Friday 31 August 2007

What Colour Green Are You?

Okay, so I like the colour Green - no big surprise there!! But I always thought I'd be lime green - not so. Have a look here

You Are Teal Green

You are a one of a kind, original person. There's no one even close to being like you.
Expressive and creative, you have a knack for making the impossible possible.
While you are a bit offbeat, you don't scare people away with your quirks.
Your warm personality nicely counteracts and strange habits you may have.


Just last week I was thinking that I'd paint the sitting room teal green this winter :)

Friday 17 August 2007

July 24 - Guess Where!!

Yes!! Tráigh Mhachaire Rabhartaigh Arís!!













We met Nan for a bite to eat in the Cafe at Magheroarty later on. The chowder was delicious and Caoilte and Cobhlaith gave the soup a big thumbs up too :)



Nan agus Noelle indiaidh an béile in Caife Mara Machaire Rabhartaigh

Beach Photos - July 22



Another beautiful day but I wasn't feeling the best so we headed for the beach again. Isn't the beach at Magheroraty just beautiful!! We met Marie and Danny here today - looking forward to their wedding on 3 August. It was also Odhrán's 3rd birthday - Happy Birthday Odhrán :)






Thursday 16 August 2007

An Cosán Glas - Loinnir 2007

Another Part of the Errigal Arts Festival - For two weeks from July 2 - 13 An Cosán Glas held environmental art and craft workshops for children which included lantern making, painted banners and buntings, wind socks, plaster casting sculpture using recycled materials. Working with professional artists they created large-scale sculptures using willow, bamboo and paper and recycled materials. Themed around the 'Flight of the Earls' the pieces created formed part of the outdoor sculpture trail Loinnir. Ríonnach took part in the workshop and was very excited by the time 10pm came round on the night of July 21st. Sorry the photos aren't the best - I'm not sure how to photograph at night!

An Cosán Glas collaborating this year with guest visual arts company Walk the Plank (UK) created an outdoor night time exhibition that included large scale illuminated sculpture, projected images and music. The spectacular surrounding landscape of mountains together with miles of beaches, sand dunes and sea made for an inspiring and dramatic open air gallery. In their work, nine professional artists explored the elements of water, wind, fire and light combined with video, colour, and live music to create a night time adventure.

The trail was located anong the path from the car park at Machaire Rabhartaigh Beach. It was illuminated from 10pm til 12 midnight on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd July.


This photograph was taken earlier on on the Saturday evening as Caoilte and I went for a walk after visiting the Whale (see post below). This is the entrance to the trail, and Ríonnach told us later that she helped to make the yellow and purple windsock on the right and the Red Shield that we passed on the right as well. I didn't get a good photograph of this scene at night but it looked beautiful - the four stone pillars all had fires on top of them and the towers were illuminated from behind too, the children who attended the workshops made all of this sculpture with some help from the artists, Annjo, Deirdre, Mickey, Cathal and Billy (and Seamus and Danielle too!!)



Another daytime photo here, Caoilte and I thought that these (there were 4 of them) looked like Dragons. They were sculpted by the Walk the Plank artists. At night they were filled with wood and fireworks and set alight - awesome sight!! I might have a pic further down.



These were Cathals Sailing Boats (and Ewan's Blue Sculpture), the little lights to the left were tins strung on posts and lit from within - not sure how, but very effective.



I loved this sculpture by Mickey Mc Fadden. It was called Storm in a Paper Cup and if you went up to the cup you could hear the storm inside - fantastic!!



This was one of my favourites. I could have stayed at the sculpture all night. It had such a tranquil feel about it. I'm still not sure what exactly it was - but it was by Deirdre Brennan. I must ask her about it next time I see her.



Cathals Sails again.



One of the dragons on fire!!

Tuesday 14 August 2007

Falcarragh Festival





Just a few photos from the Falcarragh Fesitval

Some of Ríonnach's friends and cousins amongst the dancers - Róisín, Sinéad, Katie, Siobhán

Whale




Look at what washed up on Magheraroarty Beach on Saturday July 21!!

Funnily enough from the pier it did look like a real whale at first and I'm sure quite a few people were fooled!!

But it was The Whale by Circo Rum Ba - as part of the Errigal Arts Festival

Caoilte and I managed - by the skin of our teeth - (and thanks to the Fish Wife) to make it to the final show. Here's the blurb!!

Part work of art, part theatre, The Whale is an extraordinary 50ft tur to life (inflatable) sperm whale, guarded by a nosy Fish Wife, who leads the brave land lubbers into it's belly revealing the stunning seascape of it's lavishly decorated interior. Once inside they encounter a shipwrecked Pirate and a treasure-hoarding Mermaid and hear their extraordinary fishy tales.

July 20th

Chaith Ríonnach an lá inniu ag teach Emily, Beth agus Alice. Bhí 2 ghirseach as Belarus ag stoppadh leo ar feadh cupla seachtain- Era agus Nasta - and ba seo an lá deirneach s'acu. Bhí lá galanta ann agus bhí siad uilig ag dul thart in swimsuits i rith an lae.

Chuaigh mise, Caoilte agus Cobhlaith go Ionad Cois Locha. Seo cupla pictiuir a tharraing mé ann.



Cobhlaith at her favourite spot at Ionad Cois Locha (I must have a hundred photos of her at this wheel - takes after her daddy!!)



Caoilte petting the donkeys at Ionad Cois Locha

A Fairy's Tale

Another Errigal Arts Festival Event - by Fidget Feet
A unique outdoor show for all ages on the banks of Lake Gartan, Fidget Feet bring an enchanted, spritely narrative to life amongst the trees and gardens of the Glebe House in a walkabout performance that combines delightful aerial theatrics, captivating comedy and magical music.

We (Nan, Ríonnach, Caoilte, Cobhlaith and I) managed to get to the 3pm performance on Thursday 19 July. (Thank you Peter!!)


The Princess hoping Prince Charming is going to appear!! (after she kisses the frog)


Buglight after being 'caught' by Fairy Godmother


Princess, Fairy Godmother and Wolfie


Familiar faces in the crowd!


Hurrah! Fairy Godmother has got her magic back



July 18th Another Day Another Beach



This is the Tory Island Ferry (Tór Mór) arriving at Machaire Rabhartaigh Pier.




Caoilte, Rionnach agus Cobhlaith ag tráigh Mhachaire Rabhartaigh.



Nach bhfuil na tráigheanna anseo galánta!!!

Sean Nós Nua - Singing with Liam O Maonlaí





The Sean Nós Nua Festival which was part of the Errigal Arts Festival took place from July 13 - 15 here on Tory. On the friday night there was a public screening of a short documentary film by the Nerve Centre (Derry) and the Students of the Colaiste Phobail(Secondary School) onTory. The film was excellent and even tho DD1 and I appeared in it I am not being biased here!!!

On the saturday there was a Scots Gaelic and Sean Nós singing workshop by Kenneth Nicholson from the Isle of Lewis and Lillis O Laoire from Gortachoirce. Rionnach attended it and had a great day. On the saturday evening there was an 'Arts Trail'. It began at the community centre where the art works of the secondary school children were on display, we then went on to the Gallery to view the works of the Tory Island Primitive Painters and Derek Hill, and then on to the Hotel to view the Photographic Exhibition by the secondary school students.

The students had been working for the past year with Una Campbell and Mary Cassidy of An Gailearaí, Falcarrach, with input from the Nerve Centre Derry and Siamsa Tíre, Trá Lí. This weekend was a celebration of their work.

On the sunday night there was a concert in the Club with the Tory Island Sean Nós singers, followed by Liam O Maonlaí (of Hothouse Flowers fame) in concert. The evening began with the Primary School Children singing (including Ríonnach). These photos show the 5 girls (Ríonnach, Lauren, Niamh, Ciara and Fiona) singing Bríd Og Ní Mhaille with Lillis O Laoire and Liam O Maonlaí!!!

July 15th

OMG nearly a month ago - I'm really behind with this blog!! July 15th was a gorgeous day here. Caoilte and Eddie went fishing so Rionnach, Cobhlaith, cousin Aoife and new cousin Caoimhin and I went to the shop and to the beach. Here are a few photos. This blog seems to be all photos and no chat!!









Saturday 11 August 2007

Cara Úr / A New Friend


The children made a new friend this summer. He is actually their 4th cousin. Caoimhin is from Derry and he came to Tory for a few days with this granny and grandad. They used to come to Tory quite often but hadn't been for 18 years!! I'm sure they saw a lot of changes. This photo is of Amiee, Caoimhin, Cobhlaith and Caoilte on the pier looking out for the dolphin :)

Thursday 9 August 2007

More Luminarium Pics




Didn't realise that I can only post 5 photos at a time. Here are a few more of the Luminarium