Two Dublins: A city in Black and White
As a writer for Esquire, I'm always intrigued by the dual Dublin - the city I've conjured up in my mind and the city I've experienced. My adoration for literature and music has breathed life into the fictional Dublin, inspired by the works of James Joyce, and Roddy Doyle, and my own scribblings, the melodies of The Dubliners, and the documentaries that chronicle the city's storied past.
Recently, my brother and I had the chance to explore both Dublins during a weekend sojourn. As we ambled along the cobblestone streets and narrow alleys, snapping black and white photographs that captured the city's essence, I was struck by the sense that I was wandering through the Dublin of my own creation.
The city was bursting with the spirit of literature and music, and I could hear the echoes of Joyce's Ulysses, Doyle's The Commitments, and my own The Quare Fellow in the air. The music of The Dubliners seemed to drift through the alleyways, and I felt a profound connection to the city's rich cultural history.
As an Irish writer, I've always been captivated by the idea of two Dublins - the city in my head and the actual city. Although the fictional Dublin may be a figment of my own imagination, it also celebrates the city's history and culture. The stories, songs, and images that have brought the city to life in my mind are rooted in the actual experiences of the inhabitants.
But as much as the beauty of the fictional Dublin impressed me, I was also reminded of the beauty of the actual city. Dublin has a rich cultural legacy, and its inhabitants are friendly and welcoming. From the pubs where we quaffed Guinness to the local eateries where we savoured traditional Irish fare, we felt genuinely experiencing the real Dublin.
The trip reminded me of the potency of literature and music to animate a city. The Dublin of my imagination may be a product of fiction, but it also reflects the town and the people who call it home. And the trip was a reminder that sometimes, the finest way to explore the fictional Dublin is to immerse oneself in the actual city.
As an Irish writer, I feel a profound bond with both Dublins. The fictional Dublin may be a product of my imagination, but it also honours the real city and its inhabitants. The actual Dublin may occasionally fall short of the romanticized vision of the city in my mind, but it is a beautiful and lively place with a rich cultural heritage.
As the great Brendan Behan once said, "I respect kindness in human beings first of all, and kindness to animals. I don't respect the law; I have a total irreverence for anything connected with society except that which makes the roads safer, the beer stronger, the food cheaper and the old men and old women warmer in the winter and happier in the summer."