Founded in 1907, the United Arts Club is a haven, a venerable members club for arty folk. It was…read moreonce a regular haunt of mine; last Friday night the celebration of Stinging Fly publisher Declan Meade's 40th birthday was very much in line with local tradition. Troubadours, troublemakers and true geniuses bopped in the spacious front room with the sash windows open to the street below. Others blathered endlessly in the armchairs on the landing. The basement patio rang with repartee, and perched by the bar drinking whisky I was overwhelmed by waves of nostalgia, for the parties and exhibitions and larks of years gone by. Moments later I was overwhelmed by waves of Guinness as a pint was poured over me. Shuddering as the brown water trickled into my navel, and the bartender gingerly patted my shoulder with a towel, I recalled the old days - Ulick O'Connor receiving a light drubbing from a dominatrix and insisting on calling the guards, Camille performing the Masochism Tango when she was just starting out, some odd guru chanting away before a sudden bite on the arm from a stranger...God be with the days. Members can hire the function room and bar, and book keenly priced B&B rooms in the club. For a certain class of literary and artistic maven, it's a home from home. For others, it's a kip. The profile of the current membership is aging, and this place is ripe for a takeover. Now that the emphasis has shifted from conspicuous consumption and corporate fellatio to open acknowledgment of the life-enhancing value of cultural and artistic activity, it is hoped that a new generation will discover and reinvigorate this hallowed institution in the heart of Georgian Dublin.

The Repair Café found its start in Amsterdam in 2009, and it was so successful that its founder,…read moreMartine Postma, established the non-profit Repair Café Foundation to support groups in many countries where people want to create their own events. The Repair Café is voluntary is organized and staffed by volunteers who believe in sustainability and a little DIY problem-solving. In Sandymount, the Repair Café took place at the Christchurch Hall, located right on the green in the center of charming Sandymount. The even was well-organized, with greeters performing triage at the reception desk based on your item and inquiry. There are forms to fill in and a whiteboard where names are listed for the volunteers who brought with them repair tools and know-how to share. I brought a pair of shoes that I purchased new but haven't been able to wear because of a defective buckle. While I waited for the jewelry-maker to finish up with another person, I had a seat and a cup of tea at tables thoughtfully provided next to a little refreshment stand. As I sat and sipped, I watched others bringing in their conundrums in the form of table legs, lamps, bicycles, and more. There were about 8 problem-solving volunteers (about equally divided between men and women), and about 4 volunteer organizer/facilitators. I'm not sure who enjoyed the experience more - the people seeking problem-solving advice and new skills, or those helping solve DIY dilemmas? The jeweler was very helpful, but she came up with the same perspective that I've had for months: to repair the shoe would also probably ruin it. Since I grew up on a farm, I'm pretty handy with repairs and creative solutions, and so I wasn't surprised by her finding. She suggested writing to the company, which I will do. What I most enjoyed, though, was the community spirit the event evokes and talking with participants and volunteers. If you missed the Repair Café in June, you can check back on Facebook for their next event, which I was told should take place in September.

Turkish Irish Educational and Cultural Society (TIECS) was established in 2004 as a non-profit…read moreeducational and cultural organization by Turkish and Irish people and their friends. TIECS aims to eliminate or reduce false stereotypes, prejudices and unjustified fears through direct human communication.

Mount Merrion Community Centre hosts a number of different facilities, from Montessori to Senior…read moreCitizen 'Friendship Clubs' (has anyone else ever noticed how older people are infantalised even though they probably know more and are more capable than the rest of us combined?!). It's a lovely modern building, with plenty of space and decorated with all the artwork of the budding J. B. Yeats (let's go with an Irish theme...we don't tend to produce Picassos!!) There's yoga classes, dance and Tae Kwon-Do too...a 'something for everyone' kind of atmosphere. The only bummer is the fact that it closes for half the summer...which would be fine if we could guarantee good weather for outdoor pursuits, but in absence of such luxuries, an ability to count on the continuation of our indoor activities wouldn't go awry...