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bonfire-at-the-crossroads · 9 months

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Brian took me to the circus last night.

Bundoran - land of the tragically hopeless, but there it was. The beautiful big top, tethered tightly against the wild winds coming off the sea. The surf boils into Tullan Strand, two hundred feet below the cliffs - it is a strange place to plonk a circus.

We’ve been to Duffy’s Circus a couple of times, always at their jump in Sligo. Always in a parking lot across from the shopping center - always tarmac underneath my feet.

Nothing can compare to the trampled grass of a wet lot - squishing slightly as we cross the field, the faint scent of horses rising….

It’s a small show, respectable in the quality of its artists, impressive in its clockwork presentation. The acts roll from one to the next, as if on greased tracks - every member of the show pressed into service. Guy-lines tied with confident precision, nets pulled taught, mechanics tucked into place, silks raised or lowered precisely on cue - these folks are pros.

Their clown is a bit crap. He has stolen bits from other, greater clowns - and has not added new material since we saw him last year. He is a good spirit - and a TERRIFIC juggler.

The guy who arrives into the ring on a motorcycle to the driving beat of George Thouroughgood and the Delaware Destroyers “B-B-B-Bad to the Bone” - does an excellent high swing and hoop act. Same as last year - and I marvel at the synchronicity of his music.

My first love affair with circus was through my dad and his friend Fred Blough, one of the old timers. We lived in Delaware. Fred had trouped with Wild Bill in the ‘30’s - and his son Bill is the bassist for George Thouroughgood.

A bizarre series of resonances and rhymes.

The Kenya Boys. I LOVE these guys. So wildly politically incorrect - tiny leopard-skin bikinis, African drumbeat music, - Afros and huge smiles - the mere whiff of using the word “Boys” would shut down the show anywhere other than ireland. They are terrific tumblers, and masters of the limbo-stick. Their energy is infectious - and when they get around to their theme music “Hot Hot HOT” you can’t help but love them. Have seen them several times, in several different shows - same act, but why mess with perfection?

A good flying act, the catcher being made of solid muscle and brawn - they did everything with skill, and all we can do is look up to marvel.

The finale is always the Wheel of Death - performed by two of the Duffy lads. It is always thrilling, and never fails to bring me to my feet.

Circus is one of the best things in life. Performers from all over the world arrive into a single ring. Their entire lives have been spent perfecting their skill, and for a few euros and a couple of hours - you are privileged to watch.

It restores my faith, returns my hope, and renews my will to live.

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ordinaryfilipinalivinginireland · 3 years

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Beach in Ireland Panoramic View of Tullan Strand Bundoran The Surfing Capital in Europe

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thinkragelive · 2 years

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2019 : Fairies, Surfers, and Dolphins ... Oh My!

Tullan Strand, white sand beach, west of Ballyshannon, County Donegal, Ireland. Day 3.

Panorama

#life

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theuserformerlyknownas778 · 5 years

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Tullan Strand by Kent Wang https://flic.kr/p/2eBSGjo

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padraigkingconsultant · 3 years

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Tullan Strand Bundoran County Donegal from Padraig King Stress Eliminator on Vimeo.

Tullan Strand Bundoran County Donegal 20-12-2020

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still--getting--there · 7 years

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at Tullan Strand

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celticwanderlust · 5 years

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🇬🇧 Taking in the view over Tullan Strand in #Bundoran, Co. Donegal. ⁠ ⁠ 🇫🇷 Admirant la vue sur Tullan Strand à Bundoran, dans le #Donegal.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ —⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ 📍#celticwanderlust: #travelblog for the #Celtic enthusiast ☘️Follow me for travel tips & inspiration.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ Chris⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ celticwanderlust.com⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⁠ 🔸🔸🔸🔸⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #exploreireland #wanderireland #igersireland #irelandtravel #daily_ireland #ig_ireland #irelandaily #insta_ireland #ireland_gram #ireland_passion #bestirelandpics #raw_ireland #tourismireland #travelphoto #traveltheworld #travelgram #irlande #ireland #visitireland #discoverireland #WildAtlanticWay #instatravel #beach #exploremore #adventuretime⁠ (at Bundoran) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3XXoTCnoE2/?igshid=jj9c01roi7w

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konyami573 · 5 years

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bonfire-at-the-crossroads · 3 years

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An afternoon of glorious,, cloudless sky and blazing light - we headed to Bundoran for groceries.

Had to stop by Tullan Strand on the way home, and paid our respects to the wishing chair.

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bonfire-at-the-crossroads · 5 years

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There is nothing so wrong in life that a walk along Tullan Strand

In the company of dogs

Won’t fix.

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bonfire-at-the-crossroads · 2 years

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It’s been over a week of pounding gales - brutal wind/rain/sleet/hail/snow, and very little electricity.

I do not enjoy embracing my inner Amish, and become hideously cranky when this has dragged on too long. Day after day, night after night - no heat, no running water, no internet, no light, and no tv - it’s a wonder I haven’t killed something.

But

We got a break in the storms about 4:00 this afternoon, and headed to Bundoran for supplies. A short walk along Tullan .strand blew a few pounds of CRANKY out to sea, and I feel a bit better.

Came home to a house with light and heat, which removed the final weight which has crushed my spirits for the last ten days.

Fingers crossed, this crap has finally fucked off, and is on its way to go bother Britain.

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bonfire-at-the-crossroads · 5 years

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Look at all the wishes.

Paula and Terry were with us for such a short time, and it is impossible to show weary world travelers things of local beauty which might interest them. Our lives here are slow and take a lot of time to see things clearly - so the best we could come up with on a cold day was to load them into the back of the car and drive them to the coast.

The North Atlantic never fails to impress. Tullan Strand has a wide beach which curves to the Donegal horizon, the Fairy Bridges, and the Wishing Chair.

The wind is fierce.

They hesitated to attempt the slippery grass down to sit in the ancient chair and make their wishes, so I slithered on my own way, and had the opportunity to take a couple of pictures.

Now the way this is meant to work is - sit facing the sea, grasp both “arms” of the chair, close your eyes, and make your wish. When you have this sorted, take a coin and slip it in between the cracks in the stone as a thankyou to the fairies who may look favorably upon granting your wish.

I’ve never seen the coins dislodged fromwhere they’ve been hidden....perhaps a mighty storm has swept them out, and they now form a dragon hoard of pennies?

My favorite are the bits of old pottery, blue and white sparks in the mud.

Wishes beneath my feet.

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bonfire-at-the-crossroads · 6 years

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Headed over to Tullan Strand The wind was blowing The waves were waving And all the mamas with the strollers were airing out the babies....

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bonfire-at-the-crossroads · 7 years

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Primrose at the Fairy Bridges Tullan Strand

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