HX Report
Irishman in the Middle East
The Grange Stone Circle
Posted on December 31, 2018
Stone circles are often considered to be some kind of prehistoric seasonal calendar or places of ancient ceremony. The Grange Stone Circle in MB’s HX locality is the largest circle in Ireland, is some 45M in diameter and comprises 113 contiguous stones. It is supported by an earthen embankment, unlike circles of individual standing stones like the famous Stonehenge in England and others. It is estimated to be some 4,500 to 5,000 years old.
The earthen embankment is some 1m higher than the inside of the circle, suggesting that the Grange circle was used for some type of public ritual. MB is aware of the visit of an American psychic lady to the circle a number of years back. During a guided tour of the circle, she informed the local guide that she had seen visions of human sacrifice in the circle. This may have happened of course, but no evidence of such activity has even been encountered during any archaeological excavations. Coins belonging to the soldiers of Oliver Cromwell were discovered during one excavation which evidenced the overnight encampment of the soldiers before attacking the city of Limerick, some 12 miles north. Much Beaker pottery has been discovered at the lowest level of the embankment.
The Grange circle sees large numbers of pre-sunrise visitors on summer and winter solstice mornings. However, in the opinion of MB, the circle is not aligned in any way to the point of sunrise on these dates. Despite many theories of locals and others, nobody truly knows why the circle was constructed, or what purpose it served. It is known that the large stones were sourced from two or three nearby locations. The headstone (largest stone) weighs some 40 metric tonnes and is the largest individual stone in any circle in Ireland.
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MB took the following shots today in late afternoon just prior to sunset:
The Cliffs of Moher
Posted on December 30, 2018
In 2011 the world voted for the new seven wonders of the natural world from amongst a list of 28 finalists. The Cliffs of Moher was the single Irish entry but it was not amongst the winners. Read More
Random shots from the homeland
Posted on December 27, 2018
Some random shots from MB’s Chrismas trip to his homeland. More to follow:
Leprechauns & Rainbows
Posted on December 22, 2018
On the London Metal Exchange today, as MB types this post, gold is trading at approximately USD 1,264 per Fine Troy Ounce (FTO). For those few HX followers who are not regular gold traders, one FTO is approximately equal to 31 grammes. That conversion rate is very germane to the amazing story that MB is about to tell, so please keep it foremost in your brains. In the frontal lobe perhaps, MB would most respectfully suggest.
Two days back, a mere one day after MB had dismounted his camel on arrival in the Irish HX region, having travelled overland (a-lá the Three Wise Men) from the dusty Arabian Gulf, MB came within a hairsbreadth of possessing a very large pot of the yellow stuff. Think Indiana Jones and The Temple of Doom. And were it not for a skullduggerous Leprechaun and the illest of ill winds, MB might well have landed a king’s ransom worth of glittering, shiny, USD 1,264/FTO solid gold.
Those who have previously succeeded where MB just now failed have informed MB that a pot of gold weighs in at some 50KG. Or 1,613 FTO. Or USD 2M.
But allow MB to explain a little more……………… Read More
Qatar Art Exhibition
Posted on December 19, 2018
MB got invited a few days back to an art exhibition at the Qatar Fine Arts Association Building which is based at KATARA village in Doha. The event was very multi-cultural with artists from many countries, all living and working in Qatar, each presenting a single piece of work.
Big thanks to the Ishtaiwi family, whose mom was one of the exhibitors, for MB’s invitation.
It’s The Weekend
Posted on December 14, 2018
The National Day celebrations have already started in Qatar with lots of events kicking off yesterday. National Day is Tuesday 18 December, which is a public holiday. Amongst other functions on 18th, the Emir of Qatar will officially open the new Doha Metro System (a project with MB involvement), which is a sort of poke in the eye to the blockading neighbouring states. The Metro project has finished more or less on time, despite the severe impact of the land and sea blockade of 05 June 2017, and the fact that almost all materials for the project had to be imported.
MB took this shot at one of the celebratory events last night:
Happy Christmas
Posted on December 13, 2018
To anyone who read one or more of MB’s blog posts during the year, or liked, or commented, or shared, or interacted in any way – Big thanks for all the crack during 2018. Read More
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Celebrations
Posted on December 9, 2018
Qatar National Day public holiday is just around the corner. 18 December to be exact. National Day celebrates the succession of Shaikh Jasim to the throne in 1878, and his subsequent founding of the State of Qatar. On National Day, the national flag will bedeck anything to which one can attach a piece of string or some bunting.
The below shot, featuring a number of Qatar flags, or a very similar version, appeared a few weeks back on one of MB’s posts. MB mentioned at the time that he would return to the scene again to get a sharper shot as the previous one was somewhat blurry. Anyway, MB did just that last night, placing the camera on a concrete wall before pressing the button.
Voila!
It’s the weekend
Posted on December 6, 2018
Last weekend MB went to the ballet Cinderella. The same Cinderella who fled the ball before midnight and left her slipper behind. Read More
Lens-Artists Photo Challenge – Happiness is…..
Posted on December 1, 2018
It’s the weekend
Posted on November 30, 2018
Read a book!
The Doha International Book Fair started yesterday and runs until next weekend. So many books!
Lens-Artists Challenge – Splash
Posted on November 26, 2018
Thanks to blogger Patti for her Splash challenge this week.
MB has taken a bit of license on the theme and offers, instead of water, a splash of colour! MB was mooching around Doha’s Souq Waqif last Friday night and came across a bright blue chair in a sea of brown and orange that he had not previously noticed.
Herewith:
It’s the weekend
Posted on November 22, 2018
Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar – The Life of Pie
The Museum of Islamic Art is one of the most recognisable buildings in Doha and a must-visit destination for tourists to the country. The building has featured in previous HX posts, but MB took some new pics when out walking earlier this week which he gives you below. Check out the MIA website if you want to learn some more. Read More
It’s The Weekend
Posted on November 15, 2018
The Pigeon House
Many people in the HX locality go for weekend walks around Lough Gur lake. And if one takes the walk from the car park to Ash Point on the Knockadoon Hill side of the lake, one will happen across the old stone remains of a Pigeon House on one’s left-hand side.
A Pigeon House was used in medieval times to house pigeons (really MB?!) which were a source of meat, eggs, and fertiliser. The one at Lough Gur is some 400 years old, maybe much older, and the specifications are included in the information plaque next to the structure.
Happy weekend!
