Trinity College Dublin

May 15, 2019

I spent some time trying out day-time long-exposures around Trinity College. This piece is ‘The Youth Need to see their Greatness reflected in our eyes’, created by artist Joe Caslin to celebrate the launch of ‘Inspiring Generations’ Campaign for Trinity College Dublin - See a video on the piece’s creation here

Darkness into Light

May 13, 2019

Some from last weekend’s Darkness into Light walk, in the Phoenix Park, one of the more than 150 venues across Ireland where 200,000 people or so walked or ran to greet the rising sun.

We gather to remember those we have lost, and to renew our hope for tomorrow. Well done to one and all. Onwards & upwards.

It’s always darkest before the dawn.

Bachelor’s Way

April 30, 2019

This laneway, linking Bachelor’s Walk with Middle Abbey Street, Is known as Bachelor’s Way.

In various old maps I have also seen it called Williams Lane and also Williams Row.

It is by Williams Row that it gets a brief mention in Joyce’s Ulysses (1922):

‘Mr Dedalus, tugging a long moustache, came round from Williams’s row. He halted near his daughter.’

Far from such literary heights, it’s a laneway all too often occupied by junkies and smells too much like a sewer for my liking. It’s not one that I care to venture down very often.

Junior Brother - PowPig - 18-04-2019

April 20, 2019

What an incredible night of music we were treated to the other night in the Grand Social, with the unique sounds of Junior Brother and PowPig washing over the assembled crowd.

Limerick’s PowPig, comprised of teenagers Anne Marie Rooney, Andrea Mocanu, Laura Drennan and Leah O'Donnell, kicked off the night in style...I was struck by their energy, the confidence of their performance and the quality of their tunes. Certainly a group to keep an eye on. First though, they’ve got the minor issue of the Leaving to get through. Good luck to them.

Junior Brother’s music is nothing if not uniquely Irish and utterly now. A beguiling mix of the old and the new, the familiar and strange, of pathos and humour. Jinx Lennon described him as "If Nick Drake was born in the Kingdom, and received a lifetime full of Healy Rae harrassment and sanctimonious sour looks, it might sound like this."

For me, apart from his incredibly distinctive Kerry singing voice, his guitar playing and compositions are extraordinary. His unique playing style is heavily influenced by the harp tunes of O'Carolan, which he learnt on the guitar when he first started to play. However it has evolved, it’s a beautiful thing to hear.

I’ve been lucky enough to hear him play these songs on his own over the last few years. For me, his live performances really go to another level when accompanied by Tony McLoughlin on mandolin and Fiachra Meek on bodhran, whistle & uilleann pipes.

Rhythmically complex and musically technical, you’d need players at the top of their game to accompany these tunes, and that’s what the lads are. Together, what incredible sounds they make...driving the music to an almost frenzied level of intensity at stages.

His debut album, "Pull The Right Rope", will be released on May 24th, on Strange Brew Records. The vinyl will be purple, fair play to him...I’m a bit surprised it won’t be green & gold.

The music coming out of Ireland these days is incredible...it’s an amazing thing to witness. The future of Irish music is in very safe and talented hands. I’ll raise a chalice to that.

Gráinne & Brendan

April 16, 2019

We were entertained by a fine selection of Songs from Ireland, beautifully performed by Gráinne Hunt & Brendan Walsh at their album launch in a packed Backroom of the Cobblestone. A collection of traditional Irish ballads and folk songs, in both English and Irish, carefully arranged by Brendan to give a new feel to these beautiful old songs.

Have a look at them playing She moved through the fair

Gráinne and Brendan met in 2000 when they both attended NUI Maynooth, completing the BA (Music) together there. In early 2018 they joined forces to perform at Shannonside Winter Music Festival and from there, Songs from Ireland was born.

The album was recorded in Soundville Studios, Luzern, Switzerland, the 13 tracks include Raglan Road, Trasna na dTonnta, Song for Ireland and Mo Ghile Mear.

Spotify; https://open.spotify.com/artist/3rCC9Bsnqx0UgnkITFRhSp?si=JxrxCjuFRiCv-pJ6KWmDVA

CD Baby; https://store.cdbaby.com/cd/grainnebrendan

Daoirí Farrell - An Góilín

February 26, 2019

Some from Daoirí Farrell’s recent solo album launch “A Lifetime of Happiness” at An Góilín, the very stage where he cut his teeth as the incredible musician he is.

That happiness was more than evident in the performance he gave. It was as warm and beautiful a gig as I have had the pleasure to witness.

Ruby Sessions - 5th Feb. 2019

February 7, 2019

The Ruby Sessions is an acoustic music club held weekly every Tuesday, in the intimate setting of Doyle's of College Street, for the past 19 years. Four original acts play a stripped back set in front of a completely silent candlelit room each week.

Since it's inception on April 13th 1999 the Rubys (as it's affectionately called by it's founders Niall Muckian and Conor Donovan), has hosted some of the world's biggest names, along with consistently championing the best in new and emerging talent from around the globe.

Its always a special night, and all for a good cause with the entrance fee going to help the fantastic work by the Simon Community, helping the homeless.

Last Tuesday’s entertainment was provided by Lisa Gorry, who unfortunately I missed, Niamh Keane, Junior Brother & Moon Looks On.

A beautiful night of music, in the finest of company.

Junior Brother, accompanied by Tony McLoughlin & Fiachra Meek

David Keenan - Whelans

January 14, 2019

It was a pleasure to witness such a special night in the splendid company of David Keenan & friends, where they delivered as assured, joyous & life affirming a performance as I have ever seen on that stage...

The corner of Sitric Place & Sitric Road

Dublin street stories

January 12, 2019

Over the last few years I have been steadily building up my collection of Dublin street scenes. It is my intention to gather together a selection of these images to create a book.

As many of you who have been following my work will know, I am interested not only in visually documenting our time in this city, but also in how these buildings and streets came to be...in the layers of history beneath our feet, both grand and humble.

With this in mind, I’m putting a call out for people to send me on stories (300 words or so) of their streets and neighbourhoods, their heroes and vagabonds, the events that happened on their corners...the victories & defeats, the love stories & break ups, little vignettes that will help give my book a flavour of our lives in Dublin.

My hope is that, along with my images, these stories will work together to form a narrative of the city, and our time in it. After all, Dublin is made from more than just bricks and mortar...it is made of us.

Should you have a story that you think might be of interest, please send it on to dublinstreetstories@gmail.com

I’ll keep you all informed on progress here on my site. Many thanks.

Andy

I Heart Bowie - National Concert Hall

January 9, 2019

It was a pleasure to help document a very special night indeed at a sold-out show in the National Concert Hall, celebrating the music of David Bowie, on what would have been his 72nd birthday as part of the Dublin Bowie Festival.

John Byrne, as usual, assembled the I Heart crack troop; Duncan Maitland, Dave Mc Guinness, Neil Dorrington, Phteven McHale & Mark Dmc, accompanied by Luke Rynne Cullen & the wonderful Trinity Orchestra, conducted by Molly Bourke, and a host of guest performers, including Shane Hennessy on guitar, Barry O’Brien, Colm Lynch, Jem Mitchell, Ger Eaton, Gavin Glass, Fiach Moriarty, Brian Gallagher, Ollie Cole, Caoimhe Barry, Jack Lukeman, Christy Dignam and very special guest, the guitar genius that is Gerry Leonard.