Nothing to do with Culture Night ...

... or, What Did They Do With The Ferry?

For years and years and years (like a century), there's been a year-round sea link between Dún Laoghaire and Holyhead. It was with utter disbelief, so, that we learned of Stena Line's decision to put their ferry into hibernation from 16th September until April 2012. 'The route's uneconomical', they've said. 'You can still travel to Holyhead using our other ferry from Dublin Port', they said.

In the mean time I sincerely hope that the Dún Laoghaire Harbour Authority are charging Stena Line whopping great mooring charges while they leave their vessel sitting idle. The coming and going of the ferry was a bit of an event in DL, and things aren't the same at all without the sailings. I took a blip wander around the Marina this morning on my way home after last night's Arthur's Day celebrations, and couldn't resist blipping the abandoned ferry area. Sad. Very.

It was midday before I got home, and then the rest of the day flew by and before I knew it time had come to go in to town for tonight's concert in the National Concert Hall. It was magnificent (a shame more people didn't show up). Martin Fröst was soloist and the orchestra was led by their newly-appointed Chief Guest Conductor Hannu Lintu. What a combination! Martin Fröst is an extraordinaryily charismatic musician, a virtuoso clarinettist who's probably the finest in the world right now, while Hannu Lintu matches him charismatically on the podium. Brilliant, that's what it was.

And that was the extent of my exposure to Culture Night. There was a definite buzz around town, and I had an option to stay on in the Concert Hall after the main concert for a free performance by the Vanburgh String Quartet, but the concert had overrun and I had to be sure of getting my last bus home. Next year. I'll be better prepared and will soak up lots of culture to make up for tonight.