Concrete Lock-on and a Bluegrass Band Stop Shell for a Day

by more photos Thu Aug 04, 2011 23:31

photos

by photos Thu Aug 04, 2011 23:38

photos

"Normally we make more jokes between songs, but this situation speaks for itself" -Banjo Player

Traditional Appalachian square dance

A great end to the day

by Serf Fri Aug 05, 2011 15:58

Inspiring and creative protest. Kudos to all involved

by Paddy Fri Aug 05, 2011 22:33

Could the government send in the army with water cannons at least, to get these parasites out of the way of job creation and progress.

Is this what we fund college fees for.

by Damien Mooney Fri Aug 05, 2011 22:54

What when the water supply is polluted beyond repair and all the fish wash up dead ashore? That's hardly progress

by Seán Crudden Fri Aug 05, 2011 23:01

There was a film by that name made by Michael Caccoyannis, a Greek director, and the leading actor in the film was Irish a man whose name I cannot remember but who died not many years afterwards sadly still a young man. I agree with your post. Our environment is far more precious than gold. Developers, farmers, fishermen, shooters; they all play fast and loose with it.

by Fearbolg - S2S Sat Aug 06, 2011 12:54

It's interesting that two of the 'Student Princes' from the 70's, Pat Rabbitte and (where's) Eamonn Gilmore, who bestrode the student and trades union movements for many years are now more hell-bent on giving it all away for nothing than even FF/GP were.  Of all the useless, corrupt and ineffectual politicians who have been involved with Corrib, these two stink worse than anyone else (apart from Eamonn Ryan), because they would still point to a background and tradition in left wing politics, plus they are both west of Ireland men, although don't say it out loud when they're around. If there are students involved in these actions we welcome them with open arms, because unlike the two men I've mentioned, they're not in this to jump on a centre-left gravy train somewhere down the line. When you hear someone like Paddy coming up with the usual water cannon/progress/jobs/student fees tirade, it means we're winning yet again. It's unfortunate that someone like Paddy is too thick to get what this is all about, but it's absolutely unforgiveable for Rabbitte and Gilmore to be complicit in these events.  History will judge Paddy and his ilk simply as clowns who couldn't see the bigger picture, but I believe that Rabbitte and Gilmore will ultimately be viewed as traitors to their political ideology, their country and their people.  Probably doesn't matter to them, though, cos' presumably there's a few pound in it.

by Seán Crudden - CEHG Sat Aug 06, 2011 16:17

Hey, Fearbolg, I don't think it's possible to get people to do anything constructive by abusing them. Have you ever heard the expression, "Donkey-Beater"? I would prefer to be told exactly what Rabbitte and Gilmore are doing or not doing. Maybe you know but you cannot take for granted that everyone else does.

by Paddy Sat Aug 06, 2011 18:18

Oh dear, the Bagman thinks I’m too thick to understand.  The unfortunate thing is actually, that if this is the type of morons with their pie in the sky claptrap that our colleges are producing, we need a return to full fees for the parents so that I and the many other taxpayers who fund them aren’t wasting our money on them.

 I actually live in this country in this century not in some mythical dreamland.  Being pro job creation, progress etc is not a tirade – it is a fact and requirement of life.

 I do agree about Gilmore and Rabbitte being useless – but then again they were products of the commy students unions so its par for the course.

by Fearbolg - S2S Sun Aug 07, 2011 01:17

.....because both of you had the manners to open up this discussion without any further use of the tiresome sort of insult and invective that some people believe passes for debate in this country.  No, I never heard the phrase 'Donkey Beater', Seán, but we have a similar phrase in Erris which goes 'Being Beaten Regularly by Mindless Asses'.

As regards my knowing what Gilmore and Rabbitte are up to and being cryptic about it, I'm sure you realise that this is a discussion which has been going on for many years now on these threads and I have to assume that most posters will be aware of the main issues surrounding Corrib without my having to spell everything out.  If you are not in that category and are a new arrival yo this debate, all I can suggest is a quick scan of the archives on the Shelltosea website, or this site, which should bring you up to speed fairly quickly.  For the record, my point about the two 'Student Princes' is that they have combined to support and continue the giveaway of our natural resources as begun by their so-called political an ideological adversaries FF in the 80's, in spite of recent strident calls from various commentators, economists, union leaders ,etc., to at least put the brakes on the current unbelievably Oil Company-friendly licencing and fiscal arrangement and look at options which would be more favourable to this country, and, more importantly from my perspective, to the people of Erris and Kilcommon Parish in particular. When erstwhile supposed Socialists act in this way, one is led inexorably to the conclusion that either bribery, intimidation or rank stupidity are at play at the highest levels of Government in this country.  I know what my money's on.

Turning to the charge of my being insulting, let me say that in all my years posting on this site I have never suggested anything as stupid as deploying water cannons (if we had any) or any other type of weapon against those who oppose us, rather I've tried to engage people in worthwhile debate as I'm doing here.  You can't have it both ways,Paddy; you can either engage in a constructive discussion around these issues, in which case you'll get a measured answer like I'm supplying here, or you can come on bleating about water cannons, jobs and 'progress' at any cost, and you'll be told you're a mindless clown, because that's how you're presenting. 

So no, I don't think I was in any way out of order in what I said before,  We need intelligent debate around these issues, not the rhetoric of a Nazi rally.

by saolfree Sun Aug 07, 2011 01:35

Thanks for doing what you do......

by The lonely schizophrenic - Tls Sun Aug 07, 2011 09:03

Brilliant, inspiring and a very funny way to protest. Fair play to all involved!

by Seán Crudden Sun Aug 07, 2011 20:51

Maybe I made up the epithet "Donkey Beater" myself to describe someone who keeps administering attrition or punishment long after it has ceased to have any effect like someone who keeps on beating the donkey long after the donkey has stalled without hope of ever moving forward. In my imaginaion a donkey beater is one who enjoys beating the donkey even though the beating has no positive effect or someone who has not got the sense to lay off. The Irish actor in the film I mentioned is Colin Blakely. The name of the film is given in Wikipedia as, "The Day The Fish Came Out." I saw the film myself soon after it was first issued, I don't remember where, and my recollection of the name of the film is, "The Day The Fish Came Up Dead."

by Paddy Sun Aug 07, 2011 21:20

is all well and good in a debabting society or after a fine meal, but to me, the plain facts are a handful of people with no mandate from the majority are seeking to hamper legitimate workers from making their living during the worst recession in living memory. (I'm not pro or anti shell, I'm pro the right to earn a living if a job is available).  We may both have poor views of the current and previous governments, but, they are after all the government elected by the majority.  That same goverment would be, in my opinion, entitled to deploy whatever force was necessary to maintain law and order.

by Stevo - Shelltosea Mon Aug 08, 2011 13:14

Just wanted to point out there were 3 attempts to board the tractor. First 2 were manhandled off. I have the 2nd one here and the tractor neglected to stop while the camper was up there.

Very nice to see Belle star play under these circumstances http://bellestarmusic.com/ is their website. The cd is really really good. there is a callout being started for other bands to play unplugged at the gates. Maybe we could make it a regular feature of the forthcoming radio show? The Bellinaboy sessions?

Very hard to do the do-se-do with a gard attached to the back of your jacket. Somewhat fun to try. Did prefer the later squaredance.

Did look like the gards were waiting to be asked to dance as they lined up along the side of the road. I don't like what happens when they pick a partner usually though.

3 people were removed from the tractor, this is the 2nd

The band continue to play as the tractor moves

No dancing on the road now, garda enforced

gards play ring a roses with a tractor

Remember those dancehall sessions where men & women lined up on either end of a comunity hall & waited to be asked to dance?

by opus diablos - the regressive hypocrite party Mon Aug 08, 2011 13:56

Market it as pipe-line-dancing.