Where The Streets Have No Shame

Charlesland 12JUNE16

o, the plan for this fine day out was simple enough…

Max and GG would trek around Greystones by joining the dots of all the various Street Feast parties that had been organised this warm and water-sprinkled summer’s Sunday.

Heading first to Killincarrig, and the lovely Carrig Mill, the kids were already wolfing down ice-cream cones in the gazebos that the adults had smartly erected. There was a splattering of rain, but, given that the air was so darn humid, any spray of cold water to the face was actually welcome.

The BBQ monster was being wheeled out as we left, much to Max’s disgust, but next stop was Charlesland Court. And that was going to be the longest link of the day.

Passing by Shoreline, the cars parking on every available space from Killincarrig to The Burnaby, we realised that the Wicklow 200 race was on. Unfortunately, not one hippy in this humungous organisation – not even Shoreline, where the race started and finished – bothered to tell your soaraway Guide. The fecks.

On up through the labyrinth that is Charlesland, and to a very happy bunch of people. The kids were chasing giant bubbles with glee, but it was the adults who seemed to be having the most fun. There’s definitely something in the punch up there, and it made for one hell of a difficult street party to leave. Especially when you’re being offered dirty big plates full of yummy grub.

But, we had three more Greystones Street Feasts to find, and so, on we trekked. Max was deeply underwhelmed at my turning down food. Grilled food.

Making our way through the Burnaby to try and unearth the next outdoor shindig, we stumbled upon a happy little gathering down the cul de sac known as South Place. Tables were lined up together, the wine was flowing, and the BBQ was smoking. Turns out this is the 6th year that these South Place party people have hit the streets for a little fun in the afternoon sun, and it just happened to coincide this year with the Street Feast.

With the outgoing King of South Place positioned at the head of the table, ready to hand over his crown to the new title holder, the big buzz this year was the rumoured introduction of a Queen of South Place too. Martin Crotty gets my vote for that one.

After a quick glass of vino, it was on up to Bellevue Park, where… well, the only ball happening out on the streets was an actual ball. We tried the three cul de sacs there, but, nada. They all must be too knackered from their weekly Saturday Swingers Party.

With the day wearing on, Max and I decided we’d best swing by for the trusty Beetle to get to our final party on the list, Blacklion Manor. Where we found a very happy, perhaps mildly drunk gang of neighbours. The suggestion of a quick group shot garnered the offer of a topless shot from one of the revellers.

Man, how I wish we could have stayed there.

It was here that we found out that there was actually another Street Feast happening in Hillside. Realising that not all of Greystones’ Sunday afternoon shindigs would necessarily have been listed on the official Street Feast website, we took a quick spin through Redford, Rathdown and La Touche, just in case there were some more hidden hooleys around the town. If there were, they were very well hidden.

Over in Hillside, the fun and frolics, and burgers and talking ballistics, was well underway, and this time, when offered some outrageously yummy food, the answer was a very definite, very hungry “Yes!”. It was here that we learnt of another Street Feast planned in Greystones later that day.

So, after a quick pint in the Hot Spot and a rather groovy afternoon music session – we’ll have that post up later – we drove to Burnaby Heights.

We had been told that one of the Murray kids had organised a different kind of Street Feast for around 6pm, with storytellers and poets, etc, agus etc. We swung by the estate around 7pm, and, mercifully, we didn’t find it.

Home, knackered and happy, what a day like today brought home was the simple fact that, although there are pockets of people all over Greystones living in their own little neighbourhoods, their own little worlds, we all pretty much want the same things in life. Warm beds, cool friends, happy kids, shelter from the storms, and, what the hell, just one more plate of that delicious pulled pork. With some of that sauce. And a sausage. And some potato salad. Ooh, and some crisps on the side.

It would have been great if all the Street Feasts could have met up later in the evening, and swapped stories, leftovers and cocktails.

Well done to everyone involved in today’s magic – including those we might have missed.

Max and GG will sleep like babies tonight. Full gallery of pics here.