The most important thing to consider

DUBLIN wouldn’t be Dublin without its huge range of bars and pubs, and all the craic and community focus that they provide. Of course, we also have lots of treasured bars that don’t make a fuss of their features, but just get on with giving punters some of the best, and most welcoming, spots to down a pint or meet friends. Here are three such treasures that deserve visiting.

LOCATION: 75 Dame Street, Dublin 2 BEST FEATURE: Great selection of beers

LOCATED beneath Brogan’s Bar and beside the Olympia Theatre on Dame Street, the Underdog lies in wait.

Opened in 2017, this hidden downstairs gem specialises in craft beer and whiskey, giving the underdogs of the brewery world a chance to show their worth.

Boasting a constantly rotating and diverse beer list, Underdog also offers an impressive 60-plus selection of bottles and cans to choose from. Among the brews currently on tap is a 13.5% barrel-aged barley wine, from Norwegian brewery Lervig; and a dry-hopped sour ale, by Brooklyn Brewery.

LOCATION: Central Hotel, Exchequer Street BEST FEATURE: Still a hidden treasure

SITUATED in the historic surroundings of the Central Hotel on Exchequer Street, the Library Bar was first opened in 1991 and has been revered among Dubliners ever since. Known for its fantastic Guinness, wingback chairs and open fire, the bar even possesses the rare Dublin pub trait of never playing music, making it a true haven of ‘peaceful luxury’.

Located on the first floor of the hotel, you can find it by walking past the reception on the ground floor, up the winding, grand staircase and take a left when you reach the corridor. ARGUABLY the most famous of these pubs, John Kavanagh The Gravediggers in Glasnevin dates back to 1833 and little has changed since.

Famed for its no-music, no-screens and no Wi-Fi policy, many people argue The Gravediggers serves the greatest pint of Guinness in the city, and many others wouldn’t put it outside the top three pubs.

The historic pub itself has been owned and passed down through eight generations of the Kavanagh family, and is now run by Anne, Ciaran, Anthony and Niall and their mother, Kathleen. LOCATION: 1 Prospect Square, Glasnevin BEST FEATURE: Authentic Dublin legacy

DUBLIN MAGAZINE STYLE: BREAK OUT THE PASTEL TECH: Now that Spring has well and truly sprung, despite a few pesky storms, it’s time to ditch all the Winter wear and brighten up your wardrobe. Refresh your look with some pastel shades, courtesy of River Island, with a new range providing a great way to layer up or down to suit the day outside.  MAKE VROOM FOR FORD PORE OVER OUR GUIDE TO THREE TREASURED PUBS P20 PAGE 19 MOTORING:The new Focus ST builds on the strengths of previous generations to confidently roll out a new iteration that offers exciting handling and everyday usability alike SEE P22

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY Could you be Miss Universe Ireland?

RACHEL D’ARCY

LAST WEEK saw the launch of the search for Miss Universe Ireland 2020 at the Mansion House on Dawson Street.

The director of Miss Universe Ireland, Brittany Mason, was joined by previous winners of the title – Fionnghuala O’Reilly, Grainne Gallanagh and Cailin Ni Toibin – to launch this year’s competition.

Reigning Miss Universe Ireland Fionnghuala made history last year as Ireland’s first biracial contestant to represent the country at Miss Universe, as well as being the very first NASA ‘datanaut’ to compete.

The Swords native was last week announced as the ambassador for Engineers Week, which is currently running until this Friday, March 6.

A gaelgoir now living in Dubai, Cailin was the first Irish representative to secure a top 20 placement for Ireland at Miss Universe 2017, since Roz Purcell in 2010.

Grainne then followed in Cailin’s footsteps in 2018, making Ireland one of only five countries in the world to hold two consecutive final 20 positions. She is currently competing in RTE’s Dancing with the Stars, and is the first Irish-born and bred model to walk in Miami Swimweek during her year as Miss Universe Ireland.

This year’s competition aims to make history by bringing home the first Miss Universe crown to Ireland.

The lucky 2020 winner will walk away with more than €70,000-worth of prizes and will go on to represent Ireland at Miss Universe at the end of 2020.

First-round applications to compete as one of up to 30 finalists for the title of Miss Universe Ireland 2020 are being accepted until Friday, April 3.

You can find the online application form at missuniverseireland.eu/apply-2020.

Helping to look for Miss Universe Ireland 2020 ... Brittany Mason, Fionnghuala O’Reilly, Grainne Gallanagh and Cailin Aine Ni Toibin. Picture: Anthony Woods

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A SWEET REMINDER NOW THAT the 19th annual lick-tastic Lollipop Day has been and gone (taking place late last week,from February 28-29), the Oesophageal Cancer Fund (OCF) is reminding the public to stay focused on the importance of recognising the early symptoms of this cancer and how vital early diagnosis can be.

Its symptoms include difficulty swallowing food, persistent acid indigestion, heartburn or reflux. For an easy-to-understand and relatable resource to educate and support anyone affected by Oesophageal Cancer, check out the OCF’s recently launched website, at ocf.ie. Pictured helping little Amy Dempsey launch the day are Noelle Ryan, chief executive, Oesophageal Cancer Fund and Minister for Health Simon Harris. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

Drive-thru Ash Wednesday for Catholics on the go A CHURCH in northern Galway hosted a drive-thru on Ash Wednesday for people who couldn’t make it to mass in the morning.

Fr Paddy Mooney, the parish priest for Glenamaddy, said that because people are very busy nowadays, he came up with the idea of a drive-thru ashgiving ceremony at St Patrick’s Church.

People drove through their vehicle through one gate of the church from 8am to 9:30am, got their ashes at their car seat, and then exited through another gate.

Fr Mooney said he came up with the idea a couple of years ago, and it has been popular ever since. The St Patrick’s Church twitter account said this year’s attendance for the drive-thru was the largest “in four years”.

Flashlights for headlights – what could go wrong? A DRIVER in Canada was recently caught with some dangerous additions to his car, after attaching flashlights where his headlights should be.

Police in Vancouver pulled the driver over for having an insecure load on the back of his truck.

However, when Sergeant Mark Christensen pulled him over, they discovered that things weren’t as bright as they seemed.

In a tweet with pictures of the offending flashlights (left), Sergeant Christensen said: “Stopped for insecure load; further examination found flashlights being used as headlights/taillights; no insurance and failed to comply with previous inspection order!”

The driver also didn’t have any insurance, and the driver failed to comply with a previous inspection order. In all, the driver received $1,920 in fines and had their vehicle impounded.

DUBLIN GAZETTE has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

This week’s dog of the week is Arthur, a stunning five-year-old English Springer Spaniel that has the best head of hair and the most endearing smile. He is quite an energetic boy and is always on the go, so he is looking for someone to match his enthusiastic love of life!

Arthur is very friendly and loves people SO much that he would love a family who is home a lot to keep him company.

He is looking for an experienced dog owner who will continue his positive reward-based training as he sometimes guards his toys and food. He absolutely loves cuddles, food and he is dreaming of a house with an enclosed garden where he can run around and play.

If you have room in your heart and home for Arthur, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

Ruff work for Texas cops A DOG in Texas reported itself missing last week, after strolling through the doors of a local police department and putting his paws up on the counter (right).

The dog entered Odessa Police Department in Texas and hopped up onto the counter, though he didn’t seem distressed at all.

Speaking to The Dodo, Sergeant Rusty Martin said everyone played with the dog for a short while, whilst trying to find his owners.

Sergeant Martin said: “We were all excited to have him in the building. We had a tennis ball and threw it in the lobby for a bit. Everyone loved him.”

The dog was wearing a collar when he arrived at the station, but the ID tag had apparently fallen off, so animal control came to check for a microchip.

However, the dog had other ideas, and left the station before animal control could arrive.

“He ran out just as quick as he came in,” Sergeant Martin posted online. “The owner responded the next day [to say that] it was his dog and he had returned home. He lives about a mile from the station.” The dog was wearing a collar when he arrived at the station, but the ID tag had apparently fallen off, so animal control came to check for a microchip. came in,” Sergeant Martin posted online. “The owner responded the next day [to say that] it was his dog and he had returned home. He lives about

THIS WEEK’S TOP TWEETS As much as I would like to believe I’m not an Irish stereotype, I did just use the buffet in this 4-star London hotel to make a ham and cheese roll for lunch later. @samwhatislife

This Jamaican man I work with was telling me a story about when he worked in Tallaght ,and this fella got hit by a car, and another man went over to him and asked him ‘Where are ye bleeding from?’ And the fella on the ground goes ‘Clondalkin’! Hahaha you couldn’t write it. @georgiaashiels A slice of apple pie is $1.40 in Jamaica, and $2.60 in the Bahamas. These are the pie rates of the Caribbean. @StephanieYeboah

Yesterday I met my arch nemesis. It was a Trinity masters student who came on my campus tour. He already knew everything and ruined all my punchlines, exposing how scripted my jokes are and that I am not organically funny. Also did not tip. @mistress_mick

A NEW month brings a host of new content to Netflix. March sees the return of cult favourites such as Ozark and Better Call Saul, as well as new series and original content. Here’s a flavour of just some of the content making its way onto the streaming service as Spring finally kicks into gear!

100 Humans Some 100 diverse volunteers participate in experiments that tackle questions about age, gender, happiness and other aspects of being human.

(March 20) Self Made This limited series is inspired by the incredible true story of Madam CJ Walker, who was the first African-American female self-made millionaire.

The Platform In a prison where inmates on high floors eat better than those below, who get the scant scraps, one man tries to effect change so everyone gets enough.

The English Game In 1870s England, two footballers on opposite sides of a class divide forge a bond that helps bring the upper-class gentleman’s sport to the masses.

Better Call Saul: Season 5 Changing his name to Saul Goodman, Jimmy recruits a new crop of clients.

Tiger King A rivalry between big cat eccentrics takes a dark turn when Joe Exotic, a controversial animal park boss, is caught in a murder-for-hire plot in this limited docuseries.

(March 25) Curtiz Driven and arrogant, film director Michael Curtiz deals with studio politics and family drama during the troubled production of “Casablanca” in 1942.

(March 27) Mark of the Devil When two sisters open an ancient book that ushers evil into their midst, a possessed priest wrestling with his own demons becomes their only salvation.

BROTHERS Harry and Alfie Hudson-Taylor are, musically at least, very much a product of the Dublin streets.

Long-time buskers Hudson Taylor have evolved over a decade into a traveling Folk-Pop juggernaut – a slow-forged success that has pushed from the corner of Grafton Street to American tours  JAMES HENDICOTT

and European adventures. They’re now feeding that travel experience back into their work.

New album, Loving Everywhere I Go, is very much a nod to the highs of it all. “Being in New York, doing support slots for Hozier, and the EPs being recorded in Seattle, the hub of Grunge, gave us a mixture of genres and influences that are not necessarily conscious, but you allow them all to feed in,” Alfie Hudson-Taylor tells us.

“The songwriting is very influenced by our travels. We started working on this album back in 2017 in Seattle, and it would have been out a while ago, apart from the Hozier tour happening, so we did an EP instead, and toured that.

“For the album, the producer really challenged us to try new things.

“There are little bits of Pop and Hip-Hop that give it a modern edge. It’s not brash, but they’ve been captured in a way that we really like.

“Some people think we’re real Folky and acoustic, others think it’s really Pop. It seems to depend on what they normally listen to.

“So we’re in a weird spot, but that makes it very fun to work on the sections of our songs. We sit in this kind of ‘live band’-type space,” he said.

Those times back on Grafton Street feed in too, sometimes literally, like in the lyrics to their homecoming Christmas song, How I Know It’s Christmas, a nod to returning to Dublin after time away.

They even played it back on Grafton Street last

Christmas.

“The common thread for us has been that people like how we sound live,” Harry explains.

“I don’t think the records have always been as good as we sound live. With this new album in particular, I think it does it justice.

SINGER, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Kevin Parker is back with his fourth studio album under the Tame Impala guise. Since Currents (2015), the Australian psychpop outfit’s third album, Parker has decided to spend much of the past half-decade producing and collaborating with pop music royalty such as Lady Gaga, Mark Ronson and Travis Scott.

So, given that it’s five years on, and with Parker’s recent dabbling into the world of super-slick pop music in mind, how does The Slow Rush shape up?

From the outset, it’s clear that Parker’s production on The Slow Rush has taken a detour from Currents’ polished and spaced-out musical offering.

Instead, The Slow Rush shares more characteristics with Lonerism, Parker’s second record.

L u s h a n d l aye re d instrumentation can be found from the first track to the last with the phaser and flanger guitar pedal seemingly used in abundance and in an indiscriminate fashion. The songwriting on the record also has more in common with Lonerism, too.

On the track, Posthumous Forgiveness, Parker croons about the loss of his father at an early age and how he wishes he made amends with him before he passed away, while on It Might Be Time, Parker discusses the aging process and his own mortality.

At times, on tracks such as One More Hour, and Tomorrow’s Dust, Parker’s vocals can get washed out by the tsunami of guitar and synth tones, pushing REVIEW | TAME IMPALA Taking on time in The Slow Rush

his words to the background and forcing the listener to believe they’re not as important as perhaps originally intended. However, for the most part, The Slow Rush delivers on where perhaps Currents did not.

The songwriting feels m o re c o m p l e te a n d well-rounded, while the grooves offered on Instant Destiny and Breathe Deeper provide good diversity amongst the flow of the track listing. Overall, The Slow Rush is a great psych-pop record with some gorgeous production, fine songwriting and infectious grooves, making it a highly-recommended Spring listen.

AFTER the release of his new album, Taller, critically acclaimed musician and songwriter Jamie Cullum returns to the stage for a 2020 tour.

His dynamic live performances have always captured the attention of the audience through Jamie’s undeniable energy, boundless talent and stage presence.

With 10 million album sales, to date, and his successful BBC Radio 2 Radio show, Jamie is a celebrated musician the world over with loyal fans in every corner of the globe

“If anything, we might struggle to replicate some of the recordings on stage. “We tried to sound like the best take of four rather than 14 this time – a bit more organic than we’d done before in the studio, and that seemed to work for us.” The result is happygo-lucky at times, and thoughtful at others; lyrically smart and almost carefree in its harmonies. “We’re collecting our thoughts now, really,” the brothers joked ahead of the release. “The tunes are anything from seven years old to one year old, and there’s loads for us to talk about.

“It’s really nice to finally get to speaking about all of this, but we can only really talk about it so much – after that, it has to be about the music.

“The best thing that’s happened to us has been living in two different cities, surprisingly. We used to put off working.

“Now we’re based half in Dublin and half in Brighton, we have to make the most of our time, and that really works for us. We can’t put things off.” “I don’t know how Harry feels,” Alfie says, “but now I feel like our last album is nasty. I’ll probably never listen to it again.”

H u d s o n Ta y l o r ’ s album, Loving Everywhere I Go, is out now. They play the Olympia on April 24.

RODDY Doyle is bringing one of his most popular creations home to Dublin this Summer. After very well received performances in pubs across Ireland, as well as on tour in the US and UK, Doyle’s play – Two Pints – is coming to The Olympia Theatre in August. After starting out life as a conversation on Facebook, Two Pints has grown into a popular play featuring two men who meet for a pint, chew the fat and set the world to rights.

Doyle said: “I sat in the kitchen one evening and, feeling as if I was just about to press a button and perhaps destroy the world, I opened a Facebook account.

“I was a bit mystified at first, and I didn’t really know what to do with it. “Then Obama and the Queen of England came to Dublin, and there was a bit of merriment and giddiness around the place that had been absent since the collapse of the economy, and it was great. “So I just imagined these two men, slightly older than myself, sitting at a bar and chatting about it all. “I posted it on Facebook and the reaction was terrific.”

Following the positive response online, a tragic event in Doyle’s life became the catalyst for Two Pints to become a play.

Doyle said: “Some months after my father had died, I met a man in London and we talked about the possibility of [his dad’s death] being a play. He had been through a similar experience – his mother had died recently.

“We were talking about the whole rhythm of your life when this occurs, going to the hospital, and very soon, we were laughing. “At the end of the conversation, I thought in the back of my mind that I had a plot that would last the right length for a play.”

Starring Liam Carney and Philip Judge, and directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, Doyle is really looking forward to the Two Pints Summer run at The Olympia.

The author added: “In 1987, I saw my first play, Brownbread, being performed on the Olympia stage.

“Now, 33 years later, I’ll be seeing Two Pints on the same stage. I’m delighted.”

Tickets for Two Pints, which runs at The Olympia from August 18-29, priced €26, are available now via Ticketmaster.ie, Ticketmaster outlets nationwide and The Olympia’s box office, telephone 0818 719 330. thought in the back of my mind that I had a plot that would last the right length for a play.” ip Judge, and directed by Caitriona McLaughlin, Doyle is really looking forward to the Two Pints Summer run at The Olympia. first play, Brownbread, being performed on the Olympia stage. Roddy Doyle (centre) with actors Liam Carney and Philip Judge. Picture: loen Farrell/Photocall Ireland MARCH 5 (Thursday) The Script @ 3Arena, €42+ Hayseed Dixie @ Whelan’s, €21 Choice Music Prize @ Vicar Street, €28 Lyra @ The Academy, €17 Una Keane @ Pepper Canister Church, SOLD OUT

MARCH 6 (Friday) Jon Hopkins @ Bord Gais Energy Theatre, €40 The Script @ 3Arena, €42+ The Picturebooks @ Whelan’s, €16 Vernon Jane @ The Academy, €17

MARCH 7 (Saturday) The Fureys @ Vicar Street, €35 YBN Cordae @ The Academy, €25 The Script @ 3Arena, €42+ Georgia @ The Academy Green Room, €14

MARCH 8 (Sunday) Lewis Capaldi @ 3Arena, €36+ Eden @ The Olympia Theatre, €27 The Vapors @ Whelan’s, €18 Tung In Cheek @ The Workman’s Club, €5

MARCH 9 (Monday) Lewis Capaldi @ 3Arena, €36+ Jamie Cullum @ Bord Gais Energy Theatre, €46+

MARCH 10 (Tuesday) Halsey @ 3Arena, €50+ Gabrielle Aplin @ The Olympia Theatre, €23

MARCH 11 (Wednesday) Arlo Parks @ The Grand Social, €15 Baby Rose @ The Academy 2, €18 Jon Herington @ Whelan’s, €26