There are 1.5 million people buried at Glasnevin cemetery – that’s more Dubliners than there are alive today. Ireland’s historical giants and nameless cholera victims alike sleep the sleep of ages in this grassy sprawl, with Daniel O’Connell, Charles Stewart Parnell and Michael Collins among Glasnevin’s most famous residents. The history here is so rich and dense, it absolutely pays to take a tour with one of the guides – and almost two hours later, you’ll still have barely scratched …
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If gazing into an artist’s studio is akin to gazing into their soul, this goes triple for Francis Bacon’s. Transported to Hugh Lane in its entirety from the original London location at 7 Reece Mews, it’s kept behind glass, the tumult of creation preserved down to its vintage dust. This tiny space overrun with canvas, rags and endless paper clippings, feels almost too candid, even though Bacon himself received visitors there – by appointment only. Paint strokes on walls and …
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Sometimes I just can’t do photo- justice to a perfect day. If I tried to document it adequately, I wouldn’t be able to fully experience it. Still, I’m glad I brought my camera along on mine and G’s day trip to Howth last weekend. Howth is a little fishing town neat Dubiln that was recommended to us by everyone from friends to the vegetable guy at the organic market, and now the weather agreed with them, too. Howth is full …
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This post was commissioned by May Patreon raffle winner, Eric Berthelette. Big thanks to the entire Patreon crew for bringing so much within my reach! I love my Dublin neighborhood. The ten-minute walk to Phoenix Park, the IMMA literally across the street, the nearby canals – all of it feels tailor-made, nature and culture right at my doorstep. And right around the corner, a massive piece of history looms, foreboding and grey, drawing lines of tourists daily. Exterior of Kilmainham …
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We’d been planning a trip to the National Botanic Gardens for months, and finally made it on Sunday, which is probably for the best, considering how beautiful of a day it was. The visit was a burst of inspiration for my Alien Botany project and a welcome afternoon of exploring prismatic glasshouses, climbing trees, honing Gašper’s photo-eye, lazying about on benches and being snazzy amidst the endless flowers, hills, and orchards. Traversing the tremendous, misty glasshouses in all that sun …
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The first half of today was spent perched in the window of a pub in Dublin city center, sampling whiskey and watching the Saint Patrick’s Day parade. Ours was arguably the best seat in the the entire establishment, the whiskey was fantastic, the parade was appropriately ostentatious, and the brisk, twenty-five-minute walk home was the cherry on a perfect afternoon. I took a plethora of photos which you can see below, mostly focusing on costume details and entertaining onlookers. Enjoy! …
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It’s been just over a week since the big Biorequiem relaunch. Big thanks are in order for the warm reception and feedback I’ve received – you’ve helped make this a most enjoyable homecoming! Since my previous post, I’ve been busy signing and shipping the new Alien Botany prints, and am pleasantly surprised to let you know that Toxic Desiderius Papilionem is almost gone from the shop – there are just six of these prints left. We spent this past weekend in …
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On Monday, Gašper and I bundled up and took advantage of the bank holiday (a concept I’m still struggling to comprehend) and joined a tour to the Hill of Tara and Newgrange – both magical parts of ancient Irish history. I suggest that those who are unfamiliar with these places read up on Wikipedia – it will be better-researched and more informative than anything I could jot down here in the little time I have. What I can give you are …
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Our first dinner in the Dublin apartment, just over a month ago: duck and fried rice from the late-night take-away place across the road, washed down with some good, cheap Chilean Merlot. It was perfect, but after two weeks’ worth of take out and pub food during our apartment hunt, we were in dire need of fresh produce. Exhibit A: When we first moved in, we were happy to find a mini-grocery store on our block… Happy until our first …
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On Sunday, G, our new friend Michael and I packed a picnic and drove an hour and a half west to Glendalough, where not only did we get to explore an indelible part of historic Ireland, but to also truly feel the scope of Irish weather. We experienced everything from icy wind and rain to warm breeze and hot summer sunshine – all in a matter of five hours spent walking around one of the most beautiful green places I’ve …
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I’ve been ignoring a fever since last week, but it hasn’t stopped me from continuing to get familiar with my surroundings, including Phoenix Park, where I just spent two rainy hours. ` This may not have cured me (I almost titled this post “Wet in Dublin”. Help.), but the open space, fresh air and all the rain smells certainly made me feel better while I was there. Also: came across a large herd of deer and shot a number of exploratory …
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Current status: bloomers and a mermaid tank top, cup of chilled black tea in hand, a sleeping Micron at my feet. A quiet “Ahhh” can be heard wafting through our new home, as things begin to glide into place. With some good advice from friends and readers, we’ve slowly began to build up our arsenal of spices, teas and cookware. There is plenty of settling and exploring in to be done, but we’re well on our way, with a superb apartment …
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I’m writing the first half of this while convincing myself to drink two more glasses of water with promise of a nightcap. Dehydration is not my usual game, but I’ve been at my desk for seven solid hours wrapping up a commission, with three more to go in an attempt to complete as many of these as possible this week, because next week marks the beginning of mad preparations for Operation I. Rewind to seven months ago. My steady writing …
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