I think we may get used to enjoying the simple things in life for the next few years. There’s not much money about and, even if there was, it looks as if Icelandic volcanoes mean we won’t be able to get off this little island to fly to exotic locations for the foreseeable future.
The sun shone last Saturday and it was a good opportunity to sample the new, simpler, lifestyle. I took a walk down John’s Quay to the library. The sun was glistening on the overturned rubbish bins, bottles, and beer cans along the river bank, while the ducks swam in circles round the life buoys thrown in the water.
The library was doing a roaring trade, probably one of the few places experiencing an increase in business during the recession. I then headed on over John’s Bridge, which had just become a two way bridge again. I’d seen a battalion of workers on the bridge on Friday night removing the week old cycle lanes. It’s a much tougher job getting the markings off the street than it is putting them down. It added up to a few hours of welcome overtime for the lads, so at least someone did well out of the one way fiasco.
It was on then to Rollercoaster records, the box office for the Kilkenny Rhythm and Roots Festival. It was also Independent Record Store day with giveaways and live music outside the shop. First up was Ollie Cole, followed by Mayor Malcolm Noonan and friends and, finally, a short set from Clive Barnes and Jeremy Hickey. The crowd gathered outside Rollercoaster enjoyed the music in the sun and the shop did a brisk business all day, so long live the small independent shops, there’s life in ‘em yet.
A good and recession proof day was rounded off with Willie Meighan giving a preview of this year’s Rhythm and Roots acts in Cleeres. The big question on the night was if all the acts would be able to make it to Kilkenny. A few of the American based performers are due in Europe this week, but the majority don’t arrive until later next week. Late Monday night I got a call from Florida from Dex Romweber’s manager. Not many people have heard of Dex on this side of the volcanic ash laden ocean, but I saw the duo do an amazing show in their hometown of Athens, Georgia before a packed venue, bigger than Vicar Street.
Due to the flight problems they’ve cancelled their shows in Madrid, Valencia, Bilbao, Nimes, La Rochelle, Paris, Nantes and Orleans. The only shows left on the tour are the three in Kilkenny and they’ll now fly in direct for these shows and then head home. I think they deserve a special welcome next week.
Up to now there have been no cancellations, so it’s full steam ahead with the preparations. Watch out for Josh Ritter on the Late Late Show tonight, volcanoes permitting.
Eyjafjallajokull
Now there’s a word that would win any scrabble competition. Anyone stranded at an airport during the current volcano crisis will have had time to brush up on Scrabble and crossword skills. The outlook is looking a bit better this week, but if they think it’s all over it might not be for quite a while yet.
The worrying news is that the last time this volcano erupted was in December 1821 and it went on until January 1823. That’s 14 months! We’ve had to put up with 14 months of bad economic news and now we could have to face 14 months of this.
If I had a caravan in Tramore or Dunmore East I’d be looking forward to a busy season. We could all be holidaying at home this year, the thought of spending days stuck at some overcrowded airport is not very appealing.
I haven’t even seen any of this ash yet. The skies were clear and blue all week, without a speck of ash to be seen. There was some extra dust on the car one morning, but I’m told that has nothing to do with the Evjafjallajokull volcano, it just needs a wash.
Maybe this is Iceland getting its own back on the rest of Europe. When they first got into the financial manure the rest of Europe ignored them and told them to get back to catching fish. Gordon Brown, in particular, was very tough on the Icelanders and closed down their banks.
I’m told he sent Johanna Siguroardottir (remember that name, it’s bound to come up in a pub quiz near you ), the Icelandic prime minister, a typical blunt, Brown style message: “You got it wrong again. I asked you to send CASH.”
