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SAVING SWENY’S GIVE IT UP Frankly, it’s embarrass
ing that Sweny’s Pharmacy should have to contact us about their need to fundraise to preserve and protect the 172-year-old chemist shop immortalised in James Joyce’s Ulysses. How any government or tourist body could not simply sort it out beggars belief. But that is what they’ve been reduced to – begging for support in the face of their rent doubling. This volunteer-run space cannot solely survive on the sale of “sweet lemony wax” soap and tourist donations. patreon.com/swenyspharmacy ‘Does it spark joy?’ is perhaps the best known catchphrase of recent times. Marie Kondo’s Netflix series brought the concept of decluttering to the fore of middle-class considerations. At home Emma Gleeson is sparking joy with her Give Up Yer All Things service. Having studied the psychology of our modROADMAP Michael McDermott BILLY ON A ROLL Mick Minogue’s latest creation is a true Dublin scut and scamp – Billy Roll. The venerated lunchbox staple is ripe for adventures in the city. To date, he’s been sneaking around looking for hash bags, making poo babies and hangin with his weekend weed n pink neat dealer – MC Mama Tessy. instagram.com/mickminogue ern addiction to over-consumption, Gleeson realised how much she had amassed in her own life. “It took some time but once I had got rid of everything that I did not truly love or need, I felt so much lighter, freer and better able to enjoy my possessions,” she says. “Let me be clear, I am NOT a minimalist! I love having a house full of books, pictures, trinkets and memories, believing material culture to be an essential element of how we express ourselves. But the difference is that I love everything I own, keep it all in good working order, and get rid of anything that has outgrown its use or charm.” €160 (10am-2pm), €350 (10am-6pm) giveupyeraultings.com FARM ART “I would be delighted if you could suggest me if/how you may be interested in a small highlight to (sic) my art. It’s a dream for me to be able to get a little more exposure and abandon the 9-5 office job to dedicate 100% to my beloved passion. This possibility would mean the world to me.” Thus finishes an e-mail from Samuele Scomparin, a Venetian by birth but adopted Irish. He goes under the name of Irish Farm Art and paints charming oil colours of pigs and cows and geese, there’s even a spring chick in the mix. irishfarmart.com Howiyiz! Turlough Conmee is an ex-patriate Dubliner who writes poems and prose sketches in Dublin dialect. Indeed, he has devised his own system of orthography for Dublinese. Go figure! dublindialect.wordpress.com 10