Hello Sheila, remember me?

Monday in Davy Byrnes was just one of those random nights. Unplanned, uncoordinated and deliciously fun. I learned important lessons - a smile and a glint in the eye goes a long way. Saying please and thank you always helps.

But above all I learned to never, ever leave my camera behind with Anthony, Darren or Niamh now they've been involved in this.





Sheila left her camera behind her in the pub, with all the great photos she’d taken of the night. All the people she'd been with. So we thought, what if we added, erm, everyone else? Tourists, locals, barstaff... everyone? Tee hee hee.







All photos can be seen on my pix.ie page. My sincere thanks to everyone in Davy Byrnes for their great sense of humour.
Sorry Sheila!



I would greatly appreciate that because this was done for fun and with the willingness of so many nice people, that these photos are not used to make fun of any of the participants. Please contact me regarding using the photos, and if you'd like any taken down, just let me know.

Celebrating Bloomsday: Guinness, oysters and sing-alongs

Image taken from here.

Yesterday was fun. It was the first time I'd celebrated Bloomsday in any way, and where better than Davy Byrnes off Grafton Street to do so?

It was bizarre seeing all the "locals" in the clothes, drinking pints and having a chat. Quite nice really, seeing people "make an effort". Joyce would be proud.

When I saw the special Bloomsday menu including oysters and brown bread, well what's a guy to do?



Well if you're me, you order the oysters, then borrow a hat and jacket from a random gentleman, a copy of Ulysses from the nice English man beside you and pose like this:



much to the amusement of the locals who want snaps:



and then you're faced with the prospect of the oysters. A dish that you have never tried before. Mmmm.



From my limited knowledge of them I know you're supposed to just let them slide down the throat, right? But, erm, how? Especially with Darren on one side (with camera) and Mary on the other (with camera) it adds that added pressure.

So grab a fork...



Hold loosened oyster like so:



Tip back head:



Get that first taste:



which looked like this from the front:



and realise you've got another five to go:





Still it was fun. In fairness the oysters were very tasty but I can see why Guinness and brown bread is recommended.

We met up with Anthony's family, all true Dubs, for whom celebrating Bloomsday is an annual tradition and listened to them participate in a traditional Dublin sing-along - you know, with traditional local songs like, erm, Edelweiss, Fields of Athenry, Pack up your troubles and song of Dublin songs That's Amoré. Sung in that inimitable "Dubalin" drunken style:

When de moooan hits yer eyes like a big piece a pie, dat's a more ay

When your heart dum de dum like a dum dum de dum, daat's a more ay

When you waaaaalk down de streeeat and you know yer not dreeeeeeemin seeynore

Scuse me, but you see, back in auld Napoli, dat's a more ayyyyyy

The night went on. It was fun. There was more fun to be had.

Have to say, as big a ponce as I look in the rigout - I love the expression of the guy next to me in this photo:



Hope anyone else out there celebrating enjoyed it. But if you have any tips on the oysters for next year, can you let me know please?