Always something going on

If it's the weekend, then there's a festival...

Westport always has some engaging activity in store for the weekend.  It might be a literary festival, a play at the Town Hall, a major fitness event, music all around town, or, like this weekend, a combination of the above.

The fitness event is Gaelforce (click on the links in this paragraph to get a sense of the challenge), a combination of biking, running, kayaking, and climbing.  It starts at Glassilaun Beach in Co Galway, where participants run several miles to get to kayaks to cross Killary Harbour, start running again until they get to the Delphi Adventure Resort where they pick up their bikes.  From there, they cycle to Croagh Patrick, climb to the peak and get back on their bikes to head into Westport.  In total, competitors run 13 1/2 miles, kayak 3/4 mile, and cycle 27 miles.  Oh yeah, and they climb 2,500 feet to the top of Croagh Patrick.  Sounds like fun, huh?  Fitness is a passion here.

On the other side, would be what I did...went to the Westport Food Festival.  Lots of cool stuff to do - like participate with celebrity chefs at the venerable old Westport House on the quay, or head out early to fish with the staff from one of the well-respected local restaurants - The Idle Wall - to return with your catch and prepare it for your dinner under the expert guidance of their talented chefs.  Me?  I headed up to the food booths in the center of town to enjoy some locally made sheep's cheese, to have a tasty sesame and black bean tofu banh mi sandwich (because, after all, where else would you go but Ireland to have some good Vietnamese food), and to score some gingerbread and shortbread cookies from Becca's Bakery.  All washed down with a fine cappuccino.  And, as you know, we're off this evening to listen to the Dixieland at McGing's Pub.  We'll miss the Duffys, however.  They're down to Limerick to check on Marion's older brother.  We plan to link up tomorrow to hear the HipPocket Quartet - a great jazz band.  Also at McGing's.

UPDATE:  Met a couple of GaelForce competitors at McGing's - the winner did the course in 3 hours, thirty-five minutes.  Holy cannoli.

The Food Festival on the Fairgreen

The flowers are back