Wednesday, 11 May 2016

A Boeing 747 sails up the Shannon, Vintage Cars and The Living History Display 2016


A baby Robin


Photo: Chris Grayson


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May 6 2016 and a Boeing 767 sails by on The River Shannon





Photos; Ita Hannon

This is a story straight out of Ripley's Believe it or Not. This Boeing 767 that you see in Ita's photos as it passes beside Beal is on its way to Enniscrone in Co. Sligo.

A funeral director called David McGowan of Ballina. Co. Mayo has decided to turn his hand to a new venture...glamping  (posh camping to you and me).

He was not happy to have pods like everyone else. He decided to invite people to pay him to sleep in a converted aeroplane.

The idea was quirky and strange and certainly had novelty appeal. But a few obstacles stood in the way of its coming to fruition.

Buying the plane was easy peasy. It was a snip at €20,000. A Boeing 767 has never been sold to a private individual before. But the plane was in Shannon and was not air worthy.
David considered bringing it by road to Sligo.

The plane is 159-foot long, weighs about 70 tonnes and has a 140-foot wing span.

To bring it by road he would have had to lift 126 ESB wires and 26 sets of traffic lights. These and a few other logistical issues meant that this plan bit the dust.

Plan B was then implemented. A barge was brought from Liverpool and the cargo floated at the next high tide.

I found all of this information on the internet and I saw on RTE News that it has now arrived safely in Enniscrone.


Interestingly, other means of transport like buses, trains and taxis are also to be converted into novel glamps for this holiday park with a difference. The theme of the park will be Transport.

As the seanfhocal goes; Is ait an mac an saol. It's a funny old world.


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Vintage Cars at The Listowel Military Tattoo 2016





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My Trip to The Living History Park


These two were very welcoming to visitors to the Living History Display at Listowel Military Tattoo 2016.

There is a great history lesson to be learned from this kind of experience.


This early Irish settler was weaving a primitive cord.


These men had all kinds of military stuff for sale and they appeared to be knowledgeable about their wares.


Everywhere fraternising was going on between all kinds of age old enemies.

A vendor with a sense of humour




Boys and their toys!


A feast fit for king.



This lady was knitting without needles.


This man, like so many in the park, seemed to fit perfectly the character he chose.

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All the Fun of the Fair


I was in Tralee on Sunday May 8 2016 for The annual Kingdom County Fair. I had a great day and I took lots of photos which I shall share in the next few days.

I was late and Chabal was finished his show jumping and was back in his box when I met up with the homies. He came third and gained his first few points for qualification for Dublin. Everyone happy.



This is my niece, Elizabeth Ahern who part owns the horse with her dad and Brian Coleman who rides Chabal at the shows and events.



Above are some vintage tractors which were on display.


Tractors have grown a lot bigger over the years.


I have no idea what this machine is for, turning silage maybe?
Michael Healy Rae was even later than me . He officially opened the show at 1.15p.m. Unlike me I'm sure that he came at the time he was told to come.

Tuesday, 10 May 2016

Battle in The Square May 1 2016, a few people I met and a new foal in Kanturk

Ballybunion Golf Course by Jason O'Doherty

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Sunday May 1 2016 in The Square


Tony Quinlivan's realistic photo of the carnage on the streets give you a feeling for what the mock battle scene was like in Listowel.

There is a part of me that says war is never a game and is never entertaining. But for most of us the 2 world wars are now just stories we read, not something we experience daily like the poor citizens of Aleppo.

 The wreaths were still in The Square reminding us of the real fallen soldiers as the mock soldiers assembled for the mock battle.






At the corner by the castle a real guard talked to a fake soldier.




 The citizenry cowered in doorways.

 Suddenly into the quiet square came armoured tanks and "soldiers" looking menacing and brandishing guns.

 Young sentries stood no chance.

 Prisoners were taken and the enemy rounded up and carted off.

 Medics attended to the wounded.



A local garda...a real one...saw off the 'enemy" out of town....for another year.

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Human of Listowel I met in Town at the Military Weekend






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Relocation, Relocation, Relocation



This business is now on Church Street.

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Meanwhile in Kanturk new life is welcomed to the Stable






My brother's lovely mare and her foal are just getting used to each other. She is an inexperienced first time mother but she is learning fast how to care for her very handsome foal. He was just a day old when we visited and Mammy was still a bit unnerved by all the attention.

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You'll be sorry if You Miss this

On Weds. May11 2016 in St. John's a great DVD will be launched. Sales on the night are in aid of Kerry Parents and friends.

The DVD is a celebration of Listowel, its wildlife and its people. It is a compilation of the work of Charles Nolan and John Lynch, two of Listowel's greatest documentary videographers.

Among other things it features the wildlife on the River Feale, Patrick Hickey making a shoe and the funeral of the great dancing master, Jerry Molyneaux.

The soundtrack features  some of today's best local musicians.

For those who can't make it on the night, the DVDs will be available to purchase in local shops

Monday, 9 May 2016

Gaming Festival in Killarney, Listowel Military Tattoo 2016 and The Last Howth Tram


Glenbeigh


Photo: Chris Grayson

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A Great Weekend in Town




Tony Quinlivan took these great photos of the crowds who lined the streets for the mock battles during Listowel Military Tattoo 2016. The eagle eyed might spot my white head among the crowd. The Saturday of the Military Weekend is all about paying respect to those who have served and died. What better people to honour them than their comrades, now veterans. The parade of veterans and the wreath laying ceremony are the highlight of the weekend.


Watching these men and women proudly march into the square and lay commemorative wreaths at the memorial stone is a truly spine chilling experience.


This was the scene in Listowel Town Square on Saturday, April 30 3016
















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The Face of the Future....Online Gaming

My grandchildren's heroes are not film stars or pop singers. They are Youtubers, vloggers and gamers.

A forthcoming event in INEC Killarney is the face of entertainment today.

"COMPUTER gamers, young and old, from all over Ireland and the UK will descend on Killarney this June for the first ever Insomnia Gaming Ireland festival.
From June 10 to 13, the INEC in Killarney will be transformed into a gamers’ paradise, featuring console and PC tournaments, appearances by YouTube stars, interactive stage shows, demos of the latest products and retail zones.
Insomnia Gaming Ireland is a place for gamers of all backgrounds to congregate, socialise, discover new things and largely celebrate gaming. Today, Insomnia combines a vast Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) Local Area Network (LAN) gaming hall; a huge line-up of Content Creators from the worlds of YouTube and Twitch; a great line-up of gaming tournaments; main stage entertainment; and a whole host of gaming related zones and activities for gamers of all ages, novice or professional.
The Bring Your Own Computer (BYOC) LAN Hall will open for 72 hours and will host 250 gaming enthusiasts playing multiplayer games with and against each other. Visitors will also be able to delve into the eSports scene with popular competitive tournaments occurring throughout the event such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Rocket League, League of Legends and Hearthstone. Daily console tournaments will be taking place, as well as the BYOC LAN Hall hosting tournaments of its own."
Source: Tralee Today

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May 30 1958


The last Howth tram Photo from Photos of Dublin on Twitter

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Darkness into Light 2016


A resounding success for another year of Darkness not Light at Listowel Racecourse