The Glebe Blog: Belcoo

Not long after our Antrim trip,I was back over to the Emerald Isle.Not such a happy occasion this time,I was attending the burial of a close relative.

Back up the foothills of the Cuilcagh mountain in Glangevlin to the old homestead at Dunmakeever.

The rolling hills of West Cavan look as lush as ever.

The requiem mass was well attended,with family coming from far and wide.Even this frog was trying to get into the church.

But as well as being a sombre occasion,it was also a celebration of his life,and it was good to meet up again with some of the nicest people I know.The immediate family made sure that the extended family were enfolded in the occasion.

Up from Kildare came a rebel of a musician by the name of Mick Molloy (Not to be confused with Matt Molloy of the Chieftains,though Mick has sung with Kila),accompanied by his missus Rosie.

I hadn't my video camera with me,so the film quality is found wanting,but an enjoyable time was had by all at the bar.

All too soon I had to vacate the hen house my tent was in and make my way back to Belfast and the boat.

I was back early enough to take a run up to Carrickfergus....

...and view some of the sights.

Back in Scotland on a clear day the chimney of the Kilroot power station in Belfast Lough can often be seen.I'm much closer today.

The Harland and Wolff and other dock cranes show me the way back to the ferry.

I'm soon back at the quayside.

As I wait to board the Stena Navigator,I take some more pictures and reflect on my short and poignant trip.

Still Tuesday the 12th of August and I took a run up through Blacklion and Belcoo.

The festival is usually a very enjoyable occasion, but I missed it this trip.

I'd heard a lot on the radio and TV about the 'Anti Fracking' protests at Belcoo, so I went to take a look.

Apparently the group have won the first round as Tamboran, the company cannot now drill without resubmitting a full planning application.

The TV companies were reporting and interviewing.

Food was being prepared in the tent.

The police were cruising back and forth.

I carried on to The Linnet Inn

We were here in 2012

Mine jovial host Dessie McKenzie

I also learned that Dessie and a pal of his are fans of Stan and Ollie.

Dessie, the Dublin tent is Jitterbugs, and they also meet over in Down once a year.

If you were to start an Oasis how about 'Them thar hills'.

Stooks of turf (peat)

This is Mully Lusty, Margaret Gallagher's 200 year old cottage.

There's an insight into her life on this Youtube Video.

Back up to Dunmakeever I slept well enough in the old homestead, the good folk from Blackpool do a great job keeping it habitable.

Wednesday morning I headed over to Tubbercurry in County Sligo for their 'Old Fair Day'

I took all the back roads over.

Dowra to Drumkeeran to Dromahair to Ballintogher to Ballygawley to come out on the N4 at Collooney. A little way down the N4 I branched onto the N17 which took me the rest of the way. That might not have been on the main thoroughfares, but it was a very pleasant drive.

Traffic control were out in force in Tubbercurry so I found a nice parking spot on Connolly Park.

Towards the outer edge of the town were the usual clothing stalls with plenty fake goods.

This is around the town centre and where I should have bumped into Phil and Anne.

I'd arrived early so I had plenty time to look around.

Around the Wolf Tone Square and Teeling Street were the more interesting things happening.

When the traction engine got going it could get up a good head of steam. It caught a few folk out when it let rip.

The fair was originally for the sale of poultry, piglets and calves, but livestock is much less of a feature these days.

These are the Quakers from the county of Sligo.

Youtube

Here's a video I took. Didn't quite get the sound right, but they were pretty good.

It seems they take health and safety pretty serious here, most machinery on display was behind barriers.

I leaned over to get most of these pictures.

This display by the Mayo North Old Engine and Tractor Club was great and working.

A World War One Squaddie.

This was a great money spinner for the town. Balls were thrown at a big button to release the trap door. A line up of local celebs were timetabled to sit on the chair.

One kid who missed with his three balls, nipped under the rope to push the button with his hands, he caught the young lady by surprise .

Advert for another big name in Irish music while one of the West of Ireland's radio station's was broadcasting live. Ocean FM Live

A couple of old boys and some birds.

Old wheels and a Garvie Thresher.

Apologies for the language !

The farmer and the smithy.

The army was very popular with the kids.

Pick out the dummy !

The wheels were very popular with men of a certain age.

The top act of the day was Derek Ryan

I struggled to get the above pictures, he had a great crowd gathering in front of the stage.

Though I managed to get pictures without too many people in, there were thousands at the fair.

I listened to a Derek Ryan singing for a while, I thought if I stayed in the one spot I'd eventually meet up with Phil and Anne. Just after four o'clock I gave up and headed away. Sorry I missed you guys !