Some of my American and UK friends have been asking me about the sport of hurling which is played in Ireland and is one of our two National games. Gaelic football being the other.
I am posting some videos which I discovered on YouTube and that I hope will go some way towards explaining the game to you.
Please click here and enjoy.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Starlings Coming Home to Roost
A phone call from my friend, Dick Gough, yesterday afternoon was the prelude to one of the most spectacular events that I have ever witnessed.
As well as being an artist who transforms bog wood into elegant sculptures, Dick is an avid photographer who specialises in photographing all forms of wildlife in their natural habitat. His objective yesterday was to get some pictures of starlings coming to roost for the night. He explained to me that it would be a spectacular event and if conditions were right and the birds obliged, it would be possible get some good pictures. I was delighted when he invited me to go along with him.
Well, I knew dick wouldn’t be going on a wild goose chase – or should I say wild starling chase – but I couldn’t help wondering what kind of pictures he hoped to get of flocks of birds coming to a grove of trees to bed down for the night. He assured me there was a treat in store and he was not mistaken.
We arrived at the chosen location just as the sun was setting. It was a lovely evening – cold but dry. We didn’t have long to wait before the birds started to arrive. First, they came in small flocks from all different directions. Meanwhile while the arriving flocks were getting larger and larger, they were all joining together to form one large flock flying over and adjacent to their landing site. This went on for some time until the sky was black with them. Then as if by some method of communication, which is incomprehensible to me, that informed them that all the birds had arrived, the show began. They flew across the sky in perfect formations, wheeling and diving and crisscrossing each other’s flight path forming all kinds of different shapes and forms until finally, they were right over their roosting place. Then one last display and they were gone. In one body they just dropped into the trees. Dick described this as like pouring grain out of a bucket and I can’t think of a more appropriate description.
I hope the attached videos will give you some flavour of the event. If you listen carefully, at the end of one video, you will hear Dick’s comment to me which I think sums up the whole event perfectly.
As well as being an artist who transforms bog wood into elegant sculptures, Dick is an avid photographer who specialises in photographing all forms of wildlife in their natural habitat. His objective yesterday was to get some pictures of starlings coming to roost for the night. He explained to me that it would be a spectacular event and if conditions were right and the birds obliged, it would be possible get some good pictures. I was delighted when he invited me to go along with him.
Well, I knew dick wouldn’t be going on a wild goose chase – or should I say wild starling chase – but I couldn’t help wondering what kind of pictures he hoped to get of flocks of birds coming to a grove of trees to bed down for the night. He assured me there was a treat in store and he was not mistaken.
We arrived at the chosen location just as the sun was setting. It was a lovely evening – cold but dry. We didn’t have long to wait before the birds started to arrive. First, they came in small flocks from all different directions. Meanwhile while the arriving flocks were getting larger and larger, they were all joining together to form one large flock flying over and adjacent to their landing site. This went on for some time until the sky was black with them. Then as if by some method of communication, which is incomprehensible to me, that informed them that all the birds had arrived, the show began. They flew across the sky in perfect formations, wheeling and diving and crisscrossing each other’s flight path forming all kinds of different shapes and forms until finally, they were right over their roosting place. Then one last display and they were gone. In one body they just dropped into the trees. Dick described this as like pouring grain out of a bucket and I can’t think of a more appropriate description.
I hope the attached videos will give you some flavour of the event. If you listen carefully, at the end of one video, you will hear Dick’s comment to me which I think sums up the whole event perfectly.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Happy St. Patrick's Day
Two events take place this weekend that are important to me and to which I want to give the true recognition they deserve. One of course is the feast day of our National Saint, St. Patrick, which we celebrate on March 17. In honour of that, I would like to wish all my friends wherever they may be, and visitors to my blog, a Very Happy St. Patrick’s Day. In true Irish fashion, here are few blessings that I would like to dedicate to all of you in honour of this special day:
May you always have Walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!
May you be in Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead!
Go mbeannai Dia duit (May God Bless You)
May you always have Walls for the winds,
A roof for the rain,
Tea beside the fire,
Laughter to cheer you,
Those you love near you,
And all your heart might desire!
May you be in Heaven a half hour before the Devil knows you're dead!
Go mbeannai Dia duit (May God Bless You)
The other event this weekend (today actually) is my friend, Judy’s, birthday. Since I first got to know Judy, almost three years ago, she has been a true and loyal friend. She has brought many blessings into my life, not least the extension of our friendship to her husband, Tom, and their marvellous family. Next to my own family, they have become a very special and irreplaceable part of my life.
Happy Birthday Judy!! And since I am in the mood for imparting blessings today, here is a special one for you on your birthday:
May God grant you many years to live,
For sure he must be knowing
The earth has angels all too few
And Heaven is overflowing.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Nenagh Fire
Watching this fire yesterday morning, I couldn’t help but be struck with a sense of pride in our local fire fighters.
I think we all owe a deep debt of gratitude to the men and women of our fire department that risk their lives every day in protecting our lives and property in dealing with fires like this one.
Judging by the equipment that arrived on the scene, the Fire Brigade is equipped to deal with much larger fires than the one they were faced with yesterday morning and they brought it under control with relative ease. To me as an onlooker, it appeared to be a fairly routine task to deal with it. I would hazard a guess though that it was the expertise of the firemen and the equipment at their disposal made it look that way.
No fire is simple and without its own inherent danger and they all, no matter how small, need to be treated with the healthy respect that they deserve.
I hope I never need the services of the Nenagh Fire Brigade, but, if ever I do, it’s certainly comforting to know that such an expert and dedicated crew are there to come to my assistance.
The following are some more pictures and videos from the scene.
I think we all owe a deep debt of gratitude to the men and women of our fire department that risk their lives every day in protecting our lives and property in dealing with fires like this one.
Judging by the equipment that arrived on the scene, the Fire Brigade is equipped to deal with much larger fires than the one they were faced with yesterday morning and they brought it under control with relative ease. To me as an onlooker, it appeared to be a fairly routine task to deal with it. I would hazard a guess though that it was the expertise of the firemen and the equipment at their disposal made it look that way.
No fire is simple and without its own inherent danger and they all, no matter how small, need to be treated with the healthy respect that they deserve.
I hope I never need the services of the Nenagh Fire Brigade, but, if ever I do, it’s certainly comforting to know that such an expert and dedicated crew are there to come to my assistance.
The following are some more pictures and videos from the scene.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Nenagh Fire
The peace and tranquillity of our neighbourhood was shattered in the early hours of this morning when a huge fire gutted an unoccupied house almost directly across the road from where I live. I was awakened around 6.30am by loud banging noises coming from the area close by my house and, eventually, having gone to investigate, I saw the house, which was currently under repair, consumed by flames. By this time other neighbours were on the scene and I was told the fire brigade was on its way. Three units were soon on the scene and they quickly brought the fire under control. The house, which was completely gutted by the flames, is joined on one side by a pub and restaurant and on the other side by a private house. Luckily, neither of those showed any outward damage but I’m sure they will have to be inspected at a later stage to see if the heat from such an inferno affected them in any way. Luckier still, there was no loss of life and that is the principal thing.
Firemen in the aftermath of the fire hosing down the ruin
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Stop and smell the flowers.....
or listen to this bird sing.
I don’t know if it is due to the fact that I am getting older or that I have more time on my hands now that I am retired but, of late, things of nature seem to be playing a more important part in my life.
During my visits to Minnesota to Tom and Judy’s home, I relish in seeing the huge variety of wildlife that surround their house and the videos and pictures they send me of whatever species of bird or animal that decide to appear to them on any given day.
Well not to be outdone, I have acquired my own special visitor in the last few days – or should I say mornings and late evenings, because I rarely see or hear him during the day. Ok, I know it’s not a family of deer, or a possum, or a wild turkey, or, indeed, even a humble squirrel, but of late this little blackbird has been singing his (I have established that it is a male) heart out on a hedge adjacent to my front door. Neither the sound of heavy traffic from the nearby street, nor passersby seems to bother him. He just pays them no never mind and continues with his song despite the fact that nobody appears to be listening to him.
I see people going hurriedly on their way without giving him a second glance, never mind stopping to hear his song. A few short years ago, I would also be one of those people but now I find myself listening out to hear his first few tentative notes before he launches into a crescendo of song.
The other evening, I managed to capture him on video. It was just nightfall and the quality isn’t very good. Hopefully, it will post ok and you will be able to enjoy his song.
So, stop and smell the flowers and listen to this little guy for a moment. He has a message for all of us.
I don’t know if it is due to the fact that I am getting older or that I have more time on my hands now that I am retired but, of late, things of nature seem to be playing a more important part in my life.
During my visits to Minnesota to Tom and Judy’s home, I relish in seeing the huge variety of wildlife that surround their house and the videos and pictures they send me of whatever species of bird or animal that decide to appear to them on any given day.
Well not to be outdone, I have acquired my own special visitor in the last few days – or should I say mornings and late evenings, because I rarely see or hear him during the day. Ok, I know it’s not a family of deer, or a possum, or a wild turkey, or, indeed, even a humble squirrel, but of late this little blackbird has been singing his (I have established that it is a male) heart out on a hedge adjacent to my front door. Neither the sound of heavy traffic from the nearby street, nor passersby seems to bother him. He just pays them no never mind and continues with his song despite the fact that nobody appears to be listening to him.
I see people going hurriedly on their way without giving him a second glance, never mind stopping to hear his song. A few short years ago, I would also be one of those people but now I find myself listening out to hear his first few tentative notes before he launches into a crescendo of song.
The other evening, I managed to capture him on video. It was just nightfall and the quality isn’t very good. Hopefully, it will post ok and you will be able to enjoy his song.
So, stop and smell the flowers and listen to this little guy for a moment. He has a message for all of us.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Unwelcome Visitor
According to a report in our local newspaper this weekend there has been a sighting of a large cat-like animal in a locality just a few miles outside Nenagh. One farmer reported seeing “a large black powerful animal “on his farmland on four separate occasions last week.
The animal seen was black in colour, larger than a Labrador dog and had a long black tail. This description has prompted speculation that a black panther is roaming the area. The farmer that first sighted the animal said his sheepdog and her pup gave chase to the animal who made its timely escape. The animal had no difficulty in fleeing the area as “large hedges meant nothing to it” the farmer said.
Speculation that a black panther was loose in the area was fuelled further by the discovery of a dead sheep on the farmers land. Considering the farmer has no sheep on his land and the nearest sheep farm is half a mile away, it was speculated that the panther had dragged the sheep on to the farmers land to eat it.
Another man reported seeing a large black animal which was larger than a German shepherd. The animal was disturbing his goose pen and frightening his goat and his dog.
People phoning the local radio station were assured by an expert that black panthers do not normally attack humans but dogs could be in danger if the animal was hungry.
News of the sighting prompted a wild life enthusiast to drive the 200 mile round trip from his home in Kerry in the hope of photographing the animal or at the very least finding some trace of it in the area. However, after spending a day on the farm of the man who first sighted the animal, he left convinced that there was no panther in the area.
Still, I don’t know. Farmers aren’t usually given to flights of fancy and I’m sure the man in question saw some kind of unusual animal.
As a matter of interest, my own expert from World Wildlife tells me that there really are no black panthers as a type of animal, but there are black leopards and black jaguars. These are sort of reverse albinos, the term being of Melanistic coloration. Melanism occurs because of a mutation or abnormality of one of the cats’ genes which is associated with coat coloration and markings. Often if the light hits the animal the right way, you can see the normal leopard pattern with black on black, though it’s not always easy to see this. If you look closely at the picture below, you will see the leopard spots shining through the animal’s coat.
An unlikely looking adversary for the fearsome-looking creature pictured above, but this animal, with the innocent countenance, which belies his true nature, is the the farmer's dog that took on the strange animal and chased him off his master's land. Good dog!!!
The animal seen was black in colour, larger than a Labrador dog and had a long black tail. This description has prompted speculation that a black panther is roaming the area. The farmer that first sighted the animal said his sheepdog and her pup gave chase to the animal who made its timely escape. The animal had no difficulty in fleeing the area as “large hedges meant nothing to it” the farmer said.
Speculation that a black panther was loose in the area was fuelled further by the discovery of a dead sheep on the farmers land. Considering the farmer has no sheep on his land and the nearest sheep farm is half a mile away, it was speculated that the panther had dragged the sheep on to the farmers land to eat it.
Another man reported seeing a large black animal which was larger than a German shepherd. The animal was disturbing his goose pen and frightening his goat and his dog.
People phoning the local radio station were assured by an expert that black panthers do not normally attack humans but dogs could be in danger if the animal was hungry.
News of the sighting prompted a wild life enthusiast to drive the 200 mile round trip from his home in Kerry in the hope of photographing the animal or at the very least finding some trace of it in the area. However, after spending a day on the farm of the man who first sighted the animal, he left convinced that there was no panther in the area.
Still, I don’t know. Farmers aren’t usually given to flights of fancy and I’m sure the man in question saw some kind of unusual animal.
As a matter of interest, my own expert from World Wildlife tells me that there really are no black panthers as a type of animal, but there are black leopards and black jaguars. These are sort of reverse albinos, the term being of Melanistic coloration. Melanism occurs because of a mutation or abnormality of one of the cats’ genes which is associated with coat coloration and markings. Often if the light hits the animal the right way, you can see the normal leopard pattern with black on black, though it’s not always easy to see this. If you look closely at the picture below, you will see the leopard spots shining through the animal’s coat.
An unlikely looking adversary for the fearsome-looking creature pictured above, but this animal, with the innocent countenance, which belies his true nature, is the the farmer's dog that took on the strange animal and chased him off his master's land. Good dog!!!
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