In 1965, Ford made six prototypes of the GT40 – all open-roofed. Five were subsequently converted into hard tops but this one – the first of the six – once driven by Formula One legend Jim Clark, was left in its original configuration.
The unique roadster can be yours, for an undisclosed but presumably gigantic sum of money.
Scenes from this year’s Palio in Siena, Italy
There are just two Palios in Siena, Italy every year.
The second one is on tomorrow, August 16.
The first one in July was visited by photographer Donal Moloney.
Donal writes:
One local described it to me as “Palio is life”. It seems that there are far more important things about this event than it just being a 14th century horse race. I was there 4 days and only began to understand the real meaning of Palio and what it is to be Sienese.
Palio has been on my bucket list for many years but I’ve always feared arriving and not being able to get the camera angles I want. The spectacle lasts just 90 seconds but the square in Siena is used for trials and ceremony the entire week leading up to the event.
There are 17 districts (Contradas) that compete twice a year at Il Palio (one in July, one in August). 10 contrada are chosen to compete at each main event. Horses are only assigned by the Mayor three days prior by lottery. 30 horses are used in trials on the Thursday of which 10 are chosen. They then gallop around the square twice a day in preparation. Only then do the jockeys don the colour of the contrada they represent.
Sounds complicated? It is! Add to that the skullduggery, bribery and corruption that goes on behind the scenes and you get even more confused. This is all part of the Palio.
Three months earlier I found a man online who charges a lot of money for such privileges. 15,000 people cram the square on race day and I get myself a good position on San Martino bend.
It’s 5pm and the sun is beating down on me. I’ve barely room to swing a cat but I’m pumping with adrenaline. Four hours later, endless delays and they’re off in near darkness.
Three laps of the square and it’s over. I jump the barrier with my gear on my back and run down the track into the oncoming horses to get a shot of the victorious jockey before the Italian press photographers get there.
It’s mayhem as I beat my way as close as I can to him. Men are shouting and crying with joy as they greet their hero.
I’m suddenly part of their contrada and I end up leaving the scene with them to the church where both jockey and horse will be given benediction by the parish priest. Jaysuz lads, ye couldn’t make it up.
Ah Mr Ó Sé, we’ve been expecting you.
This afternoon.
Malahide Castle, County Dublin.
Sinead Harrington writes:
Dáithí Ó Sé brought a license to thrill to the RTÉ Rose of Tralee launch when he was helicoptered into Malahide Castle to meet all 64 hopeful Roses for the first time ahead of this year’s 2017 Rose of Tralee International Festival.
Dáithí’s dramatic aerial entrance, courtesy of a former Rose of Tralee escort and pilot Ted Robinson, ensured that the Rose of Tralee festival started in style.
This is Dáithí’s eighth year presenting the show, proving that in his eyes Roses are forever; he and the 2017 Roses were in flying form at Malahide Castle before they began their journey to Tralee.
The festival is now in its 58th year and interviews with the final 32 Roses will be broadcast live from the festival dome in Kerry at 8pm on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22 August on RTÉ One with a break for the Nine O’Clock News….
FIGHT!
Meanwhile…
Lovely girls love GAA.
All Ireland rivals, from top: Niamh McElduff (Tyrone) and Maria Coughlan (Dublin), Niamh Elwood (Galway) and Chloe McGrath (Waterford).
Rollingnews
UPDATE:
Ah here.
Thanks James M Chimney
Leave the modern world behind and marvel at the canny woodcraft of the Primitive Technology channel, a chap in Queensland who makes all manner of ingenious devices in the wild using only natural materials – in this case, a monjolo, or water-powered hammer traditionally used to pound grain to flour or crush clay for porcelain.
More here.
Kevin Myers
On Thursday, September 28.
In St Mary’s Cathedral, Limerick.
Kevin Myers will moderate a talk, entitled ‘How censorship stifles debate and undermines the tenets of free and democratic societies’.
Anne Sheridan, in the Limerick Leader, reports:
The talk will be given by Jodie Ginsberg, of the Index on Censorship, which publishes the work by censored writers and artists and campaigns for free expression worldwide…
David O’Brien, chief executive of Limerick Civic Trust, which has organised the series of talks, said he has not read Myers’ widely criticised article, entitled ‘Sorry, ladies – equal pay has to be earned’, but stressed their talks are about “encouraging debate and having opposing views”.
But Prof O’Connor [Prof Emeritus Pat O’Connor, of sociology and social policy, at University of Limerick] said her concern is that “with this platform, they are framing Kevin Myers as the defender of free speech by putting him in that position.
“I suspect that it is simply an attempt to drum up an audience by being controversial. In these sort of situations, the best thing one can do is to ignore.
“It’s not an acceptable position to say everyone is entitled to free speech if it stirs up hatred against any one group. It’s not an uncontested right,” said Prof O’Connor.
“I have no time for political correctness. I think if the heart is right, the lip can be forgiven. But it seems to be giving a platform to Kevin Myers, and legitimising opinions that many people found offensive.”
Prof O’Connor, a visiting Fellow at University College Dublin’s Geary Institute, said she won’t be attending the talk, as there were “too many crazy assumptions in his column”.
…“I have no time for political correctness. I think if the heart is right, the lip can be forgiven. But it seems to be giving a platform to Kevin Myers, and legitimising opinions that many people found offensive.”
…“He said men are more charismatic, and that is one of the reasons why they get ahead, but I’m afraid we all know an awful lot of boring men. Me thinks the lady doth protest too much. When there are as many mediocre women as mediocre men in the top jobs, we’ll have equality,” she said.
Yikes.
Previously: Listening To Kevin
No, not digitally retouched photos but, rather, the all-natural phenomenon of Crown Shyness where the uppermost branches of certain tree species avoid each other in the forest canopy.
First discovered in the 1920s, the exact cause is unclear: whether the result of trees rubbing against one another or an active process by which the available light needed for photosynthesis is ‘shared’.
Either way, isn’t nature wonderful?
Cathal Noonan tweetz:
Surfers heading out to catch some waves yesterday evening as the sun sets at Inch Beach, Co. Cork.
