Monday 22 March 2010

DIRTY DUBLIN


Occasionally, you meet people who are touched with stardust and Yvonne Fitzpatrick-Grimes is one of those people.  Here I am in her deliciously-decorated sitting room (where I had to be prevented from stealing that red cushion!).

Yvonne is a great wit and dancer, she sings like an angel - and provides tea and sympathy on tap in the most welcoming of homes.  She also has four amazing children, is married to the wonderful D - oh, and did I mention that she writes? Very, very well.

Her book, DIRTY DUBLIN is currently flying off the shelves.

And for good reason. It's BRILLIANT.  She writes with humour and elan - and I know she's my friend and I'm biased - but I still urge you to give yourself a treat and buy a copy of her book.  

If you love people, Ireland and the craic - then you won't fail to be delighted.

Any Irish-related anecdotes to share?
I'll start - my son is called Patrick!


22 comments:

  1. I’ve read the plot of the book – sounds all-involving!
    Generally speaking, I always love reading about Ireland and its stories and folklore and traditions.
    Sadly – there isn’t a copy of the book in Italy but I shall read it in English as well.

    No Irish-related anecdotes to share from here, sorry! :)
    x

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  2. ps In case you loved to hear about Neapolitan-related anecdotes... I'll be glad to tell you.
    x

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  3. My DH's parents are from Ireland. They came over in the late '50's and stayed. Caroline xx
    p.s. e-mail is storercaroline45@yahoo.co.uk

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  4. Michela - obviously I am going to have to write a Neapolitan hero very soon.....

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  5. Which part of Ireland did your in-laws come from originally, Caroline - and does your (new!) husband have a favourite Irish song?

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  6. Hi Sharon I've grilled Colin and he's said St Theresa of the Roses is his favourite song; and his dad came from Blackhall (nr Dublin) and his mum came from Cuduff (he thinks!) again near Dublin. Caroline x

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  7. How about this anecdote:
    Julio Iglesias was being interviewed by British TV host Anne Diamond when he used the word 'manyana'. Diamond asked him to explain what it meant. He said that the term means "maybe the job will be done to-morrow, maybe the next day, maybe the day after that. Perhaps next week, next month, next year. Who cares?" The host turned to Irishman Shay Brennan who was also on the show and asked him if there was an equivalent term in Irish. "No. In Ireland we don't have a word to describe that degree of urgency", replied Brennan.

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  8. How does Sharon look so gorgeous, and my face. look like a full moon in a fog...I’m sure she rigged that camera...Still I’ll allow her the advantage [this time] in return for the generosity of Dirty Dublin’s review....as always a star and a great friend... and yes, I enjoy her books racy and romantic..the perfect companion for a duvet day....Yvonne

    I remember overhearing a similar comment in a Dublin city pub....and American wondering why the Irish were so apathetic the driest Dublin drawl responded ‘who gives a shite’

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  9. Yes yes yes Its a great read !couldn't put it down .Felt as though I was in Dublin!!!
    Could hear it see it and smell it !!!!

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  10. ...I am from Dublin - is that enough of an anecdote?! Anecdotes, anecdotes...perhaps a joke?
    A woman is selling vegetables in Moore St (v. famous street for stalls of discount veg/fruit/fish with lots of real 'Dublin' characters), and she holds up a cucumber and says to her friend: 'This reminds of my Paddy.'
    The friend: 'Why? The width of it?'
    Woman: 'No.'
    The friend: 'The length of it?'
    Woman, with a cackle: 'No- the dirt of it!'

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  11. I loved this book, picked it up, couldn't put it down! Definitely a must read. I found the Irish very difficult to start with but soon got the hang of it and found myself talking in the same manner to the amusement of my family, who couldn't understand a word I was saying.

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  12. I've just come across your blog. I've just finished reading Dirty Dublin, and loved it... do you know if the author has any other titles?

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  13. No, this is Yvonne's first published novel - let's just hope it isn't her last!

    Oh, and Abby - your Dublin joke segued into a great plug for the book's title!

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  14. I loved this book! Started it and couldn't put it down. Come on Yvonne! write another one, please.

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  15. I live in France but have an Irish background...this book was given to me as a present, and what a good gift it was !! I found the dialect hilarious....I even found myself reading it out loud to DH....I thought the imagery was brilliant - there are very few books that I have read where you can imagine it in film. I could almost smell, taste and see this book !! DH picked it up after me and loved it too ! Tt

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  16. Dirty Dublin's a great book - make sure you've got nothing to distract you as you'll keep wanting to get through to the next bit. With all the threatened rail and air strikes, make sure you've got a copy in your hand luggage to while the time away!

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  17. Love it, Love it, Love it,
    I live in the Emerald Isle....and like many places it has changed so much over the years, its great to be taken back to the rare ol' times in Dublin....dirty & all.
    Lorna

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  18. Well, as described by Yvonne, I am a little (more so since a bit of a diet!) yellow proddy and even I loved the book - a good romp and can't wait to visit Dublin! "Listen to this" was the phrase heard regularly in our bed at midnight as I read out another paragraph of Yvonne's fruity prose to my long suffering, but patient and lovely man!!! Penny xx

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  19. Dirty Dublin is a great read, couldn't put it down! Loved all the quirky characters and the witty one liners that made the city come to life. Fantastic first book! Lisa

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  20. What a great army of fans Yvonne has - as demonstrated by the comments on this blog.
    The over-riding message seems to be.....KEEP WRITING, MISSUS!

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  21. Loved the book, Yvonne has a great knack for writing dialogue as it is spoken, felt like I was back in Dublin!

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