“Well…the tourists are gonna get an eye-full!”

(WARNING - This is a rather long post. But it needs to be, so toughen up!)

(That’s me there. No, to the left of her. Bit further. Yeah, there I am!)

Well…that was certainly the most bizarre experience of my life. Though quite which part of the whole experience was the most bizarre is something I haven’t figured out yet. Being naked in a field with 1100 other naked people – everyone bent over double, desperately not wanting to look up for fear of what we might see in front of us – was definitely weird. Seeing it talked about all day today in the media, aware that I am one of those naked people they’re showing on the news bulletins is also very very strange. Seeing Ray D’Arcy naked – a man who played such an important role in my television viewing youth – is also immensely odd.

I arrived at Blarney Castle with my bravest friends – Mike, Jamie and Niamh – at 3am. There were protesters at the gates. But when we got closer, we realised they were a bunch of lads, dressed as priests. Their placards bore the immortal words: “Down with that sort of thing!” and “Careful now!” That’s when it began to dawn on me how crazy this whole thing was going to be.

A Decleration Of Unfocussed Intent

This blog is approaching the one year mark and in some ways has hit an existential crossroads. I’m having trouble remembering why I started this blog and it’s plain to see it has hit a slump in terms of motivation and content. For the three years I was in UCC, I wrote for the UCC Express – or rather its art, culture and entertainment magazine: Ex2. Within a few months I had already interviewed the likes of Tommy Tiernan, Josh Ritter, Damian Dempsey, et al. Not too bad for my first year. In my third year I became editor of the same magazine. After graduating (with a rather unemployable BA in English and Philosophy) I pretty much went from writing a couple of thousand words a week to writing nothing. So I suppose I started this blog to just keep writing. Unfortunately, I’ve never really been one to impose strict schedules and deadlines on myself and so with a lack of regular structure and routine (as well as muddling through an art portfolio course), the output of the blog suffered. As such, the contributions here have been in fits and bursts of varying quality rather than in a steady stream…of varying quality.

The realisation that I have to put in more effort, more thought and a institute better routine hit home while in bed the other night. It was reinforced somewhat by Rosie’s post in critique of the Irish blogosphere. But my inner crisis comes in the form of what I want this blog to be. It started as a music blog with the intention of focussing on the Cork scene. But that’s shifted somewhat and in reality I don’t really know what it is anymore. These self doubts arise from wondering whether the Cork scene is really worth writing about, the fact that music blogs are a dime a dozen and that I don’t have the energy or attention span to constantly be on the look out for the hot new act. I tend to get an album and give it a lot of attention, almost exhausting it through repeated listening. There’s no way I can keep up with everything new with my listening habits.
But like any blogger, I want a readership. As big a readership as I can get. If I didn’t, there would be no point in this. Blogs tend to occupy niches though. Even UnaRocks or Rick O’Shea, whose blogs are somewhat miscellaneous in content, fill a certain place; they fit under a given tag. I’m too wordy to do short sharp posts on internet culture or assorted oddities but my interests vary too wildly to stick to lengthy dissertations on obscure 50’s Motown/Jazz hybrid bands. My life isn’t quite eventful enough for a witty personal blog and yet I hate blogs that have a cold and aloof feel. I have political views, but they are neither impassioned or partisan. I love art but find most of the art media interminably boring. I love the Irish language but am not confident enough to write in it.

This post is a declaration of intent. Now if only I could figure out what I intend to do. I suppose the answer is to just throw all the random bits and pieces of me into the blog, blender-like and hope for the best. I suppose routine, more than anything else is important. If readers have something new to look at every day or two, that’s what keeps them coming back.

So as empty as this declaration may be, as doomed to failure as this resolution probably is: I shall strive to make this a better blog. I shall impose upon myself a better routine and post at least every two days. Because sometimes wanting to just isn’t enough, sometimes it takes force and will and perseverance.

Here’s hoping.