Once Upon a Time at Milk and Cookies, Dublin

Story-telling is the oldest and simplest form of entertainment. But in today's world of inescapable screens, flashing lights and loud music the humble story has been left behind. Nowadays our concentration can barely stretch beyond a half-hour soap on the telly.

Sometimes I worry that we've all forgotten how to listen to each other. Just to sit and enjoy each other's company without special effects or distractions. But then a project like Milk and Cookies comes along and reminds me that, thankfully, I am wrong.

Milk and Cookies is a story-telling initiative in Dublin. Once a month, the group meet in a historical building (once it was even in Dublin Castle!) to eat cake and share stories. We popped along to this month's meeting in the Dublin Writer's Centre, a lovely Georgian building in the heart of Dublin.

There's an immediate cosy atmosphere as you walk in, with blankets and beanbags strewn across the floor. The room was packed, proving that stories can still draw in a good crowd. As we arrived late, we found ourselves a spot around the corner where we couldn't see the storyteller. But the thing about story-telling is, it doesn't matter if you can't see, we were all there to listen.

The range of stories was amazing. In those few hours we heard twists on fairy tales, anecdotes of lesbians in Cadillacs sneaking men into women only boarding houses, how the rumour that Sarah- *ahem* I mean Savannah- died was started, stories of Dublin fathers in the prime of their hurling days, a traditional Chilean tale of a giant dust-mite... Anecdotes, childhood stories, family reminiscences, all was shared with us as we laughed together and imagined together, of course whilst munching on free cake.

Milk and Cookies is completely free and run by volunteers. A collection is taken to cover the rent, but all the delicious cake is lovingly baked by the team- I particularly enjoyed the chocolate cookies! But I feel that the genius of Milk and Cookies is two-fold. Firstly, it takes us back to the simplicity and sheer joy of traditional Irish oral storytelling, forging that personal connection between story-teller and audience that is missing in other forms of entertainment. And secondly, much like the Honesty Box Café, it creates a friendly community. These volunteers have made a relaxed environment where people can come together, eat cake and share the stories that have formed their lives. I can't imagine anything better.

Milk and Cookies Website

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