[Leica] St. Patrick's Day in the west of Ireland

[Douglas Barry]

I didn't do much on St. Patrick's Day, despite having the offer of a 
press pass for the parade in Bray, as I couldn't. My cameras stayed at 
home with me.

However, my 3 year old grandson Louis took a bigger part in the Day than 
he ever did before. He and his parents were over in the west of Ireland 
for the weekend with his other grandparents at their home in Spiddal, 
Co. Galway. He found himself recruited for an appearance at Spiddal's 
parade. Every self respecting town in Ireland tries to have a parade on 
this day, and, in rural areas, it veers on the compulsory.

Spiddal (An Spidéal in Irish) is a small town in a pleasant seaside 
rural area alongside Galway Bay. It is also a Gaeltacht area where Irish 
is spoken as the first language. In fact, my daughter-in-law and her 
father Steve speak fluent Irish, and Steve regularly talks to Louis in 
the native tongue. To complicate matters, his wife, Louis's Mamie, is 
French and speaks in French to Louis who somehow manages to give the 
impression he understands both languages.

Anyway, Louis was very enthusiastic about the day and caught the eye of 
the Irish television broadcasters RTE and TG4 who turned up to film the 
parade. We, of course, up in the big smoke (Dublin) had no idea that 
this was happening until, while watching the news on television, I 
spotted Louis in his outfit. I then paused the TV and took a poor shot 
of him using my mobile. Within a half an hour, my wife's WhatsApp 
started to fill with images from the west. Starting with my own poor 
shot of him on my TV, here are a few more.

Louis on the TV news.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/Louis+on+the+TV+news.jpg.html

Prepping up with an Irish flag.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/Louis+Flag+SPD2025.jpg.html

My son, a jumping grandson and someone I don't know readying the banner 
for the locality.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/Louis+Banner+SPD2025.jpg.html

Louis being rushed along in his "float" - a decorated shopping trolley. 
I have no idea who the others are, other than most of them seem to be 
having a good time.
http://gallery.leica-users.org/v/DouglasBray/Louis+Float+SPD2025.jpg.html

I have no idea whether my son or daughter-in-law took the shots. Maybe 
it's time to take my cameras down the west next year...
Douglas