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As we career towards the end of the year the usual “best of” lists are popping up all over the place. The Guardian has it’s Top 10 Albums of the year series, The Ticket reviewers have listed their top 10 albums and Nialler9′s annual Poll has had over 200 votes for top 10 irish albums and irish songs (He’s revealed his readers top 30 irish songs of 2010 with the top albums no doubt about to follow soon), and Nay over on Harmless Noise has declared her top 40 songs and top 10 albums, so naturally I’m getting in on the act.
I usually do end of year top 5′s (see 2009) of songs, albums, gigs and cultural events, but in recognition of the explosion of irish talent that there seems to have been in 2010 (I blogged about it for OTR during the summer as a Golden Age), and the fact that I was too late to add my vote to Nialler9′s poll, I’m doing a top 10 of Irish Albums and Irish songs….with the more general top 10′s for all albums/gigs etc to follow.
What’s most interesting to me is the diversity of sound that can be found in irish music – the tracks and albums below bring in rock, pop, indie, folk, dubstep, electronica and more. Long may it last.
Top 10 Irish Albums 2010
(artist name links to artist website, album links to sample tracks for listening)
1. Thread Pulls – New Thoughts
2. Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
3. James Vincent McMorrow – Early in the Morning
4. Redneck Manifesto – Friendship
6. Somadrone - Depth of Field
7. Neosupervital – Battery Power
9. Paul Brady - Hooba Dooba
10. Halves - It Goes, It Goes (Forever and Ever)
With honourable mentions for excellent EP releases from VisionAir and Deaf Joe
Top 12* Irish Songs 2010
(now…this is a bit of a cheat as it hasn’t actually been released yet (I don’t think) but it is hands-down my most favourite and most listened to track this year so I’m leaving it in. Plus it’s just the most perfect song ever)
2. Do What You Feel – Neosupervital
3. Villagers- Becoming a Jackal
4. If I Had a Boat – James Vincent McMorrow
5. How to Talk - Thread Pulls
6. Hex - Redneck Manifesto
7. Triple Trouble – B-Movie Lightning
8. Little Red – Cathy Davey
9. Naturesway – Our Little Secrets
10. Cold Without You – Bingo
11.I Can Talk- Two Door Cinema Club
12. (-_-) – Adebisi Shank
*Ok- so it’s not a neat 10, but I couldn’t reduce it any more! I started with a long list of 20 and it’s just too hard. I’m loving Swear I’m not Paul’s Top 100 irish songs list, proof if any was needed that there are a whole host of other contenders. He’s also created a post where you can hear samples of ALL of the 200+ irish albums released in 2010 (as per the Choice Music Prize List) but be warned – it is pretty massive to load.
I’ve been to a whole host of tourism type meetings in the last few weeks and inspired by all the great things people have to say about Sligo, here’s my own personal “Top 10″ things to do if you’re visiting. There are tons more of course but this will get you started. Best thing about Sligo is that all of these things are about 15mins drive from each other too, so you should be able to get lots of them in on any visit.
1) Climb a Mountain
If you want an easy option walk up Knocknarea and visit with Queen Maeve. It’s a pretty easy walk, but it can be VERY cold on the top if it’s windy at all, so layer up. The views from the top are breathtaking- you can see 5 counties (sligo, Mayo, Donegal, Leitrim, Roscomoon) laid out below you like a Postman Pat episode, and legend has it that Maeve is buried standing up – weapon in hand. About an hour round trip, it can be a little slippy so wear good shoes.
A tougher walk- a proper hike really- is Benbulben, our very own table-top mountain. For years there’s been access issues for walkers but the county council have managed to come to some arrangement with the landowners no I think. I can’t find a link online yet but I’ll get one and post it. The new public route is via the Coilte forest out there.
2) Take off for the island
Coney Island is a teeny little island off the coast of Sligo- smack in the middle between Strandhill and Rosses Point. You can reach it by land when the tide is out, so you have to be careful with the times, but that makes it all the more special. Generally it’s ok to cross about 2- 3 hours before low tide, but you can usually tell by looking – if the tide is all the way out you’re good to go in a car, but be careful when walking. A local developer has built a handy smartphone app that lists the tides here> and once you get out on the island you can just ask in the pub! Beautiful, quiet and Cartystown beach is a great bathing beach.
Coney Island - "Cartystown Beach" photo: Nicola Flynn
3) Strandhill
Whether you surf, or just want to watch the surf head for Strandhill. Great walks, great grub (Shells Cafe), Great Pizza (Bella Vista - even does gluten free), Great pubs (Strand) and great relaxing from Voya Seaweed baths, and now there are great bikes you can borrow and cruise around in. You can honestly spend a whole day out there- perfect Sunday papers territory in the winter.
4) Visit The Model
Declaration- I have/do work here but it is a fabulous building full of light and lovely people. There’s galleries, free wifi, a cinema, a music theatre, and soon to be a terrific restaurant. Park in Connaghton Rd (€2.50 for the day) and use it as a base for the day to explore the town. Views from up there are great too. If you’re wandering down into town grab a coffee in Cafe Arabica (Illy Coffee- my favourite) where owner Colm is a mine of information and good humour, and check outSligo Abbey which is a beautiful spot for photographs.
The Model's new extension photo: Aoife Flynn
5) Have a proper pint
Sligo has loads of “proper” pubs. The best two in town are; Hargedons- spruced up but still old school. Lovely staff, best pint of Guinness in town, and lovely lovely wine. Oh- and great grub too. If you want a less sprucy version head to Connolly’s. It stretches between two streets and traditionally it was marginally fancier on the Markievicz Road end- which was where the bankers and solicitors from Stephen’s Street drank, than it was on the Holborn Street side where the folk from the hill drank. The two had to meet in the middle where the toilets are positioned.
6) Walk a Beach
Strandhill is amazing, as already noted, and Mullaghmore makes for a good walk, but Streedagh beach is the best one for my money. It’s just before Grange in North Sligo, and is sign posted if you keep your eyes peeled- look left after the Supervalu. When you land on the beach drive keep right and head for the further beach. Great walk and if you’re doing it in the winter and want to get warm afterwards head to Lang’s pub in Grange. Get to the old mans part of the pub and order a toastie and a pint. sweet as.
7) Seek out some peace
Drive round Lough Gill (I suppose I have to quote Yeats at least once; “where peace comes dropping slow”) and stop off at Dooney Rock, Slish Wood, The Lake Isle of Inishfree (yep- the yeats one) and then finish up at The Holy Well which is a curious mix of catholicism and pagan traditions.
Tree from Holywell photo: Aoife Flynn
8 ) Slow Shopping
Sligo’s a great spot for some old-fashioned browsing in little shops. You want Grattan/Castle Street (one becomes the other) where you can poke about in Georgian Antiques, Kate’s Kitchen (fab deli and beauty shop), Cosgroves (actual old school deli with supplies in sacks and money worked out on a brown paper bag- KILLER cheeses), Oxfam, and Tir na Nog.
9) Hear some Music
Sligo has more music than you could possibly wish for, but it’s often hard to uncover. There is great Trad/folk in pubs like McGlynn’s (called “Dudes” locally- the Dude himself plays on Sunday nights), Foley’s (very knowledgeable owners and tons of regular old school sessions), and Shoot the Crows. There’s lots of great Jazz – often in the Factory or Tobergal Lane, top classical music, more experimental and electronica in The Model and touring gigs in Barry’s of Grange (guitar a speciality), and McGarrigles in Sligo town. Check Sligo Events for listings.
10) Find the Horseshoe
The Glenliff Horseshoe Drive is pretty great. You can see Diarmuid and Grainne‘s cave, see lots of ruined houses, gorgeous scenery and a “magical” road where you can get your car to roll “up” a hill. – look out for the Blackboard sign hanging from a tree on the left (so irish that one, I love it) to find the spot, leave the car on, and in gear, and you’ll roll up the hill without using the accelerator, good fun. This one is a perfect rainy day driving route, and you can still pop out in Grange and go for that recommended pint and toastie in Langs.
Diarmuid and Grainne's cave photo: Nicola Flynn
Let me know if you do any of these, especially if you have pictures, and if you have your own top 10?
Best idea of the summer so far? Probably….
Someone’s only gone and bought a bunch of beach cruisers and is renting them out in Strandhill. Seeing them makes me feel like I’m back in San Diego (ah those halcyon J1 days), helped enormously by the great summer we’ve been having…and which I’ve probably now jinxed.
I went for a beach wander tonight and spotted people trying them out and they look just like the logo above. Totally dreamy, with Mountain Bikes available too if the cruisers are too laid back for you. Rates look great (see below) and the marvellous Shells Cafe made a great suggestion on their facebook today to pick up a picnic (which they can helpfully provide if you want a treat), bung it in the basket and take a cycle out to Coney Island. What bliss. This is now my aim for the summer- I will test and report back soon as.
Hourly Rate €5, Half Day Rate €10 (9am-3pm or 3pm-9pm), Daily Rate €14.00 - Weekly Rates Available too. Check them out here> or along the strand.
