Hole In The Wall Kilkenny

31/05/2026

Ireland Made seems to be a site dedicated to Ireland's transport initiatives

It now features a YouTube video purporting to show the crash of Godwin Meade Pratt Swift's aircraft - patented in 1856.

It is likely to be rubbish.

It claims that three horses were aboard.

Naw. The horses, if such a thing happened, were needed to haul the aircraft up to the top of Foulksrath Castle.

It is a likely AI generated thing based on a description 100 years later by a relative of Swift.

It presents Swift as an eejit. And yet Swift influenced many of the early French fliers.

There's a story of a Venetian gondola hauled through London.

Naw. More misinterpretation.

Swift was 50 years ahead of his time.

And some resented him.

31/05/2026

I asked "What should we call a gathering of comics?" We were in the courtyard at the rear of Hole in the Wall. "A Festival of Comics!" said David, a well known comic. "What about a Fringe of Comics?" said I. He liked that. "'Twould refer to a small group". "Rock on" said Alison as she drifted through the tavern.

Hole in the Wall had its own Fringe of Comics!

29/05/2026

This evening. Come hear some very special musicians make the Archer Room at Hole in the Wall truly lively!

27/05/2026

One shape

27/05/2026

Another series of Sunday Night Sessions at Hole in the Wall is imminent. Last year it led to the discovery of Jamie Dowling (who led the recent concert at Castlecomer). Let's see what - and who - this series discovers! First Session will be Poetry and Stories May 31st.

27/05/2026

A new movie gets released this Friday.

Power Ballad

It's about a songwriter who has his song pilfered.

Could the story of Dublin's Ray Heffernan and 'Angels' have been an influence on the Irish movie makers? Will their power ballad equal that of Ray's 'Angels'?

Unlikely. Ray's 'Angel' is in heaven speaking the French of her mother. The trigger for that image occurred thanks to a unique, personal and tragic event.

Let's see what Power Ballad will present. And represent

26/05/2026

Fire doors are heavy.

Mullocking them in to Glentworth St yesterday solo was tough.

One was a 36" blank that may suit the basement.

They are on the landing now. And should be hung v soon.

A light switch issue will need addressing!

26/05/2026

Oops!

26/05/2026

https://youtu.be/v9Os9tkykkU?si=kz4E31X0-VheMXSw

German audio version: https://youtu.be/I7MACo6v_Vg"99 Luftballons" (German: Neunundneunzig Luftballons, "99 balloons") is a song by the German NDW band Nena ...

26/05/2026

Germans rarely sing or play instruments at Hole or in the Wall. And yet, Germany spawned some of the greatest composers of some of the greatest music. But that was then.

Lately we've discovered that 99 Red Baloons by Nena is German.

Based on a story that nearly triggered a nuclear conflict.

Last night the story in the song was told to some Germans. They had dismissed it as a frivolous song. But once the story was told they accepted it.

And then a lady sang it.

I told her that we used have the words of Lorelei on a flip chart. They were impressed.

"Get her to sing 'Ave Maria" said one.

She did.

It was the second time a female opera level singer sang at the tavern.

She took it to a level of vocal perfection that transfixed any present.

Genius really.

So mesmerising that any idea of recording seemed inappropriate.

Hopefully she'll return some day?

The idea of an opera written at Hole in the Wall to tell of the seduction of Bavaria's King Ludvic I by Limerick's Lola Montez (Eliza Gilbert) was proposed. She said she needed to be 20 years younger!

No.

Her voice is angelic. A SingSpiel anyone?

And almost immediately after posting an Australian news item tells of 89 Sydney Harbour drones - red in the photo! As lithium pollutes the harbour bed. And we see an AI "world lying in ruins". Oops