The plethora of artistic talent in Ireland- be it in the realms of music, dance or the visual arts- remains an undamped factor in preserving the Irish spirit in the face of economic hardships.

The Dublin based alternative/indie rock band White McKenzie is one such promising musical force.

Sparky O’Hare Master Electrician serves as my introduction to Mawil whom the Internet tells me is one of Germany’s best loved comic book artists. He has been the recipient of the ICOM award for best independent comic four times (2007 being the last.) I am immediately a fan.

I Draw Slow are an Irish five piece peddaling Irish-Americana folk roots old timey like a gimlet eyed carpetbagger will sell you an elixir for beauty, another for snake bites and in the saloon later – will swagger away with your maiden head.

A rustic rock bar filled with memorabilia paid for by you.

Music played so it can be heard over the people shouting to hear each over the loud music.

Cornish Pastie?

Cornish Amazing.

Situated in an converted butchers in Ranelagh, The Butcher Grill is the newest venture by the people behind Dillingers. The decor is plain wood and the original shop tiles. Seating is at the bar or a selection of high tables with stools and benches.

After being enthralled by the performances presented in Mixed Bills I for Re-Presenting Ireland, I also watched the contributions for Mixed Bills II. Overall, I was newly inspired as regards my own dance practise. Also, after seeing the works presented for Mixed Bills II I am now eagerly conducting more research into modern contemporary dance in Ireland.

Heard tell a chef from the now defunct Mermaid had taken over as head chef in this cosy little venue so we dropped in to give it a spin.

Looking out onto Smithfield this is a gem of a cafe, with a truly impressive spread of choices.

Right so, four stars because even though I have nothing to complain about, like the sea, I’m a harsh, unforgiving mistress.

The Grand Canal Theatre Dublin opened its doors in March 2010. At a twenty-minute stroll from O’Connell Street, it is the newest and biggest addition to Dublin’s vibrant cultural life. With a 2000 seating capacity, within a year after its inauguration, it represents Dublin’s primary venue for theatrical productions. Therefore, the decision by Dublin Dance Festival to host the Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan at the Grand Canal Theatre was extremely significant. In this wonderful setting, I was enticed by Songs of the wanderers (1994), which was presented by “Asia’s leading contemporary dance companies” (The Irish Times) and hailed as the centrepiece performance of DDF 2011.

In an alternative within the multiverse of meatspace – Steve Guttenberg made it big and Tom Hanks lurched from The ‘Burbs to having a surprise hit with Forest Gump.

The Dublin Dance Festival organizers have envisaged Re-presenting Ireland as an annual cultural venture with a very concrete purpose. Featuring as a solid festival component, Re-presenting Ireland presents rising choreographers with the opportunity of presenting their completed and unfinished works to Irish audiences. The project celebrates the diversity of the Irish modern dance scene. And indeed, all the works presented in Re-presenting Ireland 2011, highlight the versatility of modern dance in contemporary Ireland.

Some dance performances, like a number of modern paintings and potentially any piece of art, prove challenging to understand, difficult to follow, and to be brutally honest, at times, come across as plain pretentious. Writing a review on Hiroaki Umeda’s work is the exact opposite.