In the nós

The beginning of the month usually has me logging on to the latest issue of the internet mag, Beo! (www.beo.ie). However, due to some necessary maintenance of their server, April’s issue will be delayed a day or two. Fear not, though, there is an alternative Internet mag called nós* (which means “custom”). This was launched on Saint Patrick’s Day and is aimed at readers between 18-35 years – a category to which I no longer belong.

Unlike Beo!, you can’t read nós* on line, you need to download it and read it with Adobe Acrobat Reader. One of the editors is Félim Borland (24) and he tells me that the magazine has been downloaded by a 1,000 people since March 17th. I sure most of them were delighted with what they got. Nós* has very high production standards, lots of colour pics, short features, reviews of music, films, gigs and pubs, including Belfast’s own The Duke of York and an article on Des Bishop

One of the talking points has been the sex column, An Cailín sa Chathair, (The Girl in the City) who has been test driving some sex toys for nós*. Ochón, ochón, the length poor Gaels must go to promote the language. Needless to say, that the column has expanded this old lad’s vocabulary and I now know many new words – though whether I will ever be in the position (boom! boom!) to use them is another question. (When I think of the time I spent studying Old Irish.)

Borland and his co-workers are producing the mag on a voluntary basis at the moment but are looking for long-term funding and would like to produce a published version. In the meantime, they are aiming to post a new issue at the beginning of every month. The first one is available at www.nosmag.com It is well worth a look. There is a comment section on line and I am sure they would welcome as much feedback as possible.