I don’t know if they flipped a coin but the decision probably had something to do with the paperwork and the midwife’s teabreak. Having said that, the indecision…the midnight hour…the workaday Friday versus the leisurely Saturday probably explains a lot…about who isadubis.

Aughrim in Co Wicklow won the 2007 Tidy Towns competition. Apparently, one of the local councillors said that ‘pride’ had now been restored to the town after the 1691 Battle of Aughrim.

Only problem is…the Battle of Aughrim took place in Co Galway on the opposite side of Ireland. Still, I guess it’s easy to get confused over something that happened over 300 years ago…

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”.

‘So what?’, says you. Well…

RIAI‘s 3rd annual ‘Simon Open door’ Fundraising Initiative.

Participating RIAI architects throughout Ireland will open their offices on Saturday, 28 April and give members of the public an hour’s consultation with an architect in return for a donation to Simon of €60. Some Waterford RIAI Members will host a stand at the RIAI Irish Architecture Awards Exhibition in the Waterford Institute of Technology from 9am – 1pm on Saturday 28th as part of this year’s John Roberts Festival.

There will also be some Waterford county architects holding consultation in their own offices. Therefore if you need a consultation with an architect that’s where to find them!

It’s an opportunity for you to support the Simon Community and also have a nice day out as well. Have a look at the festival’s programme and I reckon you’ll find something interesting to do.

It reminds me of the time when, as a child, our GP (family physician) made a housecall because I was ill. Doctors did housecalls in those days but he also lived three doors down from us so it wasn’t really a stretch for him! I must have been going through the boys hate girls phase because when he rolled up my sleeve for an injection, what profound statement did he find written in biro on my arm? Yes, you’ve guessed it – ‘I hate grils‘!

Turns out I did like girls afterall but I did turn vegetarian a few years later. Nowadays, I hate grilled rashers and sausages. Either there’s a hint of dyslexia in me or I was able to predict the future even when I was a little boy!!

Well, I was down there this week and it’s gone! Maritime House is still there (could be gone by now?) but the statue’s gone. I hope they’re keeping it somewhere safe and it’ll make a reappearance on the quay in the near future… How sad.

Ironically, I’ve some friends going to see Mamma Mia in the Point tonight. Must ask them tomorrow if they noticed?

And, co-incidence indeed, I’m listening to The Waterboys right now and they’re playing in the Point on March 18. Spooky!

And the Waterboy’s song is The whole of the moon. And we’ve just had a lunar eclipse a few days ago.

Oh deary me, I really should go and lie down in a dark room for a little while.

And I’m sure Behan would be proud that the place is littered with beer cans and broken bottles. It just occurred to me that you don’t see 2-litre cider bottles around anymore. I wonder if they were banned?

Don’t know if this is true but wikipedia (link above) says:
His last words were to several nuns standing over his bed, “God bless you, may your sons all be bishops.”

Dear isadub,

In the UK we often take the right to blog for granted. But what if a post on isadub landed you in prison?

In China, internet sites are blocked, chat rooms are monitored and journalists and bloggers are arrested.

Amnesty International is deeply worried about the restriction of the right to freedom of expression in China. Right now we’re appealing for the release of Shi Tao, a journalist arrested in 2004 and sentenced to 10 years in prison for sending an email to a pro-democracy website in the US about press restrictions around the anniversary of the crackdown on peaceful protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

You can do something now to help:

You can do something now to help. We are asking for you and your readers to write to the Chinese authorities demanding the release of Shi Tao, as part of our irrepressible.info campaign against internet repression. See here for more details.

To show your support for freedom of expression on the internet add this link (advertisement) to your blog and help Amnesty International find more people to stand up for human rights.

Thank you for your help,

Drew Davies
(Amnesty International)

The sailors on board were ready for any trouble. I’m surprised they weren’t flying a jolly roger from the mast! You can’t really see it in this photo that I took this afternoon by the Eastlink toll bridge but there’s a gang of sailors at the front of the ship and another gang at the back of the ship. Do they know something we don’t?

BTW, there’s a fantastic photojoke on the front cover of Phoenix magazine today. Have a look next time you’re in the shop.