Summer of 2007

Remember that Bryan Adams song, Summer of 69. Well the summer of 2007 will be remembered for a while, due to the fact that it seldom ceased raining. So we'll have to write a new song, to the air of the Adams classic.

Last Saturday 11th, August it rained as if it never rained in Ireland before. A torrential down pour. In it's wake roads were flooded, as drains from the fields gushed forth.
Sunday August 12th is the traditional date for the Moynalty Steam Thrashing Day, in Co Meath. We went along, all of us and brought wellies and boots. But even that wasn't enough. The grounds were a quagmire, an expanse of mud, churned up by machinery, people walking etc. Has the like of this ever been seen at this time of year before. There were a s always big crowds at the festival, but conditions underfoot were atrocious.
We paid our 20 euro admission and went inside. We could only walk along the gravel path at the foot of the large field, as most people were doing. This in turn caused a lot of congestion. There was no way we could walk up into the field to se the vinatge cars and the old farming methods displays., not with a childrens buggy to push.
So all we did was walk from one entrance gate across the bottom of the field, and exit at aonther gate further over, and paid money for the pleasure of doing so. There must be good reasons why we do such things, that can only be explained by a higher power.
A major dissapointment for all the patrons and indeed the organisers, who put such a big effort into staging this popular event.
Ok there's next year and the prospect of a better summer.

Monday 13th was bright and suuny and dry and perfect for the 2007 edition of Muff Fair, at Muff crossraods, near Kingscourt Co Cavan. Dating back to the 17th centuary, this is one of the oldest and longest survivng horse fairs in Ireland. Admission is free and that's why it's so popular with Cavan people.
Any what you get are a mix of people, young , old, rich poor, locals and those from farther afield coming here each August. This Fair isn't listed in many tourist guides, so as a result the tourists who come looking for the real Ireland, rarely find it. But it's here at Muff for one day of them year.
Horses are bought and sold, people man stalls selling all sorts of nick knaks, and all sorts of rubbish bin material. There's always a spot of illegal gambling, which the Gardai on patrol keep an eye on, but in keeping with the ethos of the event don't attemp to illiminate or stamp out.
There's a pub and dancing floor set up in an adjacent barn. The fun begins AT 3.00pm. It's a great novelty to be able to have a drink and dance in a barn on a Monday afternoon. Muff falls on the 12th of August, but as was this year when that date is on a Sunday the fair is deferred to Monaday. Tradition is not broken here
I was there with my camera, took some photos which you'll see here, and some of which were published in the local Anglo Celt paper.
You will also find some more on my website www.reynoldsphotos.com, and if you so wish can purchase some from the website