What time does the last train go?

When I was about 15 an American tourist asked a group of us young ones hanging around bored, which is the essential pastime of young ones, what time the last train went to Derry. 1953 was the witty, and correct, answer. Which begs the question how can we expect to become a city without a train station? It is a basic transport need, and indeed requirement for any forward thinking urban area. At the moment Letterkenny is choc a block with car traffic at peak times. The Neil T Blaney Road was apparently designed as a relief road but has added to the pressure by being the site for high traffic out of town retail units there. How will the Letterkenny roads, already jammed, cope with even more of a population? Sligo, a comparable size, has a train line to Dublin, an airport, and a fine town bus service. We dont even have a decent road to Lifford, the first step on our journey to Dublin.....! If Letterkenny really wants to move forward good access and transportation is essential. Maybe now that we no longer have a Dublin Taoiseach the rest of the country will get a lash at the billions of Euros earmarked for rail services in what is now a fine 21st Century capital city. Unfortunately we're still behind where we were mid 20th Century .....

Ocean Colour will be Seen...

The Grill has now reopened and thanks to the huge publicity is being talked about like never before! It's an ill wind and all that. And it is timely because I think this Sunday night could be the best gig they have had on yet as Ocean Colour Scene, who are known for their great live gigs, come to town. They have had two big albums in Moseley Shoals and Marchin' Together and first came to my attention when I realised that two of them were members of Paul Weller's regular backing band. Many of their influences are the same as Weller's, most notably the Small Faces I'd say (feel free to argue with me in person). They've also been close to Oasis, indeed they were a support act at the legendary Knebworth gig and have performed and toured with Oasis over the years. Still it's on their own merits they should be taken and the acoustic set up of this gig will suit classics such as The Day We Took The Train perfectly. Only 20 Euros in. Bargain. I'll be dragging myself away from Sunday evening telly for this one!

What's it all about, Beckett?

Samuel Beckett is one of those names that often gets bandied about by people who want to show their intellectual superiority so I never expected to like his stuff but as I work in the theatre I thought I better give it a go and was shocked to find out that it's really funny cracking entertainment, not quite sure what the story was about but I laughed all the way through. Now I couldn't tell you about the big themes that people go on about on T.V. when talking about him but I do know that there's now way he was po faced as he loves a giggle, and indeed toilet humour, they never tell you that on The View! There's a Beckett play on in An Grianan next Tuesday. 'First Love' focuses on a first love affair, and the primary loves that influenced Beckett's life and writing - his dead father, his delight in language, and his profound need for isolation. The 39 year old narrator looks back to when he was 25 and talks about the eviction from his childhood home, his life as a vagrant in Dublin and his meeting with his first love. It's performed by Conor Lovett who has made a fine career out of Backett's works. Why not come along and try it, don't worry too much about understanding everything, and if you feel like laughing do. It's what Beckett would have wanted.

Extra Show for Des Bishop

Told you it was flying. With the Sunday show sold out we've added an extra show for Des on Monday 29th April. Having spent the past twelve months of intense study and immersion in Connemara’s Gaeltact in an effort to speak as Gaeilge Des Bishop is back on the road again. Drawing from his experiences, the star of the RTE show ‘In the Name of the Fada’, comes to An Grianan with his live stand up show ‘Tongues’. ‘Tongues’ deals with Des’s most formidable challenge yet, taking the ultimate step towards Irishness. Already attracting rave reviews, ‘Tongues’ also explores the religious side of Des’s identity, from his early days as an overly theatrical altar boy to his experience with people who have the power to speak in tongues. Call the Box Office now on 074 91 20777.

Happy Birthday Rebellious Jukebox!

Next Friday 11th April, The Red Room, Sister Sarah’s, Letterkenny, wear your party hats for The Dangerfields, a three piece rock n roll band originally from Belfast, formed in 2000. Apparently their debut album Born To Rock swaggers like the Stones, swings like the Ramones and kicks the door in like Motorhead. Dublin band Moutpiece play garage rock, and have many of the best Dublin punk musicians of the last 20 years in the line up, in particular Conzo erstwhile leader of the God like Female Hercules, Tommy Trousers (who was one of the 48 guests at my wedding 10 years ago) and Derek Moulds and of course the ironically named 'safe' Gary. If you see only one band this year ..... and the line up will be completed by Elroy and another Letterkenny band who are spending too much time trying to come up with a name. Doors 9pm. Admission a meager €6. Presents optional.

Julie Fowlis

Also on Friday 11th April is a must see gig in a very different vein, she won loads of awards and had people make many ridiculous claims about her voice but the reality is that this Hebridean singer is fabulous. Go see her. You can thank me later. She's in the Regional Cultural Centre in Letterkenny. Doors from 8pm. All my brother in laws are going (there's four) and if they are impressed anyone will be!

Oh Super Higgsy he used to be a mucker but he's alright now...

Bit of a setback against Bohs last week and another away game this Friday against Bray, hopefully a point or three there. Next home game is against St Pats on 11 April. Why is everything on that night? I'm going to be soooo busy.

Universal Books on the move

Universal Books has moved, lock stock and barrel to beside Bakersville on the Church Lane. Now stocking even more new, old, rare and hard to get books at fantastically small prices (and don't forget to haggle!). I love shops like this and now it's closer to me. Happy days. Tell David I sent you.