Festival Review: Castlepalooza

Castlepalooza
Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co. Offaly
castlepalooza.com

As I said many, many times over the course of the weekend, Castlepalooza is my new favourite festival and, no promo, but I did a wee review of it for the Irish Times (the first half is the work of Una Mulally and the second half is all me). And now, down to the Legless stuff.


What has it got?

Seating: There were plenty of picnic tables and benches about the place but they were high in demand so you'd have to fight tooth and nail for them. 

Doors: The only doors you'd have to tackle here are in your tent, the toilet or the doors you metaphorically constructed yourself.

Ground: The castle grounds were very easy to get around. There was very little mud, even after it rained, which was great for wheelchairs but tough if you were trying to pitch a tent. Wood chippings were scattered around potential danger zones. But all in all, easiest festival site I've ever had the pleasure of rolling through. 

Stairs: If you wanted to get into the castle, you had two steps into the front entrance and there was a big staircase that brought you up to the other rooms. I just loitered in the entrance playing with kittens. 

Bathrooms: Big props to the ladies in charge of the toilets at 'palooza. There was one wheelchair toilet that actually flushed (and it had a sink! VERY exciting) and the two wonderful women were there at all times to make sure that no one used the wheelchair toilet if they didn't need it. 

Spaciousness: Castlepalooza is a small festival so you were rarely overcrowded. 

Helpfulness of Staff: Ridiculously helpful. 

Parking: I got to park right beside the site entrance which meant I only had a 5-minute walk between my car and the stages and camp site. 

Rating: 10/10

Why did it lose points? I literally have no complaints. 

Live reviews: Blur, IMMA, Kilmainham

Blur
Irish Museum of Modern Art, Royal Hospital, Kilmainham, Dublin 8
imma.ie

You've heard of Blur. They've managed to space out their live shows enough that you have to admire their stance on reunions. They're not milking it and, from Damon Albarn literally bouncing off the walls, you can see that they actually enjoy what they're doing.


What has it got?

Seating: The wheelchair area was mixed together with the VIPs so, near the end, there was a scramble for chairs. I also had to sit up there on my own as wheelchair users were only allowed one person with them and unfortunately, I had more than one friend there.  

Doors: No doors. You're outside. A land without doors. 

Ground: There was a light gravel on the path in and then the wheelchair area was up on a platform with white, plastic tiling leading up to it. Elsewhere it was grassy. Thankfully it didn't rain which would have made it a very messy affair. There was a few speed bumps along the way which would have toppled my chair over if I didn't have someone with me. 

Stairs: Slopes and mild hills as far as the eye could see. 

Bathrooms: As far as I was aware, there was one wheelchair portaloo right beside the wheelchair area. The VIPs got to use it too so maybe they should have added another one because you know what those VIPs and portaloos are like when they get together.

Spaciousness: It was a sold out gig so you claimed your space and hung on to it for dear life.

Helpfulness of Staff: One security guy in particular was very helpful. He made sure I had a good spot. Without him, it would have been a crap night. 

Parking: There was wheelchair parking about 20 metres away from the concert venue which was nifty. UPDATE: A friend of mine who broke her foot was not allowed to get dropped closer to the venue. She had to walk up a hill with no help from anyone. 

Rating: 5/10

Why did it lose points? I had to watch a gig on my own because of the silly plus one restrictions a lot of gigs use. When you could see the VIPs swanning in and out at their leisure, you'd wonder why I couldn't have two mates up there.  And the queues for the bar were woeful. 

I deducted another two points from this because my friend with a broken foot (cast and crutches in tow) had a lot of difficulty getting into the venue with very little assistance from the Gardaí or onsite security. 

Aprile Takeaway

Aprile Takeaway
46 Richmond Street, Dublin 2
www.apriletakeaway.ie/

These guys are in the running for the best chicken nuggets in town and their chicken roll is just phenomenal.


What has it got?

Seating: There is none.

Doors: The door is normally left open but it is rather heavy. 

Ground: Tiled. 

Stairs: There's one big step up into the joiny so you'll definitely need someone to heft you up. 

Bathrooms: They have none. 

Spaciousness: If you're not fighting for a space in the queue, there is room. 

Helpfulness of Staff: They're great lads but they need to stay behind the counter. However, a fellow reveller of the night will be sure to give you a hand with the step. 

Parking: If you are eating here, you are hopefully not driving a vehicle but, if you must, you will have wheelchair parking on Lennox Street right beside it. 

Rating: 9/10

Why did it lose points? It can only lose one point really because of the step and none of the other categories apply to this little slice of heaven. 

The Bernard Shaw

GBS himself.

The Bernard Shaw
11-12 South Richmond Street, Dublin 2
bodytonicmusic.com/thebernardshaw/

The Shaw has one of the best smoking areas in Dublin and, like a gift from above, it has a giant blue bus that dispenses delicious pizzas. They put on decent DJ sets most nights and if you get in for a bank holiday weekend, Lord holy, you'll have a great time.


What has it got?

Seating: In the front bar, there is space for wheelchairs at the tables. The smoking area is huge and there is room a plenty but there are steps to conquer before you get there. 

Doors: The front doors are a little tricky but if you open both of them at once, you'll have no problems. 

Ground: The floors are wooden and tiled. The tiled floors are fierce slippy when a bit of drinks spills on them.

Stairs: Ok. Here's where the craic begins. A wheelchair can gain access to the front bar no problem but there are four very steep steps down to the other bar and where the toilets are. There are also three or four more steps out to where the smoking area is. I need two of my mates to lift me in and out of there.

Bathrooms: The bathrooms are very tight and with only three female (can't speak for men folk here, soz) cubicles, there is always a long line. I haven't tried to get the wheelchair in there because I know how tight they are. 

Spaciousness: If you get out to the smoking area, you will have loads of space but the Shaw tends to get very packed so don't expect to be doing donuts or wheelies when you get there. 

Helpfulness of Staff: Very, very helpful. Will go out of their way to help.

Parking: There is a wheelchair parking spot beside Aprile Takeaway (reviewed here) on Lennox Street (map here).

Rating: 4/10

Why did it lose points? It lost a rake of points because a wheelchair can only really get to the front bar when all the action is out in the smoking area and the bathrooms cannot fit a wheelchair. Although my mates don't mind lifting me out there, I can't speak for everyone. If there was an entrance created that led directly out to the smoking area, we'd be laughing but to get here, you'd need some burly mates and a strong bladder. 

Eddie Rocket's, Parnell Street

Eddie Rocket's
Parnell Centre, Parnell St., Dublin 1
www.eddierockets.ie

Eddie Rocket's is one of Ireland's greatest fast food joints. Even if the size and quality of their chicken goujons has sadly decreased in recent years, you can always rely on their chocolate malt.


What has it got?

Seating: It mostly has booths but there are a number of tables with moveable chairs that are easy to use.

Doors: The doors are wide and slightly heavy but give a good push and you can make a dramatic entrance.

Ground: It's a tiled surface so is a little Slippery When Wet.

Stairs: There are two entrances (front entrance from Parnell St. and back entrance from King's Inn St.) to this Eddie's and they both have a flat entrance. In the middle, there are two or three steps that split it. At the front part is the cashier and at the back part, there is the wheelchair bathroom.

Bathrooms: There is one wheelchair bathroom here. It's best to reverse into it as it is a little bit tight.

Spaciousness: If you sit at the back of this Eddie's, you will have more room. However, the pay desk is at the front so you're on your Tobler, you'll need to ask for help.

Helpfulness of Staff: They're very helpful here. Just ask for a hand if you need it and they will deliver.

Parking: There's is a wheelchair parking spot on King's Inn St., as well as plenty of street parking. There is also a car park, accessible by a lift, on Jervis Lane with a number of wheelchair spots. (Map here)


Rating: 8/10
Why did it lose points? The bathroom is tight and even though they have all their facilities in check, the split level is a nuisance but at least the staff will help you out. 

On Frankfort Avenue today...

A construction truck taking up not one but two wheelchair parking spots when there were plenty of spaces on the road.

In fairness, when we found the driver and asked him to move, he did.

This is a huge pain in the ass normally. You find people using the wheelchair spots if they're just "popping in" to a shop or you will often see taxi drivers treating them like ranks.

As well as a wheelchair user, I'm a driver. So if a wheelchair parking spot isn't available, it's not that easy to find an alternative place to park, especially in town.

There aren't enough wheelchair parking spots in Dublin to cater to the amount of people with blue badges so please don't do it.

I will definitely delve further into this topic another time.

St. Anne's Park, Raheny/Clontarf

St. Anne's Park
Coast Rd., Raheny, Dublin 5
www.dublincity.ie/recreationandculture/dublincityparks/visitapark/pages/stannespark.aspx

I took the pup for a jaunt there a couple of weeks ago. It's a mahoosive open space with a fairly decent café and plenty of nice walled gardens to wander around in. I didn't get to check out the playground facilities there but I will next time I visit.


What has it got?

Seating: There are plenty of benches placed around the park. Their café, Tír na nÓg, is found in the Red Stables area and it is a little tight to maneuver into tables but it is manageable.

Doors: I had no problems with the doors or gates around the park.

Ground: A lot of the paths are tarred over - lovely and smooth - and then some of the paths have a light gravel which is very easy to go over. It's mostly flat but if you're looking for a hill to roll down, you might be in luck there too.

Stairs: There's the odd step to be found in the Rose Garden and Walled Garden but they have a flat route  that you can take.  In their café, they have a flight of stairs inside but they have a wheelchair lift to bring you up.

Bathrooms: Wheelchair bathrooms are found in the Red Stables area and they are very easy to get in and out of.

Spaciousness: You're in a park. In fact, it's so big, it can't decide whether it's in Clontarf or Raheny.

Helpfulness of Staff: I didn't require help at any stage.

Parking: If you go to the car park near The Red Stables (link to map here), there is plenty of wheelchair parking. There is also a lot of street parking available in the area.

Rating: 10/10
Why did it lose points? It didn't. It's a perfect park.