September 2024 Donation

BUMBLEance - The Saoirse Foundation

BUMBLEance was launched on Friday, 6th September 2013 and is owned by The Saoirse Foundation.

We are the world’s first ambulance service specifically designed and tailored for children.

BUMBLEance is the Children’s Ambulance Service of Ireland. Traveling half a million kilometres each year across our 15 vehicles, we provide safe and comfortable transportation for Ireland’s youngest patients as they travel between their homes and hospitals, hospices, treatment centres and respite centres nationwide. At BUMBLEance, we know how stressful it is to transport a sick child, which is why we’re with our families every step of the way.

The BUMBLEance service is the first of its kind in the world. It has all the amenities of a regular ambulance, but includes the all-important extras to make a sick child’s journey as safe, comfortable and entertaining as possible. Our aim is to distract, comfort and entertain Ireland’s youngest patients as they travel to and from hospitals and paediatric treatment centres nationwide. BUMBLEance exists because there is no alternative.

Happy Journeys

BUMBLEance provides children with less stressful journeys in safe, fun and comfortable vehicles. The bright and cheerful exterior, which makes a great first impression, is only just the beginning!

Unique Interior 

BUMBLEance has room for two parents/carers to travel with the child and paramedic.  There is also an on-board locker for personal items, and a fridge for medication, food and drinks.

Fun & Games

BUMBLEance has it all – Playstations, WiFi, Netflix, DVDs, Games, Books, Colouring, Sensory Lighting, Netflix, Apple TV, Music and much more!

Expert Personnel

We operate two key services: one service is operated by the National Ambulance Service and manned by EMTs, the other is a driver-only service designed for children who do not need constant medical intervention.

BUMBLEance ensures that the journey of a sick child is as safe and comfortable as possible.

•Our Trips and Services•

Pre and Post-surgical appointments

Inter hospital transfers

Respite and Hospice Trips

Scheduled Trips

Chemo Cab

Transplants and critical care

Angel Trips

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Dial A Seanchaí

A few days ago Barbara told me about something she read online where you can call in and listen to Irish folklore. I'm so far from a place I love so dearly and miss every single day, so hearing these tales brings me a sense of peace and longing to return.

The Dial a Seanchaí service is available to access from Tuesday 31st of October until Thursday the 30th of November.

To access the Dial A Seanchaí phoneline from Ireland, please dial (065) 672 3466

To access the Dial A Seanchaí phoneline from the UK, please dial 020 8079 1720

To access the Dial A Seanchaí phoneline from the US, please dial (833) 611-2230 (Toll Free)

• To hear Manchán Magan tell the story of An Glas Gaibhneach, please press 1.

• To hear Ruth Marshall tell stories of Inchiquin Lake, please press 2.

• To hear Junior Brother recite the story ‘Refereeing A Fairy Hurling Match’, please press 3.

• To hear Branwen Kavanagh sing ‘Ancient Cures For Modern Ailments’, please press 4.

• To hear Edwina Guckian tell the tale of ‘An Oíche Dheireanach’, please press 5.

• And to hear Rónán Ó Snodaigh sing his rendition of ‘Follow Me Up To Carlow’, please press 6.

(Junior Brother's was my favourite!)

From Across the Sea

Look at this super cute St. Patrick's Day card from Miss Barbara!

And Barbara got mine as well!

The Ragman

'Rags, rags, rags', he'd shout. The Ragman was a fella on a horse and cart, he'd have goldfish in little jars. He'd give you one if you brought down a good clover coat or some other article. Sometimes me Da noticed things missing and he's lost the head. The Ragman always came of a Friday or Saturday morning - right, when he'd know your parents would be working or out getting messages. He's come of a Tuesday as well because he'd know the women would be up washing their clothes in the wash house by the Iveagh market. He stopped coming around 1967.

Community Centre

It would be good if a community centre could be built here. Even if one of the flats was put aside for it. Somewhere for the kids to go at night. It could be nice if some sort of football pitch could be built into one of the yards. Maybe more tress could be planted.

I never really had...

...a conversation with my father. Sometime in the 1960s he caught me mitching from school and gave me an awful hiding. Ripped the clothes off me, lashed me with the belt and punched me in the eyes.

I'd be standing in the kitchen...

...cooking my breakfast. I'd pull up the blinds and open the window to let air in. Next thing you see someone gawking in, waving in and taking snaps. Hello, one says, How are you, sir? Good, I says. Would you like a rasher sandwich?

17 Days of Irish Cinema

• Easter 1916 - A well done documentary series on the men who were the signatories of the 1916 Easter Proclamation.

• Evelyn - I saw this in the theatre years ago and was so impressed by Pierce Brosnan. It was nice to see it again and I love when he sang, especially The Parting Glass. 

• 1916: The Irish Rebellion - Another docu-series on the Rising that went beyond the info provided in the previous series. I definitely want to look around for an audiobook that will go into further detail and really learn and retain the information about such an important moment in the history of my beloved Ireland.

• Bridget and Eamon - I know of this series because my neighbour in Dublin has a bit part in a couple episodes. It's a pretty hilarious show and my fave episode is the pilot, The Trócaire Box. The scene where they are in the warehouse in the North just cracked me up.

• Once - Sensational music and it was so great to see a little piece of the city I miss so much.

• In America - I think this may be my favourite of all Jim Sheridan movies. The cast is spectacular and it's a beautifully done film.

• Sing Street - I stopped this film at the second humiliation scene. Then I looked up the film to figure out why I wanted to watch it in the first place. It mentioned the main character being an outcast and forming a punk band. "Okay, okay," I thought to myself, "I'll fast forward the scene where that stupid kid is mean to him and give it another try." I'm glad I did, and I'm really glad I skipped those scenes. The music was so good - fun and poppy - and in the end, I really loved the film. Minus those moments.

• The Commitments - I remember when this film came out my friend Lori was obsessed with it and it's a good film but the soundtrack is fabulous.

• Veronica Guerin - I feel like this story of a brilliant journalist's fight against drugs and crime could have been so much more riveting. Cate Blanchett was good, but the film was lacking in many ways.

• Kisses - I originally saw this in April 2014 and it was just as good the second time around. Stunning performances from the two leads.

• Philomena - Judi Dench at the top of her game and even Steve Coogan was pretty good. 

• The Guard - I really only watched this to see Brendan Gleeson. He didn't disappoint.

• Striking Out - I still get such a charge out of seeing this show and all the little spots in Dublin that are so familiar to me. Plus the bonus of Michael Ford as Nigel Fitzjames!

• Michael Collins - I had tried a few times before to get into this film but I couldn't. This time I was better prepared, having learned a bit more about The Rising and the Irish War of Independence.

• My Left Foot - Do I really need to say how remarkable this film is and the performances from Daniel Day-Lewis, Brenda Fricker, and Ray McAnally? It's all been said before, I'm certain.

• Calvary - The ending on the beach had me in absolute tears. Chris O'Dowd was incredible. Brendan Gleeson's portrayal of a village priest was unique and utterly flawless.

• Frank of Ireland - Watched this whole series tonight with Xavier and we were cracking up. Those Gleeson boys sure are a riot. Perfect end to my seventeen days of celebrating Irish celluloid culture.

Eire

Bono and Gavin Friday "In the Name of the Father:

Seamus Egan "Fermoy Lasses"

The Pogues with Cait O'Riordan "Haunted"

The Commitments "Destination Anywhere"

Beyond the Pale "Tiarna De"

Victor Young "The Isle of Innisfree"

Flogging Molly "Salty Dog"

The Cranberries "Ridiculous Thoughts"

Tommy Makem "The Parting Glass"

Mychael & Jeff Danna "The Blood of Cuchulain"

Bob Geldof "The Great Song of Indifference"

The Dubliners "Whisky in the Jar"

The Irish Rovers "Danny Boy"

Van Morrison "Someone Like You"

U2 "Angel of Harlem"

Sinead O'Connor "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart"

Boomtown Rats "I Don't Like Mondays"

Mary Black "Columbus"

The Pogues "Summer in Siam"

The Dropkick Murphies "Good Rats"

22 October 2004

They had seven children...

...and decided this was enough. One day after mass, she arrived home and told her husband that the priest said no one of childbearing age should stop having children. Sometime later she had another. Both she and the child died during the birth. They were buried together.

Wicklow Day

Saturday 22 April 2017

54° and a bit overcast

up at 4ish - can't sleep from nervousness - FaceTime with Bella at 6am but she convinces me to not cancel the car rental for Wicklow - asleep again at 7 - alarm off at 8am - up - get ready - call Express Taxi at 8:50 - get Mick (I book a cab for as soon as possible) who says "consider it done, m'darlin'!" Derek Bradshaw arrives at 9:20ish - so nice and gives us M50 directions for Wicklow and tells me "you'll be grand" - €20ish plus tip → €30 ♥ - arrive to Budget Rental at DUB 9:45ish - get a Skoda Rapid in Espresso with one hubcap missing (so trashy) at B52 parking spot - (sidebar: Bella is ready to play navigator with the Sat Nav as her map)

leave 11ish - drive is smooth but Sat Nav fucks us up when in the park - ugh cyclists! - find Glendalough parky lot for €4 - visitor's centre to peepod - (sidebar: see a Dad trying to capture the perfect picture of his child) - St. Kevin's 12:30 - Glendalough - see the 2 women who were at Budget!

take the Boardwalk 1.6km path past the Lower Lake (at 12:50) to Upper Lake visitor centre - get chips and 7Up - peepod - walk to Upper Lake at 1:35 - take photos - see (German?) kids skipping stones like full-on pros

walk back - get vanilla custard cones and sit on rocks/boulders at entrance to Green Road path - give directions to lovely Middle Eastern woman and family - go peepod again - Green Road Path - discuss porn and its effects on men's expectations and how women have to look a certain way (to be and feel desired) - on the path see 2 yellow labs race around and clean mud off in the lake - reach the car by 2:45

drive to Malahide - arrive 4:45 - peepod - pix of the Castle at 5pm - get dinner at the Food Hall - eat in the car at 5:30ish - head back to Budget - stop for petrol (Googled how to open Petrol tank) - total €8.83 - Budget by 6:30ish - beautiful blonde Irish lass with glasses takes the car - kept hitting the lock button (on the key fob) and couldn't figure out how to open it then pressed the Skoda thing - peepod - cab 6:40ish - not very good driver (Vural Azab) - came to €21ish - gave him €25 - SLP 7pm - chill - Bella's laundry - FaceTime with Mum 7:35-8pm - Bondi Rescue (Rerun! Rat/Brazil surfer back issue/Black Cloud vs. Matt Dee/Cora the Songstress) - Doc Martin S1D1 Ep 4 & 5 - massage eachother's feet - bed 10-10:30ish

March 2022 Donations

International Rescue Committee

My primary reason for this month's donation to the IRC is due to the ongoing war in the Ukraine. There are so many sites and organisations that it's difficult to know which one to donate money to and if it will reach the intended. What I liked most about IRC was that they had Rami Malek on the front page of their website. I mean, I don't have feeling one about Mr. Malek, but knowing that he and other celebrities show their support for the IRC gives me peace of mind that it's a legitimate group. Then I read what they are doing and knew I was making the right choice.

The International Rescue Committee responds to the world's worst humanitarian crises, including the conflict in Ukraine and the crisis in Afghanistan.

We help to restore health, safety, education, economic wellbeing and power to people devastated by conflict and disaster. And we are proud to fight for a world where women and girls have an equal chance to succeed.

The IRC will put in place high-impact, cost-effective solutions that help people affected by crisis. We'll also use our learning and experience to shape humanitarian policy and practice in ways that improve the lives of more people worldwide. And in all of our work we will focus on breaking down each of the barriers faced by women and girls.

As Russia invades Ukraine and civilians seek safety, the IRC is preparing to rush critical aid to displaced families. Help us support families affected by the Ukraine crisis.

NOTE: On February 24, Russia deployed its military into Ukraine, a neighboring country in Eastern Europe. Bombs and shelling have continued to escalate as people flee their homes and seek safety.

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is calling for an immediate ceasefire to avert what could become the worst humanitarian crisis Europe has seen in decades.

BUMBLEance - The Saoirse Foundation

BUMBLEance was launched on Friday, 6th September 2013 and is owned by The Saoirse Foundation.

BUMBLEance is the most modern children’s ambulance service on the planet. It is the world’s first interactive ambulance purposefully designed for children, with the capacity to operate the latest medical equipment and inter hospital communication systems.  Using the latest technology, BUMBLEance is an upgraded Mercedes Benz 519 unit with extras and we have worked hard to produce a state-of-the-art vehicle where, undoubtedly, safety is our first priority.

The entertainment system on BUMBLEance comprises of a 19 inch LED TV, Playstation 4, iPad Air, Netflix, Beats Headphones, Music and DVDs. Each BUMBLEance also has onboard Wifi, which allows families to stay in touch with loved ones through social media.

BUMBLEance ensures that the journey of a sick child is as safe and comfortable as possible.

•Our Trips and Services•

Pre and Post-surgical appointments

Inter hospital transfers

Respite and Hospice Trips

Scheduled Trips

Chemo Cab

Transplants and critical care

Angel Trips

Please join me in the Low Budget Philanthropy movement and help out your community and beyond in the simplest way - donating any amount to whatever charity or organisation that you care about!

Hello from McGann's Pub!

What a perfect day to start off the month of March - with a postie from Barbara in Ireland!

Moggy

From the time I was born Moggy was there. I'd be swinging on the lamp post (or scutting the back of the coal lorry) and she'd be sitting there at the window her dog beside her, watching the kids and the people. She had six kids herself and she was left a young widow. She'd wash the dead or anything to earn a shilling to rear them and if she never had a shilling she was always in good form. She'd go around for a few glasses of stout at Corbetts and would come around singing.

There was six tenants up the hall...

The Last Christmas Card

Look what travelled all the way from the Emerald Isle across the Atlantic Ocean and into my hot little hands:

Spring in Ireland

Barbara sent me this photo that she snapped on her morning walk the other day. It's like a picture postcard!

Christmas Package from Renee

The other day I arrived at Mama Rosie's to bake cookies for Amy and discovered a somewhat enormous box in the foyer. "What the hell did I order that's this big??", I thought to myself. Then I checked the return address and saw it was from Renee. I opened it to find this:

Renee is big into gift-giving and tends to be very over-the-top. She means well, but no matter how many times I tell her it's not necessary and that I don't need gifts, she just doesn't listen. The only thing to do in this situation is tear 'em open. I did decide to save two lil' gifties for the 25th but the rest I unwrapped right away. All of the gifts are super thoughtful but there was only one that really was perfect. That one I'll save for last. Here are the contents:

(And the sweet little star pillow is filled with coloured lights and is so soft. She looks so sweet with all my other stuffed pals - that's Héctor the octopus, peapods behind him, Max from The Grinch, lovey dinos, The Snowman, Rodney the Reindeer, Freddie Apple Bear, then above Freddie is Snosey the snowman and Friedrike the wee bear.)

The best of the batch was a calendar of Ireland:

Of all the iconic places in Dublin to photograph and put on the cover of a calendar celebrating all the beauty of both Ireland and Northern Ireland, they chose The Lodge at Blessington Basin in Phibsborough, a mere five minute walk from SLP and my favourite spot in the neighbourhood. I was blown away. Renee had no way of knowing this and I just love it.

(Photo of the lodge taken Christmas Eve 2016 by you-know-who.)