Come Here To Me!

“Rainclouds shake down tribute,

for the Liffey, goods of water

to be trundled grey-green past Wood

and Ormond Quay, the traffic

in opposite direction turning

up Bridge Street right into High

into the Liberties and late afternoon.”

Dublin, The Liberties by Alfred Corn.

Ever since I spent a couple of months living on Marrowbone Lane, at the back of the Guinness Brewery, I’ve held a deep affection for this part of town. It’s often said the patrons who line the streets here are the salt of the earth and they are not far wrong; Wit and humour unrivalled, stories and gossip whispered on the corners, and “Howaya’s” roared across at neighbours the far side of the road… The pervading smell of the roasting of Hops in St. James Gate, the women selling their wares from street stalls, their voices loud, “THE STRAWBERRIES THERE, TWO EURO!” Ah, I just love it. It feels real. That’s why I was delighted to come across these documentaries shot, produced and directed by Shane Hogan and Tom Burke. Each a part of a series of 12 crafted short films, they all focus on a different character within Dublins Liberties community. Its close to a documentary film equivalent of a portrait gallery.

All twelve pieces can be found here, and they’re all worth a look; I’m always happy when I find videos like these, as its very easy for bits and pieces of social history like this to die out, and to have people keeping it alive.. It’s the business.