Legless Goes To Body And Soul (2014)

Some tired bodies and emotional souls

Body and Soul
Ballinlough Castle, Co. Westmeath
bodyandsoul.ie

This was my first proper time giving Body and Soul a go. I was there two years ago - when I first started using a wheelchair - and had to trundle home, defeated, thanks to the rain, the mud and the exhaustion. With the glorious weather being the ultimate guest of honour, I decided to try Body and Soul properly. In doing so, I used them for all the access treats they had on offer. They had an Access Officer, Maggie McKeever, who made sure everything went to plan and, lo and behold, it did.

Body and Soul is one of the smaller festivals and for every ten metres you walk, you will run into a familiar face. The music was obviously a big draw (highlights including Gary Numan, Tom Vek, Darkside and John Grant) but it's such a fun and magical festival. We got lost in the forest so many times but we were never in a rush to get anywhere because every corner had something going for it.



What has it got?

Seating:  All throughout the Body and Soul site, there are many places to rest your weary legs and, as the photo above shows, heads. Be it benches, chairs carved out of trees, thrones, picnic tables or just regular chairs, you will definitely find a place for a quiet moment.

Viewing platform:  At every stage, there was a viewing platform. However, the spirit of the festival is to be involved so placing yourself on a wooden slab away from all the action isn't ideal. I've often wondered what the thinking of keeping people with disabilities as far away from all the fun at festivals/concerts is. If there was a way to rethink the location of viewing platforms so that whoever sits there doesn't feel totally isolated, I am all ears.

Ground:  The rough ground was a bit of a struggle. There wasn't a drop of rain all weekend or the week leading up to the festival so we had no mud. That was a major coup. However, the paths had quite rough stones on them which meant that we had to tip my wheelchair back like a wheelbarrow to get around so I couldn't really go anywhere on my own. Luckily, I always keep a team of men at my beck and call for this.

Campsite: This was my first time ever using the Access Campsite at any festival. Using this facility was a big thing for me as it meant admitting that my needs are actually different from others.
This year, the Access Campsite was beside the castle and just beyond the walled garden. We had plenty of space to set up our tent without the cursed strings and poles becoming obstacles.
The biggest advantage of the Access campsite is that you can park your car right beside your tent. This meant that we didn't have to lug our belongings for miles. I had to apply online for this campsite and the Access Officer was there to meet me and gave me and my mates (as many as I wanted) separate wristbands so we could all stay there for the weekend.
I'll definitely be doing access camping from here on out because it just made life so easy.

Bathrooms: For every gaggle of portaloos, there was a larger and accessible wheelchair portaloo. Glamorous they were not but they did the job and weren't difficult to find. It's important to remember that people in wheelchairs do not have the same...eh, hovering abilities as others so the toilets could have been cleaner.

Spaciousness: The only time that space was an issue was when we tried to get into the Midnight Circus tent for Jon Hopkins. Not for love nor money could we squeeze in.

Helpfulness of Staff: Very helpful. The security were cheery and informative and if you ever asked to take a shortcut to make your trek easier, they gave you all the industry secrets.

Rating: 8/10

Why did it lose points? The weather was the best thing to happen to Body and Soul, in terms of access. If the weather was bad, this rating would have dropped to below sea level.  It was dry and the ground was solid - you couldn't ask for anything more. However, nature being nature, the forest area was tough to manoeuvre and I felt that they could have done more with the entrance/exit points to the main arena to make the journey less bumpy. 

The use of the Access Officer was a brilliant idea. Body and Soul is so small so she could help people out easily and it truly was a great asset. 

Overall, my weekend was incredible, even if I did build up my muscle making my way across the land 

Other festivals reviewed here.

Bell and Pot Café Kitchen

Bell and Pot Café Kitchen
3 Mercer Lane, Dublin 2
bellandpot.ie

I was really excited about visiting Bell and Pot. It had sandwiches GALORE, had a twee theme to it and wasn't too far from my bus stop. It had it all. Sadly, my expectations were not met in terms of access. I shall reveal ALL below.


What has it got?

Seating:  The tables all have moveable chairs but not many of the chairs have arms to help you get up. Some of the seats are quite low but they all vary in height and size.

Doors:  The front door was quite heavy to open - had to ask someone to come and push it open for me.

Ground:  Wooden floors.

Stairs: The restaurant space is flat but the ladies and gents are downstairs.

Bathrooms: The wheelchair bathroom is in the Travelodge Hotel, which is attached. You have to go through two rooms and it is there. Sadly, I could not fit my wheelchair in. And believe me, I tried every which way. My wheelchair is not big but if you're without a wheelchair, they have bars and railings a-plenty.

Spaciousness: Other than not fitting into the wheelchair bathroom, there was plenty of space in the seating areas.

Helpfulness of Staff: The staff were helpful with picking out food and with the door.

Parking: There are two wheelchair parking spots outside the Royal College of Surgeons and two more in front of Stephen's Green Shopping Centre, which are just around the block. There is plenty of other on street parking available.


Rating: 5/10

Why did it lose points? Sadly, the Bell and Pot lost points because of the wheelchair bathroom and the difficult door to open. The fact that it was a specifically designed and planned wheelchair bathroom and yet totally failed to serve its - eh - purpose was quite disappointing. The food is fine and I probably won't be returning here myself but if you wanna try it out and see if you can slither into the bathroom, by all means, be my guest. 

Diep Le Shaker

Diep Le Shaker
55 Pembroke Lane, Dublin 2
diep.net/leshaker


Diep is known as one of the finest places in  Ireland to get Thai food with a separate noodle bar and a great takeaway service too. Diep Le Shaker is their swanky restaurant and I was lucky enough to be given a voucher for their 6 course tasting menu so instead of eating like a pig, I ate like pig royalty for an evening. The food and cocktails were incredible and I just salivate thinking about the grilled pork dumplings.


What has it got?

Seating:  The tables have moveable chairs as well as fixed couches to the wall. There are no arms on the chairs.

Doors:  The entrance has double doors that are light to open and the rest of the doors are wide and easy to push open.

Ground:  The floors are wooden panels, which could be a bit of a hazard when wet.

Stairs: The entrance is flat. There are tables upstairs but everything you will need is on the ground floor.

Bathrooms: They have a wheelchair bathroom that is big enough for an average sized wheelchair with bars and handrails too.

Spaciousness: It might be a bit tight making your way through the restaurant if all of the tables are full.

Helpfulness of Staff: The staff are very attentive here. Not only will they help you with your order if you're bad at making decisions, if you need assistance, they will clear the way for you and also open doors. Very helpful. 10 points for the staff.

Parking: There is a lot of parking available around Fitzwilliam Square with a number of wheelchair parking spots. However, the path is a little bit uneven to and from.


Rating: 9.5/10

Why did it lose points? It lost half a point simply because some of the tables are quite close together so you will have to ask people to move chairs if you are going through the restaurant. Other than that, fantastic staff with even better food. 

Preserved Buildings, Tourism and Access

"I'm sorry. This building is preserved so there is no lift."

That is an excuse I got twice in one day as I attempted to be a tourist in Dublin. I spent one Tuesday afternoon in the Natural History Museum and the National Museum of Ireland to checked out some stuffed animals and the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition that showcases the "bog people".

The last time I visited either of these museums was when I was in primary school when Bartons Bus whisked us up to the city to wander around the dead zoo and to see the famous Ardagh Chalice. I was under the age of 10 and also using crutches to get around. I was as hyper ball of energy then too so accessibility was the last thing from my mind. I was hoping to see if the experience would be as much fun as it was then for me now that I use a wheelchair.

My first stop of the day was the Dead Zoo. The entrance has a ramp and the old wooden doors open automatically and there is a wheelchair bathroom/baby changing space immediately to your left. It was a promising start and I was impressed that they managed to keep the building's exterior intact even with the adjustments made for easy access, which can sometimes be an eyesore. I wandered about the ground floor, seeing a wide range of birds, fish, rabbits and insects that can be found in Ireland. Other than wondering if the whale hanging from the ceiling was actually made out of papier-mâché, I wanted to know where the exotic animals were. Stuffed cheetahs and other things that you can't find in the Wicklow Mountains.

Surely, if they had renovated the building after the ceiling collapsed in 2007, they would have to not only adhere to fire safety regulations but also qualify for a Disability Access Certificate? No. Preserved buildings get to skip this.

I went on to the National Museum to visit the bog people. They had a ramped entrance and inside, they had a ramp down to the cases displaying jewellery, gold and copper excavated from the Mesolithic period to the Medieval ages. If anyone studied history or art in school, you'll find familiar pieces like the Derrynaflan Hoard or Tara Brooch here.  I had heard great things about the Kingship and Sacrifice exhibition and I was not disappointed. If you're not squeamish, I highly, highly recommend taking an afternoon to visit.

This was all on the ground level. Up on the first floor, you have collections from Egypt and the Brian Boru display from Dublin's Viking ear. This was all closed off to me because it is another preserved building without a lift or access beyond the ground level.

Both of these are important from a cultural, educational, historical and tourist viewpoint and as semi-state run buildings, it is amazing that "I'm sorry. This building is preserved so there is no lift" is an acceptable response to those with mobility issues.

In comparison to the National Gallery that has lifts, ramps, platforms and wheelchair bathrooms at every turn, it is incredible that two buildings showcasing the brunt of Ireland's history are closed to approximately 18% of the population and a large number of tourists visiting Ireland.

If government-funded buildings cannot step up to the mark, what hope is there for other businesses operating from preserved buildings to open up to everyone?

Whenever I go abroad, I know for certain that national galleries and museums will be 100% accessible. As sure as McDonald's falls in line with disability access, the Tate Modern, the Louvre, the MET and Park Güell will provide decent access or alternative routes for the visitor with a disability and their family or friends.

I have said time and time again that we have incredibly talented architects, engineers and designers in this country but with preservation restrictions being the ultimate blockade, their talents are going to waste and opportunities for people with disabilities remain limited.

Asador

Asador
1 Victoria House, Haddington Road, Dublin 4
asador.ie


A warm welcome to Dublin 4's first review here on Legless and the honour rightfully goes to Asador. They take pride in the heat method that cooks their meat and fish and, boy, it shows. Their chicken wings are divine and almost certainly give Tribeca's wings a run for their money. I had their wings and Asador burger (jerk mayo fans take note) from their pre-theatre menu and there are plenty of other menu options for lunch, groups and for rugby days. Their basil gin deserves a special shout out. It was genuinely like a pool of heaven in a glass.


What has it got?

Seating: All of the tables have moveable chairs and they fit a wheelchair nicely. The moveable chairs have armrests but the fixed couches at some of the tables do not.  

Doors: The doors are slightly heavy to push open but they are wide. 

Ground: Wooden floors, which could be a nuisance on wet days. 

Stairs: Everything is on the ground level. 

Bathrooms: They have a fully kitted out wheelchair bathroom here that is decked out rather nicely as opposed to the usual sterile vibe that wheelchair bathrooms possess. 

Spaciousness: When I was leaving, I had to ask a few people to pull in their chairs so I could make my way out.

Helpfulness of Staff: The staff were very helpful here. 

Parking: Parking might be a little bit tricky here. There is plenty of onstreet parking but it is a busy spot so you may have to park further afield especially if it's a match day. 

Rating: 9.5/10

Why did it lose points? The only main issue with Asador is the lack of suitable parking but, other than that, you will get a top quality meal here all the while knowing that it is good for your chair, making it an even better experience. 

Foam Cafe

Foam Cafe
24 Great Strand Street, Dublin 1
facebook.com/foamcafe

Foam Cafe is perhaps one of Dublin's quirkiest cafes. Every wall is adorned with something different, be it pink flamingoes, topless photos of Maroon 5's Adam Levine or portraits of the Virgin Mary. While it may not be to everyone's taste, it's a grand spot to whittle away an afternoon.



What has it got?

Seating: Other than the chaise longue under the stairs, all of the tables have moveable chairs. 

Doors: The front door can be a little heavy to push open but it swings both ways (heh) so if you're coming or going, you have enough space. 

Ground: It's a mix of lino and carpet. 

Stairs: The entrance is flat and there is extra seating upstairs but everything you need is on the ground level. 

Bathrooms: The ladies and gents are downstairs but they have a wheelchair bathroom/babychanging bathroom on the ground level. The wheelchair bathroom hosts the Adam Levine photo which is a major plus but the babychanging table - an actual desk table - takes up a lot of room which makes it quite tough for a wheelchair to fit. 

Spaciousness: They have a number of tables that are easy to access but some might be tucked away, making it difficult to get to. 

Helpfulness of Staff: The staff were good at clearing the way for my chair but if they made extra space in the wheelchair bathroom - that would be superb. 

Parking: There is a wheelchair parking spot across the way from it as well as a few more further down the road and other onstreet parking spot. 

Rating: 9/10

Why did it lose points? Foam Cafe lost one point simply because they made a perfectly spacious wheelchair bathroom cluttered with the babychanging table. If they found a way to neaten that up, it would be a perfect 10. 

P Mac's

P Mac's
Lower Stephen Street, Dublin 2
twitter.com/Pmacspub

P Mac's is a great spot. Free Banshee Bones, lollipops, all the craft beers going and a completely unpredictable music selection from Snoop Dogg to Queens of the Stone Age. It's an incredibly busy pub for a very good reason but this means that it can often be uncomfortably packed.


What has it got?

Seating: A lot of the tables have moveable chairs of different shapes and sizes with some fixed couches. 

Doors: The front doors are double doors which can sometimes be difficult to push open but they fit a wheelchair. 

Ground: Wooden flooring. 

Stairs: The entrance is flat in but there are a few steep steps up to the toilets.

Bathrooms: They have no wheelchair bathroom here BUT the Drury Court Hotel next door has a wheelchair bathroom that you can use. To the right of the bar, there is a snug which has doors that open directly into the hotel. Ask at the desk for the bathroom and pee freely, my friend. 

Spaciousness: This is a very, very tight spot because it is always rammed with people. If you use a wheelchair, I recommend that you sit in the snug to the right of the bar so that you can get to the bathroom easily without skinning the ankles off of everyone in there. 

Helpfulness of Staff: They are top notch. And if you are nice to them, you will get extra crisps. 

Parking: There are two wheelchair parking spots down the road. They are opposite Break for the Border. 

Rating: 5/10

Why did it lose points? P Mac's lost points because it is really tough to get around when it is busy. The lack of wheelchair bathroom is also a massive pain because you have to leave the pub, through the sea of people, to get to the nearest wheelchair toilet. The path outside is also quite tight because their smoking area blocks off a lot of room. 

I really like this pub but I wouldn't go unless I know that it's not too busy or if the table in the snug is free.