Delightful Dublin
Shotgun Lovesongs, Dublin Dining, Maura O'Connell, Jalen Williams, Nutty Nourishment
Welcome to my weekly newsletter. This issue includes memorable moments from our trip to Dublin; a story of hope, healing, and heroism; our favorite Irish singer; an NBA Finals near-MVP; and a wrenching picture. I hope you like the picks and pics.
I was invited to speak at the second annual Knowledge Summit Dublin conference. Barb and I spent a fun four days in Ireland — my second and Barb’s third visit to the Emerald Isle. We loved meeting all of the friendly people, especially host Barry Byrne and his family, the attendees, and the other Irish folks we encountered.
On Sunday I joined a group of 30 who bravely hiked in the rain for 10 miles at Glendalough in the Wicklow Mountains above the lake shown above. The climb was steep, the rain was wind-driven, and the descent was very rocky. But after changing into dry clothes, we warmed up in a nearby pub and soon forgot how wet we had been.
I later discovered that my drenched wallet had fallen out of my backpack on the bus. After a series of frenzied calls, I was reunited with it through the heroic efforts of the bus driver, Jose Guzman, and Teddy Byrne, who met Jose to retrieve it. Here is the moment Teddy returned it to me at the gala dinner on Monday night at the Trinity College Dublin dining hall. Barry recorded a video, which he entitled “Reunited.”
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Fave Five 142: Delightful Dublin
Wisconsin Wedding (Shotgun Lovesongs), Dublin Dining (Kennedy’s Pub, Seafood Café), De Dannan’s Diva (Maura O'Connell), J-Dub (Jalen Williams), and Nutty Nourishment.
Fave Five List: Dublin Highlights
Over the four days we were in Ireland, there were many magnificent memories.
Before the rain started in earnest, we enjoyed a picturesque pause.
I pontificated as part of an expert panel on Monday morning.
I loved reconnecting with many of my favorite professional colleagues.
We were regaled by an Irish singer who posed as an Italian chef but beautifully belted out arias and songs after dinner. Bellissimo!
These Irish traditional musicians played my request for “Haste to the Wedding” at the farewell party at The Old Storehouse Bar and Restaurant in Temple Bar.
Book Best Bet
Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler
I bought this book off a display table at Barnes & Noble. I liked it a lot.
Impressively original. ― The New York Times
Sparkles in every way. A love letter to the open lonely American heartland…A must-read. ― People
The kind of book that restores your faith in humanity. ― Toronto Star
Welcome to Little Wing. It's a place like hundreds of others, nothing special, really. But for four friends―all born and raised in this small Wisconsin town―it is home. And now they are men, coming into their own or struggling to do so.
One of them never left, still working the family farm that has been tilled for generations. But others felt the need to move on, with varying degrees of success. One trades commodities, another took to the rodeo circuit, and one of them even hit it big as a rock star. And then there's Beth, a woman who has meant something special in each of their lives.
Now all four are brought together for a wedding. Little Wing seems even smaller than before. While lifelong bonds are still strong, there are stresses―among the friends, between husbands and wives. There will be heartbreak, but there will also be hope, healing, even heroism as these memorable people learn the true meaning of adult friendship and love.
Seldom has the American heartland been so richly and accurately portrayed. Though the town may have changed, the one thing that hasn't is the beauty of the Wisconsin farmland, the lure of which, in Nickolas Butler's hands, emerges as a vibrant character in the story. Shotgun Lovesongs is that rare work of fiction that evokes a specific time and place yet movingly describes the universal human condition. It is, in short, a truly remarkable book―a novel that once read will never be forgotten.
Nickolas Butler
From Wikipedia: Butler was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He was raised in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where he attended Memorial High School. He attended high school alongside Justin Vernon, frontman of indie folk band Bon Iver. Butler's debut novel Shotgun Lovesongs (2014) was partly inspired by the creation of Bon Iver's debut album For Emma, Forever Ago (2007). Butler graduated with a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2002, and received an MFA from the Iowa Writers' Workshop in 2012. Prior to publishing Shotgun Lovesongs, Butler worked in coffee roasting, office management, meat packing, telemarketing, maintenance at Burger King, and as an author escort, liquor store clerk, hot-dog vendor, and bed-and-breakfast manager.
Restaurant Recommendations
Dublin Dining
We enjoyed two satisfying meals in Dublin restaurants. Both were very close to our location at Trinity College Dublin and featured fast, friendly service.
Kennedy’s Pub 30-32 Westland Row, Dublin 2, D02 FR90, Ireland
Stan: Buttermilk Marinated Fried Chicken Burger: Topped with baby gem lettuce, sliced tomato, red onion chipotle mayo on a brioche bun, with twice cooked chunky chips
Barb: Bangers n' Mash: Pan-fried pork and leek sausage on a bed of champ mashed potato, topped with sautéed onions, pink peppercorn sauce and buttermilk onion rings
Warm Waffles: Topped with vanilla ice cream & butterscotch sauce
The Seafood Café Unit 11, Sprangers Yard, Fownes St Upper, Temple Bar, Dublin, D02 EC60, Ireland
Naked Oysters x 6: Cooley Babes (County Louth)
Barb: Dover Sole, Lemon Brown Butter, Fries
Stan: Seared Kilkeel Bay Scallops, Saffron Risotto, House Salad
Marvelous Musician
Maura is our favorite Irish singer. Listening to her first album Just In Time is a family tradition as we are about to arrive in Glen Arbor, Michigan for our annual summer vacation. We first saw Maura at the 1988 Ann Arbor Folk Festival and then at The Ark in Ann Arbor many times. We also saw her at the Cleveland Irish Cultural Festival. Maura doesn't write songs, but she sings so beautifully and soulfully that her cover versions are quite memorable.
From Wikipedia: Maura O'Connell (born September 16, 1958 in Ennis, County Clare, Ireland) is an Irish singer and actress. She is known for her contemporary interpretations of Irish folk songs, strongly influenced by American country music. O'Connell began her professional musical journey during a six-week tour of the US in 1980, as vocalist for the traditionally-based Celtic group De Dannan. The following year, she was featured on the band's landmark album, The Star Spangled Molly, (where she has the lead vocals on four tracks) which became something of a national phenomenon in her homeland. However, not long after joining the group she became very interested in the experimental roots music of America's New Grass Revival when the bands' paths crossed, and moved to the US in 1986, settling in Nashville, Tennessee. There she met newgrass pioneers Bela Fleck and Jerry Douglas, with whom she'd work on most of her records.
Irish Molly (with De Dannan)
Feet of a Dancer
If You Love Me
Crazy Dreams (by Paul Brady) with Jerry Douglas
Western Highway (by Gerry O'Beirne)
Trouble in the Fields (by Nanci Griffith)
My Playlist
Sports Star
J-Dub, not to be confused with his Thunder teammate, Jaylin Williams (J-Will), was a deserving runner-up to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander for Finals MVP in the recent NBA championship win over Indiana. His 2025 playoff averages for 23 games were 21.4 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.5 steals in 34.6 minutes.
From Wikipedia: Jalen Devonn Williams (born April 14, 2001 in Denver), nicknamed J-Dub, is an American professional basketball player for the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played three seasons of college basketball for the Santa Clara Broncos before declaring for the 2022 NBA draft, where he was selected 12th overall by the Thunder. Williams was named to his first NBA All-Star Game and All-NBA Team in 2025, later winning an NBA championship that same year. Williams played basketball at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona.
In Game 5 of the 2025 NBA Finals against the Indiana Pacers, Williams scored a new playoff career-high 40 points in a 120–109 victory to give the Thunder a 3–2 lead in the series. He became the third-youngest player to score at least 40 points in a Finals game, trailing only Magic Johnson and Russell Westbrook. Williams also recorded at least 25 points and five rebounds in three consecutive NBA Finals games, becoming the first player under the age of 25 to achieve such a streak since Shaquille O'Neal in 1995. Oklahoma City won the series 4–3, with Williams contributing 20 points, four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in the decisive Game 7.
41-Point Game
Picture Pun
Mighty wrenches from little nuts grow.
