Man of Aran

[graham]

I recently watched "man of Aran" A travel essay type film made in 1934 by an American Robert Flaherty.

Some stunning film of Curraghs being rowed at sea and an amazing scene showing a monster size Basking Shark being harpooned.(They used the sharks liver oil for lamps).

a bit slow at the start ,maybe to reflect the pace of Island life ,once you get into it its an inspiring piece of film.Im sure Flaherty has used a bit of "artistic license" here and there but if you get the chance to see it its well worth it.

 

[longjohnsadler]

Flimsy looking boats made of skin or canvas and covered with tar - still used today in a revived state. Hope to get round to the Aran Islands this summer with the boat. Still fantastically wild and unspoilt.

 

[ferrispeterchris]

Unless your visit coincides with /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gifa Father Ted fan club outing!

 

[aitchw]

If you are really interested in the Aran Isles I guess the book to read is J.M.Synge 'The Aran Isles'. It was written 1907, I think, and his time spent there is credited with providing the inspiration for his later plays.

There is a quote I've seen from it which is apt if I can remember it. Something like 'a man who is not afraid of the sea will soon be killed but we do be afraid and are only killed occasionally'. I can't find the ref to check but I'm sure there will be someone along shortly to correct it.

By all accounts a very spiritual place.

 

[Slowtack]

Fabulous place, I wish I knew how to post some photos.

 

[suse]

A man who is not afraid of the sea will soon be drowned, he said, for he will be going out on a day he shouldn't. But we do be afraid of the sea, and we do only be drownded now and again.

S x

 

[aitchw]

Thanks Suzy, I couldn't find the reference quickly when I wanted to post and the particular clump of brain cells that held that info has clearly been a casualty of my advancing years and Tetley Bitter. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[Dyflin]

I remember reading that the locals had to be shown how to kill the basking shark as that was something they never did. All the whaling that went on on the west coast of Ireland was done by non Irish.

 

[aitchw]

[ QUOTE ]
I wish I knew how to post some photos

[/ QUOTE ]

Dead easy if they are digital and on your PC.

Open a free account with Photobucket , upload some pics the the album, view your thumbnail and click on the bottom one of the three boxes below the pic and paste the image address into your post on YBW. (When you click on the image URL mentioned it automatically places it on your clipboard complete with img tags.)

Test your post by checking the 'I want to preview my post' box before clicking on 'Continue'.