Our good friend Mary Sheridan of the Clew Bay Hotel encouraged us to come out this afternoon to support Mayo Mountain Rescue at the Sheep Shearing Marathon fundraiser. MMR is a volunteer organization whose members help people who get in trouble on one of the mountains in Co Mayo. Mary is an active and committed member of the group. Hillwalking and climbing are popular activities in Ireland - the Irish people are very fitness conscious. As you know from previous posts, the Reek/Croagh Patrick is a very popular climb just outside of Westport, both as a fitness achievement and as an expression of religious commitment. Several hundred people attempt this arduous climb each day and MMR gets "called out" a number of times a week to rescue climbers in trouble. Most injuries involve ankles or knees, or are simply due to exhaustion. There are also some very scary head injuries as people are unable to negotiate the slippy and treacherous section close to the top - the "cone." MMR members race up the mountain with an aluminum stretcher and either bring the person to the base of the mountain or call for assistance from a trauma chopper. If a chopper is called, staff meet the aircraft on one of the few flat and accessible parts of the Reek to effectuate a transfer. These choppers often fly directly over the Duffys home on way to a rescue, making them constantly aware of the peril of the Reek.
So, a sheep shearing marathon... Started at 4 yesterday afternoon and ended up at 4 today. Many the denuded sheep. A 5 Euro admission per person, some food trucks, an Irish dancing demonstration, and an opportunity to bet on how long it would take the Guinness Book of World Records record holder of sheep shearing to shear 20 sheep (say that quickly). We ponied up our 2 Euro bet and figured on 17 1/2 minutes. But darn, Ivan Thomas was well off his record time and took 20 3/4 minutes. Oh well, we took our sorrow down to McGreevy's for a soft serve ice cream with a chocolate Flake garnish. We were well consoled...
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| The warm-up act - a local fella |
The Action
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| The aftermath |
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| Top-notch Irish dancers - the girl on the left is Uri Kohen's improbably gorgeous daughter |
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| The main act - Mr. Ivan Thomas |
