My zendency (sorry) is to go for musical offerings – a reflection of my obsessions mixed with desperation on those frequent inspirationally-challenged mornings. But my two favorite Zen contributions of recent months are both spoken word. First, the up-and-coming poet Kayo Chingonyi, who came into my life via the medium of Santa Claus last December. Here he is performing the wonderful Kumukanda (plus a bonus ‘Fisherman’s Song’).
Second, I give you wise words from philosopher and mathematician Bertrand Russell, who spoke to the BBC’s Face to Face programme in 1959 about the value of facts, truth and love. Very appropriate in these trying times.
Bernard Harbor
Cluckworm
Some summer reading recommendations from me.
Having formed a Twitter-crush on Marian Keyes, I picked up a copy of her latest, The Break, and enjoyed it way more than I thought I would.
She really knows how to write about the interior life of a long-term relationship. It's filled with humour, warmth and more information about vintage frocks than I'll ever really need, but who knows?
Julia Kelly's memoir Matchstick Man has also been one of my favourite summer reads this year, and features in the current edition of Fórsa magazine.
While my phone is recharging I'm continuing to plough through Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari, recommended to me by my colleague Stephen O'Neill. A condensed history of the human race, it's filled with wry humour and clever insights into the collective that is the human race. More than once I've laughed out loud.
Finally, Andy Beckett's When the Lights Went Out: Britain in the Seventies is feeding my nerdish preoccupation with the UK politics of that decade. It serves as a weirdly apt bookend to the current Brexit anxiety, and features interviews with some of the main players of the time, including senior trade union figures.
Niall Shanahan
Showtime
2018 has accidentally turned into the year of musicals for me. Within the space of four months I’ve seen numerous shows on Broadway, the West End, in the Bord Gáis and a few local productions too. Out of all of them, the one that stands out a mile beyond the rest is Hamilton.
A rap/hip-hop musical (bear with me) that follows the life of Alexander Hamilton, George Washington’s right-hand man, through the American War of Independence and on to the foundation of the State. Often cited as the ‘forgotten founding father’, we see Hamilton’s story unfold as he goes from ‘orphan immigrant’ to America’s first Secretary of Treasury. It's written by the amazingly talented Lin-Manuel Miranda.
You’ll recognise other characters like Thomas Jefferson and King George too, although they may not appear as you’d imagine. The cast is completely race-blind so the white-curled figures of Mount Rushmore are portrayed by black and Latino actors, better reflecting society as it is today.
My Zen moment for your August is to take an afternoon at some point and just listen to the soundtrack from start to finish. The only way I can describe it is like a hip-hop history lesson. Here’s the first song to get you started.
Hazel Gavigan
Classic comedy
There is something about this late summer season that calls to mind the atmosphere of Butlin's holiday camps, 'end of the pier' comedy routines and my early childhood holiday memories of watching BBC canned laughter classics like Dad’s Army, written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, and Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em created and written by Raymond Allen.
Perry and Croft's WWII Home Guard comedy regularly gained audiences of 18 million viewers when it aired between 1968 and 1977, and is still repeated worldwide today. It was placed 13th in a list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programmes drawn up by the British Film Institute, and its creation was dramatised in the warm-hearted comedy drama We're Doomed! The Dad's Army Story in 2015.
Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em was first broadcast in 1973 and ran for three series. Michael Crawford's portrayal of the hapless Frank Spencer included some memorably hair-raising stunts. This clip is a good example, and features an appearance by a very youthful Christoper Timothy (All Creatures Great and Small / Eastenders)
Enjoy the rest of the summer.
Martina O'Leary
Heartwarming
Roisin McKane is currently on leave, but one of her very recent Zen contributions proved to be one of our most popular, so we thought we'd revisit.
Dublin Bus brings us our Zen this morning. Following on from Dublin Pride they released this video featuring the "Dublin Bus Proud Dads". It will warm the cockles of your heart and restore all faith in humanity.
Roisin McKane
Movies
I’ve decided to make some movie and gig recommendations that would have been Zen moments sooner or later.
Taika Maititi directed two of my favourite films of the last few years. What We Do In The Shadows is a mockumentary/comedy about the challenges facing flat-sharing vampires that manages to be even more ridiculous than its premise.
The family-friendly Hunt for the Wilderpeople is about a boy and his foster uncle (Sam Neill) getting caught up in a manhunt in New Zealand’s vast wilderness. It’s very funny and genuinely as enjoyable a movie as I’ve seen.
As for gigs, I’d highly recommend Nick Mulvey, who is playing in Whelan’s in September. I saw him when he was touring his last record and it was a great show, Cucurucu was a real highlight.
Diarmaid Mac Abhaird
Editor's note: Spare a thought for poor Diarmaid as he's using his time off this summer to finish writing his master's thesis. He's up against a deadline and the entire team wish him well, he's been working very hard.
