a day in Dun Laoghaire

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books, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, Ireland, Kevin Barry, literary festival, Nell Zink, photography, photos, Sundays

Books, literary readings, a market and sunshine – the perfect combination for a wonderful Sunday.

Yesterday I got on the dart and traveled the short distance down the coast to Dub Laoghaire and the Mountains to the Sea book festival. In the morning I listened to author Nell Zink in conversation with RTE’s Sinéad Gleeson. Zink read from her two books The Wallcreeper and Mislaid, spoke about being a writer before she even knew she was one and how Jonathan Franzen had trouble believing her.

In the late afternoon I was enchanted with Kevin Barry as he read from his wonderfully funny and clever Beatlebone. It was inspiring to hear what he had to say about writing and finding the right voice for the characters and stories he wants to tell.

I spent the hours in between the two events I wandering around Dun Laoghaire and taking a few pictures and enjoying a cappuccino in the sun.

 

 

literary day

Tags

books, Dublin, Dun Laoghaire, From the Mountains to the Sea, Ireland, literary, pavilion

Today I will be heading out to Dún Laoghaire , a small seaside town in south County Dublin. And while the town is pretty and quaint the main reason for boarding the dart and heading out for the day is the From the Mountains to the Sea book festival.

I tickets to two readings and I am looking forward to a day surrounded by books and like minded people. And since I have some time between the readings I will be meeting up with some visiting German girls for lunch and a chat – and hopefully there will be a bit of a buzz around.

My camera is packed and I hope the sun will push the clouds aside and brighten up the day. But whatever happens I am looking forward to ending my busy week with a literary day.

the pavilion on the Dún Laoghaire peer, taken a few years ago with some other German visitors

ukelele hooley

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Dun Laoghaire, entertainment, festival, lifestyle, music, sunday, ukelele, ukelele hooley

Some words just make you smile and ukelele is one of them, hooley (Irish slang for party) is another. So what a perfect combination when you throw them both together. After all what could promise a better afternoon than a whole bunch of tiny instruments strumming under the sun?

So  on Sunday afternoon I met up with my American gal pal and after wandering around an antiques market and a spot of lunch we strolled down to the Peoples Park in Dun Laoghaire, just outside of Dublin.  As we passed the gates the unique sound of ukeleles sang out to us and we couldn’t help but smile.

Once a year the lovers of the tiny Hawaiian instrument invite everyone to a festival by the sea to celebrate the ukelele. Of course it is an interesting, colorful crowd that comes together to sing and dace along to the strumming of the guitars tiny cousin.

Like every year there are workshops and stalls, food and drink and f course musicians from around the world. This year the cute Les Poupees Gonflees (Inflatable Dolls)  came from France delighting us with Chansons and a ukelele twist. Minnie and the Illywackers  gave us swing, cabaret and some jazz  and the wonderful Janet Klein jetted over from LA to deliver her quirky speak-easy style ukelele music.

But for me the high-light was the duo turned trio Gus & Finn. These Scottish dudes, dressed in Motorhead t-shirts, lumbered onto the stage, their miniature ukeleles dwarfed in their big hands and played songs from the Ramones and other rock greats.

The only problem with the yearly Ukelele Hooley is that I’ll now have to wait for another whole year until it comes around again. But while I wait I can at the very least listen to some of my favorites on YouTube.