Nov 01 2007
Season 2 episode 03 (Kindred)
Dir: Paul Edwards Writ: J.J. Philbin
Yes, I know, when recapping I really should start at the beginning, but I really couldn’t be arsed rewatching episodes 1 & 2 so you’ll just have to deal. And there will be spoilers under the cut.
Sep 20 2007
Having just seen the trailer for P.S. I love you can I just say one thing. NO ONE IN IRELAND TALKS LIKE THAT.
Thank you for your attention.
Tags: accents, idjit, Ireland, Oirish, PS I Love YouAug 16 2006
What is it about accents that makes them so difficult to fake[1]
As I was walking home yesterday I noticed that the kino had a huge amount of posters up for the same film. All the spaces where the current releases are usually displayed were filled by copies of a poster for The Front Line[2] They must be having its premier there, as it is an Irish film.
I know this because the trailer for it has been showing before almost every film I’ve been to recently. It seems to be about a refugee from Sudan whose family becomes hostages to Dublin criminals, and violence erupts[3] But, the thing that kept bothering me was when did they shoot it? I’m pretty sure I saw a flash of Capel St., not to mention Grafton St., yet have no memory of ever seeing, or even hearing about filming going on. Obviously I’m not in the know.
There was one other problem I had with the trailer[4] The main Dublin badguy. And his accent[5] Now he only has a few lines in the trailer, and I haven’t being paying too much attention. And there is nothing specific that I can put my finger on that is wrong with his accent.
But it just doesn’t sound right. And everytime I’ve seen the trailer I’ve told myself, that when I get home I’ll go online and find out who is he.
I’ve finally done it. And am, of course, proven correct. 
Everybody I’d like you to meet Mr. James Frain. And, from the little I heard, he has quite a good grasp of a Dublin accent, but it just aint right. And that’d be on account of him being from Leeds, in England. It’s like he knows how it sounds, but just can’t do it properly. He is so very close that you’d almost think it was authentic.
I’m going to have to go see the film now just to see if I’ve been unfair in saying that he dont speak proper like.
I’m also wondering whether it is worth my time investing in a little warning image like the one used over on TCAL for whenever the comments turn a little controversial 
Jun 28 2006
So y’all know what today marks dontcha?
/20640C601C29A8C480256F200050B1F2/$FILE/FC-colour.jpg "The Four Courts")
Yup, that’s right, on the 28day of June in 1922[1] the Irish Civil war broke out as the Free State government ordered the shelling of the Four Courts.
I guess it is in my mind because of TWTSTB, and of course, because of that film I have come to the conclusion that English[2] people just cannot pronounce O’Donovan. So I want you all to practice, Oh Dun-uh-vun. Not Don as in a professor. That just aint wrong. dun, like he done his woman wrong. Got that? Good, it is quite important.
I’m returning to the issue of the World Cup, so switch off if you want
Only eight left in it now. And Anne, I have a confession. I was cheering for Spain last night. Still you should be happy, cause France won. And played well too, which was nice. by the end of the match I could even believe they might beat Brazil. But that’s getting ahead of ourselves.
I think it may be a sign of age, but didn’t the Spanish team look like group of kids? That Torres fella is so young and dotey looking. Not cute mind. Just a dote. The first time I saw them play I said “they look 12″ and okay, maybe I was exagerating a little, because one or two look 15 or 16, but overall. Young would be my impression of the Spainish.
Was at work, so didn’t watch the Ghana game. Poor Ghana. I didn’t have much hope that they’d beat Brazil, and I was right. But it would’ve been fun if they had.
I didn’t watch England play at the weekend, so maybe they’ve improved[3] I was watching the hurling. Munster final so it was. Cork and tip. Again, I picked the wrong team and supported Tip, although I’m a big fan of Sean Óg’s, and Diarmuid O’Sullivan’s. And Donal Óg Cusack’s. But still, I spent too many summers in Tipperary not to support them when they are playing. Unless of course they are up against Limerick.
We’ve gone all quiet again in work. The American’s have their history tours this week so thay aren’t around, although I did have to help one student with his spelling yesterday as he wondered about Slainte and Dia Dhuit. Still, three day working week next week. Which will be ever so nice. We have the 4th off to celebrate the Fourth of July[4] and as it is on a Tues, it seemed a bit silly to come back in on Mon, so I’ve taken the day off and will be in Sligo for a long weekend.
Mind you, I think that we should seriously consider introducing a three day weekend the whole year round. Anyone agree?
Sep 24 2005
Well now, there are quite a few topics in this post. Just look at all the categories it falls under. But the question for me is, where to begin? With my sudden appreciation for an accent? of how work went? No. I think I’ll start with the Brand new category I’m introducing today: Irishify.
First off, maybe I should explain a little?
As the best country in the world (if only we could roof her) Ireland has a lot to offer the world. And in order to help all you poor non-Irish out there I’m going to instruct you in how to appear Irish. And thus, get to wear those wonderful Kiss Me I’m Irish
hats and t-shirts. Also, it’ll give me something to write about when I have no other thoughts.
In this Irishify post I’m going to introduce you to the word Grand. I’m sure you’ve come across this term before.
Well, none of those are the Irish meaning of grand. Although wonderful or very pleasing comes closest. Here in Ireland everything is grand. You’d have a “grand cup of tea” or enjoy a “grand day”
You could say that grand means okay, but it’d be slightly better than simply okay. If something was doing the job very slightly better than was expected, it’d be doing a grand job. Or a “grand size of a room” would be one that was more than bog enough. But not actually incredibly large.
Grand: slightly better than okay, can be used on every occasion.
And onto my first week at work. All in all, it was grand
We don’t have a Management system up and running yet, although that should be sorted next week sometime, so hopefully I won’t have too much work to do and we can simply import all the old records.
Everything else went fine, met a few of my minion, but we still need to hire a bit more cover, so posters have gone up in the library. The library itself is a small one, but it is well laid out, apart from the tables and chairs which aren’t ideal, but they do the job.
The old libarian is coming in on Monday. There is a group looking for a tour, so we figured the best thing would be to have her give it. That way I could get all the info, and see how she handles it. Also have my first faculty meeting next week. Think it is a good thing that it is so early, as it means I won’t have to say anything.
And work leads me into my next topic. Was walking home on Friday and, as is to be expected, there were a few people wandering around on the street too. And I found myself listening to the fella walking behind me. Not to what he was saying, but to his accent. He had a lovely soft Kerry accent. Not too strong, but just enough. First time I’ve ever thought the Kerry accent was lovely. I’d link to an example, but searching for a Kerry accent online brings up far too many people giving out about yer man John Kerry. So instead I’ll direct you to visit Gift Grub. These are impression clips on the radio every morning, and the online ones change, but if it is there take a listen to the Radio Roy au Francais one. Roy has a Cork accent, not a Kerry one, but there are similarities. But anyways. Kerry accents = good accents. For now.
Final topic, because I’m getting bored of typing: The X Factor.
This is the shows second year. It is a talent show, kinda like Pop Idol/American Idol, only instead of limiting the competitors to young pop stars The X Factor has three groups. One for solo artists aged between 16-24, one for people 25 and over and the third for groups (last year there were a few bands, but I haven’t seen anyone with an instrument this year). The auditions are my favourite part. They are horrible, but you just can’t switch off, car-crash tv or what.
Anyway, I think today is the last day I’ll be watching. Last day of the auditions, after this the different groups will be split up, and each of the judges (Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh) will be assigned a different group to bring on, and compete against the other judges’ groups.
I do like what last years winner, Steve, has to say though:
“The show gives you a platform but then pulls the rug from under your feet by making you sign to a certain record label and having no say in what happens next. It should be about music and talent but it’s not.
“The X Factor is all one big theatre. It’s about killing music to make light entertainment.
“I’ve now got to break away from The X Factor, which is fundamentally cheese and regarded as so by anyone and everyone in the industry.”
Right, thats all I’ve got to say. Oh, but if you are going to listen to any of those Gift Grub selections don’t forget “Dry your eyes Becks” which was inspired by The Streets’ Dry Your Eyes ( watch the video ) and England’s Group B match against France last year.
