The Cathedral Quarter of Belfast has changed dramatically since I was last there. New buildings are sprouting like mushrooms and the traffic has changed direction on many streets. It took me extra time to locate a carpark facing in the direction of home.
Stepping out of the elevator, I turned to the Registration Desk and was greeted with whoops of “Grannymar, you are here!” What a welcome from three wonderful young people at the desk.
- The first talk of the day ‘The 7 deadly sins of wordpress’ by – http://www.twitter.com/leemunroe* had just begun as I slipped into a packed room and found a seat.
Next up were:
- The semi-permeable newsroom
- OpenStreetMap: Mapping your world by Dermot McNally
Ciarán worked like a whirlwind, yet found time to sit for a coffee & chat.
- Money for new rope: a changing face for public service media by http://www.twitter.com/ewanmcintosh
- Paul McEnhill (15 year old school boy) ‘Making photos look good’ Now I need to try and put into action all he told us.
Lunch
The conversation continued over Pizza in the Foyer
- Coffee Brewing 101 – Making coffee at home by @grib from Bean and Gone who provided fresh coffee throughout the day.
- The 5C’s of Digital & Social Media Marketing by @con_nector Conor Lynch
Thanks to Property Pal.com for the coffee beakers
Unfortunately I had to drag myself away early and missed the ‘afters’. never mind there will be a next time!
The whole event was awesome and was a great job by Andy Mc Millan @goodonpaper
A little message stolen from Twitter:
Last #barcampbelfast tweet of the night – The talks were good, the event was great, but the people were f**king amazing.
Colin Parte @itsabenzbaby needs to apologize to @redmum – for mixing up our names! My red tresses have long turned to silver, but thanks to Colin I decided I’m not getting old! 🙂
I have not mentioned all the people I chatted to or saw across a crowded room. You don’t really want a list as long as those of a Poling Station in the Indian State of Maharashtra, now do you! There were after all between 250 and 300 turned up on the day.
* Good wishes go to Lee Munroe as he takes part in the London Marathon today.