All posts by midnightmurphy

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About midnightmurphy

Limerick to Dublin to Amsterdam to Dublin to Limerick

Chronicles of the Wastelands: A passion for fashion

Dublin, Travels to work, Uncategorized

bus

I scowled at her as she boarded the bus, mentally willing her to go upstairs, or at least as far away from me, as is humanly possible on a double decker bus. Of course she couldn’t hear my internal monologue. She was too busy roaring at her friend who she had on speakerphone. Ignorant as it may be to make the conversation audible to the rest of the bus, it wasn’t quite as bad as he own voice which had the timbre of a high pitched shriek. I have no doubt that my anti-social, early morning personality may have been informing my mood this morning, but this was a real endurance test. On what planet is it acceptable to force other people to listen to both sides of an inane babble about ITune purchases. Especially when your speaking voice resembles nails on a blackboard. Continue reading Chronicles of the Wastelands: A passion for fashion →

Theatrical: ‘The morning after the life before’

Gay, Ireland, Limerick, Theatre, Uncategorized

matlb

May 23rd 2015 is a day that will forever be etched in the memory of the LGBT community in Ireland. It was the day the result of the marriage equality referendum was was announced, and 62% of our nation said that we were equal.

On 24th May 2015, Limerick woman Ann Blake received a text from her brother, asking ‘How’s the morning after the life before?’ This question became the title of the play ‘The morning after the life before’ which is currently playing at the Bewleys Cafe Theatre. Continue reading Theatrical: ‘The morning after the life before’ →

Theatrical: ‘The Country Girls’

Dublin, Theatre, Uncategorized

HBB

I have never read ‘The Country Girls’ by Edna O’Brien. This book was published in 1960, and was the debut novel by the Clare writer. Notorious upon its release for its depiction of the sexual awakening of a pair of young Irish women in catholic Ireland, it was banned by the censorship board for being a dirty, filthy book. Naturally when read through the prism of 2019, it is very tame indeed. Well the book has been adapted by the Abbey Theatre. Last night I went to see it. Continue reading Theatrical: ‘The Country Girls’ →

Neneh Cherry – who’s looking good today, who’s looking good in every way.

Dublin, Music, Uncategorized

Neneh

Some months ago I was doing some research on upcoming gigs for the year 2019. So far my calendar has been marked for a number of dates that are unmissable – John Grant, Villagers, Sophie Ellis Bextor. Other acts were mentally noted with a promise to reconsider closer to the event when a clearer inventory of availability and money could be taken. Continue reading Neneh Cherry – who’s looking good today, who’s looking good in every way. →

Theatrical: ‘Fat Blokes’

Dublin, Gay, Theatre, Uncategorized

dogboy

December 2015 was a funny time. I’d been back in Dublin for a month, after years in Amsterdam,  feeling like I’d made the biggest mistake of my life coming home. It was the dead of winter – always a miserable time. I was working in the industrial wastelands of county Dublin with my bullying colleagues Mouth-Breather and Potato-Head (not their real names); and I was flat-sharing in the leafy suburb of Castleknock with the deranged FlatEnemy who lectured me constantly about how he was going to be a millionaire. I was less than content. I remember one evening seeing a YouTube link called ‘I’ve been radicalised’ starring the artist Scottee, describing his rage at being bullied and abused for being a fat, camp gay guy. It was powerful, in the way that honesty mixed with anger tends to be. Continue reading Theatrical: ‘Fat Blokes’ →

Theatrical: ‘140 Characters’ and ‘Dog Boy’

Dublin, Theatre, Uncategorized

dogboy

‘A ticket for one please’ said I, with a devil-may-care, jaunty attitude. It was 7.25. The show was not starting until 7.45. I had oodles of time.

‘Sorry sir, I have just sold the last ticket.’

I was horrified. Not only was the show sold out, but I had been addressed as ‘Sir’ by the youth at the counter. I am not a ‘sir’. I am young, fresh, vibrant and vivacious – in my own head at least. Continue reading Theatrical: ‘140 Characters’ and ‘Dog Boy’ →

Cinematic: ‘Can you ever forgive me?’

Film, Uncategorized

cyefm

Since receiving a cinema card as a Christmas gift, my attendance at the picture-house has skyrocketed. Yesterday, for the second consecutive evening I went to the cinema after work – having cunningly timed my departure to arrive in town at the precise time that the film was meant to start. For my viewing pleasure last night was the film ‘Can you ever forgive me?’ Continue reading Cinematic: ‘Can you ever forgive me?’ →

Marching with the nurses

Dublin, Ireland, Uncategorized,

strike

As I turned left onto Parnell Street from Marlborough Street I could see the crowds. The Garden of Remembrance was the gathering point but the throngs of people stretched back to the Gate Theatre. The usual suspects were well present and correct. I consider myself one of the usual suspects – if there is a protest I am likely to be present. I don’t wear a high viz jacket advertising the ‘Worker’s Hammer’ newspaper, like my fellow serial protesters however. In any case we were massively outnumbered by the INMO and PNA staff. Today’s gathering was a march to support the two week old strike action by members of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation and the Psychiatric Nurses Association. Continue reading Marching with the nurses →