Happy Bloomsday!

Today is Thursday, June 16, 2011.

Happy Bloomsday!

James Joyce’s novel Ulysses, was set entirely on this day in 1904 in    Dublin, Ireland, following the travails of Leopold Bloom. Joyce fans widely celebrate this day as Bloomsday with readings from the book, dramatizations and pub-crawls.

Bloonsday Festival, Dublin
June 16, 2008

Tami and I celebrated Bloomsday in this fashion on June 16th, 2008 in Dublin.

We enjoyed the festival and a pint at the Brazen Head which Joyce was know to frequent.

Bernie and Tami celebrating Bloomsday at the Brazen Head...
Ireland's oldest pub... established in 1198 AD.

Janes Joyce
Statue
Dublin

James Joyce famously referenced The Brazen Head in his book Ulysses:

"Corley, at the first go-off, was inclined to suspect it was something to do with Stephen being fired out of his digs for bringing a bloody tart off the street. There was a dosshouse in Marlborough street, Mrs Maloney's, but it was only a tanner touch and full of undesirables but M'Conachie told him you got a decent enough do in the Brazen Head over in Winetavern street..."

"Irish Stew and a Pint"

"Irish Stew and a Pint"... 14x11" Oil on gallery wrapped canvas by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

Tami and I had our first Pub Grub and pint in Ireland's oldest pub...The Brazen Head... in Dublin. In my American mindset I think of anything over 100 years to be old... well that bubble was burst as we enjoyed ourselves in the Brazen Head which has been a pub since 1198AD. WOW... now that's OLD!

The pub is a short walk from Christ Church Cathedral and The Guinness Brewery and is well worth a visit for both its historic value and reputation as one of Dublin's best Irish music venues.

While it is unclear how much of the original 11th century coach house is still intact, there is a palpable sense of history within these timeworn walls. If you are looking for the true Irish pub experience then the Brazen Head Pub should be your first port of call as it was ours.

It was one of James Joyce's favs and was featured in his famous book 'Ulysses'.

The Brazen Head has managed to retain the charm and characteristics of it's past and in particular it's patrons, who have included such literaries as James Joyce, Brendan Behan and Jonathan Swift as well as such revolutionaries as Robert Emmet, Wolfe Tone, Daniel O'Connell and Michael Collins.

.

Today the patrons still include some famous faces, including some very famous musicians like Van Morrison, Hothouse Flowers, Mary Black and Garth Brooks...

not to mention... two jovial Americans... US... Sláinte!

.
Check out this video ad for the Brazen Head...

http://www.brazenhead.com/video.html

"Waiting for the Hen Party"

"Waiting for the Hen Party"... 30x20" Oil on gallery wrapped canvas by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

.

This scene is set beneath the Irish flag at the Eamonn Doran's Pub in Dublin, Ireland. I saw this young woman outside in the rain and immediately thought of the title for this painting... "Waiting for the Hen Party". The Irish Hen Party (equivalent to our Bachelorette parties) seemed to be the order of the day... or night I should say. Tami and I witnessed several groups of young ladies dressed in "Hen Party Garb" partying throughout the pubs of Dublin. What amazed me most was how those young women managed to walk on the cobbled stone streets in high heels... especially after a pint or two or three!

"Saturday Night at The Turks Head"... Dublin, Ireland

"Saturday Night at The Turks Head", Dublin, Ireland... 22x28" Oil on stretched canvas by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

The Temple Bar District in Dublin is a HAPPENING place! The local Public Meeting Establishments (Pubs) are a way of life... good friends, good music, good brew, and good craic can be found at every turn. The Turks Head (est. 1760) is one such place!

Ha' penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland

Ha' penny Bridge, Dublin, Ireland.. 16x20" Oil on stretched canvas by Bernie Rosage Jr., 2009.

This is the best known of Dublin's bridges. It was built in 1816 and was the first iron bridge in Ireland. It is a single span structure with cast iron railings and decorative lamps and crosses the River Liffey. It was originally named the Liffey Bridge but is now called the Ha'penny because until 1919 to cross it there was a half-penny charge.

Tami and I must have crossed this Dublin landmark a hundred times (for FREE) in our three day stay there. It was so strange to see it finally get dark around 11 o'clock at night... this was painted from a photo I took... proof that we really stayed out LATE that night.

As you cross the Ha'penny bridge you enter the Temple Bar district through the Merchant's Arch which can be seen in this painting. The Merchant's Arch is a formal entry point to the area and dates from the days when ships sailed up the River Liffey to dock here and trade with local merchants.

Video of HA'PENNY BRIDGE Dublin Ireland set to U2's "Sunday Bloody Sunday"


Video... Ha Penny Bridge on St. Paddy's Day

The Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland

The Temple Bar, Dublin, Ireland by Bernie Rosage Jr. 11x14" Oil on Gallery Wrapped canvas. 2009.

Sean Dempsey and the Rare Auld Times

"Sean Dempsey and the Rare Auld Times" by Bernie Rosage Jr... 30x24" Oil on Gallery Wrapped Canvas

Close up.

This painting was inspired by a couple of photos I took while in Ireland plus one of my favorite Irish songs. Photo #1 was a Dublin pub sign that read "Guinness and Dublin in the Rare Auld Times"... Photo #2 was actually taken in Galway City on this old salt enjoying a pint of the black stuff outside a Galway pub. The name for the piece comes from one of my favorite Irish folk songs... "Dublin in the Rare Auld Times" which mentions Sean Demsey... thus the title for this painting.

Enjoy this video and listen to the lyrics and let the story behind this painting unfold before your eyes and ears...

Dubliners : In the Rare Auld Times : Dublin Ireland Photos

There are Umbrellas and then there are Irish Umbrellas! The quest to get WET in Ireland!

A trip to Ireland without rain would be like going to Disney World and never seeing Mickey Mouse. Some people dread rainy days but I have to be honest by saying "I love them"... I enjoy gray rainy days as much as I do bright sunny ones. Give me a day with ominous gray clouds where the sunlight streams through illuminating the landscape making the 40 shades of green POP and I'm in Heaven! Our trip surpassed our expectations and Tami and I got wet on several occasions. The rain didn't slow us up at all and we took to the streets of Dublin, Kilarney, and Galway City like ducks to a pond.

As an artist... I saw all the painting opportunities from the great scenes of the masses with umbrellas in hand and reflections galore... I must have taken 200 rain scene photos as references for future paintings. Below is a painting I did for my "Enchanting Ireland" series from one such photo. Above is a scene set in the Temple Bar District of Dublin.
"A Stroll in the Rain"... Dublin, Ireland by Bernie Rosage Jr.
8"H x 10"W x 1 3/4"D... Oil on gallery wrapped canvas. 12-2008. Click on painting to enlarge.

Tami and I soon came to the realization that there are two types of umbrellas... "Regular Umbrellas" and "Irish Umbrellas"! This young man obviously sports an "Irish Umbrella" as he strolls the streets of Dublin. The next sequence of photos show those of the "regular" type...

Here we are at the Dingle Peninsula on our tour of the "Ring of Kerry". We hope to visit the "Ring of Kerry" again on a clear day... you can see from this photo that the visibility was limited and we missed some spectacular views.

Tami in Temple Bar with her "Regular Umbrella" while it was still in fairly good shape.

Bernie at the Parade Ground of the Collins Barracks at the National Museum of History in Dublin with his...

At one point "Regular Umbrella #2" flew up in the air, circled through the street stopping traffic, and landed at my feet... all the while the handle was still in my hand and the locals were rolling with laughter.

Tami and I learned an important lesson on our trip to Ireland... stay away from those "Euro Store" umbrellas they stack by the register and ask where they keep the "Irish Umbrellas"...

"Here's to you Ronnie Drew"...

Just after we got home from Ireland we got news that Irish folk artist Ronnie Drew of the famed Dubliners passed away... Many a'Irish souls are sad tonight...

Ronnie Drew, singer and guitarist: born Dú*Laoghaire, Ireland 16 September 1934; married 1963 Deirdre McCartan (died 2007; one son, one daughter); died Dublin 16 August 2008.

Irish folk singer Drew dies at 73

"Earlier this year many of the artists who had taken inspiration from him – U2, Sinead O'Connor, The Corrs, Chieftains, Damien Dempsey, Shane MacGowan, Christy Moore – released a tribute single, "The Ballad of Ronnie Drew", with proceeds to the Irish Cancer Society. It topped the Irish charts and a frail-looking Drew gave an emotional interview thanking them when they performed it on RTE's Late Late Show in February. "Illness can make you happy in a strange way," he said, "because it makes you realise people are there for you".
SOURCE: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/ronnie-drew-lead-singer-of-the-dubliners-900669.html

The Ballad Of Ronnie Drew


One of my favs...

The Dubliners - In The Rare Old Times

Nothing like viewing great art in person... Our visit to the National Gallery of Ireland...

As Tami and I walked the lovely streets of Dublin we came upon many interesting sites. One of the best treats for me was our visit to the National Gallery of Ireland... here we are pictured outside.

My advice... never pass up a gallery or art museum. Paintings should be viewed in person to get a true sense of their splendor where they can literally communicate with the viewer. So many times we only get the chance to see works by the masters in print or online... neither are able to rival the awesomeness of viewing a painting in real life... it's a rush for me!

Some people would be ecstatic if they could see their favorite singer or movie star in person... that's how I felt when I rounded the corner in the National Gallery and came face to face with one of my top five favorite paintings... Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ.
Caravaggio (Michelangelo da Merisi) 1571–1610
The Taking of Christ 1602 (Click on image to enlarge...)
Society of Jesus of Ireland, on loan to the National Gallery of Ireland

The man carrying the lantern at the extreme right, who looks inquisitively over the soldiers’ heads, has been interpreted as a self-portrait of Caravaggio.

I wasn't even aware this painting was part of their collection so this was a special surprise. The gallery was almost empty and it was if we were able to have a private viewing of this spectacular work. I handed Tami the camera and asked her to snap a photo of me with the painting... at that point the private viewing was over... a security guard (who appeared out of thin air) quickly informed us about the "no photos" rule and I was forced to commit the painting to memory... a good one I might add.

The painting has an interesting story behind it and how it came to be part of the collection at the National Gallery...

By the late 18th century, the painting was thought to have disappeared, and its whereabouts remained unknown for about 200 years. In 1990, Caravaggio’s lost masterpiece was recognized in the residence of the Society of Jesus (the Jesuits) in Dublin, Ireland. The exciting rediscovery was published in 1993.

Read the complete story about the rediscovery HERE....

YouTube Video... The Taking of Christ - Caravaggio


The guard was very pleasant once we conceded and actually gave us a tour discussing several other works which included pieces by the likes of Canova, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Poussin, Monet, Velasquez, Picasso, Goya and John B. Yeats as well as Jack B. Yeats to name a few.

Another one of my favorite Old Masters was represented in the gallery.... Johannes Vermeer (1632–75). His painting Woman writing a Letter, with her Maid (c.1670) was another real treat for me to see and study intently in person.


Johannes Vermeer
Woman writing a Letter, with her Maid (c.1670)
National Gallery of Ireland

Viewing great art with a great lady in a great city... what more could I ask for?

Bernie

Cool Video Ad for Dublin

Check out this cool video ad for Dublin City...

Click HERE to view it...

Dublin Rocks!

While in Dublin... Tami and I came across some interesting spots of special interest to me.... proving Dublin ROCKS!

Here I am pictured at Rory Gallagher Corner in the Temple Bar area of the city. The late Rory Gallagher is one of my favorite strat playing bluesmen... I've included a video for you to check out.

There's a cool story about the bronze stratocaster above and it's dedication on Rory Gallagher Corner...

~

U2 Guitarist The Edge (or Dave Evans to his family) honoured the late great Blues strummer Rory Gallagher in May 2005 with a Bronze sculpture in Temple Bar... read more and see photos here... The Edge Honours Gallagher...

Here I am at a Dublin rocker's tribute statue... the late Phillip Lynott of the rock band, Thin Lizzy. Enjoy this video which includes another one of my favorite guitarist... Gary Moore who is from Belfast.

~

On August 20th, 2005, on what would have been his 56th birthday, a statue of Phil Lynott was unveiled in Dublin's Grafton Street by his mother. There to witness the event were members of Thin Lizzy from throughout the band's career. Later that evening they joined forces under the leadership of Gary Moore for a concert that paid tribute to Lynott's memory. Source: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Below is a photo of "The Clarence Hotel" located along the Liffey River in Dublin. The cool thing about The Clarence is that is owned by Bono & The Edge of Irish rock group U2... another one of my favorite bands. I have also included a video by U2.... enjoy....

Forgot to mention... we got addicted to CRAIC in Dublin!

Let me explain... CRAIC is the Irish word for FUN! It all started in Dublin... from day one we were addicted and "had good craic"... translated "had a blast"... the whole time we were in Ireland. We'll share some of our Craic'n good times with you over the course of the next few weeks... enjoy this video I found on youtube sharing GOOD CRAIC in Dublin...



Until our next post...Bernie and Tami

Bernie and Tami... News from Enchanting Ireland...

JAKERS! The "Wild Geese" return home!


Tami and Bernie pictured at the National Art Gallery in Dublin...

Bernie and Tami had a BLAST in Ireland!

Here we are pictured with our "Go Ahead Tours" group the night before our return home... a GREAT bunch of people. Click on image to enlarge.