Yesterday I made my first appearance on radio, live from the gloomy majesty of old Saint Patrick’s Cathedral here in Dublin. It was both a great privilege and, quite frankly, absolutely terrifying. Hang on, does one even “appear” on radio? Oh well, anyway. I was in Saint Patrick’s as the guest contributor to the lovely DublinCity FM radio… Read More Dublin Decoded on the radio… how will we sound? (Gulp)
Another in the current orgy, of seaside-related posts. I can not help it. It is summer after all. And it was A Spectacular day today, blazing with sunshine. Very un-Irish, although we appreciate it more than anyone else in the world, and the town and country alike always look their beautiful best. Yes, sunshine. Was… Read More East is East, and West is West, Dun Laoghaire’s magic piers. Part 1.
When my students ask for recommendations, for weekend activities, I often remind them that Dublin is on a bay, and encourage them to take advantage of that fact, every weekend or evening when the weather is good enough. The South Bull Wall, above. North (Bull) Wall; above. With Bull Island alongside. West Pier, Dun Laoghaire. above. Howth: (above)… Read More Coastal Walks: Dublin on its bay.
It has been the maddest few weeks of work for a very long time… For many years now I have run cultural programs for schools and colleges, or led one-off tours for schools and language schools, of history or art history, around the city of Dublin. Sometimes I take them to the National Museum, or… Read More Exciting times… and a new start.
Just scarcely over 5 years ago, this May, my great friends Lindsey & Ed got married in excellent Gunthorpe, this rather splendid old English country house below. The whole thing set in its own estate, amid the countryside of lovely rural Norfolk, and the whole glorious ensemble includes terraced gardens with fountains, a walled herb… Read More Gunthorpe Revisited.
Another, final post from wonderful Languedoc. So many wondrous things to see and do; walking or boating the gorgeous Canal de Midi… …to exploring superb architecture… and extraordinary ecclesiastical art…. …to hillwalking the landscapes of mountain and dramatic, steep sided river valleys. But what makes Languedoc unique, and gives the area its extraordinary atmosphere of mystery and… Read More Cathars | Cathartic.
Just back from a 9-10 day break, mostly spent in extraordinary, dazzling, dramatic Languedoc. Languedoc, means (Land of) the tongue or Language of Oc -Occitan being the ancient language of the area. It is a region that has long exercised the medieval-obsessive imagination of your correspondent, your writer-blogger-chappie. As a land of huge Cathar… Read More Languedoc & Albi, a hilltop treasure & a mighty Cathedral, all built on woad.
Arran Q Henderson 