MPI - Martin Nolan and Associates are a booking agency and entertainment consultants. They can book a wide variety of acts to suit all of your event needs. They supply entertainment to host a variety of private functions using acts such as Abbaesque, Twist and Shout, Funkytown and The Llobet guitar duo. They are a fantastic resource for all your event entertainment needs. If you tell them we sent you, they'll be very nice!

MPI - Martin Nolan and Associates have some very busy months ahead of them, so we decided to pick out a few of the events they are involved in and let you know. Might give you some ideas.

MPI have just finished a pa tour with Dirty Sanchez from MTV, and have them in for a live tour in October.

They are doing two shows in September with Ash and have confirmed US band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club for a show. They are also doing a twenty date tour in September for the international Mayhem Wrestling show. And they have Irish band Republic of Loose touring the colleges in September. MPI have a huge range of bands and acts to suit all of your needs. So if it's entertainment for your event that you're looking for, give Martin or Anne a ring on 01 - 668 4017 or drop them an e-mail. 

Marie O'Keeffe - Firewalker!

Firewalks began over 4000 years ago, and has more recent roots in the 17th Century where women were seen in Japan walking on hot coals believed to have healing properties.

In more modern times firewalks began with a man named Tolly Burkrn. He began in 1977 and by the mid 80's had set up a school to teach people how to not only Firewalk, but to be instructors in it.

I was very interested to hear Marie's thoughts on the matter and how she got into Firewalking.

Conor: How did this begin for you?

Maire: I've always had an interest in personal development and improving yourself and this ties in very well with Firewalks. Firewalks is about decision-making and the "will I" or "won't I" response to things and how that plays out in life. I went to an Anthony Robbins seminar back in October 2004 and they had firewalking at the event. I have known about firewalking for some time and had been interested in it, but this was the first opportunity that I had to actually do it and I have not looked back since.

Some DIT Students show us how it's done

Conor: How does one become an instructor? How do you firewalk? Marie: I did a course in Portugal with a man that had learned off Tolly Burken. They run one course a year and it teaches you to challenge yourself, how to build the fire, how to keep people safe and engaging people in their minds. Firewalking is about focusing the mind. We don't put pressure on people to walk, we coach them to enjoy it, use it as a means to change, to leave the past behind and to break down some emotional barriers.

Conor: Marie, bringing this to events, how does Firewalking work as an event?

Maire: Firewalking can work very well as either an entertainment event, or as a staff/team building one. We have before gotten groups to build and prepare the fire in teams and it is a lot of fun and achieves everything needed for a team to bond. It works best at night and we have had huge success for local groups and SME's, however the event itself is completely versatile so it can be tailored to the number of people.

Some titbits of information: The wood burns at: 700 Degrees [wow!] The coals that you walk on are about 500 Degrees The most important thing not to forget is the wheelbarrow!

Conor: Finally Marie, if you could say anything about Martin Nolan and his team at MPI, what would it be?

Marie: Whatever you are looking for, Martin has it. :)