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IRELAND’S ISLANDS CAN be fascinating places, and one singer-songwriter is hoping they’ll provide him with some unique musical inspiration this summer.
Marty Ryan from Limerick is on a mission to travel around eight islands, playing a gig and then writing a song in two days.
He has been to two islands – Bere and Inis Mór – so far, with another pencilled in for this Sunday. Ryan, who has been in bands since he was 15, is now a solo artist who performs under the name Anna’s Anchor.
‘The Islands’ sees him yet to visit Inishturk, Clare Island, Cape Clear, Inis Óirr, Inishbofin and Valentia Island between now and 25 July.
He spends the weekend on each island, playing a gig usually on the Saturday night, then returns home to write a song in two days, before recording it with Mike Gavin of Choice Music Prize-nominated band Windings.
The song is then released online on the Thursday, having been recorded in Gavin’s studio, and mixed and mastered.
“I wanted the songs to be as high quality as possible given the time frame,” said Ryan. “I want them to be radio quality and Mike has been beyond helpful.”
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When the project is completed, the plan is to compile all the songs together for a special limited edition release on Never Meant Records.
The entire trip is also being filmed forthcoming documentary.
Loving the challenge
“The whole challenge of it is something that grabs me,” said Ryan, who wanted to do something “different, something challenging and creative as possible” during his summer.
The main thing I wanted to do was [have] the songs be as honest and genuine as possible.
One big draw to the project was getting out of his comfort zone on the islands, embracing “the fact you are very secluded, that you are getting way from everything”.
Living in the city, sometimes you are in your comfort zone – maybe it’s easy to not be as honest as possible.
He hopes that the simpler life on an island will be reflected in his songwriting.
I felt that I’m at a point in my life, I’m 23, I’ve just finished college. I feel like there’s a lot of things looking back so far on my life until this point, that I do have things to say about. Separating myself out on these places would be a great way to do that and put a mark on that point on my life, so I’ll have something to be proud of when I look back.
The songs can explore whatever strikes him – they don’t have to be about the island. But the island life has had more of an impact on his work that he might have imagined.
He called one song – which was influenced by a man he met on a ferry to Inis Mór – St Enda, only to discover that the real St Enda himself lived on Inis Mór.
This weekend, Ryan is getting set to play to 50 people on Inishturk. He thrives on the unexpected nature of touring, not knowing who or how many will turn up.
I was saying from the start it would be weird and wonderful – I am sure it will hit both ends of that threshold. I am aware of what I signed myself up to.
The music scene in Limerick means “everything” to him – from the fact that Noel Hogan from the Cranberries turns up at gigs by small bands, to the “real community feel” he senses in the city.
While he’s delighted to be travelling around the country, there really is no place like home for Ryan:
Limerick means absolutely everything to me because it’s where I grew up. In life everyone loves an underdog and everyone wants to root for the underdog. We’re always fighting against that reputation we have which I think is completely unjustified. I think Limerick has just as beautiful sites as Galway has. We have some of the most welcoming people. Every town in Ireland has a bad side to it, no matter where you go.
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Why is the journal quoting asking prices as house prices when there is an register of actual house prices? And can the 12% v 1% differential be explained?
Asking Price increase for South Dublin: 12.2%
Asking Price increase for Dublin as a whole: 5.3%
Property Price Register increase for Dublin as a whole: 2.3%
Asking prices only increase if the house is expected to get more than it would have 3-6 months ago. It is a sign that people are willing to pay more, even if the sold price is still less than the asking house. I know of a house that was taken off the market after failing to sell for 2 years, with asking price brought down to 395k – best offer was about 320 – now sold (2 weeks after going up again) for 410k, 15k above asking price which was still 395k. 2 people competed for purchase. Previously, nobody was interested.
They seem to be making some huge leaps considering the small numbers available for analysis. Not to mention that an asking price is not a measure of value. I’ve also heard that some estate agents in the city are paying employees to put ‘for sale’ and ‘sold’ signs in their gardens to give a sense that the market is picking up again.
Such utter rubbish. Certain areas may have maintained prices or possibly even risen slightly. On average this is not the case. There is probably increased demand for what is available, in SOME areas.
One reason is that people are not selling due to the woeful price they will be offered or the negative equity they are already in this there may actually be a shortage in SOME areas.
Journal stop proliferating this sort of shite to benefit your sister website please.
The report says exactly that, some areas have seen an increase, others a decrease. South County Dublin went up by 12.2%, North County Dublin fell by 2.1%.
Before we believe Ronan Lynchs economic prediction. Can we understand his predictions during the boom. Economists save a handful have been exposed as total guess agents since the property collapse in my view.
Waterford is the worst city in the country for job creation (lack of same). If the current policy continues another 10% decline is on the cards for this time next year.
There is a definite increase in certain areas for particular size homes. We have been looking for a 4 bedroom house in the Castleknock/Blanchardstown/Clonsilla area but not in the bad areas there. We have no hope of buying now because they are absolutely rising ridiculously. There were so many estates built in Dublin 15 during the boom but most were 3 bedroom or very very small 4 bedroom (you wouldn’t fit a bed in the “box” room). So many people are looking for the older 4 bed houses and there aren’t enough obviously. A friend of mine bought recently and paid 75K over the asking price. The 3 beds in the same area can’t shift but are upping their asking prices because of the demand for 4 beds. The rents in the area have gone so high now too because a lot of people (us included) rent our smaller house out and privately rent ourselves.
I really hope we don’t get suckered into another property bubble now or in the future. Home ownership is bad for society and bad for homeowners as in a recent study it has been correlated with higher regional unemployment, lower resistance to economic shocks, lower labour mobility and longer commuting times.
Similarly, from a buyer’s point of view, it has all the traits of a really bad investment – poor liquidity, huge debt and no diversification.
Now is the time for nama/banks to slowly release their house properties in Dublin. This would moderate the market and raise some steady cashflow even if they take a hit over their boom values.
For me this is irresponsible journalism from the Journal. Surely in-light of all the anger that has been created by the bank recordings in the last week, if one thing is learned it’s that we all have to show more responsibility. Why would you chose to publish this PR-driven report when it is likely that there is an headline making motive in it – all it does is drive hype. Leads to a bigger question of reliable, unbiased news in this country.
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