About the Author

Alex McDonnel

Dying for a drink

Two men died last month, they both lived in Arlington House though one was recuperating from a serious illness in an assessment centre. They were both Irish emigrants in their 60’s and they were both long term heavy drinkers whose bodies had suffered terribly as a result. Each had lived in their own single room… Read More

November 2015 –

During this last month or so Aisling has had to wear a suit as we have had to do a good bit of fine dining and dancing in some of London’s top hotels. This is the kind of thing that Aisling has to do more frequently these days with myself and John Glynn tripping the… Read More

September

We had a great night out at our annual comedy benefit this year with loads of great laughs from new Kerry comic Bernard Casey, Camden Irish funny girl Roisin Conaty, hyperactive and hilarious stand up Jason Byrne and Ardal O’Hanlon, our patron in top form. We followed up with a party in the bar of… Read More

Irish Vintage Rally

The Aisling Project had a great day out at the Irish Vintage Rally at Greenford last Sunday. The sun came out and many thousands of Irish men, women, boys and girls from all over the capital and others from further afield in the UK and Ireland came along too for the biggest Irish gathering of… Read More

Comedy and World Cup Draw at the Union Chapel

If you haven’t bought a ticket for the Aisling Rugby World Cup Draw, fear not because you have plenty of chances to get yours coming up. 24 Pubs are selling the tickets at the bar so there is probably one near you and these are:   The Faltering Fullback, Finsbury Park The Quays, Holloway Rd… Read More

Aisling Comedy Benefit

We have yet another great night of comedy coming up at the lovely Union Chapel in Islington on the 17th September. Our patron Ardal O’Hanlon has really pulled the stops out (I think that’s a church organ reference) and booked some top comedy talent for the Aisling Comedy Benefit including: Rich Hall, Roisin Conaty and… Read More

Aisling fundraising team

Aisling volunteers Aonghus, Aedin, Ann and Fiachra are seen here enjoying the vibes at the Field of Avalon at Glastonbury festival on a rare break from serving pints for the Workers Beer Co (http://www.workersbeer.co.uk/) at the Mandela bar, watching bands and grabbing the odd hours shuteye. All of their hard work went to support Aisling…. Read More

Letter from the coordinator – July 2015

The sun is shining in London and on our last two trips to Donegal and Waterford the same good weather followed us across the Irish Sea. This is true almost always on Aisling trips that we are generally blessed with the weather when we are in Ireland. Everyone knows that the weather in the south-east… Read More

Beneath The Underdog

We have been receiving referrals from the Cranstoun Project in Islington recently and the first two clients came with us to Donegal in May. Once again Pat Logue, the most generous publican known to man, woman or beast had given us the keys to his family home in Downings up on the Sheephaven Bay his… Read More

Our Agricultural Heritage

I don’t know if it is an indicator of economic success or at least an improvement on the horrors of Celtic Tiger fall-out (is it moulting?) but certainly there are signs that the holiday home sector in Ireland is doing better these days. At least one place we have used for ages has almost doubled… Read More