More Atlantic Challenge!

What an amazing evening was had last night. We went down to Kilcrohane and met some friends and then headed to the village hall to watch the Fit Up Theatre Company. The hall is pretty tiny and it was packed with very intimate seating. We saw two one-woman shows - the first was extremely intense, pretty harrowing about a baglady and how she had arrived at that situation - we staggered out into the open air at half time a bit shell-shocked; the second was thankfully lighter and very funny about a child who had had serious sight issues and no-one had noticed. Both performances were very powerful and we were all very grateful that the company's aim is to reach parts other theatre companies never get to! We headed off to the pub afterwards in need of something strong. Just as we were leaving Graham Norton swung in with a posse of hansome young men. He's in town for the rest of the summer. (Such a name dropper!!)

I was going to be a lady that lunched today but just as I was leaving Margaret texted me to say she was stuck up a mountain with a heifer giving birth and the going was tough. She promised that if all went well she would name the calf after me! I've just heard that Amanda is a bit battered and bruised but doing well :)

Back into Bantry this afternoon for more Atlantic Challenge excitement (see yesterday). The weather was damp and drizzly but there was a brisk breeze - ideal apparently for the race - a fairly gruelling twice around a large circuit using first oars, then sails, then oars again. These gigs, Bantry Longboats, are all based on an original one that was captured after the disastrous French Arnada of 1797. The do have a very 18C air about them - very Captain Bligh post Bounty. I think I made an error yesterday when I said they were 13ft long - that should have been 13metres! They have 12 oars and 3 sails and can go at a fair rate. This one is just sailing past Whiddy Island - note the Napoleonic Battery on the top!
Please biggify for details,