LikePlace Blog

This blog has moved

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 17:43:00 +0000

This blog is now located at http://blog.likeplace.ie/. You will be automatically redirected in 30 seconds, or you may click here. For feed subscribers, please update your feed subscriptions to http://blog.likeplace.ie/feeds/posts/default.

New video: Funfair gets ready for St.Patrick's Day in Dublin.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 10:11:00 +0000

Big Wheel. Vomit Comet. Bone Shaker. Etc.

The funfair on Merrion Sq gets ready for Paddy's Day.

Do we really love our country? Our unending love affair with litter suggests otherwise.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 10:19:00 +0000

Look at the photos below.

A beautiful riverside near Enniskerry in Co.Wicklow, despoiled by people who probably shout and sing their love for Ireland at rugby matches, football matches, or where-ever.

In comparison with our neighbours in England, Scotland & Wales, Ireland is a shocking sight - an utter tip. Or at least the part of Ireland I live in.

The cleanliness of Northern Ireland proves that things could be different. But why aren't they? It is the great imponderable.

We just seem to love litter.

The sky over Ireland this week. Shades of blue.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:03:00 +0000

Apparently it is the least cloudy sky we have had since 2007. Literally no clouds.

Adamstown - ghost-town more like! Watch the video.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:50:00 +0000

I visited Adamstown at night recently. It was like being on the set of a post-Zombie attack. Nobody to be seen anywhere.

I half expected the undead to emerge from the shadows and start chasing me around the deserted streets.

The funniest thing is the signs outside the train station advertising Adamstown's nightlife and ambiance! Stock-photos of beautiful people sipping lattes and downing cocktails. But where??

On the plus side, the place seemed incredibly clean and the apartments were very nice. But too quiet.

Perhaps it is more lively during the week?

New VIDEO: The right to protest - a busy day outside the GPO on O'Connell St.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:40:00 +0000

There is usually someone-or-other protesting about something-or-other outside the GPO. But I thought this Saturday was unusually busy.

A total of 7 different groups were rallying for attention, all within a few metres of each other:

Anti-abortionists
Pro-Falun Gong
Anti-Irish Bishops
Pro-Homeless
Pro-Palestinian
Anti-Cutbacks
...& finally, Pro-Jesus.

Good to see that the right to freedom of assembly and expression is still exercised.

What are the icons of Ireland's cities?

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 17:02:00 +0000

Famous city icons...

Paris = Eiffel Tower
Berlin = Brandenburg Gate
London = Big Ben
Rome = Collosseum

Icons for Ireland's cities...

Cork = Shandon?
Dublin = Hapenny Bridge?
Belfast = Harland & Wolfe?
Limerick = John's Castle?

For me at any rate, Dublin is not defined by the Spire, the Hapenney Bridge or even (the soon to disappear) Liberty Hall.

Put me anywhere in the world and show me 2 tall red-and-white ringed pillars - the Pigeon House chimneys - and I'll think ... "Dublin".

Not so sure about Cork or Limerick.

Belfast of course = Harland & Wolfe cranes.

George Hook owes us €100! Video of cyclists stopping at a red light. (Well, 2 out of 3 cyclists)

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 20:16:00 +0000

Update Wed 24 Feb: Well George has paid up! Not 100 euro, but 1000 euro! Fair play.

I was invited to chat with George and Damien from Boards.ie on today's Right Hook on News Talk 106.

Follow the thread on Boards.ie or find out how to listen back to the interview.

Just after 6pm on Thursday's "The Right Hook" on News Talk 106FM, George Hook offered to donate €100 to charity if any listener could prove that a cyclist stopped at a red-light during that evening's commute.

This arose from a heated debate about the 30KM speed limit, cyclists & general road safety.

Well George, get your cheque book ready!

The video below shows not just 1 but 2 cyclists stopping at a red-light - in full observance of the law!! (jump to 21 secs and 57 secs)

Unfortunately, it also shows one rogue peddler dicing with adventure and making an early break for it. (jump to 1 min 5 sec)

But surely that doesn't cancel out the other two! So, shall we agree to settle for €66?

And what charity to donate to?

George, we'll let you decide.

(This video was recorded at the corner of Pearse St and Westland Row before 7pm on Thursday 18th February.)

The ugly Irish - 16th most beautiful nation in the world.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 10:28:00 +0000

More beautiful than the Dutch?!?

Less beautiful than the Welsh?

Wrong on both counts I'd say.

The top 20 (from The Strait Times newspaper)...

US
Brazil
Spain
Australia
Italy
Sweden
England
India
France
Canada
Mexico
Portugal
Wales
Russia
Japan
Ireland
Argentina
Netherlands
Scotland
Germany

Give a toss? Well, here's the sport for you - horseshoe tossing.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 17:27:00 +0000

I noticed this Horseshoe Tossing place- ground-field-court (?) in Ballsbridge a while back.

Have never seen anyone using, but nice to know it is there.

New VIDEO: Through Wexford town by train - literally!

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:52:00 +0000

I visited Wexford town for a few hours recently. I have been here only once before and liked it.

A weird thing is that the train goes right thru the town with almost no separation from the street. Strange.

There is a fair bit of history to be seen - old town walls, abbey ruins and other stuff. Some nice small, windy streets too.

Overall a pretty nice place, though not enough greenery. Too much concrete everywhere, I thought.

New Video: Dublin's most horrible street is...

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 12:36:00 +0000

It occurred to me today just how awful Tara Street is. In terms of pure horribleness, it takes some beating.

It is book-ended by Liberty Hall & a shocking old Social Welfare office, and overlooked by the demonic Apollo House & Hawkins House.

Cars race along its rutted and potholed 4 lanes in a never ending convoy of noise. The gutters are filled with grime, hardened concrete blobs and general detritus.

Redeeming features?

It has an old Fire Station tower near the start of the street, but that's it. An awful place.

[Murmur] - Local stories by local people.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:24:00 +0000

I noticed the signs below on poles around the River Liffey some time ago. They are in the shape of an ear, with a phone number, a series of digits and the word [murmur].

Out of curiosity I rang the phone number at the weekend.

It turns out they provide stories & local history as recalled by residents of the area: Sonny, Jimmy, Bart & Brendan & more. What a great idea!

You can see a full map of the signs and listen to the stories online at http://murmurdublindocklands.info/

New VIDEO: Hup! Yip! Hayup! Temple Bar Trad Festival.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 18:54:00 +0000

Hup! Yip! Hayup! Jaysis, I love a bit of old trad from time to time. Hup there!

NEW Video: Windmill Lane, Dublin - U2 & Graffiti central.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 10:11:00 +0000

Windmill Lane in Dublin has 2 claims to fame:

U2 recorded many albums there.
It is the one place you can spray-paint to your heart's content without risk of arrest.

Because U2-related graffiti has accumulated there for so long, a sort of 'blind-eye' is turned to it.

Of course, every now & then a fuss is made and the graffiti is removed. But it always tends to come back.

It seems a good idea to a place set-aside like that. Gives a legitimate outlet to those who simply MUST tag their name. Better there than on the side of some house or shop!

Truvo + LikePlace = Great start for deciding where to live.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:37:00 +0000

Our partner website - Truvo.ie - now links back to LikePlace. (See image below.)

We also link to Truvo from pages on our site. See this blog post to find out how to discover how to find useful services where you live.

I gcomhrá le hÁine Ni Churráin ar Raidió na Gaeltachta.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:00:00 +0000

Ar maidin bhí mé i gcomhrá le hÁine Ni Churráin ar Raidió na Gaeltachta mar gheall ar LikePlace.

Is laithreoir den chlár 'Bearrscéalta' i Áine, clár atá dírithe ar cursaí Thir Chonaill.

Bhaineas an-sult an an agallamh - ach caithfidh má a adhmháil nach bhfuil mo Ghaeilge chomh líofa anois agus a bhí sí tamaill ó shin. Ar ais ar an staidéar!

Éist leis an agallamh anseo.

New Video: As the lights go down - a stroll thru Newbridge.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:38:00 +0000

I heard Tom Dunne on Newstalk FM slagging Newbridge (Co.Kildare) off.

He suggested it reminded him of some scenes from 'The Road'.

I disagree. I thought it was a pretty tidy place. A very pleasant riverside park and a good local theatre. Not too bad as Irish towns go.

Streetnames...surely we can make them a bit more fun?!

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 14:12:00 +0000

Streetnames - All the usual "Pearse Gardens" & "Connolly Heights" are fine - but why not have some fun!

Here's 2 great examples:

"I want that one": Little Britain St off Capel St in Dublin 1.
Rory Gallagher Corner in Temple Bar, Dublin 2. (Like the guitar!)

New Video: When snowball fights go wrong, the Gardaí are called.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:04:00 +0000

The snow was a gift to to the kids who hang around Grand Canal Dock.

Unfortunately, fun snowball fights soon descended into near-assaults on passing pedestrians. Those snowballs pack quite a punch when slammed in your face.

Eventually the Gardaí were called. The kids legged it ... but something tells me they'll be back.

(Attention - Video contains immodest language spoken in strong Dublin accent.)

Irish 24/7 heroes battle evil reign of snow & ice.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 19:53:00 +0000

Kitted out with little more than spades and a steely determination, an army of workers scrapes away at the offending snow and ice!

IBAL publishes list of cleanest places in Ireland 2009, incl. Wexford, Ennis & Youghal.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 17:59:00 +0000

Top 10 cleanest places in Ireland in 2009 were (from Irish Business Against Litter).

WEXFORD: score for 'Environment' on LikePlace = 4.2/5
ENNIS: score on LP = 5/5
YOUGHAL: score on LP = 3.7/5
CARLOW: score on LP = 3.9/5
DUN LAOGHAIRE: score on LP = 4.2/5
SWORDS: score on LP = 3.8/5
BALBRIGGAN: score on LP = 5/5
LONGFORD: score on LP = 3.8/5
ROSCOMMON: score on LP = 4.7/5
KILLARNEY: score on LP = 4.7/5

Litter is Ireland's most notorious aesthetic failing.

We have what could be a beautiful country, but we also have an overwhelming urge to throw our rubbish about.

IBAL does an excellent job of naming and shaming the worst litter blackspots.

This year they are Athlone & Mallow.

"This is not a pub". Signs seen only in Ireland.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 19:40:00 +0000

Where else in the world would such signs been seen?

"This is not a pub" ... as seen by me.

"No pyjamas, please" ... as seen by Mirko.

"Out of office" - we're away on holiday until January 4th.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 15:21:00 +0000

We'll respond to your emails and any queries then.

See you in 2010!

URBI et ORBI - et IRBY: Watch the LikePlace Xmas video message.

noreply@blogger.com (shane) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 17:33:00 +0000

Every year the pope sends out his 'Urbi et Orbi' message - meaning 'To the city (Rome) & to the world'.

You could watch that - OR watch the LikePlace Xmas video message.

URBI et ORBI - et IRBY To the city, the world - and to Irby.

(Yes, Irby is a real place in Co.Tipperary.)