Is that a record?

P.S. This is pretty cool. I’m writing this from The Moorings Pub in Dungarvan, Co Waterford. Eircom has a scheme where you can get free wi-fi (until next April if you’re a customer) in various locations around Ireland. The Moorings is one of those places. It’s a nice bar (it does food too) and it’s even better now that they have internet access.

Actually, I wasn’t asked for any passwords etc so I think The Moorings had free internet access anyway and maybe they’re just piggy-backing on the Eircom scheme??

Anyway, Guillamene is just outside Tramore in Co Waterford and they’re ‘NO’ signs everywhere. Needless to say, there’s a committee who look after the place.

Originally, it was a men-only swimming area so NO women were allowed. The sign is still there but it’s just a reminder of times past. Now, there’s NO fishing, NO radios, NO diving, NO dogs and more that I can’t remember now.

Strange place, anyway. A stone’s throw away is Newtown Cove which is much nicer. Though I wouldn’t throw a stone because it’s probably not allowed! Newtown Cove holds one special memory for me.

One time, when I was younger and drove cars like the Toyota Starlet (oh, the shame), I used to visit friends in the area. One warm evening, I drove very enthusiastically down the boreen (small road) to this beach.

I’d just bought The Stone Roses’ Second Coming and their first song, Breaking into Heaven, burst out of the speakers as my car flashed underneath the overhanging trees lining the road.

And then, just as the intro crescendoed into the main body of the song, my car burst out of the tree’s shadows and into the sunlight. It was a magical moment as the music, the (car) speed, the location and the weather all combined to create an experience that was more than the sum of their parts. It was only later that I discovered that the song was called Breaking into Heaven. Years later, I now have bigger cars but I’ll always remember that day.

I’m still trying to recreate that moment (with music!) and break into heaven.

As I mentioned in my last entry, I came down here to Dungarvan last Friday to collect a painting I’d bought recently. I travelled here on my own as I only intended to stay a day or two. But, a week later, I’m still here and, oddly enough, I’m having the time of my life.

Previously, Dungarvan would have failed my ‘Wet Wednesday in November’ test. By that, I mean I would have despaired at the unavailability of the newspapers before 9am, or the lack of cultural activities, and the shortage of good food (The Tannery being a notable exception). The local ‘O’Briens Sandwich Bar’ doesn’t open until ‘shortly’ after the official 10am opening. The urban-dweller in me couldn’t understand how the locals managed without their morning take-out coffee!

But this time it’s different. It’s still the same town, with the same expensive prices and shoddy customer service (Lady Belle excepted), but there’s an energy about the place that’s infectious. The local shops are getting touched up in anticipation of the tourist season. The €10 ‘meat and two veg’ restaurants are abuzz with activity as their new furniture is delivered. Even one of the local bookshops is shut temporarily as, I dunno. they dust their shelves? As far as I know, school is still ongoing. But there can’t be too long to go to summer holidays and the teenagers are itching to be set free. They’re itching to get going in other ways as well. The local public parks are virtual no-go area’s in the early evenings as the teenagers have a roll around ‘in the hay’ before their school buses take them home to their (presumably) unsuspecting parents.

Spring is definitely in the air and I’ve a spring in my step as the long weekend approaches. Think I’ll grab another pint.

I’d be grateful if someone could tell me if they are a ‘proper’ group or whether they were ‘just‘ an ad hoc group for the day. I think they were based out of Ring (An Rinn).

There are three photo’s below. The first is a group shot of the band. The guitarist mentioned above is on the right-hand side. The second photo belongs to the best dancer of the show. She looks amazing (very composed and professional) and her footwork was so fast, my eyes couldn’t keep up! The third photo is a group shot of the dancers as they started their last set. It’s already been pointed out to me (on flickr) that the girl on the left looks like she’s being beamed up to the mothership!!

I’ll post more photo’s to my Feile Na nDeise set on flickr as time permits.

Anyway, this is ‘Dev’ making his pitch around the time the treaty was negotiated. Goto my flickr site site to see some more photos of the other participants.

Street Pageant: “Michael Collins”. Nine days after the visit of De Valera to Dungarvan, Michael Collins “The Big Fellow” came to Town on the 26th March 1922 looking for support for the Treaty amid a volatile atmosphere in the Country at the height of the Civil War. Violent scenes culminating in a gunfight precipitating a hasty retreat. His speech was heckled throughout, leading to ugly and violent scenes in a deeply divided town ending in an affray. A feeling of foreboding and anxiety swept through the gathered throngs. This historic day is being re-enacted in full Military Costume together with the sound of Gunfire once again being re echoed around Grattan Square Later that year on August 22nd Michael Collins made his fateful visit to Béal na mBláth. Grant assisted by Waterford County Council’s Arts Grants Scheme 2007 (Le cabhair ó Scéim Deontais Ealaíon Chomhairle Chontae Phort Láirge 2007).

The actors didn’t use real bullets but the blanks (?) were really, really loud. It was a brilliant performance and I applaude all the actors involved.

Here’s the official 2007 programme. I hope to post some photo’s from the

Traditional Open Air Concert “Cúl Cheoil agus Cáirde” le Ceol, Rinnce agus Amhránaíocht

and

Shinty Hurling – Waterford v Fort William (Scottish Club Champions). See history in the making as Waterford Senior Hurling team take on the Shinty champions of Scotland “Fort William” in an exhibition match at Fraher Field kindly sponsored by “Saltan Properties”.

Feile na Deise

I think the buds are from a gorse bush but I can’t be sure…