TD 1
IAN ‘Totally Dublin DJs’ LAMONT A generations of
greats played a new tune under the stylus of Lamont. “I appointed myself editor of Totally Dublin in September 2013, a week before the October issue was to go to print. Stefan had made a point of appointing absolutely nobody to edit Totally Dublin in the wake of Dan Gray’s departure, so I took it upon myself to make the symbolic journey across the basement of 60 Merrion Square to sit in Dan’s old desk, leaving behind me the roles of editorial factotum, office dogsbody, and the world’s least convincing credit control officer. After that first issue went to print, Stefan offered an incredibly rare slice of encouragement: “It’ll be easier next month.” Easier, sure, but never easy. When I think back over my forty issues in charge of TD, my main memory of the work is the endless supply of stress that comes from the enormous juggling act of being the editor of a small print operation. This is all the more pertinent when one takes on the role with no practical experience of managing people, managing budgets or delegating. I clutch the memory still, and I Have measured everything with it since. IN MAY, INIS OÍRR PLAYED HOST TO A WEEKEND OF MUSIC, ART, PARTIES AND SUNSHINE AT DROP EVERYTHING 2016. photos Cáit Fahey 40 41 TOTALLY DUBLIN PQ: “Stefan offered an incredibly rare slice of encouragement: ‘It’ll be easier next month.’” Looking back at the covers of the old issues I ed34 35 EUROFEVER Four years ago, our ascension to the gilded ranks of European Championship competitors seemed like a huge step forward, or at least a just reward for the Thierry Henry-related misfortunes of Paris in 2009 and ten years of not qualifying for things. But the brutal truth was that we were handed a golden ticket by drawing Estonia in the play-off and proceeded to let down those who had scrabbled eastward with performances so lacklustre they defied our lowest expectations. This time around, with 24 nations qualifying out of 53, it was more a case of scarlet for ya if you didn’t qualify (see: Scotland, the Netherlands). But that caveat, our tricky group, and unfortunate security concerns aside, there is much to be excited about as Europe embarks on a bloated, month-long celebration of international football from June 10th onwards, in what is the last international tournament most of us will be able to attend in a conventional sense for another eight years. Here’s Totally Dublin’s guide to Euro 2016. words Ian Lamont illustrations Ruan Van Vliet Group A FRANCE Who are ya? A frightening collection from all the leagues around Europe who manage to have talent like Kevin Gameiro surplus to requirements. How they will manage to fit their galaxy of stars – Payet, Griezmann, Martial, Pogba – onto the pitch at the same time will be a small concern. Eurostar Even with the presence of Atleti spearhead Antoine Griezmann, super-boy Paul Pogba has a bit of everything in his locker and is ready to announce himself at an international tournament. Antoine Griezmann is the one in charge of the direct debit for this crew. For me, Clive... They could bloody well win the thing, especially shorn of Benzema-shaped distractions. ROMANIA Who are ya? Far from their late 1980s pomp, Romania have managed to become a Pot 1 seed for qualifying for the next World Cup largely by avoiding playing any friendlies and the quirks of the FIFA ranking systems. Their national team are no great shakes though. Eurostar When Spurs flop Vlad Chiricheș is the biggest name in your team you’ve got to wonder what their mostly Romanian Liga 1 based squad will contribute. For me, Clive... Presuming they squeeze out of the group as a 3rd place finisher, they’ll be eliminated in last 16. ALBANIA Who are ya? Albania have come a long way from the dark days of turning up without a kit to play us in the World Cup Qualifiers in 1992, but are still something of a footballing backwater and Euro 2016 marks their first qualification for an international tournament. Their path to the finals was smoothed when they were awarded a walkover against Serbia after a drone bearing a politically sensitive flag flew onto the pitch (really) causing the game to be abandoned. Eurostar Extremely low on big names, unless you remember Lorik Cana’s solitary season at Sunderland fondly, perhaps the most intriguing sight will be Taulant Xhaka potentially lining up against his brother Granit who plays for the Swiss. For me, Clive... One of the early evictees at the group stage. SWITZERLAND Who are ya? Mostly second generation Eastern European migrants in fact, rather than gold-stashing watchmakers of yore. Their team at 2014 World Cup faced internal xenophobic criticism from (political) right wingers about their multicultural makeup, with big names Granit “Little Einstein” Xhaka and Xherdan “Alpine Messi” Shaqiri both the children of Kosovar Albanian parents. Eurostar Breel Embolo, the latest hotshot off the FC Basel production line. For me, Clive... Having earned a reputation for generally boring the pants off us at major tournaments, we see no reason for them not being last 16 elimination fodder after grinding past Albania and Romania. ited, however, there are plenty of moments that I’m proud to have printed and scattered all around the city: David Jazay’s brilliant photos of Dublin Before The Tiger (TD118); a great issue all about Dublin’s built environment with wonderful writing by Emily Carson, Roisin Agnew and Kevin Breathnach, and photos of the inside the (still rotting) Iveagh Market by Steve O’Connor (TD121); two cover stories dedicated to the Marriage Equality referendum lit up by the work of Jack Gibson, Killian Broderick and Fuchsia MacAree (TD127 & TD128); shoe-horning in a Euro 2016 guide with hilarious sticker-book illustrations by Ruan van Vliet (TD141) and Cáit Fahey’s photos that captured the explosion of joy that was Drop Everything in 2016 (TD142) all leap out at me as particularly satisfying moments. If I think past the stress of my time as editor Dates for the diary: Ireland vs Sweden Stade de France, St-Denis Monday 13th June, 5pm ko (RTÉ 2) Belgium vs Ireland Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux Saturday 17th June, 2pm ko (RTÉ 2) Italy vs Ireland Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Lille Wednesday 22 June, 8pm ko (RTÉ 2) 32 33 of course, the funny thing I remember is the little prick of joy I got as someone submitted their copy or photos or illustrations, and myself and Lauren Kavanagh could get down to the business of making a magazine over g-chat. Gathering together the output from so many talented contributors was the best part of each monthly cycle – well, that and nailing a great pun for a headline – and it’s no surprise that so many of them continue to enrich my life many years after I cleared out my desk at TD Towers for the last time. Beyond those already highlighted above, Róisín McVeigh, Julia O’Mahony, Danny Wilson and AJ Lonergan deserve special mention for their encouragement and friendship. Ultimately, what I’m saying is, the lasting impact of Totally Dublin was the friends I made along the way.” 29