Planet Limerick

Chicken Biryani

2008-07-19T10:00:02+00:00

I know it's July, and we're supposed to be eating lovely crunchy, crispy, healthy salads, but to be perfectly honest, it's lashing rain, I'm freezing and all I'm in the form for is comfort food. Seasonal eating be damned (at the moment anyway). So, while Indian food has a reputation ...

So We Bought A House…

2008-07-19T07:43:58+00:00

yeah, we went for it and iv been holding out on sharing it here because we had so much bad luck last year that I didnt wat to jinx it, but its going well and hopefully we will be in in 3 weeks

its purdy!! Its new and were very happy. I couldnt keep it in any longer so I had to say it, but untill were in I wont say anymore to be sure not to mess up the luck and all that jazz

Pope Apologises To Australians For Clerical Sexual Abuse But Still Fucks Up

2008-07-19T02:13:38+00:00

I see Ratzo has finally said Sorry, but should anyone be grateful?

I don’t think so. This statement was dragged out of him, kicking and spitting, and even then he couldn’t bring himself to say categorically that priests had abused children.

No.

He had to qualify his apology by saying that the abuse was committed by some priests.

See? Some priests.

These fuckers are incapable of saying a single direct word.

What would have been wrong with Ratzo talking about abuse committed by priests and leaving it at that? Nothing, that’s what. Absolutely nothing, but Ratzo had to follow the instinct of his kind and talk about some priests, to diffuse the accusations. What a miserable, begrudging way to treat rape victims.

Look, Ratzo, we know they weren’t all child-rapists. We know that some of them were all right, so what’s this some priests shit about?

Stop insulting my intelligence, and maybe I’ll start taking you seriously, you silly old gobshite.

No. Wait. Here’s a better idea: stop insulting the intelligence of abuse victims.

How about it, Ratzo?

bockdigiprint

Beware The Small Ads

2008-07-19T00:00:10+00:00

A Song For Andrew Hanlon

2008-07-18T15:12:08+00:00

All Bock posts on AJ Hanlon HERE

bockdigiprint

Suspected brothel raided at Hilton Hotel

2008-07-18T13:31:53+00:00

Gardai arrested two women yesterday in an operation against a suspected brothel operating out of the Hilton Hotel on the Ennis Road.

Staff at the hotel became suspicious after an increased number of male visitors to the room was observed.

At 1600 hrs yesterday, Gardai raided the hotel room and arrested two women, A Spanish and Brazilian national in their 20s.

Computer hardware as well as CDs were also seized.

According to the Evening Herald website, the two women are suspected of using the internet to pedal their services, with customers making contact via mobile phone.

The Limerick Leader reports on their website that the two women were due before a sitting of the District Court earlier today.

White House Poetry Revival Wed 23rd July 2008

2008-07-18T12:33:06+00:00

WHITE HOUSE POETRY REVIVAL

WED 23d JULY 2008 9.00pm

This weeks guest poet is Ailbhe Darcy.

Ailbhe Darcy has published poems in Ireland, Britain and the US. 'Protest' features in the current issue of Crannóg, and 'Bluff' can be found in the latest issue of Seam. She also writes critically on poetry for The Stinging Fly and Verbal. She recently appeared as part of the prestigious Poetry Ireland Introductions Series, and has read at the London Irish Centre, Liberty Hall and Keats' House. She will feature again at London's Poetry Café on 26th July.
Born in Dublin in 1981, Ailbhe has lived in Paris, Nice, London and Cambridge, working as a holiday rep, in a bookshop, at a tax institute, in a students' union and serving countless drinks in various pubs. She has a BA in English and French, an MA in publishing and an MSc in development studies, the last of which took her to Zambia to study community media there. At the end of August she will move to the US to embark on a PhD at the University of Notre Dame. With Clodagh Moynan, she co-edits Moloch, an online journal of new Irish art and writing.

Info: Dominic Taylor 087 2996409 or Barney Sheehan 086 8657494 Blog http//:whitehousepoets.blogspot.comThe White House Poets gratefully acknowledges the support of Limerick City Council, the ArtsCouncil of Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge and Poetry Ireland.
------------------------------------------

Ah Paris

2008-07-18T11:49:18+00:00

Sorry long time no blog. Since my last post I passed my driving test, yay, and spent four days in Paris with my brother and the kids. We walked our legs off and ate, a lot. The great thing about Paris, and there is many, is that you walk so much that all the bread, cheese and pastry you eat just disappears.

Here's a few photos from the trip. This is how I imagine I will look if I lived in Paris, a few years down the road! With my sons in the foreign legion! I had to stop these guys for a photo, it couldn't be any more Parisian, and on Bastille day.

This is Saoirse enjoying a crepe on the Rue St Paul. There are so many eateries here that we dedicated a whole day to eating at as many of them as possible, sushi, bread and cheese and ice cream for dinner, yummy.

And this is a cake made like a chess board, sigh.

I'm off to Biarritz and San Sebastian on Monday for a week, sans kids so there will be more bites from abroad next after that.

Pete Cummins - Dolans Tonight

2008-07-18T10:00:13+00:00

Get yourself down to dolans tonight and witness Siobhan O'Brien & Eamonn Hehir supporting the former Granny’s Intentions legend Pete Cummins.
Several bands later including The Fleadh Cowboys has led Pete to this solo gig. This is not to be missed!

Pete on Balcony TV

The Execution of Andrew Hanlon

2008-07-18T01:59:53+00:00

Somebody put a CD into the mailbox of AJ’s sister on the 4th July.

The woman in the recording claimed to be a relative of the woman on whose door Andrew had been knocking. This woman claimed that her relative believed she was being burgled and phoned the police. She went on to claim that the woman in the house called her husband, who arrived with a friend and chased Andrew away.

After that, two men chased Andrew down the hill, but we don’t know who these two men were.

The woman on the tape stated that the policeman, Gonzales, arrived and intercepted AJ as he ran down the street, that Andrew tripped and that Gonzales opened fire when he tried to get up.

The woman claimed to have heard Gonzales telling Andrew to get down. Whoever this woman is, she was closely associated with the events that caused Andrew’s death and now she’s in a panic. Whoever this woman is, she’s knows exactly what happened to poor AJ.

We don’t know who this person is, claiming to be relative of the woman who lives in the house Andrew knocked on, but it’s plain that her account is a subtle distortion of the facts, compiled by somebody very frightened. It seems to me that the woman in the mysterious recording might be afraid a close friend or relative is in danger of prosecution.

This CD needs to be investigated because the person speaking on it appears to be engaged in an attempt to divert attention from the facts of a cold-blooded killing.

It seems to me that whoever spoke on this recording is hiding some vital facts about Andrew’s death.

The woman is right about this though: Andrew fell down before Gonzales shot him the final time. He fell down, but it wasn’t because he tripped while running. Andrew fell down because he had been shot, probably fatally, and without warning.

Gonzales only shouted a warning to Andrew after he was already fatally injured. When Andrew was lying on the ground, trying to get up, Gonzales then shot him again several times, in the limbs, causing the young rookie policeman who accompanied him to throw up in horror.

Now why would Gonzales do this? Well, one possible reason is that he knew Andrew was going to die. He knew that the earlier shots were fatal, and he needed to show that some disabling shots had been fired first. Therefore, he needed to have some bullet wounds in Andrew’s legs, so he shot the dying kid again, just to get those wounds.

My guess is that he will now try to reverse the chronology and claim to have fired the leg and arm shots first. He’ll claim that the fatal wounds were inflicted only after Andrew refused to stop.

I’ll remind you again: Andrew Hanlon was shot seven times, and possibly by two different weapons. His injuries include a bullet hole between the shoulder blades and another in the abdomen. Who was firing these different guns?

Let me remind you of another thing: the place where Andrew knocked on the door is about five minutes walk from his sister’s house, and not on the other side of town, as some have suggested. He was in the neighbourhood where he used to live when he first arrived in Silverton. This was no burglar.

That’s why the CD is important, despite the fact that it attempts to mislead. One vital fact it confirms is that Andrew didn’t just trip.

We don’t know who Andrew’s pursuers were, but it appears that Andrew met his death at the hands of a number of people. These people were the policeman, Tony Gonzales, and the unidentified men who flushed Andrew down the hill.

I don’t know who these men were who chased Andrew, nor do I know how they became involved in chasing him, but I do know this: Andrew Hanlon was executed after he knocked at the wrong door.

They exterminated him as they might dispatch an animal, and after they killed him they ran to the back of a nearby building like the cowards they are. That’s where one of them muttered Got it or Shot it.

Got it. For all that this killing affected these two men, they might as well have been shooting a dog.

I hope the Oregon authorities hold the killers to account for their part in taking the life of this harmless kid.

_________________________

All Bock posts on AJ Hanlon HERE

bockdigiprint

Andrew Hanlon — From A Close Family Friend

2008-07-18T00:58:40+00:00

This came tonight. I share it with you without comment.

______________________________________________

I would like to say that I have been reading through your posts with interest and I would like to let you know that AJ’s family have been reading your posts too.

I would like to thank many of you who have openly expressed support and condolences to the family during this extremely difficult and painful time.

There has been a lot of press coverage both here in Ireland and the USA that has been full of speculation and unsubstantiated drivel about family, AJ himself and private lives of the Hanlon / Carroll family. This is causing a lot of pain and difficulty to the family and has no place or relevance in this case. This is something that is being used to sensationalise the story and sell newspapers.

I know this family, I know Dorothea & Justin, I know Melanie, Eamonn Thomas, Andrew James, Mary Kate and Danielle, I also know Andrew’s father Eamonn Hanlon and the extended families on all sides. I know that truth and the background. These kids, most young adults now, are loved and cherished by their family and never would you say that this was a neglected home nor was anyone of the kids abandoned as reported by the gutter press in both countries. I know that anyone that knows this family or has had the opportunity to spend time with this family will know this to be true.

Also I would like to inform all of you of the arrangements for AJ’s funeral.

The Funeral will be held on Monday the 21st of July at 10am in Saggart church, Co Dublin.

Also as per the wishes of the family I would ask that those wishing to attend not bring floral tributes as there will be a facility for contributions towards AJ’s repatriation fund.

This tragic event has put the entire family both immediate and extended at large financial strain as no one expects to lose a son, a brother, a nephew or a friend like this.

Again thank you for your support and a special thank you to Bock for making it possible for comments and views to be aired openly on the unnecessary slaying of this young bright Irish Son.

_______________________

UPDATE

Andrew’s friends set up a memorial site where he was killed. the site contained personal memorabilia, flower arrangements, trinkets,artwork and photos.

The Silverton public works department removed all the objects and destroyed them.

______________________

All Bock posts on AJ Hanlon HERE

bockdigiprint

Housekeeping: Links and The Limerick Blogger

2008-07-17T19:49:52+00:00

As most of you probably noticed, we just changed our domain from limerickblogger.org to limerickblogger.ie, which we feel suits the site better.

Search engines put new domain names in a “sandbox” for a few months, which means they rarely rank highly in search results — which will of course hurt us. This can be avoided by having links point to the new domain, though. So this post is to say that if you currently have a link to The Limerick Blogger at our old address (.org), we’d really appreciate it if you’d change it to point to limerickblogger.ie.

Also, we work pretty hard to help all Limerick blogs and sites by linking to them in the sidebar. If you read this and have a site, we’d really appreciate a link in return.

Lastly, if there are any Limerick blogs that we don’t currently link to, please let us know so that we can add them.

Cheers,

The Editors

The Wasp Knife. What Will They Think Of next?

2008-07-17T19:23:03+00:00

Just when you think you’ve seen it all, damn me but don’t they go and invent something so clever you just have to push your John Deere cap to the back of your head, move the dust around with your toe and mutter Shucks!

I’ve just realised there’s been a general theme of violence here over recent days, and so I thought, why not bring you something utterly violent and at the same time utterly ludicrous?

Have a look at this. See what you make of it.

That’s right. It’s a knife, but it isn’t just any old knife. No indeed. I wouldn’t like to be stabbed with this knife, though of course, at short notice, I don’t know if I’d like to be stabbed with any knife, but this one in particular holds a special dread for me.

Why?

Well, you see, when the Special Forces assassin stabs you with this weapon, he doesn’t just twist it in the traditional evil villain method any more. Not at all.

Instead he presses a small button, and guess what happens.

Go on. Guess.

Yes? No? Not sure?

Ok. I’ll tell you. The knife injects a high-pressure cloud of frozen gas the size of a basketball that instantly turns your heart, lungs, liver, lights, guts, spleen, and kidneys into one solid block of frozen dead person. It then blows you to bits.

What?

Yup.

Here’s a cutaway picture of the Wasp knife and you can see the little cylinder of gas embedded in the handle. Clever, eh?

Have a look at this video.

You can see how handy the Wasp knife would be around the kitchen or at barbecues. Never again worry about cutting that melon in half.

The manufacturers think this knife will be a great advantage for divers when a shark attacks them, and if they happen to be running cross country in their flippers and facemasks, they can also use it to kill any bears they bump into. Then, in a moment of pure inspiration, the makers think about it some more, and they realise that it could also be useful for killing human beings.

Here’s the list of people they think are suitable to have a Wasp knife:

Special Ops Troops (Land or Sea)

Downed Pilots Stranded In Open Water or Remote Forests

S.W.A.T. and Special Police

Security Guards

Got that?

Right. Now, on reflection, I reckon I can live with the idea of Special Ops having it. After all, they’re going to kill you one way or another. And I always had a soft spot for downed pilots. You couldn’t leave them defenceless. SWAT and police? Well, why the hell not? After all, they’re blowing people away already, as we’ve seen in the last week or so in Silverton, Oregon.

But then we get to security guards and I start to think, Wait a minute! What the hell is this? Are you saying that the fat unshaven bastard lounging outside the supermarket in an ill-fitting button-popping shirt is getting a knife that can blow me to bits? This is considered a suitable weapon for security guards?

What the hell kind of planet do these people live on? In what demented, violent universe did somebody think it was a good idea to sell such a weapon to security guards? So I check, and suddenly it all makes sense: there’s the logo.

Why am I not surprised?

While I’m at it, here’s something equally ridiculous.

bockdigiprint

Madeleine McCann Fiasco: Robert Murat Wins Damages From Newspapers

2008-07-17T17:22:13+00:00

The scandal goes on.

You’ll remember I wrote extensively about this disgraceful story when the frenzy was at its height. After behaving like absolute swine, the British press were eventually forced to print front-page apologies to Kate and Gerry McCann for printing lies about them.

Now they’ve been forced to apologise to another of their victims and to pay him £600,000 in compensation. Robert Murat was vilified and libelled by the papers. His life was destroyed. He was turned into a figure of hatred by the media hyenas who trailed him everywhere he went and made his days and nights into a hell.

They imprisoned him in his house and tried to convince the world that he was responsible for Madeleine’s disappearance, when in reality he had nothing whatever to do with it.

All that Robert Murat did was try and help the investigation by translating for the police. That was when a fool of a reporter from the Sunday Mirror, Lori Campbell, reported Murat to the police because she thought he was creepy. The thundering idiot.

These are the kind of cretins who work for the major papers and TV stations. Talking heads without a brain between them, who trade in suspicion and ignorance to destroy the lives of innocent people.

Scum.

____________________

Previously

Madeleine McCann

bockdigiprint

Selection From The Archives

2008-07-17T16:34:17+00:00

Right. You’ll remember that I ~~threatened~~ promised to bring you the occasional Bock post from the archives.

Well, here’s today’s offering. Just ignore this if you’ve seen it already.

___________________________________

Imagine Being A Muslim Martyr

I was out tonight in my pub of choice, having a few scoops of my drink of choice with my friends of choice, when the subject of Islamic martyrdom came up. This is how sad I am, and how pathetically sad my friends of choice are too.

As we were all men, somebody was bound to bring up the matter of the 77 virgins. You just would, y’know? Somebody said, Well, it isn’t that bad. You have the 77 virgins waiting for you when you die heroically, after the martyrdom, which is probably painful all right, probably very fukken painful getting a spear through your chest or blown to bits, but still, 77 virgins, y’know. How bad?

And on the face of it, that’s probably true. On the face of it, you would certainly think, how bad could it be?

Well, here comes the news. It could be pretty fucking bad. There you are, newly-arrived in Heaven, and here’s your 77 virgins.

How’s it goin’, Boss? Satisfy us, ya bollix!

All well and good. You get down to business, and as it’s heaven, involving the afterlife where you don’t get tired or any of that kind of thing, you finally manage to satisfy the 77 virgins.

Jesus Christ, I need a pint, you gasp, and you’re about to slither off to the pub.

Where the fuck do you think you’re going? says the 77 ex-virgins.

To the pub!!

Without us? Not a chance!!

So there you are in the pub, eventually, having called 19 taxis. Right darlings, what are we having?

A stupid question. You stand at the bar, discussing your order with the barman who can’t believe what a stupid twat you are:

Let’s see if I have that, now. 32 Heineken with ice. 14 Heineken with lime. 4 spritzers. 2 gin and tonic. 5 Jagermeisters. 2 Fat Frogs. 11 tequila slammers. 3 pints of Bulmers. 3 Jamesons. 1 Black Bush. And a Guinness.

No bother.

The door swings open. It’s your brother in martyrdom, Mikey.

Jesus, there’s Mikey. How’s it goin’, Mikey - what will you have?

Oh, I’ll have a pint of Guinness, 44 tequila slammers, 15 red wines, 3 Wild Turkeys, 12 Coronas and 3 Slivovitz.

Grand, says the barman. That’s 32 Heineken with ice, 14 Heineken with lime, 4 spritzers, 5 Jagermeisters, 3 Jamesons, 55 tequila slammers, 2 gin and tonics, 2 Fat Frogs, 3 pints of Bulmers, 15 red wines, 3 Wild Turkeys, 12 Coronas and 3 Slivovitz. 1 Black Bush. And 2 pints of Guinness.

That’s right. Oh, fuck it, here’s Tommy with his Mexican virgins. Tommy will ya have a pint? Grand. Barkeep, will ya make that 32 Heineken with ice, 14 Heineken with lime, 4 spritzers, 5 Jagermeisters, 3 Jamesons,132 tequila slammers, 2 gin and tonics, 2 Fat Frogs, 3 pints of Bulmers, 15 red wines, 3 Wild Turkeys, 12 Coronas and 3 Slivovitz. 1 Black Bush. And 3 pints of Guinness. Grand. Fine.

Finally, after eight of the lads turn up, we get a cosy little sing-song going, just the 702 of us, involving a medley of old numbers by Captain Beefheart and the Velvet Underground. Yet something isn’t quite right, though we don’t know what. The 693 virgins seem a little pissed off at our lack of attention.

What’s wrong? we say.

As one, the 693 virgins fold their arms and reply, Nothing!

bockdigiprint

Mainstream Media Follow Bock’s Lead

2008-07-17T14:00:52+00:00

I see the Irish Sun have an exclusive today.

It’s all about Jane Stone’s revelations regarding Andrew Hanlon’s killing, which I wrote about in this post the day before yesterday. Come to think of it, I did happen to notice somebody from News International visiting here yesterday.

I understand that, following their visit here, the reporter phoned Jane to confirm the story, but oddly enough, the quotes in the Sun bear a remarkable resemblance to those I published on Tuesday.

Needless to say, there’s no mention of Bock in the article but I suppose I should be flattered that an organisation with Rupert Murdoch’s vast resources at its command should take the lead from a harmless old blogger in Limerick.

______________________

Meanwhile, events are unfolding fast in Silverton, and I’ll bring you the information as I get it, or alternatively, you can read it in the Sun if you’re prepared to wait a couple of days.

_____________________

UPDATE 18th July

I see Associated Newspapers have been visiting today.

I wonder if we can expect to see material from this site appearing on the Irish Mail on Sunday? Let’s keep an eye out.

I notice News International are reading the AJ Hanlon reports again too. In fact, they’re on right now, and they’ve been going through them for the last two hours. It’ll be interesting to see what they steal.

bockdigiprint

Piedmontese Peppers

2008-07-17T09:00:03+00:00

A couple of years ago, I was on a book buying binge and managed to acquire Good Tempered Food by Tamasin Day-Lewis. To be honest, I haven't made a lot of the recipes out of it, but this one is definitely a winner. It can make an elegant starter ...

Teen accused of spitting on Jerry McCabe statue

2008-07-17T01:00:09+00:00

A court was told this week of how an arrested teenager allegedly spat on a commemorative statue of the late Garda Jerry McCabe while in custody at Henry Street Garda station.

The 16 year old, who was arrested for public order offences on May 28th, was reported to be threatening and abusive to Gardai while in the reception of the city Garda station when he spat on the sculpture.

It is also reported that he allegedly told Gardai that there isn’t enough of them dead.

At a hearing this week Judge Tom O Donnell ordered a probation report on the teen ,who has since been forthcoming with a written apology in relation to the incident.

Detective Garda Jerry McCabe was shot dead during a post office robbery in the county Limerick town of Adare almost 12 years ago.

Gardai seize more drugs in the county

2008-07-17T00:26:55+00:00

Just a week after €190,000 worth heroin and cannabis in the village of Clarina, Gardai in Newcastlewest have revealed that cannabis plants with an estimated street value of €10,000, have been seized in the town of Ballyagran.

Gardai raided a rented house in the village at around 4.00pm Tuesday where they also recovered electrical equipment.

No arrests were made during the operation.

49 new jobs for Raheen Industrial Park

2008-07-16T23:48:02+00:00

A US firm has announced the creation of 49 jobs for Limerick.

OnSemiconductor, a ‘supplier of efficient silicon solutions’ is reported to be establishing a Research and development plant in the Raheen Industrial Park.

ON Semiconductor’s new R&D centre in Limerick aims to become a centre of expertise in digital power management and thermal management for next-generation processors, creating 49 high-calibre jobs for semiconductor designers and engineers.
It will develop controller and driver integrated circuits for next-generation processors in servers, gaming consoles, desktop and laptop computers. Some 28 employees are already in place.

Headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona, ON Semiconductor designs, manufactures and markets power and data management semiconductors and standard semiconductor components worldwide. Its existing Limerick operation won the R&D centre project against strong competition from other ON Semiconductor sites worldwide.
Via Silicon Republic

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan spoke at the announcement of the jobs creation saying the choice of Limerick for this investment “is a major endorsement of Ireland’s ability to successfully implement such technologically advanced R&D projects”

Full Press Release Here

Developing: Skatepark group representatives refused permission to speak at opening

2008-07-16T22:09:37+00:00

Representatives of groups who campaigned for skate park facilities in Limerick have been refused permission to speak at the opening of the new park on Friday.

The reason given by Council officials is that it is not normal protocol.

More later.

UPDATE Some new information. While skateboard activist Tom Shortt was not invited to speak at the event, he was asked what he would like to have said, which would have been said on his behalf.

Woman Convicted of Sexually Abusing Son

2008-07-16T19:43:25+00:00

A 40-year-old woman has been convicted in the Circuit Court on two counts of incest and two of sexual abuse against her son.

Why do I mention this? Ah come on. How often do you hear of women being convicted for sexual abuse?

Does this mean women don’t commit sexual abuse? No, of course it doesn’t, but sexual abuse by women is far less likely to be reported, and accusations are far less likely to be believed . In just the same way, men are far less likely to complain of domestic violence, for all sorts of reasons, including shame and embarrassment. Even if they do complain, the police are less likely to take them seriously.

I was listening to a radio interview last week with a journalist who wrote a book called something like “Irish Wife-Murderers”, and I thought to myself, what about women killing their husbands?

Certainly, these cases aren’t nearly as common, but they do happen, and when women kill their partners, their defence is often attended by the most outrageous claims that a male accused wouldn’t get away with for a second.

The defence team always seems to attack on the dead man’s character in an effort to persuade the court that he deserved to die.

Can you imagine the reaction if some man accused of killing his wife made such a claim? Yes, I killed her but I had to. She was violent and abusive. I had to choke her. I had no choice.

Why am I saying this? Am I trying to achieve some parity of disrespect between men and women? No.

I’m saying that society tends to make assumptions that aren’t necessarily true. I’m saying that men don’t hold the monopoly on violence and abusive behaviour. I think there may be other reasons why more women aren’t charged with domestic violence or sexual abuse, and those reasons may be to do with society’s reluctance to acknowledge the existence of such offences.

I wonder if someone will try to argue that this woman was forced by a male-dominated society into sexually abusing her children? Perhaps this woman is really the victim and it’s my fault she did what she did.

bockdigiprint

switchAbit glitch

2008-07-16T17:00:15+00:00

Sorry for that last post but I didn't create it. I had signed up with switchAbit to try out their automatic cross-posting tool (e.g. Flickr to Blogger, Facebook, etc or Blogger to Flicker or any such 1 - 1 or 1 - M combination). However I've been a busy bee working on my thesis so haven't had anytime to post anything lately which means the robots are trying to take control of my blog! The joys of beta software, so things have been turned off and hopefully normal service should be restored.

Happy night: Benefit event for the Late Patrick Coleman

2008-07-16T16:45:27+00:00

In September 2007, Patrick Coleman passed away after a violent attack near his home in Carew Park. The much loved Mr. Coleman left behind many friends who have now banded together to celebrate his life with a good-humoured event befitting of the man.

A benefit night is to take place at Dolans on Friday the 18th of July with numerous events.

The whole thing kicks off at 1800 hrs with Kids face painting, magicians and fire eaters. For the grown ups there will be live music from Seneca Vesta Varro The Funk Junkies Escapade Walter Mitty and the Realists and Andi Mooney, as well as comedy acts.

As well as that, there will be DJ sets from Pippy Phil Wade Cian Frawley Niall Colgan Cait Collins and Paul Tarpey

Tickets for the events are €10 and are availible from Dolans and Mickey Martins.

Telas y bordados - México 2008 5976

2008-07-16T14:47:00+00:00

The Grotto are Back

2008-07-16T14:27:54+00:00

When I was in Denver a couple of months ago and I happened to be in star bucks and noticed a CD tilted “Across the Pond”. To my amazement there was “The Guggenheim Grotto” track listed on this compilation album. What the hell were the lads doing here?
Upon returning home I realised they were trekking around America coast to coast gigging. This was beginning to be very fruitful with some serious radio time with Xfm and many more. They were also heard on TV shows in America and were starting to get some serious interest. Funnily enough I only heard their new songs through an American blog I check regularly.
Waltzing Alone was brought out in 2005 here and 06 in the US and has been on and off my speakers for 3 years and the songs never grow old. Their new album is ready to be rolled out in September called “Happy the Man” and I am sure it will be one of the best Irish Album of 08 and up their in the best of 08 overall. Two new tracks have been posted to itunes and can be got through their site.
The first being “Walking up in America” and also the new one since last Friday called “Fee Da Da Dee” . These are great tracks and are just wetting the appetite for the full release of the album.
I have witnessed them live twice, once in Glor, Ennis and the other in Dolans.
The Dolans gig has to be of my favourites of all time, there was something so special about the gig upstairs and it just blew everyone away that night. Met the guys afterwards and they are really nice guys and I wish them well with the new album.
The grotto plan to start a full tour end of August/September on and I really hope they can throw on another great display in Dolans.

Check them out for yourself http://www.guggenheimgrotto.com/

The Guggenheim Grotto "Philosophia"

The Guggenheim Grotto - Wonderful Wizard

Vegans, Jehovah Witnesses, Transubstantiation and Other Lunatic beliefs

2008-07-15T17:58:50+00:00

Vegan Bastards

Is there anything more annoying than a vegan?

Well, yes, actually. Now that you mention it, there is. Vegan parents are more annoying.

There was a case recently of a 12-year-old girl admitted to a Glasgow hospital with a degenerative bone condition caused by the lack of calcium. According to the hospital, this child’s spine was in a condition they’d expect to find in an 80-year-old.

It’s belief, you see. More bullshit. The parents’ beliefs are more important than their children’s welfare. That’s why adults, who grew up on a diet of milk and cheese and fish and meat, and who have developed strong and healthy bones, feel entitled to deprive their infant children of all these things. It’s their belief, and that makes it all right, even though what they believe in is a load of old bollocks.

It’s their belief, just like the nonsense that is homeopathy, a non-science that believes water has a memory. These charlatans dilute your medicine until it can no longer be detected in the water, and then they tell you that the water remembers what was dissolved in it. Now, all water is as old as the planet and has had everything in the world dissolved in it at one time or another, but somehow it only remembers what the chancer wants it to remember.

Bah!

What the hell is this obsession we have with belief, and why do we give a special place to some beliefs but not to others? Why did we agonise when two Jehovah’s Witness parents wanted to prevent their child having a blood transfusion? Why didn’t we just arrest them there and then for trying to endanger their child? Throw them in the slammer and give the child to a family who’ll take proper care of it?

I don’t know. We said, it’s their religion!

So what if it’s their religion? So what? Religion or not, it’s still insane. Why the hell are people entitled to switch off our sanity button by invoking their religion?

I’m going to wear a bag over my head while I’m in school.

No you’re not.

Yes I am. It’s my religion!

Insane. It isn’t my problem if some old guy in the desert a thousand years ago decided you have to wear a bag on your head. It’s your problem for swallowing such horseshit. Get over yourself!

I don’t give a rat’s arse what delusion you believe in. Your delusion isn’t a licence to behave like a total gobshite.

I’m a Scientologist and I believe an alien from Venus lives inside your head.

You’re nuts.

You can’t say that.

Yes I can.

You’re oppressing me! I’ll set 43,000 lawyers on you!

I think we’ve reached the quota for lunatic beliefs now, and if you want to start a new lunatic belief system, you’ll have to wait until one of the old ones is extinguished, like a pub licence. That’s why the majority of sane, rational people in this country will laugh at Jehovah’s Witnesses, but happily go on believing that a man in a skirt can turn Jesus into a biscuit, which is a nice, sensible belief.

Did you ever think about that transubstantiation thing? I did, and it worries me.

Now, it’s not that I’d be at any religious service very often, but sometimes you have to go to funerals, weddings and that sort of thing, and I was wondering. You know the bit where the witch-doctor waves his hands around and sparks fly out of his fingers and he turns that biscuit into the body and blood of Jesus?

You with me? Right, well, what I’m wondering is how far the bread-to-Jesus rays travel and how powerful they are. Maybe a Christian Scientist might know the answer. You see, it’s possible you might not have got home the night before, and perhaps you have half an uneaten pitta bread doner kebab in your pocket. Or a ham sandwich. Or maybe a packet of biscuits.

You see where this is going, and it’s a real worry for me. If the priest is feeling particularly powerful this morning, possibly because he had a ~~nice altar-boy~~ good slug of whiskey, would he be able to zap that kebab right through your pocket, truly turning it into the Spicy Lamb of God? Or if it was still wrapped in the aluminium foil, would that stop the rays getting through?

Maybe you’d need a lead-lined kebab just to be on the safe side.

I don’t know. Theology was never my strong point.

What I do know is that I hate vegans for being condescending, insufferable twats, and therefore I’ve invented a new breakfast cereal for them. When the revolution comes, my people will round them all up and force them to eat this every morning, but it’ll be good for the general public too.

I think this is going to be a real success. A breakfast cereal made of pork.

I call it Meatabix. What do you think?

__________________________

Thanks to Achilles for doing the pic.

________________

Elsewhere: Natural Selections

bockdigiprint

Fanni Mae and Freddie Mac

2008-07-15T12:42:17+00:00

Fanni Mae and Freddie Mac are America’s two largest mortgage companies. Between them, they own or guarantee half of all the mortgages in the United States, and now they’re in trouble.

Hold on a minute.

Fannie Mae?

Freddie Mac?

Who said Americans have no sense of irony? Their lending system is controlled by two cartoon characters, there’s a cowboy in charge of the government, and something has gone badly wrong in Mortgageland.

Shrub has knocked the country flat on its back, and now Friendly Fannie and Fun-loving Freddie are going to fuck it senseless.

You know, with all the money they spent searching for terrorists, maybe they were looking in the wrong place the whole time.

bockdigiprint

Limerick man found dead in Alaska

2008-07-15T11:44:02+00:00

Police in the American state of Alaska are investigating the death of a native Limerick man.

The body of 36 year old Edward Byrnes who is originally from Granville Park in Limerick City, was discovered under a bridge in the city of Anchorage on Friday last. He is believed to have fallen to his death.

Media reports say Mr. Byrnes was a member of the US army and had only recently returned from duty in Iraq. Local police continue to investigate.

An Introduction to Breadmaking

2008-07-15T11:00:03+00:00

Most people will never attempt to make bread. Some would like to, but are afraid to try, because "breadmaking is hard", or "it requires a special talent", or "you can only make bread if your hands are cold/warm/wet/dry/thrice blessed by Tibetan monks under a full moon", or [insert ridiculous but ...

AJ Hanlon Killing: A Witness Contacts Us

2008-07-15T09:22:59+00:00

This came from Jane Stone, who lives on the street where AJ was killed.

It’s an extraordinary statement that paints a picture of householders over-reacting to Andrew’s knocking on the door, followed by a merciless killing. What’s not so clear is who fired the first two shots. The report seems to hint that Gonzales shot Andrew several times after he had already been shot by two other men.

These men ran to the back of the building where Jane lives, after the shooting. Were they the two men who pursued Andrew after he knocked on the door or were they the police?

I’m trying to clarify this and I’ll come back with more information if I can find out exactly what meaning is intended.

This is Jane Stone’s account:

I am devastated by what happened to Andrew. He was murdered in front of my building, on Oak and Mill St. in Silverton, Ore. I am an internationally known artist/writer and although I did not know Andrew, I feel a kinship as a fellow artist, and also several of my artist apprentices over the years knew Andrew. Every single one of them told me what an awesome person he was, and that he loved life.

This is what i know to be true: first 2 shots came from front and side of my bldg.. NO WARNING CALL ie: “police” hands up”, “stop” etc.

NOTHING except 2 shots, then 2 males ran away from victim to back window of my bldg., where I was at computer. Then, (maybe 1 minute or more later) popping sounds on oak st.. I believe andrew was already fatally wounded when officer inflicted shoulder limb shots. that (could) be why Andrew “tripped and fell down.”

There is huge cover up going on here, I KNOW WHOEVER FIRED 1ST 2 SHOTS (very loud) they were fired by or at my bldg.. please- we must not let this go!!!

We must not give up until light shines on Andrew’s soul… he was (from every report I’ve heard) a fine, gentle person who was going thru loss of employment, loss of place to live and expired visa~ enough to bring stress to anyone.

The whole thing could have been dealt with at the outset by a pause, kindness and directions. How does banging on a door intrepret out to a burglary in progress??? This young irishman was barefoot, no backpack, 130#, 5′6″,totally un armed, being chased down oak st. hill by husband (of wife who called to report burglary in progress) and friend of husbands’.

How many times kids have come to my door asking for directions (late at night)?

live up Oak St. Hill from my studio-(the bldg. from which 1st 2 shots were fired) and all I’ve had to do is walk kid (s) out to sidewalk, then show them the road they were looking for, which is usually the one directly across from my house.

Simple.

Why would anyone call police because a young adult needed directions, and within minutes, he is dead? This was a tragic sensless brutal murder and I pray we will see justice here, for Andrew’s soul, for the family of andrew and the young adults in Silverton who loved him, for the people in ireland who are heartbroken too.

I am wanting to do more, please with the help of good people from around the States and in Ireland, let us join together here, in the name of Andrew J Hanlon. He so deserves a sacred memorial, it would be called “JUSTICE LIVES” and it would be built out of TRUTH. We cannot allow this murder to be covered up,

How can we start? What will we do? I send my love to everyone whose life was and is being touched by Andrew.

J Stone

_________________________

This is where they killed him after he was chased down the hill by a neighbour. The police were waiting for him near the junction of N 3rd St and Cascade HWY (aka Oak St). The approximate location of his killing is marked with a white asterisk.

Previously:

AJ Hanlon’s Killer Arrested After Claims OF Sexual Abuse

Andrew Hanlon. Gunned Down By An American Cop

bockdigiprint

Some Actual New Photos!

2008-07-15T07:03:48+00:00

And yet again, my blogging dried up, for various reasons. However, I'm back, baby! Until the next unintended hiatus! Exclamation point!

These were taken in Spanish Point, probably my most frequent photographic subject. I've posted up photos of the place here, here, here, and finally, here. I wouldn't say that Spanish Point is my favourite landscape location, however, I have easy access to it and somewhere to stay nearby. Sometimes, I'm learning, this is equally, or even more important than the beauty of the spot and the skill of the photographer. Plus, I like the fact that I'm building up something of an unintentional 'collection' of photos of Spanish Point, at different times, seasons, and weather conditions. Photos often add up to more than the sum of their parts when viewed all at once. Sometime soon I'll post all my favourites in one post - that's a threat.

Anyway, here you go!

Sorry about all the commas...

By the way, if you click through to the photo hosted on Zooomr, you can view the geolocation data which I added afterwards - if you're interested in knowing where exactly these were taken.

Latest pictures from Thomond Park

2008-07-14T19:36:30+00:00

Lez provided us with some up-to-date pictures of Thomond Park (taken a few days ago).

As you can see things are going even better. The new turf is laid and growing well, and you can see from my pictures the new underground sprinkler system is also installed. Latest news is that the building contractors will be out of there in six weeks. They are also talking about a October the 10 match.

AJ Hanlon’s Killer Arrested After Claims OF Sexual Abuse

2008-07-14T16:39:47+00:00

This is AJ.

He was 20 years old, a gentle boy, loved by all who knew him, but now he’s dead.

A part-time policeman in Silverton, Oregon shot him seven times and killed him.

This is AJ’s killer.

Since he killed AJ Hanlon, Tony Gonzales has been arrested on complaints that he sexually abused a young girl.

Story HERE, and HERE

Some people in Oregon have attempted to smear AJ’s character, and even to question the standard of his upbringing, but it’s now becoming plain to everyone that he was just an inoffensive kid who was unlucky enough to run into someone like Tony Gonzales.

It now seems that what happened was very simple. AJ knocked on the wrong door, the occupants thought he was a burglar and called the police. Gonzalez, who was having an extremely bad day, arrived and emptied his gun at AJ, hitting him seven times.

People who knew AJ having been leaving comments HERE if you want to read them.

______________________

AJ Hanlon 1988-2008 RIP

______________________

UPDATE:

Court video of Gonzales’s arraignment HERE

______________________

Elsewhere: KVAL,

bockdigiprint

Shock, horror… some positive news on jobs front in Mid-West!

2008-07-14T15:30:39+00:00

George Glee can’t be too happy with this: some good news on the jobs front in the Mid-West today with three different announcements.

Mentor Graphics Ireland, a software development company said it will increase its existing workforce of 80 people in Shannon by 35. The company is a subsidiary of multinational Mentor Graphics, which employs 4,200 people worldwide. A second company, Phoenix American Financial Services Ireland (PAFS) which provides accounting other back office business services to the aircraft industry, is to increase its workforce by 15. ON Semiconductors will create a further 49 new jobs with the development of a research and development facility at its factory in Raheen industrial estate.

goat's cheese, cherry tomato and pancetta tart!

2008-07-14T14:23:34+00:00

We're off to Genova on Thursday and the weather isn't looking too good at the moment, they're having pretty bad weather up the north - it's probably because we're coming;), The forecast for Thursday when we arrive is really bad thunder storms and Genova airport is bad enough for landings as it is, so I'm really looking forward to that. As you may have noticed there hasn't been much cooking going on around here with everything that's going on but I did manage to make this simple tart on Saturday which is so quick and easy and probably takes the same time as making a toasted sandwich. My 2 new finds this week were individual puff pastry rounds, why did nobody tell me about these???, they are soooo handy and Superquin are now stocking sliced pancetta. It's not the best I've ever had but at least they have it in stock, I know this might be hard to imagine but it was impossible to buy sliced pancetta in Limerick up until now.



what you need, I'm not going to give measurements as it is so simple so I'll leave it up to you:

- puff pastry

- cherry tomatoes

- goat's cheese

- thyme

- pancetta(optional, it's lovely without too)

- pesto or tapenade (optional)

- beaten egg or milk

- sea salt and black pepper

- olive oil



what to do:

- pre-heat your oven to 200 degrees.

- prick the base of your pastry with a fork and layer your sliced goat's cheese on top making sure to leave space at the edges.

- arrange your tomatoes on top, season and sprinkle with thyme. Egg wash the edges of your pastry.

- cook for 20 mins until the pastry is risen, crisp and golden brown.

- heat a frying pan and cook your pancetta for a couple of mins until crisp and serve on top of your tart.

- sprinkle some goats cheese on top, drizzle with a little olive oil and serve with a simple rocket salad.



buon appetito!!

p.s. see you soon and try not to miss me too much:)

Ciao
xxxxx

Pulp Fiction

2008-07-13T23:28:05+00:00

I’m watching Pulp Fiction on the television, though I don’t know why. After all, I have the DVD and I can watch it any time I like, but I still can’t turn my head away when it comes on the TV.

Why is that? Why?

Is Pulp Fiction possibly the funniest movie ever made?

I think it might well be a candidate for the funniest picture that anybody has ever made, and I think Tarantino might well be a candidate for the funniest human being who ever lived.

Of course, Samuel L Jackson has to come there in second place, as the second funniest human being who ever lived. That would put John Travolta in third, and Harvey Keitel as The Wolf in fourth. That leaves Ving Rhames (Marcellus) as the fifth funniest human being who ever lived.

Favourite character? Jules. I like Jules, the cold-blooded motherfucker. I like him.

Hamburgers! The cornerstone of any nutritious breakfast!

bockdigiprint

Too Old For Oxegen, Just About Young Enough For Electric Picnic

2008-07-13T21:13:26+00:00

I didn’t go to Oxegen, I’m not going to Electric Picnic, and this is starting to look like a worrying trend. I’m kicking myself a little bit that I wasn’t organised enough to buy a ticket, but there’s another side to why I didn’t go to Oxegen.

I think I’d feel too old.

Now, this is a bit strange when you consider some of the artists performing there. REM, Eddy Grant, the Manic Street Preachers. Echo and the Bunnymen. The Stranglers, for fucksake. These are the musicians that people of my age listened to while we bounced our baby children on our knee, so what the fuck happened? Our baby children grew up and said fuck off, you should be at home listening to Elton John. It doesn’t matter what you say. It makes no difference trying to point out that you were listening to this music before — and possibly while — they were conceived.

On top of that, I introduced my children to the music of My Morning Jacket, the National, the Hold Steady. Not to mention fucking Alabama 3, which is the final insult: not only did my daughter start taking an interest in their music, but she also became good friends with the fuckers.

This is an outrage. Don’t they realise I’m an award-winning music writer? Now, they’re all at the goddam concert, while I grumble at you about being too old.

How did this happen? I’d like to hear Rage Against the Machine. I want to hear MMJ live, and Amy Winehouse while she’s still alive, which won’t be long more. I’d like to hear Groove Armada shakin that ass. I want to hear the Prodigy, the Kaiser Chiefs and the Fratellis. I really, really want to hear the Raconteurs, but the place would be full of annoying seventeen-year-olds and I’d want to hit them.

Oh wait! Maybe that’s it. Maybe I’m just too grumpy to go.

Well, that makes me feel better. Thanks for listening.

Now, I wonder if there are any tickets left for the Electric Picnic?

______________________________

Also on Bock the Robber:

Leonard Cohen In Dublin - Concert Review

Festival Report No 1

bockdigiprint

Two arrested in 'serious crime' probe

2008-07-13T11:19:03+00:00

Gardai investigating ‘serious crime’ on the northside of Limerick City have arrested two people.

The pair were arrested Friday evening by local Gardai who were assisted by the elite Emergency Response Unit.

One man has since been released however the other is still being held under section 30 of the offences against the state act.

NEW DETAILS
Local radio reports that cocaine and cannabis worth €60,000 along with firearms and ammunition, were recovered following the searches in the Ballynanty area of the city.

Amy Whinehouse Sounded TERRIBLE at Oxygen!

2008-07-13T09:32:35+00:00

Im sick of the way the DJs are talking on 2fm today, dont get me wrong, I love 2fm but apparantly they are all saying how amazingly great she sounded last night in oxygen… am… I know my ears are broken anyway but I made a special effort to listen and try to like her and she sounded BRUTAL last night!!! they usually have auto tuners on the mic’s in festivals like that, and she sounded completely off key and awfull!! the studio obviously do the majority of the work for her, its a pity too because if she treated herself better I can see the appeal in her strange voice, but she can barely breath much less stand up and sing! I really want to like the girl but how could you like someone who destroys themselves like that? Iv grown to really hate her actually and its a terrible shame because I know she could sing, and she has tallent in there, but listen to her now and look at her… its horrible!

I mean she sued to look like this and now she looks like this!! I have no pity for someone who does that to themselves, and certainly have no time for someone like this who is idolised by the media and by millions of adoring fans. If I was a fan of a talent like this and then they destroyed themselves with openly and obviously abusing every substance known to man so much so that it has ruined her voice, looks, respect…. I certainly wouldnt be an adoring fan any more!

She sounded terrible last night, end of!

Where would I get a Kotatsu?

2008-07-13T07:34:38+00:00

A Kotatsu is a japanese traditional lowsized table with a built in heater, a throw rug or a futon goes over the table over which the table top sits, its really cosy and is adorable and we want one in the new house im not alloud talk about yet… I will inform you more when were in we just dont want to jinx it!… iv said too much already!

But anyway our idea is to make a functional space in the dining room and a Kotatsu is a primary want, but sourcing one outside of Japan is very difficult!!! Ebay only seems to have them coming in from Japan and the import costs are massive! so….

any ideas??

Launch Of Issue 8 Revival Poetry Journal

2008-07-13T02:23:25+00:00

White House Poetry Revival

Wed 16th July 2008 9.00pm

Launch of Issue 8 of Revival Poetry Journal plus reading by poet John Liddy

John Liddy was born in Youghal, Co. Cork but grew up in Limerick. He is the founding editor along with Jim Burke of The Stony Thursday Book (1975 -) and has edited bilingual issues with his brother Liam and Miguel Ortega. He is a teacher and librarian and lives in Madrid.

The White House Poets would like to acknowledge the involvement of the Arts Council, Poetry Ireland, Foras na Gaeilge, Limerick City Council, http://www.limerick.com/ and the White House Bar for their continued support,

Limerick Senior Hurling 2008 comes to an end

2008-07-12T23:52:36+00:00

It was a match we expected to win. We were, after all, All-Ireland finalists last year and with the saga we left behind us who would have expected anything from Offaly?
Captain Mark Foley, a veteran from the cruel five-minute-final of 1994 had seen what could happen when you underestimate an Offaly team and, no doubt, had warned the rest of the team.
With Brian Geary back from injury we had our full panel. We were ready to put the embarrassing defeat against Clare behind us and play some real hurling. Weren’t we?

The game started off with Offaly’s Brian Carroll scoring a point followed quickly by another from Shane Dooley. All of a sudden we were five minutes into the game and three points behind. From the word go our Shannonsiders were overwhelmed by an Offaly defense led by David Kenny who almost casually picked up any offensive Limerick ball and cast it back to his forwards.

In the 10th minute Niall Moran, who was the only player to turn up for the championship game against Clare, caught a hand-pass from Mark Foley and, with a deft motion, put one over the bar. Donnie Ryan quickly followed with another point. But our increasing enthusiasm was quashed in the 14th minute with a goal from Joe Bergin. On the 20th minute Bergin scored again making the score 2-04 to 0-04 with the crumbling walls of the Limerick defence trailing after him.
Shaughs tried using a free in the 24th minute for an equalising goal which was blocked by a sturdy Offaly line. It eventually earned Wayne McNamera, a newcomer to Limerick Senior Hurling, a point.
Every approaching goal was blocked by the determined Offaly line. Mark Foley tried to provide our side with some dignity at the end of the first half with a point in the 35th minute; our first score in 11 minutes. This was, however, followed quickly by an Offaly point which concluded the first half with Limerick 11 points down and boos heard from supporters.

In the second half, Offaly were playing against the breeze and into the sun. Remembering our 10 point disadvantage against Tipperary last year, we clung on to hope. And for a while it seemed that things were going our way. Offaly scored wides while our Shaughs flicked his wrists and got us points in the 37th and 39th minutes. We actually started challenging our opponents and getting stuck in. But all hopes for our insurgency were dashed when Joe Bergin managed to pull his third goal from a Rory Hannify sideline cut. Although, Niall Moran put another over the bar, we needed a goal and we could not get it.

Pat Tobin put in a good performance scoring five points but by the 60th minute, it became a hopeless case with Limerick fans leaving the Gaelic Grounds. The frustration came to the fore with a fight almost breaking out which resulted in Denny Maloney getting yellow card. Mark Foley kept on fighting but the final score was
Offaly 3-19, Limerick 0-18.

So what went wrong? Limerick manager, Richie Bennis explains that the team doesn’t seem to have the same appetite as they did last year. Their play does leave a lot to be desired for when you compare it with the finalists we saw last year. Limerick didn’t quit, even when the chips were down, but in this match we couldn’t put up more than a five-minute token resistance. Our defence also seems to have waned. After the Clare fiasco we were told that lessons had been learned but the first and third goals were easy enough give-aways which shouldn’t have happened.
Where was Lucey, Geary, Ollie Moran, Reale, O’Brien, and Seanie O’Connor for most of the game?
The main thing seems to be that we underestimated Offaly and they were a much better team than anyone thought they’d be. Bennis says that there will be some soul searching for the next year. Lets hope that we haven’t returned to the post-1996 doldrums.

"nella" a.k.a nutella!

2008-07-12T23:28:51+00:00

Ballymaloe Diary, Week 12

2008-07-12T22:55:48+00:00

Oh lordy, it's already week twelve and not a child washed in the house as they say! My practical exam is tomorrow which I'm shaking at the knees about and the written exams will take place on Friday. We're all off to Ballymaloe House for a well deserved let-the-hair-down-but-don't-get-drunk-as-it's-frowned-upon dinner on Friday evening followed by a crazy night in the Ballycotton Blackbird on Friday night. Fun, fun, fun!

It's been so long since I've posed last that I'm not going to write an essay with a paragraph dedicated to each event so the engineer in me is going to break out and summarise some of the high points over the last few weeks... Just be thankful that it's not in spread-sheet format!!!

We visited the makers of the delicious Bay Lough cheddar cheese at their farm in Co. Tipp and got to see the curds being cut and tasted lots of samples - when you try you buy, so we all left laden down with cheddar!
I spent a day - in my element - working on the farmers market stall in Midleton. I've learned that it's very satisfying to be able to explain to a middle woman how to tell when beetroot is cooked when asked.
I spent a night in Ballymaloe House gutting & filleting mackerel for a Taste of Cork - not half as manky as it sounds.
I learned how to make brioche, puff pastry, flaky pastry, croissants, carraway seed bread, fougasse, chipatis, naans and a bunch of other breads.
I got to meet the AMAZING and GIGANTIC (6"8) head chef at The Cliff House Hotel in Ardmore. GO THERE, if only for the scallion egg yolks!!! That's all I'm going to say....
Spent a few hours rolling sushi during one of the afternoon demonstrations - great fun.
Took afternoon tea in Ballymaloe House and got to hear about the history of the house as well as some motivational words from the legendary Myrtle Allen.
Sat my wine exam and did very well thank-you-very-much. Not well enough for the Bollinger Champagne but I think I can tell my Burgundy's from my Bordeaux at this juncture.
Sat through two brilliant lectures given by Darina's sister, Blaithned Bergin about food costing and the highs & lows of setting up your own business.
Saw more of smoker Frank Hederman than was decent at 8.50 in the am (poor Frank was caught unaware when a bus load of Ballymaloe students arrived before the scheduled time).
Learned how to make a crystal clear consomee - very exciting, no really it is!
Cooked, and ate, lots & lots of lobster!
Learned how to make amazing cupcakes from Claire Ptak, ex (and reported best) pastry chef from Chez Panisse in California.

There's about 100 other things that I could add to this list but alas, the study desk calls. Hopefully, the next time I write, I'll have managed to sort out some sort of employment to keep me going. If you know of any nice cafe's / restaurants, that cook local, organic & seasonal food, with friendly staff, looking for an enthusiastic chef with little experience, please drop me a line.... High Expectations, moi? Why not reach for the stars? Life is short...

Man killed as bike collides with truck

2008-07-12T15:56:46+00:00

A man in his 40’s has been killed in a road traffic accident on the Limerick bypass this afternoon.

The man, who was on a bicycle, was in collision with a truck at around 1.50pm.The accident happened just after the Ballysimon Road turnoff.

Radio reports say the injured man was taken to the mid western regional hospital however he died from his injuries a short time later.

Gardai are appealing for witnesses to contact them on 061 212400.

NEW DETAILS
Gardai have named the deceased as 49 year old Tony O'Regan from Raheen, Co Limerick