Cheebah and all that - Limerick, Ireland

What it says in the papers

Probably one of the most dramatic front pages of the year from the Limerick Leader occurred during UL rag week last month. The photos and story provoked heated response. Subsequently I then came across this short piece from Emma O Brien, an American student, whose work was featured here before. Here are two poems written during Rag week UL 08

Rag Week, Day One

Awakened by the sound of falsetto singing
I open the blinds to the early morning sun.
It is Aidan, drunk and having stayed up all night
Off to play tennis at 8am with a beer in each hand.
So this is Rag Week.

Rag Week, Day Five

On my walk to class amongst the broken glass
I stumble upon a trail of blood.
I follow it down the sidewalk to its source:
A lone tooth, abandoned on the pavement.
The price one pays for Rag Week.

Killa links

Nu Killa Beats are now unquestionably the longest running club night in Limerick. Tomorrow night they celebrate 9 years of drum and bass at the underground. Lots of different venues in those years, dog house, globe, dolans and underground, maybe there was more as well. Either way worth celebrating. Here is to year ten.  Ciaran has the full information here.

Limerick Milk Market is changing. The place to meet everyone on a Saturday morning is about to undergo a major transformation. This will change dramatically the lighting that photographers like Bock have been using with such great results.

Press snapper Sean Curtin gives Limerick a Baltimoresque feel here and  here

U.L continues to have a major attraction for Morrissey scholars!

Meanwhile these charming men, the rubberbandits, are involved in some sort of cultural exchange with DJ Mek as the conduit. A week after his gig here in the underground, the plastic bag wearing duo appear on stage with him in Dublin for the pre St Patricks Day gig in Eamon Dorans. Big tings a gwan.

Shane

Wiggle

Lots of new stuff that we should have caught up on but didn't over the last few weeks or so. Firstly plenty of talk around about release which started its new friday residency tonight. Aim is on the way in March. Crude magazine has now extended its remit to include Cork and has also updated its website. Issue 2 is out and looks really well and debunks the myth about a difficult second release as it is much better than issue 1, I think. Another second release happens this Saturday when DubbleBass returns to the underground. Paul reviewed the last night here and listening to this set from headliners wiggle (recorded at mantua) this night should be special.

On the Beat

Fresh from been part of the team that have made that second section of the Leader into an essential weekly read, Alan Owens now also has a blog. On the beat will also cover entertainment options in the city and as evidenced by last nights post will also have reviews and photos up really quick!  This means that we are less likely to miss Eamonn Carr the next time.

Shane

Is this Los Angeles?

No, this is Limerick. The image (of UL vikings) is taken from collections of photos by Shane Serrano, who in his own words is a "Filmer, Photographer, Graphic Designer, Drummer & Skateboarder." Now Shane can add chief editor and publisher to that description as he prepares to launch issue one of Crude next week.

"[crude] is a new Limerick City magazine documenting and shining a
light on it’s ever growing alternative culture, providing an entertaining
read and outlet for Limerick’s creative minds.

This magazine will highlight everything from Limerick’s amazing music scene,
to skateboarding, art, graffitti artists, photographers, tattoo artists & more.
Interviews and profiles with some of Limerick’s upcoming talent and working
class heroes. This magazine will give the focus and attention that these artists
deserve and uncover Limerck’s unknown, proving that this city has a lot going
on worthy of pride and recognition. As well as all this, this magazine will have
music, film and game reviews, short stories and many feature articles and regular
columns from various distinguished Limerick musicians, journalists & comedians."

While we might expect such publications to emerge regularly in the bigger cities, it is surprising, refreshing and exciting to see it happen here. There is a great sense of anticipation about this full colour bi-monthly and a special launch night happens next Saturday at Baker Place. Full line up here.

Some of the contents of issue one are revealed in this short piece, including a cheebah review of True Blood Souljahz with previously unpublished photographs. Ciaran Ryan also makes a welcome return to print media in the city as music reviews editor. 

Shane

Three years and rising

Today is our third birthday as a blog. While cheebah.net was going for about 5-6 years before 2005, it was only then that we made the switch to blog format. We can't say that we have been as industrious as others who celebrated birthdays this month but we are getting better. Thanks to all those who return regularly, contribute, read and comment. We have a few things in mind to push the site on a bit in the next few months but nothing too radical. In the meantime, three pieces from the earlier days which some of our newer readers mightn't be familiar with.

• Sin é an reggae: A brief overview of some of the strands interlinking irish culture with reggae history. The celebrated recording that accompanies the piece (recorded by TWOC who plays at the next roots factory in bakers) is still very popular and intriguingly almost 90% of recent requesters are from China.

• Brian Cross: Two interviews , one by Frank O Connell and the other by Johann Doobay to whet your appetite in anticipation of May bank holiday weekend.

• Dock Road Projects: Piece on dock road apartments, still relevant today. No doubt very popular with estate agents as searching "dock road apartments Limerick" brings it in at no. 1 on google.

Shane

Blog awards

Irish Blog awards are on in March. We have been included in the shortlist for music blog. Paul Tarpey's piece on a night listening to Paul Webb, A complex webb is in the running for best blog post. Great to see a load of other Limerick blogs getting shortlisted. Also in the running is Oliver Moore who when he is not writing on organic matters, keeps the mid west safe for all things bass with the pressure drop soundsystem. Thanks to those who nominated us, judges and sponsors. Worth looking at some of the others, we particularly like some of  Matt Vinyl's writings.
Finally, in preparation for the night we are on a diet, and we are glad to say that after a weigh in last week, (conducted by Eoghan at Cluas) we have halved our weight and as of this morning were in the yellow :-) , dial up readers welcome back.

Shane

Common Sense

'Like Father Like Son' at Cork Film Festival

• Hear the Block Radio Show from Spin Southwest on Digital Sole who are archiving it for download or streaming. Fela Kuti, Madlib,  John Holt and Jill Scott are just some of the names on the playlists. Also available to hear over there is the excellent Code's Chillax show and Dan Sykes Saturday night Dance show.
• See "Like Father, Like Son" at the Cork Film Festival on thursday 18th October at 11 in the morning and again that night in the Triskel. This short from Celene Natasha Murphy is a clever look at society's preconceptions through a child's view. Also at the festival on Wednesday the 17th, ex cheebah DJ Ciara Nic Chormaic is involved with a documentary on Cork Docks 'Na Duganna'. Meanwhile Ken O Shea's documentary on Sir Henrys has three showings. All of them have sold out. Shows the huge amount of Sweat nostalgia out there. Hopefully the audience will be happy with the talking heads format he employs, unfortunately little original inside Henrys footage is used. Sean O Neill, Jim Comet, Greg 'n' Shane, Mike Pickering and Mucca all speak.
• Taste the french toast in the wild onion and you are hooked. However a wealth of other lore about the place abounds and Val's Kitchen has captured the real flavour of  it. If  the Wild Onion reminds you of trips to the Market on a Saturday then Bock colours in the rest of the journey with an entertaining story of a Saturday well spent in the city. If you can't wait for the weekend, you can seek out good organic produce over at Ollie's place.
• Smell the talc as the Munster Soul Collective returns to Daffys on Saturday 10th November, downstairs. There are three DJ's from the Dublin Northern Soul club 'Sleepless Nights' coming over to spin some tunes as well as Franco and Martin Goggin from Cork. Upstairs will then see some modern and crossover soul.
• Feel the bass- Roots Factory arrives in the Underground this Friday night with JC and Cubeman. Should be really special.

Shane

Family

• More photos from Paul Tarpey are up
• Designer Paul Dowling has a new site up to showcase experimental typography
• Peter Curtin's show on Spin South west builds. Block playlists here
• Woofah magazine is a new publication from those behind the excellent Uncarved blog. Pushing all the right buttons on reggae, dubstep, grime and then some. Worth ordering, our copy arrived from London in two days
• A new reggae night soon come in the city as well. Hold tight. In the meantime check Cubeman on the 30th in Augustinian Lane.
• Some nice visuals from a cheebah night in Mickey Martins over the summer. Featuring that dance.
• Teaspach pulling out all the stops for big production in Belltable of Dracula from 30th October to 4th of November.
• Jazzman Gerald, Tobias (Tramp Records) and Dom (Blood and Fire) play in Limerick the weekend before
• Captain Moonlight's second album gets a good review

Shane

Féach

 

• Improving on the title of our last post, Ollie (Pressure Drop Sound) assertains over on his blog that maybe 'St Patrick was Ireland 's first organic farmer' .
• We get props in the Irish Times. Unexpected.
• GC underground, continue to spread the good news and take hip hop back to its roots. Last weekend saw them on the Patricks Day Parade busting moves on O connell Street in scenes not seen there since that RTE news report in 84 ( another one to youtube). Later they gave demonstration to the youth in the park and inspired much battling on the bandstand. This photo (above) taken from Claire McGrath's page. GC underground founder Baz is also opening an exhibition of his paintings in Tigh Fili, Cork this Friday.
• Surprise guest at last Saturdays Roots was Bashia from No Matta Name Sound System out of Gdansk. She was excellent and added to what was a really great night. Over here, MacKozer asks how Polish and Irish are getting on. Saturday night in the underground would suggest just fine. Hopefully some photos to follow
• Finally welcome to Digital Sole- like that mix

Shane