The opening event in this year’s Ranelagh Arts Festival will be an evening celebrating the greatly loved and admired journalist Mary Holland. The format of the evening will be an informal discussion among five or six people who knew Mary well, either personally or professionally. Among the guests will be Evelyn Conlon, Eamonn McCann and Danny Morrisson. Andy Pollack will be in the chair and music will be provided by Fintan Valelly.

Mary Holland was an outstanding journalist who covered ‘The Troubles’ in Northern Ireland over three decades, writing for The Irish Times and the Observer, among other publications. Her work was distinguished by its integrity and humanity, and as a result, she had access to and respect from all parties in the conflict. She will also be remembered for her contributions to civil rights and the trade union movement.

The play Under Milk Wood was first broadcast by the BBC on 25 January 1954, three months after its author, Dylan Thomas, died, at the age of 39. Reporter, columnist, scriptwriter, actor, poet and drinker, Thomas spent his last year trying to produce the definitive version of his portrait of a small seaside town in Wales – a work that had begun some ten years earlier in a piece for the BBC called Quite Early One Morning. He worked and re-worked it over the years as The Town was Mad; The Village of the Mad; Llaregubbub, a Piece for Radio Perhaps – all the time getting closer to the final version. Then, in April 1953, he visited New York and in May took part in a public reading with five other actors of the play now called Un der Mil k Woo d by Dylan Thomas A reading by citizens of Ranelagh LITERARY Under Milk Wood: A Play for Voices. The audience of the Young Men’s Hebrew Association were initially stunned and finally rapturous. By great good fortune, this performance was recorded by the theatre and later released. Dylan Thomas returned home in June 1953 under pressure from the BBC to complete the work. He supplied the present version of Under Milk Wood, or one very like it, in October before returning to New York, where, after a reading in the City College of New York, he collapsed in the bar of the Chelsea Hotel. He died on 9 November 1953. This performance by 54 readers is our salute to this great and troubled poet, 54 years later, and is facilitated by Brendan Ellis.

Macdara Woods and Elaine Ní Chuilleanain host this year’s Speakeasy in a quiet and comfortable new venue – upstairs in Starbucks on Ranelagh Triangle. All are welcome to attend, especially if they read or recite their own poems or those of a favourite poet. Macdara and Elaine will, of course, be reading from their own works.

David Scott’s book, The Art and Aesthetics of Boxing (2008), is the first to relate boxing to the visual arts, focusing on the 20th century when the emergence of boxing in its modern form coincided with much interest in the sport by artists. A slide presentation will show the way the book brings out the aesthetic potential of boxing. It will show, in particular, the way modern painters, sculptors and installation artists have used boxing to clarify the dynamics at work, both in sport and modern art. A middle-weight amateur boxer and boxing coach, David Scott has had fights in the last few years in Dublin and New York. A professor of French at Trinity College, Dublin, he has also written books on art, literature and travel.

This must be the first time that an arts festival event anywhere in Ireland takes place in a bookmakers and it is fitting that it should occur in racing-mad Ranelagh.

Francis Hyland, uniquely, is both a bookmaker and a distinguished author. One of the greatest historians of the turf in Ireland, his most recent book, History of the Galway Races, is a must-read for anyone who enjoys racing or is interested in the social history of Ireland.

Anthony Cronin (left), who was celebrated at the festival last year, will also participate and speak on a subject that is close to his heart.

In addition, Ranelaghborn actor and director Brendan Ellis will bring to life some memorable horse-racing scenes from Irish literature.

Deeply embedded in the community, the Ranelagh Players are one of the leading cultural organisations in the area. Their last season was highlighted by a wonderful performance of Sive, which packed the hall in Scoil Bhríde. They will conduct a minitour of Ranelagh during the festival and perform in three venues, with their stories of the Irish in the Great War.

This concert celebrates the foundation of Scoil Éanna in Ranelagh by Patrick Pearse, 100 years ago. The event will celebrate the happiest period in Pearse’s life, when he was a headmaster in Ranelagh, and concentrates on some of the traditional songs that inspired Irish writers, poets, singers, musicians and revolutionary politicians. Lá Éigin brings together one of our great singers, Liam Ó Maonlaí, with an ensemble of local musicians led by harpist Áine Ní Dhubhghaill and including Naoise Ó Briain (flute), Lonán Ó Briain (trumpet), Caoimhin Ó Briain (cello) and Ciarán Tourish (fiddle).

The concert will be a reflflection of Pearse’s time in Ranelagh – his recalling of the culture in his people, his vision for education and his love of country. It will also reflflect the work of Sean Ó Riada.

Liam Ó Maonlaí grew up in Clonskeagh and is well known as a rock ‘n roll musician on the world stage. His music never strays far from the tradition he inherited from the piano playing of his mother’s Galway family and the love of ancestral culture, language, music and lore transmitted to him by his Cork father. Ceoltoiri Chualainn and Ó Riada were the musical backdrop to many enchanted summers in the Kerry Gaeltacht where, according to Ó Maonlaí, ‘the language remains intact and with it a consciousness and a sense of being that is deeply connected with the land’.

This merging of language, land and music inspired him to seek out similar themes in his travels and exploration of world music. He is an adopted son of the Aboriginal people of Australia. He recently returned from Mali, where he was central to the making of Dambe: The Mali Project, a film revealing the inspiring nature of the people and culture of Mali. This film is being screened at the festival and will be introduced by Liam himself (see Cinema, p. 24, for details).

He has just finished a new body of work, featuring songs in English, Irish and a very old Aboriginal song, recorded in the Czech Republic, with the cooperation of Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova.

Tá sé céad bliain go díreach ó bhunaigh Pádraig Mac Piarais Scoil Éanna i Raghnallach. Ta ríméad ar lucht Fhéile Raghnallach an ócáid a chomóradh le ceolchoirm iontach dar teideal Lá Éigin. Beidh an t-amhránaí cáiliuil Liam Ó Maonlaí ann, maraon le ceoltóirí eile de chuid an cheantair – Áine Ní Dhubhghaill ar an chláirseach, Naoise Ó Briain (fliúit), Lonán Ó Briain (trumpa), Caoimhín Ó Briain (dordveidhil) agus Ciarán Tourish (veidhlín).

Is é a gcuspóir an tréimhse a chaith an Piarsach mar phríomhoide scoile i Raghnallach (agus i Ráth Fearnáin ní b’fhaide anonn) a thabhairt chun cuimhne – an tréimhse ab aoibhne, b’fhéidir, ina shaol gearr. Cuirfear béim faoi leith ar na hamhráin agus na foinn traidisiúnta ar bhain scríbhneoirí, ceoltóirí, agus go deimhin réabhlóidithe na hÉireann meanma agus inspioráid astu riamh. Déanfar grá an Phiarsaigh da thír agus a cultúr a cheiliúradh, chomh maith lena dhearcadh réabhlóideach ar chúrsaí oideachais. Deir Liam Ó Maonlaí: ‘An chaoi féin a mbailímid lena chéile le ceol a chasadh i láthair an phobail, is teist í sin orthu siúd a chuaigh romhainn. Chaith siad a ndúthracht le saibhreas cultúrtha a chaomhnú agus a chothú in Éirinn. Mar chúiteamh ar a ndearna siad, ní mór dúinn ar ndícheall a dhéanamh muid féin a chur in iúl trí mhéan an cheoil mar a thagann chugainn, cibé múnla nó stíl a mbainimid úsáid astu.’

Since their debut album ‘Almond Tea’ (1999), Pugwash – aka songwriter Thomas Walsh and friends – have been a favourite of Irish and British critics. The ‘Almanac’ album followed in 2002, before Pugwash released their biggest success, ‘Jollity’, on the new label 1969 Records. Their brilliant 2008 release ‘Eleven Modern Antiquities’ features Andy Partridge and Dave Gregory of XTC, as well as local Ranelagh resident, Neil Hannon of The Divine Comedy.

The Cullenswood Singers, formed in 1997 by musician Liobhan Boylan, are based in Ranelagh. Their repertoire includes classical, modern and sacred choral music. Their annual Christmas Carol Concert in Beechwood Church, Ranelagh, draws a large and loyal audience, as does their appearance each year at the Ranelagh Arts Festival.

This concert encompasses both ancient and modern music. Despite its title, Palestrina’s Missa Brevis is a substantial work. Although Palestrina wrote more than 90 masses, the Missa Brevis is one of the most frequently performed, both in concert and at worship.

The Armed Man – A Mass for Peace was composed by Karl Jenkins to commemorate the Millennium. It is a wonderfully rich work, both melodically and textually. The Kyrie is evocative of an earlier musical period and the composer acknowledges this in his notation for the Christe eleison as being ‘After Palestrina’. The Cullenswood Singers and regular accompanist Charles Pearson are excited about performing an abridged version of this masterpiece and believe that the composer, a Celt, would approve of their interpretation of his work.

The senior orchestra of the Leeson Park School of Music, under the direction of its Head of Music, Niall O’Brien, will also feature in the concert. The orchestra has performed in Italy, London and Ireland.

Once again, local teenage bands will compete on an open-air stage for top prizes in the Mark Cabena Battle of the Bands. Last year’s brilliant winners, Funky Thursday, will headline the show. This event is evidence of the fantastic musical talent of local teenagers. The Bistro Bianconi Award will be presented to the winning band.

The Battle of the Bands is named after Mark Cabena, who was a member of Immaculate Conception, the band that won the first Ranelagh Arts Festival Battle of the Bands in 2006. Mark, who was a brilliant young musician, died of Sudden Cardiac Death at the age of 18 during the summer of 2007.

Musicians worldwide recognise Ciarán Tourish as an unusually gifted fiddle player. He is a member of Altan, one of the top Irish traditional bands. Dermot McLaughlin is another great Donegal fiddle player. A musician and musicologist, his duties as CEO of Temple Bar Cultural Trust limit his opportunities to perform in public.

Nightshift will feature Sylwester Ochmnski on piano/keyboards; a founder member of Nightshift, Marcin Helak on percussion; and all the way from Buenos Aires, adding that Latin American flavour, Patricia Iglesias on bass.

The songs of Ranelagh resident and singer– songwriter Brian McGuire have a unique humorous, accessible and melodic musical form. His latest single, I’d give a Thousand Dollars (just to be a Millionaire), has been very successful. McGuire will feature on vocals and acoustic guitar, with John O’Brien on guitar and shotgun, and the Galway Girls on backing vocals.

John Faulkner worked with Dolores Keane as a duet co-performer and as musical director and arranger for her band. His song Lion in a Cage (1989) about Nelson Mandela topped the Irish charts. Described in the New York Times as ‘probably the best accordionist in Ireland’, Jackie Daly is the leading exponent of the Sliabh Luachra style of music.

This event will combine a mix of visual art and short films with the music of Orca and Chequerboard. The Ranelagh Arts Festival is breaking new ground by holding an event in the Sugar Club in Leeson Street. A special thanks is due to Ranelagh-man Oisin Davis, who has made us welcome in his great venue.

Orca features Anna Jordan on vocals and piano, and Keith Lindsay on glockenspiel, electronics and visuals.

Chequerboard is the ‘nomme de guerre’ of Irish musician and visual artist John Lambert. One of the most avant-garde artists on the Irish music scene, this live show is not to be missed.

John Faulkner has toured extensively worldwide. As well as being a solo performer, he worked for many years with Dolores Keane. In 1989, he wrote Lion in a Cage about Nelson Mandela and Dolores Keane topped the Irish charts with her recording of this song. Prior to Mandela’s release, the song was banned in South Africa, but thankfully was bootlegged and played extensively in the townships.

Jackie Daly is the leading exponent of the Sliabh Luachra style of music. Over the years, he has played with Seamus Creagh, Kevin Burke, Buttons and Bows, De Dannan, Arcady, Patrick Street, Kinvara and The Reel Union.

In recent months, John and Jackie rekindled a musical collaboration that started in the late 1980s in the band Kinvara, when they toured the USA and Europe to great acclaim.

In previous festivals, we focused on our Chinese neighbours with Zhang Ning’s Karoake sessions. This year, we turn to the Polish community.

Nightshift brings to the festival accomplished Polish jazz, with a hint of Latin American. The ensemble will feature award-winning vocalist Beata Wald. On piano/ keyboards, Sylwester Ochmnski – who has played with the Philharmonic Orchestra in Poznan, as well as with big bands and smaller jazz groups. On percussion, Marcin Helak – a founder member of Nightshift, whose love of jazz has been rekindled since his arrival in Ireland. And all the way from Buenos Aires, adding that Latin American flflavour – Patricia Iglesias on bass.

A special thanks to Ranelagh based Business Consultant and Arts Entrepeuner Katarzyna Mejger who assisted in the organization of this event.

Niceol Blue is a singer–songwriter and guitar player. A powerful vocalist, who crosses genres from blues to folk and percussive rock, she was born in the USA and now lives in Ireland. She has played on stage at both the Folklife and Bumbershoot Festivals in Seattle, and has played venues from Portland Oregon and Seattle to Honolulu and all over Ireland, including the Róisín Dubh in Galway and The Helix in Dublin.

Once again, Helen Dillon will open her worldfamous garden and house as part of the festival. She has spent the last 35 years creating one of the most beautiful town gardens in Ireland. Set around a canal surrounded by Irish limestone, the mixed borders of shrubs and herbaceous perennials reveal unusual plants and exciting colour combinations, including rarities such as lady’s slipper orchids or doubled-flowered Trillium. On the sunken terrace, terracotta pots sprout more rare plants. Clumps of angel’s fishing rods (Dierama) arch over the sphinxes and a small alpine house and conservatory shelter the choicest species, including what is considered the most beautiful climber in the world – the national flower of Chile, Lapageria rosea (named after Napoleon’s wife). The front garden is paved in pink Chinese granite.

For insurance reasons, only babies-in-arms and children over 12 can visit the garden.

For more information, see www.dillongarden.com

The Dillon Garden is open to the public in March, July and August (every day, 2 – 6pm) and in April, May, June and September (Sundays only, 2 – 6pm).

The Family Fun Day begins in Ranelagh Gardens at 1pm with a lively performance by Ireland’s oldest band, St. James’s Brass and Reed Band. The band’s oldest member, John Gannon, has over 70-years’ continuous service. In the meantime, the Children’s Pirate Parade will be setting out from Scoil Bhríde, in the company of the Pirate and Crooked Crew, making its way to Ranelagh Gardens via Beechwood Road and Annavilla, led by Grand Marshall Michael Bourke and the Mad Hatters.

The Tin Drummers’ Percussion Ensemble will entertain the crowd and later puppet-master Conor Lambert will enthral us with his unique adaptation of Punch and Judy.

Watch out for the Mad Hatters’ performance on the bank! The Brazilian martial arts group Capoeira will perform their specially adapted stage show and also test the agility of some young members of the audience.

The renowned Independent Theatre Workshop will bring the Family Fun Day to a close with a music and drama production. This has proved to be a great crowd-pleaser every year.

Other attractions during the Family Fun Day include traditional games, clowns, face painters, stilt walkers and lots more. These fringe events are supported by Dublin City Council.

Mouth-watering food will be available free-ofcharge for everybody at the Family Fun Day in Ranelagh Gardens. Throughout the day, A Taste of Ranelagh will offer a selection of delicacies from the growing number of food outlets in the village.

Children of 6th class in the four local national schools are invited to submit photographs of Ranelagh as part of a competition on the theme ‘Ranelagh Outside’. This is an exciting opportunity for young photographers to have their work on display in Morton’s Supermarket on Dunville Avenue during the festival. Maybe renowned Magnum photographer Martin Parr, a special visitor at this year’s festival, will ‘discover’ you!

My Neighbour Torturo is a beautifully crafted animated film from one of the greatest Japanese animators, Hayao Miyazaki. It tells the story of Torturo, a forest spirit that Little Mei and her older sister, Satsuki, meet in a big tree near their new home in the countryside. Their mum is in hospital and when Little Mei decides to go and visit her all on her own, it is assumed she is lost. Torturo is the only one who can find her. This is a classic family film, suitable for all ages, including the very young.

This is a chance for all budding film-makers to extend their audience and have their work assessed by a panel of judges, including Michael Dwyer of The Irish Times, Lenny Abrahamson of Adam and Paul and Garage fame, and the fifilm-maker Conor Horgan. Following the screenings, a small cash prize, together with the Golden Triangle Award, will be presented for the best short film. Come along and spot Ireland’s future film talent!

This recently made Irish documentary fifilm follows the experiences of two of Ireland’s leading musicians, Liam Ó Maonlaí (vocals) and Paddy Keenan (uilleann pipes), at the Tuareg music festival – Festival au Desert – in northern Mali in 2007. Beautifully photographed, with great sound tracks, the film captures the magic of the desert and shows how music is a common world language. Not to be missed!

The screening will be followed by a Questions and Answers session with Dearbhla Glynn, Vanessa Gildea and Liam Ó Maonlaí.

One of Ireland’s most talented directors, John Carney – writer/director of the award-winning film Once and co-writer/director of the popular television series Bachelors Walk – will make a short presentation before the screening. John, who is a native of Ranelagh, accepted the invitation to nominate this year’s Director’s Choice.

Based on the novel by Ira Levin, Rosemary’s Baby centres on a young couple, Rosemary and Guy, who, on moving to a new apartment building in New York, discover that they are surrounded by strange people and occurrences. When Rosemary finds out that she is pregnant, the full extent of the couples’ strange circumstances unfold. The film was shot on location at the Dakota Building in New York, which was to become famous several years later as the home of John Lennon and Yoko Ono.

In the 1960s, Dublin was alive with the sound of rock ‘n roll. Seven nights a week, clubs such as the Go-Go and the Five Club played host to the ‘beat groups’ – talented kids who modelled themselves on The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. They wrote their own songs and wore black leather jackets and long hair, not the slick uniforms of the showbands. On Saturday nights, tennis and rugby clubs throughout the town, such as Ranelagh’s Mountpleasant Tennis Club, were filled with hundreds of fans, dancing to groups such as the Creatures, Kingbees and Bluesville.

In 2006, the Ranelagh Arts Festival brought together some of the biggest names from the ‘60s beat scene in The Green Beat, a memorable night of music from the men who brought rock ‘n roll to Ireland. From that event came the idea for a photographic exhibition, paying tribute to these lifelong musicians who were the founders of today’s Irish rock industry.

Award-winning photographer Kate Horgan was commissioned by the Ranelagh Arts Festival to document Ireland’s original rock stars, including well-known figures such as Henry McCullough, Paul Brady and Eric Bell. The result is an outstanding collection of intimate portraits, along with images of rock memorabilia chosen by the musicians themselves. The photographs reveal the originality and idiosyncrasy of the musicians in a sympathetic light, while showing the understanding developed between photographer and subject.

Following its debut at Humphrey’s Pub in Ranelagh, the exhibition will travel to Dublin’s Temple Bar, the Cobblestone pub and music venue in the Seamus Ennis Cultural Centre, the Naul, Co. Dublin, and other venues throughout the country during 2008, with live music from some of the musicians photographed.

Desciption

This exhibition will showcase a range of artistic talent resident in Ranelagh village. Incorporating the theme ‘On the street where you live’, paintings and sculptures will be displayed in several different shops and pubs. Starting at Birchall’s, wander up and down Ranelagh’s main street and see art at its most accessible and visible.

The exhibition will include works by artists such as Mark Ryan, Marie Hennessey, Gerhardt Gallagher, Cian McLoughlin, Michael Bulfin, PJ Lynch, Rosemary McLoughlin, Molly Browne, Simon O’Donnell, Anne Clinton and Caroline Canning.

Martin Parr, Magnum photographer, a very special visitor to the festival this year, will discuss his long career as one of the most original and innovative photographers of our time. From the early days of taking black and white photographs of Ireland – notably A Fair Day (1984), Bad Weather (1982 ) and the groundbreaking The Last Resort (1986) – up to his most recent work exploring globalisation and tourism, Martin’s unique perspective on the follies and vanities of our time has consistently enlightened, amused and even alarmed. A photograph by Martin Parr is instantly recognisable – in a world where we are bombarded by the visual media, his images always engage and can never be ignored.

This exhibition will feature original photographs taken outdoors in Ranelagh by local amateur photographers. Street photography has inspired and been the subject matter of many of the great photographers, including Martin Parr who will be judging the exhibition and awarding a prize.

This one-hour documentary film features a series of short interviews with residents who were part of last year’s Ranelagh Heads exhibition. They will talk about memories of their earlier lives in Ranelagh. The documentary, produced by James Kelly and Brigid Tiernan specially for the Ranelagh Arts Festival, will be screened on a loop in two venues during the festival – Morton’s Supermarket Café and Superquinn Café.

This event will feature the artistic work of teenagers, chosen in a competition during the summer by the Visual Arts Committee of the festival. The young artists will participate in this dynamic exhibition by working on the empty site, developing and creating a series of exciting site-specific works. The dramatic artwork will be displayed on eye-catching hoardings. The site has been kindly donated by Olivers Estate Agents for temporary use during the festival.

Walking tours of Ranelagh, led by local history enthusiasts Sally Corcoran and Bryan O'Sullivan, always attract great interest at the festival. Honor O Brolcháin, local author, joins the team this year. Each walk lasts about one hour, giving a fascinating insight into the history of the area and an opportunity to learn about social aspects of life through the ages in Ranelagh. Each walk will accommodate a maximum of 30 people.

Honor's walk at 11.00am on Saturday, will start at Sandford Church (top of Marlborough Road). All other walks will start at the Triangle in Ranelagh.

Fiacc O Brolcháin found this wonderful piece of engineering history in 2003 and has spent many years restoring it, completing it earlier this year. The Hornsby Ackroyd was the world’s first successful ‘hot bulb’ engine and was an immediate success. Hornsby Ackroyd engines provided the power for illuminating the Statue of Liberty in New York and for Marconi’s transmitter that sent the first wireless message across the Atlantic Ocean in 1901.

The magnificent engine on display at the festival, puffing away on the Triangle, was sold on 19 November 1904 to T. Dockrell, Sons & Co. Ltd, who used it for many years. On 7 July 1913, it was delivered to Glencree Reformatory, where it was used to generate electricity and to run a line shaft for the shoe-making school attached to the Reformatory. The engine remained in use up until the late 1960s and provided power when the ESB supply failed.

The tour will be lead by Ranelagh resident Nicola Gordon Bowe, who is one of Ireland’s foremost art historians. She will talk about the stained glass and furnishings of the churches involved, as well as their history and architecture.

Nicola Gordon Bowe is Director of the MA Course in the History of Design and the Applied Arts at the National College of Art and Design, Dublin. She has written and lectured widely on late 19th and 20th-century decorative arts. Her publications include Harry Clarke – His Graphic Art (1983) and The Life and Work of Harry Clarke (1989).

The tour commences at St. Philip’s Church, Temple Road, at 3pm on Saturday, 27 September, proceeds to Sandford Parish Church at 3.30pm and concludes at St. Bartholomew’s at 4.15pm. A small number of cycle taxis will be available for those who need them. Please bring your own bicycles!

Continuing on the success of Thirst in 2006 and Bokety in 2007, the objective of Comedy Tour is to make the residents of Ranelagh helpless with laughter. The Comedy Tour has been co-curated by Ranelagh-born actress and director Órla McGovern (above left). Órla has acted in film and theatre in Europe and has recently returned from living in the USA. She has worked with Punchbag, the Project Arts Centre and The Abbey. She is currently working on a number of theatre and voice projects, as well as teaching Improvisation.

Snatch Comedy offer a a high energy show where everything is improvised.This is the ultimate in audience participation.

Bulmers’ Comedy Competition winner 2007, Mayo-based comedian Kieran Lawless will be joined by a selection of comedians from ‘down the country’, bringing their zany humour to deepest Ranelagh.

Mrs. Nellie Murphy hails from the Coombe. She has sold haddock on both sides of the pond, as well as the odd pair of sports socks. In Seattle, Nellie took a (albeit accidental) night class in poetry and now performs the odd night of erotic writing for the elderly lady. Nellie is delighted to be back in Ireland, having been gone for 10 years, and is looking forward to the giant piss-up at the wake of the feckin’ Celtic Tiger.

Note from the Artistic Director: Nellie is looking to share accommodation in Ranelagh and has heard that there is great craic to be had in Humphrey’s Pub, especially when ‘the racing crowd’ is around. Perhaps one of them would be kind enough to ‘share’ with Nellie.

Musicians and comedians Dermot Carmody and Morgan C. Jones (left) host a special edition of At Last, the 1989 Show!, bringing their original songs, splendid asides and off-the-cuff improvisation to the Ranelagh Arts Festival for one night only.

Dermot Carmody (left), a graduate of the exacting University of Belgrave Road, started his comedy life in 1988 when he co-founded the Comedy Cellar club in Dublin’s International Bar with Barry Murphy, Kevin Gildea, Ardal O’Hanlon and other villains.

Ranelagh-native Morgan C. Jones is one half of the 2irish News team. He is married with six children and dreams of one day getting the Dalai Lama really, really, really drunk.