Category Archives: Uncategorized

U2: The Experience and Innocence tour

November 6, 2018Dublin, Ireland, Music, Pride, Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

JimmysHall-Landscape

Being Irish, U2 is a band that has been totally unavoidable throughout my life. Since their international breakthrough almost forty years ago they have been inescapable on the musical and cultural landscape of my home country. Indisputably U2 is the most commercially successful musical act in Irish history. Even between musical projects, lead singer Bono has become a spokesperson and advocate for various global charity projects and initiatives. While I wouldn’t ever have been a massive U2 fan – they were a little bit too bloviatingly heterosexual for my refined taste – I tended to enjoy their songs and would sing along with gusto when they played on the wireless. In more recent years I developed a greater appreciation of them. Their song ‘Sometimes you can’t make it on your own’ was about the death of Bono’s father was quite beautiful. I still wouldn’t hold them in too high of an esteem but I enjoyed them. Continue reading U2: The Experience and Innocence tour →

Weekend with Murphy

November 5, 20181916 Rising, Dublin, Ireland, Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

Leopardprint

The weekend began at 3pm on Friday when I left my office in the wastelands on foot. My destination was a palace of consumerism – the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. Anyone who knows me will be aware of my physical and psychological aversion to shopping. So you’d be forgiven for wondering why I’d choose to visit such a hellish place. Well The Mammy was in town for the day with The Sister, so we’d arranged to meet for coffee. They were only on a stop off at the shopping centre. Their final destination was the 7^th Circle of Hell – also known as IKEA. I hadn’t the slightest notion of entering that offensive Swedish maze with them. It is closer to my house however so I thought I’d avail of a lift. Upon arrival I bid farewell to the family and wandered towards the traffic. I spent about quarter of an hour meandering around the car park, before finally exiting the grounds of IKEA. I walked in the direction of town. Upon arrival at a bus stop I saw that the next vehicle was due in nineteen minutes. Even though it was dark and rainy I continued. A night-time stroll in Ballymun was a novelty for me. I had never been in Ballymun before. Once notorious for its crime-ridden tower blocks, it has recently been on a mission to spruce itself up. I was taken by the smell of chip fat in the air. Continue reading Weekend with Murphy →

Not today, Satan!

October 31, 2018Amsterdam, Dublin, Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

JimmysHall-Landscape

In one week I will have been employed in my current job for three full years. Tomorrow marks the three year anniversary since I slunk back to Dublin after my fifteen year holiday in Amsterdam . I have now spent more than enough time here to have overcome any teething problems I experienced during my return. If I have any issues, then these are not related to being new in town. Continue reading Not today, Satan! →

A bank holiday weekend

October 29, 2018Dublin, Ireland, UncategorizedGlasnevinmidnightmurphy

Friday.
Voted for Michael D. Higgins in the presidential election. And voted to remove the ban on blasphemy from the Irish constitution. The nation agreed with me on both counts. Then I went for a pint with a friend in the local Korean bar. Left quickly as there was an office party present. Continue reading A bank holiday weekend →

Open House Limerick

October 20, 2018Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

rank

At Open House Dublin last weekend I heard loose talk of a similar event in Limerick this weekend. Well I don’t mind if I do, I thought. A bit of culture is always worthwhile.
Continue reading Open House Limerick →

My temper tantrum

October 19, 2018Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

dcoach

The big green bus from Dublin to Limerick departs every thirty minutes from Burgh Quay in Dublin city centre. En route to Limerick, it stops to pick up passengers at Red Cow; KIldare and then on to Arthur’s Quay in Limerick. I used to take this bus quite regularly when it cost ten euro for a single ticket. In the past year the price has increased to 15 euro. As it often possible to acquire a train ticket for cheaper, I’ve switched my allegiance to the train. Continue reading My temper tantrum →

The Ray D’Arcy television programme

October 16, 2018Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

mansion

Every September just before the Autumn / Winter TV schedule begins, Ireland’s national broadcaster opens a public lottery, to win free audience tickets to its flagship Friday night chat show – the Late Late Show. This is a behemoth of Irish broadcasting, and the world’s second longest late night talk show (after the Tonight Show in the USA) having first broadcast in 1962. Originally hosted by Gay Byrne (from 1962 to 1999); followed by Pat Kenny (1999 to 2009) it is currently hosted by Ryan Tubridy. An audience ticket is highly desired for two reasons – the show can be interesting and also you’ll acquire a decent quantity of freebies (‘One for everyone in the audience’ was one of Gay Byrne’s catchphrases). Continue reading The Ray D’Arcy television programme →

Open House weekend

October 15, 2018Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

Friday 12^th October

My employer has a sports and social club that occasionally gets heavy discounts on events. Being somewhat ant-social when it comes to my colleagues I rarely participate in these. This evening was an exception. For five euros we received a ticket for the ‘All Star Comedy Jam’ at the Laughter Lounge on Eden Quay. This was a new venue for me. That evening’s line up was headlined by the Limerick comedian Karl Spain. He is phenomenally quick witted and hilariously funny. The less said about his support acts the better. Continue reading Open House weekend →

As cultured as yoghurt…Part 1

October 14, 2018Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

I’ve been neglecting this blog of late, thanks to how occupied I have been. Never fear however. With the amount of culture I have consumed since last weekend, I am turning into a yoghurt. To keep you all informed (and more importantly for my own record) I will give a potted summary of the last nine days. Continue reading As cultured as yoghurt…Part 1 →

Murphy investigates Cheese dreams

October 4, 2018Uncategorizedmidnightmurphy

Gubbeen

I have often heard warnings not to eat cheese before bedtime. The reasons vary from causing a disrupted night’s sleep to nightmares. I have never believed these stories. A tall tale if ever I heard one I thought. Nevertheless I have always been slightly reluctant to consume this sacred, dairy product too close to my bedtime. My sleep patterns are temperamental at the best of times and I don’t need further disruption – regardless of how far-fetched and unlikely it sounds. Continue reading *Murphy investigates* Cheese dreams →