CLM
A quick look at some of the highlights of my trip to Ireland, beginning in Waterford – several of us were invited to the wedding of our friends, Duncan (who I met when I was 5 - very Betsy-Tacyish) and Marlene’s daughter, Regina, in County Cavan. Having only had a 24-hour layover in Dublin many...
Alan
Here was are. Even though full seven months will soon be behind us, the mid-year slide now begins. So you take the little day trips in the sun instead of those little afternoon naps that you might have had in June, back when there was plenty of time. Have you had enough ice cream yet? No, have...
Alan
Wednesday morning news said that Toronto had the worst air quality on the planet. Around here at the other end of the big lake, Tuesday at 11:30 pm was a bit nuts, too. Getting out of the car after picking up the kid from work, it was like I was leaning right over the BBQ as I was smoking ribs....
Alan
I took a break from the World Cup on Sunday evening to watch Billy Bragg play in a converted church in our fair city. See, England and Mexico were playing at the same time over 4,000 km to the south. Bragg made it one of the themes of the show, he not being able to watch the game that I passed on...
Adactio: Journal
It started in Dublin. Myself and Jessica got there in the afternoon and I went straight to The Cobblestone in Smithfield for some tunes. Then I went up the street to the headquarters of Na Píobairí Uilleann, a beautiful Georgian building on Henrietta Street. I was there to deliver my talk on the...
Adactio: Journal
This is a collection of short stories by one of Ireland’s best playwrights. I think you can tell that these stories were written by someone who’s at home with the stage. The dialogue really shines. And some of the stories feel like scenes in a play. But that’s no bad thing. If most short stories...
Shem Radzikowski
I’m socked to see Dublin unraveling before my eyes. The streets I’ve walked so many times are now scarred by riots. The November 2023 chaos to the July 2024 inferno in Coolock, weren't just adolescent skirmishes or outbursts—they’re a deafening alarm that Ireland’s immigration system is...
Shem Radzikowski
I’m watching Ireland change, and it’s hard to stay optimistic. Once a land of emigrants, we’re now swamped with newcomers—149,200 immigrants arrived in the year to April 2024, driving net migration to 79,300, the highest since 2007. The post Ireland’s Immigration Crisis: A Nation Overwhelmed...
Shem Radzikowski
From the earliest memories of my childhood, trains have always fascinated me. Their rhythmic rumbles, the hypnotic tracks stretching to infinity, and their promise of adventures in distant lands, have always stirred a sense of intrigue and wanderlust within me. The post Riding Through History: A...
Shem Radzikowski
From the moment my boots hit the well-trodden paths of Wicklow, I knew I was in for an extraordinary adventure. Nestled on Ireland's east coast, this county, known as the "Garden of Ireland", offers a diverse landscape that effortlessly blends raw beauty with lush tranquility. The post Immersed in...
Shem Radzikowski
My Emerald Isle: Why Ireland is the Epitome of Home. I've been blessed to call Ireland home, a land of boundless beauty, rich history, and captivating culture. The extraordinary virtues of this captivating island reach far beyond its charming allure and lush landscapes. The post My Emerald Isle:...