Patrick's Day Kiss

Went into town with Slant today to shoot the Paddy's Day crowds. Surprisingly easy to find a parking space, on Merrion Sq. Around the corner, in front of the Nat Gallery, they'd set up a fairground, complete with bumper cars, ferris wheel, puke-em-up rides, pop muzak, screams, etc.

It was all very orderly. There were plenty of police in their hi-vis jackets. Dame street had been cleared and crowd control barriers were securely in place, with carefully flagged crossing zones. We both managed to miss the actual parade entirely, being more interested in the people, all the variations on the riot of Kelly green kitsch, the shamrock & leprechaun uniforms, the hats, the tourists lost-looking and the firmly focused.

I crossed into Temple Bar, intending to meet Slant for lunch back on the George's St side. But once the parade got under way we were stuck. I had lunch in the IFT then went to meet up with Slant on O'Connel St outside McDoanld's. By this stage, the parade had finished and we began to notice the pissed revelers and litter. If we'd had enough energy, I think we might well have stayed for the rest of the evening. There were no end of things to photograph. But we were a wee bit spent, my feet were sore, so we headed back to Merrion Sq and drove back to the Stillorgan Pk Hotel for a couple of drinks, then home.