Tourists coming

Farmleigh house


A sculpture standing in the grounds

Farmleigh house standing in the Pheonix park was once the home of the Guinness family, as you see they did well for themselves. The house is owned by the state now and open to the public during the summer with special events planned.

This weekend I have not been able to work much.I have been painting and there is no point in falling asleep at the wheel.
Last Friday the Trinity ball was on, big event on the social calender.
The Garda were out on the streets taking drink from them.
Ammature drinkers are not good for business as they puke and fall into a stupour which could compromise the poor taxi driver.
Not to mention sitting into your car with clothes covered in vomit.
Oh the joys of dealing with youth.
In fact the Garda were doing the rounds taking 6 packs from youths all over the city.
I feel that perhaps some money should be spent on youth education,youth centers and adventure weekends. A few bob spent on prevention is never wasted.
The tourists have started to appear and I saw some of the feathered variety the other day. The Swalllows are here. Listening to the nature program on BBC radio 4 they were talking about how they fly from South Africa, all the way across Africa,the Sahara desert, then up through Spain and France and back to us.
Hope we have a good summer,though with all the school teachers and unemployed builders coming back on to the ranks it is hard to see how the work will come for everyone.The God in charge will be pissed off with taxi drivers asking for a good day at the ranks.
Taking about the economy taking a turn for the worse.
Did you hear that Habitat Ireland has closed its doors ?
Friday evening management told staff not to come into work any more as the company was gone bust.
That is one of the clearest signs of a downturn, a top end furniture store gone.
I was looking for a narrow recliner chair in that shop when that company first opened,as I walked through the store the store detective was nearly walking on my heels. I turned and asked her if she really thought I would stick a sofa up my coat and walk out without paying?
So I walked out and got it in Frank McGowans shop later.
I wonder how Brown Thomas is doing? The lady who owns that store(Hilary Weston} sold her Next shops last year as she said rents in Dublin had become unrealistic.

I must do a piece on the Sunday Times "Rich List"soon.
From number one who is a boy who left school at 15 Sean Quinn.
But why the rich do not do more good with their wealth is beyond me.

Chuck Feeney ,Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are good examples of what you can achieve with money. They have given away billions to help their fellow man.
No strings attached.
I met Chuck one day, brought him and his wife in from the airport. He did not boast about his deeds but when I found out about him it helped me to look at him with great gratitude on behalf of mankind.
He did an interview which you can find hereFriday 19 Jan


"Taxi news" has loads of info for taxi people.

Here is a piece I found in the Taxi news (Link opposite)

Christchurch's traditionally white-vehicled taxi ranks have received a dose of environmentally friendly green with the arrival of a new competitor.

Green Cabs uses only hybrid vehicles that run on battery-powered electricity and petrol. The young company also off-sets any carbon emissions it does produce by planting trees in developing countries.

Green Cabs launched in Christchurch last week and has eight cars on the road, but that number would gradually increase to 50 in the next two years, Christchurch area manager Will Owen said.

The company is the brainchild of Wellington man Callum Brown, who owns Green Cabs with his partner, Eva Romanowska.

Before last November, when the company launched its first cars in Wellington, Brown's knowledge of the taxi industry was based on being a passenger in taxis while working in the executive world.

He was once a climate-change sceptic but Al Gore's documentary An Inconvenient Truth changed his mind.

Brown recognised a gap in the market for an eco-friendly cab company and decided to leave his 10-year career in the information technology industry and to set up the company.

Green Cabs has 30 cars in both Auckland and Wellington and is planning on a fleet of between 150 and 200 cars in New Zealand in the next year.

The Toyota Prius uses about 4.9 litres of petrol per 100km, compared to between 12 and 16 litres per 100km used by other taxis.

Brown said the average taxi driver spent between $300 and $450 a week on petrol. Green Cab drivers spent between $90 and $100 a week.

6th May 1882

The gates to the American Ambassadors residence Pheonix park

As we drive around our respective cities there are some things we as taxi drivers should know.
Like who lives in the White House?, or Buckingham Palace etc.

Once an Australian woman gave me and her kids a lecture on Robert Emmett as we passed Thomas St. church.
Her kids and husband who were French were told all about the rising,Robert Emmets trial and execution at that very church.
Thousands were put to the sword as a result of the rising and many are buried in the plot called the Croppy Acre in front of Collins Barricks on the quays.
This shows how an Australian education from Irish nuns was so much better than an Irish education.
This was finished off with a quote from his speech from the dock, which was delivered by Robert Emmett without notes, spontaniously.

"I am here ready to die. I am not allowed to vindicate my character; no man shall dare to vindicate my character; and when I am prevented from vindicating myself, let no man dare to calumniate me. Let my character and my motives repose in obscurity and peace, till other times and other men can do them justice. Then shall my character be vindicated; then may my epitaph be written."

The Pheonix Park is a place where Dubliners go to relax.
It is the biggest public park in any city of Europe.
There are many places of interest and many things to do there.

Few Dubliners remember the 6 th of May 1882.

That day was a 9/11 moment.

No matter where you were in the world you would hear of the murders which took place on that day.

The chief secretary for Ireland Lord Fredrick Cavendish was walking with Thomas Henry Burke head of the civil service when they were set upon by men wielding surgical knives and they were butchered.
The Invincibles.as the group became known carried out the act
The civil unrest was moved into a higher gear and the methods used by both sides in the conflict are still in use today in Iraq or wherever there is strife.
Guirella tactics, informers and summery executions.

I know it says in Wickapedia that the guilty parties were caught and executed but this fact is not so clear in the book I am reading by Senan Molony.

On the 6th of May beside the road opposite the Aras An Uachtarain a cross appears with 2 bunches of flowers to mark the spot and remember the day.
This year they still appeared,here is the photo.
They are not exactly what I expected to see.
I think the deer may have got to the flowers before me.

Protest day

Well for me today was very busy.
Traffic was light ,seems like a lot of schools have extended holidays.

Seemed like few taxi drivers took part in the demonstration in Dublin.

Then around noon there was a drive past in Fitzwilliam place.
That was impressive.


Well if the regulator won't listen to us, perhaps she will hear us.
The protests were nationwide so I look forward to seeing the news.

Sunday Times

A protest march to the regulators office a while ago.

Taxis queue to infinity at Heuston for the train

Just to hand.
From the Sunday Times.
Top 10 + 1 taxi cities.
number of people per taxi.

Dublin 98
Oslo 112
Mexico City 123
Paris 136
Seoul 148
Tokyo 232
Madrid 233
Athens 243
Copenhagen 279
Wellington 292

Istanbul 572 people per taxi!

Kathleen Doyle comes out with statements like.
"radio cab companies can't get enough drivers"

Well if I was getting e80 from every car which had my radio I could not get enough cars either.
Don't forget you don't have to have work for all the cars you have.

Protest on Tuesady

The porter with his top hat looks out for customers at the Bank Of Ireland

A pidgeon loft on the 8th floor of a Ballymun tower block.


Well another all night done and I now have enough money to last me for the rest of my life.

That is provided I don't have to buy something.

(Jackie Mason)

Life is hand to mouth for those involved in the taxi trade at present.

I was hitting lucky Sat night and Sunday night I must have pleased the Gods who sent me work.
I wonder who is the patron saint of taxi drivers?

Interesting people some with strange stories.
2 girls and a man get in, were going to Walkinstown then to Lucan, a bit of small talk between them then the couple get out.
Then the girl tells me about the tragic turn her life has taken.
Her boyfriend was murdered a few weeks ago in Ballyfermot!

She told me how it happened.

Lets call her boyfriend Tommy.

Tommy had a friend who had been a drug addict and when he came off drugs Tommy befriended him and tried to help him get his life back on track.
Different people told Tommy that the guy was dangerous, but Tommy said If the lad can stay off the gear I would help him.

Well Tommy and another chap were in our place when the Ex junkie goes berserk and pulls out a knife and stabs Tommy 4 times and the other chap 8 times, the Garda caught him but Tommy bled to death.

You can say nothing when some says something like this.
The flood gates open and all the hurt and grief comes out.
Then they are relieved.
You could see how utterly crushed she is as she spoke of how their wedding plans were at an advanced state,a good man dead for nothing.
She pointed out where the apartment was near City West as we passed.
She is going to a murder victims support group and she is getting a lot of help there.
How do you help a person going through Hell?

And what about the guy who did it is he in Dundrum mental hospital?

No she said..................

They charged him and he is out on bail...

It is totally insane how the law works, a woman was put in Mountjoy prison last week for not paying a fine which was imposed when she put up a satalite dish without permission. While a ruthless crazy killer walks the streets.

Well I hope he is not sitting behind me tomorrow night.

I won't tell you any more for now.

But an interesting one popped up on the Indian rickshaw site with regard to pricing.
This is a problem all over the world.
The income starts to drop and the scammers come out, then the punter who got stung complains how ALL taxi drivers are only a gang of robbers.

Point in case.
She got into my taxi and told me how she got into a taxi late at night at Dublin airport to go to Terenure.

I will go via the the M50.
No the lady said straight through town its only 6 AM.
I am going on the M50 I am the driver he said and he slammed the door and drove on.

"I shouted at him to stop,that I wanted to get out,but he just drove on.
Anyhow when he got to Terenure it was about e20 more than it should have been.
We took down his licence number and the roof sign number. I could not confront him because I was tired and had 6 teenagers with me.
A few days later,after I had calmed down,I rang the carriage office(must have been a few years ago)

I told my story, they said they would get back to me.

Later a Garda rang me to say that the roof sign was an old number and not in use, the reg number was the number of a car,not a people carrier and the licence?
There was no such number.
I showed the Garda the paper where we had written down the information 3 of us took the numbers,

Since then I have herd nothing!!!

I am careful about getting into a taxi and I fear for my kids the way things are going on now.

Now I wonder how many man hours the Garda spent studying cars at the airport late at night?
Not any I would say.

Its a pity that someone might killed in an uninsured car by a driver with no papers.

There are not many checks made late at night, or during the day for that matter.

A couple of weeks ago at Scakville place a taxi pulled up and noticed that the car in front did not give him Last.
(I won't explain here)
He got out and asked him and while he was doing that he noticed he had no meter in the car, or ID or yellow stickes on his windscreen.
So he walked up to a few of the drivers, told his story and asked them to get out and look casual, but be ready to pounce on the driver if he tried to leave.
As he was giving the Garda the car reg the driver tried to drive away, but they caught him.
A car with a stolen roof sign, no taxi insurance,no taxi licence.
God knows where this was going to end.

I had the 2 who were robbing taxi drivers in my taxi a few years ago. One was black and mute I got worried and felt something was wrong so I pointed to the CC TV camera which was pointing at them.

They decided to get out instead of going down to O'Reilly cottages.
Even gave a tip, lucky me.

Good news is that they caught the syringe robbing scumbag who robbed 6 drivers recently. I had noticed the Garda checks but I did not know why they were looking for.
I would say he will get the hiding of his life when he is locked up.

After all its the likes of him that give criminals a bad name.

Thats all for now folks except to say that Tuesday morning will be special in Dublin.
Every taxi is asked to start work and work all morning.

This is to show the Taxi regulator just how many taxis there are in the capital.

I was just correcting a few of the links on my Blogroll, people keep moving on to different hosts and when I make changes some links get knocked off.

When I get more time I will correct them again.

Lotto panic

I think thisis the Guinness coat of arms in St.Annes park

Traveller graves in Kells Co. Meath



May day,the workers holiday.
All Friday will be busy until it gets gridlocked at around 3pm.
Enjoy yourselves you lucky wage slaves.

Remember the horse fair will be on in Smithfield this Sunday.

Loads of interest in the Prius car and she uses very little petrol.

I just run this pas you to see what you think.
I pulled into a busy filling station, put in more than e40 worth of petrol and the pump stopped. So I put back the nozzle and pulled up to let the next person in.
At the cash desk I said pump 3 e41. "That pump is in use."
I know that,I filled up before him.
" Look there is nothing on the screen, next please"
She gave me back my money and told me to go.

If it comes out of her wages she won't be a happy camper.


I bumped into a mate on the rank at Heuston. "I'm the one there talking about"
Then he went on
"The taxi driver who won the lotto.
What happened was this.
I was cleaning out the van when a young lad on a bike asked me if I had won the lotto.
Yes it was me says I.
Then he went down to the newsagents where the press were hanging around and they have put the house under siege since.I had gone off to work while this was going on, it is totally crazy.
I went into the Lotto HQ and asked them to put out a statement, but they won't do it.
To make matters worse, the winner has come forward and he has kept his name secret."

So he has all of the hassle of winning the lotto and none of the benefits.

Still I hope he did win it,he is a good guy and a hard worker.
If it was me I would keep my mouth shut tight.

Tuesday 6th of May will be the best morning ever to get a taxi!
A protest has been arranged and every taxi in Dublin is requested to turn up for work, this is to show the regulator just how many taxis there are in the city.

Here is something for you Northsiders to think about click here

Here is another one,this one has started work. look

Taxi drivers will soon have to know self defence training starts here

2 Nights

Berry brothers and Rudd wine merchants.

Baggott St. hospital. One of our fine Victorian buildings.

Must get out to take more photos.

Well did 2 all nights this week Friday was so bad that I went home at 2 am with only enough money to cover my petrol and no profit to show for my work.

Saturday I hit all the bases and seemed to have full seats all the time.

Life is like that.

I was just finishing up when I got a run to Kilcock Co.Kildare e57.00.

This was once a sleepy rural town but it is now a suburb of Dublin.
Long runs are good but it never puts you back in the middle of the action,your return journey is a waste.But having said that I have sometimes clicked in Celbridge or Lucan.

Big problem with the all nights is tiredness, I had to pull in in Kilcock and take 40 ZZZZZZZZZZZ you should rest for 15 mins every 2 hours.
More people are killed from tiredness than drink driving.

84.6% of statistics are made up on the spot!.

There was a big punch up at the Foster place rank yesterday, 3 taxi drivers milling each other over nothing. As things are at present there is no space at the ranks for cars to wait for customers,tensions are running high.
The regulator should be called Marie Antoinette.
She has a LET THEM EAT CAKE attitude, she said "If taxi drivers are not able to make a living they should work more efficiently"
Wow that statement went down like a bag of hammers.


Tonight here in Ireland every parent will hold their children a bit tighter and thank their God for giving them good mental health.

There is 4 freshly dug graves waiting for a husband wife and two children.
They are the victims of the latest murder suicide tragedy here in Ireland.
In the last year I have come across more than 4 such cases, the details are too disturbing to even contemplate.

The Celtic Tiger has us all in its gaze, chasing the mighty dollar.

There is a lot more to life than wealth and possessions.

I don't know how it will end, or when, but when it does look to your kin and help each other.

Funny old guy in the taxi the other day. Picked him up at the Ardlea house the scene of the latest gangland shooting. Full of chat. "Great pub that e3.75 a pint for OAPs
Arriving at destination e6.50
"Heres a fiver thats all your getting" and out he hops! Cheeky bugger.

Here is a kind of a rescue in Australia saving Bruce click here(there are ads. first)
Bet that broke more than his fall.