Back on the Bikram Mat

About a week ago, I saw on Facebook that the studio I used to practice at was celebrating being open 16 years.  They were offering a special deal to mark this occasion which was 16 days for 16 euro. 

What a special offer - it got me back on the mat!

So I went back last Monday and since then I've done 6 classes in total. 

Oh boy, it feels amazing to be back!!

The weather has begun to change and it is getting slightly colder - this makes it the perfect time to be heading to the Bikram studio to get some heat in to me.

I've got a week left on this offer and then I intend to continue on with my practice. 

But for the moment the focus is purely on my next practice day which is tomorrow! 

How the "Pigsy" show went.....

Back in early October I blogged about looking forward to Pigsy's show in Fitzwilliam Lawn Tennis Club.  I then meant to follow up with a blog all about the event which I intended to write fairly soon.  However the event was such a success that I had a fair come down from it and this meant that I needed to wait awhile, let the dust settle and write about it then.  This is that write up!

The event consisted of 3 parts: 

• Film Screening of the short film "Pigsy" directed by Mike Andrews
• A live interview with Pigsy by Kevin Moore of Legacy Communications (which also included a Q&A with questions asked by the audience) 
• An art exhibition of Pigsy's latest work

Kevin and Pigsy had the audience's attention with their chilled banter and there were lots of great questions asked when the floor was opened up to the audience.

Prior to the film screening the audience got to mingle in the bar and enjoy canapes along with the signature Pigsy cocktail created for the event which was called a "Pigtail"!

The above pic is the screening of the film which was shown on the Squash Court No. 1 which seats about 100 people in the bleachers and then there were further seats added on to the court.

It was a very social evening with everyone enjoying it immensely and it was great to see a new audience embrace Pigsy's work. 

Read more about the event here on Pigsy's website www.ciaranmccoy.com (click link)

I had a wonderful time at the Pigsy event but unfortunately didn't manage to get in to any of the official photographs - but luckily I had taken an obligatory selfie, so here it is!

You can watch the PIGSY film here on youtube

Meet Joe Black

It's been over 20 years since "Meet Joe Black" starring Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins was released. 

My memory of first watching this film was that I saw it in the Savoy Cinema on O'Connell street, with my twin sister. It was so long that they had an interval, even though films weren't generally shown with an interval as had been done in the past. Come to think of it, intervals really were a great thing. They were sociable, you could chat about the film and see how your companion was enjoying it, or you could visit the bathroom for a comfort break (always a good thing) or you could stock up on some more goodies if you had eaten all your ice cream or popcorn - presumably this was good for business so I wonder why cinema's stopped having intervals.

Anyway, I digress, back to Meet Joe Black which is now on Netflix and we started watching it on Thursday evening but it was so long that we took an interval and started back watching it last night.

It's a funny thing watching a film again with 20 years of life on you!

There were so many details I noticed in this film that I don't think I appreciated when I watched it on the big screen the first time.  Namely, the art, the interior design, the food, the music.....but mainly the art.

So many scenes featured (as well as the talented actors) the most incredible art works ranging from Rothko to Kandinsky to Cezanne and many many more. 

The use of the artwork was very clever, one reason it featured was to indicate what type of man the main protagonist was - i.e. Bill Parrish was a worldly classy man who appreciated the finer things in life but additionally the art work added so much to particular scenes.  For example when Bill is addressing his board there is the most amazing brightly coloured art work behind him while behind the board members there is a drab bland wood panelled wall. Due to the background of art, Bill presents as a dynamic progressive man with vision while his board appear to be dour charmless "suits". It's amazing what art can do!

I really rate "Meet Joe Black", it's an incredible love story and it really has stood the test of time - I hope you get to see it and if you do, look out for the art!!!

The Oratory, Dun Laoghaire

On Saturday I finally got to visit The Oratory in Dun Laoghaire. I had heard lots about it and was spurred on to visit by the launch of a new publication about the Oratory.  "Divine Illuminations" is edited by Marian Therese Keyes, Nigel Curtin and David Gunning of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Libraries. 

Click here to see a video from the 1970's when the Oratory was under threat of being taken down.

Luckily it has been preserved and is available for all to enjoy. It's a very special place and I hope you get to visit. I plan on visiting it again soon as it is the type of place that you will notice different things on every visit.

I have seen it described as entering a 3D Book of Kells and I think that is very apt. The Oratory is covered in celtic art that is very unique.

Here is some of the pictures I took when I visited and they include some of the stained glass windows that were made in the studio of Harry Clarke.

This place is remarkable. It is tiny but packs a punch with the amazing artwork by Sister Concepta Lynch who painted the whole Oratory throughout the 1920's and 1930's.

Click here to read reviews of the Oratory on Tripadvisor 

I found the Oratory to be very unique and something very unexpected in the middle of houses in Dun Laoghaire behind the cinema.  Go seek it out - it's worth seeing!

Sr. Concepta herself seems like an amazing lady. Prior to being a nun she ran the family business which she sold at age 22 and then funded a marble altar with the money - this altar is seemingly now in the Cabra Domincan Convent - which happens to be my alma mater!  I need to investigate this further and see if I can get pictures of the altar which I am thinking might be the altar in our school chapel.

The artwork is hard to describe and really has to be seen - it's whimsical but elegant and the use of colour is breath taking.

All I can say is go visit!!!

Pigsy Show!

I'm looking forward to seeing the next Pigsy event which is on tomorrow!

It's very exciting with all of the tickets for the show getting snapped up in practically a few days. 

The event consists of a screening of the Mike Andrews documentary "Pigsy" followed by a Q&A with Pigsy and Kevin Moore of Legacy Communications.

And of course there will be an exhibition of lots of Pigsy paintings - 19 to be exact!

Here's a little sneak peek at some of the work....

Follow @pigsyinspace on instagram to see all the activity from the evening.

And you can also watch the documentary online here.