Is it really Summer???

The weather is good - Hurrah! Coming up to a Bank Holiday too - double hurrah! I think it's kinda funny to see people walking around in strappy tops and shorts though. I tend to be rather more cautious, call it pessimism if you will. I wouldn't be inclined to believe that this is it.... the summer is here...I will dip my toes into that concept very gradually. This is Ireland: we could well be back in winter woolies tomorrow... and who can tell when a shower will come to moisturise our little pinkies who've been laid bare in the optomistic sandles? That's why I defiantly remained in head to toe black yesterday and have a faux leather jacket today.

After so many years of wondering what it was all about, I went to the Opera House last night to see The Vagina Monologues - it was very entertaining I have to say - harrowing in parts but mostly humourous. Norma Sheahan (Fiona in 'The Clinic') was my favourite of the trio. She is such a natural actress - and a Corkonian to boot!

Enjoy the Bank Holiday weekend, everyone... and be careful on the road!

Human Recovery... and Animal Rescue...

Still recovering from a fantastic weekend in Dublin. I didn't have tickets for the match at Landsdowne Road but enjoyed seeing the sea of red jerseys around the place... can't remember seeing any Leinster jerseys, as it happens. Well done Munster! What an admirable victory!
As for me, catching up with the girls was great fun - and managed to put a serious dent on the credit card when I hit the shops as well...

What else have I been up to? Well, last Friday was so enjoyable... took the day off work at RedFM and had a delicious lunch in Hayfield Manor's Perrots Restaurant. Three courses, three hours... what a lovely way to while away the afternoon. Then later, I went down to Kinsale. The weather was lovely and I had enough time to stroll around before dropping in to the Blue Haven Hotel for the launch of the Kinsale Vintage and Classic Car Rally. It was launched by Miss Cork Samina Zia, looking gorgeous as always, this time in a floaty cream chiffon dress from Style For Life in the Grafton Mall. Catch the full low-down in my Evening Echo Social Diary today.

This evening I ask you all to watch 'Animal Rescue' on RTE 1 at 7pm. Not only was this brand new series scripted by RedFM's Dave McArdle but it also features my own dulcet tones on the narration. Hope you like!

Car-clamping vermin.

Last night I suffered the horror of having my car towed away by those insidious creatures, the clampers. Patricks Quay, just in case you're interested was the location in question. Now I consider myself a law abiding citizen and never park on double yellow lines, for instance. I always see cars parked in this particular area so thought nothing of it. Saw no double yellow lines either. Turns out, however, that this section is for buses only... you'd know that from the tiny subtle sign, wouldn't you??

It was distressing enough to find my car gone.... but the price??? That's what really tipped me over the edge. €160 to get my car back! That's legalised criminality... first they rob your car and then they rob your money! The punishment certainly doesn't fit the crime. The street, being so vague with it's signage, is such a soft target to prey on people who have made a genuine mistake. How many other €160's did they earn from just that street alone last night.... and every other night? Yeah, I'm sure there were lots of buses queueing to park there at 9 o'clock at night!

These clamping sub-species must be paid a whole lot of money to do the job. I can't imagine, in this Celtic Tiger age, how anyone with a shred of decency would want to stoop so low as to have this extortion as an occupation.

Had just come from a play in The Everyman - the most expensive play I've ever been to, as it turns out! I could have seen the world's biggest stars on Broadway for that money.... NOT A HAPPY CAMPER!

Best Lyrics of all time?

So how did everyone get on over the Easter weekend? I was working Saturday and the Bank Holiday Monday as usual, so it didn't feel especially different to any other weekend to me. Got a few eggs though... and haven't eaten them all yet, so will be gorging for another while to come!!

Went to see Jack L in the Cork Opera House on Saturday night - he was superb, as always. What a voice! What a show-man! And a sense of humour too... as did his zany Australian support act. Never did catch his name. It was my fourth time seeing Jack live and I'll be back again next time! His new album 'Broken Songs' is also out at the moment, by the way....

Yesterday, it emerged that a line from U2' s 'One' was voted best lyric in a poll run by music channel VH1. The line in question is: "One Life, with each other, sisters, brothers". Now, I love U2 but there's no way I'd vote that the best lyric of all time! It's so basic! I much prefer the lyric that came 2nd actually - it's from The Smiths 'How Soon Is Now?' and in the context of The Smiths career, it is certainly a stand-out. It evokes a lot of emotion and is anthemic for lonely people everywhere.

The top five lyrics in the VH1 poll were:

1. U2 - One. "One life, with each other, sisters, brothers."

2. The Smiths - How Soon is Now? "So you go, and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own, and you go home, and you cry, and you want to die."

3. Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit. "I feel stupid and contagious, here we are now, entertain us."

4. Bob Marley - Redemption Song. "Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds, have no fear for atomic energy, 'cause none of them can stop the time."

5. Coldplay - Yellow. "Look at the stars, look how they shine for you."

We discussed the topic on air this afternoon and gathered suggestions from listeners as to who they think has provided the world with great lyrics down through the years. These suggestions included songs from Faithless, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Duran Duran, Lutricia Mc Neal, Eminam, Nirvana, Tupac, Muse, Bette Midler, Placebo, Queen, Chris De Burgh, George Michael and Robbie Williams. Thanks everyone for your contributions!

Morrissey rocked the Kingdom!

OK, it's true, he could sing the phone book or the ABC and I'd be enthralled... but loved the Morrissey gig last night! Thankfully I had bought the new album Ringleader of the Tormentors last weekend and listened to it continuously since then - as he sang most of the album really. He also gave us four Smiths songs, including my absolute favourite 'How Soon Is Now?' How wonderful it was to hear most of the crowd singing along with every word of that one. The show finished with another classic 'Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me' - a poignant end - but of course I didn't want it to end!

As announced this week, Mozzer fans can also catch him headlining Budrising Summer in Marlay Park on August 22nd - with The Magic Numbers, Dandy Warhols and The Dears also on the line-up.

Cheers to our programme director Colm who has just deposited half an Easter Egg on my desk... we're supposed to wait til Sunday to eat them aren't we? Ooooops....

So excited to be going to see Morrissey in Killarney tonight! I last saw him in concert in the Cork Opera House back in 1999. Of course he was FAB then - but with some of his best solo material having been released in the past few years, I'm expecting him to be even better tonight! I'm a fan from the days of The Smiths - and I believe he's still including some of those songs in his live set. I will be in heaven!

The amount of times I find myself trekking down to Killarney for gigs though, just raises the question of why we don't have a suitable venue for such artistes in Cork. It's a disgrace really.

Pondering Good Friday

Hello to everyone I met yesterday evening at the launch of The Choral Fetival. Well done to the performers from Cada who sang and danced their way through the proceedings and even managed to get us singing as well! (Quite a feat!)

Kudos to Holly McConnell from Wilton who was also in fine singing form today on the show - even changing the lyrics of 'Going Loco Down in Acapulco' to suit the occasion! The gand finale of this particular competition will be on Good Friday (the prize being a holiday to Mexico!)

Ah, Good Friday, the day which seems to cause most people to think the world is ending: "What? You mean the pubs aren't open? Argggghhh, what will I do??!!" they shriek. Come on, get over it... IT'S ONLY ONE DAY! Everyone needs some time out, some down time - why not have it on that day and stop complaining? Tomorrow I expect people will be loading up their shopping trolleys as though they are preparing to spend time in an underground bunker to see out a lenghty holocaust. Mad stuff!

Bebo page is gone - hurrah!

So it appears the bebo page purporting to be mine has been taken down, I'm happy to see. It appears I have falsely accused Hoppy of being responsible ... sorry girl! References to her and her friends were in abundance and it was rather similar to the appreciation page she had set up previously... so that was the conclusion I had jumped to. Friends again?? Thanks for reporting it to bebo - I'm very grateful for that. I'm just so relieved it's gone. I'm pretty particular about what I say, so when messages were going out supposedly from me, I was not a happy camper. So will the real culprit please stand up??? Probably not...

Busy bee again today... dashing off shortly to attend a reception to launch the Cork International Choral Festival and then attending the opening of a photographic exhibition in Tigh Fili - all for inclusion on next Tuesday's Evening Echo Social Diary. Speaking of which today's is on news-stands as we speak...

I am not on bebo!!!

There's a page currently on bebo with the url - http://redfm-redzone.bebo.com.... just got to say THIS IS NOT MY PAGE. It looks like it is controlled by me and quite simply it is not. People have left messages on it thinking that it is mine - and I can't even get in touch and tell them that it is not. Messages are being sent that appear as though they are from me - they are not.

Hoppy, the appreciation page was flattering but this is a step too far and my bosses here are giving me grief over it. Please take it down - I don't need this distress. I'm sure you had the best intentions but please try to see it from my point of view. If you really do appreciate me and my show, please delete!!!

Birthdays Galore!

It was a lovely evening yesterday at The Nuala Fenton Gallery for the opening of a new exhibition from Michael Mulcahy. Very vibrant and colourful... read all about it in my Social Diary in next Tuesday's Evening Echo!

A big Happy Birthday to our RedFM patroller Gemma O'Leary - we celebrated with cake at the breakfast bar... A fabulous tradition, I think. I have two more birthday celebrations to join over the weekend, so looks like I am going to be fairly busy!

It was the end of Week One of our Walkers competition on the show today. Well done to Leona O'Sullivan form Ballyphehane who will be going forward to the grand finale next Friday. With a trip to Mexico up for grabs, bear in mind we will be looking for more contestants to take part all next week...

So bright I gotta wear shades...

Lovely evening yesterday - dinner amongst friends. A little bit of Tarot reading went on too... apparently I have a whole new world opening up to me... the future is looking good by all accounts...

This evening, I'm off to an art exhibition opening at the Nuala Fenton gallery... hope to feature it in my Evening Echo Social Diary piece next week...

No take up for Westlife!

It was fairly quiet in The Everyman last night for the opening night of 'The Crock of Gold' - but a great play all the same. A bit too long... but great set, superb performances and an engaging story.

Tonight, dinner at a friend's house.. Looking forward to it as I've had a busy and stressful day and haven't had time to eat much... so working up a HUGE appetite!!

On the show today, loads of people wanting to sell Westlife tickets for this weekend's concerts in Millstreet. No takers for them though... ooops! Instead people were enquiring as to where they could get tickets for Oxygen (sold out) and the forthcoming Munster/Leinster match at Landsdowne Road (like gold dust)... I think those listeners will be waiting for a response from others as well, somehow!

Gloria Ryan was the latest contestant singing on air in the Walkers competition for the trip to Mexico. It's been all ladies so far... are they braver than all the boys out there?! Seems to be the case... We'll see if the tables are turned tomorrow....

So, the cold symtoms haven't escalated just yet... will I win this battle? Remains to be seen, I suppose!

Another great contestant on the show today entering the Walkers competition for the trip to Mexico. Leona O'Sullivan from Ballyphehane gave it socks singing 'Going Loco Down in Acapulco' - mind you, her rendition attracted snide comments from regular listeners Mr Sneaky and Sean. I don't hear them being brave enough to come on air and sing though! Leona cancelled a trip to Lanzarote after breaking up with her boyfriend so I think she deserves a change in luck....

I'll be back in The Everyman tonight for the opening of new play The Crock of Gold... will give the low down tomorrow...

Time to stock up on the Lempsip?

Well done to the Munster Rugby team at the weekend!! I think I might endeavour to go to their next game against Leinster on the 23rd. I have to admit I've never been a rugby fan but I am being introduced to lots of new experiences lately and am enjoying it.

Well the weather finally has an air of Spring about it. How unfair it is then, that I feel the onset of a cold upon me. That niggly sore throat feeling is definitely there, as are the shivers up my back. Must warn that I am a very poor patient... I will most likely be complaining profusely and feeling sorry for myself for the next week or so... sniff!

On the show today, we started a great new competition with Walkers Crisps... the prize being a holiday in Mexico... the catch being you have to sing 'Going Loco Down In Acapulco' live on air! Rachel Ryan from Togher got proceedings off to a great start today with her brief rendition. She said she was hoarse after the weekend but we thought she was just FAB! This will run for two weeks so if you want to get in on the action, text in 'Walkers' plus your name and address to 086 8273336 while I'm on air 2-5pm Mon -Fri. Good luck!