Another weekend and you know what that means it means another trip to well tuam and fota.
For tuam first of all. Ronaldo and i were here for the childerns arts festival. An arts festival aimed at kids what a brilliant idea. There should be more of them. There are a few out there that we know of, including this one there is also Roola Boola in Castlebar and also there used to be one in Louisberg which is also in Mayo and the aisling festival in Longford probably a few others scattered around i am sure. The one in Tuam is under the stewardahip of a ball of good energy by the name of Midie, a sound bloke if ever a sound bloke there was. He must have loads of energy because it seems to us that he organises this whole event on his own with perhaps a little help from some volunteers. This is our second time at this event and its always Midie who is the man.I am probably doing a disservice to a whole backroom staff somewhere or maybe not; either way we enjoy having the crack with this lovely human being.
So we got there and set up the show at the Tuam shopping center and wondered where in the name of hell all the people were going to come from but arrive they did from all points of the compass until we had a nice crowd built up and we knocked out a good show for the people. Normally we dont enjoy working in shopping centers as the good show vibes can be drained by the crass commercialism on display ( that and the fact that people are doing their shopping) but we were lucky enough on this occasion that we set up outside the mall itself.



So then the next day we were off to Fota. Now at this stage i have a confession. In my formative years while on a school tour with my primary school chums i along with others who shall remain nameless were cruelly ejected from Fota wildlife park for getting a giraffe in a headlock. The real reason for our ejection was much more mundane so i am sticking with the giraffe story cos its more glamouous and rock and roll. So it was with a sense of apprehension that i approached the gate fearful that my moinker would be recognised from my renegade days. We got in through security unrecognised and on to the grounds but not to the wildlife part of the park but to Fota house itself.
And so it was that the sun was splitting the stones and the stage was set. You can see it in the photos when the sun shines people are smiling before we do anything so you are already a goal up at half time. This was also the day when Kerry booked our place in yet another all Ireland Football final which is our birth right as men from the Kingdom.
This time it was Dublin on the menu, who were kind enough to provide us with a light entree before the main course in the next few weeks. In hindsight considering that we were due to meet Cork in the final i should maybe not have worn my kerry jersey in enemy territory. For next year i may get Kerry boxer short so that i can pass incognito. Hmm theres a thought.
So the weather was good the venue was great with a lovely grass performance space and a raised area around it for people to sit on. The event was an organised Teddy Bears Picnic and the punters showed up in numbers. There was lots of amazing stuff laid on story telling and bouncy castles sports and loads more desides if you are fond of cliches and i am you could say that there was something for everyone. This event must have been a nightmare to organise and the sheer amount of cool stuff on offer and the fact that the whole thing ran so smoothly was a real credit to the organisers. Take a bow whoever you are.




They made it easy for us apart from having to carry all our heavy equipment to the show site it was easy the only other concern was the fact that we were working on a nicely manicured lawn. So the pogo trick was out cos Ronaldo would have sank into the greenery. Apart from that fantastico, the sun shone kerry won the show rocked and all was right with the world. If only all days could be like this.