The Horse Fair (final one)

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The horse fair was a strange mixture of worlds. Here I (an American) was wading through a muddy field, dodging kicking horses and poop with the most picturesque people in Ireland, but the real madness existed on the outskirts of the field. It was on the side streets that crowds crowded into street markets... that a traveling amusement park played thumping music... where teenage boys threw firecrackers... where psychics read cards... and where scams and back alley deals were made. The following picture is of a 'three card monte' game taking place in the middle of a market. If you look.... you can see my friend S's camera in hand ready to take a picture, and a guy keeping lookout for the police. It cost fifty EURO to play the game, and we saw several people loose their money in a matter of seconds. It is funny how you always know where the right card is until money is on the line.


I was only brave enough to take this one quick picture...






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The Horse Fair #6

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The Horse Fair #6

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The Horse Fair #5

Are you guys getting tired of horse show pictures? I hope not... I still have a ton to post!













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The Horse Fair #4

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The Horse Fair #3

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The Horse Fair #2

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The Horse Fair

It is that time again.... Time for the Ballinasloe horse fair! This amazing fair is really a crazy spectacle of animals, carnival rides, and markets. The main section of the fair takes place in a massive field. There really is no rhyme or reason as to how it is organized... horses and owners claim a spot in the field early in the day, and potential buyers (and 1 crazy American photographer) have to navigate the maze of poop and kicking horses at their own risk.

I love the fair. There truly is something timeless about it. The way deals are made by slapping away and eventually shaking hands... the games of three card monte being played as lookouts watch for the Garda (Police)... the timeless look of the farmers.... It is truly a photographer's paradise! Here are just a few of the hundreds of pictures I took (more to come this week).



While standing and looking out over the massive field a friend compared it to a scene out of Lord of the Rings (the battle for Helm's Deep). I have to say... it was a good comparison!


















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HMS Bounty

A few weeks ago we were shocked to see the HMS Bounty anchored out in the bay. This great sailing ship is best known for the mutiny that took place on it on 28 April 1789. This great naval ship once boasted four four pound cannons, and ten swivel guns! This light but fast ship once traveled the globe during a time when Britain ruled the waves.

This particular ship is actually not the original. This is a reconstruction of the HMS Bounty that was made for the 1960 film "Mutiny on the Bounty" staring Marlon Brando. It was also used in the movie "Pirates of the Caribbean – Dead Man's Chest" staring Johnny Depp.

I had intended to go in and see the ship up close while it was docked in the port. A day later, however, I noticed it sailing out to sea.








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Views from Croagh Patrick #4

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Views from Croagh Patrick #3

Lighthouse in Clew Bay







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Views from Croagh Patrick #2

Clare Island







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Views from Croagh Patrick #1

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A few more...

pictures from Croagh Patrick


The pilgrim's trail





People on the top





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Still Alive

I survived my little trip up Croagh Patrick. The jury, however, is still out on whether or not I will be able to walk tomorrow. The weather turned out to be spectacular... and I could hardly walk for taking pictures. Here are just a few that I took on the mountain...


St. Patrick greeting pilgrims at the base of the mountain





A better view of the mountain





Passing a pilgrim on the way down





A self-portrait





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Croagh Patrick

Croagh Patrick is a beast of a mountain that towers 2,510 ft over the surrounding area. This mountain has been a holy site for over 5,000 years, and is still an active site for pilgrimage and penance. I am headed out today to climb it with a friend... if I make it back I'll be sure to post some pictures!






(The line on the mountainside is the pilgrims' trail)




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Today's Random Pic...

The view from O'Malley's Castle hideout...







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Today's Random Pic...

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Pirates, Castles, and Horses... Oh, MY!

(see the post below)


Dad and I decided to check out the castle a little closer, but we were distracted by two very friendly horses. They immediately came running up to the gate when we approached. I usually don't mind going into a field with horses, but one of them immediately tried to bite me when we came to the gate. The horses stood and watched us as Dad and I quickly jumped the stone wall and went down to the entrance of the old castle. The castle was very small and was made up of one large room on four or five floors. The old ladders between floors were long gone, but you could still see where they would have gone. We were not in the castle very long when we had the strange sense that we were being watched. Was it the ghost of Grace O'Malley? Unfortunately - no.... Our two new friends (the horses) had decided to join us on our castle tour. The bite-ing horse just came right in, as if he had been invited. Dad quickly exited the building, but I was too distracted taking pictures. It was not long until I was trapped in the little dark room with the horse. The room was so small that the horse's butt almost touched one wall and his nose the other. I eventually got my new friend turned so that I could get out.... and I didn't get bit... but Dad and I laughed so hard that our sides hurt. I'm sure that the horses were a bit confused as to why we had invaded their own private fortified stable.

















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