Shrove Tuesday, Mardi Gras, Malasada Day, or Pączki Day — whatever you call it, today is the last day before Lent begins. In Ireland, it is Pancake Tuesday!
24 February 2009
Pancake Tuesday!
Comments Off on Pancake Tuesday!
3 February 2009
Ninetieth Anniversary of The First Dáil Éireann
The Bugle is a bit tardy in reporting the 90th anniversary of the first independent parliament of Ireland. The celebrations in Dublin were understated and mostly for the political elite, but the pivotal moment, ninety years ago, is too important to let pass.
The idea of forming a government apart from the British Parliament was promoted for 15 years by Arthur Griffith, the founder of Sinn Féin. According to Michael Laffan of the Irish Times, many Irish voters at the time saw their representatives at British Parliament as lobbyists who could occasionally bring home pork projects (to put it in American terms). Why give up those lobbyists for the sake of an improbable ideal?
The equation changed when the three years after the Easter Rising added new factors. (more…)
Comments Off on Ninetieth Anniversary of The First Dáil Éireann
2 February 2009
Joyce’s Birthday today!
James Joyce was born in Dublin on this day in 1882. In honour of one of Ireland’s greatest writers, I set out to find his birthplace. (more…)
Comments Off on Joyce’s Birthday today!
12 January 2009
8 January 2009
Culture Shock, Frozen Windshield edition
So get this:
Dubliners use water to remove frost from the windshields of their cars.
WATER!
A fellow employee was making casual conversation when she mentioned that she took water to her car this morning to clean off her windscreen. I stopped to confirm what I’d just heard.
“Sure, that’s right,” she said, and continued with her story.
I reeled. My world shook to its foundations. Water to remove ice? (more…)
19 December 2008
One request regarding Blago
Our Illinois friends and family asked us: “Did you hear about the Governor?” The short answer is “Yes.” I’d like your help in getting the long answer just right.
(more…)
26 November 2008
Give thanks for your butter
There are many things that I love about living in Ireland. There are a few things that annoy or trouble me. But there is one thing that I clearly hate — the fact that butter comes in a single chunk of butter — 454 grams, to be precise. Why is it 454 grams, you ask? Because that is as close to one pound of butter as you can get in metric terms.
I could deal with a big block of butter if only there were measurements on the wrapping.
(more…)
17 October 2008
Open House Dublin 2008 is this weekend
The Open House Dublin event last year was one of our best Dublin experiences. This weekend is the 2008 Open House event. We’re excited about it, and we’ll have lots of Dublin architecture to share next week!
In preparation, I had lunch at The Cake Café in the Daintree Building this week. It is a gorgeous oasis off my favorite busy street in Dublin, and an achievement in sustainable design, to boot. There were dozens of bicycles parked under an integrated shelter across from the restaurant part of the building, and young and old cyclists were continually coming and going — but not to the café. Maybe I’ll find out why on my next visit.
Comments Off on Open House Dublin 2008 is this weekend
15 July 2008
Books Report: Ireland and the Whole World
During a few rainy, cold days in June, I devoured two books: Jared Diamond’s Collapse, and John Waters’s Jiving at the Crossroads. It’s been years since I read an entire book in a day or two, so this was sheer joy for me. Plus, the fact that both of them were non-fiction makes the books themselves even more remarkable. (more…)
4 July 2008
Happy Fourth of July
Today is not a holiday in Ireland, of course. Still, there are plenty of celebrations of Independence Day here in Dublin. Anita will attend a party at one of A-Company’s offices, organised by Irish workers. Our local, The Pembroke, is decorated with a big poster of the Stars and Stripes, and red-white-and-blue bunting and balloons all over. The pub is advertising free hot dogs with the purchase of American beer. (Coors Light is all they have on tap; it’s embarrassing.) I’m curious to hear what the DJ plays during happy hour.
Dubliners, at least, always have a great interest in the US — more its politics than its economics. (more…)
Comments Off on Happy Fourth of July
Hating and Haters: A Conversation
As the steward of this blog, I unilaterally decided to draw attention to an ongoing discussion about international enmity that’s occupied the comments for a few old posts. Most of the discussion occurs in response to two posts: Do You Hate the British Too? and Now I do hate the British.
The word “hate” was excessive in both titles, but it did generate some worthwhile discussion (and a whole lot of traffic from the Google search engines). I ask that those who want to continue the discussion make comments on this post from now on. Feel free to link to old comments, or quote them, if you want to make specific references to the comments to date.
I’ll contribute by writing the following in this post, rather than in a comment on an old post. (more…)