Recently in Galway Category

One of the indie fixtures here at the Galway Film Fair (the co-production and development market side of the festival) is Jeff "The Dude" Dowd. A producer's rep by trade, Jeff also happens to be the model for The Dude in the Coen Brother's film, The Big Lebowski. Now, the indie film world pretty much all know this, but once in a while it's a trip to be in a place with Jeff when his connection to the film isn't known. The scene: The Dude checks in at the Fleadh. Girl: "Wow! You look just like the guy from The Big Lebowski!" Ah, the innocence of the uninitiated. Of course, like everywhere else in the world (probably) The Big Lebowski has a huge cult-like following here and as word got around, The Dude was swamped. Messages started appearing on the sidewalk:

One evening, as he was introducing himself, Jeff said: "Jeff Dowd. Or the Dude. Or El Duderino, if you're not into that whole brevity thing." Fecking brilliant! And of course, there's the craic:

L to R: "Magic" Johnson of the 15 Second Film Festival, Magners Boston Irish Film Festival producer Dawn Morrissey and The Dude.

This young man was clearly over-served but is having a hell of a good time, apparently!

The thing about the Irish is that they've struggled so much as a people, that things that might strike some of us as hardships are shrugged off, much like the seemingly endless stream of rain that drenches this aptly dubbed and enchanting sister city of Seattle. Like the Jews, the Irish have endured oppression for thousands of years and like the Jews they have developed a specific way of looking at it. Whereas complaining to the Jewish grandmother "My soup is cold, Grandma!" might get you a "Do you think they had soup in the camps? Eat your soup, you ungrateful pisher!" The Irishman looks at you if you're a complete weenie and points out that at least you're not starving.

Sweet Jesus, I love guinness!