Irish Mountain Running

Here's Céad Míle Fáilte to friend and to rover
That's a greeting that's Irish as Irish can be
It means you are welcome
A thousand times over
Wherever you come from, Whosoever you be

I want to dig up an old Runner's World magazine that I have somewhere. There's a fun article on Irish mountain running in it. From what I recall those in the the IMRA are pretty hardcore in terms of the inclines they run and the pubs they visit afterwards.

Mud, moss, rocks and a pint of Guinness as your recovery meal. Sounds like a fun time.

The Broad Majestic Shannon (Written By Shane McGowan)

The last time I saw you was down at the greeks
There was whiskey on sunday and tears on our cheeks
You sang me a song as pure as the breeze
Blowing up the road to Glenaveigh
I sat for a while at the cross at finnoe
Where young lovers would meet when the flowers were in bloom
Heard the men coming home from the fair at Shinrone
Their hearts in Tipperary wherever they go

Take my hand, and dry your tears babe
Take my hand, forget your fears babe
Theres no pain, theres no more sorrow
Theyre all gone, gone in the years babe

I sat for a while by the gap in the wall
Found a rusty tin can and an old hurley ball
Heard the cards being dealt, and the rosary called
And a fiddle playing sean dun na ngall
And the next time I see you well be down at the greeks
There’ll be whiskey on Sunday and tears on our cheeks
For its stupid to laugh and its useless to bawl
About a rusty tin can and an old hurley ball

So I walked as day was dawning
Where small birds sang and leaves were falling
Where we once watched the row boats landing
By the broad majestic Shannon
Sung by Liam Clancy


May you have warm words on a cold evening,
a full moon on a dark night,
and the road downhill all the way to your door.



Slainte!