Election Day

Election Day Dawns...

It's that crucial time again folks! Nerves and excitement fill the country today as citizens flee to their nearest polling station to vote for their choice of parliament. Workers are rushing out on their lunch break, parents are sneaking out when the kids are gone to bed and the newly turned 18 years old are bravely experiencing their very first public vote, all in an attempt to make our country a better place.

You'll be interested to know that President Mary Mc Aleese and her husband Dr. Martin Mc Aleese both voted in St. Mary's Hospital in the Phoenix Park earlier today. Polls are due to stay open until 10pm tonight so make sure you take a few minutes out of your day to vote for the party you think will do our country the most justice.

The parties running for election today are Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, the Green Party, Sinn Féin, The Socialist Party, Labour Party, People Before Profit, Christian Solidarity Party, The Workers Party and the South Kerry Independent Alliance.

Lets make the country a better place by voting for your chosen party today!

For more information on the election updates, please click the following link http://www.rte.ie/news/election2011/

Girls Night Out

Food, Drink and a Bit of a Singsong...

I am now officially a pro at making Dublin's best cocktails! Myself and my work mates hit the town last Thursday night to soak up the city atmosphere after a hard days work.

We started off by going to Salamancas Tapas Bar for an Early Bird meal, which was really good value. I got a glass of wine, a steak and dessert for only €15; it was the perfect portion size too as I wasn't too full or any bit hungry after it.

We journeyed on then to Buskers bar afterwards for our cocktail lessons which were great craic! We got loads of attention from Emre (the guy who gave us the lessons) and we made up some really tasty concoctions. The lessons lasted for two hours, we got two cocktails and one shot and it only cost €25 each!!

Rock Star Karaoke followed after that then which was loads of fun! We got to sing with a live band instead of just singing on stage on your own in front of a tv screen.

All in all, it was a very enjoyable night and I'd highly recommend it to any of you who are in dire need of a fun night out!

Jameson Film Festival

Not long to go now until the Jameson Film Festival kicks off in Dublin. The festival runs for ten days from February 17th to 27th and presents over 120 films.

There is a wide range of flims to choose from including categories such as Irish Cinema, Latin Cinema, Real to Reel, French Cinema, First Look...to name but a few.

For more information on the festival and the films check out www.jdiff.com

TradFest is back!!

For those of you who enjoy lively music, a couple of beers and mostly a bit of craic, then the TradFest is the thing for you! Already the place is buzzing and its only Friday; two more days of madness to come:) Traditional Irish music is serenading the cobbled streets of Temple Bar, chefs are preparing their best Irish stews and bar staff enthusiasts are mixing up their best Irish coffee yet. Dublin city in January has never felt so busy, which is great after the winter blues. Hotels are filling up with culchies, city people, tourists, families, you name it...people are coming from far and wide to indulge in this festive event. I'm looking forward to finishing work this evening so that i can pop downstairs (to Buskers Bar), have a few drinks and then enjoy a few tunes in the Singers Club. I would recommend 'Clannad' this weekend also; they are a renowed trad band and they are playing tonight and tomorrow night in the Christchurch Cathedral. If you get a chance, pop into Buskers Bar in Temple Bar as there is a once-off TradFest menu created especially for the occasion (and it looks yum!). If you like a copy of the menu you can email me on meeting@tbh.ie

Enjoy yourselves and let me know how you get on or if theres any crazy stories that Dublin needs to hear about!!

Dublin Ocktoberfest is back!

Dublin Ocktoberfest starts this Thursday, 30th September and runs until 10th October in the IFSC. The event is well worth a visit...at least once! It was a huge success last year with big beer loving crowds filling the wooden benches in the large tents. The energic atmosphere in the tents is created by the Bavarian music as well as the beer. A friendly vibe is created by the clanking of beer mugs with anyone within arms reach. There is plenty of traditional tasty German food on offer. For more information on the event click here. The IFSC is just a 15-20 minute walk from Temple Bar Hotel.

Free Open Air Opera Performances

Well it's back this August, Dublin City Council will again host a series of lunchtime performances in their Amphitheatre (Civic Offices, Wood Quay, Dublin 8) at 1pm for every Thursday in August.

The line up includes:

5th August: Don Pasquale (Donizetti)

12th August: Ariodante (Handel)

19th August: Cavalleria Rusticana (Mascagan)/Paglicci (Leoncavallo)

26th August: Don Giovanni (Mozart)

I went along to one last year and really enjoyed the ambiance of a unique outdoor Opera performance. The audience were well prepared with picnic baskets and the sun shone! The events are free so do take a trip over. The Amphitheatre is approximately a ten minute walk from Temple Bar Hotel.

Point Village Market

I am a HUGE fan of markets. I just love to potter around the colourful stalls smelling the aromas and listening to the banter and chatter between the vendors on the various stands. In Dublin we are fast becoming spoilt for choice with markets popping up all over the city. The newest addition being The Point Village Market which is open every Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 5pm. I took the Red line Luas there last Saturday which is very convenient. I was impressed with the amount of stalls. I had one of the best Lattes I have ever had from one stall (the one that is a miniature lorry). I was slightly amused to see the amount of 'cupcakes' on sale, which seems to be the latest phenomenon sweeping the city. Although in many cases (excuse the pun!) they appear to be nothing more than a bun/queen cake that we had when we were young, but now they are called cupcakes and we've all been sucked into the Americanism and paying €2.50 a pop!

My one criticism of the Point Village Market is I feel the area itself. Not that it's a bad area, but I enjoy markets more when they are in a more intimate setting such as a park (Marley Park) and maybe I'm being biased but Temple Bar Markets in Meeting House Square. I would definitely recommend that Dubliners take a trip to these markets but if you're pushed for time and just on a short visit I would take a trip to Temple Bar Markets on Saturdays.