http://www.dochara.com/blog/ Random writings about Ireland and the Irish Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:07:59 GMT en-us http://dochara.com/blog/all/accommodation2008.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/accommodation2008.php Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:07:59 GMT The slump in the Irish economy and falling tourist numbers means there are a lot of bargains to be had in Ireland this year, especially when it comes to accommodation .... http://dochara.com/blog/all/leonard-cohen.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/leonard-cohen.php Sat, 14 Jun 2008 07:29:33 GMT Was up in Dublin last night for the first of three sold-out appearances by Leonard Cohen at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham. What a fantastic night! I have always been Cohen, but last night was something really special, a night that will live in... http://dochara.com/blog/all/riai-2008.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/riai-2008.php Wed, 04 Jun 2008 09:52:23 GMT The annual Irish Architecture awards normally tends to be something of an insiders event, but this year the public have a chance to pick their favourite new building from a fairly diiverse range of contenders. The idea of public voting is good -... http://dochara.com/blog/all/suas.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/suas.php Thu, 02 Aug 2007 10:15:38 GMT A cable car high over the River Liffey connecting Hueston Station and the Docklands, giving tourists panoramic views over the whole city. That is the proposal that a private consortium have submitted for planning approval. They are apparantly planning... http://dochara.com/blog/all/key-largo.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/key-largo.php Wed, 01 Aug 2007 22:42:57 GMT Finding good value in Irish restaurants can be a bit of a thankless task. For sure the food on offer has vastly improved, but it often comes with a very high price attached. So Key Largo in Kilkenny, where I ate yesterday evening, is a rare gem that... http://dochara.com/blog/all/drugs-boat.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/drugs-boat.php Sun, 08 Jul 2007 19:09:26 GMT I wasn't a very good student of Irish but I always loved the poetry and am surprised at how much of it has stayed in my memory. Every now and then something happens that brings forgotten lines to mind, and this week it was the chance event that led... http://dochara.com/blog/all/flower-barges.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/flower-barges.php Thu, 05 Jul 2007 01:22:35 GMT Someone in their wisdom has decided that it is a nice idea to float flower bedecked barges on the River Nore in Kilkenny, one on either side of Johns Bridge in the centre of town. They first did it last year when Kilkenny was an entrant... http://dochara.com/blog/all/vikingship.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/vikingship.php Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:40:03 GMT On the 14th of August this year, if all goes well, a Viking longship will sail with its crew up the River Liffey and into Dublin. On this occasion the people of Dublin be out with flags, music and a very friendly welcome, quite a different reaction to... http://dochara.com/blog/all/butts.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/butts.php Sat, 30 Jun 2007 00:00:01 GMT It is over three years now since puns in Ireland changed forever with the introduction of the ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces. Next week in England and in parts of Australia a similar ban is being introduced, greeted, as was the Irish... http://dochara.com/blog/all/cso-tourism-2007a.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/cso-tourism-2007a.php Tue, 19 Jun 2007 17:55:13 GMT For the first time people leaving Ireland for a holiday abroad exceeded the number arriving here on vacation, according to figures released to-day by the Central Statistics Office (PDF). Apparently 1.47 million people visited Ireland, up 6% on the same... http://dochara.com/blog/all/dodds-cottage.php http://dochara.com/blog/all/dodds-cottage.php Mon, 18 Jun 2007 14:42:44 GMT However he fares in the presidential race, Democratic US presidential hopeful, Christopher Dodd, certainly has an eye for property. In his financial disclosures lists among his property a cottage in Co Galway, to which he assigns a value of...