Mini Equinox Festival at Deerpark

It was the day of Spring Equinox, for 2016.  A day many people love to celebrate as from now for 6 months daylight will be longer than darkness in a day.

It was a beautiful warm blue sky sunny afternoon, at Deerpark, east of Sligo town, outside of Calry village.

The brown road sign has gone, which confused some people arriving, but the main sign is still here, if you come in.


Several people arrived early for this Bards In The Woods outing, all eager to get going ...


The dogs were ready to go too :-) 


and so we set off ...


The sign has vanished from here too. 

The sun beamed on us ..


as we met more dogs, like this beautiful lurcher mixed with something else ...


We took a break half way along the track ...


and some poetry was shared here, a delighted audience :-)  ...


and a bit of foraging it seems ...


Moving on ... 


At the ancient Court Cairn we arrive


and explore for awhile ... 


Boris, who lives nearby, told us a few things about here.


Then we gathered to prepare for the music and bards


And here are the 'band' members close up ...

Boris ...


Nuno ... 


Joanna ... 


Barry Fitzgerals shared a story ...


and then, never got this lad's name, good stories, poems and song though  ...


then I had a go :-) 


The audience ... 


Well some of them. I counted an audience of 28 people at one point, and 5 dogs.

Some stayed around the tea and snacks. 


The dogs, such as Marley, wanted to join in with the snacks


Barry's dog wondered what he was missing


Pixie feeling a bit left out ...


A child or two enjoying the vibe


John continues exploring ... 


Hubert takes a break from taking pics. 


To give a sense of where we were, here is what it was like here before the trees were felled  ...


The views from here today, Knocknarae ...


Ballygawley Hills ...


When the warm air of the afternoon cooled, we continued around the trail track. The lads hopped over the wall to visit the souterrain behind the henge in the field here


and Hubert followed them ...


For some reason I seemed concerned with them being there? 


The souterrain, well, what's left of it now ...


So I caught up with the others, for a short time ... 


but was distracted by woodland images ...


and lost contact with the 'pack' for awhile.

But rejoined some for a second picnic at the car park at the bottom.


Then we said our farewells ...


Beautiful afternoon, wonderful adventure, wonderful entertainment, rejuvenating air, happy company, and just one of those times you never want to end ...

Bards In The Woods as its best. xxx


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