Doing it the Write Way

Finally after several years had passed, I granted my mother's wish of accompanying her to the Irish Writer's Museum. Don't ask me what took me so long to go on this little expedition with her, plenty of times we had ventured passed Parnell Square and we has commented that we should really go there "soon", but as you probably know "soon" can be a long way away!

We decided to use the audio guide, which gives a more brief blurb on each of the displays in the Museum rooms, however there is more written on the walls and is worth reading if you have a particular interest in the writer that's been featured. Of course all of the big guns of Irish literature were mentioned: Joyce, Yeats, Wilde, Shaw, Kavanagh, Beckett; but I found it equally as interesting to learn about some of the other writers that may have not had international acclaim but a great influence on Irish writing and culture. I spent a good few minutes laughing at a letter that Brendan Behan had written to his brother about Hollywood and I noted a few writers that I'd like to look up to see more of their work. The museum section is really only contained in two rooms, so it might not take you too long to look around if you had a spare moment while in the city centre. 

The ceiling in the library upstairs in the Irish Writer's Museum.
Love a good ceiling.

Like a lot of Dublin architecture, the inside of the house has the most beautiful ceilings and adornments, particularly in the upstairs Gallery room. The building had been bought and renovated by a member of the Jameson (whiskey) family, and it suited it well. Both my mother and I were a bit disappointed that there wasn't a bigger focus on some more modern Irish writers and the museum could do with a bit more love in my opinion. We are steeped in a wealth of Irish literature, so it would be great if the entire museum could reflect that and expand a bit, but I don't think they have the funding for that at the moment.

Following our literary jaunt, we decided to divulge in a little more Irish culture (I sound like a tourist/ a member of Failté Ireland here) by going to see "Sing Street" in the Lighthouse Cinema, which is the comfiest and prettiest cinema in all the land (they have rainbow seats). The movie was very funny and quite good story, and my mother was dancing in her seat the entire time. If you like The Commitments, this is along the same vein, with more popular 80's jams. 

This was a lovely little adventure, and I must admit it made me more appreciative of my Irish peers and predecessors. This was a year where many people have been contemplating their pride and appreciation if being Irish (if you haven't heard of the 1916 Rising, it's one of the most important events in Irish history) and while I hadn't a lot of time to go to the centenary events, I've found other ways to remind myself what's so interesting about Irish history and culture. 

Until the next adventure, 

A