Dublin Meet-up 13 - 15th June 2008 - a few pictures

[Diane]

A few photos here of some of us from the forum who met up over the weekend 13 - 15th June when Leonard played three nights in Dublin.

Pic below: L to R (roughly) Anthony, Lidnu, Caitriona, MFL, Grecian Man, Birdonawire with gorgeous daughter Ciara, Daka, Tinderella, Lonndubh, Marian, Henning in song, John, Margaret, Barry, Tim, Damellon, Paula, Bernie:

[Diane]

Me, Grecian Man, Birdon, Ciara, Daka, Marian, Henning, Tinderella, Jimmy O'Connell, Margaret, Barry, Mirka, Tim with Daveeliver sprouting from his shoulder, Paula, Red Poppy, Brendan below - he's not a small guy, he was sitting down. Just so's you know. And MFL with the wine flowing:

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Jimmy O' Connell and Daka with bronte2of3. / And Eric holding a meeting: Daveeliver (Dave with an empty glass !!), Jimmy O, John, Eric:

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[Diane]

Half of me, Helen, Margaret, Ciara, Grecian Man, Birdon, Sheila, Mary (another sister of S and H's) / bronte2of3 / Lonndubh, Caitriona, Bernie / Tim. Thanks, Helen for the picture from The Brazen Head.

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Lonndubh, Bernie / Red Poppy during his recitation of Make Me An Island for Lidnu / Paula put out your cigarette, my love, it's time to leave for the next concert / Henning with his hand in his pocket again (must be a German thing), Margaret / Jimmy O'Connell and Daka in the same spot three hours after the first pic above. We are all interested to have a transcript of your conversation:

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As a few people have recently said to me: what a lovely bunch of people.

Missing from these images, unfortunately, are Joney and her brother, Shane, Kaz and Kaz's daughter, Joe Costello, Siobhain, Isaac, Mick, Paul, Lizzie Madder, Finola and Lucy, Allan and Eileen, Tiggs, William, and others whose names I cannot bring to mind (apologies). And of course the other 30, 000 people who saw Leonard over the weekend.

There is always the possibility Leonard might do Ireland again, later in his Tour. You know what that means, don't you? We'll have to do it all again .

[damellon]

Think this was the first pic taken - (above left hand corner) - Lonndubh and Bernie enjoying William's nimble footwork as he gave us a masterclass in waltzing .... just moments before he fell . Hey William, how're you managing on the crutches?

[Henning]

Diane - no it's not Henning in song ... it is Henning in pain. I walked all the way from the city center to Damellon's house and my shoes weren't prepared for that. Later on when I put off my shoes I noticed the reason of the pain and thought by myself "I don't like what happened to my blister".

[damellon]

Henning
I think you're fibbing again!
The blister wasn't on your foot.
Everyone heard you sing the words 'If the moon's got a sister' and you were looking towards the camera/photographer when you sang them.

[Paula]

Henning "I don't like what happened to my blister".

I was quite upset when they took William away in the Ambulance. Does anyone know if he is OK.

This is just a suggestion Damellon don't take it to heart but I think the lard needs changing in the chip pan. Some of my chips were covered in black specks and I think before you take the van out again you ought to check that out.

[damellon]

Paula
Don't you recognise a toasted sesame seed when you meet it?
Honestly, my efforts to make the humble chip a thing of health and beauty are lost to some
I think William managed to hobble backstage in time to hear 'If it be your Will'.
Taking the lyrics to heart, he might find humility and recognise what it is that often precedes a fall.

[Diane]

I don't like what happened to my blister.

Henning, that's so bloody good, it will have to go on the walking weekend tour t-shirt.

Damellon, it has nothing to do with Leonard's Tour that you endured four nights of me, so I am reducing Jarkko's burden in some tiny way by responding to you here:

Thank you so much, again, for looking after me and many others, that weekend. You are a very kind, lovely and funny person! Some moments from the weekend are etched into my memory for eternity. For example, the vision of Henning being loaded onto a lorry as he slept off his beer whilst sheltering from the rain in those toilet cubicles; you closing the car window and chopping off the ends of the flowers I was holding; the fact that Margaret saw Leonard for the first time ever on her birthday, and that we all celebrated her birthday together; assembling my camera just as the first concert was about to begin, to realise I had left my battery at home in the charger, when I was only tens of feet from the stage (fate intervened there to prevent me wasting time behind the lens, I think); you texting me during Dance Me to The End of Love one night, and expecting a reply (how could you do that?); that hilarious round of ticket-exchanging that went on all weekend; going 'round the pub asking if people were there for a Leonard Cohen meet-up (some looked quite aghast that I might think that of them); hugging so many beautiful losers, both old friends and new; getting to know some people a bit better than before, such as when Paula and I went for a walk together to avoid having to paint your kitchen (having already painted the bathroom and put out the garbage and the flowers); the vibe in the pub after the concerts! Listening to other people's stories. I love to hear those stories. I could go on and on. Best of all of course, was being in the company of all those gorgeous Irish men.

But there are many more moments that I don't have words for. Certainly there is no chance I will ever be able to write a report about the concerts, which left me dying, in slightly different ways, each night.

So, I repeat, thanks so much for having me.

Love!

Diane

[Lidnu]

Hi to all you terrific folks from this forum who gathered together to celebrate LC in Dublin! And such fun reading all the giggles to do with the photos recently too. You guys are hilarious. My trip to Dublin from Vancouver is the highlight of my year. Thank you to all who shared their hospitality, sense of humor and joy of Leonard. It will be a while before this girl's feet are touching the ground. Loved meeting you all - an exceptional bunch of beautiful losers indeed.

Special thanks to my monk Sean who proved to be the perfect escort for Saturday night - eat your heart out ladies...

Linda

Hi too to you quite 'lurkers' out there - we know who you are now and expect to hear from you!

[Diane]

Linda, thanks for coming so far for beauty. We all loved having you around! And I doubt that many monks have dates as gorgeous as you. See you next time .

[MFL]

Diane what wonderful pictures and even better notes on each pic.
What on earth was Séan and Jimmy talking about for so long... Henning and Red Poppy singing emmm Yes they were great...
It needs to be said, even if it looks like it, I did NOT drink all the wine...
Pain my foot henning.. Try wearing Red Poppy's high heels, the ones that match his dress... Why is there no photos of him dressed up ??? He looked great.

Lonndubh and Bernie enjoying William's nimble footwork as he gave us a masterclass in waltzing .

William... Was he the dog ??? I missed him, was he in hiding from me ??? OR ?????? Was he there all the time.....

A wonderful, wonderful day, Thank you all.

Now who's going to Lisbon ?? I am, There's talk of a meet-up in an Irish Pub...Seemed like a sign to me, anyone else

[Diane]

Marcie we have a bootleg dvd of the entire afternoon. There were cameras in the roses. I'll forward it you. You did too drink all the wine .

I will be seeing Leonard in Bennicasim the day after you see him in Lisbon, as will Sean. I am staying out in Spain for a week so I just had a look at the possibility of getting a train across to Lisbon from Valencia, but the journey's way too long and even the Irish pub can't swing it but I look forward to hearing all about your trip!

[margaret]

Diane,
Thanks for the great report and pictures. That was such a marvellous weekend

MFL,
what a good idea to visit Portugal as well. I'm sure you'll have a wonderful holiday

I still have one more concert to attend, in Edinburgh. What a summer this is turning out to be
Margaret

[bronte2of3]

woof !