Category Archives: Random Whimsy

Competition CLOSED: The Ultimate Girls Day Out

  By Sinead Keogh | August 8, 2011 - 9:34 am | Competitions, Events, Fashion, Featured Post, Photography, wantsies
28 Comments

***COMPETITION CLOSED. WINNERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED*** Attention lady Culch readers (and gentleman Culch readers, we won’t judge). The fine people behind The Ultimate Girls Day Out have given us some tickets to disperse amongst our masses. What’s the Ultimate Girls Day Out says you? It’s only this thing here… “The Ultimate Girls Day Out is back! The RDS will be the setting for another exciting three day pampering, fashion, beauty and lifestyle event from the 26th August to 28th August. This year there will be more amazing catwalk shows offering the latest looks as well as your favourite beauty and fashion brands and the Smart Girls Zone where you can get practical advice, career guidance as well as beauty and fashion tips. All your favourite exhibitors will be there, with the country’s best boutiques selling at special exhibition prices, and adornments galore at the Accessories Village.Come and check out the … There’s more →

Do Over: Beauty and The Beast … twenty years on. (Now you feel old, non?)

  By Lisa McInerney | June 24, 2011 - 11:00 am | Do Over, Movies & TV, Random Whimsy, The Culch
3 Comments

“It’s not right for a woman to read! Soon she starts getting ideas, and … thinking.” Inspired by Sinéad’s hindsight-fluffed dissection of The Lion King the other day, I took it upon myself to dust off my (now digitalised) copy of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast to see if what was neon-catchy then can stand up to scrutiny now. And you know what? The grown-up me has found just as much to like about it! Hurrah! Beauty and The Beast was a grower, for me. As a tween, I preferred Aladdin’s derring-do and his bare-chested-but-non-threatening aesthetic moxie. Hot on his genie’s blue heels came The Lion King, which had more fart jokes than you could shake a warthog’s arse at, and then, of course, along came Toy Story, which turned all of our brains into fizzing Play Doh. But eventually it occurred to me that I liked Beauty and The … There’s more →

Do Over: Rewatching The Lion King 17 Years On

  By Sinead Keogh | June 22, 2011 - 1:54 pm | Do Over, Kids, Movies & TV, Random Whimsy
2 Comments

“Simba, everything you see exists together in a delicate balance. As king, you will need to understand that balance and respect all creatures because we are all connected in the great circle of life.” A few weeks back, on an intense Disney bender, (it’s like drinking, but you wake up the next morning wrapped in an Aladdin t-shirt that hasn’t fit you since you were six with a banging headache from rewinding and replaying ‘Under the Sea’ in The Little Mermaid a few too many times), The Lion King found its way back into the VCR. When we were growing up, my younger brother was addicted to two videotapes, worn out from watching. They were The Lion King and, inexplicably, Riverdance. As a result, I saw both more times that was healthy or necessary, but since we grew out of them I haven’t seen either for years. The usual reactions … There’s more →

Animated Wallies: A Street Performance World Championship / Culch.ie Special

  By Sinead Keogh | June 15, 2011 - 1:47 pm | Comedy, Events, Performance Art, Random Whimsy
1 Comment

The Street Performance World Championships happening this weekend in Dublin are talked about loads in our event of the week post but we couldn’t resist being a bit cheeky and gifing the hell out of some wally photos to make lols. Check out Culch’s own Anthonymcg (‘do you know Anto’), Andy, Darren and Christina. But mostly, check out the hilarious people in the background of the second image. Not that we’re saying it looks like anything. Heh.     Thanks to my Work Mom Gary for animating the gits. I mean gifs. Yes.

Event of the Week: June 13th - 19th

  By Sinead Keogh | June 13, 2011 - 9:58 am | Comedy, Events, Performance Art, Random Whimsy, The Arts
1 Comment

A few weeks back, Culch was invited to take part in the launch event for the Where’s Wally Guinness World Record attempt that’s going to take place during Street Performance World Championships in Dublin next weekend. The plan was a simple one…a Where’s Wally flashmob of 200 people dressed as Wallys, singing Always Look on the Bright Side of Life as the LUAS pulled into Stephen’s Green before marching to Bewley’s and following the instructions of the head Wally on the balcony from jumping jacks to lying on the ground and taking a rest. Naturally, we were well up for it, and 5 of us trekked out to Sandyford LUAS stop one chilly Friday morning to receive our instructions…. A few hours of practice later we managed to achieve this: If it looks like fun (and it should, because it was!) then don’t despair that you weren’t there. The proper … There’s more →

Festival News: 5-course Dinner at Body & Soul

  By Sinead Keogh | May 31, 2011 - 10:12 am | Events, Festivals, Food, Music, Vintage, wantsies
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We’re just a few weeks out from the Body & Soul Festival which we all but lost the run of ourselves praising here but they’ve come up with more to impress and excite. Just announced, a five-course banquet in the woods called ‘The Queens Go Wildside’ will cater for 200 people in 4 sittings across the weekend. Costing €55, the banquet will celebrate wild Irish foods and have proper silverware, linen, bubbly and everything. How very grand. Between that and the masquerade ball we’re going to have to bring the ballgown and the full length mirror. And possibly a bigger tent. “Expect sinful decadence, heavenly indulgence, a gourmet feast of guilty pleasures delivered to perfection in an otherworldly location” they tell us. Nyom! Tables at the Queens Go Wildside banquet can be booked on Body & Soul’s website, where you can also get festival tickets for €99 for the weekend. … There’s more →

I Heart Tea Crowd - Episode 5 Niamh Farrell (Ham Sandwich)

  By Andy Gaffney | May 30, 2011 - 11:45 am | Competitions, Festivals, I ♥ Tea Crowd, Music, Random Whimsy
68 Comments

***COMPETITION CLOSED. CONGRATS TO CLARE*** In episode 5 of Tea Crowd, we’re joined by Ham Sandwich legend Niamh Farrell. Check out her red Doc Martens. Too cool for words. The winner of the hamper from the Bosco episode is announced too. The Tea Crowd Teaser for this month’s tea hamper from Lyons Tea is this: There’s two in every room and one in every corner. 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.

Competition CLOSED: Win a Nokia N8 Smartphone

  By Sinead Keogh | May 17, 2011 - 10:29 am | Competitions, wantsies
102 Comments

  ***Competition Closed. Congrats to Nessa O’Mahony*** ***Edited to add: Guys, please note that as per Culch.ie’s T&Cs competitions are only open to ROI residents. A number of entries on this one have ISP addresses from outside Ireland. Unfortunately, while we’re delighted with your interest, we cannot validate these entries. If the winner provides a postal address outside of ROI we will have to declare the entry invalid and choose another winner. *** Nokia and Culch.ie are delighted to offer one of our readers a chance to get their hands on the N8. Perfect for you lot (easy access to social networks as well as on-demand Web TV programmes and Ovi store apps!) it also has a very impressive camera (geek breakdown: 12 megapixels, Carl Zeiss lens, Xenon flash and a sensor to rival a point-and-shoot) and it’s described as ‘made for making’ with an in-built editing suite for making … There’s more →

Event of the Week: 16th - 22nd May

  By Sinead Keogh | May 16, 2011 - 10:11 am | Events, Gadgets, Sports, The Culch, Tourism, wantsies
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Got a taste for adventure? This week’s Culch.ie highlight is The Adventure Weekend at the RDS from Friday 20th - Sunday 22nd. Showcasing the best of Irish outdoorsy pursuits, the event will offering attendees the opportunity to try things like zip lining, zorbing, rage buggies and water walkers. Haven’t got a breeze what any of that is? Yep, neither had we. Read on. Zip lining involves being harnessed to a zip wire and zipping through the air at speed, rage buggies are off-road racers a few steps up from what Alfalfa from The Little Rascals used to punt around in (and a good bit cooler, if we’re honest), water walkers are plastic balls that allow you to run around on water (inflatable Jesusballs, as we like to know ‘em) and zorbing? Zorbing is this….

One for the Nordie Cousins: Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange goes to Portrush

  By Sinead Keogh | May 11, 2011 - 12:56 pm | Events, Food, Gigs, Music, Random Whimsy
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We had a whopper night at the Smirnoff Nightlife Exchange Project in The Wright Venue a few months back, so just a wee mention for those of y’all who live up North to say it’s coming your way. It’s happening this Saturday, May 14th in Kelly’s of Portrush and Ireland’s exchange partner is Argentina so the night’s ents will feature stilt walkers, tango dancers, fire-eaters and food like papa fritas and chori dogs and obviously the Argentinian take on the Smirnoff Mule. Dave de Valera, one of the DJs for the night, chats about it here: It’s £7 in (ah, the pound, a currency worth having) and starts at 10pm and sure what else would you be doing?

Competition CLOSED: Win A Year’s Supply of Broderick’s Bars

  By Sinead Keogh | May 10, 2011 - 11:37 am | Competitions, Food, wantsies
2 Comments

***Competition Closed. Winner has been contacted*** So your celebratory Easter chocolate has probably long since run out and you could do with something sweet at the start of the week, are we right? Just as well the gang at Broderick’s Brothers want to give you a year’s supply of Broderick’s Brothers Handmade Cakes and Bars then. You might remember the Broderick’s Brothers from last year’s Apprentice, but long before they were selling their yummy wares into Spar (and on their own website, here) their mammy, Ina, set up the family business from her own kitchen and the boys got their love of homemade sweet and delicous things from there. If you’re not familiar with Rocky Road, Chocolate Brownies, Caramel Slices, Winter Slices, Belgian Chocolate Caramel Nut Bars, Tiffin Slices and Granola Slices then we reckon it’s about time you got intimately acquainted. We recommended the Winter Slice ourselves, but don’t … There’s more →

Event of the Week (27/03/11 - 03/04/11)

  By Sinead Keogh | March 27, 2011 - 9:53 am | Events, Fashion, Random Whimsy, The Culch, Vintage, wantsies
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We’re big fans of the Sugar Club at Culch.ie. They have comfy seats and there’s always something a little bit different on. Not to disappoint, on Saturday April 2nd Leeson Street’s low-lit, speakeasyesque venue will be taking on a touch of Hollywood glamour as the bi-monthly Film Fatale event features a screening Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in their tribute to Hollywood star Jane Russell. The Howard Hawks comedy sees Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe play showgirls Dorothy and Lorelai. ‘Flirtatious platinum blonde Lorelei is committed to marrying a millionaire so that love won’t be tainted by money worries, while the sharp-tongued, raven-haired Dorothy follows her heart towardsall the wrong kinds of men. With fantastically racy music numbers, this stunning Technicolor extravaganza is one of the most charmingand entertaining musicals of the 1950s.’ The screening will be followed by a themed after party with Jane and Marilyn lookalikes performing tunes from the 50s, accompanied … There’s more →

Beaut.ie Name Ireland’s 50 Fine Things

  By Sinead Keogh | March 24, 2011 - 1:24 pm | Celebs, The Culch, wantsies
1 Comment

We know they’re cooler than us, with their buke and their ultracool internet status symbol of being Best Blog 2010 at the IBAs last year, but we like to think of the lovely ladies over at Beaut.ie as our blogging sister ship (right, fine, we’re a dinghy, we know). We’re also big fans of their annual search for Ireland’s Fifty Fine Things, the results of which was released on Paddy’s Day. Being the dedicated Irish revellers / IBA attenders / sofa dwellers that we are we’ve only got around to ogling the 50 gentlemen who made the cut today, but we’re mighty glad we made the time. Included on the list are Ray D’Arcy, Gordon D’Arcy (no relation), Domhnaill Gleeson, Ryan Tubridy (it’s not just me!) and Paul Galvin along with more obvious names like Liam Neeson, Colin Farrell and Cillian Murphy. If you want to take a look at … There’s more →

Competition CLOSED: Between the Canals at the IFI

  By Sinead Keogh | March 15, 2011 - 10:35 am | Competitions, Events, Movies & TV, wantsies
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***Competition Closed: Winners Will Be Contacted*** Dublin movie Between the Canals has its exclusive opening at the Irish Film Institute this week (March 18th) and to celebrate, they’re offering 2 Culch.ie readers a pair of tickets each to any screening of the film from March 19th to 24th. Between the Canals is Mark O’Connor’s debut feature film and follows three small-time criminals from Dublin’s north inner city as they each aspire to be somebody in a fast-changing society. It’s been described as ‘A heart-breaking and occasionally hilarious story of loyalty, duty and masculinity…’ To win, answer the following question: The film, Between the Canals, is set between which 2 canals in Dublin? Click here for a hint. Email your answer to [email protected] by Thursday March 17th at 5pm. Best of luck! If you don’t win and you still want to check it out, tickets are available from the IFI Box Office 01 679 3477 … There’s more →

Leccy Piccy ’11: The Line-up

  By Neil | March 11, 2011 - 10:48 am | Events, Festivals, Gigs, Music, wantsies
2 Comments

Continuing the round of festival-related news in these parts, the leccy piccy line-up announcement at POD yesterday. Here’s the festival booking manager talking about the music weekend that put Stradbally on the map: Electric Picnic’s patronising tone of recent years - charging exorborant ticket prices and consistently repelling arguments about lack of musical quality by repeating the now-formulaic ‘it’s all about the atmosphere’ and listing out the festival awards won that year - has come to an end. There can be no complaints this year. Headliners Arcade Fire, Interpol, PJ Harvey, Chemical Brothers and the massive coup that is Pulp, are worthy of a ticket prices alone.Garnish these off with sheer quality mid-afternoon “dragging your friend out of a ditch” background music of Midlake, Beriut and The Walkmen. In an unprecdeneted turn for this festival, which in recent years has had no problems in dredging world music for some truly … There’s more →