The Web 2.0 Conference Cork

Tom Raftery welcomes everyone to the Web 2.0 Conference in the Radisson SAS Hotel in Little Island yesterday.
I’ll post a few more shots later tonight and update this post.
From left to right: Shel, Walter, Rob, Fergus (behind Rob), and Tom speaking.
Salim was seated to the right of Shel just outside this photo.
Tom has posted his own thoughts on the Conference and Conor has extensive coverage of each speaker, including a few nice words about me. Thanks!

Aperture ƒ/5.6
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 125mm
ISO 1600
Shutter speed 1/60s

Web 2.0 pre-conference dinner

A group of about 20 bloggers, techs, and generally smart and nice people gathered in Probys Bistro last night before the Web 2.0 Conference today.
Pictured, in no particular order, and only if I figured out, or know your blog:

Not pictured are Fergus Burns or Walter Higgins who were sitting on either side of me at dinner. They gave great talks too, Fergus concentrated on the Irish perspective of starting a company while Walter gave a more technical talk on the technology behind AJAX and Rich Internet Apps.
Bref, Conor and Sabrina – where are your blogs?

Thanks again to Damien Mulley for organising the dinner. It was a great opportunity to meet some of the participants and characters at conference in an informal setting.

Later.. here’s a pic of me at the dinner taken by Joe Drumgoole:

Aperture ƒ/4
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 10mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/5s

Tom Murphy Men’s Wear

We returned my wedding suit yesterday to Tom Murphy Men’s Wear and Dress Hire Service.
Irish people love to complain about the shoddy service they receive when shopping but rarely do they shout about a great shopping experience when helpful and enthusiastic staff make the process so much easier.
Selecting the right wedding suit was probably the most important clothing choice I made in my life but Dermot, Tom and Owen were there to help.

If you need to hire wedding suits then do drop into Tom Murphy’s on St. Patrick Street Cork and tell them Donncha sent you!

Aperture ƒ/6.3
Camera Canon EOS 20D
Focal length 18mm
ISO 200
Shutter speed 1/100s

Sunlit Web

On a foggy morning a web will sparkle in the ambient light because of the moisture in the air.
I spent an inordinate amount of time crouched down shooting this dead bush!

Coats and Hat

It’s unusual to see a man wearing a hat like the one above these days. I made this photo on Patrick Street a few weeks ago and love the different textures and the faces!

Wet Day Shopping

Couple walking along Patricks Street Cork on Saturday.

The Us Book Launch Party

How did you celebrate your 30th birthday? I still am! I’ve hit the ripe ol’ age of 30 years and it’s come in the best year of my life. The last few days have been very exciting and ending my 20’s by going to the Us book launch party was the perfect end of one decade and the start of another even better one. The party doesn’t end yet, roll on the weekend!

It was long speculated that Ray and Jenny were an item, and people wondered, “why aren’t they together?” Last summer they announced that yes, there is a romantic link and it was plain to see last night!

Dave and Deirdre were another couple invited to the party because they contributed in a big way to the book – Dave came up with the name!
There’s a camera phone picture of Dave in the front of US, taken by Deirdre, but here they are in a slightly clearer picture! We had a greattime chatting to the two of them and I signed their copy of US. I wonderif that’ll be worth something in the future?
There is some noise in the photo because light was terrible and I shot at 3200 ISO. I should have used the flash but them’s is the way!

Dermot Heaslip is the chief designer behind the book. It was his idea that “US” be called “US” because, well, the book is about us isn’t it?

He was responsible for designing the book, and laying out the photos. When you look through it, it’s obvious that a lot of thought has gone into the organisation. It can be as simple as displaying baby photos on a double-page spread or the complexity of surrounding clothes and shoes with pictures of people and activity.
He did a great job!

My fiancée, Jacinta, has been a huge fan of Ray D’Arcy’s for years and if it’s possible, she was more excited about going to the book launch than I was!
Sometimes it’s not a good idea to meet your heroes or people you admire because they’ll only disappoint you. Ray’s easy-going and confident manner from his radio programme comes across as soon as you meet him and we were not disappointed!
Nice guy and a gentleman.

Ray thanked several people, although he forgot to thank Pat Balfe which he rectifed the day after on the radio! I was flabbergasted when he mentioned me, i’m sure I went red, but I know I had a big smile on my face!
I had a great chat with Pat, but unfortunately didn’t get a decent photo of him.

I had the pleasure to meet the not so world weary Quenten Fottrell! I didn’t recognise him at first but he introducted himself and we spoke at length and I even signed his copy of US for his niece!
He’s an interesting character, has a lot to say, and a good listener, although I think he was collecting material for a future article.. I’ll keep you posted on that.

Ray spent a large part of the evening signing books!
I still don’t know why I didn’t buy a copy and ask people to sign it. Oh well!

Jenny and Mairead are part of the team that make up the Ray D’Arcy show.
I didn’t see Will anywhere! Sorry Will, Jenny and Mairead are much easier on the eye but I would have got a snap if I had seen you!
They were as friendly as Ray, and quickly posed with Jacinta as we were the last out the door!