Hurling - Ruan v Killanena Final. Moon Photos.

Well we had such fun on Sunday. It was a bank holiday weekend here in Ireland and the final of the local hurling team's season. They were playing Ruan, a small village just outside Ennis and the game was playing at the Ennis ground.

It was an absolutely beautiful day, the sun shone continuously. We arrived in good time and didn't really know where to sit/stand. The seated stand was in shadow so we stood at the Ruan goal end where it was warm in the sun. This is our viewpoint:


The whole thing kicked off with a parade lead by the Tulla Pipe Band with both teams walking behind. The stand looks empty here but lots more arrived as time passed. You can see the 'goal' on the pitch. The players can score a goal or between the posts but the goal gets more points.

We soon realised we were amongst mostly opposition supporters when we let out a cheer as Killanena scored between the posts and then a goal! We cheered of course.....


The teams 'break' and scatter. Can you imagine a more perfect view with the Ennis Abbey in the background?


The scoreboard was just behind us and it amused me to see the little hand appear through the 'window' when the score changed! At this point Ruan had 2 scores from over the posts and Killanena had one goal and 3 scores from over the posts. 'Come on Killanena'!


I amused myself with a shot of the side of the scoreboard 'hut' and other interesting shapes and textures!


Killanena score - the ball is up in the air there somewhere!

At half time we moved position and went over to the side of the main stand. We were just about in the sunshine and it was more fun being with the crowd. We also had a closer view of the players and were near the Ruan goal for the 2nd half. Here is the half time score:


Exactly even! The second half was really exciting. First one side scored, then the other and so it went on.


Here a Ruan player is about to take a free hit from a fowl. They have to pick the ball up with the 'hurley' then toss it up and whack it! It takes a good deal of skill and the game is fast and furious.

Towards the end of the game, the crowd stood up as the action was at the other end of the pitch - the Killanena goal. Ruan were only one point behind - would they score a winning goal?


Killanena have been in 3 finals and lost the last 2. We watched the last one too! Not this time though:


Bottom right, the final score. One goal each but 9 hits to Ruan and 10 to Killanena. At last they'd done it - by one point!


There was such hugging and celebrations.

Then followed the presentation of the cup. Number 15 from Killanena - the captain - is Mark Flaherty - the son of our neighbours Michael and Elizabeth Flaherty. Their other son is also in the team! Here he is, having given a little speech in Irish and English:


And here the crowd watches:




'We are the Champions'

I took a few abstract photos of course. This is my favourite:

Hat and hurleys abandoned.


Empty terrace.


Team mascot? Job done...


Barbed wire

Fortified by a coffee and a shared bag of chips, we headed home. As we approached Killanena we were surprised to see a fire by the side of the road - then another and another. They were celebratory fires of course!


The Killanena flag and fire by the road.

As I looked over the horizon the moon looked as though it was sitting on the hill. It looked beautiful and I got out of the car to try and take a shot of it:


How amazing it looked just sitting there.

When we arrived home the moon was shining brightly and reflected in Lough Graney. I grabbed my new Berghaus coat and ran down to the edge of the lake to take some photos!


This was on the way to the lake, the reflection looked like a fire.


Down at the fishing stand with the moon and the lights of Flagmount reflected in Lough Graney. I quite liked this one.


A similar shot but taken a little further to the right.


It seemed so bright I took a lot more photos but in actual fact it was too dark.
It was so beautiful down by the lake I stayed for almost an hour! My nose was a bit cold but I was still warm.

Jim had been worried about me and thought I'd fallen in.

We had beem so lucky with the weather as the next 2 days were pretty rotten. It was very very windy both Monday and Tuesday, with rain as well at times.

What a great day it was. Now Killanena go up into the next division, the 'seniors'. Let's hope they do as well there.

Off to Suffolk tomorrow evening - back on Monday night.

If you're interested to see more about hurling, this is on U-tube:

Horses, Flowers and Sky.....

The Deenery Front Garden, taken today.

Horses

I went to post a letter a couple of days ago and on the mountain road was a field with a few horses in it. I stopped and made friends with them. They were funny, if I was in the car, they'd come right up to the gate but as soon as I got out, they backed off.


Look at that lovely blue sky.


These two look as though they're having a chat!


Four in a row.


the one nearest had a beautiful colour nose.


It was clearly a good joke!


Go on - tell us another one!

The Deenery

When I arrived at the post office it was shut for lunch! I always forget that, so I drove back to Killanena and up the long lane which goes high above Lough Graney so that I could photograph The Deenery in the sunshine:


Can you spot it? If you come straight down from the centre of the furthest right hand bit of overhanging tree, you hit us! Not the big one to the right of us. You may have to click on it to see.


There we are!


This is a joiner I took from the top of the hill. A chap called Joe lives in the house you can see on the far right. What views over Lough Graney and Flagmount he has. Do click on it and see whether you can still spot The Deenery!


The red roofed building is a derelict farm. The lake looked like glass that day. The striped brown section at the bottom left is the bog, where locals used to cut peat for burning on the fire. We have rights to a piece of it apparently.

Garden

Today I had an afternoon outside as it was so lovely. Inside we are still working on the snug and making progress.


This is some of the area I have been working on lately, weeding it then putting gravel down.


I am now working my way up the hill to the parking area, which has mostly been done already. That boulder needs moving!


The cosmos keep on blooming and even some sweet peas.


The liquidamber is looking magnificent.


Round to the back again and the roses carry on valiantly.


I think this pink double hollyhock looks like a powder puff my mother used to have.


Throughout the day, the sky made beautiful pictures.


I do love the clouds. By teatime the sky had tinges of bright red over Lough Graney, it looked gorgeous. The new header photo was taken then.


Our ginkgo biloba has turned a fabulous yellow.


This little holly is covered in berries. Can you see the silver bandage on it? The builders snapped it in two with the digger and Jim 'mended' it. We didn't think it would survive, but it seems just fine. More cosmos are flowering behind it.


There is even a lupin still left.


This is a 'joiner' photo I took looking out over Lough Graney from our gate. The clouds were a beautiful colour.

Of course I took far too many photos of the garden today with all the flowers. I'm just loving the fact that we still have so many. Pansies, dianthus, polyanthus, pansies, cosmos, sweet peas and even the tender busy lizzies are still in flower.

I hope every one's enjoying the weekend. Tomorrow we are going to watch a hurling match. Killanena have got to the finals so we are off to see them WIN! Last time they made it this far and we watched them, they lost so it must be their turn now.

Mostly Dotee Dolls and Artist Trading Cards

Dotee Doll Swap

Have you heard of a Dotee Doll? I hadn't before I was invited to take part in a swap to make two!

A lady called Dot in Australia invented these little dolls to spread happiness around the world and they've really taken off. They are really just little stuffed bodies with a head, a hook to hang them from and a 'tail' of some sort hanging from the bottom. The body can be between 3 and 6" long I think. I really enjoyed making these, they're quite easy and basically apart from the rules above, you can do what you like! Anyway, here are my two:

Front


Back.



Her hair is made of feathers and she has a little hat on!

The back. I am posting these 2 dolls to a lady in Ireland from the http://milliande.ning.com/?xg_source=msg_mes_network A group of women artists and crafters of all sorts. It's a great site to belong to. The ATCs are also for a Milliande swap.

If you google Dotee Dolls there are lots of photos and a link to Dot's blog too.

ATC Swap

The challenge was to make at least 2 ATCs as Christmas Ornaments to hang on a tree. I made 6 so I get a few different ones back for my tree. I made mine double sided too:


That's all 6, both sides! I think they'll look ok on a tree and have lots of sparkle to catch the light.

They are being posted to Canada to the lady who is organising the swap.

Other News

Jim and I have been laying vinyl wood look tiles on the snug floor. It had a terrible old carpet in there which I hated. It's almost done. We did have some trouble trying to stick the tiles down but seem to have got the hang of it now. We have to paint the ceiling and walls now then it's finished. Oh, and buy a large rug for the centre of the room. Photos when it's done.

Nothing much else to report. I'm off to Suffolk, UK again next week for a few days. Jack and Kitty here I come.....