Look at the previous post for explanation and enjoy.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
"I'm all right here"
The old topic of life and death, etc... came into clear view for me again today...
I am in the process of researching and writing a piece for The Western People about Granuaile because they are covering the production in Ballinrobe of The Pirate Queen. This exercise landed me at Murrisk Abbey this morning. It is believed that Granuaile was both baptised and married in the abbey.
While there, I met an old acquaintance and he gave me a tour of the adjoining graveyard with a running commentary. The grave inside the gate, which was one of the last I saw because we crossed the wall to gain entry, had the caption written "in stone" at the bottom of the headstone, "I'm all right here." I just think it is worth recounting.
In this beautiful picturesque location where many find their final rest looking out to the Clew Bay drumlins and backed by Croagh Patrick, both infinite and mortal, one such mortal had the good humour (I presume) to tell his kin to put his words on his stone; "I'm all right here." Well, I believe he is.
And just to prove that I saw the beauty of which I speak, here's a shot...
[My internet connection is not giving me the power to upload many]
I am in the process of researching and writing a piece for The Western People about Granuaile because they are covering the production in Ballinrobe of The Pirate Queen. This exercise landed me at Murrisk Abbey this morning. It is believed that Granuaile was both baptised and married in the abbey.
While there, I met an old acquaintance and he gave me a tour of the adjoining graveyard with a running commentary. The grave inside the gate, which was one of the last I saw because we crossed the wall to gain entry, had the caption written "in stone" at the bottom of the headstone, "I'm all right here." I just think it is worth recounting.
In this beautiful picturesque location where many find their final rest looking out to the Clew Bay drumlins and backed by Croagh Patrick, both infinite and mortal, one such mortal had the good humour (I presume) to tell his kin to put his words on his stone; "I'm all right here." Well, I believe he is.
And just to prove that I saw the beauty of which I speak, here's a shot...
[My internet connection is not giving me the power to upload many]
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
2010: Does the internet foster equality?
Welcome to my blog in 2010. Sorry about the delay in getting back online but I have not had internet connection readily available in my home.
Eircom, the largest phone network company in Ireland and supplier of internet connection is being very slow about hooking up my new home with the internet.
Since the beginning of December we are waiting and cannot get any real info. about the schedule for our connection.
Perhaps this is a unique experience for us or perhaps it is a reality of living in the "sticks?"
Is there equality in the realm of access to the internet? Am I being a victim of bias towards connecting the urban areas and ignoring the rural areas? If this is so it questions the argument that internet access can level the playing field for users in remote locations.
Eircom, the largest phone network company in Ireland and supplier of internet connection is being very slow about hooking up my new home with the internet.
Since the beginning of December we are waiting and cannot get any real info. about the schedule for our connection.
Perhaps this is a unique experience for us or perhaps it is a reality of living in the "sticks?"
Is there equality in the realm of access to the internet? Am I being a victim of bias towards connecting the urban areas and ignoring the rural areas? If this is so it questions the argument that internet access can level the playing field for users in remote locations.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Moving into Our New Home
Well, it seems that after approximately 6 years the construction of the new house which is our new home is completed. Now, that means that we can live in the house and eat etc. in the house but it will probably not be finished-finished 100% for some more time. But we move in tomorrow if plans go accordingly...
Why are we moving in tomorrow, you might ask, when the house was ready since Wednesday? A curious question - but a good and fair one!
I met a neighbour and told him we were moving in on Wednesday. He asked would I not wait till Friday. Then all hell broke loose. I don't know why but the tradition is that Friday is the only day to move if you want to be blessed with good luck. Look HERE for a discussion of the topic. Far be it from me to challenge the traditions/superstitions of the learned heads of west Mayo.
Rather than draw attention of a negative sort to the move we decided to move on the Friday which is tomorrow. As a result we will have compromised internet access for some time so...
While I will try to post blogs I am not committing to it for some time - say a month - into the new year. But I might get to it (before that) too.
There you go. When in Rome..., When in the West of Ireland....
Why are we moving in tomorrow, you might ask, when the house was ready since Wednesday? A curious question - but a good and fair one!
I met a neighbour and told him we were moving in on Wednesday. He asked would I not wait till Friday. Then all hell broke loose. I don't know why but the tradition is that Friday is the only day to move if you want to be blessed with good luck. Look HERE for a discussion of the topic. Far be it from me to challenge the traditions/superstitions of the learned heads of west Mayo.
Rather than draw attention of a negative sort to the move we decided to move on the Friday which is tomorrow. As a result we will have compromised internet access for some time so...
While I will try to post blogs I am not committing to it for some time - say a month - into the new year. But I might get to it (before that) too.
There you go. When in Rome..., When in the West of Ireland....
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Wrote off the Car!
I was in Galway last week (first mistake). Visited a pub in Galway on Thursday night. Great trad. music session was going strong and then Sharon Shannon joined them impromptu. That was good.
Left Galway on Friday to go to Armagh (second mistake) via Athlone. The guard at the Dublin Road advised me to detour to Gort, Loughrea and on to Athlone. I took his advice (third mistake).
Gort was flooded and I was detoured around it. Got to Loughrea after driving through a small flood. Headed on for Athlone through Portumna. The guards signaled the drivers to go through a deeper flood. I as in a long line of traffic so I kept going (fourth mistake).
Car cut out in the middle of the flood. It started again. I got through and then - BANG! Car wrote off.
Stranded in Portumna for the night. Settled down in Hotel room and relaxed. Got back to Galway on Saturday and stayed with friends another night. Got back to Louisburgh on Sunday after being a passenger in a car that went through 4 or 5 small floods.
It is amazing what water can and will do.
One mistake I did NOT make was to settle for 3rd party insurance. Fully comprehensive will cover value of car. Will always have fully comp. insurance on my car in future. And will not drive through floods again - just because "they" are.
T.
Left Galway on Friday to go to Armagh (second mistake) via Athlone. The guard at the Dublin Road advised me to detour to Gort, Loughrea and on to Athlone. I took his advice (third mistake).
Gort was flooded and I was detoured around it. Got to Loughrea after driving through a small flood. Headed on for Athlone through Portumna. The guards signaled the drivers to go through a deeper flood. I as in a long line of traffic so I kept going (fourth mistake).
Car cut out in the middle of the flood. It started again. I got through and then - BANG! Car wrote off.
Stranded in Portumna for the night. Settled down in Hotel room and relaxed. Got back to Galway on Saturday and stayed with friends another night. Got back to Louisburgh on Sunday after being a passenger in a car that went through 4 or 5 small floods.
It is amazing what water can and will do.
One mistake I did NOT make was to settle for 3rd party insurance. Fully comprehensive will cover value of car. Will always have fully comp. insurance on my car in future. And will not drive through floods again - just because "they" are.
T.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Mayo Science Fair: www.bladair.com
We launced www.bladair.com yesterday at the Mayo Science Fair in The Traveller's Friend Hotel in Castlebar.
The Mayo Education Centre launched one of it's recent projects yesterday as a part of the Mayo Science Fair. I was invited to be a part of the event and therefore I introduced many young budding bloggers to the world of blogging as Gaeilge (through the language of Irish).
The blog is live at www.bladair.com and it is a very easy step-by-step process.
The idea is to engage the language in a fun way that is not "academically" emphasised on the surface but is obviously educational covertly. (There may be a contradiction there - but y'know what I mean).
Each month until next march there will be two prizes of 50E awarded for good (the best) blogs.
So there you go. New technology plus economic prizes, being used to encourage our youth to engage with new technology through the medium of the Irish language.
Now, how else can we use new technology for other positive humanistic projects?
The Mayo Education Centre launched one of it's recent projects yesterday as a part of the Mayo Science Fair. I was invited to be a part of the event and therefore I introduced many young budding bloggers to the world of blogging as Gaeilge (through the language of Irish).
The blog is live at www.bladair.com and it is a very easy step-by-step process.
The idea is to engage the language in a fun way that is not "academically" emphasised on the surface but is obviously educational covertly. (There may be a contradiction there - but y'know what I mean).
Each month until next march there will be two prizes of 50E awarded for good (the best) blogs.
So there you go. New technology plus economic prizes, being used to encourage our youth to engage with new technology through the medium of the Irish language.
Now, how else can we use new technology for other positive humanistic projects?
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Got to sit as a facilitator/educator for a couple of hours.
As part of the Science Fair in Mayo, a competition is being held for students from the ages of 12-18. They must create a video by capturing the raw footage on a mobile phone, and then the completed product must be between 30 sec.s and 2 min.s long.
The Mayo Education Centre, in conjunction with the County Council has provided the facilities for the editing/uploading etc. of these projects at it's state-of-the-art building in Castlebar.
I have been given the opportunity to advise the students in this setting.
The youth of West Mayo are computer savvy, visually creative and efficient. They are also polite, well mannered and a pleasure to advise.
It's good to be back!
The Mayo Education Centre, in conjunction with the County Council has provided the facilities for the editing/uploading etc. of these projects at it's state-of-the-art building in Castlebar.
I have been given the opportunity to advise the students in this setting.
The youth of West Mayo are computer savvy, visually creative and efficient. They are also polite, well mannered and a pleasure to advise.
It's good to be back!
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