Bread&Tech

Ok, I follow Saruz's suggestion to write 10 things I like and 10 things i don't like about Ireland. After 11 years, I will allow myself the liberty to say something :)

10 Things that I don't like about Ireland:
1) The healthcare system (or lack thereof)
2) Poor standards of building
3) Religious schools
4) No pro-choice legislation and refusal to discuss it as a matter of public health
5) People who litter (still a lot of them around!)
6) The expression "It's different" to mean "it's shite": if it's shite, just say it
7) Overly local politics and backyard interests
8) The Dublin-centric focus of most things - how to waste great resources in the rest of the country
9) Scruffy dress has become standard in a lot of places (from pyjamas in town to ripped tracksuits in class)
10) It's very small

10 Things that I like about Ireland
1) Food and drink - from cruibins to lobster, from soda bread to porter cake, from Guinness to aged whiskey - all of it!
2) People: so friendly, helpful, witty, good-natured.
3) Places of incredible natural and artistic beauty right on your doorstep
4) The rugby at Thomond Park - it's electric
5) Although a small nation, it's well connected to the "outside world" thanks to English
6) Relaxed and curteous driving (compared to Italy)
7) The Limerick Jazz Workshop :)
8) Easy access to concerts and other events in Dublin and London
9) There's always a parking space somewhere
10) Shannon Airport

Finally made it Northern Ireland, mainly because of this, but also with the idea of visiting the City of Derry and part of the Antrim Coast, also known ad the Causeway Coast.
We had a great time, both at the conference and outside. The success we had at the conference wouldn't have been possible without these brilliant lads :)




The walk through the open-air gallery that is the Bogside was also remarkable.



Also, at long last I got a chance to visit the Void Gallery, where Kieran works.
Finally, on the last day, a trip to the Giant's Causeway

LimerickMapping from colorsound on Vimeo.

Labels: tweak

My PhD student Nora O'Murchu is the mind and driving force behind a new interactive art and live electronic music festival, Tweak, taking place in Limerick this week. There's so much going on at it that it's impossible to summarize: talks, an exhibition, workshops, concerts and a party on Saturday night!
Make sure to check it out!

Labels: tweak

I have neglected the blog for a while, mainly due to a work overload...
It's been an interesting Summer so far, with a lot of admin stuff keeping me busy but also (hopefully) a couple of good publications in the pipeline. As well as this, I have been busy with some other stuff. I attended the SocGSD workshop in Waterville, Co. Kerry with the rest of the IDC, a week featuring some interesting work and a lot of fun as well, including an amazing day trip to the Skelligs.

The beach in Waterville:


Some late night music playing:


Trip to Skellig Michael:




I also finally took a real "sea and sun" holiday in La Gomera (Canary Islands). A good week of relaxation and fun, with a particularly interesting trip to the Garajonay National Park .

The town of San Sebastian


Views of the Garajonay National Park:




Finally, I enjoyed some pretty serious musical treats, starting with Radiohead in Dublin, and continuing with Rufus Wainwright and the Wayne Shorter Quartet in Limerick.

View of the stage during Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" finale at Malahide Castle:


The Wayne Shorter Quarter with Imani Winds:


Rufus singing "Want" at the University Concert Hall":

Labels: summer

That's me at the Limerick Jazz Workshop final concert, singing "I Get Along Without You Very Well". I had a great jazz winter, learned loads and met cool people. I'm looking forward to the new term in September. All the other performances from the night are on my youTube channell