Back With The Bells Of Shandon
It seems like a week ago that we were last in Cork with 'Of all the people...' in 2006. Coming back to the Midsummer festival has confirmed my suspicions that people here are some of the friendliest, funniest people you'll meet. The town seems on the edge of a massive development, which i desperately hope doesn't ruin the relaxed non-commercialist spirit that still lingers in the streets.
Last year we attended a site specific dance show by Catapult Dance at St Anne's church in Shandon. Very nicely put together, it contained up close movement within the tower, as well as various dances that you viewed from the top. As you looked down on the 3 or 4 individual dances and over the rest of the city you could imagine the whole town beginning to take part in the choreography. Shandon as an area seemed pretty rough and ready. When Heather and Karen saw the show the audience was witness to what they thought was either a mugging or a robbery! This year gentrification looks like it's slowly sneaking in. New build houses going up and a bistro, 'The Four Liars' (named after the clocks on each side of the tower each telling a different time) looking pretty swanky.
Over the weekend the Shandon Street festival was going on and amid the gourmet sausages and crepes i went up the tower again with Jo. This time we got to have a go on the main attraction of the tower. For a few euro they'll let you ring the church bells completely unsupervised except for a few numbered sheets notating 'Abide with Me', 'Amazing Grace', 'You are my sunshine' or whatever. As you pull the strings and knock out yet another dodgy tune for the residents of Shandon to endure, the effect is strangely elating, we were jumping around for joy!
If you're ever in Cork i'd recommend it whole-heartedly, just spare a thought for the locals and don't try to work out 'The Ace of Spades' on church bells for an hour!