A Visit To St. James Gate: The Home Of Guinness

Published: 13th December, 2012 - http://thecity.ie/2012/12/13/a-visit-to-st-james-gate-the-home-of-guinness/

Some of our wonderful group at the infamous, St James' Gate, Dublin

Guinness is one of the first things non-natives associate with Ireland. Despite this, numerous Dubliners have yet to visit the famous storehouse (it’s Ireland’s number 1 visitor attraction!) and walk through it’s historic gates. The City team were amongst those who had yet to check it out, so, we took a trip to St. James’ Gate to see what all the fuss was all about!


The self-led tour (there is an option to have a guide talk you through the tour if you’re part of a group of people, however, we opted for the self-led tour so that we could take it all in in our own pace) is a very interactive one and visitors are shown the entire Guinness making process (minus the secret ingredient, of course!). The tour begins at the bottom of the ‘world’s largest pint glass structure’ which visitors are informed can hold a mighty 14.3 million pints of Guinness!


Master brewer, Fergal Murray, guides you along the way via short yet very informative videos which let the viewer know just how the hops, barley, water and yeast are made into the famous ‘black stuff’. Visitors are advised that the tour can take up to an hour and a half or more depending on the pace at which you take it all in. Not long into the tour, visitors are given the opportunity to stop for a drink break and do a ‘taste-test’ of Arthur Guinness world-renowned drink.


The ticket you’re given upon entering the storehouse can be redeemed for a pint in the Gravity bar on the 5th floor or else used to learn how to pull the ‘Perfect pint’ in the Guinness academy on the 4th floor. The ‘Perfect pint’ option is a real-treat as participants even get a certificate to show that they have ‘perfected the perfect pint of Guinness’! The views of Dublin city from the Gravity bar really are something else and there really is nothing like enjoying a cold drink whilst over-looking Dublin city.


The store house is open 7 days a week from 9.30am-5pm and is located on Market street, Dublin 8.

The Ort Of Ross O' Carroll Kelly

Published: 12th December, 2012 - http://thecity.ie/2012/12/12/the-ort-of-ross-ocarroll-kelly/

A mould of the wonderful Ross on display

By Gill Stedman and Lynne Swan

The 'Ort' of Ross O' Carroll-Kelly is like no other art exhibition that you've ever been to. The exhibition features images from the world of Paul Howard's 'Southsoide'-based creation, Ross O’ Carroll Kelly. Ross was first introduced to all of our lives in January 1998 in the Sunday Tribune when journalist, Paul Howard, decided to start writing a column about a fictional amalgamation of the southside youth that the Celtic Tiger seemed to have spawned. This 'affluent' young generation made for hilarious reading and was soon turned into a book series. Now on an impressive fourteen books, two plays and a CD not forgetting the numerous newspaper columns where it all began! Ross' creator has decided to open an art exhibition displaying the very humorous artwork and never before seen memorabilia by illustrator, Alan Clarke, featured throughout the book series.

The City took a trip to Powerscourt townhouse to see what it was all about! As well as the images featured above, which are just a taster of what’s on display, the exhibition also gives its visitors an opportunity to purchase Ross-emblazoned gift such as mugs, badges and posters. The exhibition opens at 10am daily, is entirely free and will be on display until December 24th.

Bullying in Ireland

Published: 4th December, 2012 - http://thecity.ie/2012/12/04/bullying-in-ireland/

Bullying is a very topical issue in Ireland, especially following the recent Children's Referendum. Do the people of Dublin feel the issue of bullying is being tackled properly in this country?


We hear from people on the streets about how we can best tackle the issue of bullying as well as discussing the role parents and schools need to play if we are to stamp it out for good.

Little Museum Gives Dubliners A Taste Of The Rare 'Aul Times

Published: 9th November, 2012 - http://thecity.ie/2012/11/09/little-museum-gives-dubliners-taste-of-the-rare-aul-times/

Some of the items on display in The Little Museum

Where else in the capital city can you be in the same room as objects such as Nelson's Pillar, War of Independence Documents and a 'I've Been To Switzer's Santa' badge? The Little Museum of Dublin, of course. Just over a year old, this new museum – housed inside a beautiful Georgian building on St Stephens Green – brings the rare 'aul times to life.


Spread over just two rooms, the Little Museum's tall walls are packed floor to ceiling with artefacts telling stories of Dublin in the last century. Displayed chronologically, the artefacts are an eclectic mix of specialist and general interest objects: from original documents, photos and publications to furniture, food stuff and quirky domestic items.


Some objects give you a glimpse of domestic Dublin – harking back to a time of Gold Flake cigarettes, elephant rides at Dublin Zoo and when Aer Lingus offered a return ''Rolls Royce powered'' service across the pond for just £12. While other memorabilia – recalling famous visitors to the capital, such as Pope John Paul II to John F Kennedy – appears alongside belongings of legendary Dubliner James Joyce and politician and former President Eamonn De Valera.


There are also political artefacts – like Bertie Ahern's first election poster, and a dated Green Party poster from the 80s which claims ''Others promise the moon, we only guarantee the earth''. The Little Museum of Dublin even has a couple of items from our not so distant past – a membership card from Renards Nightclub or a Ryanair 'business class'  sticker will raise a few smirks.


Meanwhile, downstairs there is a rotating exhibition space – which currently houses an excellent display on the life of Dubliner Bram Stoker. One gripe visitors may have when visiting the museum is there is scarce contextual information provided on the collection. Additionally, space constraints mean that some artefacts are placed very high up on the building’s tall walls, making them difficult to see up close without a ladder or a stiff neck.


Fortunately, tours are run regularly by the staff and are included in the admission price. Experiencing the museum through a tour is definitely preferable; as discovering the story behind the objects on display can really bring the collection to life. Visiting this place won’t break the bank either – tickets are surprisingly affordable. On the door tickets are priced at €5, where concessions are available for students and senior citizens. Additionally, children under 10 and jobseekers can visit free.


As an added bonus – if you visit the museum on a Wednesday between 1pm and 6pm – admission to the museum is free to all, courtesy of Johnston Mooney and O'Brien. At just two rooms – the Little Museum of Dublin certainly deserves its title, but regardless of its small size, this eccentric and unique mix of Irish memories is well worth a visit.

After all, great nostalgia comes in small doses.


All Pictures courtesy of the Little Museum of Dublin
http://www.littlemuseum.ie/

Bram Stoker Festival: Spraoi theatre group recreates Stoker's Dublin

Published: 30th October, 2012 - http://thecity.ie/2012/10/30/the-bram-stoker-festival-spraoi-theatre-group-recreates-stokers-dublin/


Dubliners were in for a treat this past weekend as the first Bram Stoker festival took place in the city. The festival provided, mostly, free, but, ticketed events celebrating the life and writings of one of our most beloved and well-known authors, Bram Stoker. The Spraoi theatre group recreated Stoker's world as seen in his most well-known book, Dracula. Dublin Castle was transformed for the night and filled with terrifying looking creatures of the night and Stoker himself warned the crowd of the dangers of the world we had just stepped into from atop his wooden podium.


This event took place on Sunday, 28th October, 2012

Keywest - The Button Factory, Dublin

Published: 2nd December, 2012 - http://www.meg.ie/keywest-at-the-button-factory/

Keywest

From busking on the streets of Dublin and Galway to headlining a sold-out show at The Button Factory last night, Irish/UK band, Keywest are moving up.


The Dublin-based quintet, led by singer, Andrew Kavanagh, first began their foray in music by busking on the streets of Galway (and later, Dublin) until one day their golden ticket approached them in the form of Grammy nominated engineer, Mark Needham. In true fairy-tale style, the band set out across the pond in 2011 to record their album, The Message (it peaked at #15 in the Irish charts). Since then, they've played numerous gigs around Ireland and recently went back to their roots busking on Grafton Street to promote their Button Factory gig.


This promotion busk seemed to have proven very successful with the show selling-out. The largely female-led crowd relished in the band's crowd interaction with lead singer, Kav, take up-close videos of himself and the band with various cameras being waved from the audience.


Keywest are pop music, a la The Script, there's no denying it and there's no denying there's an audience for it. At one point they transitioned into a group drumming instrumental, showing the crowd further reaches of their musical abilities. The band have chosen to remain 'independent' artists in Ireland, but, are currently in negotiations in the UK and US. The only way is up for these five young musicians.

The Temper Trap - The Academy, Dublin

Published: 5th October 2012 - http://www.meg.ie/the-temper-trap-at-the-academy/

The Temper Trap

Formed back in 2005 Australian indie-rock band, The Temper Trap, have more than made their mark on the music scene. In Ireland alone, their single, Sweet Disposition, (most well-known from it's use in the O2 Treats adverts and also as the soundtrack for the indie movie 500 Days Of Summer) peaked at #6 on the charts here.


Opening the show with first single from their latest self-titled album, Need Your Love, the BRIT award nominated, multi-instrumentalist, quintet sprung onto stage and begun to played an hour-long set consisting of (mostly) new album material and a sprinkle of first-album, Conditions, fan favourites. Lead singer, Dougy Mandagi, received the loudest cheer from the crowd on his arrival on stage just after 9pm. Sporting a leopard print over-sized shirt and skinny jeans, it was obvious that he was ready to make a mark on the sold-out Dublin venue.


The stage production was really incredible. The use of various coloured lights and, what seemed to be, a never-ending cloud of smoke rising from behind the stage, helped to set the atmosphere and create, what seemed to be, an almost dream-like image of the band on stage.


The band were quite surprised by the very enthusiastic crowd who happily sang along and danced around causing Mandagi to exclaim ''Wow! Thank you very much!! You're a very responsive crowd, Dublin!…you keep enjoying the music and we’ll keep coming back.''


Mandagi's incredibly high vocal range didn't go without notice from the sold-out crowd in The Academy with one gig-goer eliciting a gasp at one stage and stating ''Jesus! He sure hits some high notes!''.


The band finished up with an encore of Soldier On and, of course, Sweet Disposition and left the crowd more than anticipating their next Irish gig.


The Temper Trap was released on 18 May 2012 and peaked at #25 on the Irish charts.

Heathers - The Academy, Dublin

Published: 30th September 2012 - http://www.meg.ie/heathers-at-the-academy/

29 September 2012

Having just released their second album, Kingdom, in early September,Heathers duo, Louise and Ellie MacNamara, embarked on a 7-date tour (their first tour dates in well-over a year) around Ireland to promote it. The girls only recently signed a global deal with Universal Music Publishing UK, so, the year ahead is certainly set to be a big one for this Dublin-based duo.


Last night they played a packed-out venue in The Academy, Dublin with great support from 4-piece band Raglans and dance music duo, Last Days Of 1984. Unsurprisingly enough, their set mostly consisted of their new album material including, a few personal favourites, Waiter, Find A Way, and Listen Don’t Speak. The new material is most definitely a step above their first album (they worked with White Lies producer, Max Dingle) and sees the girls experiment away from guitar based songs and focus more on an electronic, matured sound. Happily their vocal harmonies remain as flawless and brilliant as ever. Heathers are one of a handful of bands who manage to sound exactly as they do on their album tracks as they do in a live concert setting.


It would be a terrible injustice not to mention their terrific cover of Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness which had the crowd singing along in no time. They also managed to slip in some old favourites from debut album Here Not There: Reading In The Dark, Slices Of Palama and, of course, fan favourite and the Discover Ireland soundtrack, Remember When.


The Heathers continue their tour of Ireland with a gig in Cyprus Avenue, Cork on 04 October 2012.

Randy Newman - Vicar Street, Dublin

Published: March 2nd 2012 - http://www.meg.ie/randy-newman-at-vicar-street/


Randy Newman’s career has spanned almost 40 years, so it’s hardly surprising he performed thirty songs (with an additional three in his encore) over a 2 hour show in Vicar Street last night. The piano-rock icon has scored six Disney/Pixar movies and won two Oscars, three Emmys and six Grammys during his career.


Despite suffering from what seemed to be a nasty cough, Newman performed each song with the same passion and comedic wit his audience know and love. Vicar Street was filled to the brim with loyal fans who showed their admiration after every song. Never one to hold back on his witticisms, he shared a story about how he was inspired to write The World Isn’t Fair when he looked at his two sons, whom he joked were 64 and 71 respectively, and thought of their future.


He ended his 30-song set with Harps and Angels and was hailed with a standing ovation. After a 30-minute break Newman played an encore of Rain On Me, Lonely At The Top and Feels Like Home. During his encore Newman joked, “Jeeze, you wouldn’t even know I was drunk”.


Newman plays a second night in Vicar Street tonight (02 March 2012)

Lights - Speakeasy bar, Belfast

Published: 13th February 2012 - http://www.meg.ie/lights-at-the-speakeasy-belfast/

Lights on stage in Belfast. Photo courtesy of Nicole Alden

For 24-year-old Canadian musician Lights (yes, that’s her real name) any nerves were quickly swept away and replaced with awe and gratitude at the sight of the sea of fans who had turned out for her first Irish show. Lights started her career as a songwriter for Sony but was snapped up by Warner in 2008 and won the award for best new artist at the Canadian Juno awards in 2009. Since then, she’s toured with the likes of Keane and Owl City, embarked on a mini-UK tour, released an acoustic album and is set to release her second album, Siberia, in the UK/Ireland in March.

Her setlist included most of her new album, Siberia, but also managed to include favourites from her début album, The Listening, such as Ice and Second Go. One of the highlights of the night was most certainly her performance of My Boots during which she played the electric guitar lending more of a rock sound to her more recognisable synth-pop. It’s quite evident that she was born to be on the stage. She moves about to each song with such fervour that it’s hard not join in her enthusiasm. Her enviable energy lasted the full 75-minute set, with an elated crowd eager to welcome Lights on her Irish début. The feeling was clearly shared by Lights who seemed taken-aback by the afore mentioned enthusiasm .

Lights continues her Siberia UK/Ireland tour tonight with a show in The Academy 2, Dublin tonight (Monday 13 February). Check out Lights online for further dates.

Lights preview for shows in Ireland

Published: February, 2012 - http://www.meg.ie/lights-set-to-play-belfast-and-dublin-this-weekend/

Canadian pint-sized synth-pop artist Lights brings her Juno award winning music to Belfast's Speakeasy this Sunday, 12 February. Lights supported Owl City in early 2010 and did a mini tour of the UK in May of the same year but unfortunately never got over to Ireland during either.


She has just released her second album, Siberia, in the UK/Ireland and lead single Where The Fence is Low is set to hit the charts in the coming weeks. Siberia debuted in her home country, Canada, at number three and sold over 10,000 copies in the first week alone.


With tickets priced at just £11.25 each, this is one concert we certainly won't be missing!


Lights will also play The Academy 2, Dublin on 13 February. Tickets priced from €15

Christina Perri - The Olympia Theatre, Dublin

Published: 23rd January, 2012 - http://www.meg.ie/christina-perri-at-the-olympia-theatre-dublin/

Support acts are supposed to just play their 30/40 minute slot to keep the audience in anticipation of the main act. Londoner, Marcus Foster, however, nearly stole the show entirely. All it took was one song and the audience had decided that they liked this bumbling, kooky and soul-fueled singer. Watching Foster perform was like watching an artist perform in the confines of his bedroom. His performance was intimate and full of passion. It’s safe to say that their was a collective sigh of disappointment from the audience when it came for Foster to play his last song. The last time I was this blown away by a support act she had just won a BRIT award.
Kicking off the show with the infectious and loud Black and Blue, Christina Perri jumped onto the stage at the Olympia and was greeted by a sea of screeching fans. Perri made her presence known to the eager crowd, who had been more than warmed up by the support act, happily waving and smiling at what seemed like every member of the crowd. I was soon left dumbfounded at just how natural performing on stage comes to Perri and how easily she interacted with the crowd. The stage lighting and backdrop were fantastically executed and the scattering of flowers on the stage only added to the overall feel of the show.

Perri's setlist contained most of début album Lovestrong's tracks and all of the tracks from her EP, The Ocean Way Sessions. The younger part of the crowd looked puzzled by her cover of Roy Orbison's Crying whilst the older part of the crowd echoed Perri's warbles with glee. The encore consisted of, ''the song I'm most proud to sing to you tonight’, Jar Of Hearts, Tragedy, and her next single Arms.

The last night of a tour can go two ways. For Christina Perri, the screams and chants of the crowd were enough to seal the deal that she is well and truly on her way to success.

The Maine - The Academy 2, Dublin

11th January, 2012


Arizona-based band The Maine brought their catchy form of pop rock to the Academy 2 on Wednesday night. It was their second outing in Dublin having played in the Academy main room just last March when they were joined by Never Shout Never. The band, which formed back in 2007, have just released their third album Pioneer and are currently on a promotional tour around the UK and Ireland.

Having really only ever listened to their 2010 album, Black & White, I was pleasantly surprised to see that their set-list not only consisted of material from the new album but that it also featured a mixture of songs from all three albums.

It's safe to say that the band have a legion of fans who will no doubt buy a ticket any time the quintet announce a date in Dublin. I can also confirm that this legion of fans were out in full in the Academy 2 last night jumping around and mimicking lead singer, John O' Callaghan's every movement. The band created a great atmosphere, which was definitely helped by the small space of the Academy 2.

Any fans who arrived late to the concert were in for a treat as the band decided to play an 'extra-long' due to the fact that they had 'a lot of extra-time left'. The band's interaction with the crowd was fantastic and lead singer, John O', even managed to charm one of the crowd into hosting an after-party.

Favourites from the night were without a doubt the band's rendition of Inside Of You (which the band performed at a much slower tempo than the album version), Into Your Arms and I Must Be Dreaming which featured some wonderful of 'oohs' and 'ahs' from the crowd. Overall, I was very impressed with the band's stage presence and I left the gig knowing that I'd find myself downloading the band's new album as soon as I got home.