#Seán Russell

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1939 – IRA Army Council declare war on England and the Sabotage Campaign (S-Plan) begins a day later.

On 12 January 1939, the Army Council sent an ultimatum, signed by Patrick Fleming, to British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax. The communiqué duly informed the British government of “The Government of the Irish Republic’s” intention to go to “war”. Excerpt from the ultimatum: I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Irish Republic, having as its first duty towards its people the…

[pers-books]

Four new trips to Gallifrey

To mark the twentieth anniversary of the Gallifrey range, Big Finish Productions presents Echoes Through Eternity, a brand-new collection of short story readings, due November 2024.

Gallifrey. Ancestral home of the Time Lords. Some have lived there all their lives, some have adopted it as their own. Allies, thrown together by circumstance and strife, have forged lasting friendships in the furnace of politics, alternate realities, and the Last Great Time War. 

Gallifrey is constant, but its inhabitants must change to survive. Perhaps none more so than Narvin... 

Gallifrey has watched over the universe since the dawn of time – and, at Big Finish Productions, since 2004. The audio drama range following intrigue and adventure on the Doctor’s homeworld is now twenty years old. 

Marking the occasion is Echoes Through Eternity, a collection of four brand-new stories, in the style of Big Finish’s Short Trips. These tales are set across the timeline of the Gallifrey range and feature some of its most iconic characters. 

The set includes two stories by Gary Russell, the range’s original creator. Both follow Celestial Intervention Agency Coordinator Narvin and are read by Seán Carlsen. The other two stories focus on the characters of Braxiatel and Ace, with their original voice actors Miles Richardson and Sophie Aldred reading. 

The Worlds of Doctor Who – Gallifrey: Echoes Through Eternity is now available to pre-order (as a digital download only) for just £11.99, exclusively here.

The four stories are: 

Damned If You Do by Gary Russell, read by Seán Carlsen 

CIA Coordinator Narvin is unwillingly called upon to find some lost students – aliens admitted to the hallowed Academy. But when Narvin and Cadet Kransa enter the Catacombs, nothing will be the same... 

The Questing Beast by Fio Trethewey & Georgia Cook, read by Miles Richardson 

Battling the Lord Burner, Braxiatel is separated from his friends as they fall through a multitude of alternative Gallifreys. He arrives in a realm where science is magic and there is a Dragon to be slain... 

In Search of Lost Time by Una McCormack, read by Sophie Aldred

Old Time Agents never die – they just lose their memories. Back on Earth after her involvement in the Time War, Ace is having trouble fitting in – and coincidence seems to be following her... 

Damned If You Don’t by Gary Russell, read by Seán Carlsen 

As the Time War rages, Narvin is at the heart of the action – but he has lost so much, he may not have the will to carry on. Until his past returns to haunt him... 

Producer Heather Challands said: “One thing that was very apparent when I came on to the Gallifrey range was how well-loved it is by the listeners. 

“Gallifrey has introduced us to so many different characters, timelines, conflicts and so much creativity over the years that it only felt right to celebrate the 20th anniversary by revisiting some old favourites. A small slice of a very storied history, explored by four brand new stories set from the earliest days in the Citadel to deep in the heart of the Time War.” 

The Worlds of Doctor Who – Gallifrey: Echoes Through Eternity is now available to pre-order (as a digital download only) for just £11.99, exclusively here.

All the above prices include the special pre-order discount and are subject to change after general release. 

[batboyblog]

Ireland has had an antisemitism problem long before the creation of the modern state of Israel; for an example - see the 'Limerick boycott'.

Other nations that have very small Jewish populations and yet a lot of antisemitism include Iceland (and also all the Arab nations where Jews used to live in large numbers before having to flee to save their lives - although in these nations the small size of the Jewish population is a direct result of the antisemitism, whereas Ireland and Iceland have never had a sizeable Jewish population).

Iceland has also expelled Jews and in the late 30ies the Icelandic authorities even offered to pay for the further expulsion of Jews to Germany if the Danish authorities* wouldn't take the Jewish expellees. *for further context, see Icelandic-Danish relations

I learned that Dublin is the only city in Western Europe with a statue honoring a Nazi collaborator, Seán Russell, who died on a Nazi U Boat on his way back to Ireland to undertake a German plan to attack the British. So thats cool....

Yes the Nordics have always been weirdos when it comes to Jews, they've been passing bills to ban circumcision and Kosher slaughter.

Pakistan is another country, along with Malaysia, that have very small Jewish populations historically (and now) that are insanely antisemitic, though very next level compared to the worst Europe has to offer. There are a lot of literal Hitler fans out there, oh there was a clothing story in India called "Hitler" and an ice cream place

who wants some Hitler ice cream? no? huh. Maybe telling how India's small historic Jewish communities all dried up nearly at once after the founding of Israel, more Jews decided to stay in Iran than stayed in India.

[galliversary]

Introducing Aakheperure, our inside cover artist—and one of our page artists, merch artists, and collab artists!

Where can we find you?

Threads: aakheperure

Twitter: Aakheperure

Who is your favorite Gallifrey character?

I grew up watching Leela and Romana on TV, but Narvin is my favourite character. Writer/creator Gary Russell never intended for Narvin to be a ‘mere cypher’ and excellent writing plus Seán Carlsen’s terrific performances have facilitated his development and personal journey, making him rightly a fan favourite.

What is your favorite season of Gallifrey?

I enjoyed the slower paced "wordy" early seasons of political intrigue and less "monster of the week". It was refreshing to spend time in slower low stakes stories where the focus is on characters and their interactions rather than constant peril and event driven narratives.

What is your favorite episode of Gallifrey?

Two episodes stand out for me: Annihilation. Vampires, Werewolves, Geoffrey Beevers and Katy Manning joining the regular trio. What's not to like?

And Intervention Earth - strong Ace stories with the return of Omega (Stephen Thorne) who terrified me as a kid for his pathos and madness.

What is your favorite scene/moment in Gallifrey?

When Darkel betrays Narvin by putting a bug bomb on him - his allegiance shifts from purely the office of President to Romana herself; even if it took her (and Leela) a while to see it.

[lievmultimuses1]

GIFS WIP

Here is a list of the people i’m currently making gifs:

Aline Mineiro

Brendon Urie

Carla Diaz

Chris Evans

Cobie Smulders

Debra Messing

Dolly Parton

Ed Sheeran

Eliza Dushku

Emilia Clark

Emma Deigman

Eric McCormack

Flayslane da Silva

Francia Raisa

Frank Grillo

Gabi Martins

Gabrielle Byndloss

Garrett Watts

Gigi Hadid

Hailey Bieber

Hannah Montoya

Hasan Piker

Hilary Duff

Hugh Jackman

Imane Anys (Pokimane)

Isis Valverde

Ivy Moraes

Jack Whitehall

Jameela Jamil

Jamie Chung

Jana Kramer

Jasmine Villegas

Jason Spisak

Jeff Schine

Jeffrey Dean Morgan

Jenna Dewan

Jenna Fischer

Jenna Ushkowitz

Jennie Mai

Jennifer Lopez

Jesse Williams

Jessica Alba

Joe Alwyn

Joe Jonas

Joelle Fletcher

John Mulaney

Jordana Maronttinni (Jojo)

Jordyn Woods

Joseph Morgan

Josh Peck

Juliana Paes

Julianne Hough

Juliette Freire

Justin Bieber

Kaley Cuoco

Karrueche Tran

Kate Hudson

Kate Walsh

Katherine Langford

Katy Perry

Kelhani Parrish

Keke Palmer

Kelly Key

Kendall Jenner

Kim Jisoo

Kim Kardashian

Kourtney Kardashian

Kylie Jenner

Lana Condor

Larissa Machado (Anitta)

Larissa Manoela

Laura Marano

Laura Ponticorvo

Lauren Jauregui

Leigh Anne Pinnock

Lesley Ann Brandt

Lili Reinhart

Lily Collins

Lin Manuel Miranda

Loey Lane

Lucas Penteado

Luisa Sonza

Madison Beer

Madison Pettis

Maisa Silva

Maisie Williams

Mandy Patinkin

Manu Gavassi

Mariah Carey

Marina Ferrari

Marina Ruy Barbosa

Mark Fischbach

Mark Ruffalo

Marzia Kjellberg

Matt Bomer

Matt Smith

Max Greenfield

Megan Pete (Megan thee Stallion)

Melissa Benoist

Melissa Jefferson (Lizzo)

Michael B Jordan

Miley Cyrus

Morena Baccarin

Nathaniel Buzolic

Neil Newbon

Neymar Jr

Niall Horan

Nicholas Hoult

Nick Apostolides

Nikki Anderson

Nina Dobrev

Noah Centineo

Noah Cyrus

Olivia Culpo

Olivia Munn

Olivia Rodrigo

Onika Maraj (Nicki Minaj)

Pablo Vittar

Paris Hilton

Patrick Scharzenegger

Patrick Stewart

Pete Davidson

Philip DeFranco

Rachel Hofstetter (Valkyrae)

Rafa Kalimann

Raúl Esparza

Rebecca Gomez (Becky G)

Rebel Wilson

Rico Melquiades

Rita Ora

Robert Downey Jr

Robert Pattinson

Robyn Fenty (Rihanna)

Romee Strijd

Romy Monteiro

Ronny Chieng

Roseanne Park

Roy Haylock

Ryan Reynolds

Sabrina Carpenter

Sabrina Sato

Sara Sampaio

Sarah Andrade

Sarah Hyland

Scott Bakula

Sean Hayes

Seán McLoughlin (Jacksepticeye)

Selena Gomez

Serena Williams

Shakira Ripoll

Shane Madej

Shanola Hampton

Shantel Vansanten

Shay Mitchell

Shenae Grimes

Simon Pegg

Skai Jackson

Skyler Samuels

Sofia Richie

Sofia Vergara

Sophia Bush

Sophie Porley

Sophie Turner

Stanley Tucci

Stephen Fry

Steve Martin

Sthefane Matos

Sydney Sweeney

Tais de Verdade

Tammin Sursok

Taraji P Henson

Taran Killam

Tatá Werneck

Taylor Swift

Teresa Palmer

Thais Braz

Thelma Assis

Tia Mowry

Tiff Thornton

Tiffany Abreu

Tom Felton

Tom Fletcher

Tom Hardy

Tom Holland

Trevor Noah

Valentina Francavilla

Victoria Beckham

Victoria Justice

Victoria Pedretti

Vitoria Moraes

Viviane Pereira

Winnie Harlow

Wyatt Russell

[corkcitylibraries]

National Heritage Week | Frank O’Connor – Librarian

by Jim McKeon

Writer, Frank O’Connor, was just twenty years of age when he was released from Gormanstown Interment Camp. Cork had been badly hit by the Civil War. It was still a smouldering ruin. Because the city and county had been the focal point of much of the bloodiest fighting the turmoil of the Civil War lingered there longer than it did elsewhere in the country. In the spring of 1924, the city was still edgy. O’Connor had no money and no job. Under the new government all teachers were required to learn the Irish language. For a few months he taught Irish to the teachers at the Protestant school in St Luke’s Cross, near his home. He was paid a few shillings a week for this. He struggled by, a twenty-year old in his father’s patched up, old hand-me-down trousers teaching middle-aged teachers how to speak the Irish language. It was frustrating, especially if you were on the losing side in the Civil War. MacCurtain and MacSwiney had tragically died but he still met Corkery and Seán O’Faoláin regularly. As so often before Daniel Corkery, forever in O’Connor’s background, stepped in and arranged an interview for a job. Cork dramatist, Lennox Robison, who was secretary of the Carnegie Library, was organising rural libraries and he was looking for young men and women to train as librarians. After a tough interview O’Connor got the job. His mother packed his little cardboard suitcase, including a big holy picture of the Sacred Heart, and he set off for Sligo.

 Bust of Frank O’Connor - on display in the City Library, Grand Parade

At last he had enough books to read. Even for 1924, the wages were poor, thirty shillings a week. His lodgings were twenty-seven and sixpence. He had a half-crown (12.5 cent) left for cigarettes and drink. He posted his dirty laundry on to Cork every week. His mother washed it, with unconditional love, and posted it back, and sometimes included five shillings for her son. As a librarian he was all hands. His boss said he was untrainable. He kept busy by reading poetry books and getting them off by heart. He was blessed with a phenomenal memory. The only thing of note in Sligo was that he celebrated his twenty-first birthday far from home. After six months he was sent to Wicklow, where a new library was to be opened.

 When he arrived a local priest wanted to close down the library. Lennox Robinson had just been heavily criticised and fired from his library position because of a controversial story he wrote about a pregnant girl who felt she had mysterious visit by the Holy Ghost. O’Connor’s boss was Geoffrey Phibbs, an influential fellow poet with controversial opinions on many aspects of life. The two young poets became great friends.  Phibbs escorted O’Connor to Dublin and introduced him to Lady Gregory, George Russell (AE) and Yeats. AE was editor of the Irish Statesman and encouraged O’Connor to send him on something for publication. He sent a verse translation of Suibne Geilt Aspires and when AE published it 14 March 1924, it carried for the first time the pseudonym Frank O’Connor. It must be remembered that he was a young civil servant and he may have been contemplating on keeping his job by using a pen name ever since Lennox Robinson’s enforced resignation. He chose his confirmation name, Francis, and his mother’s maiden name, O’Connor. The prominence AE and the Irish Statesman gave him thrust him into literary view. Yeats had great time for O’Connor and said that he did for Ireland what Chekhov did for Russia. But the young librarian missed home and his mother. A vacancy came up in Cork. AE tried to talk him out of it and warned him he’d be miserable back in Cork. It never occurred to O’Connor that he would not return home. Like his father he was, at that stage, a one-town man..

 Notwithstanding AE’s forebodings, he accepted the job of Cork’s first county librarian in December 1925. He was just twenty-two years of age. His salary of five pounds a week was more than anyone in Harrington’s Square had ever dreamed of earning. The library was at twenty-five Patrick Street which was still in the process of being rebuilt.  Minnie was happy that her son was back home again and his father, Big Mick, was impressed that a pension went with his son’s new job. The city was still in a poor condition. The foundation of the Irish Free State in 1922 augured a period of new confidence in Cork. But in 1924 a public inquiry found: 

  …limited progress had been made on rebuilding Cork’s city centre since it had been burned down in 1920. Criticism was made of the poor quality of maintenance of the city streets, many of which were still paved with timber blocks. Part of Anderson’s Quay had fallen into the river. The public water supply was of poor quality…There was virtually no building in progress in the city.  

  In the burning of Cork not alone had many of the character and physical structures of the city been lost, but so also had thousands of jobs and many peoples’ homes. The Cork Examiner reported that thousands were rendered idle by the destruction. The rebuilding was tediously slow mainly because of the shortage of funding. Britain’s refusal to accept blame and pay compensation didn’t help. The Civil War itself and the post-war political divide were also major factors in delaying the building progress. This was another chapter in Frank O’Connor’s Cork, a damaged city struggling to survive. He opened his library over a shop near the corner of Winthrop Street. It was five years since the burning yet major buildings, just yards away, like Roches Stores and Cash & Co, were still rubble. Rebuilding had not yet started in these two well-known shops. In January 1927, Roches Stores finally re-opened for business. Summing up, the burning of Cork had a unifying effect on a people that had been collectively damaged by the event. It also exposed divisions in Cork society at the time. A Church/political divide came to the surface during this traumatic time. It was demonstrated through criticism by councillors of Bishop Coholan for his refusal to condemn the burning. Many republicans were unhappy because they felt the clerical comments were often selective. Frank O’Connor had a huge responsibility for a young and inexperienced man. He was given a cheque for three thousand pounds to set up and stock his library. He made his first mistake. At that time an anti-Catholic bias still lingered in commerce. He naively lodged the cheque in the nearby and more practical catholic bank when the accepted practice was to use the protestant bank. This innocent action caused a major committee dispute and O’Connor was accused of having a personal and ulterior motive. Then, when he insured the building, the insurance company gave him a cheque as a personal thank you. He didn’t want it and kept it for years but never cashed it. He sums up this whole chaotic scenario: 

  By the time the Cork County Council had done with organizing my sub-committee it consisted of a hundred and ten members, and anyone who has ever had to deal with a public body will realize the chaos this involved. Finally I managed to get my committee together in one of the large council rooms, and by a majority it approved my choice of bankers. There was, I admit, a great deal of heat. Some of the councillors felt I had acted in a very high-handed way, and one protested against my appearing in a green shirt – a thing which, he said, he would not tolerate from anybody. 

  When he finally got his stock of books together and organised his new library, he decided that he should have closer contact with the rural community. If they couldn’t come to him then he’d go to them. He bought a van, packed it with boxes of books, and drove all over the county. After six months this affected his health. He was exhausted from working long hours driving all over West Cork and he wrote almost every night. In a letter to old Wicklow colleague, Phibbs, he wrote, I’m working like a brute beast. He became ill and had to have a serious operation in the Bon Secours Hospital. He spent two weeks in hospital and six weeks convalescing. It shows his stubbornness when he shocked the nuns in the hospital by refusing to receive the sacraments before the operation. 

           Cork had a long tradition of theatre and a critical play-going audience, but in 1927 there was only one drama group in the city, the newly formed Cork Shakespearian Company. Daniel Corkery’s little theatre had closed in 1913 and groups like Munster Players, Leeside Players and Father Matthew Players were also defunct. On 8 August 1927 Micheál MacLiammoir and Hilton Edwards brought their touring company to Cork. They performed The High Steppers’in the Pavillion Theatre in Patrick Street. This venue later became a cinema and is presently HMV music shop. After the opening night there was a party at Seán and Geraldene Neeson’s home. Geraldene was Terence MacSwiney’s bridesmaid when he married in England. MacLiammoir encouraged O’Connor to revive drama in Cork. O’Connor was inspired and was instrumental in forming the Cork Drama League. Although he knew nothing about drama he threw himself headlong at the project. Old friend, Seán Hendrick, recalls: 

  That Michael knew nothing about producing plays and I knew nothing about stage-managing them did not trouble us at all…The producer was to be given a free hand in the choice of both plays and cast and members were bound to accept the parts allotted them. There were to be no stars and an all-round uniformity of performance was to be aimed at. 

  Undaunted, Frank O’Connor tore into their new venture. Lennox Robinson’s play, The Round Table, was to be the first production. It was its first appearance in Cork and there were some slight adjustments to suit the local audience. The curtain-raiser was Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard. Typically, O’Connor wrote the programme notes, directed The Round Table, and appeared in both plays. The Round Table was a difficult play to produce. It had fourteen characters. Many of them doubled up and played two roles. They had trouble trying to cast the part of Daisy Drennan, but one night Geraldine Neeson brought along a pretty young girl to audition. Although she had a terrible stammer she was a natural actress. Not alone did she get the part but that night O’Connor walked her home. From then on Nancy McCarthy became his leading lady and for years to come she was to flit in and out of his life. The company’s first play opened on 28 February 1928 in Gregg Hall in the South Mall, a theatre venue no longer used in Cork. They got high praise all round especially Nancy McCarthy. They immediately started rehearsing for their second venture, The Cherry Orchard. Cork City was now back on its feet and completely rebuilt and people were getting used to a new freedom and sense of safety. Theatre was a hugely popular event.  Plays at that time generally had an Irish theme and written by the likes of Yeats, Synge, Robinson and T. C. Murray. That had been the custom and they were very popular with Cork audiences. But the young Frank O’Connor had other ideas. He was into French and German and Russian theatre and he wanted to offer the Cork public something different. 

  English drama, no matter how significant it may be in its own setting can have no beneficial effect upon a country which is subjected to cultural influences only from one source. The Cork Drama League proposes to give the best of American and continental theatre, of Chekhov, of Martine Sierra, of Eugene O’Neill and those other dramatists whose work, as a result of the dominating influence of the English theatre, is quite unknown in Cork.  

  That was a more than subtle dig at Fr, O’Flynn, a local priest, who had founded the Cork Shakespearian Company in 1924. The two men did not get on. From 20 December to 30 December1927 they exchanged four letters in the Cork Examiner trading insults. Fr, O’Flynn signed his letters The Producer while O’Connor used his name in Irish. Seán Hendrick joined in the attack calling himself Spectator. Everyone in Cork knew who both men were. Ironically, they were more alike than they cared to admit; they were two proud Cork men, they both loved Shakespeare and they both loved Irish. Two more plays were produced, The Cherry Orchard and A Doll’s House. Both got fine reviews, but the audiences were poor. Maybe the Cork Drama League was going too far too soon, and Cork wasn’t ready for them. By now O’Connor was spending most of his time with Nancy McCarthy. Nancy was a religious girl from a well-known Cork family. He brought her home to see his mother and the couple went on a three-week holiday to Donegal. They stayed in houses three miles apart. They met every day for a year outside of St, Peter and Paul’s church after mass. They were engaged for a while but it did not work out. She would not marry him. He would not marry in a Catholic church and there was no way Nancy would marry outside the Church. She was one of ten siblings and he was an only child. She felt he was spoiled. This was quite true. By now he was being regularly published in the Irish Statesman. He had a poem dedicated to Nancy published 9 May 1928. The last two lines are filled with melodrama: 

  That even within this darkness of our body keeps  

Communion with the brightness of a world we dream  

  Frank O’Connor was beginning to feel that AE was right. He should never have left Dublin. He was no longer enjoying his years in Cork. It was no longer the place he had known. O’Faoláin was in America and recently he had found it difficult to talk to Corkery. He made it plain that he was taking sides and that O’Connor was on the wrong side. O’Connor was restless and felt that Cork was threatening to suffocate him. He missed Wicklow where he could talk literature and art to Phibbs and go on to Dublin to meet AE and Yeats. AE would give him all the latest books and gossip, and Sunday evening he could go to the Abbey Theatre and see a series of continental plays, Chekhov, Strindberg and contemporary German plays. Eventually, getting frustrated with the parochialism of Cork and his lack of success with Nancy McCarthy, he applied for the job as municipal librarian in Ballsbridge. On Saturday 1 December 1928 he packed his case and left for Dublin. He still felt it was only a temporary move. Nothing could cure him of the notion that Cork needed him and he needed Cork. Nothing but death could ever cure him of this. 

Jim McKeon’s book Frank O’Connor: A Life is available to borrow from Cork City Libraries 

Jim McKeon has been involved in theatre all his life and has many film scripts, plays and books to his name. His best-known work is probably the biography of Frank O'Connor. He also toured Ireland and the US with his one-man-show on the writer's life. Jim is also an award-winning theatre director and poet.

[wheres-everyone-going-bingo]

4&25 :)

4: what are you looking forward to?

Seeing my boyfriend at school on a regular occasion honestly, cause I was out of school long before the pandemic, and I love him very much

25: Role Model

Honestly I have a few but the main ones are Misha Collins, because he’s a great, great man. Seán (Jacksepticeye) because of his amazing attitude and positivity, and Kurt Russell, because he is a beautiful man with fabulous hair.

[maaarine]

MBTI Typing Index: ENTP

Other types: INFP INFJ ENFP ENFJ INTP INTJ ENTP ENTJ ISTJ ISFJ ESTJ ESFJ ISTP ISFP ESTP ESFP

Douglas ADAMS

Ben AFFLECK

Riz AHMED

Judd APATOW

Dan ARIELY

Isaac ASIMOV

Alexandre ASTIER

Edouard BAER

Sam BANKMAN-FRIED

Sacha BARON COHEN

Matthew BELLAMY

Jeff BEZOS

Jack BLACK

Tyler BLEVINS

David BOWIE

André BRAHIC

Dan BROWN

Carrie BROWNSTEIN

Agnes CALLARD

Ricky CAMILLERI

James CAMERON

Peter CAPALDI

Steve CARELL

Dick CAVETT

Alain CHABAT

John CLEESE

Eoin COLFER

Jacob COLLIER

Mark CUBAN

Kieran CULKIN

Macaulay CULKIN

Whitney CUMMINGS

Leonardo DA VINCI

Neil DEGRASSE TYSON

Rob DELANEY

Peter DINKLAGE

Robert DOWNEY Jr.

David DUCHOVNY

Tina FEY

Richard FEYNMAN

Mark FISCHBACH

Bobby FISCHER

Martin FREEMAN

Milton FRIEDMAN

Zach GALIFIANAKIS

Scott GALLOWAY

Bill GATES

Simone GIERTZ

Terry GILLIAM

Ilana GLAZER

Jeff GOLDBLUM

Chilly GONZALES / Jason BECK

Hugh GRANT

Kathy GRIFFIN

Matt GROENING

James GUNN

Bill HADER

Chelsea HANDLER

Dan HARMON

Reid HOFFMAN

Josh HOMME

George HOTZ

Eddie IZZARD

Steve JOBS

Michio KAKU

Anna KENDRICK

Stephen KING

Felix KJELLBERG

Ezra KOENIG

John KRASINSKI

Lawrence K. KRAUSS

Ashton KUTCHER

Hugh LAURIE

Fran LEBOWITZ

Stan LEE

John LENNON

Rudy LEONET

Téa LEONI

Janna LEVIN

Ariel LEVY

PJ LIGUORI

Damon LINDELOF

Julia LOUIS-DREYFUS

Palmer LUCKEY

Jane LYNCH

Seth MACFARLANE

Katie MACK

Rachel MADDOW

Shane MADEJ

Michael MALICE

Winston MARSHALL

Gaten MATARAZZO

Trixie MATTEL

John MAYER

Seán MCLOUGHLIN

Adam MCKAY

Stephen MERCHANT

Yann MOIX

Bill MURRAY

Casey NEISTAT

Edward NORTON

Bill NYE

Conan O’BRIEN

Bob ODENKIRK

John OLIVER

Trey PARKER

Simon PEGG

Chelsea PERETTI

Matthew PERRY

Jordan PETERSON

Hasan PIKER

Sara QUIN

Tegan QUIN

Tom RIDGEWELL

Ryan REYNOLDS

Seth ROGEN

Philip ROTH

Bertrand RUSSELL

Adam SAVAGE

John SEARLE

Dax SHEPARD

Cole SPROUSE

Michael STEVENS

Jon STEWART

Quentin TARANTINO

Michelle THALLER

Louis THEROUX

Emma THOMPSON

Lily TOMLIN

Alan TUDYK

Tim URBAN

Jeff VANDERMEER

Kurt VONNEGUT

Taika WAITITI

Christoph WALTZ

Anthony WEINER

Andy WEIR

Mike WINKELMANN / Beeple

Steve WOZNIAK

Edgar WRIGHT

Andrew YANG

Frank ZAPPA

Other types: INFP INFJ ENFP ENFJ INTP INTJ ENTP ENTJ ISTJ ISFJ ESTJ ESFJ ISTP ISFP ESTP ESFP

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

Jack's birthday is today and I had a small little idea pop into my skull. How bout a story where the reader gets Jack a puppy that looks really similar to Gizmo (RIP that pupper) for his birthday, I just think it'd be real wholesome since Jack adored Gizmo when she was alive. ~Spooky

Opening the door, you smiled as you held the excited little puppy in your arms, trying not to giggle as she licked your face.

"Shhh, c'mon girl," you cooed softly. "Don't get too excited yet."

She was anyway, considering you told her that her new owner is just as energetic and hyper as she is. So you didn't waste any further time and headed to the recording room, where you heard Jack finishing his outro.

After a few moments, you knocked on the door while carefully balancing the puppy in your arm. "Hey birthday boy~ I got you something."

"Oh! Man you guys have spoiled me too much." Jack opened the door, wearing a striped shirt and his beloved flamingo shorts, but when he saw the jack russell terrier puppy in your arms, his jaw dropped.

Your smile grew as you carefully handed her over to him. "Her name is Gizmo. I know...she could never replace the sweet angel you grew up with. I promise I'm not trying to-"

"I-I love her.."

Blinking, you saw Jack's eyes already watering up and growing red as he gazed down at the puppy. Gizmo licked his scruff, causing him to laugh gently. He kissed the top of her head. "God she reminds me so much of her...for all we know she could've just reincarnated into a little pup again!"

You chuckled softly and nodded. "I'd like to think of that, too."

"Thank you so much," Jack sniffled, a tear sliding down his cheek as he looked up at you. 

"Of course, Seán." You patted his shoulder, feeling your heart warmed by his reaction. "Happy birthday."

[kilmainhamwoodgfc]

#KwoodGFC_Lotto Kilmainhamwood GFC weekly lotto draw took place in McKenna’s on Monday 23rd Dec 2019 at 9pm where the jackpot was €6,000

The Numbers Drawn : 02, 03, 11 & 16

No Jackpot winner.

5 Lucky Dip winners each received €20:- * Julie Shankey, Kilmainhamwood (Online) * Seán Dimbylow, Bailieborough (Online) * Paul Carolan, Foxglen * Ciara Bennett, Boggan * Catherine Sheridan, Tierworker

Christmas bottle of whiskey winners:- * BBC c/o Keogan’s * Aidan Bennett, Cormeen * Henry Corbally, Kilmainhamwood

Next draw for a MERRY-CHRISTMAS-AND-HAPPY-NEW-YEAR jackpot of €6,200 will take place in Cormeen on Monday 13th Jan 2020 at 9pm

Play our lotto online at http://bit.ly/kilmainhamwoodgfc and our lotto motto is #ItsThereToBeWon … why not use the “Buy For A Friend” option as an ideal stocking filler for that very special person.

1994 U21 & Intermediate final DVD’s for sale. €8 each or the two for €15. Contact me on 086 8030558.

The GAA National Club Draw has proved hugely successful over the last number of years. Tickets for the NCD 2020 and are available  https://member.clubforce.com/tickets_m.asp?LL_ID=299  All money raised are retained by the club. Individual who buy tickets get the chance to win one of an amazing set of prizes ranging from cars to holidays to match tickets which are funded by the GAA.

2020 club membership is available online at https://member.clubforce.com/memberships_cart_m.asp?LL_ID=299&intMF_ID=5790#Anchor

Kilmainhamwood GFC would like to wish all our members, players, supporters, families and friends a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

regards Shane Russell & the lotto committee

[stairnaheireann]

#OTD in 1939 – IRA Army Council declare war on England and the Sabotage Campaign (S-Plan) begins a day later.

#OTD in 1939 – IRA Army Council declare war on England and the Sabotage Campaign (S-Plan) begins a day later.

On 12 January 1939, the Army Council sent an ultimatum, signed by Patrick Fleming, to British Foreign Secretary Lord Halifax. The communiqué duly informed the British government of “The Government of the Irish Republic’s” intention to go to “war”. Excerpt from the ultimatum: I have the honour to inform you that the Government of the Irish Republic, having as its first duty towards its people the…

[shemakesmusic-uk]

Getting to Know...

Alana Henderson.

Weaving pop, folk and electronic elements to craft a sound which is strikingly unique, Alana Henderson's Museum EP is “based on relationships in their various stages of evolution. You have the falling in love, falling apart and looking back, and each song is a different part of that." 2019 sees Alana with her trademark cello now bolstered with shimmering electronics and ghostly slide guitar, influenced by the likes of Arthur Russell and June Tabor, whilst receiving worthy comparisons to Joanna Newsom and Laura Marling.

Alana Henderson made her debut in 2014 with Wax & Wane, an organic, slow-burn success which has amassed 9 million streams to date on Spotify alone. Lyrics that flirt with levity but lean towards the confessional, innovative cello playing, delicate production and a sense of intimacy. A two-year stint moonlighting as Hozier's touring cellist saw Alana travelling the World paying her musical dues but homecoming brought about a self-imposed hiatus and drawing-of-breath, punctuated by one haunting single release, ‘Let This Remain' (2017) which is also included in her Musuem EP.

We had a chat with Alana all about Museum and what she has planned for the rest of the year. Read the Q&A below.

What led you to make music? Who and/or what are your influences?

"I was very fortunate be brought up immersed in Irish Traditional music - my whole family plays - and I sang traditional Seán-nós (old style) and played traditional wooden flute and tin whistle from about aged 7. When I was 18 I heard Arthur Russell for the first time. I couldn’t believe the sounds he was making with a cello. It led me to trying to use the cello as an accompaniment instrument to singing. That and hearing Rushad Eggleston play cello for Crooked Still - a bluegrass band - as a teenager and subsequently having some lessons with him. I realised that I had all the components I just needed to find a way to piece them together. I’ve always loved language and songwriting is something I would probably do for my own pleasure even if no one ever listened!"

You've just released your new EP Museum. What was your inspiration for the record?

"Yes, ‘Museum’ came out on October 18. The songs on the Museum EP are sort of vignettes of various pivotal moments in a relationship; ‘Museum’ itself is about finding closure and watching a past love move on, ‘Anyone’ is the nervous energy and infatuation of meeting someone new, ‘Let This Remain’ is trying to forge real connection with someone, beyond the merely physical, and ‘On Board’ is about the instinct to be guarded for self preservation and ultimately dropping your guard enough to let new love in.

What do you hope listeners take away from Museum?

"On ‘Museum’ I sing about ‘curating a museum of thought’. I suppose by that I mean that you can choose how to hold the memories of your past. It’s quite an empowering realisation that you don’t have to torture yourself with where previous relationships went wrong and you could instead just respect what it taught you and visit the memory once in a while.

"I hope that anyone who listens can find some sentiment in the songs that resonates with their current situation and maybe get some comfort from that."

What was your songwriting process for the EP?

"The songs on this EP were all written quite quickly and naturally. I didn’t really sit down and try to write. It is an unashamedly personal record. I think I just wrote it as a way of unpicking how I was feeling.

"‘Anyone’ was the track that took the most time from its inception to completion. I shied away from recording it initially because it’s much more upbeat than anything else I had written. I wasn’t comfortable with it at first but when we started to record I actually enjoyed embracing the playfulness of the lyrics and allowing myself to be a few shades poppier with the production."

Finally, what does the remainder of 2019 hold for Alana Henderson?

"I have just released a music video for ‘Anyone’ that I made with my good friend and director Seán T O’Meallaigh. It was another lesson in embracing the lightheartedness of that song and allowing myself to ‘play’ a bit! So you can watch that now!

"I’ll be playing a few local shows in my home city of Belfast including one at The Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University on 11th December. Otherwise I’m currently scoring a film and working on new music."

Photo credit: Christopher Barr

[hallsp]

Dalkey and Environs

If you follow the swerve of shore south of Dublin city, you eventually wind up in Dalkey village, a small heritage town known largely for its three small castles and pretty main street, but also for its artisan shops, independent cafés, and popular pubs.

A sleepy suburb, the area is occasionally referred to as “the Beverley Hills of Dublin,” because of the number of celebrities living in the area — Bono! — Van Morrison! — or as “Ireland’s Bay of Naples,” because of the spectacular views, particularly from the top of nearby Killiney Hill. The village itself isn’t far from the border with Wicklow, a county known as “the Garden of Ireland.”

The town is heavily associated with writers. George Bernard Shaw was born in Torca Cottage; James Joyce taught in Clifton School, on Dalkey Avenue, and stayed in the nearby Martello Tower in Sandycove; Brendan Behan learned to mix explosives (chlorate of potash with paraffin wax and gelignite) in an IRA safe-house up the hill, now Fitzpatrick Castle. (In the 1950s, ownership of the Castle went to Seán Russell, then-IRA Chief-of-Staff. This is the same Seán Russell who died aboard a Nazi U-Boat in 1940.)

Hugh Leonard, known locally as Jack, was born in Dalkey; as was Maeve Binchy. The local pubs were once a playground for Samuel Beckett, and Flann O’Brien, who published The Dalkey Archive in 1964 — the story of a quirky scientist by the name of de Selby. Howard Marks, the famous drug-dealer (and author) hid out here in the 1970s, with crazy Jim McCann – another IRA connection. Salman Rushdie spent part of his decade in hiding, from the long reach of the Ayatollah Khomeini, living with Bono. Robert Fisk, the most eminent journalist of the Middle East, has had a home in the area for a number of years.

In fact, the history of writing in the village goes way back. In the late 18th century, a bunch of young wits and poets came together to take the absolute piss out of everything they could set their sights upon. They crowned a man named Stephen Armitage, who styled himself King of Dalkey, Emperor of the Muglins, Prince of the Holy Island of Magee, Baron of Bulloch, Seigneur of Sandycove, Defender of the Faith and Respector of All Others, Elector of Lambay and Ireland’s Eye, and Sovereign of the Most Illustrious Order of the Lobster and Periwinkle.

Thomas Moore, “the Bard of Ireland,” and author of the Minstrel Boy, among much else, was a willing subject of this petty kingdom. Moore’s friend, the poet Henrietta Battier, wrote a number of odes, including the line: “Hail, happy Dalkey! queen of isles, Where justice reigns in freedom’s smiles.” Then came the ’98 Rebellion. The Government moved to quell any expression of dissent. Thankfully, the tradition has been restored in our time: the sacristan of the local church, Fionn Gilmartin, currently occupies this exalted throne.

So august a reputation has Dalkey for all things literary, the inaugural Dalkey Book Festival was organised by the economist David McWilliams in 2010, and has since attracted hundreds of writers, including Seamus Heaney, John Banville, and Amos Oz. I saw Salman Rushdie speaking in St. Patrick’s Church in 2014.

The pubs and restaurants are also second-to-none. Finnegan’s is the best-known: great for a pint of Guinness. Try King’s Inn for the banter, the Magpie for craft beer, DeVille’s for steak, Queen’s for the beer garden, Benitos for the service, McDonagh’s for live music and pool, and the Vico for shots before hitting town against your better judgement. Further up the hill you have the aforementioned Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, and the Druid’s Chair, a gem of a little spot.

Close to Dalkey, along the coast back towards Dublin, you’ll find Dun Laoghaire. It’s got three sailing clubs, two piers, and one impressive library. You can walk along the promenade, the piers, or go for a swim on Sandycove beach, or in the 40 Foot bathing-place. Make sure you get yourself a 99 from Teddy’s, the ice-cream is famous all over Ireland. There’s also one or two decent pubs, particularly the Whiskey Fair and Gilbert & Wright’s. Like it or loath it, Wetherspoons have taken over the 40 Foot pub, which means cheap booze.

The Martello Tower, now the James Joyce Museum, was once rented by the writer (and doctor) Oliver St. John Gogarty. Joyce, having stayed with his friend for six nights in 1904, eventually used the experience in the opening pages of his masterpiece, Ulysses.

Dun Laoghaire was once known as Kingstown, so-named in 1821 after the visit of boozy King George IV, the first reigning monarch to visit Ireland since the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. In Howth, just north of Dublin, the king disembarked from his yacht on his birthday, already “in high spirits,” meaning inebriated, and you can still see his tiny footprints, preserved for all eternity. He departed from Dun Laoghaire eighteen days later. In fact, a nearby memorial marks this auspicious stop-over. William Mackepeace Thackeray, the famous English novelist, described it as a “hideous obelisk, stuck upon four fat balls.” That’s a fairly good description.

The best way to get to Dalkey and Dun Laoghaire is to use the DART (Dublin Area Rapid Transit), though there’s nothing “rapid” about it. Actually, the train journey from Dublin to Dun Laoghaire is the oldest in Ireland, built in 1834. It was used by Thackeray in 1842, Carlysle in 1849, and Dickens in 1867. In 1882, having arrived by boat into Dun Laoghaire, Lord Cavendish, the newly-appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, took this train into the city on his first day on the job, only to be murdered that evening in the Phoenix Park. The park is somewhat safer these days.

The train was slowly extended around the rest of the coast over the coming years. There are stunning views of the sea between Dalkey and Greystones, where the track tunnels through solid rock and clings to precarious sea cliffs. It was designed by famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

[xtruss]

Canada Election 2021: Full Results

Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau will stay in power but has not won the majority he hoped for after calling a snap election

— Seán Clarke | Tuesday 21 September 2021 | Guardian USA

Trudeau, leader of the Liberal party, gambled on a snap election hoping to capitalise on his government’s performance during the pandemic. In the event, results from Elections Canada suggest voters were not sufficiently impressed to give Trudeau a majority. But nor, it seems, did they punish the Liberals for calling an early election.

Preliminary results with 98% of votes counted showed that Trudeau’s Liberals were leading in 158 seats, short of the 170 needed for a majority, and one more than they had going into the campaign.

Left: Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau speaks to supporters during a campaign stop on September 19, in Maple, Canada.

Right: Conservative Party leader Erin O'Toole delivers a speech during a campaign stop on September 14 in Russell, Ontario.

The 2021 Canadian federal election (formally the 44th Canadian general election) took place on September 20, 2021, to elect members of the House of Commons to the 44th Canadian Parliament. The writs of election were issued by Governor General Mary May Simon on August 15, 2021, when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau requested the dissolution of parliament for a snap election.

Trudeau's Liberals won the most seats with 158, despite losing the popular vote and receiving the lowest percentage of the national popular vote of any winning party in Canadian history. This falls short of the 170 seats needed for a majority in the House of Commons. The Liberals are expected to form a minority government with support from other parties. The Conservatives, led by Erin O'Toole, maintained 119seats and remained the Official Opposition. The Bloc Québécois, led by Yves-François Blanchet, won 34 seats. The New Democratic Party, led by Jagmeet Singh, won 25 seats. The Green Party maintained 2 seats; party leader Annamie Paul was defeated for the second time in her riding of Toronto Centre where she placed fourth.

[presidentromana]

“Narvin's very vocal fan following and Seán Carlsen being incredibly enthusiastic about all things Big Finish, were the start of Erasure. I'd been looking for a few Short Trips ideas that would flirt with other Big Finish Doctor Who ranges and characters, and at the time Seán Carlsen had come into the office to record a podcast with Nick Briggs. He got very excited about doing a Short Trip, and suggested I spoke to the current Gallifrey production team about what they could do with the character.

“Scott Handcock recommended that I approach Gary Russell, and before I knew it Gary and I were swapping notes about the Fourth Doctor and Adric’s return to normal space, and how perhaps their paths would cross with a young Narvin. Indeed, having Narvin as he's starting out has been a fascinating angle on this character, which Seán has really embraced, and which the Short Trips are all about.” (x)

Goal achieved guys maybe if we keep it up we’ll get a CIA spin off 

[lum1natrix]

Seán's Egos: Harry Potter houses/patronuses

Schneep: Ravenclaw/Wolf Anti: Slytherin/ null* Marvin: Gryffindor/Tiger Chase: Hufflepuff/Jack Russell Robbie: He’s dead. He’d probs live in the Forbidden Forest Jackieboy-Man: Gryffindor/Otter

*Sadly, because a patronus can only be conjured using happy and pure memories, Anti would be unable to conjure one because I’m 99% sure his ‘happy memories’ are all evil

bless you for this