The first weekend in June last year was a busy one for Sean (and Pauline, his chauffeuse – thanks to my Uncle Charlie (RIP) for that word). As well as the Killinkere Jamboree, Kilnaleck Fleadh and various social events, he took photos for the Cavan Post at three Gaelic football matches at various grades in Co. Cavan – Cavan Gaels v. Drumalee, Cavan Gaels v. Kingscourt, and Munterconnaught v. Maghera.
Some of those photos are shown above. Sean didn’t have a proper sports lens … he made do with what he had that weekend.
The road to God knows where ... Brendan O'Brien 
V funny about ‘chauffeuse’. Technically, your Uncle Charlie was perfectly right of course. The word is usually used to speak of a low, comfortable fireside chair. I know about being a chauffeuse – I do less of it these days as we live in a place with an excellent tram and bus service. I hardly ever drive any more. The only problem is realizing that one’s stationary car has been towed away once more.
I love the photographs, especially the ones featuring young men actually flying through the air. I do not know much about photography, but I am amazed that Sean could take such photographs without a special lens.
Thanks, Cymbeline. He would probably have bought a telephoto lens had the Cavan Post not closed down.
My Uncle Charlie was quite a character, well known in Cork city … a couple of strangers we met on holiday in Spain knew him well. He had a great turn of phrase and was always very charming and well turned out … Pauline and her sister took a big liking to him, as I recall.
He liked his beer. My cousin Ann drove us to the funeral of his sister-in-law in Dublin. The coffin was barely in the ground when I heard someone call out ‘Chauffeuse! Chauffeuse!’ It was Charlie, finger in air, looking around for Ann … he wanted to be taken to the pub without further delay.
Good Evening Brendano,
I have missed you on MT, I was away for a few days and when I got back you were not to be seen. Hope you are well.
And Hello Cymbeline,
what happened to you? You left abruptly, may I ask why? I can not imagine why , no one could have upset you because I know you can take good care of yourself.
I hope all is well with you and your family.
Hello Sabina … we’re all fine, thanks. I hope your husband is doing well.
I felt that MyT wasn’t worth bothering with any more, so I asked them to close my account.
Am sad to hear this Brendano,
Marya, Cymbeline, Shermeen and you leaving has left a big gap on that site. I only look in once a day or so. To me it is somewhere I can rant on about things which matter to me, a kind of sounding board. I do not take it seriously,or spend a lot of time. But it is nice to have an audience. I am grateful that I have known you and the others. I will look in here from time to time.
Keep well.
Thanks, Sabina … you too.
Hi Brendan, I used to work for a local newspaper doing what Sean was doing. Very difficult taking sport photos without the proper lens but local (usually family owned) newspapers tend to focus (yes, pun intended:-)) on indoor subject matter and are rarely up for splashing out hundreds of euro on a 300mm with a large aperture for the weekend sporting shots. It means that, for a decent shot, you have to be so much closer to the action than with a longer lens so Sean’s done a good job here!
I don’t think I ever met your uncle Charlie…I wish I had! Was he good craic?
Hi Dave … yes, I remember that you did this kind of thing … for a few years, I think.
You may have met Charlie at my mother’s funeral. He would have been a good man to go on a session with … very entertaining and opinionated.
He used to sometimes come and stay with my dad for a while, after my mother died … my dad dreaded it a bit because of the drinking involved … quite a few pints when they went to the pub for their dinner at lunchtime. My dad described Charlie as a ‘pint alcoholic’.
I remember that he described Sean McEntee, a prominent politician of the fifties, as ‘a scurrilous demagogue and a Belfast bowsie’ … that would have been typical of his turn of phrase. He was very much a Corkman.
I have always enjoyed talking to entertaining and opinionated old blokes in pubs and bars.
I suspect that I would have loved a session with your Uncle Charlie.
Yes, Cymbeline … I’m sure you would have liked Charlie, and vice versa. He was a cultured man, and could recite an awful lot of poetry (as could my father).