further flung counties, the question still remains: Which is the best way to go?

For families and students alike your car is your lifeline, and for a student, a road trip is a great thing, but how great is it for a parent that has just spent the last however long ferrying their little go getters to and from school, friends’, teen discos, and numerous other life defining events? Surely after all this, the whole point of the holiday is to get a break from jarring gear changes and petrol gauges, and you’re trying to decide whether your trip to see Fungi this year will be via bus or car consider these few factors.

If you happen to be what is deemed a family by Bus Eireann, as in there are two of you considered adults, over 16, and up to three of you children, under 16, you will be paying €70.30 return. Which isn’t bad considering the distance and that there’s a possible 5 people travelling on this ticket, not bad going. However, if you, like many other families have kids over 16, as well as there being two legal adults (over the age of 18) you may find yourself paying more for tickets, with each adult ticket costing over €28.50, unless you’re 16 years or older, and have a recognised student or travel card, in which case students wishing to travel, can save about a fiver, which on most bus journeys can pay for a bottle of drink and a sandwich, which is always good. This trip will also require a change of bus, good if you need to use the bathroom after that bottle of drink, not so good with young kids and/ or luggage. This might seem like it’s not worth the hassle, but, you can’t fall asleep at the wheel of a car like you can in the seat of a bus. You don’t have to worry about petrol, oil, windscreen fluid or an overheating engine, that’s the bus drivers problem.

On the other hand when driving, assuming you have your NCT and Road Tax paid, all you’re really paying is the petrol, which according to google maps, for the 2 hour 14 minute journey (significantly less time), cost approximately €41 return for how ever many passengers, all safely seat belted of course, isn’t that much. Coupled with the luxury of stopping when and where you want, and the freedom to drive down the mossy country road to satisfy any wanderlust that might occur on your journey, even if it means everyone having to exit the vehicle to pull your struggling car back from the entrapments of said wanderlust and somehow navigate back to civilisation because the satnav either insists that there’s a Cross roads in the field beside you, or isn’t there.

The choice can only be made by the person/ people going on the journey. Do they want the freedom of idle chatter and dozing off at random, or would they prefer unlimited pit stops and shortcuts?

All figures and costs gotten from buseireann.ie and maps.google.com and is accurate on date of publication.

Updates to come 17th of March 2012, so make sure to check back in St. Patrick Day!

Why does Éiremedia not have information on the official website yet?

This project is incredibly huge.

We’re gathering all the information possible to make this the site for all things Irish

which we hope will benefit the Irish people and those who love Ireland.

Regards,

Eiremedia Team

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Events Blog

30th/08/2011

So looking for something to do between the 8th-11th September? Why not take a spin to Newcastle West, where they are hosting a fun packed weekend for all the family. A festival of free admission, you’d be silly not to go!

• Barman’s Race
• Stretcher Race
• Slow Bicycle Race
• Introduction of Knights of Desmond

Source: http://www.limerick.ie/living/highlights/septemberevents/name,40041,en.html

Farming Blog

30^th/08/2011

Exceptional yields and hardening prices in the international grain market look set to make this year’s harvest a bumper one.

Harvest intakes have increased by as much as 33pc in some areas, driven by outstanding yields in crops of both wheat and barley.

Individual wheat yields of 5-5.5t/ac have been recorded, while some fields of barley have reached 4.5t/ac.

The extraordinary yields have resulted in this year being compared with 1984, when wheat yields topped 4t/ac for the first time.

However, Agricultural Consultants Association (ACA) president Pat Minnock warned that individual crops varied hugely in yield, with some poor yields recorded beside bumper ones.

“Compaction, establishment, weather and rotation all play a role in crop yield,” he said.

Source: http://www.independent.ie/farming/news-features/bumper-crop-drives-yields-over-5tacre-2860750.html

Final for Limerick's Got Talent 2011

…About Megan Hope…Meanwhile, runner up to Kaitlyn was Megan Hope, who sang the Bruno Mars track “Grenade”. To her surprise, the act was seen live by the American singer online, when he acknowledge it on the chat site of Eiremedia.ie who streamed it to the World Wide Web….
Reference: “Limerick Chronicle Newspaper” Issue No.Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Thanks to All for been watching…Eiremedia…For You Online!!

Tomorrow the Big Final for Limerick’s Got Talent 2011. EIREMEDIA LIVE FROM LIMERICK.

Another great evening at Heat 2 with Matty Ring & Eilis Walsh Compering Congrats to Paul Roche, Chloe Hennigar, Tony O’Halloran, Brian Finn, Michelle Revins on getting through to Friday’s Final. Tickets on sale at Punch’s from 10.00am Friday Morning Limited amount only available. Heat 3 Thursday come on down.

Source: Limerick Got Talent from Facebook Page

News:   Eiremedia will be covering the news of the Final for Limerick’s Got Talent 2011. Also Live Eire TV and  EireRadio Show at The Final Competition will be taking place in Punches Hotel (Limerick) the 19th of August 2011. Updates to come soon since Monday the 15th , so make sure to check our official website, www.eiremedia.ie Eiremedia…All Things Irish!

Ireland’s prospects are looking good so far in the qualifiers for the European Cup 2012. They’ve won four of their six games and drew one and lost one. That leaves them in joint first place with thirteen points. Slovakia and Russia are also on thirteen points. Ireland have drawn with Slovakia and lost to Russia. Even with this loss, Ireland are in a good position having beaten Macedonia in their second match against them.

If Ireland did qualify, it would be their first time doing so since 1988. Ireland did not qualify for the championships between the years of 1968 and 1984, or between 1992 and 2008. Hopefully things will be different this year! With Giovanni Trapattoni at the helm things are looking up for Ireland who haven’t qualified for a major tournament since 2002. Could this be their time to shine? What do you think?

Castle Palooza is one of the ‘little two’ Irish music festivals. it is held at Charlivelle Castle in Tullamore, Co. Offaly over the Bank holiday weekend. (2nd – 3rd of August.) Is is held around the same time as Indiependence. These two festivals share many of the same acts.

The festival has been describes as a ‘bite sized Electric Picnic’. One this this festival has over some of the other ones is it has indoor toilets and showers!

Since it was established in 2006, it’s boasted such acts as The Blizzards, Republic of Loose, Delorentos, Fight Like Apes and Fionn Regan. One thing is for sure, this festival is not one to be missed. The only hard thing is deciding between this and Indiependence.

Indiependence, one of Irelands “little two” festivals is kicking off this weekend (Just 29th to 31st). It wouldn’t compare to the likes of Oxegen or Electric Picnic, but it is said to be the larger event of it’s type in the south of Ireland! For those of you who don’t know, it takes place in Mitchelstown in Cork.

The vast majority of the acts are Irish, but in previous years, there have been foreign acts preforming. With the likes of White Lies, The Proclaimers ad Ocean Colour Scene it’s no wonder the organizer claims that no festival of it’s size in Ireland or England would have the same calibre acts.

This year, with acts like And So I Watch You From Afar, Ash, Editors, Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters and The Coronas, anyone who misses it will be kicking themselves!

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18^th July 2011

Youth Rocks Arts Festival

Portlaoise 22^nd-24^th July

The Youth Rocks Arts Festival is an arts-centric festival coming to Portlaoise this July. It is being run by 3 girls, average age 19, these girls are locals to the area and have backgrounds in Events Management, Shauna Blanchfield, Art, Amy El-Fehll and Music, Leanne Quinn. The Youth Rocks Arts Festival encompasses visual arts, music, poetry, theatre, fashion, dance and spectacle. This year’s headliner of the Festival is Irish Artist and Meteor Award Winner, Cathy Davey.

The profit made from the festival goes towards NAPS (the Nation Assoc. for Parent Support). NAPS provide help to children and parents or children with behavioral and learning difficulties.

This festival will no doubt be very entertaining and should be very aspiring taking into account it was organized by three young girls and I think the support of the locals would very much be appreciated at the launch of this weekend festival.

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14^th July 2011

Charity News for the Blog

July 2011

• More and more homeless people needing help.

It has raised the attention of many recently that the amount of homeless people seeking help has hit an all-time high. With over 3,700 people having reached out for help in the last 6 months. 6,500 people contacted the charity, Focus in 2010 which was an 18% rise than in 2009 and the charity are warning that if the Government continue to cut funds and fail to deliver housing for the homeless, Ireland will have a serious problem on their hands. According to an annual report by Focus, they provided housing to over 620 families last year. As well as that they dished out over 50,000 dinners to the homeless from one of their centre’s in Dublin last year and between donations, fundraising events and corporate support, they managed to raise a whooping €5.1 million. These stats have proven to be very beneficial to people less off and I’m sure it is all thanks to the money they receive. Its clear that if the government don’t get their act together, we will all begin to encounter problems in the future.

• Money for Charities by 2013

“The majority of our large gifts came from individual philanthropists: Irish-Americans who are very concerned with the wellbeing of Ireland”

Worldwide Ireland Funds charitable network yesterday announced a “Promising Ireland” campaign to raise $100 million, (€70,547,710.53) for the Irish Causes by 2013. The $100 million, (€70,547,710.53) is “a bold and ambitious target” but with this aim, there exists 12 countries within 4 continents and invite an amazing 40,000 people to over 100 fundraising events each year. This shall prove to be a very positive move for Ireland if these amounts of money can be reached. In my opinion it is good to see such a positive relationship between Ireland and the other continents. This shall prove worthy in the future!.

Both articles were sourced from the following:

www.rte.ie

www.irishtimes.com

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In this Blog we hope to present to you, profiles and pictures of Artist´s and people with a creative mind  in counties throughout Ireland.

We hope to inform you of any upcoming events that are coming up in surrounding areas.

If you are a DJ and you would like to some help in promoting your work then please leave a comment on our blog or get in touch with the following email address…

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In this blog we hope to present you with profiles of  some of Ireland’s best photographers along with some of their photos.

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15^th July 2011

Photography News for the Blog

July 2011

LCFE lens itself to photography

The annual photography exhibition from the students of Limerick College of Further Education opened for viewing on Wednesday 16^th March at the South Court Hotel. The display was based around the students learning and improvisation of their photography skills. This display shall be held until the end of the year and is open to all members of the public.

The theme is of the display is based around a North African atmosphere after a trip to Morocco which had a major influence in their ideas.  This year’s exhibition will feature work from various towns and cities in North Africa.

One of the interested factors to note here is that this is the ninth annual photography exhibition to be run by the Limerick College of Further Education.

Eoin McCarthy, LCFE photography dept said: “staging an exhibition like this require a huge commitment on the part of the learners and the teaching staff at the College. We are really looking forward to giving members of the public an opportunity to view the cailbre of work produced by the LCFE photographic learners in this open setting”.

Note that although this exhibition opened for display, March 2011, at the South Court Hotel, runs until December 2011 and anyone interested in purchasing any of the works can do so by contacting the relevant learners directly.

This is an amazing boost in the limerick society to have such a positive reaction to artwork and that’s the LCFE, photographers can blossom and capture limerick for its beauty and allow people to come together and share ideas and opinions. This truly is an exhibition worth viewing.

Finding Ireland, Dublin

Finding Ireland- Landscape Photography Exhibition Dublin will be on display from May 18^th- July 17^th at Noshington Café, Dublin 8.

Finding Ireland is a celebration of the Irish landscape as seen through the camera lens of German born photographer, Hauke Steinberg. Capturing the inspirational quality and dramatic beauty of Ireland, this exhibition is a timely reminder of the romance and wild allure of the landscape on our doorstep. According to David Morrissey, photographer, “Hauke Steinberg’s devotion to the celebration of the Irish landscape reveals the magnificence, elegance and splendor of his adopted home. His stunning landscape photographs exude a romantic and sumptuous energy, mixed with a serene calm which can be presented though an authentic love for the subject and a true knowledge of the art”

What is inspiring here is that the photographer is German, and yet has the ability to capture the land unknown to him in such an amazing manner. Landscape, being a more difficult element of photography, speaks words to one when captured in a correct manner. Based in Ireland, the element of Green is a major concept, which I have no doubt Hauke has inflicted in the work.

(1)http://www.limerickleader.ie/lifestyle/lcfe_lens_itself_to_photography_1_2522917

(2) http://www.dublinevents.com/events/exhibition/finding-ireland.php

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You have now visited the Éire Events Blog.

If you are interested in finding out about upcoming events keep an eye on this page as it will get updated regularly. If you are trying to promote an event please leave a comment on the blog, or get in contact with us at

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This page was updated on the 19th July

Here you will find a list of the following events taking place in Limerick over July and August 2011:

1.Open Mic Poetry

Every Wednesday @ 9pm

The White House Bar, 52 O’Connell Street, Limerick

2.Friday Night Racing Special

Every Friday Night

Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Dock Road, Limerick

3.Fighting Irishmen Exhibition

11^th April-30^th September

UL Arena, Castletroy, Limerick

4.The Summer Sessions

July 8^th- August 26^th, Fridays 12.30pm-2pm

The Milk Market, Cornmarket Row, Limerick

5.Dardanus

Wednesday 20^th & Friday 22^nd July @ 8pm

University Concert Hall, Castletroy, Limerick

6.Twighlight Racing with Mad for Road in Concert

Thursday 21^st July @ 5.30pm

Limerick Racecourse, Patrickswell, Limerick

7.Toto’s Bobby Kimball & Shadowplay

Friday 22 July @ 8pm

Dolan’s Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

8.Escapade-LIVE!

Saturday 23^rd July @ 8pm

Dolan’s Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

9.Mahlon Sweet Field

Saturday 23^rd July @ 8pm

Upstairs @ Dolan’s Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

10.Athea Road Races 2011

Friday 22nd- Sunday 24^th

Athea, Limerick

11.Limerick Jazz Society presents Tony Miceli

Sunday 24^th July @ 9pm

Upstairs @ Dolan’s Warehouse, Dock Road, Limerick

12.The Wolfe Tones

Thursday 28^th July

Limerick Strand Hotel

13.Beast of Ballyhoura Adventure Race

Friday 29^th July- Monday 1^st August

Ballyhoura Mountains, Limerick

14.Limerick/Tipperary Samaritans Awareness/Benefit Greyhound Night

Saturday 30^th July, 6.30pm

Limerick Greyhound Stadium, Dock Road, Limerick

15.Irish Festival of Speed

Sunday 31^st July

Adare Manor, Adare, Limerick

Information taken from:

http://www.limerick.ie/visiting/highlights/julyevents/

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13^th July 2011

Farming News for the Blog.

July 2011

• Bad News for Potato Farmers

Without going into too much detail, tuber is another word for a potato. It has been stated in recent news that due to the inter-changeable weather in Ireland, that tuber crops have become unpredictable to care for.  In a survey taken recently by Teagasc tillage adviser Shay Phealan it was said that “tuber counts have been reduced in the last year by 10-15% than in 2010”.

The reason for this loss is due to a drought, which was mainly influenced by strong winds in the weather causing confusion for the farmers leading to what some farmers dreaded to hear, a minor blight.  The shocking factor here is that the last time the blight occurred in Ireland was in 1845 and the symptoms nowadays are causing worry.

“The drought can mean fewer but larger tubers”

• Farm Machinery Thefts

Another recent issue arising for Farmers in Ireland is the reports of robberies. These robberies, claiming to be highly organized, are mainly based around the abduction of tractors. A recent robbery consisted of 4, 2010 John Deere 6830 Models as well as a New Holland. One of the interesting factors here is that the tractors taken had distinct features missing from them. E.g. No Front Fenders.

Thieves are suspected but have yet to be got by Gardai.  It is a shame to see that this kind of carry on is going on nowadays. One can never be too safe in the society in which we live in today. People are becoming more intelligent in this line of robbery nowadays.

Both articles were sourced from the following:

www.limerickfarming.com

www.farmnewsdaily.com

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Oxegen  2011 comes to a close.

The Oxegen music festival took place in  Punchestown,  Co. Kildare last weekend drawing 80,000 music  fans to the race-course.

The music started on Friday afternoon with headliners ‘The Script’, ‘Black Eyed Peas’, and New York band ‘The Strokes’ entertaining crowds. Despite the rainy conditions, fans soaked up the festival atmosphere and partied late into the night.

Saturdays’ main stage headliners had a very rock ‘n roll feel. English band ‘Arctic Monkeys’ thrilled crowds by playing songs from their new album ‘Suck it and See’ as well as some old favourites. This really  warmed the crowd up for Dave Grohl  to play to one of the biggest crowds of the weekend. Foo Fighters played hits such as ‘Everlong’, ’Best of You’ and new single ’Rope’.

Pop Diva Beyonce was one of the biggest draws on Sunday and she did not disappoint. The huge crowd sang along to every word of her many hit songs. Coldplay brought the festival to a close with an incredible duet. Irish folk legend Christy Moore joined the band for a rendition of his classic song ‘Ride on’. This sparked a massive sing-along in the crowd and the Kildare native ensured that the fans went home happy.

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15^th July 2011

Pets News for the Blog

July 2011

LSPCA Annual Dog Show

The Limerick society for the prevention of cruelty to animals is holding it’s annual pet dog show on Sunday August 23.The event which is always a great event for all the family takes place in the parade ring at Limerick racecourse, Patrickswell in conjunction with the Limerick Agriculture show. Entry for the show is 5 euro, which goes to the LSPCA, and there will be medals in all classes from 1^st place to 3^rd place. Entries will be taken on the day of the show from 11.30am so make sure to get your entry in before judging begins at 1pm. It’s a fun day out for all the family!

The following classes for entry are as followed:

Puppy Bitch or dog (under 12 months)

* Any Variety Toy Dog or Bitch

* Any Variety Terrier Dog or Bitch

* Any Variety Gundog Dog or Bitch

* Best Large and small Dog or Bitch

*  Best Long and short Haired Dog or Bitch

* Children’s Handling Class

* Ladies & Gents Handling

* Best Groomed Dog or Bitch

*  Fancy Dress

* Dog Judge would like to take home

* BEST IN SHOW (from Class Winners)

Source: http://www.limerickpost.ie/pets/?p=169

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European Cup 2012

Ireland’s prospects are looking good so far in the qualifiers for the European Cup 2012. They’ve won four of their six games and drew one and lost one. That leaves them in joint first place with thirteen points. Slovakia and Russia are also on thirteen points. Ireland have drawn with Slovakia and lost to Russia. Even with this loss, Ireland are in a good position having beaten Macedonia in their second match against them. If Ireland did qualify, it would be their first time doing so since 1988. Ireland did not qualify for the championships between the years of 1968 and 1984, or between 1992 and 2008. Hopefully things will be different this year! With Giovanni Trapattoni at the helm things are looking up for Ireland who haven’t qualified for a major tournament since 2002. Could this be their time to shine? What do you think?

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Places to visit in Limerick, when touring

1. The Limerick Museum, Castle Lane, Nicholas St.  Limerick City, Co.Limerick.

2. The Hunt Museum, Rutland St, Limerick City, Co.Limerick.

3. Limerick City Hall, Merchant Quay, Limerick City, Co.Limerick.

4. Limerick City Gallery of Art, Perry Square, Limerick City, Co.Limerick.

5. Bishop’s Palace, Limerick City, Co.Limerick.

6. The Belltable Arts Centre, O’ Connell’s St, Limerick City, Co.Limerick.

7. King John’s Castle, Kings Island, Limerick City, Co.Limerick.

Source: http://www.limericktourist.com/directory/places_to_visit/limerick_city_area/limerick_city/