Well slap my ass and call me Susan, if it isn’t an update! We have been disgracefully quiet here and in hibernation for the last while or was it a coma, not sure, anyway the point is we’re here now, it’s the thought that counts after all.

What is it that has risen us from our sleep like state? Well it’s none other than the wondrous event that is Jigs and Rigs. That’s right the good people at Force 10 are doing their fantastic festival on Rathlin Island and we are delighted to have been asked back once again, one sniff of Rathlin and we’re ready for action. This year we’re going to be hooking up with Tír Na gCasta and Deviant.

This year the festival will be a ticketed event in order to try and control numbers, ticket prices are a paltry £20 and can be purchased from the Force 10 website, all proceeds go to the campaign to save the Hill of Tara, a very worthy cause. For full details and to purchase tickets check out the Force 10 website.

In the meantime we are doing a fund-raiser to help us make it to Rathlin as we’re totally skint. If you’re in Dublin on the 18th July, come along to 4 Dame Lane for a night of quality reggae / dub / dancehall / electronica / breakcore and much much more brought to you by some of the top DJs and producers Dublin has to offer; Enda, T-woc, Soundman Soro, BlueFood and Melody Masher with visuals by Warren Daly. Rumour has it that there may even be a raffle, it’s going to be more fun than you can shake a stick at.

Quick update… there is some discussion starting here on Indymedia.ie about the Take Back the City event, and RTS in Ireland in general. If you’re interested in RTS Ireland, and where there is for it to go, have a read, and have your say.

Well, “Take Back the City” turned into a pretty standard RTS really, but it was hellafun! We really enjoyed our day.

So much thanks goes to: the man with the wee van, the RTS people (or whoever it was organised the day), all the folk who gave to the whiparound, the Gardaí for being so chilled and nice (seriously, nice one, lads and lassies of “The Force”), all the crazy dancin kids, random DJs, and a huge mega-special-thank-you to the fabulous bringers of coffee and biscuits.

The vibrators weren’t actually ours.. but we did enjoy them. Photos now up (not just of the vibrators).

There’s an event happening in Dublin City this Saturday in an RTS stylee, with more improvisation and arty stuff. We may make a musical appearance. Read a discussion about it at this link or just come along and check it out. Meeting at the spire at 2 pm on Saturday.

Our good friends at Larchill are having their annual Art in Arcadia event this weekend. The gardens are well worth a visit anytime, but once a year they play host to an enchanting exhibition of young emerging artists’ works, all inspired by the magnificent surroundings of the gardens. Add some live traditional music and entertainment, and you’ve got a fantastic day out for all the family. The event will be on from 12-6pm on Saturday and Sunday (9, 10 July), admission is €8.50 for adults, cheaper for kids.

Note: There will be NO Audio-Terrorism at this event. But there will be big hairy cows.

A huge thanks to Tír na gCasta and the Muddy crew, savage party altogether. Fair dos to yiz for being so persistent and finally finding a perfect spot after the 3 other sites. Thanks to all the lifters, music providers, litter collectors, amusing characters and of course our van driver without whom we’d never have gotten our rig there. Photos now up in the photos section. more to come…

There’s a party on this weekend at which we’ll hopefully be making an appearance.

At least 3 rigs, bar, food, visuals, record stall, fire show, live sets, Sensory Overload plus other guests. Infoline is 087-7775435 – ring only on the day. Location is in the bottom half of the country.

It was an excellent day.. we had so much fun. Thanks sooo much to everyone who came down. Thanks to the RTS, Gardai, Food Not Bombs, DJs, impromptu cycle couriers, mystery van drivers, the media types, nature, ….. eh .. everyone, yeah, the street-cleaner-guy especially.. good work. First few photos now online. We’ll sort them out properly later (maybe).
But we were really serious about the cake. And the Operation Ivy record. And we didn’t get any of either. So, next time…

It’s on. Bring cake..

There will be a Reclaim the Streets party in Dublin on 02/05/05. We have no van. If you have a van, and would like to help us, then get in touch. The equipment is quite big so a car really won’t do it.

If you are a member of An Garda Síochána, then keep up the good work lads! We really appreciate how ye have handled these events the last couple of years.

If you are a DJ and would like to play.. then, by all means, bring your records, but don’t expect to play a full set. Last year everyone there just played one record at a time all day, and it was great, so we’ll do that again this year.

One more thing.. if you went home last year with a copy of “Energy” by Operation Ivy, then please bring it and return it to us.