Dan, if you're going to advertise your love on Facebook...

It's a bit of a Valentine's FAIL really. On a number of levels.

Dan's bought the girlfriend a website for Valentine's Day, to profess his love. He bought her actual name as the domain, which is nice. On said website he has put lovely heart images. Which is always nice. And obviously he's paid for the hosting and the domain of said website. Which is also very nice.

And then he obviously, having gone to this trouble, decided to compose a searing, passionate, romantic ode to this wonderful girlfriend of his, so worthy of such effort, so important in his life and so-going-to-be-impressed at all the work he's put in. Does he quote the words of her favourite poet? No. Does he quote the lyrics of her favourite song? No. Nothing so predictable.

How about a heartfelt and honest piece on why he loves her, what she means to him and how he truly feels, where the lack of professional veneer is eclipsed by the raw emotion and effort he obviously put into the composition of it? Well...



It's not exactly Dylan, is it? Before we judge though, we must accept that maybe this is good for Dan. Maybe he's 11 and she's 11 and she's always wanted a website of her own and she'll be ever so impressed especially when he explains how he's actually advertising on Facebook, how loads of people have clicked on his message already and how, in the advertisement, he somehow managed...



... to spell the girl's surname wrong.

Orla Fitzgerlad/Fitzgerald - if you're out there, let us know what you think of your new website, please? Oh and happy Valentine's Day. And enjoy Sunday, whatever that is!

Lvoe is in the air...

(Is it bad that I posted this before I checked the WhoIs to find out who owns it?)

Is this the best designed website in Kilkenny?

Advertising Kilkenny's own Jack Street, so called cos he's gots the word on it. The street that is. The one in Kilkenny. The one right beside Jack Street's laneway where, according to ever-reliable source Hamish Lane, Jack Street was caught kissing ten men. Apparently.

Jack's new, official and highly professional may not be officially a Ken McGuire designed site, but it certainly looks like he may have had an influence. Not on the TV ad below though.

Just look what Twitter member and all round good guy Lee Kelly had to say about Jack's new website:



Are you looking for confidential information? Any information? Cos Jack can get you that. How about legal over-the-counter hallucinogens? He can get you those. Industrial sabotage? Yep, sure!



Visit http://www.jackstreethaspanache.com to find out more - don't forget to have your speakers on - Shaft fans will love it.

You can read Jack's blog and all about his enemies, the nasty bastid Vultures Private Investigators that Byrne is pimping out, cheap sell-out that he is.

Jack Street has panache. Sure what more could anyone in Kilkenny need?

Good Monday morning

How are you?

(That's literally it for the moment, but I'll be back soon. I do want to know how you are though!)

Here, did you know that oul' Paddy could speak Chinese?

It's my favourite ever Irish short film and it's now on You Tube. Daniel O' Hara's Yu Ming is Ainm Dom



I'm in a video frame of mind today.

I'm sorry, but Ireland is gay

There'll be quotes aplenty from that not-entirely-safe-for-work video! "I'm sorry, but Ireland is gay" - so begins the ad for GCN's 21st birthday in Tripod - tickets €10, going fast - on February 19. I found this over on Climaxxx, Chewy Chewerson's newly revived blog. Go on over and say hello.

Sam Shepard's Ages of the Moon coming to the Abbey Theatre

David from Dublin's Abbey Theatre was in touch to let me know about the new Sam Shepard play, Ages of the Moon which has its world premiere in March.

Written especially for leads Seán McGinley and Oscar-nominated Stephen Rea, this is:

"a gruffly poignant and darkly funny play. Byron and Ames are old friends, re-united by mutual desperation. Over whiskey on a hot summer’s night, they sit, reflect and bicker until fifty years of love, friendship and rivalry are put to the test at the barrel of a gun."

Sam Shepard is a Pulizer prize-winning US writer, director and actor. His 2007 play, Kicking A Dead Horse premiered in the Abbey. It was written by Shepard for Stephen Rea, and then went on to tour to New York and London. Ages of the Moon follows the Abbey's other sell-out productions of Shepard's Fool for Love (2008) and True West (2006)

Fiach Mac Congail, Jimmy Fay, Sean McGinley and Stephen Rea were interviewed in a short video about the play:



The play opens Tuesday 3 March, with previews February 24 to 28 and March 2 and it runs to April 4. Booking is now open on Dublin 01 87 87 222 or via AbbeyTheatre.ie

The actual, official, just released Get On Your Boots video from U2.

EDIT: I tried and failed to use the embed code from the video, so whatever groovy video software Independent.ie are using, it doesn't seem to want to embed itself here.

http://www.independent.ie/u2

There's the link to the finished product. Enjoy!

Very special concerts tonight and tomorrow night in Vicar Street for children in Gaza

I'm delighted that things have worked out to allow me go to the Tuesday's Child Gigs for Children In Gaza in Vicar Street tonight.


Link to PDF version here

From the press release:

Some of the biggest names in Irish music are teaming up with the Irish-based children’s charity Tuesday’s Child to aid suffering children in Gaza.

Lisa Hanningan, Neil Hannon, Mary Black, Liam O’Maonlaí, Eleanor McEvoy, Paul Brady, Kila, One Day International, Frances Black, Mundy and friends will perform over two fabulous nights of music in Vicar St.

The musicians, who are donating their time and talents for free, will be singing their hearts out on behalf of children whose voices have been drowned out and tragically silenced by this most violent of wars.

Orla Sheehan is the lovely lady from Tuesday's Child who is arranging all of this with Sorcha and the team from Aiken Promotions. Though based on the North Parade in Belfast, Orla is currently preparing for the concert tonight. Recently back from Gaza herself, she said

“We are devastated by the recent conflict in the Middle East and the slaughter of so many innocent children and young people. I have never witnessed a violation of human rights like Gaza. The injustices these forgotten children face are cruel beyond words.

Their little lives were already so fragile and hanging on by a thread. They were suffering dreadfully, even before this invasion.

Since 27th December, some of the children we were feeding have been killed; others have died slowly of starvation and dehydration. Hundreds of others are seriously injured, many are orphaned and have lost siblings and thousands have been left homeless. Some we cannot locate.

No child in this conflict will be left unscarred. The greatest tragedy of all is that this war has the potential to make the world an unsafe place for many more children around the world.”

There's a fantastic auction happening too with some great prizes - a signed fender guitar and tickets for their O2 concerts from Snow Patrol; a limited edition - one of 35 to be exact - Thin Lizzy Tour Jacket, from the 1978 Alive and Dangerous Tour as well as donations from The Chieftans, Cat Stevens, the Beach Boys, award winning poet Paul Muldoon, Irish Gold Olympians Ronnie Delaney and Kenny Egan and Michelin chef Richard Corrigan.

Tikcets are €25 each and almost sold out for tonight. All proceeds will go towards the Tuesday’s Child emergency relief fund for food, water, milk, medicines, mattresses and blankets.

You can find out more on the Tuesday's Child website or over on AikenPromotions.com.