The Battle of Clontarf

I would pick today of all days to for a walk through St Anne’s park. About 50,000 people were also in St Anne’s Park today to watch a re-enactment of the Battle of Clontarf and generally hang out in some medieval themed festival. I never got to see any of the Vikings, or the Irish who were fighting them, because it was too packed. At one point I found some high ground but I still couldn’t see the re-enactors or whatever they are called. It wasn’t really my scene to be honest, too many people, but I’m glad it was a success for all those involved. I was very impressed by the little descendant of plunderer stock on the right here who was busy making off with one of the flags. You’ll go far, kid.

Apparently the Vikings had an air wing too. You learn something new every day.

I stopped for a few minutes to take some shots of the birds of prey in the Falconry demonstration. I’m not 100% convinced that they were altogether happy but they were very cool. I don't think they were maltreated, I just think they might have a similar attitude to crowds of people that I do. I got some nice shots of them in any case, although most of that is because raptors are just very cool birds.

My original plan was to walk around St Anne’s Park and then sortie out to the North Bull Island because that would have been a nice counterpoint to yesterday’s hike out to Poolbeg Lighthouse. The Vikings didn’t really interfere with that but age and poor footwear have forced me to back off a bit. I made it to St Anne’s Park but I had to quit and head home after that.

So my feet have decided that I’m not taking sufficient care of them and I’m going to have to stay at home with my feet up for the rest of the weekend, if not longer.

On the way to the park I grabbed a couple of shots in Connolly Station. These didn’t quite work but there’s potential there and I do want to go back because there’s a massive Grift piece on one of the Rail bridges that I missed and I need to return to take a picture of for Tim.