Fàilte Abhaile (Day 8)
Although my accent betrays me, those of you who know me personally will know that I am indeed Irish (surprise!). I spent the majority of my primary school years in Dublin before moving to the UK for boarding school as a preteen. Spending a large chunk of time away from home in my formative years meant I developed a very esoteric relationship with Ireland, Dublin specifically. By esoteric, I mean that my understanding of home gradually shrunk to almost entirely my family home and church, while the opposite was happening for my age mates who were getting to know the city. As the primary school friendships I had once cherished gradually fizzled out with time, it began to feel like Dublin was less of a home and merely the city my family lived in. I’m glad to say that’s changed for me over the past few years though, and it’s no coincidence that it coincides with what might be understood as a renaissance in the city.
I’m wary of using the word renaissance because it’s become one of those words that’s lazily used to usher in a new era but what’s happening in Dublin at least to me feels like a rebirth of a city with a new dynamic lease of life. While the city often looked across the Irish Sea to hubs like London as a reference point, it’s been beautiful to see local movements paying attention to local appetites for community and creative outlets. To me this sentiment is most evident through two collectives – Chamomile club and the Gliders.
The Gliders are a collective of dynamic individuals putting Dublin on the map on multiple fronts. Their eye catching clothing which includes the coveted ‘G suits’ as well as other signature pieces have steadily circulated around those in the know. The movement is propelled further by the dynamic duo of Travis and Elzzz who recently shut down a headline show (that I was gutted to miss) following their record breaking Doghouse album. The Gliders have succeeded at cultivating an intangible but important feeling which I struggle to articulate but would best describe as a sense of curiosity and excitement that compels you to want to be involved. When I think about it, I’d say it’s the fact that they have successfully built a world that people want to join as seen by their irl activations and success of the music. Their tagline ‘gliders reside in the sky’ speaks to their commitment to creating this world separate from what’s on the ground that all are welcome to join if they take the leap.
Similarly, Chamomile Club are a collective comprised of musicians Monjola, Moio, Aby Coulibaly and graphic designer Thomas Kettle amongst others. Recently they shut down Fade Street where their HQ is based for a block party bringing people together from across the country(again, vex I couldn’t be there). I’ve been to some chamomile events and again the commitment to world building is incredibly commendable, with the venue taking the appearance of a garden on one occasion. The energy at the events has consistently been pure with space to find like minded people which can’t be taken for granted. It’s not just parties though, the collective has also held open mics and other events, really pulling out the stops to bring people together in a city where it may feel like there’s not much for young people.
While I’ve name dropped these two collectives, the beautiful thing to witness is the ecosystem that’s being built from the documentarians to the clothing brands we musicians there’s a symbiotic relationship between the moving parts in Dublin and it’s so reassuring to witness. From Spyder’s Web on the camera to Galan and Love Lago with the garms to Efé and F3mi delivering bangers, for me it’s never been more exciting for me to be in Ireland.
When I was younger, home meant going to the green and calling for friends to come out but with age that dissipated leaving a vacuum that was empty for years. We all want to feel at home and I’m grateful for the movements helping me to rediscover home.
