Monthly Archives: April 2011

Ad Nauseam: Just Do It

  By Éilish Burke | April 28, 2011 - 12:59 pm | Adverts
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Okay, so I’ve been a bit of a grouch over the past few weeks, railing against ads for biscuits and telephone companies and the like, so this week I want to dust off all that negativity and start off with an ad that is so brilliant it quite literally gave me goosebumps. Yes dear readers this week we shall be mostly looking at ads for sports brands. Of course it’s no wonder that these companies can produce amazing ads; they have deep pockets from which to stump up for hotshot directors, music rights and celebrity endorsements. Pity the poor local advertiser who has their meagrely-financed ad placed beside the celeb-packed roller-coaster ride that is this Adidas commercial. I saw it in the cinema last week in its full two-minute-long glory and it was a spine tingling experience alone worth the movie entrance fee (though I recommend the film I saw … There’s more →

New Cartoon: The Amazing World of Gumball

  By Sinead Keogh | April 28, 2011 - 10:07 am | Kids, Movies & TV
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For those of you who liked your cartoons, keep at eye out for The Amazing World of Gumball. Produced by Irish outfit Boulder Media, it’s launching on the Cartoon Network next Monday, May 2nd at 10am. We had a peek at the YouTube clip and we think it might make for some good hungover (who, us?) Bank Holiday viewing.

Storyfold: Trick of the Light

  By Sinead Keogh | April 27, 2011 - 8:05 pm | Gigs, Music, The Culch
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Quick sticks! Storyfold’s music vid went live all of 5 minutes ago. Go be one of the first to see it! Need a bit more info? Dublin 5-piece Storyfold have launched their music video for Trick of the Light this evening. It’s edited by U2 editor Stephen O’Connell. The story goes that O’Connell bumped into Storyfold’s frontman Paddy McKenna in a branch of AIB six years ago. He probably didn’t think that a casual offer to give him a call if McKenna ever needed an editor would lead anywhere…but fast-forward to a cold call at the start of this year and suddenly Storyfold have got themselves an O’Connell-edited instant classic filmed in the incredibly watchable surrounds of a disused 18th century Georgian townhouse. It’s called Trick of the Light and it’s the first single from the album ‘Rocket Science’ which will be launched at a gig in Whelan’s on May … There’s more →

Glasgowbury Festival 2011: Small But Massive

  By Sinead Keogh | April 27, 2011 - 9:46 am | Festivals, Gigs, Music
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One for our Nordie readers (or anyone residing in Bandit Country around Louth and the like) is the 11th annual Glasgowbury Festival. Tickets went on sale last week (£30 or £40 with camping - and I don’t know about you but I get right nostalgic whenever I see a pound sign) and Cashier No 9 has been confirmed as this year’s headliner. Based in Draperstown, Co Derry (It’s called Glasgowbury after the founder, Paddy Glasgowbury.) it’s billed as the festival ‘for musicians, by musicians’ and calls itself small but massive. It’s previously been headlined by the likes of Ash and acts as a showcase for Irish musical talent. Also on the bill for 2011 are Axis Of, Boxcutter, Furlo, Mojo Fury, More Than Conquerors, Phil Kieran. Rainy Boy Sleep, The Wonder Villains, LaFaro, The Answer, Foy Vance, Deep Fried Funk DJs, Rams’ Pocket Radio, Swanee River, Silhouette and The Rupture Dogs. All … There’s more →

Temple House Festival: 10th - 12th June

  By Sinead Keogh | April 26, 2011 - 9:59 am | Events, Festivals, Music, The Arts, The Culch
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Coming back for its second year this June, the Temple House Festival held in the grounds of the Temple House Estate, Ballymote, Co Sligo, has announced a rocking great line-up for this year’s 4 stages of fun. Ash, Lisa Hannigan, Whipping Boy and Riptide Movement were some of the names announced last week to join the already stellar offering of Declan O’Rourke, Something Happens, Andrew Strong, The Walls, Heathers, Miracle Bell, Oddsocks Revival and Culch.ie favourites Bipolar Empire. We were lucky enough to be treated to a preview of the 3-day festival’s offering during the Temple House press day which featured a tour of the grounds and live sets by Oddsocks Revival and Bipolar Empire and maybe it was the blistering heat on the day, the magical feeling of the place (it includes a lake and the ruins of a Knights Templar castle) or the genuine love for the festival … There’s more →

Event of the Week: 25th April - 1st May

  By Sinead Keogh | April 25, 2011 - 11:51 pm | Events, Gigs, Music, Performance Art, The Arts, Tourism
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One for all the unsuspecting tourists who happen upon Culch.ie expecting a site full of leprechauns and whimsy, and of course those natives who are fond of a bit of tra, this week we’re giving the Event of the Week treatment to Ragús at The Burlington. Ragús is an Irish music and dance show which you might previously have caught during one of its runs at Vicar Street or the Olympia. It’s coming to The Burlington for summer run, kicking off on May 1st (Sunday night) and running ’til October. Previously described as ‘Music that simply gives you shivers up your spine’ by RTÉ Radio 1 and ‘An exhilarating tour de force’ by the Irish Examiner, Ragús is following the format of previous Burlington summer shows, with show packages on offer such as dinner and show for €55, one night stay (dinner, show and breakfast) for €99 per person sharing … There’s more →

Berocca Boost Camp: Come and have a go if you think you’re hard enough

  By Sinead Keogh | April 25, 2011 - 11:13 pm | Events, Sports
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The gang behind Berocca Boost Camp tell us you have just 3 days left to get your entry in if you want to become one of the 4 contestants to take on the challenges of the Berocca Boost Ninja. After the Thursday 28th closing date, four people will be chosen to take part in a series of ’wild, wacky and uber-challenging drills that will stretch the minds and bodies of four would-be ninjas to hilarious extents.’ Voting for the winner will take place via Facebook, where videos of the challengers will be uploaded and armchair enthusiasts will have the chance to vote for their favourite. The eventual winner will bag a trip around the world for two to the value of €2,500 (4 days in Essex then?!) while voters will be entered into twice-weekly draws to get hold of One4All vouchers to the value of €50. If you’re interested, here’s … There’s more →

Star Wars Invasion Dublin

  By Andy Gaffney | April 24, 2011 - 10:31 pm | Events, Featured Post, Gadgets, Movies & TV, The Culch
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As mentioned in previous posts, getting a Star Wars event right can be tricky thing. I mean I don’t want to drag it up again but the event in the R.D.S. to mark Phantoms Menace’s release is just below the time I was circumcised in my chart of ‘Things I wouldn’t do again’. With last year’s concert in the 02 being just a little bit better, I was treating Invasion Dublin in the R.D.S. with the same confidence as successfully navigating an asteroid field (which Paddy Power is giving odds of 3,720 to 1 for, apparently).   However the real difference in Invasion Dublin is the fact that is for fans, by fans. While that dark day in 1999 had a huge bad taste of a heartless cash-in, Invasion Dublin very much wears its heart of its sleeve. Upon first entering the arena you could be mistaken for thinking it’s … There’s more →

Become a 100m World Records Holder this weekend

  By Will | April 22, 2011 - 8:27 pm | Games, The Internet
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Microsoft and Rare want you to become a World Record holder at 6pm Saturday 23 April, all you have to do is run 100 meters. Actually its a little bit more than that, but not much more. Xbox Nations lets you try Xbox LIVE Gold for free, as well as inviting you to take part in the world’s biggest ever virtual sprint. The record we’re going for is the most people running a virtual 100m dash at one time. You need to have (or have access to) play Kinect Sports and complete a sprint mini-game while connected to Xbox LIVE at 6pm on Saturday. You must choose sprint from the mini-game menu – not the entire track and field event for your race to count. You also have to download a gamerpic, which registers you as eligible for the attempt. There is a different pic for each country, so register … There’s more →

I Heart Tea Crowd - Episode 4 Bosco

  By Andy Gaffney | April 21, 2011 - 11:00 am | Comedy, Competitions, Featured Post, I ♥ Tea Crowd, Kids, Movies & TV, TV
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***COMPETITION CLOSED. CONGRATS TO GRAINNE*** In episode 4 of I Heart Tea Crowd we meet puppetry’s own Bosco. ***Competition now closed. The winner will be announced in the next episode*** The Tea Crowd Teaser for this month’s tea hamper from Lyons Tea is this: You go in through one hole, you come out through three holes. Once you’re inside, you’re ready to go outside, but once you’re outside, you’re still inside. What is it? (The answer’s in the episode). Throw your answer in the comments and we’ll announce the winner in next month’s episode. Previous episodes of Tea Crowd are available here.

Swords Comedy Club - Thursday 28th April

  By Peter | April 20, 2011 - 10:46 am | Comedy
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A superb line-up for the next show & limited eur8.00 tickets. Johnny Candon - A lovely guy. A lovely rude guy. A lovely rude goo-d guy. “The new Dave Allen” - Ricky Gervais John Lynn - Lynner. The Lynn-Meister. The Smiley-Grin-Lynn-Meister. “A very amusing and cynical observer” – The Irish Times Colum McDonnell - Intelligence of Arsene Wenger. Looks of Che Guevara. Accent of Jim Corr. “Go and see him now!…he will make you laugh..and you will laugh…laugh your little wet pants off..so bring a spare pair, you have been warned! ” A born story teller,he really lights up the stage” - Forth Fm Radio/ Edinburgh Festival Limited tickets available until this Saturday for EUR 8.00. Buy from the venue, Peacocks Steakhouse, in Rivervalley, Swords & online from www.eventelephant.com/swordscomedyclubjohnlynn

A ‘Knight’ Out with Danny McBride

  By Andy Gaffney | April 18, 2011 - 10:14 am | Celebs, Movies & TV, The Culch
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  Being a blogger isn’t always sunshine and lollipops, unless you are one of the lucky ones covering the bi-annual ‘Sonnenschein und Lolly-Knalle’ festival on the outskirts of Salzburg of course. Sometimes it’s a thankless, spell checking, dull awards-sitting, social nightmare of a thing. However, it also allows you the opportunity to be asked ‘Do you want to sit in a pub and chat to Danny McBride for a little bit?’, which is not something you say no to really.   Yes, the insanely manly-looking star of such movies as ‘Pineapple Express’ and the T.V. show ‘Eastbound and Down’ was in town to promote new fantasy comedy epic ‘Your Highness’. Following a screening of the film (which a review can be found here), Danny came on stage for a quick Q&A hosted by the quick-witted, priest-voiced comedian Jarlath Regan. Here Danny would discuss such topics as the dangers of carrying … There’s more →

Neil’s Movie Round-up

  By Neil | April 17, 2011 - 8:05 pm | Movies & TV, The Culch
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Cave of Forgotten Dreams is an illusive documentary, in that it is not really a documentary, it’s a ride. It’s a possible prototype of a set of Disney-theme rides for a more refined age. Wernor Herzog’s rasping and often childishly gleeful narration leads us into a cave discovered in 1994, accessible by only the elite few scientists, and protected with such ferocity by the French Government that is was often restricted to filming for just one hour per day. His crew minute, and often forced to carry the camera himself, Herzog glides through the serene caves with the reverence and awe that the subject warrants, but it is Herzog himself that we are really watching. It’s tight in character with none of the personalities that usually define Herzog’s films. He is the most interesting as he wanders through the cave. The 3D is a novelty, and needing bright light to … There’s more →

Ad Nauseam: Out of Character

  By Éilish Burke | April 13, 2011 - 12:30 pm | Adverts, Featured Post, The Culch
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Has anyone else noticed the rash of brand ‘characters’ in Irish ads recently? I’m not talking epic storylines acted out by characters like Papa and Nicole or those two heavily airbrushed ones in the naff Nescafe ’80s ads. I’m talking about actors playing employees of the company and becoming the face of the brand. There’s been a few and in this post we’re going to take a look at the good, the bad and the just plain annoying. Jim in Eircom support Jim has been around for a year or so now. He’s managed to hold on to his cushy job in Eircom customer support which sees him wandering about his fancy glass-walled office, nonchalantly tossing the odd screwed up ball of paper into a wastebasket and adjusting the tightness of his hands-free headset. Jim is a lucky man. He answers the phone to the right type of customer; some … There’s more →