Ireland, The NOW frontier for Big Wave Surfing!!

Mullaghmore Head 05/10/2010 from Peter Martin on Vimeo.

Hawaii may have the sun and Pacific swells, but for a truly magnificent Atlantic swell and some awesome scenery to boot, surfers and surf photographers need to get to Ireland!

The above was shot at Mullaghmore on Ireland's west coast. We've been catching some fantastic swells lately and the waves down along the west coast have been absolutely majestic.

Peter Martin has captured some beautiful surf shots during these swells and his final edited piece is a real testament to the skill of the surfers and their tow in partners, but most of all it's a real testament to nature's awesome power and the beauty of Ireland's Atlantic coast.

Ireland is fast becoming a popular spot on the surfers safari and the recent documentary film Waveriders has shown how many of the top surfers already hold the surf here in such high esteem.

Waveriders features some phenomenal footage shot all along Irelands west coast and traces Irelands connection with surfing right back to the sports earliest revival in the 20th century. The film's high point has to be the footag shot at 'Aileens', the monster swell off the Co Clare coast and at the foot of the majestic Cliffs of Moher.

The same spot also featured in a commercial for an Irish bank a couple of years ago with Irish pro-surfer John McCarthy taking on the might of 'Aileens' for the camera.

The Malloys also filmed in Ireland as part of their 2000 surf film with Jack Johnson "Thicker than Water." Proving beyond a doubt that for surf photographers and film makers Ireland had as much to offer as it does to the surfers themselves.

So next time you see big waves and big wave surfers, don't just think of exotic locales, because we Irish have been hiding some of the best waves in the world! Like Kelly Slater says, "It's a cold paradise!"

The Pipe (a David and Goliath documentary)

Here in Ireland there has been a huge furore over the past 4+ years about the building of a gas pipeline from the Corrib Gasfield off the west coast of Co. Mayo to nine miles inland. The local people have been divided by the prospect of this pipeline. The Shell Oil company (who have a less than stellar record internationally) are behind the pipeline. They have the support of the Irish government to a large degree. The Pipe, chronicles the story of the struggle of the local people with each other, with shell and with the authorities who refuse to listen to their concerns.

Shot by Richie O'Domhnaill 'The Pipe' is a documentary telling the story from the perspective of the people of Rossport (the village/community nearest to the proposed route of the pipeline) Co Mayo and their continued struggle for their rights and their voices to be recognised in the face of major industry and a government and police force that seem hell bent on accommodating Shell at every turn. The film won the best documentary prize at the Galway Film Fleadh (festival) in Ireland and has played to rave reviews and standing ovations at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada.

In the years since this controversy began there have been protests, arrests, hunger strikes, countless angry confrontations between the police and the protestors, there have been allegations of criminal damage, of trespassing and of assault on both sides. The film captures much of this and interviews some of the main protagonists (although Shell refused to cooperate) including members of the 'Rossport 5', group of locals who went to jail for their beliefs that the pipeline should not be built. These people are local farmers, fishermen and schoolteachers who are not content to let others come in and ride roughshod over their livelihoods and way of life. To many they are heroes, to others they are people stuck in their ways and preventing progress. As a story it is a compelling one and it has divided not only the local community, but also much of Ireland.

One of the major characters of the film is local crab fisherman Pat 'the chief' O'Donnell who fears the pipe will destroy not only the local bay but also his livelihood and tear his family apart by forcing his sons to leave home for work.



Local farmer Willie Corduff is one of the 'Rossport 5'. He and his family have seen their lives turned upside down in their attempt to keep the high pressure raw gas pipeline from running through their farm and community.



One of the key moments in the film comes when the 'Solitaire' the biggest pipelaying vessel in the world enters the bay to begin work. 'The Chief' goes out in his small fishing vessel to protect his crab fishing zone and his crab fishing pots and a true David and Goliath standoff ensues. Flanked by Police and Naval vessels you are left wondering in this teaser as to who is in the right and who has the power. It is a powerful piece of filmmaking.



Produced by Scannain Inbhear Teoranta with Riverside Television, TG4 and Underground Films; 'The Pipe' is a very relevant story in these times when oil companies are failing in their responsibilities to the communities in which they are located all over the world. The opening of the film in Toronto coincided with the tragic explosion of the gas pipeline in San Bruno California and seemed to be a telling sign of what happens when the fears expressed in the film are realised.
If this film reaches a festival or theater near you be sure to go and see it. below are some links to a review from Variety of the film and also to an interview with director Richie O'Domhnaill on Canada's CBC News.

http://www.cbc.ca/video/#/News/Featured_Videos/ID=1590885523

http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117943512.html?categoryid=31&cs=1&query=the+pipe

http://www.thepipethefilm.com/main-sect/ the official site

Ground Zero, Islam and the divisive nature of Religion

On the topic of an Islamic cultural center in Manhattan.
To whom is an islamic cultural center being built in Downtown manhattan offensive? Is it offensive to the the relatives of the various innocent islamic people who died while going about their work in the WTC on sept 11th or who may have been hostages on the planes? Or is this loud bigoted angry voice not more disrespectful?
Or is it just that there should be no religious building near the site, for surely the sight of a christian church is going to be too much for jews and muslims to bear. So maybe we move the church of st paul from less than a block from ground zero, after all we don't want to offend.
Is it disrespectful to try and promote understanding between faiths?
Do people here not realise that Allah, God and Yahweh are one and the same Divine Being and that as religious people Christians, Jews and Muslims all pray to the same Deity? That all 3 religions are connected.
Once again the facts are continually being skewed. This isn't a Mosque
For some reason only white right wing christian people appear to have died on sept 11th 2001. Its amazing the conspiracy nuts never picked up on that issue.

There are YMCAs all over Manhattan, this proposed building is the same thing, but you just have to substitute the 'C' for an 'I'.

Sept 11th 2001 was a terror attack, people died. It was an atrocity. July 7th 2005 was also and atrocity, but the British Public aren't calling for all Islamic centres to be closed down or prevented from opening. They know better.
The issue here stems from the fact that up until sept 11th 2001 US soil had never been attacked by an outside force (before anyone mentions Pearl Harbour, know your history, Hawaii was not a US state at the time). They never knew what it was to be the victim at home. The reactions since have all been knee-jerk and unfortunate. Much of this stemming from their complete ignorance of a world anywhere more than 40miles from their own homes.

We shouldn't be surprised at the ignorant moronic reactions of certain sections of US society, nor should we be surprised that partisan politics is using this ignorance to breed not only fear of foreigners but also to breed dissent and discontent within their own society.
Its no more insensitive to build a centre that is nominally attached to Islam 2 blocks from the site of the WTC than it is to hawk t-shirts and memorabilia of the towers and attacks to tourists for profit (something that continues with regularity to this day). In fact i would think that profiteering from the deaths of 3000+ people is far more distasteful than trying to promote cultural understanding and harmony.

Religion it seems will continue to spread hatred, fear and suspicion. There are some comments out there (mainly from Palin, Beck and Co) that aren't too far from the type of sentiments that led to the Warsaw Ghetto in Poland in 1939/40. Bill Hicks pointed out the ridiculousness of religion when he highlighted his encounter with some right wing Christians; "Hey Buddy we're Christians and we don't like the way you talked about Jesus!" Bill- "Well if you're Christians, then i guess you'll just have to forgive me"

Happy Birthday Guinness

Guinness, the drink most closely linked to the concept of Irishness celebrates its 250th Birthday today. Throughout my 32 years on this planet Guinness has played a role in my social life. As a toddler there were photos taken of me trying to drink Guinness from my grandfathers glass. As a young boy i always admired the way a pint of Guinness was created in the pub or from a bottle and the special care and attention it received from the pourer. Other beers never got the same attention or careful consideration from barmen or customers. Later when i started drinking i came to understand the reasons behind this mysterious devotion to the structure of a pint of Guinness. I worked for some time as a barman myself and learned the skill, no the art, to pulling a pint of Guinness.

Guinness has always been special. Its ads and slogans through the years have always marked it out from other drinks. Early publicity suggested that due to more natural brewing processes it was better for you than other beers, ales and stouts; hence the slogan 'Guinness is good for you' (this was parodied by Joyce in Finnegans Wake where he used the phrase 'gengis is ghoon for you') and even today Guinness is offered to people as a revitaliser to blood donors after they give blood. Later ads would use the phrases 'Guinness for Strength' and 'no beer comes near, Guinness'. They used clever word play and anagrams, finding the word Genius within the Guinness name. The advertising campaigns run by companies for Guinness have almost always been hugely creative and clever. My favourites include 'The Surfer', 'The Anticipation', 'The Island', 'Fridge' and the more recent 'Domino'. All the campaigns have been memorable. As a brand Guinness is recognised worldwide and throughout Ireland the Harp emblem and the Guinness name are to be seen in every town and village.

Historically Guinness has been hugely important to Ireland and in particular to Dublin. For the past 250 years the Brewery at St James' Gate in Dublin has been a huge source of economic revenue for Dublin. The Guinness family, though now only minor shareholders in the company (Diageo drinks corp now control the company) have been very generous to the city of Dublin and were definitely seen as the most generous of employers when they owned the Brewery. They were hugely philanthropic; supporting numerous causes both social and artistic. They provided healthcare and affordable housing for their workers aswell as contributing to the social hosing schemes for Dublin. Arthur Guinness the founder of the brewery in 1759, whose signature still adorns the bottles, cans and glasses that contain this fine beverage, took out a lease of 999 years on the land where the brewery stands today; talk about confidence in you product. But that foresight was a good thing. Guinness has developed over the years with all the changes in 250 years of its existence it has stayed relevant as other beers have fallen by the wayside. It has conquered the world where other ales have failed.

For Ireland Guinness is as important abroad as it is at home. The Guinness Brand offers sponsorship to many events throughout Ireland and to various professional sports teams also. In terms of tourism the Guinness brand is so recognisable to the outside world that often Guinness and the Irish Tourist Bord will work together at events. Guinness is associated with the 'craic', a particularly irish concept of fun. Guinness is the drink of choice of the fun loving gaels, of people who aspire to a certain sense of Irishness (whether it is in their blood or not). Like it or not in Ireland, the 250th birthday of Guinness this year is intrinsically linked to our heritage and culture. It is something that needs to be acknowledged.

So to those of you out there who aspire to the Irish spirit and joie de vivre or as we call it 'the Craic'; I say raise a glass or two of Guinness this year and think of a quiet corner in a small pub in rural Ireland. A place where little old men in cloth caps sit at a bar and talk in muttered tones of hurling, silage and local politics. A place where a small fire burns in the hearth and an old damp dog sits quietly watching the comings and goings of the customers. A pub that smells of peat smoke and stale beer. Think of the real home of Guinness, 'the Black Stuff' and imagine yourself there. And while there say a few words of thanks to Arthur Guinness Master Brewer.

Kettle of Fish - Delicious!!!

I just had dinner and i was craving something a little less tha healthy, so i headed out for 'Fish and Chips'. It was so good i felt compelled to tell you all about it!!

This is one of the best 'fish and chip' shops around. Located on Cross St in Galway City and with a sister shop in Gort Co Galway, Kettle of Fish is a gem. In a city that boasts some very good 'chippers' Kettle of Fish has managed to rise to the top. Tourists may flock to McDonaghs on Quay St (around the corner), and Charcoal Grill down the street does do the best Kebabs in Ireland (my opinion and that of many others), but Kettle of Fish has the right idea. Their hand cut chips are second to none in Galway, are better than Donkey Forde's in Limerick, Lennoxes in Cork and would definitely give Dublin's Beshoff Fish and Chip shops a run for their money.

The fish selection in kettle of Fish is great. They also do a decent seafood chowder. I tend to go for the whiting or haddock, although i have had their cod too (its delicious, but i have an issue with eating cod due to sustainability of the cod stocks). Their batter is light and not intrusive. The smoked cod is a favourite of a few friends of mine and the rate it highly. I've had the grilled salmon too and it rates highly. I haven't had the ray wings, lemon sole or mackeral but i'll bet they're great. (the reviews i've read and heard are good).

Fish and Chips are a big thing here in this country, but some people prefer burgers or sausages. Not to worry, Kettle of Fish have you covered if you're one of those people. The battered sausages are divine and their onion rings (small portions so beware) are melt in your mouth delicious. They also do battered mushrooms, but in fairness i've had better. The chips selection in Kettle of Fish is also amazing however. Generally i prefer my chips with just salt and vinegar, and sometimes i'll go with curry or curry and coleslaw chips; but here they have a whole other selection of chip sauces and add ons (just chek out the menu picture below!!)
They do some great burgers too, both beef burgers and chicken burgers and the serve salads, which is unusual for a chipper in this country. The Galway city branch also do desert, namely a deepfried battered mars bar, which i have yet to brave!! I sounds beyond decadent!

Anyhoo, if ever you visit this little corner of the planet, remember the place to eat fish and chips in Galway is Kettle of Fish. In fact its the best place to eat fish and chips in Ireland. But if you're not in galway you'll have to make do with the other places mentioned above!

Just how powerful is Lisa Hannigan?

I was at a gig last Friday and it was one of the highlights of my life, musically. We three (two friends and I), had managed to get our hands on tickets to one of two concerts Lisa Hannigan was playing in Galway's Róisín Dubh. The venue is notoriously small and we were packed in like sardines with 150 to 200 others, all of us anticipating a good show and nothing more. What we got however was a spiritual and emotional experience that will be difficult to top.

Lisa Hannigan, for the uninitiated is an Irish singer songwriter, she got her career break as a backing singer and member of Damien Rice's band (she can be heard on a number of Damien Rice tracks including the haunting 'Blowers Daughter'). The two split both personally and professionally in a rather acrimonious fashion and Lisa made the jump to solo artist. All i can say having seen her perform on Friday night is thank the Gods (all of them!!) that she did. To see this woman and her band perform is more than a treat. She seems a quiet and shy character when she first comes onstage, but this develops into a quirky and fun person as the show progresses and as she and the audience feed off each other and off the energy her music generates.

Her repertoire consists mainly of songs from her awesome debut album 'Sea Sew', but she has also added some newer material (which bodes well for the second album) and some covers, including a performance of Dylan's 'Tom Thumb Blues' that would make the hair stand up on the back of your neck and send tingles through your body. In the sweaty confines of the Róisín Dubh nobody moved from where they stood, so entranced were we. Her voice, like that of the sirens in the Odyssey or the Pied Pipers tune drew us in and held us spellbound throughout. Each song was received with raucous applause and we cheered her and the band back to the stage for not one but 3 encores. Such was the energy in the room even she and her band (all of whom play multiple instruments) found it hard to break the spell they had created.

When the gig ended i found it hard to speak. It was an intensely moving experience and i was glowing with happiness at having witnessed it. So many artists go through the motions onstage these days, but for this girl it was different. She was having real fun and enjoying the experience as much as the crowd were. The intimacy of the surroundings contributed most definitely, but the music and the performance were mesmerising. One other thing about Lisa Hannigan, she is beautiful too, in a way that makes both men and women attracted to her. If we lived in the 18th or early 19th century or perhaps a Monty Python sketch we'd be saying; "burn her, she's a witch", but instead i say; if you get the opportunity to see her perform please go, i doubt you will be disappointed, in fact you'll probably find it magical.

Some youtube links to Lisa Hannigan tracks from both her solo career and her collaborations with Damien Rice and the 'Cake Sale' project
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSaPbVjcrp4&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YXVMCHG-Nk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyXmp-FiPJo&feature=fvw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S55BlxoGFsM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Te84U9YOALU&feature=related

beginning at the end

So it begins, my blogging life that is. I probably should have done this much sooner but i guess i am inherently lazy in some ways. Anyhow, welcome to instant soup and other distractions, where various random subjects will get an airing and my opinion will appear here on the internet for all to read.

To begin i guess i'd like to say how disappointing it is that radio here in Ireland is losing one of its true greats tomorrow when Rodney Rice broadcasts his last Saturday View on RTE Radio1. It seems to me there aren't enough people in radio today with Rice's abilities. Saturday View has been a great radio show and Rodney regularly got some great interviews and debates on the programme. As a show it got to the heart of the important matters facing the country and Rodney Rice asked the questions we all wanted asked of the people in power. He didn't always get the answers but he at least asked the questions.

I hope that his departure doesn't mean further dumbing down in the national media, but i do fear the worst. Its not been the best of years for current affairs programming here in Ireland; John Bowman quit Questions and Answers, budget cuts meant that Primetime specials won't be as frequent and The Late Late Show (already gone to the dogs under PK) will surely be dumbed down even further by Tubridy and his attempts to Americanise us all. We can but hope that Pat Kenny's new show in September will redefine Pat himself as a decent broadcast journalist.