Goblin's Way: The Art of JB Monge

A while back I stumbled onto the Goblin's Way and was instantly smitten, enchanted, & bewitched with the characters brought to life by the skillful, imaginative, & completely unique hand of Jean-Baptiste Monge, an illustrator, character designer, & visual development artist. He has a real affinity for faeries of the Celtic lands. Here is a sampling or his Irish characters in honor of this most Irish of Months but you must hop over to www.jbmonge.com sometime and explore the enchanting world of Goblin's Way and all of its inhabitants or browse his creations in the Goblin's Way Etsy Shop.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Detailed shamrock carving at Jerpoint Abbey, Ireland

Ireland in a fog

Stairs leading to monastic ruins on Skellig Michael, Ireland

Giveaway winners are: bridgethat19, ichabod2003, and crbfilipiak. Please email me at emeraldpostoffice@gmail.com

Saint Patrick

Below is a useful graphic (click link to see larger version) I ran across for those of us less informed about Ireland's Patron Saint, Patrick. Did you know...his real name was Maewyn ? He wasn't Irish at all !! Brush up on a little Saint Patrick history then head over to Tourism Ireland to test your knowledge with a QUIZ.

SOURCE

Traditional Music: The Heartbeat of Ireland

"Irish music has always been intensely pictorial, constantly throwing up images to the listener. Irish music is visual, it's tactile. You can feel it. You can smell it. It's all around you. Irish music is earthy. Irish music is of the people and of the land. It's full of life & emotion. It's exciting & moving. It lives & it breathes. To best understand that, you need to stand & watch it happen right in front of you."  -Water From the Well Liner Notes

The last post covered Dublin Pubs and got me looking back at the Musical Pub Tours that we've taken. I have, for quite some time, loved Traditional Irish music. Perhaps I can hear an ancestral rhythm within it or inklings or the bluegrass I've grown up around. One thing is for sure, it is lively, fun, passionate music. Here is but a sample from our pub tour (yes that second one is sung in Irish): 

Around home, I listen to a lot of The Chieftains, a staple in Irish trad or folk music Forming in 1962, they have a long history and a huge catalog of music. They've collaborated with many other musicians from different genres over the years as well.  A few of my favorite albums are "Water From the Well," "Boil the Breakfast Early" and "Chieftains 7." Recently, I've taken to listening to the Irish music stations on Pandora. They even have a St. Patrick's Day channel which combines some traditional Irish with harder pub rock and even some old sea shanties. Happy Listening!

Pubs of Dublin

Oliver St. John Gogarty's Bar, Temple Bar Area, Dublin

While there are certainly other things you must do while in Dublin (like see Saint Patrick's Cathedral, visit Kilmainham Gaol, walk the quays of the River Liffey, etc), stopping in a pub for a pint is great way to take part in Irish culture. My first introduction to pub culture was a lovely documentary I watched before ever setting foot in Ireland. PBS produced a wonderful piece called "The Historic Pubs of Dublin" hosted by the late, great Frank McCourt, a native Irishman. He takes you on a tour of some the oldest pubs in Dublin, imparting their rich history and exploring pub culture along the way. It is definitely worth a watch. You can watch the hour long video HERE on YouTube or at the bottom of this page.

M.J. O'Neill's on Suffolk Street Dublin 

Inside O'Neill's Pub - lots of little rooms & snugs

We have chased down many of these old ancient pubs, many of which were frequented by some of Ireland's cherished personalities such as James Joyce, Brenden Behan, & Jonathan Swift. You might strike up a conversation with a local, witness a close football (soccer) game on the telly, or be delighted with some traditional music.

The Long Hall Pub on Georges Street 

The Brazen Head, oldest pub in Dublin, established in 1198

Garden area of Brazen Head

Traditional Irish music will lure me straight into a pub and one of my favorite things to experience in Ireland. In Dublin, you can take part in a Musical Pub Tour which is a lovely way to visit some historic pubs while listening to great traditional music, learning about Irish music and pub culture from two guides who play for you at each place (this is not a raucous night of pint after pint, pub after pub).  I've taken THIS TOUR twice and loved every minute and learned so much. 

Our musician guides on the Musical Pub Tour

PBS Historic Pubs of Dublin with Frank McCourt:

The Temple Bar in the area known as Temple Bar - named after Sir William Temple and "Bar" used to refer to a raised estuary sandbank used for walking upon. Now, it seems to refer to a different kinds of bar. This particular pub, The Temple Bar, as well as this area, are considered to be very touristy and peopled by partiers. It's still a very interesting place worth visiting, even if you don't stay long. There are some very old and iconic pubs just up the street from here.

The Black Stuff

Occasionally you'll get a shamrock poured into the head of your Guinness (faintly seen about). I'm not entirely sure if this reserved for tourists or not. Makes a pretty picture though. 

Guinness is undoubtedly one of the most famous things to come out of Ireland. It is ubiquitous with Ireland, and also with Saint Patrick's Day, as many folks nowadays forgo the Saint's Feast Day to partake in heavy drinking. Despite its part in some misguided celebrations, Guinness is an Irish celebrity. It was created in 1759 by Arthur Guinness and has really been a steadfast part of Irish culture ever since.

Black and beautiful (and very photogenic), adorned by a creamy froth, this drink is lovingly referred to as the Black Stuff. As with any drink, especially alcoholic libations, it is not for everyone. On my first trip to Ireland, I could not finish a pint Guinness, but over the years it has won me over. It is now one of my most favorite beers, deceivingly light in calories yet complex in taste. If anything it has become nostalgic for me, whisking me away with each sip to the cobbled lanes and warm pubs of Ireland. And it's almost all I order when in Ireland (and it does taste even better there, truly). Most certainly, it will be part of my Saint Patrick's Day celebrations, accompanying a beef stew or seafood chowder and some brown bread. 

At the Guinness Storehouse

Guinness Storehouse

Just one of Guinness's fun adverts, Temple Bar, Dublin.

Letting a pint settle at Sean's Bar, the oldest Pub in Ireland (Arguably Europe - 900 AD). Iris

The Day Dublin Closed

http://thatcuriousloveofgreen.com/dublin-in-snow/

Ireland rarely gets snow, let alone the likes of a blizzard. But March came in like a lion in Ireland and gave them the biggest snow storm they'd had in decades. Below is a mesmerizing short video of quiet, empty Dublin as folks braced for the worst of it from Taller Stories .

An Irish Giveaway

Join the Emerald Post Herald E-mail Newsletter HERE to automatically be entered into this St. Patrick's Day Giveaway. Winners will be chosen randomly and announced Saturday March 17th. If you are a winner you'll also be contacted by email to provide a mailing address. Good Luck!

My Favorite Places

It would probably be impossible to pick my favorite place in Ireland, but picking my favorite places, that I can do. Let me share some places on the Emerald Isle that have won my heart. 

Dunluce Castle sits perched on the North coast of Antrim in Northern Ireland. I've been here twice and have a personal connection with this wild & dramatic castle ruin. You can read more about my experiences HERE.

Cahir Castle, in County Tipperary, is one of my favorite castles. It is the perfect combination of ruin & restoration. Situated on a river with gorgeous grounds, this castle takes my mind right to the Middle Ages. It has been restored in a manner that retains this ambience, without filling it up with antiques and décor that I generally find distracting.

Glendalough Monastic Ruins and Forest combine two or Ireland's best attributes -stunning scenery and incredible history. This place is pure magic. The forest glows under a blanket of moss, a waterfall cascades down the mountain side, pristine valley lake whisper of the history they have seen. And at the base of the mountain and through out the forest, the ruins of a century monastery beckon your exploration. I could return here time and time again. Learn more and see more photos of my journeys into Glendalough HERE.

Dublin, of course, with its cobbled lanes, cathedrals, pubs, and history. My favorite thing about Dublin is its walkability. We nearly always explore Dublin on foot for there is so much to marvel at and always something new. Its lack the intensity and overwhelming size and busy-ness of larger European cities without losing any charm. 

Tollymore Forest Park is one of the most lovely woodlands I've encountered in Ireland. Beautiful, whimsical, and kind of a hidden gem. Architectural follies dot the forest and evoke magic of another era. Explore with me HERE.

Secret Spring Garden

A recent creation for a local shop inspired by some of Ireland's rock walls. 

Irish Adornments

March has finally arrived! Get out your Saint Patrick's Day decor if you haven't already. Sure, there is all manner of green on green things for sale at party stores this time of year and those are a great place to start, but over the years I've added my own little touches to my March Irish decor. Below are some of my favorites:

The simplest decor involves picking some of those lovely spring flowers blooming outside. I like to use large Guinness bottles for vases or clear glass vases with a few drops of green food coloring added. I also use the boxes from a six pack of Guinness bottles or other Irish brew to hold napkins and silverware for a party.

Here I photocopied some pages from my atlas but one could easily print some Irish map off the web and add a little watercolor for any easy collage. 

If you are lucky, you might find some shamrock plants for sale this time of year. I always try to snatch them up if I find them. Pull out all your shades of green and assemble together for a nice arrangement. 

This time of year I also like to pull out all of my Irish books - many are green so they make a good additions to decor but I like friends and family to be able to thumb through them, too. 

Some green candles and artificial, or real, ivy are nice additions to any arrangement in your home. Add a little bit of that emerald green store bought decor and you'll have a really festive spread.