Night on earth

Spent the day yesterday at the Festival of World Cultures in Dun Laoghaire. Each year it gets bigger and better, and this year the sheer number of musicians and activities scattered throughout the town was staggering, and best of all it was almost all entirely free.

Actually, the best bit wasn't the music, or the shows or celebration of dynamic multiculturalism (all of which were certainly great). Nope, the best bit for me was the simple ability to wander around in short sleeves at 9pm at night through the streets and harbours of Dun Laoghaire with thousands of other folk out having a good time with none of the usual Dublin hassles. No traffic, no fighting, no public latrination, no aggressive guards, just families, couples and groups of friends out enjoying the evening. Not even Sinead O'Connor's warbling could upset the mood*

If only every weekend could be as pleasant.

* actually, she was really quite good, spontaneously appearing on stage late in the evening outside the Kingston Hotel.

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