We had a concert last week in aid of Anam Cara in the Louisburgh Parochial Hall. Anam Cara is a non-profit organisation which provides support to families who have lost a child or sibling.
The concert told the story of The Children of Lir through dancing and music and singing. The dancing was provided by the Cresham School of Dancing and it went down very well. The school is run by Bernadine Cresham and the production of the dancing was excellent. The audience seemed to be very appreciative of the level of the quality of the production.
Valerie Quirk, resident in Bunowen, provided excellent musical accompaniment for the night. The second part of the show was a parody of American Idol or X-Factor or some such thing. Brenda Staunton (John Staunton's wife) performed a song parody of Riverdancewhihc was written by Valerie Quirke. This set the stage for the mayhem and humour to follow.
Couples danced in front of three judges; Barry Gaffney, Breda McGinn and John Joe Kilcoyne to compete for the honour of "winning." It was as hilarious as one could imagine. Slapstick and improv took over as the contestants with hairy legs exposed danced high to expose their "prowess" and their partners hid their "assets" to become the partner role chosen. (Is that clear? No? Well now you know how we all felt!)
Anyways, some of those who participated in the frolics and were dressed for the occasion were: Edward Ball, Irene Cannon, Laura Hutchinson, Michael Gibbons, Jim Power, Noel Billington and many many more.
The show was a success except for the fact that a good few people had to be turned away from the hall because it had reached capacity. There is a DVD of the show available for a tenner. And ...
The event raised approximately €2,000.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Monday, June 13, 2011
The climate
The climate here is entertaining: Political, economic and weather.
A couple of people told me this evening that today is the best of this week and rain is expected by Wednesday. I looked up the forecast and found that good clear weather is expected right through to Sunday. The entertaining aspect of this is that usually all the forecasts are wrong but in this instance one of them will be more correct that the other.
Presidential debates and banter have started. Some of the candidates appeared on the Pat Kenny show this evening, Monday June 13. Typical of the show, the audience members were given barely enough time to say a short sentence or two before the microphone and camera jolted to another unsuspecting audience member of the proletariat vying for a few seconds of air time on RTE. No comments really of any depth or breath. Another successful show by Pat Kenny and RTE. Very little said while giving the democratic citizens the impression that RTE is a democracy giving the proletariat a voice. The climate is stifling.
Economy - Don't really know what the heck is going on. Will Greece keep the heat off Ireland for another while? Will Enda and Michael manage to get the interest rate lessened? Does it really matter? Of course it does but the whole thing is a tad clammy, warm with a healthy expectation of an odd thunder shower!
A couple of people told me this evening that today is the best of this week and rain is expected by Wednesday. I looked up the forecast and found that good clear weather is expected right through to Sunday. The entertaining aspect of this is that usually all the forecasts are wrong but in this instance one of them will be more correct that the other.
Presidential debates and banter have started. Some of the candidates appeared on the Pat Kenny show this evening, Monday June 13. Typical of the show, the audience members were given barely enough time to say a short sentence or two before the microphone and camera jolted to another unsuspecting audience member of the proletariat vying for a few seconds of air time on RTE. No comments really of any depth or breath. Another successful show by Pat Kenny and RTE. Very little said while giving the democratic citizens the impression that RTE is a democracy giving the proletariat a voice. The climate is stifling.
Economy - Don't really know what the heck is going on. Will Greece keep the heat off Ireland for another while? Will Enda and Michael manage to get the interest rate lessened? Does it really matter? Of course it does but the whole thing is a tad clammy, warm with a healthy expectation of an odd thunder shower!
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Monday, May 30, 2011
Mayo Associations Worldwide Convention: A weekend to remember in Westport
This past weekend, Westport hosted the Mayo Associations Worldwide Convention. The President of The Republic of Ireland, Mary McAleese and An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny addressed the crowd of over 400.
Messages of hope, enterprise, hard work and nature were divulged to the crowds from the two leaders.
Delegates from Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Birmingham, Toronto and Washington were present among others. The Dublin and Galway Associations were the organisers. A Louisburgh man, Paul Sammin, is on the committee of the Dublin Mayo Association and was therefore involved in the planning of the event.
Anne Marie Gibbons from Louisburgh, performed songs in her Mezzo Soprano style and received a standing ovation.
There were presentations on tourism, trade, commerce and industry under the headings of 'indigenous enterprise,' 'multinational enterprise' and 'energy.' The material in the presentations was informative, futuristic, practical and coherent.
Louisburgh was not mentioned in the context of the topics at all. I wonder how this came to be. Is there no body or bodies out there representing and promoting Louisburgh?
While the presentations were all about Mayo and they were all excellent, there is no Mayo Association organisation in Mayo. Perhaps this would be a valuable entity for the purpose of connecting with all the Associations worldwide and keeping the connection live and active and funneling ideas, industry and funding into the county?
Messages of hope, enterprise, hard work and nature were divulged to the crowds from the two leaders.
Delegates from Cleveland, New York, Philadelphia, Birmingham, Toronto and Washington were present among others. The Dublin and Galway Associations were the organisers. A Louisburgh man, Paul Sammin, is on the committee of the Dublin Mayo Association and was therefore involved in the planning of the event.
Anne Marie Gibbons from Louisburgh, performed songs in her Mezzo Soprano style and received a standing ovation.
There were presentations on tourism, trade, commerce and industry under the headings of 'indigenous enterprise,' 'multinational enterprise' and 'energy.' The material in the presentations was informative, futuristic, practical and coherent.
Louisburgh was not mentioned in the context of the topics at all. I wonder how this came to be. Is there no body or bodies out there representing and promoting Louisburgh?
While the presentations were all about Mayo and they were all excellent, there is no Mayo Association organisation in Mayo. Perhaps this would be a valuable entity for the purpose of connecting with all the Associations worldwide and keeping the connection live and active and funneling ideas, industry and funding into the county?
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
What to make of life?
Lisa, Anna's sister, 41 passed from this life on the morning of Sat. 6th November 2010.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The Hardy Bucks -Sad.
I watched my first episode of The Hardy Bucks on RTE last night. I had heard limited reviews of The Hardy Bucks but wanted to see it on the National Broadcasting Service for myself. After all, if the National Broadcasting Service, Radio Telifis Eireann, had found/discovered this raw talent and decided to bring it to the National Airwaves, surely it must be good?
My nephews speak well of The Hardy Bucks and my siblings speak negatively of The Hardy Bucks. After seeing some of the "stars" of The Hardy Bucks" interviewed on The Saturday Night Show with Brendan O'Connor I wasn't particularly impressed but I have to admit I did laugh now and again.
The Hardy Bucks is a prime example of appealing to the lowest common denominator. Making fun of everything in a happy-go-lucky way assuming no negative effects on an impressionable audience of teenagers and students. Alcohol and drug abuse is only the start of the downfall/appeal of this YouTube "success" story.
I will watch more...
My nephews speak well of The Hardy Bucks and my siblings speak negatively of The Hardy Bucks. After seeing some of the "stars" of The Hardy Bucks" interviewed on The Saturday Night Show with Brendan O'Connor I wasn't particularly impressed but I have to admit I did laugh now and again.
The Hardy Bucks is a prime example of appealing to the lowest common denominator. Making fun of everything in a happy-go-lucky way assuming no negative effects on an impressionable audience of teenagers and students. Alcohol and drug abuse is only the start of the downfall/appeal of this YouTube "success" story.
I will watch more...
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Accessing a Notary for US Business in Ireland
This post is for anyone who might have a need to get some US documents notarized by a US Notary of the Public for any reason while living in Ireland. No use to anyone else.
What you need to do:
1. Go online to the US Embassy site and schedule an appointment online and print it.
2. Turn up for the appointment with picture i.d. which is also signed by yourself.
3. Bring credit card or $50 or equivalent in Euros per sheet to be notarized - exact amount in cash, no change given.
What I did:
1. Got the information/docs too late.
2. Scheduled the appointment with a Notary at the Embassy for the next available date which was, at the time, one week later.
3. Established that this date one week later was too late.
4. Called and talked to a person/man on the phone at the Embassy. Accepted the information he gave me as the truth, i.e. that if you need a notarization in a hurry you may go to the Embassy and wait in line - NOT SO.
5. Went to Embassy (4 hours drive) to be greeted with the info. that Notaries are available ONLY by appointment.
7. Explained the previous 5 points to the very nice lady at the Embassy who said that she would do her best for me in the circumstances.
8. waited in the Embassy from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. for a notary to be available.
9. Got the docs notarized in minutes.
10. Walked approximately 100 yards to Post Office and sent the docs through An Post and DHL on a 1 to 2 day delivery arrangement.
What you need to do:
1. Go online to the US Embassy site and schedule an appointment online and print it.
2. Turn up for the appointment with picture i.d. which is also signed by yourself.
3. Bring credit card or $50 or equivalent in Euros per sheet to be notarized - exact amount in cash, no change given.
What I did:
1. Got the information/docs too late.
2. Scheduled the appointment with a Notary at the Embassy for the next available date which was, at the time, one week later.
3. Established that this date one week later was too late.
4. Called and talked to a person/man on the phone at the Embassy. Accepted the information he gave me as the truth, i.e. that if you need a notarization in a hurry you may go to the Embassy and wait in line - NOT SO.
5. Went to Embassy (4 hours drive) to be greeted with the info. that Notaries are available ONLY by appointment.
7. Explained the previous 5 points to the very nice lady at the Embassy who said that she would do her best for me in the circumstances.
8. waited in the Embassy from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. for a notary to be available.
9. Got the docs notarized in minutes.
10. Walked approximately 100 yards to Post Office and sent the docs through An Post and DHL on a 1 to 2 day delivery arrangement.
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