wideimageIn a bowl (by the looks of things).

Although…

 “I’ve been coming to Ireland at least once a year since 1990 to meet my Irish friends. A large number of my students from around the world are either Irish or based in Ireland. I love coming here; I think I connect well with the Irish psyche.”

Gulp.

Buddhist master Ringu Tulku Rinpoche, who is giving a FREE public talk on the scientific and health benefits of meditation this Saturday at 2pm at the Hilton Dublin Kilmainham Hotel, Inchicore Road, Dublin.

Bodicharya Ireland

Thanks Emily Brennan and Martina Quinn

 

MartinnLast night, during a Dáil debate on a recent EU summit, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin gave a speech in which he took issue with Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s reaction to the Anglo Tapes story.

Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Martin said:

“The Taoiseach has repeatedly said he knows nothing about what happened when the Bank Guarantee was brought in. He says he would “love to know” what happened. If we put aside the lengthy statements and interviews, including in this House, this claim of the Taoiseach’s is transparent, partisan nonsense.”

“For two and a half years he and his ministers have been in full control of government. They have had absolute access to the many records of events, particularly those contained in all of the documents retained in the Department of Finance. More importantly they have had access to the officials who were present at all stages of the Guarantee process.

Minister Noonan has actually refused to release some information under FOI so Taoiseach you cannot have it both ways.”

“In the Taoiseach’s case, for an entire year he had at his side the most senior official present during that night. Is the Taoiseach expecting us to believe he never asked him any question about the meetings he attended?”

“The next most senior official who was in the room that night also worked closely with this government for well over a year.

He regularly attended the Economic Management Council with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister Noonan and Minister Howlin at which bank-related debts were discussed. Did you ask him no questions during that time?”

Hmmm.

Read full speech here

Previously: Off The Hook?

The ‘Missing’ €3.6billion: Five Months Later 

It’s Kevin’s Last Day Today

Nothing In The Diary

Pic: Merrionstreet.ie video screengrab

bike1bike2A customised 50cc engine Bicycle for sale.

“30mph top speed….5 euros worth of petrol will get you around 80 miles…would be willing to swap for vintage racing bike (preferably with reynolds frame but willing to barter), vintage motorbike, iphone or djing gear. try me.

We actually might.

50cc engine Bicycle (Adverts.ie)

Thanks John Keane

cpnhgn

Should you enjoy thumping CBGBs-era new wave with a twist via downtown Kildare.

CPNHG – When Nobody’s Talking

I know you don’t normally do this, but we released this video this morning for our single ‘When Nobody’s Talking’ which we are releasing through all major outlets friday. The video was shot in our practice room by Highly Stimulating Productions and features Graphics and animation by Kathi Burke. We are launching this in The Workman’s [Wellington Quay, Dublin],  tomorrow night as part of the 10 Days in Dublin festival

 

CPNHGN

CPNHGN (Facebook)

6a00d8341c5dea53ef0192abd08d65970d-piA new sock line by American chef and offal specialist, Chris Cosentino whose publicist sez:

Mr. Cosentino’s socks, called Meat Feet, are patterned like mortadella, prosciutto, and sopressata. ‘We put salami meat in a casing. Casings are kind of like socks,’ says Mr. Cosentino…. ‘How funny is that?’

Eh…

$33 for the ‘three-pack sampler’ above.

bookofjoe

car6car4Mercedes 190E Cosworth: “Mercedes introduced their W201 chassis in 1982 and developed a very sophisticated mid-size luxury saloon. In standard trim, most popular options were the 1.8L and 2.0L petrol injection engines and the 190D which include a variety of diesel engines. In 1984, Mercedes wanted to go rallying and, so, used the W201 chassis as a basis for their car. They recruited the help of the famous Cosworth company to improve their already-robust 2.3L engine and the result was the Mercedes 190E Cosworth 2.3-16 (for 16 valves). A much sturdier 2.5L engine replaced the 2.3L in 1988 and that’s what we have here in “Evo 1″ form (i.e. the first of three phases of this particular model). It never did go rallying but became successful in the German Touring car series, DTM.”

car1 car2Triumph 2000: “Aimed at a new market opening, the Triumph 2000 offered refinement and comfort at a much lower production price and running cost than top-range Jags and Rovers of the 1960s. The Mk 1 model here was replaced by a Stag-esque Mk 2 in 1969. This one had a three-speed automatic box.”

extracarcar3Volvo 340: “I don’t have a love affair with old Volvos but they seem to be popping up quite a bit. DAF wanted to expand on their production car range so Volvo jumped on board eventually taking control of the company’s complete road-car division. The 340 (and saloon 360) came initially with the controversial variomatic transmission found in DAF’s smaller cars but  expanded to include conventional manual gearboxes. Volvo’s high safety standards were upheld and the 300 series sold well in the UK despite its drab appearance.”

Pics and text: Patrick ‘Carspotter’ Cummins

Maureen2

Nurse, singer and mum-of-four Maureen Aku Disu, above, who came to Ireland from Nigeria in 2002 but is now an Irish citizen, was a guest on RTÉ R1’s Mooney Goes Wild, with Derek Mooney, yesterday

Ms Aku Disu came here with her partner, who was from another tribe.

At the beginning of his show, Mr Mooney read out a letter Ms Aku Disu wrote to him, as a means to introduce her to his listeners.

I’m newly graduated from Trinity College’s as a general nurse (St James’s Hospital) . I am an immigrant and yes, my first name is Maureen, although many Irish people find it hard to believe. The story about my name is a long one but I believe it’s destiny, my Irish name, migrating into Ireland and becoming an Irish citizen. Destiny is the only explanation for it. There are different types of immigrants, just like there are differences in Irish people but most people do not see people like us, who have been through hell to put ourselves through university and be meaningful members of society.

I went to school Monday to Friday and worked Saturday and Sunday to raise my school fees while students went away on summer breaks. I worked all through summer just to make money to pay my university fees. In total, it cost me over €40,000 to get my degree as I did not have my citizenship then, so had to pay fees. Life in Ireland has not been a walk in the park for me, like someone walking up to you on a street and telling you  to go back to where you come from. Apart from being a nurse, I also have a passion for putting my feelings into  songs.

Some of my experiences have led me to write the songs in the enclosed CD. I hope to send my message across via my songs but I have faced many rejections. I feel like some people don’t want my voice to be heard. Some music producers have asked me to change the words in my songs. They tell me that Irish people will not like my message. That I am wasting my talent with such lyrics. Some say I should change my lyrics to love lyrics or something else to make my songs more acceptable but I am not that type of a songwriter. I write from my heart. If I don’t feel it, I can’t sing it. Every single song that I’ve written comes from deep within me. I do not seek to entertain, I seek to pass a message across and I believe my message is clear. Being an immigrant does not make me less human.

Continue reading →

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