Eurovision 2010

Eurovision sounded like a television network or production company to me and I never gave it much thought until I watched Father Ted’s ‘Song For Europe’ episode – Series 2 available from Amazon.com, Father Ted Definitive Collection from Amazon.com, Series 2: Part 1 available from Amazon.co.uk, Father Ted Definitive Collection available from Amazon.co.uk. So, it’s officially a song contest among members of the European Broadcasting Union. I see it as a big annual talent show since the song itself is only a fraction of it. After all, the song doesn’t have to be written or composed by citizen of the competing nation only performed by someone from there – and even that has leeway. As shown last night by the fact that Cyprus’s entry was performed by a lad who lives in Wales. Which makes it a very global contest, even if most Americans have never even heard of the event.

St. Patrick’s Week in Cork City

As an American, I’ve been warned that Saint Patrick’s Day in Cork isn’t as grand as in New York, Chicago, Boston, or even Dublin, but I have to think they’re underselling it. Cork City has so much to offer in the week around the most famous and beloved Irish holiday on March 17th. Traffic and parade details are available on the City site.

Here are some of the highlights not to be missed as well as a few of my personal suggestions for activities:

Let Mr. Blue Sky In – Cork City’s Flash Mob

This past Saturday on Patrick’s Street, just off our laneway there was a flash mob dancing to the tunes of ELO’s Mr. Blue Sky – a song made for Irish weather if there ever was one. It was brilliant! The event was to raise awareness to the funding of the arts in Ireland, including tax breaks for artists.

Here is a super piece describing it on the People’s Republic of Cork website.

And the official [perfectly filmed and edited] video (shot with professional cameras so the high-res takes a while to load). There are many many other videos of the event and I’ve tried to catch all of them into my Flash Mob in Cork City YouTube Playlist.

It will put a smile on your face. If you’re like me and want to see more flash mobs, here is a link to my Flash Mob YouTube playlist. My personal favorite, other than Cork’s, is Centraal Station Antwerpen gaat uit zijn dak.

Yes, I was there with two friends though we did not take part in the dance. I should be visible in some of the clips, but can’t remember what I was wearing so that makes it harder to scan the crowd.

I am counting the days until another takes place!!!