Articles tagged ‘Irish midlands’
Quiet week in Athlone
By Seán | August 4th, 2007 |
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What’s wrong with this picture? Well, it’s a bank holiday weekend in the middle of the summer for one. This is the HEIGHT of tourist season. Normally there would be so many rental boats here in Athlone town they’d be moored out 4 deep along the western quay wall of the Shannon.
Look up at that [...]
R.E.M. in the midlands?
By Seán | July 26th, 2007 | Add a Comment »
Do you recall back last October when rumours that Michael Jackson was in Ireland to do some recording with Black-Eyed Peas Will. I. Am. were floating about (rumours later confirmed)? Well, now it would seem that R.E.M. are in the neighbourhood, visiting Grouse Lodge, the same studio that Jackson and Mr. Am were in (did [...]
2007 Midland Songwriter Night
By Seán | May 1st, 2007 | 2 Comments »
So everyone wants to know how the songwriter night went. I believe the evening was a great success. Here’s what my day was like:
6am: the munchkin is awake early and her cries sound . . . different. As I lift her from the cot I can’t help but notice she feels hot to the touch. [...]
songwriter.ie Midland Songwriter Concert announced
By Seán | April 2nd, 2007 | Add a Comment »
It’s the time of year again, folks!
The 2007 Midland Songwriter Night is set for the end of this month, 29th of April here in Athlone.
I spent a good deal of time last week ringing around to this year’s songwriters and updating the website. I discovered that my mobile phone records, so I was even able [...]
New culinary kid in town
By Seán | February 14th, 2007 | 1 Comment »
Happy Valentines, everyone!
So I was walking into town yesterday evening when I saw the windows above River S were lit up. Curious, I took a closer look and discovered that a new restaurant has opened up in a juicy piece of real estate right above the waters of the river Shannon.
Having been derelict for [...]
Fly for less to the Irish midlands!
By Seán | January 30th, 2007 | 1 Comment »
If you have ever flown into Ireland, you know what a nightmare it can be to pass through Dublin airport.
Well, back in the 1980s a small midland airport was mysteriously developed to accommodate international flights to Ireland (if you ask Christy Moore, it was for bombers to refuel before flights over communist Russia). The airport [...]
Songwriter.ie - Irish songwriters in the midlands
By Seán | January 18th, 2007 | Add a Comment »
I have been incredibly fortunate in moving to Ireland and, particularly, Athlone, in that I’ve found myself in the smouldering heart of a breathtakingly talented musical community.
After a couple of years here myself and other musical acquaintances realised that, while there was music in most pubs most nights, that finding live, original music was [...]
River S
By Seán | November 2nd, 2006 | Add a Comment »
So we went for lunch in the River S in Athlone the other day.
The great thing about this bar is its location. At the site of what used to be (in the 1970s) the old Ritz Cinema, the River S bar and restaurant occupies what may be the best location in Athlone for a drink [...]
Ballinasloe Horse Fair
By Seán | October 10th, 2006 | Add a Comment »
The 2006 Ballinasloe horse fair ended Sunday with the dramatic annual tug-of-war competitions filling the weekend. The streets are blocked off for the evening and local businesses and groups compete against each other under the streetlamps to the cheering of the crowds.
Personally, my weekend was chock-a-block; hardly was I back from Kinsale but I was [...]
Brideswell Session
By Seán | September 29th, 2006 | 2 Comments »
Last night was the fabulous Brideswell traditional Irish music session. This session is, quite possibly, the best traditional session in the midlands.
I almost didn’t go, but then I reflected that it had been some weeks since I last attended. It was a wet drive out under the overhanging trees to Brideswell. The village of [...]
