The 'Pigeon House' of Stoneybatter

Pigeons of Discontent is a superb new documentary by Paddy Cahill about the pigeons of Stoneybatter. It was inspired by Cónal Thomas's report in the Dublin Inquirer two years ago about the birds that congregate around the "Pigeon House" on Manor Street.

Despite the film's title and a few dissenting voices, it's essentially a celebration of the wee flockers. Among those taking part is Mary Barnecutt from the band Mary and the Pigeons - who also provide the atmospheric music at the start.

For more on Paddy Cahill's brilliant work, check out this post on my other blog about Long Now, his Amanda Coogan documentary.

Rainbows over Stoneybatter

Has Stoneybatter really become the "gay capital" of the Irish universe? Here are two possible answers...

The magnolias of Manor Street

"When the magnolia begins to blossom." It's almost like one of those much parodied movie moments in which the secret agents exchange their code phrases...

'Educating Rita', from Zoom to Mooz

Believe it or not, an upmarket new Italian grocer in Stoneybatter called Mooz was once a location for a very famous film from 1983.

A virtual tour of Walshes pub

Walsh's pub in Stoneybatter (or "Walshes" with an "e" if, like me, you go by the spelling on its splendid stained glass) is a frequent setting in the "Moss Reid" series. The following virtual tour from Google Maps gives a good idea of its interior layout; pity it can't give a flavour of one of the best pints of Guinness in Dublin...

The Cowtown Cafe

Currently working on Book #4 of the "Moss Reid" series (no title yet). Dublin is in yet another property bubble, landlords have upped rents to record levels and Moss has just lost his office in Stoneybatter. So I can see him spending a lot more time in the likes of the Cowtown Cafe.

The changing face of Love Supreme

Chapter 28 of Ghost Flight begins:

"One thing about Manor Street: turn your back on it for five minutes and there's another little change. 

"Like this new coffee shop. It used to be a florists, and a Polish grocery before that, and a..."

The real-life Stoneybatter café I had in mind is called Love Supreme.

Stoneybatter says 'Yes'

I've seen stranger turnabouts in elections before, but surely the SNP will take most - possibly all - of Scotland's seats this week, and on 22 May Stoneybatter will produce an overwhelming "Yes" vote in Ireland's same-sex marriage referendum.

I've only anecdotal evidence for the latter: friends and neighbours, several prominent pub and shop fronts, every second lamp post, so many canvassers, yet not a "No" in sight. It's a bolshie old place alright...

Drovers and drivers on the North Circular

Here's an old photo of a herd of cattle  on the North Circular Road in Dublin. Yeah, we really did have regular cattle drives up and down those streets back then. Not exactly John Ford or John Wayne, maybe, but just as "awesome" in their own little way...

Soulful Bistro, Manor Street

Where exactly does the Stoneybatter district of Dublin begin and end?

About a month ago a bilingual sign appeared overnight near the top of Blackhall Place announcing "Fáilte go Bóthar na gCloch" / "Welcome to Stoneybatter". But surely that dangerous piece of street furniture isn't the actual, official start of Stoneybatter, is it?

If there's no consensus today about Stoneybatter's precise borders, at least most locals would be in broad agreement about its epicentre: on Manor Street. Or possibly, and more specifically, at the cobbled triangle near the top of Manor Street where it meets Aughrim Street on the left and eventually dissolves into Prussia Street on the right.

Walshes pub, Stoneybatter (a sort of short story)

This began life as a Christmas short story (called “The Twelve Pubs of Christmas”) then evolved into part of Black Marigolds, the second book in the ‘Moss Reid’ series. I’ve snipped it back here, so that it’s fairly self-contained. It takes place in Walshes pub on Manor Street (actually its address is 6-7 Stoneybatter) on 18 December 2013…

Grangegorman: a bit of a timeline

Grangegorman on Dublin's northside is rich in history from pre-Viking times onwards. By the start of the 17th century, along with Stoneybatter the area was still a remote village, separate from the city.

Before that it had functioned as a home farm and orchard for the priories, with its manor in Stoneybatter (hence Manor Street).

Walshes snug, Stoneybatter

To get a good idea of Walshes pub on Manor Street in Stoneybatter, check out this superb new video by award-winning director and music documentarian Myles O’Reilly.

It's a ballad called "Way Up On The Mountain" by Ye Vagabonds - brothers Diarmuid and Brían Mac Gloinn. The duo currently play Walshes every Monday night.