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Saturday, 14 June 2008

Galway Street Musicians

Irish Traditional Music in Galway

"A piper in the streets today
Set up, and tuned, and started to play,
And away, away, away on the tide
Of his music we started; on every side
Doors and windows were open wide."
Seumas O'Sullivan
In Galway, as in Dublin's Grafton Street, you can expect an improvised musical street session at any moment.

Shop Street, Galway

Shop Street, Galway
An Ear for Music

"Age envisions a fiddler
While youth goes blindly by." C O'S

Seconds after this moment was captured, the elderly lady returned and placed money in the busker's fiddle case.


Galway Streets

Galway Street Mural
"O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance?"
W. B. Yeats
Have the cyclists joined the musicians and the dancers? Who knows? Life and art are often indistinguishable in Ireland.
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Wednesday, 11 June 2008

Salmon Weir Bridge, Galway

View from Salmon Weir Bridge, Galway, Ireland

The Salmon Weir Bridge, constructed in 1818, crosses the Corrib from the courthouse to Galway Cathedral (The Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas). Pedestrians enjoy a spectacular view of the waters rushing through the weir and anglers casting for salmon in season.

"Salmon in the Corrib

Gently swaying

And the water combed out

Over the weir

And a hundred swans

Dreaming on the harbour;

The war came down on us here."

From 'Galway' by Louis Macneice

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Tuesday, 10 June 2008

Carlingford Lough - Artemis and Mourne Mountains

The Artemis in Carlingford Lough
The Artemis, a three-masted barque, sailing in Carlingford Lough against the backdrop of the legendary Mourne Mountains.
Built in Norway in 1926, the Artemis began her career as a whaler on the high seas. She was converted to an impressive sailing ship in 2001.

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Carlingford Lough, Ireland

Carlingford Lough, Ireland
Photographer : Gerard McLoughlin
Copyright 2008
Mystical Carlingford Lough in the shelter of the majestic Mourne Mountains. Looking out to sea, I recall the immortal words of Alfred, Lord Tennyson:

Crossing the Bar
Sunset and evening star,
And one clear call for me!
And may there be no moaning of the bar,
When I put out to sea,
But such a tide as moving seems asleep,
Too full for sound and foam,
When that which drew from out the boundless deep
Turns again home.
Twilight and evening bell,
And after that the dark!
And may there be no sadness of farewell,
When I embark;
For though from out our bourne of Time and Place
The flood may bear me far,
I hope to see my Pilot face to face
When I have crossed the bar.

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