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The Beautiful Game

There was an electric atmosphere inside Tolka Park on Friday for the FAI Cup Semi-Final between Shelbourne F.C and Saint Patrick’s Athletic. As much as the action on the pitch, great credit is due to both sets of supporters for their efforts in the stands. Both sets of supporters produced efforts which showed the desire among the rank and file to bring the cup home. For Pats, it’s FIFTY YEARS since the cup came back to Inchicore. Shelley’s words, to ‘Rise like lions after slumber’, seem most fitting.

A one-all draw, the two sides will line up against each other once more tomorrow night in Inchicore.

Briogaid Dearg

Shed End Invincibles ( Photopat (c) )

This is a great one, and a nice bit of labour history. This leaflet comes from the 1988 Dublin Fire Brigade dispute, from the Sinn Féin Trade Union Department. Details of the dispute are found on the reverse side of the leaflet below. Who is the brave fella on the front of the leaflet? Scroll down to see!

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A round up of Dublin related news stories for this week. (Might try to make this a weekly feature)

1. Oriental enclave’ recommended for Dublin

Dereliction and urban blight which have dogged one of Dublin’s historic inner city areas could be reversed if an oriental quarter were developed on Parnell Street according to a report by the Dublin Civic Trust.

The report recommends restoration of the traditional 18th and 19th century facades, the removal of garish shopfronts and signage, new paving, lighting and trees on Parnell Street East and the creation of an off-street “oriental enclave” or village of restaurants and shops. – The Irish Times (13/10/11)

Marlboro Corner (Before)

Marlboro Corner (After)

2. Workman unearths 400-year-old skeleton (in Smithfield)

Nobody knows how he lived or died but yesterday — 400 years on — the remains of his skeleton were discovered. Against the backdrop of Dublin’s historic St Michan’s Church, the bones were found by a workman from the Smithfield Improvement Project As the excavation work intensified early yesterday morning the remains were discovered protruding under a metre and half of rubble.

Franc Myles, archaeologist with Dublin City Council, said: “This is a significant find. I believe the bones date from the 1600s because we also found nearby a type of pottery from Devon in England, which dates from that time. – The Irish Independent (15/10/11)

(Note: Second skeleton has been found)

Myles (and CHTM! commenter) in action. (c) Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

3. Students will march for Freeze in Fees

A mass demonstration organized by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is set to take place in Dublin next month, the College Tribune has learned.

The organization is launching a national “Freeze the Fees, Save the Grant” campaign in reaction to speculation that the registration fee may increase to €5,000 in December’s budget. The campaign will include a protest march in Dublin on Wednesday November 16th.

“November 16th should be a completely peaceful protest. USI and indeed students’ unions across the country will do whatever it take to ensure that education is protected in the budget” USI President Gary Redmond said. – The College Tribune (15/10/11)

Student demo, November 2010.

One of the most endearing Dublin history stories to come out this year was the tale about the school children at East Wall Wharf national school who struck for “shorter hours, cheaper books and an end to canings” in September 13th, 1911.

This story, along with many more, will feature in the East Wall History Week which kicks off tomorrow. The week’s events should be of interest to both local residents and those interested in our city’s history.

 

 

Cheers to Johnny M. for this snap, taken in Kilmainham today. The General Election was pretty much open-season for election poster re-decoration, has anyone spotted any more posters like this one around the city?

Why are people ‘occupying’ Dame Street? Various newspaper reports will tell you different things, but those involved in the occupation have issued their own statement which is available to read here.

It is interesting to go down to Dame Street and read some of the placards, messages and signs appearing. I photographed some of my favourites. Be sure to pop down to Dame Street, there have been excellent gigs and talks organised as part of the protest, and tomorrow a march of support with leave the Garden of Remembrance at 2pm.

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(Note: If you have any old Dublin punk singles gathering dust in your attic, I’d love to take them off your hands. I promise to give them a good home)

Since my last appeal/update in September 2010, a number of classic Dublin punk/new wave singles have been digitised and found themselves online.

On Nov 13 2010, Youtube user cadlagh1 uploaded Real Emotion, the B-Side to The Blades 1981 single Ghost Of A Chance.

The Blades - Ghost Of A Chance (1981)

On March 1 2011, Bristol Boy from the My Life’s A Jigsaw blog uploaded the first and only single Million Miles from The Tabs that came out in 1982.

The Tabs - Millions Miles (1982)

On Aug 11 2011, Youtube user cadlagh1 uploaded Sadlands, the B-Side to The Blades 1984 single The Last Man In Europe.

The Blades - Last Man In Europe (1984)

On Oct 9 2011, I uploaded the first single 5 Honors And A 175 and Denise, Denise (B-Side) from pub rock band The Alsations that came out in 1982. (Thanks to EoinH)

The Alsations - 5 Honours And A 175 (1982)

On Oct 9 2011, I uploaded the second single Watching You and Touch Sensitive (B-Side) from The Shade that came out in 1982. (Thanks to Jack from Deadbeats & No-Ones)

The Shade - Watching You (1982)

On Oct 12 2011, I uploaded the b-side I Wanna Conform to the classic 1981 single Don’t Swim On The East Coast from The Sussed. (Thanks to Rory Stokes).

The Sussed - I Wanna Conform (1981)

However, there are still a good few classic singles still not online. If you have the following, please get in touch.

The Alsatians:

• I Wanna Be Your Man / Money Back
7″ – Libra Records – LHS003 – IRL – 1982

• I’ll Never Forget It (AKA Two Sucks) / Suicide
7″ – Scoff Records – DT028 – IRL – 2 September 1983 – PS

The Boomtown Rats:

• Neon Heart, Etc.. (At Home And Away)
K7 – Demo – 1976

Camino Organisation:

• Human Voices // Executivity / The Bust Up Of Love
7″ – Reekus Records – RKS 004 – 1982 – PS

New Versions:

• Like Gordon of Khartoum / What You Want
7″ – Mulligan Records – LUNS 744 – IRL – 1981 – PS

Negatives:

• Love Potion No.9 / The Prize
7″ – WEA Records – K18420 – 1980 – PS

Pop Mechanics:

• Soldier Boys / It Feels Like I’m Alone Again
7″ – Polydor Records – 2078 144 – IRL – 1982 – PS

Revolver:

• Silently Screaming / On The Run
7″ – Rockburgh Records – ROCS203 – UK – 1978 – PS

The Romantiks:

• Said If You Needed Me / Little Queenie
7″ – G.I.Records – GI003 – 1978 – no PS

The Shade:

• 6:05 / Talk To Me
7″ – Juverna Records – JUV-001 – 1981 – no PS?

Strange Movements:

• Dancing In The Ghetto / Amuse Yourself
7″ – Good Vibrations International – GVI GOT-5 – N.IRL – 1980 – poster PS

As she wheels her wheelbarrow…..

Cassidy’s was one of those pubs. You’d often hear about Molly Malone, Dicey Riley and all the others as you walked by. For a long time however Cassidy’s sat empty and neglected, much like Sullivan’s across the street. I’d thought it a victim of the collapse. Now, both pubs have re-opened within weeks of one another.While Sullivan’s is still banging on about wheelbarrows and streets wide and narrow, Cassidy’s has taken on a new vibe altogether.

The first time I walked into this re-opened establishment, it was to the sound of The Smiths. All night, classic and more recent indie seemed the order of the day, and there’s a few noticeable new additions. A massive Star Wars painting stands out of course, but surely it’s the Fußball table downstairs that really grabs your attention. All night, whenever you pass, someone else is on it. It’s a great novelty, in a city where pool tables for example seem to be an endangered species.

The Guinness is up to scratch and fine, but I opt for Fischer’s from there on in. It’s a nice alternative to the usual, and it and Erdinger sit side by side at the end of the bar and I opt for them when available Bishop’s Finger and O’Hara’s are also spotted, giving the pub a rather decent selection beyond the usual few taps.

Behind the bar there’s an unusual assortment of old-school sweets, crisps (Meanies are still around, that’s good news) and the like. something a bit different from Bacon Fries I suppose. The crowd is young and studenty when I drop in, and it’s incredible to think how much a pub can change after spending a year or so in the boarded-up wilderness. Well worth a look.

Phew!

Like many people I was taken aback by jaycarax’s post on here earlier regarding the statue of James Connolly opposite Liberty Hall, and what many believed to have been an awful act of vandalism against the work. The sheer level of web-traffic too indicates that a great many people were interested in the story. Personally I found the idea of somebody attacking the monument disgusting, it is among my favourite statues in the city, with the Plough and the Stars behind Connolly complimenting a magnificent sculpture from the late Eamonn O’Doherty. It stands facing Liberty Hall, albeit a completely different building to the one Connolly would recognise!

Thankfully, Liveline have cleared this one up. It should be noted that neither the Council nor Siptu knew anything about this repairs when Lorcan contacted them, and as such the conclusion he (and I and a great many Dubliners) came to that the statue had been vandalised was a logical one. Thankfully, that wasn’t the case.

LORCAN COLLINS was bringing a group of tourists down to the James Connolly Memorial Opposite Liberty Hall and was shocked to see a large chunk of the Plough had been sawed off. Has contacted the police. Bobby Blount phoned to explain the story of the missing sculpture. It hasn’t been stolen. It is in his foundry for repair. It was a private commission. People were climbing up on it and damaging it. He is a stone sculptor. It will be back in place in the next few weeks.

You can listen back to the Liveline piece here. Fair play to Lorcan ringing in, if anyone hasn’t taken the time to do it yet I can’t recommend his 1916 walking tour of Dublin enough.

Graffiti on a wall of the original Liberty Hall at the time of its demolition in memory of James Connolly.

 

LookLeft – in Easons countrywide and good independent bookshops and newsagents

In the latest issue of LookLeft, your truly has report from the Peter Daly commemoration and a piece on Garry O’Neill’s Where Were You? while Master Fallon has an article on Ultra culture in the League of Ireland.

Also;

Can trade unions lead a fight back?
Paul Dillon examines the strategic choices which face the trade union movement North and South

Health
LookLeft looks at how class defines health outcomes

NAMA: So why was it created?
Nama plays no constructive economic role so why was it created asks Conor McCabe

The importance of politics
Historian Brian Hanley takes a look at the life of socialist-republican George Gilmore

ESB – ‘It’s Your energy…for now”

Slaves and Slavery
– William Wall looks at the economics underpinning the Magdalene Laundries

Tom Redmond on Left Unity

Reports from Bodenstown

Tomás MacGiolla – An enduring legacy

Fighting austerity in the Banana Republic of Italy

An Uncertain Future – the Arab Spring

A toxic Triangle- Gavan Titley examines the media’s role in the growth of Islamophobia.

Saving the Euro and the cowardice of Social Democracy – Influential Greek economist, Yanis Varoufakis,

Interview with the authors of White Riot and history of Punk

Plus

Three pages News from working class communities and the left

Five pages of Reviews

The Jemmy Hope Column

Shocking news breaking tonight that the James Connolly statue opposite Liberty Hall has been badly damaged by vandals.

From (our friends over at) 1916 Rebellion Walking Tour:

Someone sawed off the top half of the James Connolly memorial. Specifically three stars and a bit of the plough. Looks like a “professional” job as you can see from the picture I took today. If anyone knows anything or saw anything over the weekend get in touch before it’s melted for scrap. Please pass this on. Lorcan

Any leads? We suggest you get in contact with lorcan(at)1916rising.com

(c) Lorcan

Murphy’s, Palmerstown.

Thanks to Gregory Dunn for leaving a link to this video in a comment on the site, which has brought an awful lot of nostalgic feelings back. Murphy’s shop in Palmerstown Village is a local institution, it’s old-fashioned shopfront in stark contrast to the Londis next-door and indeed all other shops on the village street. Anyone who grew up or attended school in the area will know it for the pickamix options in shop, old-fashioned sweets you’d only heard of before and the kind of goods unavailable next door in Londis. Many one pound coins were loaned to friends and never spotted again. This is a great bit of local history, as is the shop itself.

There has been a real resurgence in this sort of oral history in recent times. This was a great throwback to the time of schoolbags, obair bhaile and white shirts with black collars. Cheers Gregory!

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