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Well I live in Ireland so I can’t forget about St Patrick’s Day now can I.
I like to keep it pretty quiet - see last year’s rant for why. The plan was to take photographs of the parade as it made its way from the City Hall to to Custom House Square, but of course the two batteries I had with me quickly died. Thankfully I got a few shots of the parade - though I had other plans for the afternoon anyway.
Two friends from England were over for the weekend and so we went to Pizza Hut in Victoria Square (all-you-can-eat buffet for £6!) then to Roast Coffee (note to self: free wi-fi!) to chill.
Random Saint Patrick facts:
-There is no histrocal evidence St.Patrick ever went south of the border hence the name of Downpatrick which is abbreviated from its origianl Ulster Scots name Donchabeegoingdowntherepatrickhey
-The south was entirely pagan until the introduction of the Euro when its animal worshipping coinage (dolphins, horses, deers etc) was replaced by sensible looking bridges and pictures of other European heads of state brought back from holidays. Juan Carlos of Spain is particularly popular in Mayo.
-St.Patrick built the first ever UTV transmitter on the top of Slemish. It was made of sheep bones.
- As well as killing the Loch Ness Monster, Goliath and leading all of the rats into the lagan with his magic flute, he, in a race with the Pope cut of his hand and threw it onto Ulster (Gods Own Soil) thus proclaiming it a non papal state for all eternity.
- St Patrick’s real name is Steve.
- St Patrick is actually allergic to the Black Stuff.
- St.Patrick leaves the toilet without washing his hands if there’s no one else around.
Like the majority of others in Belfast I was very excited about the opening of Victoria Square (official site is still in the future tense) having watch it grow over the last 3 years or so. Disappointingly, but also as expected, I wasn’t able to make it to the opening at 10am Thursday morning, though I did take some time to view it at lunchtime and again at 5:30pm. My first impressions were that of excitement - yes even after venturing inside. Excited to see something as architecturally beautiful as this in Belfast.
The centre/square (is a ’square’ ever really square shape) has no doors at its access points, leaving it open 24/7 as a walk-through, this part I like, though hope that it remains safe if I ever do take the chance at 3am.
The shops are plentiful, with many, including an 8-screen cinema, still to open over the next few months. With a great number of top fashion brands, which I won’t be purchasing, though I’m sure a great many will, it is exciting (that word once again) to see the city with a new focal point which is so vastly superior to anything else and makes CastleCourt appear very outdated.
Of course only 2hrs after opening it was very busy, and I’m sure it will be for quite a while yet. I have heard it from a number of people; that they cannot, and doubt that very many people in Belfast will in fact be able to afford many of the £80 shirts and £3000 handbags which are on sale in this luxurious home of items previously seen only in movies, television and every other page of fashion magazines.
I agree with this, yes, though also believe that there is a market for this fashionable merchandise that money provides to those with it, whether I agree with the world of bling and fashion and such nonsensical and pointless things or not.
It is a boost for the economy as well as a chance to show the rest of the world that Belfast can be a place of culture and fashion and other things that make a place more ‘tourist-worthy beyond talk of the Troublings of it’s past, instead, looking forward to a bright future of all things bright and future -orthy.
“But what about the rest of the city centre?” they say, “Royal Avenue and other such previous hubs of shopping wonderment.” Well, yes, their popularity will take a sudden dip the minute any member of the general public steps foot in Victoria Square and its un-square-like form. From here on CastleCourt will appear box-like; a long rectangular box with a balcony. This is certainly not ideal in a world of curves, colours and textures beyond white.
Though I hear it too will be going through a considerable amount of upgrading, giving it further levels and more glass frontage, though who wants to bombard any city with so much retailage at once, especially one which is only now getting used to it and learning to catch up with everyone else.
With 800,000ft2, 98 shops, 106 apartments, panoramic views of the city within the centre dome, two levels of underground parking and an Apple store to come later in the year, Victoria Square is a great thing for Belfast, a city on the move, thinking ahead, thinking of its future and the future of its tourists, as well as its residents, and those who are looking forward to the Belfast in 10 years time when many of these proposed developments currently in the works, or with cranes which like to be climbed by drunken locals, may be completed.
I love this city. As I always say that as a youngster I wasn’t able to see anything beyond the road I grew up on and the older kids who weren’t so nice as I took that trip to the shop for milk or went to the park to play on the swings, but with age, maturity and a sense of what is really going on here I now love it, and even more so knowing of the plans which will make it even better. To look at at least.
For further photographs of Victoria Square have a look at my flickr set
There had been rumours that this year would be better than the previous two, and with the addition of intros, music and a few words from George Bush it was. Once again, but very deservedly, Twenty Major won the award for best blog, coinciding with the recent release of his book the two prizes go hand in hand. Maybe it’s time to give someone else a chance next year.
Highlights of the night include Robin Blandford’s mum collecting his prize on his behalf, Kieran Murphy of Ice Cream Ireland’s dress sense, Nialler9 winning once again, Grannymar and Grandad sharing the same stage.
The award for best photoblog this year went to Claire of Gingerpixel and with her blog being filled with so many brilliant photographs, especially her great portraits of people she has stopped in the street she definitely deserved this prize.
He tried, he failed, he left. But he won a prize finally. Jett Loe was honoured with a special prize this year for being “shafted” in previous years, and truly shafted once more being 3899 miles away in Nashville, Tennessee. However I retrieved his prize and have brought it back to Belfast - not before taking it on a journey around Dublin first.
Jett, I’d be happy to bring it to you…
For me the award ceremony was better than previous years, especially with the super-enjoyable photo meet beforehand, and meeting more people than before. Unfortunately I regret meeting less people than I would have liked, and for leaving too early due to Andy telling me that he had gone to another bar, but in the end turning out to have changed the plan and ending up going back to the hostel, while everyone else was still drinking back at the Alexander.
Before leaving I did get plenty of photographs of random people hanging around - many of whom I don’t know. If you know their names, add tags on flickr
However, as usual the whole weekend was one big motivator to organise my blog better, to figure out a real agenda and better acquaint myself with more bloggers.
I also hope to get down to Dublin, and maybe other cities in the South of Ireland before the next Bloggies.
Finally, congrats again to all the great bloggers who won, to everyone who was there and made the weekend so good, and of course to Damien and everyone who helped put together another great awards ceremony.
For more photos of Jett’s ‘Shafted’ award click here
For more photos of the Irish Blog Awards 2008 click here
We awoke early on saturday morning, in true tourist style. I took my first photograph of the day by 9.20am, of Andy eating his very tasty croissant in a small café down by the quay. After breakfast we began taking photos for real. Heading to Temple Bar, Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s Green.
Walking really is tiring, so we found a nice bar called Sinnotts underneath the St Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre. Sat down, found free wireless and used their facilities whilst contemplating what we were going to select from the menu, not realising that it was 11:45 and we had to be at the Spire in 15mins for the photo meet.
We left the bar, grabbed an Abrakebabra on Temple Bar which tasted terrible, then met Red Mum, Ellybabes, John, Owen, Ryan, Gingerpixel, and Keith. We headed towards Trinity then off to St Stephen’s Green, via Grafton Street. I had never been on a photo meet-up before and really enjoyed it. Quite simply amazing. So many factors involved which I loved. Being with some great people, taking photographs in the street, talking blogs and general nerdiness - it doesn’t get much better.
It was all finished off with a few pints before myself and Andy headed to Wagamama on South King Street - he’s been going on about it for a few weeks, so we had to do it. It was indeed very nice, though next time I won’t go for the very spicy noodle soup with far too much liquid in a huge bowl.
The rest goes of in a bit of a drink fuelled tangent… the story will be continued later.
(Plenty more photos on my flickr stream)
It’s 2am and I’m on Andy’s lovely laptop in the hostel. Having spent almost 4hrs on the bus from Belfast we were pretty tired and in desperate need of restroom facilities, so grateful of the fact that we had to get a separate bus from the airport to the city centre.
Once we arrived we headed to a small pub by Trinity college called Bowes Pub where we met Niall and Aoife for a few drinks, before heading to the hostel, then to an Italian restaurant on Temple Bar for Pizza and wine.
After the meal we got back to the hostel where I continued to read Twenty Major’s book book which arrived in the post only this morning.
So far I’m enjoying reading it. There are some great one-liners.
The plan for tomorrow is to head to the Spire for a photo meet-up, get lunch/dinner in Wagamama then head to the blog awards.
I’m looking forward to seeing again the people I have met before. Not so much looking forward to constantly saying that I wish I had kept in touch better since the last time we met, and promising to do it this time. However, this time I really will try to keep in contact with anyone and every one I meet.
If anyone is up for getting drinks after, or before, provided I don’t drink to much at the event/it ends early-ish (not that I want that), myself and Andy are very up for that.
Hope to see plenty of friendly faces
Show 6 of Imeall Geal - Irish language music and culture show. I didn’t spend any time in the studio during recording so I can’t comment on how it went, or how much crap they talked in the links - all I know is that the two acts who performed are superb.
I have been meaning to hear more of Foy Vance’s music other than the two songs on the Grey’s Anatomy soundtrack; Gabriel and the Vagabond and Homebird. Both incredible songs. I have wanted to see him playing for some time now. Unfortunately while at the recording of Imeall Geal yesterday afternoon I was not able to be there at the time he was playing, though being the super-nice guy that he is he agreed to a quick photo shoot.
I returned to the Arts Centre a couple of hours later for lots more coffee and reading of the Sunday Times magazine and other top notch reading material. Then of course there was Foy’s beautiful 4-year old daughter who was running around writing down the names of everyone who was there, telling us about her cat - which it turns out she doesn’t have - and generally being a very cute and entertaining.
Final piece to the show was the performance by The Flaws, I should have asked them what song they played as I could only hear them from outside the studio, though it sounded great. I saw them when they played Auntie Annies in Belfast over a year ago now, having just released their single Out Tonight - such an energetic song, one which has always gotten me in the mood for going out.
Once they got their stuff in the van we did a short shoot in the ‘Green Room’ - the only thing green was the chairs.
The Flaws are currently touring North and South of Ireland, finding themselves in the North on 26th March for a show in Sandinos in Derry (with support from a brilliant Dublin band Saccade) and Auntie Annies in April.
This show goes out on Thursday evening at 10pm. Or watch it via the BBC iPlayer as I will.
The shortlists for the blog awards were released yesterday. A lot of fine blogs about. I have been shortlisted for best photoblog. This year there are a few others from Northern Ireland to be shortlisted:
Goodonpaper (Best Designed Blog)
No Clarity (Best Arts and Culture Blog)
Stuart Bailie (Best Music Blog)
Alan in Belfast (Best News/Current Affairs Blog)
Well Done Fillet (Best Food and Drink Blog)
Slugger O’Toole (Best Political Blog)
Unfortunately Gavin Mullan (headphoneland.com), winner of the best Photo Blog category last year, was not shortlisted.
Hopefully we can get a win somewhere. These are excellent blogs in the running.
Good luck.
That mountain over yonder always look appealing. I often stare at it from my work on the 9th floor, I stare at it when I’m walking in the street and on the bus. Its always there, just outside the city, looking all natural, vast and full of nature - yet I never get very close to it.
So on Wednesday afternoon, having left work early, I had enjoy the shining sun before heading home, and always in search of something different I decided to take a trip on the 1b bus along the Antrim Road.
First stop, Bellevue Arms. I always remember this bar as I pass it going along the motorway, generally on my way to Portstewart throughout my childhood, and I have always wanted to get up to where it is, as it is beside the bridge the road goes under. As I got closer to it I actually felt excited to finally be close to it, then going inside. I wasn’t drinking, neither was Ronan, so we left again.
After uncovering one of those great mysteries of my life, we headed to the zoo. Well to the entrance to the zoo at least. The decision was made just a short while before that the zoo would be left until Saturday, so we went to Cave Hill Country Park.
A s I said above, I see the mountains which surround Belfast every day - they’re kinda hard to avoid - and I do always gaze at them, wishing I was there. It wasn’t long before I regretted wearing converse. With a small bit of mud, and lots of uphill walking struggling, we made it to McArts Fort, which stand almost 368 metres (about 1200 feet) above sea level. From here there is a truly spectacular view of Belfast (the North and the lough at least).
At the Fort there is a cave, but it was far too cold to make any effort to get inside. After taking it all in, and taking some photos, we made it back down before it got dark. Thankfully there was a couple infront of us to lead us back as it had gotten dark before we made it to Belfast Castle.
Being at the top of a mountain (or large hill) looking down on the city is quite an experience. The idea of all those people doing such a multitude of general activities, all the while I’m at the top of a mountain. Watching over it all.
As far as I remember I have never been to Belfast Castle, though probably at some time when I was younger, like so many things. Taking a look around inside it seems like it would have been a nice place to live, which is what its primary use was from it was built in 1870 until being presented to the City of Belfast in 1934.
So having had a taster, I was looking forward to doing it all again on Saturday, as I did with Miriam, visitor to Belfast for another 2 1/2 weeks. Having not been to the zoo in quite a few years, a trip was definitely in order, and now I finally had someone who was didn’t think it a totally ridiculous idea.
As anyone in Belfast will know, Saturday, and indeed each day so far this week since, was a beautiful day. My coat stayed in my bag. There are many things to be said about Belfast Zoo. Most of them I wouldn’t be able to voice myself as I have - believe it or not - never been to any other zoo before. It’s all I know. And for that reason I’ve always liked it. Though having been so few times I am always 10 years old when I’am there, in primary three.
The main thing that strikes me about this zoo is that we can’t possibly have the natural climate for any of the animals which reside there, besides of course the otters. They should all be in either much hotter climates or much colder. The monkeys were fun the watch playing together.
The giraffes were so hungry they started eating each other.
The eagle liked to stare out of its glass cage.
The lion looked depressed sitting on his own at the far end of his field.
Then there’s the penguins and sea lions. It will never be cold enough. It does feel like it. But I hear rumour it gets colder at the poles. Disappointingly the polar bear is no longer there.
The most amusing sight had to have been the elephant having his nails filed. Once a month they must have each of their toe nails cut, though spread out over a few days so as it isn’t so stressful. Upon the command by the zoo keepers the elephant sat down, then lay down, getting back up again, and saluting to the small crowd. Rather than a ‘circus trick’ this is all in aid of training them to do this for when they are seen to by vets and preventing tranquillisers and a 3 1/2 ton elephant crashing to the ground.
Again, the plan was to get to Belfast Castle via the hill trail. This time, however, we didn’t have unknowing guides to lead us back, and so we almost headed to the to. Thankfully we met two walkers who had just come from the top to lead us along the right track.
That evening, I was in much pain from all that walking. All this climbing and walking lately has given me a great desire to do it more often, certainly get to the top of this one soon.
I wouldn’t normally be one to be too negative about things that try to bring arts, culture and music of Northern Ireland to the forefront of traditional media, such as television, but sometimes it just doesn’t work. Who am I kidding, in N.I. most ideas like this don’t work. Then again it is the BBC - they don’t provide a budget for local talent to be seen and heard through T.V. or Radio.
Yes there are exceptions, yet not enough. Those exceptions don’t have any sort of decent budget like they should either. Not to get boiled down in such a heated issue right now. The point is, they have actually gotten something semi-right.
The Show in question is Imeall Geal, the new oddly titled Irish Language show, which in English translates as ‘Bright Edge’, now into its fourth week of filming, with three shows to be aired so far on BBC 2 each Thursday at 10pm.
The show comprises of two music acts, one unsigned, from Northern Ireland, the other a big name act from North or South of Ireland. So far the unsigned acts have included Mary’s Great Idea, The Delawares and Ruby Colley - all great musicians and people. In the previous shows there was an ‘exposé’, which in the past has had some very strange topic choices that I fail to see how anyone would be even slightly interested in.
My suggestion would be to remove the crap about the physique of the Jordanstown rugby team, the couple who have trust issues, Jeremey Paxman’s need for more crotch support, and other such non-stories which have no relevance what-so-ever to the rest of the programme, and just stick to the music.
a) It’s in Irish, so few people are going to watch it.
b) There are Irish bands, leading Irish music fans to watching it - do they really care about the rest?
There is a need for a programme like this. At just under 30 minutes I believe it should revolve around the music: short introduction clip of the band, songs from two bands, followed by short chat with the band. Thats what they have.
It’s a good start.
On Sunday the legendary Henry McCullough, was on the show. This man proves that you really are only as young as you feel, Henry seems to have a has a very ‘young’ attitude to life and such passion in what he does. It was great to have him tell stories of his youth to interested parties all around him.
Having seen him perform at Glasgowbury last summer I immediately fell in love with the music. If anything this man looks like a legend.
Once he had finished playing and tucked into the selection of tea and biscuits, I asked for a photograph and so he gave me the opportunity to get a few snaps before telling us of playing guitar at 17 and suede red shoes .
After some discussion about ‘hip-hop’ between the presenters and a guest, Henry was questioned on growing up in Portstewart and playing music in the North, not afraid to speak his mind and stretch his tales drawing everyone back to the 60s with him as he recalled playing guitar with Paul McCartney.
This was followed by a discussion about the Rotterdam bar with someone [name to be filled in later] involved in the Save The Rotterdam campaign - something quite relevant. And on that, I overheard that all will be decided in June.
The guest artist, Meghan McWilliams played a song which will no doubt have credits rolling along the bottom of the screen for the last 30-40 seconds marking the end of the show - and what seemed to me to be a better show than the previously aired ‘drafts’ of what can be done.
Unfortunately Meghan doesn’t have tracks on her myspace so I can’t listen to any more of her music, nor find out the name of the track she played, hopefully she is busy recording.
This episode of Imeall Geal will be aired tonight at 10pm on BBC 2, or watch it on the BBC iPlayer the following week.
So the long list of nominees has been officially released, just behind those “leaks” that spread across the web in the last couple of days. This year I find myself nominated for: Best Designed Blog, Best Photography Blog and Best Blog. I am very pleased about this, though I doubt I will win due to the great competition I am up against in each category, but to be standing alongside these great bloggers I feel honoured.
Not surprisingly, the number of blogs has increased significantly since last year let alone how much of an increase there has been from two years ago, with just far too many to count (at the minute at least).
I have my work cut out for me for the next month, the little free time that I will have will be spent catching up on the blogs I know and all those that I don’t.
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