Month: April 2008

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" provides a low-key, entertaining weirdness unmatched elsewhere" - Fortean Times Read the full review here (pdf) » Only € 9.99 + P&P! By Dave Walsh, Barry Kavanagh, Damien DeBarra, Sue Walsh and others Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Nonsuch Ireland Published May 20th 2008 See photographs and read about the launch party on June 12th, 2008 at the Dice Bar, 78 Queen Street, Dublin and read Damien's account of the night here » Listen to an interview about A Load of Blather with Dave Walsh on Phantom 105.2FM » Eleven years, three convictions, two deportations, ten thousand pints, six barring orders and a legion of leather-clad groupies later, Dave Walsh, Barry Kavanagh and Damien DeBarra (the cheap tarts that brought you Blather.net) bring you their latest labour of love: A Load of Blather: Unreal Reports from Ireland and Beyond, the first book that anyone has been nuts enough to let...

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Scribbling furiously with the bloodied broken stump of a leprechaun's finger, under an apocalyptic cloud of molten ash and flames; blather.nets 'end of days' emissary, Ender Wiggan, concludes the I, Patrick saga, concerning the real life and times of the blow in from Britain. With Extreme Prejudice Int. British Monastery Kitchen (5H CENTURY) - Day FR. CORMAN "Brother Willard, you ever hear of a man called Patricius?" BR. WILLARD "Yes, sir, I've heard the name." FR. LUCAS "A deacon, attached to Carlisle" FR. CORMAN "Luke, would you read that letter for the Brother, please. Listen carefully." FR. LUCAS (READING) "I, Patricius...a sinner and one truly unlearned... FR. CORMAN "This was sent out of Ireland. This has been verified as Fr. Patricius handwriting." FR. LUCAS (READING) “...the riches which he has unjustly gathered will be vomited from his belly, the angel of death will hand him over to be crushed by...

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'No Thoroughfare on The Tram Road: History of Clontarf and its Environs' by historian Val Lynch is a charming local history book which many northside Dubliners may have seen knocking around in newsagents and shops. Being from the area myself, I have an obvious interest. Whilst I am all for local history (something which we here on blather.net have always been fans of) one does have to worry when such books simply repeat stories about local legends and folklore. In the book I've just mentioned, there is an excellent example: the story of the 'Mysterious Underground Tunnels Under Clontarf'. The fact is, the story is nonsense. How do I know? Because I was part of the group that (inadvertently) made the whole thing up. So, how did it happen? Well, at the time I was a semi-regular poster to an Irish discussion forum - the mighty p45.net ('wasting time at work')...

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This time two months ago, I was in Tasmania - and I saw my first Tasmanian Devils up close. While generally deeply interested (perhaps obsessed) by wildlife, encountering Tassie devils was high on my list - and these photographs are the fruits of my labours. Now, a Tasmanian devil superhero named Cedric has made news this week, after scientists found that his genes may save the species from extinction. This time two months ago, I was in Tasmania - and I saw my first Tasmanian Devils up close. While generally deeply interested (perhaps obsessed) by wildlife, encountering Tassie devils was high on my list - and these photographs are the fruits of my labours. Now, a Tasmanian devil named Cedric has made news this week, after scientists found that his genes may save the species from extinction. Tasmanian Devils - now the largest carnivorous marsupial following the apparent demise of...