Five days of Irish rain (Irish Rain… that’s actually a good name for a new fabric softener) couldn’t stop two excellent events last week. Dublin, aka The City that Bono and the Edge Built, is packed with designers who turned out for a standing-room only Sweet Talk event at the Sugar Club. We were all honored to have Wim Crouwel in attendance to give an hour-long presentation of his work over the past 50 years, his influences, and his design philosophy. Wim also stuck around for a post-screening panel discussion with me, Michael C. Place, Aidan Grennelle, and Alastair Keady, emceed by Ciaran O’Gaora. Probably one of the best, funniest, most controversial panel discussions we’ve had yet. As my girlfriend Brigid says, “the Irish love a good argument.” Thanks to Richard Seabrooke and Aidan Kelly for all the work, and for all the pints.

Michael C. Place (with tongue), Richard Seabrooke of Sweet Talk

The director shows an incredulous Aidan Kelly his ska moves. 1-2-3-4, Specials!

Next was a screening at the University of Ulster in Belfast, Northen Ireland. What I thought would be a 90-minute drive turned into 5 hours… it took 2 hours just to get out of the Dublin city limits! The screening was scheduled to begin at 6:30pm, and we finally got to Belfast at 6:15… but the film went off right on time. Afterwards we joined organizer Christopher Murphy (who teaches at the university and also runs the excellent publishing company Fallt) and friends at an outdoor pub in an alley packed with revelers, buzzing with possibilities. And despite the gloomy weather, Belfast itself seemed to be buzzing with possibilities… I’d like to return in the future to see the next stage in this city’s life.

Detail from the Belfast film poster… so true….