Stephen Ledwidge | the whatmanS | thomaS diem | enda caSey Sanzkrit | caSiotone ftpa | mUSic reViewS | art Show gUide | theatre

mUSic | art | cULtUre

winter 2009 issue 3

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Joint editorS cOnOr heArY & ciArA McKeLVeY deSigned by ciArA McKeLVeY coVer deSign by stePhen LeDwiDGe (FeAtureD Artist)

thank yoU to oUr contribUtorS stePhen LeDwiDGe, JessicA BriDGeMAn, ALAn GernOn, YertLe, Peter KinseLLA, AArOn BrADY, AnGeLA POwer, LOrAine resA Beth, erin wheLAn, shAne MAcKen, Owen AshwOrth AnD AnYOne eLse whO hAs Been A stAr! aLL adVertiSing enqUirieS EMAIL OnVMAGAzine@GMAiL.cOM Or PHONE 086 0583 564

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from On|V Magazine well it’s almost that time of year again. A time for stuffing ourselves silly, drinking ourselves senseless and having to listen to uncle Mickey who you haven’t seen in months harp on and on and on… never fear, issue 3 is here to rescue you from imminent boredom. with more variety than any selection box, our festive issue has something for everyone. so kick back, enjoy and we’ll see you in 2010.

conor heary Music & Entertainment Editor Email onvmagazine @gmail.com

ciara mckelvey Art & Culture Editor and designer Email onvmagazine @gmail.com

daniel conneally aka yertle Cult Corner Guru Yertle will bring us great insights into the lives of cult icons both past and present.

All rights reserved. no part of this publication may be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission from the publishers. the views expressed in On|V Magazine are those of the respective contributors and not necessarily shared by the magazine. the magazine welcomes ideas and new contributors but can assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.

Jessica bridgeman aka Just JessArtist/Art Expo Guide Jess will be reviewing and previewing art exhibitions both local and nationwide.

alan gernon Comedian/Daddy Alan will share with us words of wisdom that only a comedic dad of two could get away with.

aaron brady Chief illustrator Aaron was off “sunning his bum” recently conjuring up some more mischievous mayhem no doubt. Check out page 9 for some romance and some terror!

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AArON BrAdY 9

2009, HOW WAS IT FOr YOU? - ALAN gErNON 12

BOOK rEVIEW - THE AdULTErESS 60

PHOTOgrAPHY - ENdA CASEY 38

ILLUSTrATOr - STEPHEN LEdWIdgE 26

ONE TO WATCH - THE WHATMANS 16

CErAMIC ArTIST- THOMAS dIEM 20

TrIM 2025 - THE MAgIC NUMBErS 54

ArT SHOW PrEVIEW - jUST jESS 47

CULT COrNEr - CASIOTONE FTPA - YErTLE 52

INTErVIEW - SANZKrIT 24

gIg rEVIEWS 42

ON|V’S QUICK gUIdE TO THE WINTEr - Brrrr 34

THEATrE PrEVIEW 36

gLOBETrOTTEr - FIjI 56

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NEWS 2

C’MON FEEL THE NOISE - MUSIC NEWS 10

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whAt the hO hO hO is hAPPenin’?

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the foUr of US to pLay SLane

Northern Irish rockers, The Four of Us, will be stopping by Boyles venue in Slane for an intimate show. The Murphy brothers will be sure to fire out hits such as ‘Mary’ and ‘Sunlight’ when they perform on 17th December. Their recently released ‘Live at Vicar Street’ album showcases Brendan and Declan Murphy’s immense song writing talent and shows the band are performing better than they ever have.

Boyles Pub, Slane, Co. Meath December 17 Tickets 20euro For more information visit myspace.com/LiveAtBoyles

mary coUghLan at boyLeS

Galway native singer songwriter Mary Coughlan comes to Boyles pub Slane on Thursday January 21st for what will truly be an unmissable performance. First coming to the country’s attention in the 80s Coughlan has had a lengthy but controversial career. Don’t miss this rare chance to see one of Ireland’s most colourful characters in an intimate surrounding.

Boyles Pub, Slane, Co. Meath January 21 For more information visit myspace.com/LiveAtBoyles

Photograph by Lloyd M

organ

green day for SLane 2010?

Recent rumours of a Green Day Slane headline slot next year have been gathering some clout and will apparently be confirmed in the coming weeks. The Californian punk trio are rumoured to be visiting Lord Henry Mountcharles’ backyard on August 21st 2010. With major outdoor shows already confirmed for the UK on the 16th and 19th of June coupled with both the band and Lord Henry’s major interest in each other it looks like a certainty at this stage. Maybe avoid taking the bus this time…

Greenday.com

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the backroom naVan Short LiSted for LeinSter titLe

The Meath GAA team don’t look like their going to be winning a Leinster title anytime soon so thank god for The Backroom venue Navan and the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards. Now in its second year the awards “acknowledge the efforts made by live music venues in providing quality entertainment for the Irish public and the role they play in developing and nurturing the music community in Ireland”.

This year the delightful Backroom venue Navan has been shortlisted for the ‘rest of Leinster’ category along with The Late Lounge, Kill, Co. Kildare, Set Theatre, Kilkenny, Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth and The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny. The winning venue will go forward to compete in the national live venue of the year battling against the winners of the other regional heats. The 6,000 strong members of IMRO will vote for the winners. Best of luck to Sean, Clarkie and all the Backroom staff.For more information visit BackroomSessions.com

NEWS

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droichead artS centre tUrn the cLock back with white chriStmaS SiLVer Screen

Bored of the same old Christmas vids over the festive period, Titanic? Willy Wonka? Love Actually? Yawn! Get down to the Droichead Arts Centre, Drogheda, on December 8th to see how Hollywood used to make classic Xmas movies. As part of the Droichead Arts Silver Screen film club the theatre will be featuring the classic ‘White Christmas’, starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen. No better way to get you in the Christmas mood.For more information visit Droichead.com

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Sean keane ViSitS ratoath

Galway folk/trad native Sean Keane will be visiting The Venue Ratoath for a pre Christmas show. Armed with a sack full of well known songs and an unmistakable voice, Keane will take to the Ratoath stage on Friday December 11th for an unmissable show.

The Venue Theatre, Ratoath, Co. Meath December 11 Time 8pm Tickets 26euro For more information visit VenueTheatre.ie

fiona meLady LoVe in the moVieS

Kells native Fiona Melady has just released her latest single titled ‘Love in the Movies’. It is the second single released from Melady’s debut album ‘The Fear I Fear.’ The single was produced by Fiona and is available to download at downloadmusic.ie. A very impressive video accompanies the single, produced by Simon Daniels and Fiona. The Kells star can be seen flirting with various pieces of furniture in what is a quality stylish performance video. Check Melady’s website for information on live shows and news.

FionaMelady.com

2025 iS the magic nUmber

London pop rockers, The Magic Numbers, will be making a rare appearance in Trim when they headline the Trim 2025 Launch event on December 4th. The UK band made up of siblings Romeo and Michele Stodart and Sean and Angela Gannon will be blasting out their catchy hits ‘Forever Lost’, ‘Love Me Like You’ and ‘Love’s A Game’ in Trim GAA Centre. The launch event coincides with the build up to the Copenhagen 2020 Climate Change Conference and hopes to raise awareness and support for local carbon emission reducing initiatives with Trim hoping to achieve Carbon Neutral status over the next fifteen years. Also on the quality line up are Ham Sandwich, local indie rockers The DLS, The Sauce Warriors, Gerry Tully, Kathy Crinion and more. Tickets for the ‘must see’ event cost 20 euros and can be purchased at Tickets.ie

Check out page 54/55 for more info.

Trim GAA Centre, Trim, Co. Meath December 4 Time 6pm Tickets 20euro For more information visit Trim2025.net

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Wed 2nd The Trad Sing SongFri 4th Zero ResistanceSat 5th The RubacubesSun 6th Cash in the RecessionWed 9th The Trad Sing SongFri 11th Acoustic Brothers Sat 12th Boyne Valley Blues BandSun 13th This n’ That

Wed 16th The Trad Sing SongThurs 17th The Four of UsFri 18th 2 U I Bestow Christmas PartyAlphastates & Declan DeBarra + ≠

Sat 19th Edel Prince & The Lacklustre BandSun 20th Fish Out of WaterTuesday 22nd Henrietta Game

Wed 23rd The Trad Sing SongCHRISTMAS EVE 6-8pm The Big Sing SongST STEPHENS DAY 6pm The Wednesday Gang ≠Sun 27th The InfidelsMon 28th The Monday ClubWed 30th The Trad Sing SongNEW YEARS EVE Relax (The 80S Party)

DECEMBER AT BOYLES PUB SLANE, CO.MEATH

UpS, downS & merry go roUndS

“I get bored easily!” Kathy Crinion’s reply to the regularly asked question of “How do you find the time to be a wife, a mother to three sons, sing with a band, go back to college, become a teacher, write a children’s book and now record an album?”.

Trim based Kathy Crinion obviously has super powers, super powers which are showcased on her debut album ‘Ups, Downs and Merry Go Rounds’ which is due for release this December. Recorded and produced by the North East’s busiest producer Martin Quinn at Jam Studios in Kells the album is a collection of up beat country/pop gems. A host of familiar names have co written with Crinion on her debut long player including Charlie McGettigan, Don Baker and Gerry Tully. The album also features an impressive myriad of musicians who contribute including Ken Gillick, Trevor Smith, Martin Quinn, Andrew Quinn and Simon Fagan to name just a few. Catch Kathy in Trim as part of the Trim 2025 launch on December 4th.

myspace.com/KathyCrinionMusic

the three iriSh tenorS ViSit trim caStLe

A jaw dropping performance is guaranteed at Trim Castle Hotel on January 23rd when Ireland’s answer to Domingo, Carreras and Pavarotti the Three Irish Tenors visit for a one off extravaganza. Meeting over a few pints of Guinness at Mc Sorleys Bar, Dublin Ciaran Nagle, Kenneth O Regan and P.J. Hurley decided to form the Three Irish Tenors and have not looked back since. The trio have sold out theatres worldwide with their exceptional shows under the guidance of musical director David Wray. Tickets for the show are 27 euros, tickets and dinner cost 55 euros and ticket, dinner and overnight stay cost 89.50euros.

TrimCastleHotel.com TheThreeIrishTenors.com

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when i cLoSe my eyeS by the meath artS groUp

When I Close My Eyes is the culmination of many months work by Meath visual artists on the theme of ‘Spirit’.

Each artist has a different interpretation to the definition of this theme and through a wide variety of styles and media comes the fourth annual Meath Arts Group exhibition.

The majority of the work is painting – oil, acrylic, watercolour and pastels; there are also examples of photography, ceramics, sculpture and mixed media.

Background Meath Arts Group is a cultural, non-political, not-for-profit organisation founded in 2006 seeking to support working visual artists and to promote full recognition of the value of their works. These visual artists have joined together for the benefit of shared resources, education and marketing.

The association has an active membership of painters, sculptors, potters, photographers and other visual artists who wish to share and explore the opportunities of developing their art.

The purposes of Meath Arts Group are to organize, promote, encourage, assist, and develop the interests of visual artists in Meath.

The Toragh Gallery, Ashbourne, Co. Meath December 8-22 Opening at 7.30pm on Dec 8 For more information visit MeathArtsGroup.com

Send US yoUr newS

Have you got an event happening that we should know about? News, gigs, exhibitions, new album or maybe you have lost your dog and need all the help you can get to find him! We will do our best to make sure everyone knows about it, just send us some info with a hi-res picture and we will include it in the next issue of On|V.

Email onvmagazine@gmail.com

eimear qUinn at the SoLStice

Irish Eurovision star Eimear Quinn visits The Solstice Theatre, Navan for a pre Christmas show on Monday December 21st. Thirteen years on from her Eurovision success with ‘The Voice’ Eimear has firmly established herself as one of the nations leading singers. Expect beautifully arranged carols and winter songs as Quinn is joined by an ensemble of string quartet , harp and guitar. Tickets for the magical atmospheric show cost 20 Euros and can be purchased at The Solstice or from the Solstice Arts Centre website.

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co. Meath December 21st Time 8pm For more information visit SolsticeArtsCentre.com

dUnboyne caStLe chriStmaS fair

Why not do some Christmas shopping in the beautiful surrounds of Dunboyne Castle Hotel. Choose from an array of local produce, crafts and gifts and then visit Santa for free between 2-4pm and then maybe rest your tired souls in the comfy Terrace Lounge. It’s going to be a great family day out and perfect to get you in the festive mood.

Dunboyne Castle Hotle, Dunboyne, Co. Meath December 6 Time 12-5pm For more information visit DunboyneCastleHotel.com

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AArON BrAdY

LineSanddeSignS.bLogSpot.com

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AMBIENCE AFFAIr

Announce new EP detailsHalf Meath half Dublin melancholy folk two piece, The Ambience Affair, have released details of a forth coming EP. The eagerly awaited follow up to their sold out debut ‘Fragile Things’ will be called ‘Pattern’ and will be released on Saturday January 23rd at the band’s Andrew Lane Theatre headline show in Dublin.

Lead singer guitarist and Meath native, Jamie Clarke, says he is “really looking forward to people hearing the new ep”. He adds “I think before, we were too focused on making the songs sound as close to the live show as much as possible, but now we’re putting in things that will make the songs sound a lot more padded”.

Find out more about the imminent release on the band’s myspace page blog; myspace.com/TheAmbienceAffair

c’mon feeL the noiSe mUSicnewS

KOPEK

Ashbourne rockers break the silence with debut album detailsAshbourne three-piece alt rockers Kopek have been strangely quiet over the past twelve months but have emerged with the news that their debut album is recorded and ready for release. According to the band’s myspace, 12 songs have made the final cut on ‘White Collar Lies’. The album was produced by Glenn Herlihy and Kopek, mixed by multi Grammy award winner Tom Lord Alge (Green Day, Oasis, Weezer) and mastered by Ted Jensen (Norah Jones, Maroon 5, Metallica). Us Irish will have to wait though as the album will be released in the USA first before receiving a global release. Click on the trio’s myspace page to hear some exclusive album tracks. At the moment Brad, Dan and Shane are busy working on their live show, roll on 2010. myspace.com/Kopek

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The new EP distills our current fears and phobias about the future, our inherent mistrust of technology and the hope of redemption through personal change. Layers of distorted treated electric guitars shimmer throughout, with ethereal noise loops and spoken word samples from Albert Einstein.

This three track EP is an extension of previous Head Noise work, which Hot Press has described as “interesting and unconventional” and the Milk Factory as a music of “twisted sonic landscapes somewhere between minimal

post-rock and dub electronica in its most somber form, creating dense atmospheric structures [...].”

The new EP continues in that vein - the final track being a change in mood with the captivating “Blues for Govinda” - a simple but haunting guitar motif merging with gentle strings and horns, organ and esoteric tunings also offset the piece.

Head Noise is one of the audio incarnations of multi-instrumentalist and producer, Joshue O Connor. The full EP is available at the Technica Curiosa Records website TechRecord.net

head noisenew eP ‘where neXt einstein?

Head Noise

Where next Einstein?

SIMON FAgAN

Pre Christmas Dublin HeadlinerNavan’s son of soul, Simon Fagan, will be visiting the capital on December 3rd for a headline shindig in Crawdaddy on Harcourt Street. Having recently returned from an extensive tour of Egypt the hard working Fagan and his band head off for a brief UK tour before returning back for this Dublin show, not to be missed.

Get your tickets at tickets.ie myspace.com/SimonFagan

HAM SANdWICH

Calling all budding logo designersBe honest, how many of you got carried away with the recent Cadburys wrapper design competition endorsed by Apprentice money bags chief Bill Cullen? Thought so, well if you enjoyed that competition here is another to get your chocolate covered fingers into. Kells indie rockers Ham Sandwich are looking for a new official logo and want you to design it. According to the bands myspace the winning designer will win “a hefty lump of cash” along with the bands entire back catalogue signed by everyone in the band. The five piece ask that the logo be big and bold and easy to read with both words of the band on separate lines. There is no limit to the amount of times one can enter.

Entries are to be sent to podgesandwich@gmail.com. Best of luck! myspace.com/EatHamSandwich

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As a kid I loaned my little brother £20 to buy a Star Wars Ewok village. After getting clothes rather than money from our aunties for his First Communion and squandering his pocket money on Whizzer & Chips comics, Mr. Freezes and Cola Cubes it became increasingly apparent he was unable to pay me back. I took the Ewok village off him and sold it to Brendan Brennan (whose parents were divils for alliteration) for a fiver. My mother, who up until this point had been indifferent to what was going on, went buck mad and told me I was incredibly stupid to give him the money when he hadn’t a chance to pay it back and that I’d wasted all my confirmation money. Then a week later, feeling sorry for me, she gave me my £20 back. At this stage Ewok villages were reduced to just £12 and my brother wanted one again. So, imagine my surprise when my mother made me loan the £12 to my brother again. Twenty years later a similarly ludicrous scheme was concocted and named NAMA.

While Ireland got NAMA this year, the States got Obama, who took over at the White House in January whilst Sarah Palin faded back into relative

obscurity. It is still hard to believe John McCain chose someone who thinks Africa is a country as his potential Vice-President. If she was my sister and we beat our opponents on Family Fortunes I wouldn’t even choose her to accompany me to answer the five questions at the end.

Obama surprisingly won a Nobel Peace Prize which is a bit like over-hyped acts like Adel winning Brit Awards before even releasing a record. Incidentally, in answer to Adel’s eternal “should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements?” question, I’d give up love, you’ll never catch ‘em. Brian Cowen was one of the first to congratulate Obama on his Nobel success, which was akin to Richie Kavanagh congratulating Jay Z on winning a Grammy.

Ireland was run, or rather jogged with crutches, a limp, a Mickey Mouse costume and a forty Major a day habit, by the shambolic triumvirate of Cowen, Brian Lenihan and Mary Coughlan, all of whom inherited their Dail seats from their fathers. This is a bit like Manchester United targeting Champions League glory with a strike force of Callum Best,

Words/Alan Gernon

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Kasper Schmeichel and Roy Keane’s dog Trigger. The joke amongst economists was that the only difference between a bankrupt Iceland and Ireland was one letter and six months. And while Iceland is populated by dozens of dodgy geysers scattered throughout the country capable of erupting at any moment, Ireland is still governed by dozens of dodgy geezers scattered throughout the country in a Fianna Fail majority Government. However, they only erupt when changes to drink driving laws are mooted.

In January there was much fanfare over the phase-out of incandescent light bulbs in Ireland, leading to questions as to just how many Green politicians it takes to change a light bulb policy? After an announcement the same month that the Waterford Crystal plant in Kilbarry was to shut down, its employees began an unofficial sit-in which led to some scuffles that damaged the visitors’ centre. Fortunately, damage was limited as it was Waterford Crystal and was only used occasionally when visitors called.

Ireland’s largest bank robbery took place at the Bank of Ireland’s College Green branch

in February. A few days later Gardaí raided the headquarters of Anglo Irish Bank in St Stephen’s Green, where much bigger crimes had been committed. Incredibly, almost ten months later no-one has been prosecuted. Also in February, 2,000 members of the Garda Síochána marched through the streets of Dublin. They were protesting at proposed cuts. And Copper Face Jacks had special offers on.

In May the ‘Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse’ report was published, the long-delayed investigation into Ireland’s Roman Catholic-run institutions which stated priests and nuns terrorised thousands of boys and girls in workhouse-style schools for decades. With little political appetite to bring those responsible to court, huge criticism over the Government’s agreed compensation package and in the midst of the country’s worst ever economic outlook with its subsequent adverse affects on crime levels, the Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, made sure he’d his priorities straight by passing, you guessed it, Blasphemy laws.

how waS it for yoU?

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At a civic reception in September Muhammad Ali was made the first Honorary Freeman of Ennis. Even more bizarrely former head of Anglo Irish Bank Sean (‘Seanie’ to his friends) Fitzpatrick is still a free man of Dublin.

The pro-Lisbon lobby urged us to “Vote Yes for Jobs”. Within a week of 67% of the Irish people doing as they were told this time, 650 jobs went in Aer Lingus, 500 in Bord na Mona, 300 in Intel and none in Dail Eireann.

Swine F lu travelled around the world quicker than John O’Donoghue. Most people recovered from the H1N1 virus within a week. Unfortunately it took longer to get rid of O’Donoghue.

Gross incompetence was continuously rewarded this year with Pat Neary, the ex-Financial Regulator, getting a golden handshake of €630,000. It became increasingly apparent that banks had falsely advertised to us for years, particularly in their radio advertising. “Our bank is regulated by the Financial Regulator” they assured us, which is like saying the Titanic was regulated by an Iceberg Regulator.

The recession meant the only people making money seemed to be politicians, bankers and the bloke who tattoos the lower inner arms of

footballers. With Cristiano Ronaldo moving to Real Madrid for over €90 million, footballers became even more remote from their fans and it is only a matter of time before an indifferent Didier Drogba scores a hat-trick whilst wearing an iPod.

Ireland reached a World Cup play-off despite Giovanni Trapattoni continually overlooking Andy Reid. The Sunderland midfielder’s Ireland career looks over under Trapattoni’s reign as the likes of Hibernian’s Liam Miller, QPR’s Martin Rowlands and UTV’s Julian Simmons seem to have overtaken him in the pecking order. I was only joking about Julian Simmons. He plays for Northern Ireland.

The left hand of Horrid Henry scuppered our World Cup dream, the country went baloobas and (still) in the midst of the country’s worst ever economic outlook , the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern made sure he’d still got his priorities straight by, you guessed it, going on CNN demanding a replay. His motivation was to ensure that the children of Ireland weren’t given the impression that cheating guarantees success. I don’t think this Fianna Fail TD was even being ironic.

South African athlete Caster Semenya ran too fast in the Ladies 800 metres resulting in rumours she was male. I can empathise completely as I was such a slow runner as a kid there were rumours I was female. While Irishman Richard Donovan ran around the world in less than five days it took AIB over 5 days to clear a cheque for €17.23 into my current account. Michael Jackson’s death stunned

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the world and a psychic shocked a TV audience months later by trying to make contact with his ghost. Even more shocking is the fact Max Clifford hasn’t negotiated an exclusive Hello magazine interview with the ghost of Jade Goody. Yet.

FAS’s extravagant waste included €600,000 on a television commercial they subsequently couldn’t afford to buy TV coverage for. Sadly, the same advertising agency didn’t look after those Bertie Ahern and Louis Walsh Spar ads.

Ireland won some rugby yoke that five other countries take part in. Yay! Etc. It snowed in February. Yay! Etc. Ryan Tubridy was named as the new presenter of The Late Late Show. Yay! Etc. These and many, many other inconsequential events also made the national news headlines.

Finally, whilst the FAS marketing department was left red-faced, the marketing triumph of the year was Tourism Queensland’s hugely successful campaign to find a caretaker for Hamilton Island. The winner got to run an island with no experience or inkling about what to do, with loads of free flights and 150k every six months. The perfect job… for Brian Cowen.

And in true ‘Reeling in the Years’ style I hope you read the above whilst listening to ‘Toxic’ performed by John & Edward.

Happy 2010. It can only get better.

myspace.com/AlanGernon or somewhere on Facebook.

04.12.09 Underground Comedy Club on Tour Glenside Hotel, Drogheda 05.01.10 Comedy Mish Mash International Bar, D210.01.10 Capital Comedy Club Ha’penny Bridge, D213.01.10 Laugh Out Loud Anseo, Camden Street, D223.01.10 Stand Up at the Bankers Bankers Bar, D231.01.10 The Comedy Crunch Sheeben Chic, South Great George’s St, D231.01.10 Comedy Dublin Belvedere Hotel, D1

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“The state of the country, the lack of leaders, the poxy fuckin’ government, the way Ireland seems to becoming more like a communist state without anyone noticing... Things like that.”

k, got to start at the beginning, how did The Whatmans come to be and what inspired you all to start the band? Me, Aidan and Frany were already playing together in a band that fell apart. We decided to keep going with just the 3 of us but we knew

we needed a singer. I heard John singing in a pub one night, he was singing eh..... I can’t think of the name of it, but he sounded like just what we were looking for. So we got in contact with him and ‘The Whatmans’ were born.

What’s your opinion on the current music scene and do you think it is a disadvantage being a Navan based band? I think the music scene in Ireland is pretty shit at the minute. Between a few bad clicks of so called musicians polluting the airwaves and DJs playing non-stop pop bollox, it doesn’t leave much room for new emerging Rock’n’Roll acts; acts that are actually Rock’n’Roll and not this washed up ‘Snow Patrol’ sound that really has surpassed its sell by date. Where are all ‘The Rolling Stones/Stone Roses/The Beatles/Oasis’ bands gone to? Now that’s music that will go on and on....

I think it has actually been an advantage to be from Navan, in the sense that we don’t get caught up in the middle of that mess and we get to hear and see great musicians every week playing acoustics over a few pints or down in The Backroom Sessions rocking the place. Navan is like the Manchester of Ireland I think. There are great bands with great tunes around here. The Dolldrums, Storybooks, Joy Booth, Ruairi Coogan, Trigger and The Hitmen, The Lost Brothers.... the list goes on. It’s just a pity that there isn’t more of an outlet in Ireland for new acts like there is in the UK.

What are the biggest challenges for The Whatmans? Same as any other band really, Sex, Drugs and Rock’n’Roll.

You recently released your debut single ‘Devil Shoes’. How did you find the experience and what have you learned? Well we’re still really in the middle of the experience. We’re working the whole time, everyday. It’s all part of it ye know. It is something that every band who wants to push on to the next level has to do. We were lucky enough

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ONE TO WATCH

The WhatmansWhatmans’ Padar Mulvey …talkin’ bout a revolution

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that Matchbox Recordings and Universal came in contact with us. Dale from Matchbox has done a lot of the work and as they tell us all the time, “It takes time”. We just have to keep going and keep looking forward. We’ve had some great write ups and some high up music heads say good stuff about us so were going in the right direction.

As far as learning anything.... we haven’t learned a thing haha.

Tell us about the making of the infamous video for ‘Devil Shoes’. Is that dog really as mean as it looks? That dog was actually one of the friendliest dogs you’d meet. Looks mean and angry but she wasn’t at all. She was only after having pups a few days before so she wasn’t up for much excitement. They were trying to make the dog bark and get angry, but no-one could because the dog owners daughter was there, she was only 5 or 6 so they couldn’t work the dog up. Not that you’d want to see that dog worked up... Can you imagine the carnage? Guitars and drums everywhere... fooking hell!!

Making the video was an experience. We shot it up in Pigeon House across from Dublin Port. Vincent Gallagher and Dave Leahy were over it all. We were up there at 6 in the morning until about 8 in the

evening. Got it all done in 1 day, sure with faces like ours what do you expect. I was surprised it even took that long haha.

It was just amazing, seeing how that side of things work and that. There was a lot of sitting around eating pizza, drinking tea and talking shite, while one of us was doing our bit for the cameras. But it was cool. Hope to have the next video out soon.

What is The Whatmans’ songwriting process like and are lyrics important to the band? I write all the songs for us. It’s actually quite simple when I’m with a band that is so easy to work with. I’ll sit at home and write the tune, bring it in to the boys and we change everything around, so that what we’re left with is a song that is rockin’ and we’re all happy with. Some tunes just don’t suit us so we scrap them and keep going. We’ve got to the stage where we’ve nearly captured the sound we want, so we know what fits and what doesn’t. Sometimes it takes weeks to fix a tune up right but most of the time it all just happens. You can feel it when it’s all coming together, it’s rockin’.

Lyric wise, I don’t write anything too personal. I hate talking about myself so I don’t think I’d like John to be singing about me. I write about everyday actions of people. Things I read in the papers,

things I watch on TV, things I hear over a pint.... Certain things just pop out at me, like the state of the country, the lack of leaders, the poxy fuckin’ government, the way Ireland seems to becoming more like a communist state without anyone noticing... Things like that. It’s all very “talkin’ bout a revolution.”

The Whatmans have gigged quite a lot over the past 3 years. What has been the most memorable one? Whelans last year was cool and most of The Backroom Session gigs are a party and a half, but it has to be The Village gig in September for the launch of ‘Devil Shoes’. It was a cool night. Donzo came up and did the lights which were amazing, fair play to him he’s a talent. The two support acts were class, ‘Trigger and The Hitmen’ and ‘Blind Mirrors’. There was a cool feel to the whole night. It was one to remember, everything about it was what we want to be doing all of the time. All about the music… and the money haha.

Are you looking forward to playing The Backroom in December? Yeah man of course. The Backroom is a class venue, there’s always a great crowd in it and we always get a good reaction. It has a different feel to it then most

places, suppose it’s because it’s our home gig and all the headcases, drinkers and happy folk are there. Sean and Clarky have done an excellent job with it. Them gigs always turn in to all-nighter jobs too, ye know, after show parties and that haha.... very Rock’n’Roll!!

What are the plans for Christmas, New Years and 2010? It’ll be a quiet enough Christmas, no big plans. There will be loads to do in the new year. We’ll push on and get the second single out early enough in the year and then hopefully get the album recorded and maybe a third single out. We’ve tours in the UK and Ireland to do so we’re pretty busy.

We’re in the process of looking for a synths/piano player to join us, so if any of your readers are interested give us a call.

Cheers and Happy Christmas from The Whatmans!

myspace.com/TheWhatmans

Photography by Andrea Sheridan at the launch of ‘Devil Shoes’, The Village, Wexford Street, Dublin.

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CErAMICS

“One of the things I like about working with clay is the immediacy of it. Ideas can quickly be transformed into physical pieces, altered, reshaped and developed.”

EThomas Diemvidence of the oldest example of pottery was discovered back in June of 2009 in a cave at Yuchanyan in China’s Hunan province. Scientist believe it to be 17,500 to 18,300 years old. This is a craft that has since been passed on from generation to generation as a result of its practical,

functional nature and endless availability of raw materials.

Thomas Diem is a second generation potter and has been living in a world of pottery since he was a young boy as his father was a classically trained ceramicist. Taking the skills passed down by his father and many leading Irish potters under which he trained, Thomas developed his own style reflective of a much more design savvy country.

Stripped down almost to the most fundamental features, Thomas Diem’s ceramics are iconically minimalist with vibrant splashes of colour and lines. Diem Pottery is now a brand of high end contemporary ceramic design with a consistent colour palette of red, turquoise, amber and green. Each piece is handmade and individually signed by Thomas Diem.

Diem Pottery is based in Ashbourne, Co.Meath and his work is available throughout Ireland in all leading design and craft centres. Seen as we are just approaching Christmas, On|V Magazine thought we should catch up with Thomas Diem at his busiest time of year and find out a little more of what his work is about...

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Could you tell us a little about your background and how you got into Ceramics? I was born in New York and moved to Ireland as a child in 1977. I am a second generation potter and started learning my skills in my fathers’ pottery (Malahide Pottery). I then completed the Pottery Skills Course run by the Craft Council of Ireland. I spent time in other potteries and then set up my own pottery in 1994. I set up my studio in Ashbourne in 1999.

In what way has your location affected the art that you make? My work has not been overly affected by my location. My main interest in ceramics is shape and form and the inspiration for my pieces comes from many varied sources.

Have you ever dabbled with other artistic mediums or has it always been clay? Up to now I have only used clay as my medium. I do use glass in one of my ranges where I combine it with the natural colour of the clay.

Can you describe the process of creating a typical ceramic piece? Practically all my work is handthrown on the potters wheel. Afterwards I can cut or alter shapes into the desired form. Every piece is signed on the base by hand and when fully dry is fired for the first time to 1100oc. After this firing, the pieces are glazed or stained and fired for the second time up to a temperature of 1200oc.

What do you enjoy the most about ceramics as an artistic medium? One of the things I like about working with clay is the immediacy of it. Ideas can quickly be transformed into physical pieces, altered, reshaped and developed. I like to design in this physical way rather than sketching. Sometimes things work and sometimes not but nearly always something is learnt in the process and stored away in the mind for later use.

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Your work has beautiful, simple characteristics with splashes of detail through colour and die cuts. What method do you use to inject this detail into your work? The simplicity in my work has taken time to find as the temptation to overdo things is always there. I like clean simple lines and when the work is at a leather hard stage I use scalpels and needle tools to cut and inscribe into pieces to create this effect. The contrast between the raw clay and bright colours is achieved by melting coloured glass on the pieces. The basically neutral colour of the piece is a great backdrop to a strong splash of colour.

And finally, Diem Pottery is the ideal gift for any home this Christmas, where can we find/buy your work? I sell and display my work at my studio in Ashbourne and also from my website diempottery.com. In Meath my work is also available from Maguires at the Hill of Tara, Solstice Arts Centre in Navan and Heritage Kitchens in Kells. I also supply The Kilkenny Shop in Dublin and Kilkenny Design Centre in Kilkenny and various other outlets around Ireland.

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I’ve got to start by enquiring about the name as it always raises a few eyebrows. Where did it come from and what does it mean? Dave came up with the name a few years back. Sanskrit is the oldest language in the world used by monks. When literally translated the word means ‘perfect’ but seeing as we’re not quite perfect we changed the ‘s’ to a ‘z’. Guess we like to make things difficult for people to find us online!!

Sanzkrit have had a steady rise over the past four years. Has it been tough breaking out of Monaghan and establishing a national profile? Anyone will tell you it’s not easy at all. We finance, manage and promote everything ourselves so we’ve had many sleepless nights since we released our album! We have had a lot of luck with national press and radio getting interested which really makes the difference when we travel to Cork or Limerick or other places down the country. People are already interested and eager to hear what we have to offer. We also got some great support tours with very established acts at the start which really pushed us to new fan bases and helped fill venues when we went to do our own shows.

Opinion on the current Irish music scene?

Musically i think it’s really great at the minute. we have bands coming out now with more integrity and better live shows than ever before. we are miles ahead of england or America in terms of venues and talent. i think the radio stations and tV need to be more supportive though and give some more coverage to the smaller scene.You played support to Delorentos at the Le Cheile festival in Oldcastle last summer. How did it go? Any amusing stories? Le Cheile last summer was really great. We have known the Delorentos for a few years now and they were fantastic as always. Hmm, as for amusing stories, Pauric our drummer has a tendency to get very pissed after gigs. Lets just say Declan O’Rourke will never look at guitar the same way again! I can’t say any more for legal reasons...

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Your music is usually described, as Gloom Rock. Is that a tag that sits comfortably with you? It’s an interesting term a magazine put on us one time and kinda stuck in a lot of reviews after. It’s tough to describe what we do though. I guess we have dark lyrics and melodies at times but over all I think we are happy people.

You recently released your debut album “After The Wedding”. How did you find the experience of recording and where was it recorded and with who? It was recorded in Dundalk with Jason Varley. We have been recording with him for years. We tried expensive big name producers before in other studios and got terrible results. We just weren’t comfortable and felt we lost a lot of control and sight of what we wanted so we decided to go back to Jason and do it our own way. Recording was great. We took almost 2 years to finish the album but we were really happy with how it turned out. We love being in the studio experimenting with sounds and looking at things through a microscope. I guess that is what gives us our sound. I think we are going to go in a different direction with the next one. Either go for more of a live sound or the other end of the spectrum. Who knows...

The video for “Futila” is interesting. Are the four young boys in the video “Sanzkrit” a few years ago and if so, who got the girl? Haha! Yeah, that’s us alright. That video was great fun to shoot. Who says you should never work with kids! Dave Marron got the girl that time but like all foolish boys he lost her... the innocence of youth.

Are you looking forward to playing The Backroom in December? I can’t wait to play it. It’s a really cool venue and the other bands on the night are great. I can’t wait to see them again. We have never played it before but from what I hear from other bands it’s the place to be!

What are the plans for Christmas, New Years and 2010? We are releasing our 3rd single ‘Carnivore’ on the 4th of December so our Christmas is full up with touring and promoting that. I think we only have Christmas day to relax. We haven’t had any time off since September so the new year is going to be a nice wee rest before we start work on a new EP and then preparing for the summer festivals. Then next September we are releasing the album in Italy and Germany and going over to tour there for a while. It’s going to be a fun year!

catch sanzkrit in the Backroom, navan, on Dec 11th and check out myspace.com/sanzkrit

MOnAGhAn inDie GLOOM rOcKers, sAnzKrit, hAVe Been BusY tOurinG the cOuntrY FOLLOwinG the reLeAse OF their DeBut ALBuM, AFter the weDDinG. On|V chAts with GuitArist, DArren cLArKe, AheAD OF the BAnD’s Visit tO the BAcKrOOM, nAVAn.

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ILLUSTrATION

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Recently selected as one of the 200 illustrators chosen for Lurzer’s 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2009/2010 Annual, illustrator Stephen Ledwidge is the local artist we should all be talking about.

How long have you been an illustrator? I’ve been working professionally as an illustrator for just over five years.

What inspires your work? Anything and everything really. From books, films, music, visiting museums all sorts of stuff really.

What are your tools of trade? I work in a whole bunch of different materials. Though usually a mix between painting, pencil and digital materials. It usually depends on the type of job. I’ve changed my way of a fair bit working over the last few years. So in varying ways there is usually acrylic, gouache, pencil, graphite and Photoshop in there.

How would you describe your style of illustration? That’s kind of a difficult one and one that usually involves me scratching my head and mumbling for a bit. I think that style can make it seem like there is just a surface element to your work that makes it stand out but I would hope that I try and bring a way of thinking to my work too.

What are you working on at the moment? Between the usual editorial jobs I have been working on one top secret project that has been jumping through hoops to get finally approved, which looks like it’s almost there, so I’m looking forward to that coming out and be able to tell people properly about it. I’m also working between jobs on some pieces that I’m hoping to take around to book publishers.

Stephen Ledwidge

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How does your job as an illustrator influence your life? It’s not really the sort of job that stops when work finishes, I’m always on the look out for things to bring into my work or have stuff for jobs ticking away in the back of my mind.

Do you feel you may see the world slightly different than the rest of us? Just a little bit.

“There’s certainly a lot more interest in illustration in Ireland at the moment so hopefully things here are starting to move in the right direction.”

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You hold quite an impressive client list including Business Week, Harvard Business Review, Communication Arts, Mongrel, Esquire and now On|V Magazine among them all... Do you feel we embrace illustration enough in Ireland or do you find you’re commissioned more so on a global scale? Most of my work over the last few years has mostly been for clients abroad, though this is something that I’m trying to change the balance of. I lived and worked in London for five years so having started out there is a big factor in that. The internet has certainly made it way easier to work for clients all over the world and a lot of my work comes in through my agents. So I get a mixture of work from the US and UK and was recently doing work for Esquire magazine in Russia. Like I said though, I’m trying to get to see more Irish clients as it helps to meet with people in person rather than always just being on the end of an email. There’s certainly a lot more interest in illustration in Ireland at the

moment so hopefully things here are starting to move in the right direction.

You were recently selected as one of the 200 illustrators chosen for Lurzer’s 200 Best Illustrators Worldwide 2009/2010 Annual. How did this feel? It was great to get chosen and to be selected among so many other amazing illustrators. It’s always great to be involved with publications like this where you know there’s a high standard and a level of recognition involved.

And finally, where can we get our eager hands on your work? I’ve just started selling prints through the shop on my website - which you can check out at stephenledwidge.com

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1. The Whale, Acrylic and Pencil, 20092. A Woman in Love. Acrylic, 2007 Awarded - Communication Arts Illustration Annual 2008

3. Promotional Coasters Partying, 2007/ Culinary Delight, 2008 / Woodstock, 2009

4. Transforming Global Giants, 2008 Harvard Business Review

5. Personalised Medicines, 2007 Harvard Business Review

6. Security in the WWF, 2009 Security Management magazine

7. Sport Specialisation, 2007 Independent Schools magazine

8. Little Red Riding Hood. Acrylic and Pencil, 2006 Awarded - Applied Arts Illustration

Annual 2007 & Cover image - The Big Book of Illustration Ideas 2, Harper Collins, 2008

stephenledwidge.com

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a qUick gUide to what’S on thiS winter

THE BLIZZArdS

The Blizzards return

Mullingar rockers The Blizzards return to Meath following their impressive Slane Castle set last summer. This time Niall Breslin & company will be swapping the picturesque surroundings of Slane for The Palace Navan for a Friday night headline set on December 11th. The Blizzards have had another successful year with their second album ‘The Domino Effect’ reaching platinum status. The Palace Nightclub, Navan, Co.Meath December 11 Tickets 23euro

Palace.ie

TrIM 2025 LAUNCH

It’s a kind of magic…

Trim 2025 launches with an impressive line up of talent including the multi-platinum international headline act The Magic Numbers. Also confirmed are Meteor Award Winners from Kells, Ham Sandwich and Trim’s own Gerry Tully, The DLS and guerrilla rock legends The Sauce Warriors! Enjoy the after-show party with the incredible Johnnypluse and Breakonomics.Trim GAA Centre, Trim, Co.Meath December 4 Time 6pm Tickets 20euro

Trim2025.net

SEAN KEANE

Sean Keane to play the Venue Theatre, Ratoath.

Galway folk/trad native Sean Keane will be visiting The Venue Ratoath for a pre Christmas show. Armed with a sack full of well known songs and an unmistakable voice Keane will take to the Ratoath stage on Friday December 11th for an unmissable show. The Venue Theatre Ratoath, Co.Meath December 11 Time 8pm Tickets 26euro

VenueTheatre.ie

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THE WHATMANS

Headline show from Navan’s finest

Navan indie stompers, The Whatmans, round off an impressive year with a hometown headline show in The Backroom, Navan.

Support on the night comes from Monaghan four piece, Sanzkrit and the strangely named Strange Glue.The Backroom Navan, Co.Meath December 11 Time 9pm Tickets 10euro

myspace.com/ TheWhatmans

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TrIBUTE HIS*STOrY

Tribute to the King of Pop

Moon walk your way to the Solstice Arts Centre this Winter for an unmissable tribute to the late Michael Jackson.

The tribute show is brought to us by East Coast Productions and will feature all of the hits including, Billie Jean, Thriller and Bad.Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co.Meath December 17-18 Time 8pm Tickets 15euro

SolsticeArtsCentre.com

THE FOUr OF US

The Four of Us visit Slane

The Four of Us will be stopping by Boyles Venue in Slane for an intimate show. The Murphy brothers will be sure to fire out hits such as ‘Mary’ and ‘Sunlight’ when they perform on 17th December, with support from Trim’s Gerry Tully.Boyles Pub, Slane, Co.Meath December 17 Admission 20euro

HAM SANdWICH

Home town show for Kells pop rockers.

“It’s going to be a monstrous show as it’s been almost a year and a half since we graced the stage lorry last Summer.”

Ham Sandwich finish off yet another successful year with a hometown show in their natives Kells, Co.Meath.

The Sambos will be rockin’ the Vibe, at The Headfort Arms Hotel.

Vibe Nightclub, Headfort Arms Hotel Kells, Co.Meath December 30 Admission TBC

myspace.com/ EatHamSandwich

NANO rEId & gErArd dILLON

An exhibition of two friends.

This exhibition celebrates two Irish artists who became friends in the 1940s. They painted together, exhibited together and at points lived together. Not only do you get to see both artists work side by side, but you get to see first hand how they may have influenced each others work. Featuring works from public and private collections throughout Ireland.Highlanes Gallery, Drogheda, Co.Louth. Nov 6 -Jan 20 Admission See Page 49

Highlanes.ie

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baLLet ireLand preSent cindereLLa

A unique approach to the ‘happily ever after’ story of Cinderella and her ugly sisters, in this show life is a little more realistic and a little less fairytale. Opening with the romantic ‘lost shoe’ incident and subsequent marriage, Cinderella and Prince Charming “Struggle to overcome their differing backgrounds”. Choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple, this Ballet is sure to be a magical, heartfelt performance perfect for the festive season.

Two act ballet by Ballet Ireland Choreographed by Morgann Runacre-Temple Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co.Meath December 11-12 Time 8pm Tickets 20euro/16euro concession For more information visit SolsticeArtsCentre.com36

eaSt coaSt prodUction preSent tribUte - hiS*Story

This tribute show dedicated to the one and only Michael Jackson features all the hits such as ‘Billie Jean’, ‘Thriller’ and ‘Bad’ with spectacular costumes and excellent dance routines. Tribute - His*Story is East Coast Production’s debut show at Solstice make sure not to miss it!

Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co.Meath December 17-18 Time 8pm Tickets 15euro For more information visit SolsticeArtsCentre.com

FEELInG THEATRICAL?

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aiSLing ghéar theatre company preSent ‘the poor moUth’

Monty Python before there was Monty Python!

A brand new adaptation for the stage by Bríd Ó Gallchoir with contributions from Georóid Ó Cairáillean and Owen McCafferty.

The Poor Mouth/An Béal Bocht is an Irish play that tells the story of Bonaparte O’Coonassa of Corkadoragha, a small village in Western Ireland. An adventure of buried treasure, underwater homes and the perils of Irish dancing, this satirical production is sure to have you ag pléascadh amach ag gáire.

Don’t worry though, a live translator will be performing the play behind the scenes in English so you can hear it all through your earphones and you won’t miss a thing!

Play by Flann O’Brien Solstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co.Meath December 4 Time 8pm Tickets 15euro/12euro concession For more information visit SolsticeArtsCentre.com

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THEATrE

ratoath mUSicaL Society preSent Jack and the beanStaLk

With Jack, a cast of 80 local children and adults and one giant beanstalk this production by the Ratoath Musical Society is set to be one of the most enchanting of the year, a true classic.

Panto by Ratoath Musical Society The Venue Theatre, Ratoath, Co.Meath. December 2-5 Time 8pm Matinee Sat 5 & Sun 6 at 3pm Tickets 15euro For more information visit VenueTheatre.ie

caLipo theatre company preSent 10 dateS with mad mary

Mad Mary - the best fighter in Drogheda, and now she has returned from serving six months in Mountjoy prison. This may not sound like your average chick flick however this comical production has all the right ingredients. A best friend’s wedding, finding the perfect dress and even more challenging, finding the perfect man to compliment that dress!

A romantic comedy (sort of) by Yamsine Akram Produced by Calipo Theatre Company Stockwell Theatre, Drogheda, Co.Louth December 10-12 Time 8.30pm Tickets 15euro & 10euro For more information visit DroicheadArtsCentre.ieCalipo.ie

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Keith Flint of The Prodigy at Slane 2009

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PHOTOgrAPHY

IEnda Casey

magine a lifestyle where you get to meet and work with your favourite celebrities and capture moments in their life that will forever live on in history. Imagine an infamous band such as The Prodigy or the Dropkick Murphys, Alphastates, Ham Sandwich, Sinead O’ Connor and Rodrigo

Y Gabriella included your photos in their official collection for all the rockin’ world to see. Imagine you were getting paid for this and you could call it your career… This is the life of Trim based photographer Enda Casey of Gasun Photography. On|V Magazine decided to find out more about the man behind the lens, his passion for photography, music and eh… tattoos!

Why Gasun? I remember being called a Gasun as a child by my seniors. Gasun is probably more correctly spelt; ‘An Gharsún’, meaning the young fellow or young guy. I never thought much of it then, but I am young at heart and Gasun just landed in my head when I was building my web site. It’s almost a brand but it’s easy and catchy methinks! Tell us about the path you took to become the photographer you are today? I have always taken photographs since a young age but seemed to focus more on sport and getting into college as I grew up. I am an avid music, festival and concert fan so this was always in the background. One night at an Alphastates gig I took some photographs on a new camera I had purchased. I liked the results and decided to apply myself to music photography in more earnest from then on. That was back in 2003.

How would you describe your photographic style? I absolutely adore natural light and black and white images. Now I know that flash is also part of the creative side of photography and I do use flash, but I always try to see what can be done with available light first. I lean toward the edgy and atmospheric photograph when it comes to bands. I’m easy to do business with, but I do like to understand what a band is looking for and plan things a bit. Then on the shoot, when we have what we need, I break out a bit and push it further.

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Is music photography your preference over corporate or is live just more accessible? I shoot more music or performance photography than corporate material and tend to get more enquiries from the music scene. On the other hand, I just completed a full project for The Longford County Enterprise Board (LCEB) for their corporate brochure 2009+, which covered subjects including Damien Dempsey live, trains, recycling, engineering, medical device and food manufacturing to name a few. In short, I can turn my hand to most things but I love being in front of a stage and feeling the music. Slane 2009 was fab, especially The Prodigy, who have used some of my photographs since.

Are you or were you ever in a band? If so tell us more! I played the piano for 5 years, but football took over. I have played the guitar in my teens, but never joined a band. I have a Gibson SG in my studio because Angus Young from AC/DC plays one! I’m great at Paranoid and Smoke On The Water!

Do you get a buzz out of shooting at a gig or do you prefer studio based work? I get a buzz from all shoots. Gigs are obviously far more dynamic and are different depending on the music and the size of the event. Fast loud gigs have more energy so I feed off that. Quiet smaller gigs don’t have that energy, but I often see more of a performer when he/she is perched on a chair or standing at the microphone. Some performers don’t need to do too much ‘rocking out’ to ooze passion and this can be harder to capture sometimes, despite how easy or sedate it looks. I’m developing a more usable studio in 2010 but I do like location work as often a location can lend itself to what you are trying to get a band to portray in a photograph. This is part of the consultation and planning I mentioned earlier.

Have you ever fallen out with a mosher? I’ve had a few close shaves, but thankfully I have survived. I’ve done a bit of moshing myself back in the day though at those seminal gigs in the SFX in the 1980’s. A guy hit me over the head with his rubber chicken on the end of a stick at Roskilde

Barney McKenna (Dubliners) – Trim Library Duke Special – Spirit Store, Dundalk

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Festival one year. I forgave the chicken who was obviously overexcited when Marlyn Manson took to the stage.

What are you working on at the moment? I am currently working with Trim 2025 on The Magic Numbers Concert to be held in Trim GAA Centre on Friday December 4th – helping with bands, Facebook and the new trim2025.net site and press releases etc. Other projects include, Opera Theatre Company, live photographs for Donegal (Glenties) fiddler Jimmy Campbell and promo for Ham Sandwich to name a few. I also cover a lot of social and entertainment events for The Meath Chronicle, which I enjoy. I’m finally getting around to having some tattoos done with Glenn at True Love in Navan also - both arms full half sleeves. The tattoos will consist of artwork from Coast Salish artists and Haida art. Also some Borneo tribal art on the outside of the arm with perhaps a full on Jesus Christ on my inner arm that Glenn is currently working on. Check his stuff out at TrueLoveTattoos.net

Any exciting projects in the pipeline? Working with Trim 2025 is on top of me now, while I am talking to a number of bands about their requirements but nothing definite at the moment. I had a call from Stewart Agnew just this week as well.

How has music photography impacted you personally? I think it has brought together two things I love – music and photography. A lot of the time if you are not directly booked, you are trying to get into some gigs and that is challenging at times. In some ways, photographing a band or singer takes you a little closer to them so to speak. In 2007, I met and photographed the late Joe Dolan and Christie Hennessy and exhibited both the same year. I couldn’t believe that they were both gone by Christmas. It makes one realise that taking the photographs is all very fine but you are really documenting real people and events. I sent a framed image to both families and got back out documenting soon after. I certainly miss them on the gig circuit.

Check out Gasun.net

Ham Sandwich ‘Out of the Darkness’ Promo Shoot Christie Hennessy – Trim Castle Hotel Roof Garden

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STOrYBOOKS FOr SMALL dOgS WOrdS/CONOr HEArY

The Backroom, Navan, Co.Meath, Friday 16th October 2009

Talking to chief Storybook Alan ‘Carmo’ Carmody briefly before his band’s ep launch headline set at the Backroom in Navan I complemented him on his attire as ‘The Duke’ was donned in a smart black pin stripe dinner jacket and trousers looking extremely avant-garde and stage ready. Being the enigmatic soul that he is, he quickly smirked, accepted my complement with a thank you and stated that he may not wear it on stage?

As the hour arrived for the power pop trio to make their way onto the Backroom stage I couldn’t help but smile as Carmody appeared from stage left sporting a mustard brown furry jacked (left opened exposing a pasty chest), a beige top hat and aviator shades. That’s Storybooks for Small Dogs, a neat little three piece with a fondness for surrealism and humour. Storybooks kick off their set with ‘Jennifer Gunne’. It’s a trademark song, it’s loud and catchy and has standout original lyrics. As ‘Sunday’ and ‘Hardwood Floor’ are blasted out, Carmody shows the incredible range in his vocal arsenal, singing low during the verses before unleashing a high pitch helium type vocal for the chorus. Carmody is backed up with a solid rhythm section in drummer Richie ‘Calcium Kid’ Valderama and bass player Breen ‘The Brain’ Van Der Wallop who decide to go for a more low key approach donning T-shirts and jeans unlike their bare chested singer. In typical Storybooks madness singer and bassist almost end up in a punch up

as bassist Breen scorns Carmody on stage for not playing ‘I don’t wanna waste my time’ correctly. A bemused Carmody tries tuning down his guitar as drummer Richie attempts to break the awkward silence in the room with some humorous jabs at his offending band mates. Most bands would buckle under such hot air but in the wacky world of Storybooks for Small Dogs it doesn’t seem so out of place and actually adds to the enigma that they are and provides even more entertainment. The trio inflate the hypothetical beach ball and get it rolling again with ‘Salad Days’ a fine number sounding somewhere between Feeder and Soulwax. ‘Happiness’ is a slower number that highlights Carmody’s fine craftsmanship in the lyric department. Next up is ‘All These Animals’ the lead track from the bands debut ep. It’s four minutes of pure pop rock perfection, fantastic lyrics, a mid paced rhythm and a big catchy sing a long chorus, it’s a song of huge potential and the Backroom audience show their appreciation. ‘My Everything’ keeps the euphoria going. It’s another absolute jem, a sunny pop feel good three and a half minute blaster. ‘Donkey Work’ also available on Storybooks EP, is aired next. It has a Strokes mixed with Green Day feel but still has Storybooks stamp all over it with its catchy sing a long chorus and inappropriate lyrics. The Navan three piece finish off with ‘The Information’ standout track ‘So Cal (Southern California’) and ‘Sunshine’.

gIg rEVIEWS

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HAM SANdWICH WOrdS/LOrAINE rESA BETH

Single Launch Gig Review Friday November 6th 2009

Taking the stage at exactly 9:45, Hungarian guest violinist Sarah opens the show for Ham Sandwich. The band has been hiding away writing their second album following on from ‘Carry The Meek’. The five-piece from Kells are only resurfacing for a tiny bit of air to launch their new single ‘Out Of The Darkness’. Niamh strolled out barefoot, sporting her new half skinned head, while Podge arrived wearing his usual ‘get up’ of shiny spandex and

glitter, looking like the lead guy from the ‘Fat Boy Slim’ video ‘Praise You’. The rest slipped quietly behind there instruments and got started with new track ‘White Fox’. It’s a climatic song that immediately engaged the audience while they were showered with the band’s signature huge white balloons and confetti. What a brilliant opener.

Next up was some old material, the song ‘Christopher’, which sounded perfect with the injection of violin. ‘Words’ displayed how vocally tight Podge and Niamh are. ‘Click Click Boom’ lit up Whelan’s with its strobe light show, their classic anthem that is just without fault. Throughout the show, I was not completely convinced by Niamh’s performance. Although she clearly holds her own vocally, her on-stage swagger didn’t seem so organic.

As the gig cracked on we got to hear some new tracks ‘The Naturist’ and ‘Read The Box’. The first of these saw Podge put down the guitar and take up some drumsticks, playing a floor tom at the front of the stage. The new material was not very different from their old stuff but it did make waves with the crowd of loyal Ham Sandwich fans. This was the first outing for the band’s new material and I eagerly await the polished final recordings. The last track was ‘Sad songs’ and my track of the night. The musical arrangement was piercing perfection along with Niamh’s accomplished vocals.

The first encore song had a beautiful slow vocal with Niamh participating in some light percussion. ‘Keep Sake’ and ‘Never Talk’ were great choices for closing the show. The crowd sang on covered in one of the several confetti storms of the gig while the band left the stage.

Having seen Ham Sandwich play a number of times, they have grown on me more than I was aware. Their buzzing rock sound and onstage optimism is infectious and shouldn’t be overlooked. The dedication of their fans will ensure a long road ahead. Ph

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THE PrOFILE MUSIC grOUP SHOWCASE - WOrdS/LOrAINE rESA BETH The Sugar Club, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, Wednesday 11th November 2009

eUgene donegan

Singer/songwriter Eugene Donegan delivered his debut album to Ireland in March titled ‘Little Apples’ under the wing of producer and collaborator Declan O’Rourke. Having supported Ireland’s heavies such as Cathy Davey and Damien Dempsey, he is performing in gigs around Ireland.

Donegan plays guitar and harmonica and started out his stripped set with ‘Rat Brand Waltz’ accompanied by a keyboardist. Lyrically poetic at times, Donegan’s Bob Dylan/ American vibe is very apparent. ‘Sad Sad Day’ is richer in sound and had more tastes of late 60s folk.

His third installment, while more pleasing with a good heavy guitar strum, was not as lyrically powerful as his previous tracks. The closing song, ‘Mislead Heart’, was inspired by Billy Connelly’s tragic childhood. He is more vocally explorative in this song, which is slightly uncomfortable.

It may be that his set was stripped from the usual rock folk elements on ‘Little Apples’ but he fails to make a big impression for the unfamiliar ears. What stands out with Donegan are the heart and guts that are clearly attached to his lyrical sleeve.

rUairi coogan

Coogan backs his truck up to the sugar club and unloads all his musical influences and comparisons! Having done a year at Rock School in Ballyfermot, played a residency in Whelan’s and flitted around to perform in 3 bands, he set out to represent his own acoustic material.

Coogan started out with a great bass filled track called ‘Changing Lanes’, the funky deep vocal sound is very 90s, with a high-flying guitar arrangement. The following song was accompanied by a long mellow intro that smashed into drumbeats to wake you up from your daydream. A faster pace was added to the set with the next song that had a strong ska rhythm. Fast and punchy, this was his best track. Next, Coogan tackled a new track titled ‘For Themselves’, that once again showed his optimistic approach to music and displayed a tight performance with a glass full of energy. Although Coogan’s lyrics are his weak point, his sound is distinctive and reminiscent of artists such as ‘No Doubt’ and ‘Maroon 5’.

Equipped with a bag of comparisons in one hand and a bag of giddy well thought out tracks in the other; Coogan needs to run to his nearest studio and release all that positive air into an EP.

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THE PrOFILE MUSIC grOUP SHOWCASE - WOrdS/LOrAINE rESA BETH The Sugar Club, Lower Leeson Street, Dublin, Wednesday 11th November 2009

Joy booth

Joy performs with her four-piece band of guitar, keyboard, bass and drums. With a demo under her belt, the young performer is on her way.

Breezing into the track, ‘Waiting For June’, Joy’s vocal very sweetly compliments the airy, happy melody. The drums seemed to be out of time but it could be that the off beats didn’t match with the piece. ‘On Your Shoulder’ switches on the Fiona Apple light bulb with its melancholic minor key intro and slightly monotone vocal, nicely glued together, just lacking in lyrical sharpness.

In the song ‘Wasting Your Time’, Joy digs deeper into the vocal box while delivering a Sheryl Crow sound. Her second last song, ‘This Famous Light’, is much slower and the vocals are on top form finally. It’s a budding song that makes you think ‘who does that remind me of?’ Chart worthy consideration please. Last up is another happy go pop piece, similar to her first song. It reminded of Wallis Bird’s track ‘To My Bones’.

With a tighter performance from the band, and some vocal confidence from Joy, I can see her flourish into a proper songstress.

henrietta game

This fine four play Glockenspiel, guitar, cello and violin and have been making ripples through the circuit of recent.

‘No Match For The Sea’ started them off with dead silence from the audience. The whispering vocal from Christy unexpectedly burst into an American ‘Sum41’ sound. The song ‘Drag’ kicked off with the delicate composition unfolding a bit too slowly. Then straight into ‘Henrietta Blues’, which showed a solid vocal from Judy while she tapped away at the glockenspiel. As the song unwound, Christy began his staccato vocal while the strings jumped. Next, the four took to their feet for an acapella performance of ‘ Just Dance’ by Lady Ga Ga. With a glee club feel, the version left cheers lingering around the venue.

An eerie violin opened ‘The Last Thing’ with Ali producing an impressive performance, and cello player Aongus stretching his beautiful strong vocal chords to give us the track of the evening. ‘Berlin’ closed the show with Ali putting down her violin to accompany Christy in a duet.

The group are top notch, but slightly jarred by Christy’s vocals. The arrangements for all tracks are fresh and touching. The pluck and bounce from the strings have a Kate Bush feel. Their alternative melodic music will have Ireland paying full attention.

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LITTLE PALACE WOrdS/CONOr HEArY

Headford Arms, Kells, Co.Meath Friday 6th November 2009 Eight years is an awful long time in the music industry. In that space of time music acts have been propelled to stardom, chewed up by the music industry juggernaut before being spat out the other side and forgotten forever. Fashions and genres come and go, punk, pop punk, metal, nu metal, nu nu metal, indie, new wave indie, new wave indie disco, new wave indie disco pop, rap, gangsta rap, krunk…Eight years is an awful long time indeed.

It’s been eight years since Kells six piece melancholy rockers Little Palace graced the stages of Ireland. A long time for any act to be out of the spotlight, but somehow it seems as though Little Palace were never away. Simply picking up where they left off, Little Palace released album number two last summer which was impressively received both critically and commercially. Twelve months into the bands return, On|V went along to the sextets hometown show in the Headford Arms hotel in Kells.

Kicking off their headline set with Eviction, the lead single from their recently released Invitation Time album, Little Palace immediately show their knack for writing quality melodic pop songs. Bassist Anthony

Cregan shares vocal duties with lead singer Ann Louise Mulvany. The vocal sharing is a trend that continues throughout the set with Cregan, Mulvany and guitarist Michael Brunnock taking turns performing lead vocals. Musically Little Palace have a rich full sound, the benefit of being a six piece band, Ian Melady keeps a steady beat throughout with brothers Martin and James Quinn breathing even more life into the songs with electric guitar and keyboards. Songs like Shine, Ten and Puppet Show sound full and tight with Mulvany, Brunnock and Cregans vocal melodies shining through. Older song Beekeeper is a highlight; it sounds moody and has a big sound finish. Car is another highlight with Ann Marie Mulvany in top form, it’s the most commercial sounding song of the set with its catchy sing a long chorus. We are treated to a cover of The Korgi’s 1980 hit ‘Everybody’s Got To Learn Sometime’ but it fails to make the desired impact. Secret is another standout track with Anthony Cregan taking up vocal duties. It’s a very well written and arranged heartfelt ballad. Little Palace finish off their set to a decent reception and disappear before the Kells nightclub revelers hi-jack the venue for the night.

We all got a chance to say a little about our background, what we do and what we’d like to do. Some showed work and talked about what we were working on, discussed our idea’s talked about exhibitions we’d seen artist’s we liked and even exchanged information on funding etc. There was such a great buzz about it, it felt like I was part of the beginning of something amazing! Eight people turned up for the first meeting (5 guys and 3 girls) and it’s been growing ever since. There are people from all over the place in all areas of visual arts attending, from painting, drawing, graphics, fashion, textiles to sculpture and installation.

We are not a movement, we are not associated or affiliated with anyone, the group was simply set up to bring artist’s together to help and support each other. To talk about work, discuss ideas, pass on information about events/ exhibitions/ submissions/ funding and offer the possibility to set up side projects with members. In short we want to create a platform within the town for visual arts. We are in the process of setting up life-drawing classes and might also arrange to go to see exhibitions together in the future. A website is in the making, but until then you can find us on facebook under Drogheda Art Society.

Just JessThe next few pages will give you just a taste of some of the most exciting exhibitions happening this Winter. To get the full flavour though make sure to visit and see for yourself.But first, a little news… wOrDs/JessicA BriDGeMAn

This month I was fortunate enough to be part of the creation of a new and exciting art group called the Drogheda Art Society. It was Brilliant, so interesting and inspiring and I didn’t want it to end!

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Francis Bacon A Terrible BeautyCelebrating the centenary of Francis Bacon’s birth in 63’

The Hugh Lane Gallery Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin.

Oct 28 2009 - 7 March 2010 Admission free

HughLane.ie

‘Francis Bacon Studio’at The Hugh Lane

Paintings, drawings, photographs, unfinished works and slashed canvases of the famous figurative 20th Century painter Francis Bacon, are currently on show at the beautiful Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin’s city centre. This exhibition gives you the chance to view many previously unseen works and will run right through until March. The studio was donated to the Hugh Lane by John Edwards in 1998 and with it the 7,000 plus items retrieved from the studio were archived. Francis Bacon’s Studio has been on permanent exhibition at Dublin City Gallery The Hugh Lane since 2001. It is recognised as one of the most successful attempts of preserving and displaying an artist’s studio and contents. It really is an inspiring experience to witness the creativity so raw and energetic within an otherwise empty space.

Originally situated on a quiet cobbled street in South Kensington, London, this studio is where Bacon produced some of his finest paintings. This was his home for many years right up to his death in 1992.

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Curated by Dr Riann Coulter

This exhibition celebrates two Irish artists who became friends in the 1940s. They painted together, exhibited together and at points lived together. Not only do you get to see both artists work side by side, but you get to see first hand how they may have influenced each others work. Featuring works from public and private collections throughout Ireland, including many seldom seen in public, the exhibition includes Dillon’s enchanting portrait of Reid, Nano’s Dream Castle (Collection, National Gallery of Ireland). This painting is central to the theme of the exhibition as it is a record of Dillion and Reid’s friendship and evidence that they painted together.

By exploring their shared interest in celtic art and mythology, Drogheda and the Boyne, the landscape and inhabitants of the west of Ireland as well as their artistic experiments influenced by international modernism, this exhibition showcases two important Irish artists and reveals how their shared experiences impacted on their work and ultimately changed the shape of Irish art history.

Nano Reid & Gerard DillonHighlanes Gallery, Drogheda, Co.Louth. Nov 6 - Jan 20 Admission 4euro*

‘Bathers at Mornington’ - Nano Reid

‘Nano’s Dream Castle’ - Gerard Dillon

* Admission free for under-18s Concessions 3euro - see website for full details* There is a 2euro entrance fee for under 18s visiting as part of a group or special programme 49

Nano Reid represented Ireland at the Biennale in Venice alongside Norah McGuinness in 1950. It was the first time Ireland was represented in the Biennale and it was also quite exceptional for two female artists to represent a country at that time. There were 12 pieces of Nano Reid’s work on show, some of which can be seen at the Highlanes exhibition. Gerard Dillon was very interested in experimenting with different materials in his paintings to get different effects. There are some lovely colourful paintings he made using sand and oils in the exhibition. He also liked to make his own clothes and decorate them, one such piece is a tie he painted on, which can be seen at the exhibition.

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Going Solo exhibition is presented in association with the Meath County Council Arts Office and showcases the work of this year’s joint winners of the Meath County Council’s Going Solo Award - Carol O’Connor and Emily Bruton.

Carol is a recent graduate from NCAD paint department and works primarily in that field. Her work for this show is entitled ‘Indelible Traces’. This body of work based on her graduate show, uses landscape as its source and questions how we construct and reconstruct memories, images and experiences through what passes before us everyday. Linking this to the paint process, Carol says “there is a fine line between creation and destruction. In painting one is often treading this line.”

Emily Bruton’s strengths lie in painting, illustration and ceramics with this exhibition focusing on her illustrative paintings.

“This collection of work explores the themes of identity, order and chaos. The human figure is central in my work. I have used texture, prints, patterns and text to portray the struggle in each of these figures. Their thoughts, words and inner turmoil are explored in each painting.”

Predominantly figurative, Emily’s work is a direct contrast to that of Carol O’Connor’s abstract oil compositions a mix which makes for a most interesting and aesthetically pleasing exhibition with great thought process and two great artists.

Going Solo ExhibitionSolstice Arts Centre, Navan, Co.Meath. Nov 26 - Dec 18 Admission free

SolsticeArtsCentre.com

‘Nothing changes until something moves’ 25 x 30cm oil on canvas- Carol O’Connor

‘We have met late’ 30 x 42cm mixed media on canvas - Emily Bruton

John Moloney’s exhibition Touch is one of the few exhibitions where the artist invites the public to do exactly so and touch the pieces. ‘‘Touch connects us to the world. Touch brings presence home. The activity of touch brings us close to the world of the other. The language of Touch is a language in itself.” Anam Cara, by John O’Donohue. As you enter the space you are greeted by a beautiful subtle spiral shaped piece on a wall. A poem written in braille, at first it looks soft, but as you get closer you see it’s actually sharp and can hurt to touch. Exploring the idea of things not always being what they seem, how things can change when perceived in another way. Each piece is named and the rest is left for the viewer to decide, he feels people can get hooked on a memory and they don’t see it as anything else, don’t allow their imagination to decide for itself what they’re looking at. From wooden pieces, metal sculptures, coloured balls, to paper pieces, an interesting mix of materials and appealing visuals it really is a feast for the senses.

John Moloney has been exhibiting since 1982. His most recent solo exhibition locally was The Works in 2006, held in Barlow Yard, at the Droichead Arts Centre. John’s work is also in many public and private collections both here and abroad.

John MaloneyTouchDroichead Arts Centre Drogheda, Co.Louth.Nov 8 - Dec 23 Admission free

JohnMoloney.co.uk Droichead.com

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Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is the name under which Californian musician Owen Ashworth releases his music. Ashworth founded his one man band in 1997 after dropping out of film school and released his first album, Answering Machine Music, in 1999. His sound is difficult to describe, but it is based around creating a looped beat from a cheap Casio keyboard, laying synthetic chords over it and singing in a slow, frank and often mumbled voice on top of that. His approach sounds like a recipe for disaster but it has actually allowed Ashworth to create some of the most compelling and heartfelt songs in modern independent music.

I first saw Ashworth play in 2006 in Whelan’s in Dublin. At the time he was moving Casiotone For The Painfully Alone away from being a solo project in the direction of a more full band sound. He played half of his set solo and half with a live backing band. Ashworth’s then current album, Etiquette, featured real analog instruments alongside his faithful Casios and drum machines. With his most recent album, Vs. Children, he has continued to incorporate live instrumentation into his recordings. The result is a fuller, more

rewarding sound than that on earlier records. In the ten years that he has been recording as Casiotone For The Painfully Alone Ashworth has released five albums and in my opinion the quality of his songwriting and delivery has increased with each release, something which is rare in modern music.

The main aspect which draws me to Casiotone For The Painfully Alone is Ashworth’s writing. His songs are heartbreaking in their simplicity and starkness. Again this is something which I feel becomes more heightened with each album. Etiquette and Vs. Children in particular are full of songs of loss, abandonment and a general feeling of under-achievement. ‘Bobby Malone Moves Home’ from Etiquette is a song about a young man forced to move back in with his parents after a failed attempt to strike out on his own. Ashworth chose to release it as a single after several of his friends told him it was the one song on the album that made them cry. ‘Nashville Parthenon’ from the same album relates the feeling of loss experienced when a close friend moves on without you. The song closes with the lines; ‘I still buy two

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CULT COrNEr

pairs of everything, so when you come home you and I’ll be twins. Because if I could have my way, I wouldn’t be alone’.

Vs. Children retains the feelings of loss and failure which were central to Etiquette but the complexity of the subject matter in these newer songs is a step beyond those on Ashworth’s previous release.

‘Killers’ deals with the crippling fear involved in prospective parenthood while the pressures of holding a job and keeping a family together are addressed in the song ‘Travelling Salesman’s Young Wife Home Alone On Christmas in Montpelier, VT’ which contains the lines;

caSiotone for the painfULLy aLonecompaSSLeSS & nowhere boUnd wordS/yertLe

Owen Ashworth’s writing is at once both desolate and comforting. He can sing a song of heartbreak or despair in a voice so flat as to seem indifferent and yet leave his audience feeling somehow reassured having heard it. Through Casiotone For The Painfully Alone’s clinical beats and clunky chords he has created the perfect vehicle for this voice.

‘‘Oh we’ll live fat and happy when you get home you will say, but i’d eat beans if you’d just stay’’.

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trim

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the Launch party! Trim 2025 launch party will take place on December 4th, 2009 at Trim GAA Centre, Co. Meath with an impressive line up of talent including the multi-platinum international headline act THE MAGIC NUMBERS. Also confirmed are Meteor Award Winners from Kells, Ham Sandwich and Trim’s own Gerry Tully, The DLS and guerrilla rock legends The Sauce Warriors! Enjoy the after-show party with the incredible Johnnypluse and Breakonomics.

The launch of Trim 2025 by Minister Noel Dempsey TD, coincides with the build up to the Copenhagen 2020 Climate Change Conference and the organisers hope to raise awareness and support for local carbon emission reducing initiatives. Thanks to Carbon offsets sponsorship from EmmissionsZero.com, the launch will be 100% Carbon Neutral! Tickets 20euro Doors 6pm U18s must be accompanied by an adult – ID Required Please check out trim2025.net

about trim 2025 Trim 2025 is a community initiative based on the Transition Towns model that aims to promote sustainable prosperity by maximising local resources and assisting local institutions, businesses and individuals to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. They aspire to helping the town achieve Carbon Neutral status over the next 15 years. The group will support all aspects of sustainable, social and economic development.

The group expects that Trim will be perceived as a green town as well as an exciting place to live - giving the town a competitive edge in attracting new business, tourists and residents. By embracing the green economy they hope to create sustainable employment and prosperity. Trim 2025 hope to establish strong links with other Transition Towns and encourage new communities to take on board the challenges of facing up to climate change and post peak oil living.

trim 2025 LaUnch the magic on dec 4

the magic nUmberS ham Sandwich gerry tULLy the dLSthe SaUce warriorSand LotS more…aLL on one carbon-neUtraL Stage

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After a hectic schedule in New Zealand we were both looking forward to relaxing and chilling out in the most beautiful Pacific island of Fiji.

First impression, god it’s great to be back in a nice tropical climate. On arriving in Nadi Airport we rapidly became familiar with the word ‘Bula’, Fiji’s traditional greeting. By in large Fijians are friendly, pleasant people and most locals greeted us with their big ‘bula’ smiles.

We jumped into a taxi which brought us to the Stoney Creek Resort. Its owners Michelle & Gary informed us on arrival that as we were the only two guests staying at the resort we were being upgraded from our originally booked 4 bed dorm to the king size deluxe room. Happy Days.

The peaceful Stoney Creek is nestled in the Nadi mountains, with the swaying coconut trees and surrounding cane fields adding to its picturesque setting. We had the whole place to ourselves and the bonus of two staff waiting hand on foot for us - paradise!

As we both bathed in the Fijian sun, Shauna was buried in newly acquired collection of Tess

Gerritsen novels while I listened to my Podcasts and tunes. We swam during the day, played table tennis in the evenings and dined alfresco with the proprietors at night. Both Gary and Michelle couldn’t do enough for us. Gary gave us the guided tour of the resort which he built from scratch and Michelle brought us into Lautoka town and showed us around the local markets and stalls as well as cooking us traditional Fijian dishes, most notably ‘Kakoda’ which is raw fish served in lemon & lime juice, tomatoes, potatoes served with coconut cream.

Most Fijian dishes are cooked in lolo (Coconut milk). They were great people and frequently went beyond the bounds of duty. Michelle brought us into Lautoka, aka Cane Country which is Fiji’s second largest city and home to its largest sugar mill. The island is extremely rich in natural resources and although we saw signs of poverty, we were told nobody goes hungry. On route it’s clear to see that cane fields dominate the countryside. The cane trains are like something from the wild west & criss cross the roads on route to the mills. It’s dirt cheap here

Wji

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After surviving the most extreme of sports in New Zealand, Peter Kinsella and Shauna McKelvey embark on a more subdued adventure on the white sands of Fiji.

Words and Photography by PETER KINSELLA

gLOBETrOTTEr

and I got my hair cut in Lautoka for only 1 euro (no smart arse comments ;-)

The economy relies heavily on two things, sugar exports and tourism. As they are a British colonised country their first language is Fijian but they can and mostly do converse in English. The native tongue is something Ireland sadly never managed hang on to.

Unfortunately for Shauna I came across a leaflet that told us it’s possible to do shark diving in Fiji. ‘That’s it, relaxing time is officially over, it’s time for some action’. On making further enquiries we discovered that a PADI diving licence is compulsory for such an activity. The same licence that prohibited us from entering the shark tank in Auckland. Well there’s no time like the present so we signed up to do our Open Water Diver Course in the beautiful town of Pacific Harbour. I always had a desire to get a diving licence and in the past had made enquiries back home for such. The closest dive centre to me is Bettystown. So I took a minute to look at my options here. A swimming pool in Bettystown Co. Meath which takes 4-6 weeks part time and

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costs 635 euro, or the crystal clear waters of Fiji for 5 days and costs 210 euro, I think we can all agree it was a bit of a no brainer. So off we headed to Pacific Harbour aka Fiji’s adventure playground.

On arriving at Pacific Harbour we stayed in a backpackers place called Tsulu. It was a bit of an eery place. It was like an abandoned army building with over 100 beds lying completely vacant. It was just the two of us there and you could literally hear a pin drop at night but it was grand for studying in the evenings. Once the theory stuff was complete we decided to exit stage left and head up the road.

Beqa Adventure divers were to be our diving mentors. This company is all about protecting the underwater environment so during the course there was quite a lot of emphasis on controlling our buoyancy, the remainder of the course was spent practicing essential diving skills, compass navigation and diving terminology. Our diving instructor was ‘touchy feely’ Lui. It was quite comical watching him maul Shauna and young Anna, the third member of our class, thankfully for me he wasn’t that way inclined. Even though he was really starting to p*ss me off towards the end, I had to bite my lip as I just wanted to get certified and in the water with natures largest predator, ‘bring on Jaws’.

We did our open water training at Beqa Lagoon which has been named the soft coral capital of the world. During our training we got to explore caverns, beautiful coral, big fish and wrecks. It truly

is Fiji’s underwater Eden. Fellow travelers were happy to tell us that Beqa Lagoon is far superior to the famous Great Barrier Reef in Australia, but I hope to be able to make that assessment myself when we visit there in the next few weeks. After 5 non intensive days we successfully achieved our PADI (Professional Association of Diving Instructors) certification.

After the course we moved to Uprising beach resort, the coolest, best value for money resort in Pacific Harbour – sheer natural beauty.

It’s here we actually broke the record for number of beds in a dorm. An orgy of 27 beds crammed together. I must be getting better at this roughing it lark because I slept like a baby every night.

We didn’t for one minute forget our original plan and looked forward to putting our newly acquired skills to the test with a shark dive. Aqua trek were to be the company that would guide us around the shark infested waters.

Beqa Lagoon is dedicated to the conservation and research of sharks. On one dive in Beqa Lagoon you are likely to see more species of sharks than the average diver sees in a lifetime. I was like a kid in a sweet shop and couldn’t wait to get into the water. We dived with roughly 100 sharks. We saw schools

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of silver tip and white tip reef sharks but the prize was the massive bull sharks in all their glory.

We got face to face with 4 bull sharks which ranged in size from 3 to 4 mtrs. A truly amazing creature. It was difficult to see the bull sharks coming at you at times as they are also accompanied by a dazzling array of tropical fish. Some of the more experienced divers that explored with us swore it was the best dive they have ever experienced, so maybe I should retire from shark diving now.

We fancied a bit of hustle & bustle so we decided to head to Fiji’s capital Suva City for a couple of days. We walked around Fiji’s largest fruit & veg market and soon after paid a visit to the national museum. Most of the blokes in Suva wore sarongs, I was told that it was quite liberating but decided to pass when offered to purchase one. To quote the famous Ali G when interviewing David Beckham, ‘Yeah I know it is so-wrong, so why was you wearin a dress’.

Our trip to Suva just happened to coincide with an international game of rugger (Yeah Right) Fiji v Japan Round 5 of the Pacific Nations Cup. World ranking points were at stake here so I was looking forward to a bruising encounter. We happily boarded public transport to take us to the national stadium. The colourful public buses are great craic. They have no windows and pump out the tunes at deafening levels, we rocked up to the stadium with the help of Akon, 50 Cent as well as Suva City Son (local rap gangsta).

The national stadium overlooking the pacific

ocean has the Fiji stamp all over it. Ticket prices were reasonable at 3 euro for the grandstand. The game itself was due to kick off at 3pm but in Fiji time that means anytime after 3.30pm. I got great entertainment out of the match program. The Fijian Squad play for teams such as Harlequins of England and Grenoble and Claremont of France. The Japanese on the other hand are complete whores to sponsorship playing for teams such as Coca-Cola, Mitsubishi, Sanyo and Toshiba. The atmosphere was interesting as the crowd seemed to cheer every score in the match, which proves they are either generally very happy people or can really appreciate a good game of rugby. Admittedly neither team are world beaters but they did serve a very entertaining game of rugby with the Flying Fijians eventually running out victors over the plucky Japanese boys with a converted try in the last play of the match. Final score Fiji 40 – 39 Japan.

While here we stayed on the main island of Viti Levu. There are approximately 322 other islands in Fiji but we didn’t have the enthusiasm to explore them all on this occasion so we headed back to Nadi and our loungers in Stoney Creek to relax, drink copious amounts of Fiji Gold and allow life to move at a different pace.

This island is a great place to visit, but if you do come here be sure to bring plenty of insect repellent, I was eaten alive by feckin mosquitoes.

While traveling around I saw a sign which for me sums up our Fiji experience. It read ‘It’s not perfect, It’s paradise’.

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THE AdULTErESS (2009) A novel by Noëlle Harrison Words by Angela Power

‘The Adulteress’, the title shocked me, living as I do in rural Ireland, and wondering of her reading demographic how many would boldly display the title of their book of choice! However, the book seems to have been written as much for the author herself as a reading public, one feels as if one goes on a journey with her rather than being led by her.

It is like a treatise on love and infidelity, a little like the thesis that so beautifully rounds the book off. Despite starting from an aloof standpoint I found myself drawn in to the familiarity of quandaries of the heart and one felt that her searching was genuine. There was no attempt to patronise the reader, and no finite solution to the question of love and loyalty.

The story lines, beautifully interwoven and spanning generations and cultures (Dublin, Cavan, Devon, London even Italy) were well traced and Noëlle Harrison has a skilful ability to create the denouement of her novels in a breath taking way that leaves the reader not wanting to put the book down.

In this novel though, this stage of reading came very late on, it felt like it encapsulated the pace of life in rural Ireland interminable in its slowness and yet beautiful like ‘Out of Africa’ if one adapts to the pace.

The exploration of the relationship between daughters and mother, and between the sisters pre eminent in the book, is superb, and perhaps this is where Noëlle’s greatest strength lies and is

demonstrated over and again in her novels and play. There was such poignancy sometimes captured just in sentences like, “I felt the sun kissed me when my Mother did not“…and the heart-wrenching realisation too late “Min stops dead in the street, startled by the sudden knowledge that her Mother had been a better woman than her…..

‘The Adulteress’ is not just a woman’s read, and Harrison shows a depth of understanding in the beautiful portrayal of the adored but impotent Father, whose greatest and perhaps only gift to his children was to instill a thirst for knowledge.

There are some stunning twists to the plot lines and the last third of the book is definitely gripping… The book starts slowly and the scene setting is perhaps too long, but overall the book is definitely worth the read, and will leave you pondering long after closing the final page, not just on the outcome for the characters, but on how that relates to your own heart and life.

A little indulgence crept in, in trying to answer for herself the questions so skillfully posed through the various relationships, talk of ghosts somehow fits and does not beggar belief, but the transition into pondering the possibility of re incarnation seems a bridge too far for most. Harrison’s description of country Catholicism is superb, mixed as it is with superstition and banshees and fairies. My personal belief systems differ substantially from the possibility of re incarnation, but I salute the author in her journey into the fog which perhaps “has the ability to propel mortals into thoughts of another realm beyond their own. This book poses more questions than answers and that can only be a good thing:

“Adultery has nothing to do with betraying another, for it is an inquisition upon your own heart” Suspend judgement for the time it takes to read this book, it will be a journey worth taking; prepare to experience the gamut of human passion and emotion as you read, albeit at a pace evocative of rural Ireland in all its poignant, painful beauty.

To find out more about Noëlle Harrison please visit noelleharrison.com

BOOK rEVIEW

Anthony Webster B.A. (Hons) M.Sc. Psych.

Psycho-educational Assessment

T 087 7692 961 E webster.assessment@hotmail.com

Providing psychological assessment throughout the North East

Gillian Black ‘Limited Editions’ are available on selected works ‘Commissions’ are available (prices start from 700Euro approx) ‘Tailored Price Plans’ can be arranged to suit individual needs

Phone 087 9139 293 Email gillianblack@eircom.net

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Fine Art Black & White Landscapesfrom Ireland by Neil McShane.

A wide variety of local and national landscapes to choose from in the gallery section on the website.

Price range from 20 - 150 euro Size range from 8x6’’ to 32x20’’

www.blackandwhite.ie

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