Eoin Butler: writer, journalist and Mayoman of the Year
Tripping Along The Ledge
Mayo
“TAKE MY HAND, LORD JESUS TAKE MY HAND…”
Religious beliefs and practices in Mayo are informed by ancient tradition, galvanized by history and shot through always with the strangest, and most profound, ambiguity. Nowhere is this better illustrated than on the stony slopes of Croagh Patrick…Read the rest of this article here.
AMERICA (1956)
This is a recording of Allen Ginsberg reading his poem America (from ‘Howl’), set to Tom Waits’ Closing Time instrumental, which is itself taken from the latter’s 1973 debut album. If that’s not confusing enough, the track is illustrated for this YouTube treatment with photographs of Jack Kerouac. I’ve no idea why. Read the rest of this entry »
IF MAYO’S PERFORMANCE ON SUNDAY WAS YOUR DINNER IT WOULD LOOK LIKE…
FAMILY FOREVER…?
Yeah, right. If he was my son, I’d give him to the tinkers… Tomorrow sees Mayo take on Meath in the last of the football quarter finals in Croke Park. The tickets are purchased, the jersey is washed and, in time honoured tradition, the expectations are set to “boundlessly optimistic”. Read the rest of this entry »
MISCELLANEOUS AMUSING ITEMS I’VE COME ACROSS #11
(i) I’m not sure my mother and I will ever truly understand each other. Read the rest of this entry »
TRIPPING ALONG THE LEDGE: AS SEEN ON TV
Tripping Along the Ledge has been A.W.O.L. for the past 24 hours, celebrating Mayo’s heartstopping, last minute victory over Galway in the Connacht football final. Forget Peader Gardiner, how the hell did Ollie score in that hat?
MISCELLANEOUS AMUSING ITEMS I’VE COME ACROSS #10
Roll over Oxegen – and tell Electric Picnic the news…
THE GREEN AND RED OF MAYO
My friends Samir and Dee are getting married today and I’m sure its going to be a wonderful occasion. But come 5pm, I know that my thoughts will turn to McHale Park in Castlebar and the person I’ll wish that I was there with.
FAITH ALIVE
Tom Cruise speaking about Study Technology
1. In his latest film role, Intergalactic Scientology overlord Tom Cruise plays a deranged megalomaniac… Oh, wait. [UPDATE: B’ah they’ve deleted it. For now at least, it’s also available to view here.]
2. Irish government takes a laudable stance against people saying things other people don’t like.
3. What happens when a hapless Polish exchange student is thrown together with a family of American Christian fundamentalists? Does hilarity ensue? Er, no.
4. Apparitions:Rest of the Country 0 Mayo 2.
4. Finally, are you rapture ready?
For God & St. Patrick
“Take my hand,” croons the singer on Mid West Radio. “Lord Jesus, take my hand.” Its 9am on the last Sunday in July, and the crowd outside Campbell’s pub, at the foot of Croagh Patrick, are basking in the early morning sunshine. They wear county jerseys, and clutch pints of Guinness and bottles of Bulmers. An old man plays the box accordion, while the jukebox inside blasts ‘Sean South from Garryowen’. Some appear weary from their morning’s exertions. But the mood is one of festive celebration. We’re at the bottom of a mountain, but at the very apex of a summer.