Given the pleasantly rural feel of Tai Po, this ugly skyscraper outside the Tai Wo MTR station looked positively ugly and totally out of place. Jan/Feb. 2012.

A candid shot taken in Melbourne Victoria Australia

This is a photograph from the 2nd annual running of the Kilcock Ladies GAA club "Santa Dash" 5KM Road Race and fun run which was held in Kilcock, Co. Kildare, Ireland on Sunday 15th December 2013 at 13:00. This is one of the final road races in this part of Leinster before Christmas. The race welcomes runners, joggers, walkers, and families. Every entrant is given a free Santa hat to wear in the race to add to the festive atmosphere. The race starts beside the Royal Canal/Railway at the end of Connaught Street. The route then takes in the wellknown local walking route around Laragh (Sli Na Slainte). This route is familiar to many runners as a reverse of the Kilcock AC 5KM held annually every summer. The race was organised to help raise funds for the many ladies teams that the girls from Branganstown continue to field year after year. The Kilcock Ladies are a vital part of the local community and provide football for all age groups in the town. Last year, the first year of this race, 2012 was a very special year for the Ladies section of Kilcock GAA club as they celebrated the 20th year since their foundation back in 1992.

This photograph is part of a set of photographs taken at today's event. You can see the entire Flickr set by clicking on this link [http://www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/11387432555/]

Viewing this on a smartphone device?

If you are viewing this Flickr set on a smartphone and you want to see the larger version(s) of this photograph then: scroll down to the bottom of this description under the photograph and click the "View info about this photo..." link. You will be brought to a new page and you should click the link "View All Sizes".

Some useful Website Links and Internet Sites

Santa Dash Homepage on Facebook www.facebook.com/santa.dash.58 (requires Facebook logon)

Flickr photographs from last year's event (2012): www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157632257169973/

Race start location on Google Maps: maps.google.com/?ll=53.396675,-6.661502&spn=0.004376,...

Race HQ on Google Maps: maps.google.com/maps?q=Kilcock+GAA,+Kildare,+Ireland&...

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account?

Yes - of course you can. Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

How can I get full resolution copies of these photographs?

All of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution. We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. Our only "cost" is our request that if you are using these images without the watermark: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us.

This also extends the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting does take a significant effort. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc.

If you would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

The Marrabel Roman Catholic was built on land given by one of Marrabel’s first settlers, Mr Garrett Hannan.

There was already a temporary pine and pug Chapel. Tenders were called for in February 1867: by July the foundation stone was laid, and the church opened on 5 July 1868. Wright, Woods & Hamilton were the architects.

*The Very Rev John Smyth, VG, assisted by the Rev Joseph Tappeiner and the pastor of the district, laid on Sunday, 7th instant, the foundation stone of a Catholic Church, under the title of St Agnes the Martyr. Though the constant and heavy rains during the week had rendered the roads in many places almost impassable, and the day itself was unsettled and showery, yet no fewer than about 400 persons came to see laid the first stone of their church.

At 10 o'clock am the Rev Joseph Tappeiner celebrated mass, after which the priests and laity walked in procession from the small and unsightly building hitherto used as a chapel to the site of the new church.

The Vicar-General having laid the foundation stone, according to the Roman Ritual, preached an excellent sermon

The handsome sum of £84 14s 10d was then laid upon the stone. The building will be Gothic: the nave will measure 60 by 25 feet, besides chancel, sacristies, and porch. The plinth, quoins, and buttresses will be cut stone; and as the site is elevated, with a background of fine old gumtrees, the building will greatly contribute to the beauty of the young and rising township of Marrabel. [Ref: Express and Telegraph 11-7-1867]

Catholic Church, Marrabel,—

*The Very Rev John Smyth VG, assisted by the Rev Messrs Polk and Huger SJ, solemnly blessed and opened the Church of St Agnes, at Marrabel on Sunday, the 5th instant.

The very rev gentlemen preached an eloquent sermon on the occasion, and the handsome sum of £170 was received towards the liquidation of the debt, which is only a little over £400. When it is borne in mind that the building cost £1,000 independently of the stones, which were given and carted free of charge, the liberality of the congregation and friends will be more clearly understood. [Ref: Adelaide Observer from the Kapunda Herald 18-7-1868]

*The Rev Chas Van der Heyden – We are requested to inform our readers that this gentleman has removed from Riverton, and is now living in the new presbytery at Marrabel, recently erected by the Catholics of the district. [Ref: Irish Harp and Farmers’ Herald 12-3-1870]

*S. Agnes, Marrabel — A bazaar in aid of the church and new presbytery at Marrabel was held in S. Joseph's schoolroom on Wednesday, the 15th instant and following days. There was a large, effective and artistic display of useful and ornamental articles…praise is due to the ladies of the community for their enthusiastic zeal and persevering endeavours to make the Bazaar a success. [Ref: Irish Harp and Farmers’ Herald 25-3-1871]

*Presentations to Rev Michael Kennedy of Marrabel.

On Friday evening, April 30, many of the parishioners of the Mission of Marrabel met at Tothill's Creek to present an address and a purse of sovereigns to the Rev Michael Kennedy, in acknowledgment of the many services which had been done them by the rev gentleman during his long sojourn among them.

The residents of the parish of Marrabel, thought it our duty to assemble here this evening for the purpose of tendering our thanks for the able and cheerful manner in which you have for the last five years forwarded our interests … especially for the great efforts which you made to liquidate the debt which had been incurred some years ago for the purpose of building our church and parochial residence at Marrabel.

Independent of the outlay of £120 on the interior of the church, and some smaller sums spent in various other improvements, he had collected towards the debt on the church and presbytery £631 in the space of five years. [Ref: South Australian Advertiser 17-5-1877]

*The annual picnic in connection the with St Agnes Church, Marrabel, was held on Easter Monday. There was good attendance, notwithstanding that the weather was cold and wet.

In the evening the Rev W O’Dowling delivered an interesting lecture on the life of Dan O’Connell. The lecture was followed by a ball, which wound up a very enjoyable day. [Ref: Kapunda Herald 20-4-1900]

*The tender of Mr S H Roberts, of Saddleworth, has been accepted for building a sanctuary and vestry at St Agnes Church, Marrabel.

The price of the tender was £563. [Ref: Kapunda Herald 18-9-1914]

*Mr O Colmer of Riverton has obtained the contract for extensive repairs to the Catholic Church at Marrabel, including the putting in of a new ceiling. It is anticipated that he will start during this week. [Ref: Kapunda Herald 7-8-1936]

The Marrabel Roman Catholic was built on land given by one of Marrabel’s first settlers, Mr Garrett Hannan.

There was already a temporary pine and pug Chapel. Tenders were called for in February 1867: by July the foundation stone was laid, and the church opened on 5 July 1868. Wright, Woods & Hamilton were the architects.

*The Very Rev John Smyth, VG, assisted by the Rev Joseph Tappeiner and the pastor of the district, laid on Sunday, 7th instant, the foundation stone of a Catholic Church, under the title of St Agnes the Martyr. Though the constant and heavy rains during the week had rendered the roads in many places almost impassable, and the day itself was unsettled and showery, yet no fewer than about 400 persons came to see laid the first stone of their church.

At 10 o'clock am the Rev Joseph Tappeiner celebrated mass, after which the priests and laity walked in procession from the small and unsightly building hitherto used as a chapel to the site of the new church.

The Vicar-General having laid the foundation stone, according to the Roman Ritual, preached an excellent sermon

The handsome sum of £84 14s 10d was then laid upon the stone. The building will be Gothic: the nave will measure 60 by 25 feet, besides chancel, sacristies, and porch. The plinth, quoins, and buttresses will be cut stone; and as the site is elevated, with a background of fine old gumtrees, the building will greatly contribute to the beauty of the young and rising township of Marrabel. [Ref: Express and Telegraph 11-7-1867]

Catholic Church, Marrabel,—

*The Very Rev John Smyth VG, assisted by the Rev Messrs Polk and Huger SJ, solemnly blessed and opened the Church of St Agnes, at Marrabel on Sunday, the 5th instant.

The very rev gentlemen preached an eloquent sermon on the occasion, and the handsome sum of £170 was received towards the liquidation of the debt, which is only a little over £400. When it is borne in mind that the building cost £1,000 independently of the stones, which were given and carted free of charge, the liberality of the congregation and friends will be more clearly understood. [Ref: Adelaide Observer from the Kapunda Herald 18-7-1868]

*The Rev Chas Van der Heyden – We are requested to inform our readers that this gentleman has removed from Riverton, and is now living in the new presbytery at Marrabel, recently erected by the Catholics of the district. [Ref: Irish Harp and Farmers’ Herald 12-3-1870]

*S. Agnes, Marrabel — A bazaar in aid of the church and new presbytery at Marrabel was held in S. Joseph's schoolroom on Wednesday, the 15th instant and following days. There was a large, effective and artistic display of useful and ornamental articles…praise is due to the ladies of the community for their enthusiastic zeal and persevering endeavours to make the Bazaar a success. [Ref: Irish Harp and Farmers’ Herald 25-3-1871]

*Presentations to Rev Michael Kennedy of Marrabel.

On Friday evening, April 30, many of the parishioners of the Mission of Marrabel met at Tothill's Creek to present an address and a purse of sovereigns to the Rev Michael Kennedy, in acknowledgment of the many services which had been done them by the rev gentleman during his long sojourn among them.

The residents of the parish of Marrabel, thought it our duty to assemble here this evening for the purpose of tendering our thanks for the able and cheerful manner in which you have for the last five years forwarded our interests … especially for the great efforts which you made to liquidate the debt which had been incurred some years ago for the purpose of building our church and parochial residence at Marrabel.

Independent of the outlay of £120 on the interior of the church, and some smaller sums spent in various other improvements, he had collected towards the debt on the church and presbytery £631 in the space of five years. [Ref: South Australian Advertiser 17-5-1877]

*The annual picnic in connection the with St Agnes Church, Marrabel, was held on Easter Monday. There was good attendance, notwithstanding that the weather was cold and wet.

In the evening the Rev W O’Dowling delivered an interesting lecture on the life of Dan O’Connell. The lecture was followed by a ball, which wound up a very enjoyable day. [Ref: Kapunda Herald 20-4-1900]

*The tender of Mr S H Roberts, of Saddleworth, has been accepted for building a sanctuary and vestry at St Agnes Church, Marrabel.

The price of the tender was £563. [Ref: Kapunda Herald 18-9-1914]

*Mr O Colmer of Riverton has obtained the contract for extensive repairs to the Catholic Church at Marrabel, including the putting in of a new ceiling. It is anticipated that he will start during this week. [Ref: Kapunda Herald 7-8-1936]

Florin Moraru, beckmarc and 2 more people faved this

Wolf Pack Invite 09/27/08

River Walk Park - Bakersfield, CA, Wednesday, September 27, 2008

www.andynoise.com/wolfpack08.html

Chris Schwartz (Foothill) won the varsity boys race in 16:18. McFarland took the team title. McFarland also won the boys frosh/soph and jv team races. medals were given out to the top 15 runners.

Varsity Boys Team Results

1 MCFA McFarland 25

2 PADA Palmdale 95

3 RIDG Ridgeview 118

4 SHAF Shafter 130

5 BAEA East Bakersfield 142

6 BAKE Bakersfield 174

7 WASC Wasco 176

8 STOC Stockdale 210

9 FTHL Foothill 233

10 GARC Garces Memorial 254

11 ARVI Arvin 321

12 NORT North 324

13 Fron Frontier 345

14 SOUT South 404

15 BACH Bakersfield Christian 423

16 WSTB West Bakersfield 461

TFCC Taft INC

1. 16:18 179 179 Chris Schwartz Sr M FTHL 1

2. 16:29 292 292 Cisneros Alfonso Sr M MCFA 2

3. 16:38 450 450 Robby Baker Jr M RIDG 3

4. 16:44 297 297 Marco Perez So M MCFA 4

5. 16:48 293 293 Eduardo Bautista Jr M MCFA 5

6. 16:51 294 294 Marco Camargo Jr M MCFA 6

7. 16:54 451 451 Alex Garcia Jr M RIDG 7

8. 16:56 291 291 Gerardo Alcala Sr M MCFA 8

9. 16:58 295 295 Eddie Garcia Sr M MCFA 9

10. 17:04 296 296 Francisco Nava So M MCFA 10

11. 17:05 483 483 Joshua Wittenberg Sr M SHAF 11

12. 17:10 402 402 Adrian Ramos Jr M PADA 12

13. 17:16 400 400 Victor Hernandez Sr M PADA 13

14. 17:19 72 72 Andrew Ariey Sr M BAKE 14

15. 17:20 403 403 Daniel Ramos Jr M PADA 15

Elizabeth Wittenberg (Shafter) won the girls varsity race in 20:10. The Ridgeview varsity girls won the team title. Palmdale won the jv race and McFarland won the frosh/soph team title.

Varsity Girls Team Results

1 RIDG Ridgeview 45

2 SHAF Shafter 73

3 PADA Palmdale 94

4 NORT North 95

5 STOC Stockdale 124

6 FTHL Foothill 142

7 BAKE Bakersfield 142

8 GARC Garces Memorial 189

9 Fron Frontier 243

10 SOUT South 278

BAEA East Bakersfield INC

ARVI Arvin INC

WASC Wasco INC

TFCC Taft INC

WSTB West Bakersfield INC

BACH Bakersfield Christian INC

1. 20:10 464 464 Elizabeth Wittenberg Sr F SHAF

2. 21:04 430 430 Tijerra Lynch So F RIDG

3. 21:07 369 369 Merino Jennifer Sr F PADA

4. 21:10 428 428 Jessica Huizar Jr F RIDG

5. 21:12 89 89 Lucia Garcia Jr F BAEA

6. 21:17 208 208 Monica Guzman Jr F GARC

7. 21:23 330 330 Cecilia Lopez Sr F NORT

8. 21:33 90 90 Sophia Garcia So F BAEA

9. 21:35 136 136 Natalie Fernandez So F FTHL

10. 21:46 2 2 Tonya Hernandez Jr F ARVI

11. 21:53 624 624 Alejandra Gutierrez Sr F WASC

12. 21:55 372 372 Anaiz Ortiz Sr F PADA

13. 21:56 426 426 Ashley Duran Sr F RIDG

14. 22:05 459 459 Lindsee Handel So F SHAF

15. 22:12 45 45 Gabrielle Lerma So F BAKE

JV Boys Results

1 MCFA McFarland 29

2 RIDG Ridgeview 72

3 BAEA East Bakersfield 105

4 PADA Palmdale 118

5 SOUT South 150

6 Fron Frontier 160

7 WASC Wasco 161

8 STOC Stockdale 169

9 FTHL Foothill 237

10 GARC Garces Memorial 246

11 MiMo Mira Monte 278

12 BAKE Bakersfield 341

SHAF Shafter INC

TFCC Taft INC

ARVI Arvin INC

NORT North INC

1. 11:06 284 284 Bryan Calvo Sr M MCFA

2. 11:23 290 290 Pedro Sanchez Jr M MCFA

3. 11:34 661 661 Eric Sanchez Jr M WASC

4. 11:34 100 100 felix Trevino So M BAEA

5. 11:36 277 277 Bernardo Garcia Fr M MCFA

6. 11:39 440 440 Ernesto Castillo Jr M RIDG

7. 11:45 476 476 Matt Yanez Jr M SHAF

8. 11:46 439 439 Michael Anseno Sr M RIDG

9. 11:47 98 98 Marc Sotello Jr M BAEA

10. 11:47 474 474 Elias Picazo Sr M SHAF

11. 11:49 288 288 Adam Marquez Fr M MCFA

12. 11:50 394 394 Ramirez Miguel Jr M PADA

13. 11:50 393 393 Nicholas Mayo Jr M PADA

14. 11:53 276 276 Ismael Bautista Fr M MCFA

15. 12:00 101 101 Esteban Vargas Sr M BAEA

JV Girls Results

1 PADA Palmdale 27

2 STOC Stockdale 51

3 RIDG Ridgeview 66

4 MiMo Mira Monte 100

SOUT South INC

BAKE Bakersfield INC

FTHL Foothill INC

NORT North INC

GARC Garces Memorial INC

1. 14:45 494 494 Claudia Cuevas Sr F SOUT

2. 15:05 420 420 Natalia Motta Sr F RIDG

3. 15:12 528 528 Amber Crabtree Sr F STOC

4. 15:28 351 351 Amy Diaz Sr F PADA

5. 15:33 360 360 Lizet Onofre Jr F PADA

6. 15:41 364 364 Crystal Schachter Jr F PADA

7. 15:48 531 531 Shelby Pinkham Jr F STOC

8. 15:51 41 41 Felisa Torres Sr F BAKE

9. 15:52 118 118 Lucia Garcia Jr F FTHL

10. 15:54 362 362 Karina Ortega Jr F PADA

11. 15:54 328 328 Aubree Mossburg Jr F NORT

12. 16:04 365 365 Michelle Silva Jr F PADA

13. 16:06 367 367 Zaria Zambrano Jr F PADA

14. 16:07 525 525 Justine Benavidez Sr F STOC

15. 16:19 128 128 Nancy Tenorio Sr F FTHL

Frosh/Soph Boys

1 MCFA McFarland 25

2 WASC Wasco 66

3 FTHL Foothill 95

4 STOC Stockdale 114

5 RIDG Ridgeview 121

6 PADA Palmdale 139

7 SHAF Shafter 174

8 Inde Independence 183

9 TFCC Taft 254

10 BAKE Bakersfield 287

11 RFKH RFKH 312

12 GARC Garces Memorial 313

13 ARVI Arvin 337

14 MiMo Mira Monte 383

SOUT South INC

Error 2042 #N/A INC

1. 10:53 666 666 Jorge Zuniga Fr M WASC

2. 10:55 282 282 Chavez Ryan Fr M MCFA

3. 11:12 275 275 Sergio Avelar Fr M MCFA

4. 11:25 638 638 Eddie Aguilar So M WASC

5. 11:26 280 280 Leo Perez Fr M MCFA

6. 11:26 278 278 Jose Monrreal Fr M MCFA

7. 11:36 177 177 Genaro Quintanar Fr M FTHL

8. 11:38 541 541 Alex Eckley Fr M STOC

9. 11:39 279 279 Gonzalo Mulato Fr M MCFA

10. 11:40 252 252 Dwayne Facho So M Inde

11. 11:41 434 434 Brandon Magno Fr M RIDG

12. 11:42 383 383 Corey Nieto Fr M PADA

13. 11:48 543 543 Abraham Mayorga So M STOC

14. 11:49 467 467 Pablo Mendez Fr M SHAF

15. 11:50 650 650 Asencion Mendoza Sr M WASC

Frosh/Soph Girls

1 MCFA McFarland 43

2 Inde Independence 51

3 STOC Stockdale 73

4 FTHL Foothill 101

5 TFCC Taft 121

6 RIDG Ridgeview 139

7 RFKH RFKH 173

8 WASC Wasco 180

SOUT South INC

BAEA East Bakersfield INC

NORT North INC

BAKE Bakersfield INC

GARC Garces Memorial INC

1. 14:02 267 267 Corina Garcia So F MCFA

2. 14:02.6 270 270 Kathy Torres Fr F MCFA

3. 14:09 266 266 Olivia Ayon Fr F MCFA

4. 14:09 586 586 Daisy Guitron Fr F TFCC

5. 14:16 522 522 Madison Schutzner Fr F STOC

6. 14:23 484 484 Natalie Espinoza So F SOUT

7. 14:37 248 248 Sara Sullivan Fr F Inde

8. 14:37 110 110 Erica Castro So F FTHL

9. 14:44 237 237 Natalie Ambriz So F Inde

10. 14:46 93 93 Mayra Ponce So F BAEA

11. 14:50 244 244 Acacia Ingram So F Inde

12. 14:58 523 523 Victoria Valos So F STOC

13. 15:00 268 268 Liset Perezchica Fr F MCFA

14. 15:03 249 249 Katelynn Webb Fr F Inde

15. 15:20 135 135 Mari Escuedero So F FTHL

Given that the mobile phone world is in a transition from all the proprietary cables to the standard Micro USB, Nokia have supplied an adapter for all their 3mm and 2mm charging tips. I think this is somewhat cumbersome for that it is, but still a good idea to supply it.

Ah, Ukraine! When I first visited Rusfurrence in 2013, and was given a tour of Moscow by my excellent hosts, I thought I’d fallen in love with Russian cuisine – only to discover that nearly everything I’d devoured was in fact Ukrainian. Therefore, I knew I would one day have no choice but to visit the source, and boy howdy, was it worth it.

Our hosts and dear friends took such excellent care of us, with ‘us’ including a surprising number of foreigners, most of whom had never been to Ukraine before. My boyfriend Rush joined me, as did our friend Bostitch, and we met up with Oatcake and Fox Amoore and far, far too many other friends to mention.

The convention itself was fantastic, marked by the lively, can-do spirit the Ukrainians are known for, though I regrettably saw far too little of it. We’d wanted to take a quick look at Kiev while we were in the country but it wound up taking us three hours to get back, and it also didn’t help that I’d caught a bug that left me too tired to partake of many of the events – including a party bus!

Still, there was plenty of fun to be had in the evenings. The Tiger Bar set up in the corridor of the fourth floor, the Stone Soup bar in the suite and balcony of room 107, and of course the traditional picnic and barbecue in the woods, which I was told was how WUFF had originally started. It started raining rather fiercely immediately after the campfire got started, but the Ukrainians proved themselves indomitable, putting together a shovel team to dig emergency trenches and build dams around the fire, which never went out!

Words can’t describe the warmth and fun of the con. We’ll certainly be back.

For more WUFF ’16 photos, check out the gallery here: www.flickr.com/photos/alexfvance/albums/72157668089241926

As always, share and enjoy.

- Alex "Khaki” Vance

If you want to say hi, you can find me on Twitter @khakidoggy, or drop me an email at khakidoggy@me.com

[ If you appear in any of the photos you're free to use them; if you know anyone in a photo, please do share it with them! ]

For even more con photography: www.flickr.com/photos/alexfvance/albums/

My first car. Given to me by my brother in 1985 as a non runner after he had driven it for a couple of years. Never did get it running properly although my brother said it overtook him shortly after I sold it on... Looks like it died not long afterwards. Pic taken at the back of Fleet Pond some time in 1984.

And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein.

And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Revelation 11:1-13 King James Version

www.mixcloud.com/DJKJV/69/

Mississippi State University Junior Cody Freeman was given a towel full of shaving cream in the face by his baseball teammates while giving interviews to the media after he drove in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning as the MSU Bulldogs beat the University of Georgia Bulldogs 11-10.

MSU trailed 10-2 , but scored 8 in the bottom of the eighth inning, and one more in the bottom of the ninth to take the win.

Chrysler engineers were given free rein to design whatever they wanted in a "hot rod" or "sportster" type vehicle. Thomas C. Gale, Chrysler's design and international director "love for 1930s-era hot rods inspired Chrysler's latest design triumph, the retro-styled Plymouth Prowler."[1] Gale, "who has a hotted up 1932 Ford in his garage, ... [approved] the rod-inspired Plymouth Prowler as the company's follow-up show-stopper to the Dodge Viper.[2] An early influence is credited to a Chrysler-sponsored project at the Art Center College of Design that resulted in a thesis by Douglas "Chip" Foose that included drawings of a retro-roadster.[3] Foose "designed it as a coupe for Chrysler to begin with but modified it to a roadster version."[4]

One of the most striking design features of the Prowler are the open, Indy racer-style front wheels. The Prowler featured a powertrain from Chrysler's LH-cars, a 24-valve, 3.5 L Chrysler SOHC V6 engine producing 214 hp (160 kW; 217 PS) at 5850 rpm. For the 1999 model year, the engine was replaced with a more powerful, aluminum-block, 253 hp (189 kW; 257 PS) at 6400 rpm version of the engine. Both engines were coupled to a four-speed Autostick semi-automatic transmission. The transmission was located at the rear of the vehicle and joined to the engine by a torque tube that rotated at engine speed, an arrangement similar to that used by the C5 Corvette, Porsche 944, and Alfa Romeo 75, and helped to facilitate a desirable 50-50 front-rear weight distribution. The Prowler was the first rear-wheel drive Plymouth since the 1989 Plymouth Gran Fury and would stand as the last Plymouth model with that layout. While criticized for having only a V6 engine, Chrysler's High Output 3.5 had a horsepower rating similar to (or higher than) the company's Magnum V8s of that era. While not making nearly as much torque as a V8, Prowler's light weight helped to achieve rapid off-the-line acceleration.

The car prominently featured aluminum construction, in many cases adhesively bonded, chiefly in the chassis. The body was produced in Shadyside, Ohio, and the car was assembled by hand at the Conner Avenue Assembly Plant (CAAP) in Detroit, Michigan.

Bob Given Photography

I was given a bag of Double Coated Chocolate Bites, a strawberry flavoured liquorice with milk chocolate made by Darrell Lea (theres an add if I have seen one) by the fella at the Telstra Office in the Queen Street Mall, Brisbane. I know it was to butter me up to give him a good report on the survey but I still took them - since when do you get anything free from a phone company these days. I did think that they would be a good thing for the Week 48 topic.

Any way about half of the chocolates made it home - well I'm not supposed to have any chocolate in my diet. Once home I stuffed the rest of the packet in the bottom of the pantry locker and that's where they stayed till today. Upon opening the packet of chocs I found that they had sweated and bubbled a little but still ok to photograph and to eat before they went stale. ;o)))

"7 Days of Shooting" "Week #48 - Chocolate" "Minimal Sunday"

Went to this Sandwich Shop with the Fam, before watching the SJ Sharks ! The Sandwich was crazyy good, too bad i forgot the name.

Bob Given Photography

I kid you not, i was walking through town, and these were just sitting there. Neat!

Given the fact that the Governor has shut down all bars and nightclubs, and given the fact that all stage shows have gone Dark at least until late September or October -- what is a Gent to do on the Fabulous Las Vegas Strip between the hours of 5pm and 5am?

Eat Well! And Drink Well!!

Even on a Monday night in the midst of the COVID-19 Global Pandemic, one can still eat well and drink well on the Strip! You can order cocktails and drinks in any lounge that also serves bar food. And even though most restaurants are running on short staff and on short hours, there's still some very fine dining to be done here!

But you must wear your face mask and exercise Social Distancing!

Sooner or later your very lovely lady will call you from back home for her daily report, and you had better have some good answers for her!

Given to me by a soon to be or current HoF coach

Jesara with the named bib she was given as a baby. She insists it's not too small. Likewise with this dress my Mum gave her that now barely reaches past her waist.

This is a photograph from the start of both races in the 7th annual Longwood Village 10KM and 5KM Road Races and Fun Runs which were held in Longwood Village, Longwood, Co. Meath, Ireland on Sunday 23rd October 2016 at 11:00. The races are held annually to support the development of the local GAA club while also supporting local charities. The race has support from Trim AC which sees the race have full AAI premit status. These races have grown steadily over the years and this year almost 400 participants to part in the two races. This is an impressive statistic given that a very large number of local runners will be preparing for the Dublin City marathon 7 days from now. However both races provide marathon runners and all other runners, joggers and walkers with an ideal opportunity to race on a very fair course in a beautiful rural setting. Barry Clarke of Longwood GAA and Trim AC and his very large group of volunteers deserve the highest of praise for the very high standard of organisation immediately apparent to anyone taking part in the race. Overall the whole day was a great success with the hard work put in by the organising committee ensuring that participants enjoyed their race experience. Both routes were accurately measured, kilometer points clearly marked, junctions well stewarded, and electronic timing provided. The event provided many local runners, joggers, fun runners and walkers with a local event to support whilst at the same time providing runners preparing for events such as the Dublin marathon with an opportunity to race a short, fast, distance in the lead up to marathon day. The GAA club provided excellent stewarding and traffic management all around the course. The race had a professional feel to it and it is sure to grow next year given the very positive feedback from many of the participants today. The weather didn't exactly play ball with some heavy showers of rain for both races. However this didn't do anything to dampen the atmosphere of the race.

We have an extensive set of photographs from all of the races today in the following Flickr Album: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157672030705623

Timing and event management was provided by PopUpRaces.ie. Results are available on their website at www.popupraces.ie/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2015: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157660017638535

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2014: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157648845224981/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2013: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157636477484093/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2012: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157631820426332/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157627782257481/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2010: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157625058772687/

Longwood is a small village in South East Co. Meath and is close to the town of Enfield with access to the M4 Motorway. The weather was almost perfect for road running. A beautiful crisp autumn morning with dry cool conditions. 5KM Course: The 5KM started in Longwood village. Runners then took a left turn in the Village down St. Oliver's Road. This straight section of road brings runners to a left turn onto a very well maintained boreen road for less than one kilometer. The race then emerges and joins with the 10KM at Stoneyford where the runners take a left and then another left before arriving back at the finish line in Longwood GAA club. Overall this is a very fast and flat 5KM with no hills to speak of.

10KM Course: The 10KM event begins in Longwood Village outside Dargan's Pub and proceeds westward out of the village. There are some interesting points along this part of the course. At the 2KM point the runners will run under the double bridges - an aquaduct for the Royal Canal and a bridge carrying the Dublin Sligo Railway line. The race then enters county Kildare just before the 3km and after taking a right turn at the four-cross roads known locally as Lally's Cross it returns to County Meath on top of the River Boyne Bridge (Ashfield Bridge) which forms the county boundary. The race follows a straight road for the next 2KM until runners encounter Blackshade bridge which is the toughest climb on the route. As a point of interest Blackshade bridge brings runners back over the Royal Canal and the Railway line. The race then crosses the River Boyne again at Stoneyford before taking a right which will bring runners on a testing two kilometer stretch with some short hills. The 10KM course then joins with the 5Km course for the final 1.5KM back to Longwood GAA club for the finish.

USING OUR PHOTOGRAPHS - A QUICK GUIDE AND ANSWERS TO YOUR QUESTIONS

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share directly to: email, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

BUT..... Wait there a minute....

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. We do not charge for our photographs. Our only "cost" is that we request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, VK.com, Vine, Meetup, Tagged, Ask.fm,etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us or acknowledge us as the original photographers.

This also extends to the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?

You can download this photographic image here directly to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. Have a look for a down-arrow symbol or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.

I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting takes a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

Let's get a bit technical: We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Above all what Creative Commons aims to do is to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

Bob Given Photography

Given that I consider myself something of a transit nerd, I'm not sure how I managed to come away with so few photos of Berlin's transit system.

This is one of the newer-model trains running on the U8 line. I wish I'd gotten a picture of the first train we went on, it was considerably more "vintage". Had little levers you had to pull to open the doors.

Gotta say: not a fan of the window decals.

10244 S Longwood Dr

Chicago, IL 60643

The Romans built up a castrum around 15BC. Around 110 AD the town that had developed around the camp was given the rights of a colonia, that was named Colonia Ulpia Traiana. The colonia became the second most important commercial post in "Germania Inferior", surpassed only by Colonia Agrippinensis (Cologne).

Today Xanten hosts one of the largest archaeological open air museums, built at the site of the Colonia Ulpia Traiana.

The first christian buildings may have been oratorys built over a Roman graves. A first church existed 752. A convent developed. As it was believed to have found the graves of Saint Viktor and his companions, all members of the Theban Legion, the places was called "ad sanctos" from which the town´s name "Xanten" derived. The construction of a larger church started, but it got destroyed by Norman invaders, who had hibernated on a near island in the Rhine river, in 863.

Bishop Folkmar of Cologne consecrated a new church here in the second half of the 10th century. This church was restored after fires in the 11th and 12th centuries. From 1128 a choir was erected, that was consecrated by Bishop Rainald von Dassel. Between 1180 and 1213 the western facade had been erected upto the third level.

The erection of today´s church started in 1263. After 281 years of construction it was finally completed in 1544.

St. Viktor, often named "Xantener Dom" ("Xanten Cathedral"), was the center of the convent, that developed to a city in the city. It was completely surrounded by a wall and could be entered only through two gates.

Of course the convent had a cloister, where the canons could and pray and contemplate about the course of time.

17/02/2023. Ladies European Tour 2023. Aramco Saudi Ladies International Presented By Public Investment Fund, Royal Greens Golf & Country Club, King Abdullah Economic City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. 16-19 February. Eleanor Givens of England during the second round. Credit: Tristan Jones/ LET

Sct. Annagade Skole. Scooter action on the ramp. There were 5 almost identical photos, so they've been given different treatments in post processing for variation.

Sct. Annagade skole was a public school operating between 1950 and 1976. It consisted of several buildings, the oldest built back in 1880 as Aarhus Amtssygehus (hospital), inaugurated in 1882. In the years that followed, several extensions were added, including the main wing along Ingerslevs Boulevard in 1907, but it wasn't enough and the hospital outgrew the buildings, so a new one was built, starting in the mid 1930s. The old buildings were bought by Aarhus Kommune (municipality) and converted into a school, ready for inauguration in 1950.

The school was rather clumsily named Sct. Annagade Skole... Not only did it use a "c" in the name, rather than the "k" used in the street name (Sct. vs Skt.), but by making "Annagade" (Annastreet) one word, it also managed to completely mass up the meaning: Sct. Anna (or Skt. Anna) simply means St./Saint Anna, while the wording Sct./Skt. Annagade implies, that the school was named after a saint by the name saint Annagade!

Oh well, mistakes will happen, and they do.

By the mid 1970s, the number of students was rapidly declining, as families left the inner city for the suburbs and in 1976, the school closed down for good.

For the following decades, the buildings were used for all sorts of recreational purposes. From stamp collectors to hobby train enthusiasts all found facilities in the old school. The schoolyard was converted into a skateboard- and scooter park with ramps, while a big green area out in the back became a combined playground/park used by locals of all ages.

Over the years, the school became THE place to go and hang out, but the times were changing once again.

Up through the 1990s and 2000s, several small schools in the area closed down, and the remaining ones were getting severely outdated for modern educational standards. Rather than spending fortunes trying to modernize all over the place, it was decided to build one big new city school, Frederiksbjerg Skole, replacing the old Sct. Annagade skole, so in late spring 2014 the bulldozers moved in and demolished everything. The whole project was completed in time for the school semester 2016.

I decided to visit the old school shortly before it disappeared, wanting to capture not only the buildings, but also the atmosphere.

This is a bit complex, when trying to respect people's privacy: I don't want to censor everything - the school was not populated by a horde of blurred blobs, but by real people. I opted for a solution where I tried not to get too close and/or get any recognizable faces in the foreground. People in profile are ok, as are larger groups of people further back in the frame. I hope that I've managed to find a proper way to do things.

I also made a later visit, while the demolition was in full progress. Photos from that occasion will be uploaded later.

This guilty pleasure Hot Wheels has just been given its best recolour yet thanks to the continuing association with the Urban Outlaw brand. I don't think I possess a model VW Beetle which looks quite as disfigured as the "Kafer" Racer with its outrageously extended rear and heavily modified front wings yet there is something strangely appealing about it and this new for 2018 recolour looks sensational, slick, gleaming and finished off with some really appealing graphics. Bought recently from ASDA. Mint and boxed.

Public reenactment of a speech given by Coretta Scott King at a peace march in Central Park on April 27, 1968, three weeks after her husband, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was assassinated. In this speech, which was based on notes found in the late Dr. King's pockets, King addresses the war in Vietnam, domestic poverty, and the power of women to effect social change. Gina Brown, a New York-based actor and former welfare mother, delivered the speech on location in Central Park on September 16, 2006.

Quotes:

"It is very clear that our policy at home is to try to solve social problems through military means, just as we have done abroad. The interrelatedness of domestic and foreign affairs is no longer questioned. The bombs we drop on the people of Vietnam continue to explode at home with all of their devastating potential."

"There is no reason why a nation as rich as ours should be blighted by poverty, disease and illiteracy. It is plain that we don’t care about our poor people, except to exploit them as cheap labor and victimize them through excessive rents and consumer prices."

Puerto Rico

San Juan's picturesque cobblestone streets, plazas and chapels reflect its Spanish heritage. But the second oldest city in the Americas also boasts fine beaches, lush rainforests, verdant mountainsides, imposing forts and an tropical climate.

Puerto Rico officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico / Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean.

San Juan, Puerto Rico was founded in 1521.

In 1917, the U.S. granted citizenship to Puerto Ricans. In 1948, Puerto Ricans were given the right to elect their own governor.

A referendum on the political status of Puerto Rico was held in Puerto Rico on November 6, 2012. It was the fourth referendum on status to be held in Puerto Rico and the first in which a majority voted for statehood.

Puerto Rico has been an unincorporated territory of the United States since the Spanish–American War in 1898.

*************

Symbols of Puerto Rico

Animal: Coqui frog

Bird: Puerto Rican Woodpecker

Flower: Puerto Rican Hibiscus (Maga)

Motto: "Joannes Est Nomen Eius" "John is his name"

Tree: Kapok tree

San Juan - Capital city

San Juan postal zip code 00901

El Capitolio de Puerto Rico is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places

El Yunque National Forest - is the only tropical rain forest in the United States National Forest System

Medalla Light beer is made in Puerto Rico

Don Q - Puerto Rico's top-selling rum is produced in Ponce

Boricua - Common way to refer to someone born in Puerto Rico

Cession from SpainDecember 10, 1898

Official languages

Spanish (first official language) English (second official language)

Famous Puerto Rican singers include:

Carlos Ponce - Santurce

Chayanne Figueroa - Río Piedras

Don Omar - Carolina

Ivy Queen - Añasco

José Feliciano "Feliz Navidad" - Lares

Kany García - Toa Baja

La India - Río Piedras

Luis Fonsi - San Juan

Nina Flowers - Bayamón

Noelia Monge - San Juan

Olga Tañón - Santurce, San Juan

Ricky Martin ( Menudo ) - San Juan

Shalim Ortiz - San Juan

Wisin Morera - Cayey

Yandel Veguilla - Cayey

**************

Royal Caribbean Liberty of the Seas Cruise Ship

9 Night Bermuda And Caribbean Cruise

June 4th thru June 12th 2015

Destinations:

USA (New Jersey)

Bermuda - Royal Naval Dockyard

Netherlands (St. Maarten)

France (Saint Martin)

San Juan Puerto Rico

Haiti

- Fifth visit to Puerto Rico -

Hashtag metadata tag

#PR #Puerto #Rico #Ricans #PuertoRico #PuertoRicans #Old #San #Juan #OldSanJuan #SanJuan #NewSanJuan #SanJuanBautista #Latin #Latino #Latinos #Boricua #Boricuas #Borinquen #Spanish #Espanol #Commonwealth #CommonwealthofPuertoRico #UnincorporatedTerritory #Unincorporatedterritories #GreaterAntilles #Antilles #Island #Islands #Caribbean #CaribbeanIsland #CaribbeanIsland #CaribbeanIslands #NorthAmerica

Photo

San Juan, Puerto Rico, USA Unincorporated Territory, Greater Antilles Islands, North America continent

June 9th 2015

Bob Given Photography

Given address of this facility was 1200 Southfield Road in Lincoln Park. It advertised 92 rooms, both single and double, plus a fully licensed dining room with dancing nightly. They also offered free limousine service to various attractions around the Metro Detroit area. (Jennifer Guest collection)

Robinho, Stephen Ireland, Craig Bellamy, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Shay Given and Emmanuel Adebayor during the warmup between Manchester City and Blackburn Rovers.

Christ's College was originally founded in 1437 as 'God's House' by William Byngham, but following a major endowment in 1505 by Lady Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII) it was given its current title and expanded. Several parts of the college still remain from the early Tudor period, including the entrance gate from the street and the chapel in the first quadrangle.

The main gatehouse is an impressive sight with Lady Margaret's image at the centre and two Yales of Beaufort over the arch. On my first visit in 2018 the carved details were refreshed but left in their natural stone colour, but when I returned less than a year later they had been fully recoloured (along with other carved details around the college).

The chapel is not an ostentatious building, more of a hall with Gothic windows but it does contain several noteworthy features including some panels of early 16th century glass, a fine medieval lectern and a handsome Baroque monument by the altar. The more recent east window depicts the figure of Christ standing above the college complex, with historical figures connected with the college shown kneeling below.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christ%27s_College,_Cambridge

Given to the people of Birmingham through a bequest by George Cadbury, Manor Farm park was opened in 1958. More about the Park can be found here www.friendsofmanorfarmpark.org.uk/

Tana Toraja Regency (Indonesian for Torajaland or Land of the Toraja, abbreviated Tator) is a regency (kabupaten) of South Sulawesi Province of Indonesia, and home to the Toraja ethnic group. The local government seat is in Makale, while the center of Toraja culture is in Rantepao. But now, Tana Toraja has been divided to two regencies that consist of Tana Toraja with its capital at Makale and North toraja with its capital at Rantepao.

The Tana Toraja boundary was determined by the Dutch East Indies government in 1909. In 1926, Tana Toraja was under the administration of Bugis state, Luwu. The regentschap (or regency) status was given on 8 October 1946, the last regency given by the Dutch. Since 1984, Tana Toraja has been named as the second tourist destination after Bali by the Ministry of Tourism, Indonesia. Since then, hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors have visited this regency. In addition, numerous Western anthropologists have come to Tana Toraja to study the indigenous culture and people of Toraja.

GEOGRAPHY

Tana Toraja is centrally placed in the island of Sulawesi, 300 km north of Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi. It lies between latitude of 2°-3° South and longitude 119°-120° East (center: 3°S 120°ECoordinates: 3°S 120°E). The total area (since the separation of the new regency of North Toraja) is 2,054.30 km², about 4.4% of the total area of South Sulawesi province. The topography of Tana Toraja is mountainous; its minimum elevation is 150 m, while the maximum is 3,083 above the sea level.

ADMINISTRATION

Tana Toraja Regency in 2010 comprised nineteen administrative Districts (Kecamatan), tabulated below with their 2010 Census population.

The Torajans are an ethnic group indigenous to a mountainous region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Their population is approximately 1,100,000, of whom 450,000 live in the regency of Tana Toraja ("Land of Toraja").[1] Most of the population is Christian, and others are Muslim or have local animist beliefs known as aluk ("the way"). The Indonesian government has recognised this animistic belief as Aluk To Dolo ("Way of the Ancestors").

The word Toraja comes from the Buginese language term to riaja, meaning "people of the uplands". The Dutch colonial government named the people Toraja in 1909. Torajans are renowned for their elaborate funeral rites, burial sites carved into rocky cliffs, massive peaked-roof traditional houses known as tongkonan, and colourful wood carvings. Toraja funeral rites are important social events, usually attended by hundreds of people and lasting for several days.

Before the 20th century, Torajans lived in autonomous villages, where they practised animism and were relatively untouched by the outside world. In the early 1900s, Dutch missionaries first worked to convert Torajan highlanders to Christianity. When the Tana Toraja regency was further opened to the outside world in the 1970s, it became an icon of tourism in Indonesia: it was exploited by tourism development and studied by anthropologists. By the 1990s, when tourism peaked, Toraja society had changed significantly, from an agrarian model—in which social life and customs were outgrowths of the Aluk To Dolo—to a largely Christian society. Today, tourism and remittances from migrant Torajans have made for major changes in the Toraja highland, giving the Toraja a celebrity status within Indonesia and enhancing Toraja ethnic group pride.

ETHNIC IDENTITY

The Torajan people had little notion of themselves as a distinct ethnic group before the 20th century. Before Dutch colonisation and Christianisation, Torajans, who lived in highland areas, identified with their villages and did not share a broad sense of identity. Although complexes of rituals created linkages between highland villages, there were variations in dialects, differences in social hierarchies, and an array of ritual practices in the Sulawesi highland region. "Toraja" (from the coastal languages' to, meaning people; and riaja, uplands) was first used as a lowlander expression for highlanders. As a result, "Toraja" initially had more currency with outsiders—such as the Bugis and Makassarese, who constitute a majority of the lowland of Sulawesi—than with insiders. The Dutch missionaries' presence in the highlands gave rise to the Toraja ethnic consciousness in the Sa'dan Toraja region, and this shared identity grew with the rise of tourism in the Tana Toraja Regency. Since then, South Sulawesi has four main ethnic groups—the Bugis (the majority, including shipbuilders and seafarers), the Makassarese (lowland traders and seafarers), the Mandarese (traders and fishermen), and the Toraja (highland rice cultivators).

HISTORY

From the 17th century, the Dutch established trade and political control on Sulawesi through the Dutch East Indies Company. Over two centuries, they ignored the mountainous area in the central Sulawesi, where Torajans lived, because access was difficult and it had little productive agricultural land. In the late 19th century, the Dutch became increasingly concerned about the spread of Islam in the south of Sulawesi, especially among the Makassarese and Bugis peoples. The Dutch saw the animist highlanders as potential Christians. In the 1920s, the Reformed Missionary Alliance of the Dutch Reformed Church began missionary work aided by the Dutch colonial government. In addition to introducing Christianity, the Dutch abolished slavery and imposed local taxes. A line was drawn around the Sa'dan area and called Tana Toraja ("the land of Toraja"). Tana Toraja was first a subdivision of the Luwu kingdom that had claimed the area. In 1946, the Dutch granted Tana Toraja a regentschap, and it was recognised in 1957 as one of the regencies of Indonesia.

Early Dutch missionaries faced strong opposition among Torajans, especially among the elite, because the abolition of their profitable slave trade had angered them. Some Torajans were forcibly relocated to the lowlands by the Dutch, where they could be more easily controlled. Taxes were kept high, undermining the wealth of the elites. Ultimately, the Dutch influence did not subdue Torajan culture, and only a few Torajans were converted. In 1950, only 10% of the population had converted to Christianity.

In the 1930s, Muslim lowlanders attacked the Torajans, resulting in widespread Christian conversion among those who sought to align themselves with the Dutch for political protection and to form a movement against the Bugis and Makassarese Muslims. Between 1951 and 1965 (following Indonesian independence), southern Sulawesi faced a turbulent period as the Darul Islam separatist movement fought for an Islamic state in Sulawesi. The 15 years of guerrilla warfare led to massive conversions to Christianity.

Alignment with the Indonesian government, however, did not guarantee safety for the Torajans. In 1965, a presidential decree required every Indonesian citizen to belong to one of five officially recognised religions: Islam, Christianity (Protestantism and Catholicism), Hinduism, or Buddhism. The Torajan religious belief (aluk) was not legally recognised, and the Torajans raised their voices against the law. To make aluk accord with the law, it had to be accepted as part of one of the official religions. In 1969, Aluk To Dolo ("the way of ancestors") was legalised as a sect of Agama Hindu Dharma, the official name of Hinduism in Indonesia.

SOCIETY

There are three main types of affiliation in Toraja society: family, class and religion.

FAMILY AFFILIATION

Family is the primary social and political grouping in Torajan society. Each village is one extended family, the seat of which is the tongkonan, a traditional Torajan house. Each tongkonan has a name, which becomes the name of the village. The familial dons maintain village unity. Marriage between distant cousins (fourth cousins and beyond) is a common practice that strengthens kinship. Toraja society prohibits marriage between close cousins (up to and including the third cousin)—except for nobles, to prevent the dispersal of property. Kinship is actively reciprocal, meaning that the extended family helps each other farm, share buffalo rituals, and pay off debts.

Each person belongs to both the mother's and the father's families, the only bilateral family line in Indonesia. Children, therefore, inherit household affiliation from both mother and father, including land and even family debts. Children's names are given on the basis of kinship, and are usually chosen after dead relatives. Names of aunts, uncles and cousins are commonly referred to in the names of mothers, fathers and siblings.

Before the start of the formal administration of Toraja villages by the Tana Toraja Regency, each Toraja village was autonomous. In a more complex situation, in which one Toraja family could not handle their problems alone, several villages formed a group; sometimes, villages would unite against other villages. Relationship between families was expressed through blood, marriage, and shared ancestral houses (tongkonan), practically signed by the exchange of water buffalo and pigs on ritual occasions. Such exchanges not only built political and cultural ties between families but defined each person's place in a social hierarchy: who poured palm wine, who wrapped a corpse and prepared offerings, where each person could or could not sit, what dishes should be used or avoided, and even what piece of meat constituted one's share.

CLASS AFFILIATION

In early Toraja society, family relationships were tied closely to social class. There were three strata: nobles, commoners, and slaves (slavery was abolished in 1909 by the Dutch East Indies government). Class was inherited through the mother. It was taboo, therefore, to marry "down" with a woman of lower class. On the other hand, marrying a woman of higher class could improve the status of the next generation. The nobility's condescending attitude toward the commoners is still maintained today for reasons of family prestige.

Nobles, who were believed to be direct descendants of the descended person from heaven, lived in tongkonans, while commoners lived in less lavish houses (bamboo shacks called banua). Slaves lived in small huts, which had to be built around their owner's tongkonan. Commoners might marry anyone, but nobles preferred to marry in-family to maintain their status. Sometimes nobles married Bugis or Makassarese nobles. Commoners and slaves were prohibited from having death feasts. Despite close kinship and status inheritance, there was some social mobility, as marriage or change in wealth could affect an individuals status. Wealth was counted by the ownership of water buffaloes.

Slaves in Toraja society were family property. Sometimes Torajans decided to become slaves when they incurred a debt, pledging to work as payment. Slaves could be taken during wars, and slave trading was common. Slaves could buy their freedom, but their children still inherited slave status. Slaves were prohibited from wearing bronze or gold, carving their houses, eating from the same dishes as their owners, or having sex with free women—a crime punishable by death.

RELIGIOUS AFFILATION

Toraja's indigenous belief system is polytheistic animism, called aluk, or "the way" (sometimes translated as "the law"). In the Toraja myth, the ancestors of Torajan people came down from heaven using stairs, which were then used by the Torajans as a communication medium with Puang Matua, the Creator. The cosmos, according to aluk, is divided into the upper world (heaven), the world of man (earth), and the underworld. At first, heaven and earth were married, then there was a darkness, a separation, and finally the light. Animals live in the underworld, which is represented by rectangular space enclosed by pillars, the earth is for mankind, and the heaven world is located above, covered with a saddle-shaped roof. Other Toraja gods include Pong Banggai di Rante (god of Earth), Indo' Ongon-Ongon (a goddess who can cause earthquakes), Pong Lalondong (god of death), and Indo' Belo Tumbang (goddess of medicine); there are many more.

The earthly authority, whose words and actions should be cleaved to both in life (agriculture) and death (funerals), is called to minaa (an aluk priest). Aluk is not just a belief system; it is a combination of law, religion, and habit. Aluk governs social life, agricultural practices, and ancestral rituals. The details of aluk may vary from one village to another. One common law is the requirement that death and life rituals be separated. Torajans believe that performing death rituals might ruin their corpses if combined with life rituals. The two rituals are equally important. During the time of the Dutch missionaries, Christian Torajans were prohibited from attending or performing life rituals, but were allowed to perform death rituals. Consequently, Toraja's death rituals are still practised today, while life rituals have diminished.

CULTURE

TONGKONAN

Tongkonan are the traditional Torajan ancestral houses. They stand high on wooden piles, topped with a layered split-bamboo roof shaped in a sweeping curved arc, and they are incised with red, black, and yellow detailed wood carvings on the exterior walls. The word "tongkonan" comes from the Torajan tongkon ("to sit").

Tongkonan are the center of Torajan social life. The rituals associated with the tongkonan are important expressions of Torajan spiritual life, and therefore all family members are impelled to participate, because symbolically the tongkonan represents links to their ancestors and to living and future kin. According to Torajan myth, the first tongkonan was built in heaven on four poles, with a roof made of Indian cloth. When the first Torajan ancestor descended to earth, he imitated the house and held a large ceremony.

The construction of a tongkonan is laborious work and is usually done with the help of the extended family. There are three types of tongkonan. The tongkonan layuk is the house of the highest authority, used as the "center of government". The tongkonan pekamberan belongs to the family members who have some authority in local traditions. Ordinary family members reside in the tongkonan batu. The exclusivity to the nobility of the tongkonan is diminishing as many Torajan commoners find lucrative employment in other parts of Indonesia. As they send back money to their families, they enable the construction of larger tongkonan.

Architecture in the style of a tongkonan is still very common. Various administration buildings were built in this style in recent years, e.g. the Kecamatan building in Rantepao.

WOOD CARVINGS

To express social and religious concepts, Torajans carve wood, calling it Pa'ssura (or "the writing"). Wood carvings are therefore Toraja's cultural manifestation.

Each carving receives a special name, and common motifs are animals and plants that symbolise some virtue. For example, water plants and animals, such as crabs, tadpoles and water weeds, are commonly found to symbolise fertility. In some areas noble elders claim these symbols refer to strength of noble family, but not everyone agrees. The overall meaning of groups of carved motifs on houses remains debated and tourism has further complicated these debates because some feel a uniform explanation must be presented to tourists. Torajan wood carvings are composed of numerous square panels, each of which can represent various things, for example buffaloes as a wish of wealth for the family; a knot and a box, symbolizing the hope that all of the family's offspring will be happy and live in harmony; aquatic animals, indicating the need for fast and hard work, just like moving on the surface of water.

Regularity and order are common features in Toraja wood carving (see table below), as well as abstracts and geometrical designs. Nature is frequently used as the basis of Toraja's ornaments, because nature is full of abstractions and geometries with regularities and ordering. Toraja's ornaments have been studied in ethnomathematics to reveal their mathematical structure, but Torajans base this art only on approximations. To create an ornament, bamboo sticks are used as a geometrical tool.

FUNERAL RITES

In Toraja society, the funeral ritual is the most elaborate and expensive event. The richer and more powerful the individual, the more expensive is the funeral. In the aluk religion, only nobles have the right to have an extensive death feast. The death feast of a nobleman is usually attended by thousands and lasts for several days. A ceremonial site, called rante, is usually prepared in a large, grassy field where shelters for audiences, rice barns, and other ceremonial funeral structures are specially made by the deceased's family. Flute music, funeral chants, songs and poems, and crying and wailing are traditional Toraja expressions of grief with the exceptions of funerals for young children, and poor, low-status adults.

The ceremony is often held weeks, months, or years after the death so that the deceased's family can raise the significant funds needed to cover funeral expenses. Torajans traditionally believe that death is not a sudden, abrupt event, but a gradual process toward Puya (the land of souls, or afterlife). During the waiting period, the body of the deceased is wrapped in several layers of cloth and kept under the tongkonan. The soul of the deceased is thought to linger around the village until the funeral ceremony is completed, after which it begins its journey to Puya.

Another component of the ritual is the slaughter of water buffalo. The more powerful the person who died, the more buffalo are slaughtered at the death feast. Buffalo carcasses, including their heads, are usually lined up on a field waiting for their owner, who is in the "sleeping stage". Torajans believe that the deceased will need the buffalo to make the journey and that they will be quicker to arrive at Puya if they have many buffalo. Slaughtering tens of water buffalo and hundreds of pigs using a machete is the climax of the elaborate death feast, with dancing and music and young boys who catch spurting blood in long bamboo tubes. Some of the slaughtered animals are given by guests as "gifts", which are carefully noted because they will be considered debts of the deceased's family. However, a cockfight, known as bulangan londong, is an integral part of the ceremony. As with the sacrifice of the buffalo and the pigs, the cockfight is considered sacred because it involves the spilling of blood on the earth. In particular, the tradition requires the sacrifice of at least three chickens. However, it is common for at least 25 pairs of chickens to be set against each other in the context of the ceremony.

There are three methods of burial: the coffin may be laid in a cave or in a carved stone grave, or hung on a cliff. It contains any possessions that the deceased will need in the afterlife. The wealthy are often buried in a stone grave carved out of a rocky cliff. The grave is usually expensive and takes a few months to complete. In some areas, a stone cave may be found that is large enough to accommodate a whole family. A wood-carved effigy, called Tau tau, is usually placed in the cave looking out over the land. The coffin of a baby or child may be hung from ropes on a cliff face or from a tree. This hanging grave usually lasts for years, until the ropes rot and the coffin falls to the ground.

In the ritual called Ma'Nene, that takes place each year in August, the bodies of the deceased are exhumed to be washed, groomed and dressed in new clothes. The mummies are then walked around the village.

DANNCE AND MUSIC

Torajans perform dances on several occasions, most often during their elaborate funeral ceremonies. They dance to express their grief, and to honour and even cheer the deceased person because he is going to have a long journey in the afterlife. First, a group of men form a circle and sing a monotonous chant throughout the night to honour the deceased (a ritual called Ma'badong). This is considered by many Torajans to be the most important component of the funeral ceremony. On the second funeral day, the Ma'randing warrior dance is performed to praise the courage of the deceased during life. Several men perform the dance with a sword, a large shield made from buffalo skin, a helmet with a buffalo horn, and other ornamentation. The Ma'randing dance precedes a procession in which the deceased is carried from a rice barn to the rante, the site of the funeral ceremony. During the funeral, elder women perform the Ma'katia dance while singing a poetic song and wearing a long feathered costume. The Ma'akatia dance is performed to remind the audience of the generosity and loyalty of the deceased person. After the bloody ceremony of buffalo and pig slaughter, a group of boys and girls clap their hands while performing a cheerful dance called Ma'dondan.

As in other agricultural societies, Torajans dance and sing during harvest time. The Ma'bugi dance celebrates the thanksgiving event, and the Ma'gandangi dance is performed while Torajans are pounding rice. There are several war dances, such as the Manimbong dance performed by men, followed by the Ma'dandan dance performed by women. The aluk religion governs when and how Torajans dance. A dance called Ma'bua can be performed only once every 12 years. Ma'bua is a major Toraja ceremony in which priests wear a buffalo head and dance around a sacred tree.

A traditional musical instrument of the Toraja is a bamboo flute called a Pa'suling (suling is an Indonesian word for flute). This six-holed flute (not unique to the Toraja) is played at many dances, such as the thanksgiving dance Ma'bondensan, where the flute accompanies a group of shirtless, dancing men with long fingernails. The Toraja have indigenous musical instruments, such as the Pa'pelle (made from palm leaves) and the Pa'karombi (the Torajan version of a jaw harp). The Pa'pelle is played during harvest time and at house inauguration ceremonies.

COGENDER VIEWS

Among the Saʼadan (eastern Toraja) in the island of Sulawesi (Celebes), Indonesia, there are homosexual male toburake tambolang shamans; although among their neighbors the Mamasa (western Toraja) there are instead only heterosexual female toburake shamanesses.

LANGUAGE

The ethnic Toraja language is dominant in Tana Toraja with the main language as the Sa'dan Toraja. Although the national Indonesian language is the official language and is spoken in the community, all elementary schools in Tana Toraja teach Toraja language.

Language varieties of Toraja, including Kalumpang, Mamasa, Tae, Talondo, Toala, and Toraja-Sa'dan, belong to the Malayo-Polynesian language from the Austronesian family. At the outset, the isolated geographical nature of Tana Toraja formed many dialects between the Toraja languages themselves. After the formal administration of Tana Toraja, some Toraja dialects have been influenced by other languages through the transmigration program, introduced since the colonialism period, and it has been a major factor in the linguistic variety of Toraja languages.

A prominent attribute of Toraja language is the notion of grief. The importance of death ceremony in Toraja culture has characterised their languages to express intricate degrees of grief and mourning. The Toraja language contains many terms referring to sadness, longing, depression, and mental pain. Giving a clear expression of the psychological and physical effect of loss is a catharsis and sometimes lessens the pain of grief itself.

ECONOMY

Prior to Suharto's "New Order" administration, the Torajan economy was based on agriculture, with cultivated wet rice in terraced fields on mountain slopes, and supplemental cassava and maize crops. Much time and energy were devoted to raising water buffalo, pigs, and chickens, primarily for ceremonial sacrifices and consumption. Coffee was the first significant cash crop produced in Toraja, and was introduced in the mid 19th century, changing the local economy towards commodity production for external markets and gaining an excellent reputation for quality in the international market.

With the commencement of the New Order in 1965, Indonesia's economy developed and opened to foreign investment. In Toraja, a coffee plantation and factory was established by Key Coffee of Japan, and Torajan coffee regained a reputation for quality within the growing international specialty coffee sector Multinational oil and mining companies opened new operations in Indonesia during the 1970s and 1980s. Torajans, particularly younger ones, relocated to work for the foreign companies—to Kalimantan for timber and oil, to Papua for mining, to the cities of Sulawesi and Java, and many went to Malaysia. The out-migration of Torajans was steady until 1985. and has continued since, with remittances sent back by emigre Torajans performing an important role within the contemporary economy.

Tourism commenced in Toraja in the 1970s, and accelerated in the 1980s and 1990s. Between 1984 and 1997, a significant number of Torajans obtained their incomes from tourism, working in and owning hotels, as tour guides, drivers, or selling souvenirs. With the rise of political and economic instability in Indonesia in the late 1990s—including religious conflicts elsewhere on Sulawesi—tourism in Tana Toraja has declined dramatically. Toraja continues to be a well known origin for Indonesian coffee, grown by both smallholders and plantation estates, although migration, remittances and off-farm income is considered far more important to most households, even those in rural areas.

TOURISM AND CULTURAL CHANGE

Before the 1970s, Toraja was almost unknown to Western tourism. In 1971, about 50 Europeans visited Tana Toraja. In 1972, at least 400 visitors attended the funeral ritual of Puang of Sangalla, the highest-ranking nobleman in Tana Toraja and the so-called "last pure-blooded Toraja noble." The event was documented by National Geographic and broadcast in several European countries. In 1976, about 12,000 tourists visited the regency and in 1981, Torajan sculpture was exhibited in major North American museums. "The land of the heavenly kings of Tana Toraja", as written in the exhibition brochure, embraced the outside world.

In 1984, the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism declared Tana Toraja Regency the prima donna of South Sulawesi. Tana Toraja was heralded as "the second stop after Bali". Tourism was increasing dramatically: by 1985, a total number of 150,000 foreigners had visited the Regency (in addition to 80,000 domestic tourists), and the annual number of foreign visitors was recorded at 40,000 in 1989. Souvenir stands appeared in Rantepao, the cultural center of Toraja, roads were sealed at the most-visited tourist sites, new hotels and tourist-oriented restaurants were opened, and an airstrip was opened in the Regency in 1981.

Tourism developers have marketed Tana Toraja as an exotic adventure—an area rich in culture and off the beaten track. Western tourists expected to see stone-age villages and pagan funerals. Toraja is for tourists who have gone as far as Bali and are willing to see more of the wild, "untouched" islands. However, they were more likely to see a Torajan wearing a hat and denim, living in a Christian society. Tourists felt that the tongkonan and other Torajan rituals had been preconceived to make profits, and complained that the destination was too commercialised. This has resulted in several clashes between Torajans and tourism developers, whom Torajans see as outsiders.

A clash between local Torajan leaders and the South Sulawesi provincial government (as a tourist developer) broke out in 1985. The government designated 18 Toraja villages and burial sites as traditional tourist attractions. Consequently, zoning restrictions were applied to these areas, such that Torajans themselves were barred from changing their tongkonans and burial sites. The plan was opposed by some Torajan leaders, as they felt that their rituals and traditions were being determined by outsiders. As a result, in 1987, the Torajan village of Kété Kesú and several other designated tourist attractions closed their doors to tourists. This closure lasted only a few days, as the villagers found it too difficult to survive without the income from selling souvenirs.

Tourism has also transformed Toraja society. Originally, there was a ritual which allowed commoners to marry nobles (puang) and thereby gain nobility for their children. However, the image of Torajan society created for the tourists, often by "lower-ranking" guides, has eroded its traditional strict hierarchy. High status is not as esteemed in Tana Toraja as it once was. Many low-ranking men can declare themselves and their children nobles by gaining enough wealth through work outside the region and then marrying a noble woman.

WIKIPEDIA

Eerste thuiswedstrijd van nieuwe competitie eindigt in zwaar bevochten 1-1 gelijkspel | First home game of new competition ends in hard fought 1-1 draw

Canon EOS-1D MKIV | EFL-300mm F2.8 (non-IS) + 1,4x converter (=420mm)

For best view: Press L

Copyright ©2020 Leon Harting - credit MUST be given at all times

This is a photograph from both of the races in the 8th annual Longwood Village 10KM and 5KM Road Races and Fun Runs which were held in Longwood Village, Longwood, Co. Meath, Ireland on Sunday 22nd October 2017 at 11:00. The races are held annually to support the development of the local GAA club while also supporting local charities. The race has support from Trim AC which sees the race have full AAI premit status. These races have grown steadily over the years and this year almost 400 participants to part in the two races. This is an impressive statistic given that a very large number of local runners will be preparing for the Dublin City marathon 7 days from now. However both races provide marathon runners and all other runners, joggers and walkers with an ideal opportunity to race on a very fair course in a beautiful rural setting. Barry Clarke of Longwood GAA and Trim AC and his very large group of volunteers deserve the highest of praise for the very high standard of organisation immediately apparent to anyone taking part in the race. Overall the whole day was a great success with the hard work put in by the organising committee ensuring that participants enjoyed their race experience. Both routes were accurately measured, kilometer points clearly marked, junctions well stewarded, and electronic timing provided. The event provided many local runners, joggers, fun runners and walkers with a local event to support whilst at the same time providing runners preparing for events such as the Dublin marathon with an opportunity to race a short, fast, distance in the lead up to marathon day. The GAA club provided excellent stewarding and traffic management all around the course. The race had a professional feel to it and it is sure to grow next year given the very positive feedback from many of the participants today. The weather in the week leading up to the race was hardly ideal with both Storm Ophelia and Storm Brian bringing windy and rainy conditions to Ireland all week. The weather for race day was more suitable for running. Dry, with a fresh breeze, the weather remained dry for both races with the sun making an appearance also.

We have an extensive set of photographs from all of the races today in the following Flickr Album: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157661720601468

Timing and event management was provided by PopUpRaces.ie. Results are available on their website at www.popupraces.ie/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2016: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/albums/72157672030705623

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2015: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157660017638535

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2014: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157648845224981/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM and 10KM 2013: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157636477484093/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2012: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157631820426332/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2011: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157627782257481/

Our photographs from Longwood 5KM 2010: www.flickr.com/photos/peterm7/sets/72157625058772687/

Longwood is a small village in South East Co. Meath and is close to the town of Enfield with access to the M4 Motorway.

5KM Course: The 5KM started in Longwood village. Runners then took a left turn in the Village down St. Oliver's Road. This straight section of road brings runners to a left turn onto a very well maintained boreen road for less than one kilometer. The race then emerges and joins with the 10KM at Stoneyford where the runners take a left and then another left before arriving back at the finish line in Longwood GAA club. Overall this is a very fast and flat 5KM with no hills to speak of.

10KM Course: The 10KM event begins in Longwood Village outside Dargan's Pub and proceeds westward out of the village. There are some interesting points along this part of the course. At the 2KM point the runners will run under the double bridges - an aquaduct for the Royal Canal and a bridge carrying the Dublin Sligo Railway line. The race then enters county Kildare just before the 3km and after taking a right turn at the four-cross roads known locally as Lally's Cross it returns to County Meath on top of the River Boyne Bridge (Ashfield Bridge) which forms the county boundary. The race follows a straight road for the next 2KM until runners encounter Blackshade bridge which is the toughest climb on the route. As a point of interest Blackshade bridge brings runners back over the Royal Canal and the Railway line. The race then crosses the River Boyne again at Stoneyford before taking a right which will bring runners on a testing two kilometer stretch with some short hills. The 10KM course then joins with the 5Km course for the final 1.5KM back to Longwood GAA club for the finish.

Can I use these photographs directly from Flickr on my social media account(s)?

Yes - of course you can! Flickr provides several ways to share this and other photographs in this Flickr set. You can share directly to: email, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, Tumblr, LiveJournal, and Wordpress and Blogger blog sites. Your mobile, tablet, or desktop device will also offer you several different options for sharing this photo page on your social media outlets.

BUT..... Wait there a minute....

We take these photographs as a hobby and as a contribution to the running community in Ireland. We do not charge for our photographs. Our only "cost" is that we request that if you are using these images: (1) on social media sites such as Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest, Twitter,LinkedIn, Google+, VK.com, Vine, Meetup, Tagged, Ask.fm,etc or (2) other websites, blogs, web multimedia, commercial/promotional material that you must provide a link back to our Flickr page to attribute us or acknowledge us as the original photographers.

This also extends to the use of these images for Facebook profile pictures. In these cases please make a separate wall or blog post with a link to our Flickr page. If you do not know how this should be done for Facebook or other social media please email us and we will be happy to help suggest how to link to us.

I want to download these pictures to my computer or device?

You can download this photographic image here directly to your computer or device. This version is the low resolution web-quality image. How to download will vary slight from device to device and from browser to browser. Have a look for a down-arrow symbol or the link to 'View/Download' all sizes. When you click on either of these you will be presented with the option to download the image. Remember just doing a right-click and "save target as" will not work on Flickr.

I want get full resolution, print-quality, copies of these photographs?

If you just need these photographs for online usage then they can be used directly once you respect their Creative Commons license and provide a link back to our Flickr set if you use them. For offline usage and printing all of the photographs posted here on this Flickr set are available free, at no cost, at full image resolution.

Please email petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com with the links to the photographs you would like to obtain a full resolution copy of. We also ask race organisers, media, etc to ask for permission before use of our images for flyers, posters, etc. We reserve the right to refuse a request.

In summary please remember when requesting photographs from us - If you are using the photographs online all we ask is for you to provide a link back to our Flickr set or Flickr pages. You will find the link above clearly outlined in the description text which accompanies this photograph. Taking these photographs and preparing them for online posting takes a significant effort and time. We are not posting photographs to Flickr for commercial reasons. If you really like what we do please spread the link around your social media, send us an email, leave a comment beside the photographs, send us a Flickr email, etc. If you are using the photographs in newspapers or magazines we ask that you mention where the original photograph came from.

I would like to contribute something for your photograph(s)?

Many people offer payment for our photographs. As stated above we do not charge for these photographs. We take these photographs as our contribution to the running community in Ireland. If you feel that the photograph(s) you request are good enough that you would consider paying for their purchase from other photographic providers or in other circumstances we would suggest that you can provide a donation to any of the great charities in Ireland who do work for Cancer Care or Cancer Research in Ireland.

Let's get a bit technical: We use Creative Commons Licensing for these photographs

We use the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License for all our photographs here in this photograph set. What does this mean in reality?

The explaination is very simple.

Attribution- anyone using our photographs gives us an appropriate credit for it. This ensures that people aren't taking our photographs and passing them off as their own. This usually just mean putting a link to our photographs somewhere on your website, blog, or Facebook where other people can see it.

ShareAlike – anyone can use these photographs, and make changes if they like, or incorporate them into a bigger project, but they must make those changes available back to the community under the same terms.

Above all what Creative Commons aims to do is to encourage creative sharing. See some examples of Creative Commons photographs on Flickr: www.flickr.com/creativecommons/

I ran in the race - but my photograph doesn't appear here in your Flickr set! What gives?

As mentioned above we take these photographs as a hobby and as a voluntary contribution to the running community in Ireland. Very often we have actually ran in the same race and then switched to photographer mode after we finished the race. Consequently, we feel that we have no obligations to capture a photograph of every participant in the race. However, we do try our very best to capture as many participants as possible. But this is sometimes not possible for a variety of reasons:

     ►You were hidden behind another participant as you passed our camera

     ►Weather or lighting conditions meant that we had some photographs with blurry content which we did not upload to our Flickr set

     ►There were too many people - some races attract thousands of participants and as amateur photographs we cannot hope to capture photographs of everyone

     ►We simply missed you - sorry about that - we did our best!

You can email us petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com to enquire if we have a photograph of you which didn't make the final Flickr selection for the race. But we cannot promise that there will be photograph there. As alternatives we advise you to contact the race organisers to enquire if there were (1) other photographs taking photographs at the race event or if (2) there were professional commercial sports photographers taking photographs which might have some photographs of you available for purchase. You might find some links for further information above.

Don't like your photograph here?

That's OK! We understand!

If, for any reason, you are not happy or comfortable with your picture appearing here in this photoset on Flickr then please email us at petermooney78 AT gmail DOT com and we will remove it as soon as possible. We give careful consideration to each photograph before uploading.

I want to tell people about these great photographs!

Great! Thank you! The best link to spread the word around is probably http://www.flickr.com/peterm7/sets

Given to brother. Painted many years ago.

Students were given the opportunity to sample a cornucopia of sports over the weekend of 5/6 September, 2020, supported by wonderful fall weather conditions and the untiring efforts of NMH athletic coaches. Photography by Glenn Minshall.

The streamlined 52-seat coach car was built by Budd in 1940 and was given the name "Silver Glow" by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. The Silver Glow" was part of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad's Silver Streak Zephyr train that ran between Kansas City-Omaha-Lincoln from 1940 to 1959. The coach car was built in 1940.

In 2007, the car was on display at a railroad museum in Atchison, Kansas. In 2014, the coach car was parked on a side track in Charles City, Iowa. To view a photograph of the car in Atchison go to: flic.kr/p/4VaZjp

The Cairncross Reserve was given to the Landsborough Shire Council in 1941 by three Thynne sisters.[1] They named the reserve after their mother, Mary Thynne (née Cairncross, born in 1848). Sunshine Coast Regional Council manages and maintains the reserve along with the volunteers that staff the Thynne Natural History Education Centre daily. The reserve is one of the best remaining subtropical rainforest in Australia.[citation needed] The reserve was created to protect the flora and fauna of the Maleny region. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Cairncross_Reserve

This image was enhanced with the use of a preset in Lightroom: Fuji Velvia-X-Pro Auto.

x-equals.com/blog/category/lightroom/presets/

_________________________________________________________________

Please don't invite me to over-regulated and restricted groups.

PLEASE DO NOT USE ANY TYPE OF GRAPHICS OR IMAGES IN COMMENTS

(I will delete them without notice).

POR FAVOR NO USE NINGÚN TIPO DE GRÁFICA O IMÁGENES EN COMENTARIOS

(Los suprimiré sin el aviso).

Your real comments and constructive criticism are appreciated and welcome.

_________________________________________________________________

Lego Cake Topper:

This was given to us from a friend who remembered back when all I did was play with Legos. It was used as the topper to a cake at a Salvoni family gathering the Friday before the wedding.

Cake Hat:

The wedding cake "hat" was a prop for the band "Hardin Sweaty and the Ready to Go." They gave it and a birthday hat to us on the night of our engagement which was on stage during a performance of the "cake song." As a joke, I brought it last minute and had them throw it on the table. We came to realize that the colors on the cake were purple and green, our wedding colors.

Video of the cake hat at the proposal: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZjJeusJZSk&feature=g-upl

(all info from the Groom)

(c) Pink Light Images

April 2012

www.pinklightstore.com

Jen Sulak is a Dallas based Photographer who loves loves loves shooting weddings. She is geared up to do destination weddings...all it takes is a phone call or email - Hire her, you won't regret it! :)

Bob Given Photography

Bob Given Photography

Given to me by a friend.

Tina givens petals ~ Fabulous!

Current owner since January 2001.

Early TTs intrigue me somewhat and given the earliest are now over 20 years old, they are firmly landing in classic territory. This long term owner car looked really clean.

9 MAN TOWN LEFT TO RUE MISSED CHANCES

“" We've got to be better than that..."” Manager Lee Ashcroft

Longridge suffered their 2nd League defeat of the season away at Coppull having missed chance after chance, and having given away 3 very poor goals in a 3-2 defeat.

The game finished 10 v 9 as both George Melling and Jordan Tucker were sent off in time added on by the Referee.