It looks as though we've all been saddled with a bill of €90 billion by the antics of the banks and the Liam Carrolls and Sean Dunnes of the property development world. I stayed in one of Mr Carroll's apartments down on the quays in Dublin a few years ago. At the time I wondered how anyone could spend more than a couple of nights in these shoeboxes. There wasn't space to swing even a very small cat in the rooms.
Carroll shies away from publicity but was forced into the limelight on a number of occasions, notably when three workers died on his sites in the late 1990s. The Irish Times reports that at the time Mr Justice Peter Kelly, who also presided over the Commercial Court hearing, told Mr Carroll he was a “disgrace to the construction industry”.
What was his reward? In any other country he would have been finished, but here the geniuses in the banks continued to shovel out hundreds of millions of euros for his property schemes.
Did the Government do anything? Bertie was travelling the world thinking he was Bono and the Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen, was busy sinking pints and leading the singsongs in the pubs and off the back of trailers all around Offaly.
It's unlikely that any of these guys will ever see the inside of a jail, but they should be made to spend a few months, at least, living in one of the “apartments”. Someone described them at the time as the slums of the future. They weren't far wrong.
LOOKING ON THE BRIGHTER SIDE...
You have to really, if you were to dwell too long on how this baNAMArama crowd are going to handle the €90 billion problem you'd pack the bags and slip quietly out the backdoor and get the hell out of the country.
The good news is we have the arts festival to take our mind off serious matters for the next nine days.
It's great to see the shutters coming off the Dunne’s Stores shop in Parliament Street and the space filled with works by Brock Butler and Brian O'Loughlin among others. Why not keep it open all year? There's not likely to be too many takers for the premises as a shop unit for the foreseeable future. If this and other vacant premises were open it would take the gloomy look off the streets.
I haven't drawn up a list of shows to attend this year. Making recommendations can be dangerous. When it comes to the arts festival, one man's art can be another man's idea of hell, but with such a variety on offer, there's sure to be something to cater for every taste.
I'll definitely be heading along to see Low in St Canice’s Cathedral, a band I nominated as making my favourite Christmas record in a column some time ago. I doubt if there will be any Christmas songs sung, although you never know. This weather isn't too far off what we normally experience in December.
Julie Feeney is one I'll be giving a miss. I've never warmed to her music. She has three masters degrees, sang with the National Chamber Choir, writes and produces her own albums, conducts the orchestra, and can play practically any instrument you'd find up in Broderick’s Music Warehouse.
It's all very admirable, but, for me anyhow, it doesn't add up to an awful lot. Coming loaded down with academic qualifications was never really a requirement for success in the music business. I think Ms Feeney's output, to these ears anyway, proves the point.
Back to the good stuff. The best city I've ever visited for music was Austin, Texas. The 11-piece Grupo Fantasma are based there, so I'll definitely be checking them out. Our own Jeremy Hickey will be performing as RSAG for the first ever show at the new Set Theatre, and should get it off to a memorable start.
There's at least one musical highlight each day, so it's a matter of doing some careful planning and listening out for tips from those in the know.
There are three offerings on the theatre programme and I'll be waiting for recommendations before making a choice here. Overall there's amazing value, including a completely free children's programme. You could have a very good week for less than the price of a ticket to a Leonard Cohen or Springsteen concert, and it's all on your own doorstep.
This is the year of that awful word, the “staycation,” but take a day or two off, wander around, taking breaks for the odd coffee or drink, and you could have a great week. No worries about airport delays or Ryanair charges either.
PLUG
There's dozens of exhibitions on in pubs, cafes, hotels, and any available wall space all over town. Mrs Cleere – Phyl – will be exhibiting her oil paintings (very good, if I say so myself ) of local and coastal scenes down in Cleere’s, with works by Judy Rhatigan and Brooke Jackson also on show until Sunday August 16.
ANOTHER TALL TREE STORY
Following on from last week's 'images in tree stumps' piece I got an e-mail from my old friend Gerry in the South of France. Gerry grew up in the lodge in Áras an Uachtaráin, where his family were caretakers.
He tells me, “It was a very woody area at the back of our house and one branch over the years intertwined with the gutter. It looked like Woody Gutherie to me and me mates... drink had been taken alright... one of the lads thought he heard the vegetables singin' a Bee Gee song... turned out to be just chives talkin.”
Thanks Gerry, I think all that sun is getting to you. Time to come home and feel the rain on your face.
