Tag: Ireland

Glen Hansard

I talk a lot about Ireland here, so it should surprise no one that I was a big fan of Glen Hansard. Beyond that relationship, his music and the film Once were intertwined with several of my personal relationships. It’s a bit complicated to get into here, but someone burned a copy of an album by Glen’s band, The Frames, and mentioned he’d be in a movie coming out shortly thereafter. I wound up seeing Once a couple of times in the theatre, bought the DVD as soon as it was released, saw the touring Broadway play here in Maine, and caught Glen perform live, too. He and his wife were leaving the same bar I was entering right before the show — we were within feet of him moments before going on stage.

While many know him from Once, he started his band, The Frames, in 1990. In fact, Once was directed by former bassist of The Frames, John Carney. Additionally, he appeared in The Commitments, a movie I’ve seen many times, at the age of 20. It always felt as though he had a tenuous, reluctant relationship with acting, but he was a natural.

He’ll be missed.

I was hooked from the opening scene of Once:

From the play:

Not my video, but here he is in Maine:

Trailer for the documentary The Swell Season

The Frames:

The Commitments:

Funny story: I didn’t listen to much pop music in the early 2000s. I had no idea Everytime was a cover when I heard this, but I appreciate that he covered both Britney and Justin.

Dirty Old Town

The last time I was in Ireland was December 1999 at the end of my study abroad, around my 22nd birthday.  I’ve written a lot (maybe too much) about my time in Ireland, but now I get to go back for the time in nineteen years!

Working at Automattic, we gather with our teammates on a trip or two each year.  Being a distributed company, my particular team has members in Australia, New York, and South Africa.  We’ve decided on London for meetup this year and I’ll extend my trip for a few days in Dublin.

I’ll fly into Dublin on a Wednesday night and sleep in a hotel near the airport.  In the morning I’ll make my way into the city and do some exploring.  Afterwards I’ll stay with a college friend and her husband about 40 minutes south of Dublin.  We’ll spend Friday hiking and exploring Glendalough or other areas nearby.

Embed from Getty Images

That leaves a little time left on Saturday before I fly out that afternoon.

While not exactly the trip I’d envisioned for my return, my hope is that’ll recharge my Ireland batteries for a bit.  Here’s to making it back before another 19 years pass!

Ireland: Photos from Cliffs of Moher I

Photos from my first trip to The Cliffs of Moher in August ’99.

Biking to The Cliffs (1999)
Biking to The Cliffs (1999)
Biking to The Cliffs (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)
Cliffs of Moher (1999)

Apologies for the color discrepancies, I’m a little out of practice and the scanner is on it’s last legs.

Ireland VI: Into the West

Though much of what I’d seen in Ireland on this trip could easily have graced a postcard, Doolin, at least in my opinion, was the most idyllic up to this point.  The village center contained a tight grouping of colorful buildings, Doonagore Castle (really a round tower) was visible in the distance, and the Cliffs of Moher were just a stone’s throw away.  There were musicians playing Celtic music and jugglers on the street, though I later found out they were likely Celtic-music enthusiasts from Germany (it’s a thing).

Continue reading Ireland VI: Into the West

Ireland: Photos from Galway

Photos from my first trip to Galway, Ireland in 1999

Galway Rail Station (1999)
Galway (1999)
Eyre Square/Kennedy Park (1999)
Eyre Square/Kennedy Park (1999)
Galway (1999)
Claddagh, Galway (1999)
Galway (1999)

Ireland: Photos from Tulsk

My lodging in Tulsk (1999)
St. Patrick’s Well (1999)
St. Patrick’s Well (1999)
St. Patrick’s Well (1999)
Frogger: Ireland Edition (1999)
Cows (1999)
A selfie while lost, also the year I stopped wearing pleated pants (1999)

Ireland: Photos from Dublin I

Photos from my first trip to Dublin in 1999.

Dublin Bus Station (1999)
Dublin Hostel (1999)
View from Dublin Hostel (1999)
View from Dublin Hostel (1999)
Grafton Street (1999)
Protest in Dublin (1999)
Walking in Dublin (1999)
Walking in Dublin (1999)

Ireland V: The Quiet Man

My time in Tulsk lasted only a few days, but it provided a few home-cooked meals and a roof over my head.  Staying here also gave me the chance to save money I’d need to continue the trip to school in Ballyvaughan. The farm was so far removed from the village center that there was no possibility of spending a few pounds here and there on food, drink, or activities.  Like my time in Dublin, I mostly kept to myself while on the farm, taking pictures and reading my travel guide.  Over the course of just a few days I had two very different Irish experiences – the bustling city life of Dublin and the isolation of a Roscommon farm.

Continue reading Ireland V: The Quiet Man

Ireland: Intermission

To help brainstorm titles for the Ireland pieces I’ve been writing, here’s a list of all the films and TV shows set or connected to the Republic or Northern Ireland that I’ve seen.  Is there something Irish that I need to see and don’t have listed?  Maybe I’ve seen and forgotten, but either way, let me know!

Continue reading Ireland: Intermission