tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57619756575757377172024-03-05T20:18:51.629+00:00The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey CollectionThe Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-61568647748030585822012-05-10T11:19:00.000+01:002012-05-10T11:19:18.311+01:00Men of Action: Remembering a Claude Holloway, A War Veteran and True Hero<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A8gq_WkGRaCxqFBcCMsqxO_msMue_lL3yBzDv98l7jq9ADiZSo1sdi1hCb7xKKbUJXjDDgHBqkvSZhIImtiCKNihh3sFXG0p7TMc9QLI6ku2frTMeaJt2Zm8d1ExpWjXQvj_9W4flo80/s1600/claudeholloway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6A8gq_WkGRaCxqFBcCMsqxO_msMue_lL3yBzDv98l7jq9ADiZSo1sdi1hCb7xKKbUJXjDDgHBqkvSZhIImtiCKNihh3sFXG0p7TMc9QLI6ku2frTMeaJt2Zm8d1ExpWjXQvj_9W4flo80/s320/claudeholloway.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Claude Holloway </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>14 May 1919 - 25 March 2012</b></div>
<br />
We are remembering Claude Holloway, a Second World War veteran and hero, who died last month.<br />
<br />
This week marks the end of the final battles of the Second World War in Europe, a time to remember those who gave so much.<br />
<br />
Claude was a renowned motor torpedo boat (MTB) Commander, and won a Distinguished Service Cross for his part in the Caorle Point action of April 1945.<br />
<br />
Bit it was a Bari Harbour, when Claude showed pure heroism when he rescued dozens of men, almost loosing his life.<br />
<br />
On December 2nd 1943, Luftwaffe attacked Bari Harbour while Claude's motor torpedo boat was moored there. In the attack, 17 ships were sunk. It is said that the entire harbour was ablaze and chaos loomed.<br />
<br />
At the time of the attack, Claude was ashore, but chose to take his boat to the water, to save the survivors. A witness remembered:<br />
<br />
'The MTB skipper... leapt with half his crew into the blazing sea to rescue a dozen Norwegian seamen.'<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DjmcMNZJYbhH4mvATnwQsE2JPbmeLcM5OQPZ9Opto_M_onL9oLYRAuFOK6uin6A1KG12_Z-kCwnjaLLvUEjLqVpOoXRuyHXQ_9CSBy3X5IZ8I4JWyUMJnVKt1rDDpp2lV5UQjgut2Dfg/s1600/Photo25MTB234VosperNP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5DjmcMNZJYbhH4mvATnwQsE2JPbmeLcM5OQPZ9Opto_M_onL9oLYRAuFOK6uin6A1KG12_Z-kCwnjaLLvUEjLqVpOoXRuyHXQ_9CSBy3X5IZ8I4JWyUMJnVKt1rDDpp2lV5UQjgut2Dfg/s400/Photo25MTB234VosperNP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Second World War Motor Torpedo Boat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWW6e73oug4vwi1IHc24E6adTADXmDI76rgUST2PMJcd9RcBmm2CGpHWpIqd9sL31ZZNTXaPYz62idideiPqNq212yPrdm2lQdXKxi60tM7gs683SiPzSLxNLlbHErDMrrkRO_twnB56b/s1600/BariShipsBurning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPWW6e73oug4vwi1IHc24E6adTADXmDI76rgUST2PMJcd9RcBmm2CGpHWpIqd9sL31ZZNTXaPYz62idideiPqNq212yPrdm2lQdXKxi60tM7gs683SiPzSLxNLlbHErDMrrkRO_twnB56b/s400/BariShipsBurning.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The chaos at Bari Harbour which Claude found himself in the middle of</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Claude did not escape unharmed. During the rescue, he fell into the water, which by was saturated with oil and dangerous chemicals. But Claude continued on and worked for hours to help save his comrades.<br />
<br />
A remarkable display of heroism.The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-55585841845838496922012-05-03T15:35:00.000+01:002012-05-03T15:35:05.267+01:00Where The Wild Geese Are Today: The Irish-Franco Relationship<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoZ3M3HndylCZXr8rauMrrVjEfZoR5zOWF8r9YuCTbUYyTHaeygGEZV4aZuCTIlmmVukee3ZShlv57ZZT-HiFpT-ZsH5bOA4NaCzV5E08AbOJtwjMBUvY_XZuOOvemVaJR0Ubanh5GTJ8/s1600/The-Wild-Geese-Patrick-Sarsfield-1691.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWoZ3M3HndylCZXr8rauMrrVjEfZoR5zOWF8r9YuCTbUYyTHaeygGEZV4aZuCTIlmmVukee3ZShlv57ZZT-HiFpT-ZsH5bOA4NaCzV5E08AbOJtwjMBUvY_XZuOOvemVaJR0Ubanh5GTJ8/s640/The-Wild-Geese-Patrick-Sarsfield-1691.png" width="459" /></a></div>
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>After their defeat at The Battle of The Boyne, Patrick Sarsfield and his followers left Ireland. In the hope and belief that this would be a temporary strategic exile, they took the name The Wild Geese; birds that always return to their place of birth. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>This parting, however, proved to be permanent.</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<i>But this story lives on. </i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEul7TxEqC6dUktibEC87OUOPcaTnWt1nTcODwcMhMcGtaJzLI93rTrK-Vbniv42gjav4OS2YOhyle5vBG01G2TciCr2Qk0wFTVg0KU9quVMT29-jo1rAaIpBgXj9aRXdMsfrn9FiD32j/s1600/The-Wild-Geese-The-Battle-of-The-Boyne-Patrick-Sarsfield.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIEul7TxEqC6dUktibEC87OUOPcaTnWt1nTcODwcMhMcGtaJzLI93rTrK-Vbniv42gjav4OS2YOhyle5vBG01G2TciCr2Qk0wFTVg0KU9quVMT29-jo1rAaIpBgXj9aRXdMsfrn9FiD32j/s320/The-Wild-Geese-The-Battle-of-The-Boyne-Patrick-Sarsfield.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Battle of The Boyne </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The Legend of The Wild Geese echoes through the ages. Their influence in France has been recently documented at the Musee de l'Armee in Paris.<br />
<br />
In <i>The Irish and France: Three Centuries of Military Relations,</i> the Irish-Franco relationship is explored, starting with Patrick Sarsfield and The Wild Geese right up the present day. The Irish contribution in France has seen many Irish heroes emerge and the stories in the exhibition are extremely moving.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm5elZgIU-rjgP20GGI6y18LMezfwxBQj33l2e96EKcvzp-7RGZzgLypwOEwpWzo3pBejnB0rvlRd0WePUAppVALVRr1CI2ey4_eGb2f6Q3Br0WoM5NR81lf-zWd-dUnpiRAP_1Zry__H/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-03+at+15.17.40.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixm5elZgIU-rjgP20GGI6y18LMezfwxBQj33l2e96EKcvzp-7RGZzgLypwOEwpWzo3pBejnB0rvlRd0WePUAppVALVRr1CI2ey4_eGb2f6Q3Br0WoM5NR81lf-zWd-dUnpiRAP_1Zry__H/s200/Screen+shot+2012-05-03+at+15.17.40.png" width="131" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo4DyOiXmM5BrQaHS7YjCq9c_54z0rU0UXGlmTHz_4-Bk5MNi6gpk0g1lHXNJucvQGdBJkl7LjVjllLCuoW1mDH-Iu_0qDREWMZQh-7c7Qy00pa2ZNoMHobGwFbHIkPuRc0BjOatMZOs_/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-03+at+15.18.40.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo4DyOiXmM5BrQaHS7YjCq9c_54z0rU0UXGlmTHz_4-Bk5MNi6gpk0g1lHXNJucvQGdBJkl7LjVjllLCuoW1mDH-Iu_0qDREWMZQh-7c7Qy00pa2ZNoMHobGwFbHIkPuRc0BjOatMZOs_/s200/Screen+shot+2012-05-03+at+15.18.40.png" width="129" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q3E0cQySDQncpGZRw8TrIYDN-uIR3xDXXpsL7YKtxQDNCMa8sUq7etS_C49X4ZFlPD3uyDhfRyHnQb1LmVbfB-ddX9P_MAxdbuMpqjl2CznyNhhpEdyaj-wnscbezGR_W7ZlhCeoKUOZ/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-05-03+at+15.18.02.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0q3E0cQySDQncpGZRw8TrIYDN-uIR3xDXXpsL7YKtxQDNCMa8sUq7etS_C49X4ZFlPD3uyDhfRyHnQb1LmVbfB-ddX9P_MAxdbuMpqjl2CznyNhhpEdyaj-wnscbezGR_W7ZlhCeoKUOZ/s200/Screen+shot+2012-05-03+at+15.18.02.png" width="132" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Among them is the story of the Irish Ambulance Corps, which raised money and collected equipment and medical supplies to France, when the country was at war with Prussia in 1870.<br />
<br />
The Irish Ambulance Corps was borne out of solidarity between Ireland and France, which had started back in 1691. It was established in Dublin by Patrick James Smyth, and often followed the French army on the battlefield, offering treatment to wounded soldiers.<br />
<br />
The French Command described The Irish Ambulance Corps:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">'Men of the Irish Ambulance Corps, you have undertaken a heavy task, but one which, if worthily performed, will gain for you the gratification of both of your own country and of France. You go in this hour of her dire distress to France, to assist in the care and relief of her wounded soldiers. You go to prove the sympathy which Ireland feels for France... You will be in the service of France, as your corps will be subject, as an ambulance corps, to the orders of the French government. Merit the respect of the French, and the Praise of your own countrymen, by your courage, your patience, your sobriety, your humanity, your faithfulness. Think that the loving eyes of Ireland are upon her sons representing her abroad in this holy and noble work... your duties will be arduous and dangerous, but you will face all those difficulties nobly, remembering that they are endured for France and Ireland!'</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Inspired by this exhibition, we're putting together a new video that explores how The Wild Geese came to settle in France and will part of our video series <b>Where The Wild Geese Are Today</b>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you haven't seen the first video in this series yet, you can jump over to Youtube to learn about <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7SFDCPQPGE">The Wild Geese in San Antonio</a>.</div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-60232907481403206852012-05-03T10:39:00.000+01:002012-05-03T10:39:06.323+01:00Men of Action: 'You Just Have To Keep Going'In July 2010, Olympic rower James Cracknell attempted to run, swim, row and cycle across America, from Los Angeles to New York.<br />
<br />
But on reaching Arizona, James suffered a tragic road accident in which he damaged his frontal lobe. <br />
<br />
James had always been active, had always been adventurous, had always been a Man of Action. He's won two Olympic Gold Medals (at the 2000 and 2004 events) for Coxless Four rowing, as well as 6 World Championship Golds. And he wasn't going to let his accident stop him, or even slow him down. Like The Wild Geese, James fought through his difficulties and is now inspiring television audiences to explore the world around them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmJOXuHKt7OPT-ybLPewC8vxx1TxwDv7tT554IMKfIujblvAyjdvGzbN9UZTgAf60ZawUkW5JbroSDoJHjBaZIdhOLjzPw9fICoqlZtY2GrP5ed7b3zYZAHcHHFHCfPKW6n35-RwhmH2c/s1600/8ad586a136639d350136a65cafe520b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZmJOXuHKt7OPT-ybLPewC8vxx1TxwDv7tT554IMKfIujblvAyjdvGzbN9UZTgAf60ZawUkW5JbroSDoJHjBaZIdhOLjzPw9fICoqlZtY2GrP5ed7b3zYZAHcHHFHCfPKW6n35-RwhmH2c/s400/8ad586a136639d350136a65cafe520b3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
His latest television series <i>World's Toughest Expeditions </i>has started on the Discovery Channel. In this series James emulates some of the greatest adventures from the past.<br />
<br />
He describes the show as: 'The toughest moments of the toughest expeditions taken by some of history's toughest explorers'.<br />
<br />
In his latest episode, he retraced the steps of Dr David Livingstone and <a href="http://www.jamescracknell.com/news/2012/04/26/livingstone_in_africa-245">travelled down the Zambezi River towards Victoria Falls</a>.<br />
<br />
Despite the challenges, which included coming dangerously close to a group of hippopotamuses, James's outlook is akin to that of The Wild Geese:<br />
<br />
'You just have to keep going, you can't sit down and mope or curl up - it would just extend the misery'<br />
<br />
Not used to quitting, The Wild Geese travelled to Europe when they had to leave their homeland and fought for the principals that they wholeheartedly believed in.<br />
<br />
Just like James. Last month he also ran the London Marathon. He aimed to run it three hours, but wasn't too sure how his injury would effect his speed. But when it came down to it, he didn't let it effect his speed, and finished the Marathon in under three hours!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImaOLDXzFsxIxOXwrbWfqtpl7jNBv0chol7lv0Ug3Mbwv2J0Mt_VUD5JquX2Va8-l8d8QoRKPH_19janrdaZ1z0qZyhK1ceMioNTuGzJDs2Wr1y4ICktR2Nl47la5duK9m_RZdH4L85rA/s1600/image-4-for-london-marathon-celebrity-runners-gallery-852347360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiImaOLDXzFsxIxOXwrbWfqtpl7jNBv0chol7lv0Ug3Mbwv2J0Mt_VUD5JquX2Va8-l8d8QoRKPH_19janrdaZ1z0qZyhK1ceMioNTuGzJDs2Wr1y4ICktR2Nl47la5duK9m_RZdH4L85rA/s400/image-4-for-london-marathon-celebrity-runners-gallery-852347360.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
What we love about James is his sheer determination. This is what our brand celebrates. James isn't a quitter, just like The Wild Geese.<br />
<br />
<br />The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-4571028606533645512012-04-27T11:03:00.000+01:002012-04-27T11:12:25.977+01:00Remembering Louis Le Brocquy: Nurtured by Ireland, Celebrated By The World<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV563m4CKxS_eOveF6VkN_NpFbalQPLHZRnLUO-z530n2sd5mPq0vdebmhRsjHRsf1ItCNn13U1tQJ-ZiFWhK7i7B4PTYpZsZ5_5Uglw8ZfV7MGWbJAD0_8rQY_9BodCk__tNu-X_SEZrS/s1600/539w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV563m4CKxS_eOveF6VkN_NpFbalQPLHZRnLUO-z530n2sd5mPq0vdebmhRsjHRsf1ItCNn13U1tQJ-ZiFWhK7i7B4PTYpZsZ5_5Uglw8ZfV7MGWbJAD0_8rQY_9BodCk__tNu-X_SEZrS/s400/539w.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Louis Le Brocquy </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>1916 - 2012</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Today we remember Louis Le Brocquy. The celebrated Irish artist passed away this week, but leaves a legacy of powerful artwork, which continues to inspire generation across boarders. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Some of his most famous works are the evocative 'Portrait Heads' Le Brocquy produced of literary figures and fellow artists. These included his friends Samuel Beckett, Francis Bacon and Seamus Heaney. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He was inspired to make the 'Portrait Heads' during a visit to the Musee de l'Homme in Paris. There, he discovered the Polynesian head cult: skulls overlaid in clay and painted to preserve the presence within. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But Le Brocquy later revealed that he was not making a statement, but was instead trying to discover aspects of his subjects. He tried to find the 'Beckettness of Beckett' and the 'Baconness of Bacon'. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His homeland played a significant part in nurturing his skilful expressions. In Michael Gravey's documentary 'An Other Way of Knowing', Le Brocquy explained a local cave near his holiday home just outside Ardgroom, Co. Cork had given him the basis for Samuel Beckett's mouth in the famous portraits of the writer. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
To mark his 90th birthday, Le Brocquy was honoured with exhibitions in London, Paris, Dublin, Cork and Limerick. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
'The show was demonstrative of Le Broacquy's lifelong approach to his work: elegant, articulate, purposeful and presented in the full knowledge that we was but part of a long cultural tradition reaching across nations and people' - James Hamilton</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Poet John Montague remembers him in The Irish Times:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/0426/1224315190507.html">'Louis used white as other painters used shadow, and as he grew older and more frail, he began to look like a Louis le Brocquy, all finely blanched lines, with a light seeming to shine from within. His career as a painter has been exemplary, and we are all grateful'</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCp1PV0S6C3BoPu1Rpw_GarZWXv1iEGUfQlPeu4fEWpZGJoMXMFoLI-mWraMYmO856Y5ch4HL12rp1lzGcY7iCRlleJHfpXek0IGBx-sWrkDur50qRsSlCqNTIwbyAh0giWZRxV6Ny1j7/s1600/louis-le-brocquy-portrait-head-BECKETT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikCp1PV0S6C3BoPu1Rpw_GarZWXv1iEGUfQlPeu4fEWpZGJoMXMFoLI-mWraMYmO856Y5ch4HL12rp1lzGcY7iCRlleJHfpXek0IGBx-sWrkDur50qRsSlCqNTIwbyAh0giWZRxV6Ny1j7/s400/louis-le-brocquy-portrait-head-BECKETT.jpg" width="324" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Samuel Beckett, a friend of Le Brocquy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel7h1qwAxtYKdxKdtKKvuAzaHYpJN9E9gn-egwpQ0hlYNjS8o48v67xa8OzxcHQPgqAt1b4oRS27Zrd-rgZtdc2RPf-TpABOTG5YGQvDIQRL5U9y2z1rFjRjO9ui_alOqmGpaxYsbYWxU/s1600/5029277229_f2c2f9c54b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhel7h1qwAxtYKdxKdtKKvuAzaHYpJN9E9gn-egwpQ0hlYNjS8o48v67xa8OzxcHQPgqAt1b4oRS27Zrd-rgZtdc2RPf-TpABOTG5YGQvDIQRL5U9y2z1rFjRjO9ui_alOqmGpaxYsbYWxU/s400/5029277229_f2c2f9c54b_z.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of Francis Bacon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFPuNo5KvK7qK9E3TCZxKQZMV6SNoz4Vnuxgv8fPG8IbTZYNVYG58GK6gfL0jkcHlVsBx5LH3hpG29lToKIlrjPfSqOKAeAPOUhwDJWf2Wqz3ckS6mT7hHfHWpP5UoWqixn6heDxTIMmH/s1600/5027392077_61630a6a3d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaFPuNo5KvK7qK9E3TCZxKQZMV6SNoz4Vnuxgv8fPG8IbTZYNVYG58GK6gfL0jkcHlVsBx5LH3hpG29lToKIlrjPfSqOKAeAPOUhwDJWf2Wqz3ckS6mT7hHfHWpP5UoWqixn6heDxTIMmH/s400/5027392077_61630a6a3d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portrait of William Butler Yeats</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-34577698908441009962012-04-25T12:37:00.001+01:002012-04-25T12:37:28.966+01:00Men of Action: Getting Up and Carrying OnWhat do you see when you walk out of your front door?<br />
<br />
The same street?<br />
<br />
Danny MacAskill doesn't. He sees a canvas, an experiment. A chance to develop his skills and do the unimaginable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW-7vMN4D5e-2VG2jjbbipkw54FprahXl1HsE2Mfyslyn9e4pZfAmGmMlf4bOkjXRsYD_Ua_LBzgFUefwR__LApvYzm8DOWn0-CSjVx-EoLV4ZUcgi6X_ezrirzG_4Bucr6DroJCrGviU/s1600/danny-macaskill-bicycle-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqW-7vMN4D5e-2VG2jjbbipkw54FprahXl1HsE2Mfyslyn9e4pZfAmGmMlf4bOkjXRsYD_Ua_LBzgFUefwR__LApvYzm8DOWn0-CSjVx-EoLV4ZUcgi6X_ezrirzG_4Bucr6DroJCrGviU/s400/danny-macaskill-bicycle-1.jpg" width="398" /></a></div>
<br />
Danny is a trails cyclist and this year has been celebrated for changing the way a street trials rider can define how we view urban landscapes by National Geographic.<br />
<br />
Two years ago Danny released a video on Youtube that showed him performing different stunts around Edinburgh, Scotland. This went viral and quickly propelled Danny to a trials icon.<br />
<br />
Since then, he's been featured in music videos and TV commercials. Last summer, he released a short film called <i>Industrial Revolutions</i>, in which he performs stunts around an abandoned Scottish iron works. This received television coverage in the UK and inspired the National Geographic honour.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiy_VWrKPHpk3ohfxqu4-aks55oDZomE4x5Erqrn6XFLQkPeYg4mgtJ5IHmyhvZWWYZxQt6jcA-Pu2P35hS6sU969qgKrsYHFsEt2d-ZaQ7ALh_gX9w8h0goetNiAfuQsnXbqqYTnNllS/s1600/danny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoiy_VWrKPHpk3ohfxqu4-aks55oDZomE4x5Erqrn6XFLQkPeYg4mgtJ5IHmyhvZWWYZxQt6jcA-Pu2P35hS6sU969qgKrsYHFsEt2d-ZaQ7ALh_gX9w8h0goetNiAfuQsnXbqqYTnNllS/s400/danny.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/danny-macaskill">'It's fun to come up with these ridiculous ideas and then actually take them to places... the most important thing is that I do the best kind of riding I can'</a></div>
<br />
Danny's story is more than one of success. His skill is part of his identity.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/danny-macaskill">'I never had the goal of being a professional rider. I just wanted to ride my bike'</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/danny-macaskill">'I've never thought of going out and riding my bike as training. It's just fun'</a></div>
<br />
But this isn't risk free. Danny accepts that bumps and grazes, and even serious injury are a part of the package.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/danny-macaskill">'If I was bothered by it at all, I wouldn't do the kind of riding I do'</a></div>
<br />
You can se in his videos that he isn't afraid to fall of his bike, and when he does he simply gets up and back on it. He does this because of the passion that runs through his veins.<br />
<br />
We can relate to this. The Wild Geese faced many difficult trials. But their raw passion made sure that they carried on. They didn't relent and achieved some remarkable feats.<br />
<br />
Danny MacAskill - a very inspiring Man of Action. We thought you should see what he can do yourselves, so we've posted his first video below - we're nice like that. It's hard to choose a favourite part, but 2:21 and 3:06 are mind-blowing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z19zFlPah-o?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-75704030274445775242012-04-23T12:15:00.000+01:002012-04-23T12:15:08.655+01:00Jennifer Pharr Davis: 'I Wanted The Ultimate Challenge', Hiking The Appalachian Trail<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd81w-8eS890S86a2kT9CChtGaLnlDPvvEZBOP7dC0ATgVzS_W0_L5ZXK20MvlPTSQYlHBr8dnsFIPcrm9MeXaPhKGqOry_CXTa5HkBrtsCj-jDnmGoQjHz1NcoVCgeTu_I_oM0twRSOrp/s1600/bilde.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd81w-8eS890S86a2kT9CChtGaLnlDPvvEZBOP7dC0ATgVzS_W0_L5ZXK20MvlPTSQYlHBr8dnsFIPcrm9MeXaPhKGqOry_CXTa5HkBrtsCj-jDnmGoQjHz1NcoVCgeTu_I_oM0twRSOrp/s400/bilde.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/jennifer-pharr-davis">'Exploration can be twofold. It can be going to a new location or it can mean pushing through a physical boundary'</a></div>
<br />
This is Jennifer Pharr Davis' philosophy on adventuring which got her across 14 different States when she hiked the Appalachian trail in North America. She completed the infamous trail that starts at Springer Mountain in Georgia and ends at Mount Katahdin in Maine last summer and set a new speed record time of 46 days, 11 hours, 20 minutes.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rv8daA_inXw7fv013jSPZ_zeSGyyWvlwtcbaWCNvrAFWEa24fVNX41cWU6bG2wf77rPK3sBA3G6Z6avpCNcOP9F0_9WmGhm20CV2ivMsBsaSiMvI6uyzfSUWe2jfV_fVcccqZVrh76X6/s1600/250px-Map_of_Appalachian_Trail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rv8daA_inXw7fv013jSPZ_zeSGyyWvlwtcbaWCNvrAFWEa24fVNX41cWU6bG2wf77rPK3sBA3G6Z6avpCNcOP9F0_9WmGhm20CV2ivMsBsaSiMvI6uyzfSUWe2jfV_fVcccqZVrh76X6/s320/250px-Map_of_Appalachian_Trail.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Appalachia Trail route from Maine to Georgia. Jennifer started<br />in Maine and hiked southbound to break the speed record </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/jennifer-pharr-davis">'We were exploring what people thought was possible, for what was possible on the Appalachian Trail,'</a> explains Pharr Davis. For over twenty years, completion of the Trail had been kept to an elite club of Ultra Runners, who typically covered 30 - 50 miles per day in 11-13 hour periods. But Jennifer has been celebrated for tackling the Trail at her own pace.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/jennifer-pharr-davis">'The idea was that my best was good enough for the overall record on the Appalachian Trail. I wanted the ultimate challenge. I didn't want to do anything less or anything easier'</a></div>
<br />
She started everyday at 4:45am and hiked an average pace of 47 miles each day in 16 hour stretches. Starting in Maine in mid-June 2011, she took 46 days to cover the 2,181 Trail and hiked straight into the record books.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZXJKHb6LlcB7ZGKFud4YKY8xPL_QUYl2z_X9NFBFfLynjo3l5H3Mh6xQrh7tDG1C4ThrlLMTR3Qmr0kNE3CCeS49f2cHqmkuXmeluf9sD5KKdVSQi513rH61KuIyR7uMJ70526gaI34S/s1600/6c8729e8-6c47-4f75-9b47-07f5461be881.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZXJKHb6LlcB7ZGKFud4YKY8xPL_QUYl2z_X9NFBFfLynjo3l5H3Mh6xQrh7tDG1C4ThrlLMTR3Qmr0kNE3CCeS49f2cHqmkuXmeluf9sD5KKdVSQi513rH61KuIyR7uMJ70526gaI34S/s400/6c8729e8-6c47-4f75-9b47-07f5461be881.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
As a hiker, and not an ultra runner, Jennifer attracted a significant amount of criticism, mostly saying she couldn't keep up to the pace set by previous runners. But, like The Wild Geese, she went her own way. And, like The Wild Geese, achieved something remarkable.<br />
<br />
But Jennifer shares other similarities with The Wild Geese. When asked about the appeal of the Appalachian Trail:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/2012/jennifer-pharr-davis">'It's home. There is a comfort when I'm in the Appalachian Mountains'</a></div>
<br />
The Wild Geese never saw adventures in Ireland after 1691, but they always dreamed of returning. The feeling of accomplishing such a feat as Jennifer has in a place she calls home must be incomparable to anything else. Congratulations to Jennifer.<br />
<br />
<br />The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-51756170368073997862012-04-17T12:27:00.000+01:002012-04-17T12:27:07.353+01:00Three Times the Man (of Action)In the summer of 2010, Alex Honnold scaled one of the world's most iconic rock formations in the world, not only once, but three times in 24 hours!<div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3nloMpUT58QbhwmDTkDlr06PR3Y-q3Y2j_4gctSASgLIIYbZlCNTs9oPwlBKzRxc7Hnm4t03ui56Of7HiPgSJFuZQ0_e0Wvky4BoeOrkfUy6Mo-wIFO0qpj7efqzkm0AHH2IASMdImxp/s1600/6a00d834f4a66953ef0148c69abb04970c-800wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3nloMpUT58QbhwmDTkDlr06PR3Y-q3Y2j_4gctSASgLIIYbZlCNTs9oPwlBKzRxc7Hnm4t03ui56Of7HiPgSJFuZQ0_e0Wvky4BoeOrkfUy6Mo-wIFO0qpj7efqzkm0AHH2IASMdImxp/s400/6a00d834f4a66953ef0148c69abb04970c-800wi.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The 3,000 feet El Captain can be found in the Yosemite Valley, California. Alex and his climbing partner Shawn Leary summited El Captain three times, and tallied up a remarkable 8,000 vertical feet. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte2smxCk5NkO8xdfF3ThpwrS_FR8zTNqeb13lGhsrMq9V9zvo4iIyr7vocrK6TJn23OVdzAFMM2mL642MD1QShPv8jYVwwtbGgs3c_tUxcbG8CU3ttldmUvFsbIGEfQCL1iZCUUuyVrAi/s1600/yosemite8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjte2smxCk5NkO8xdfF3ThpwrS_FR8zTNqeb13lGhsrMq9V9zvo4iIyr7vocrK6TJn23OVdzAFMM2mL642MD1QShPv8jYVwwtbGgs3c_tUxcbG8CU3ttldmUvFsbIGEfQCL1iZCUUuyVrAi/s400/yosemite8.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">El Captain, Yosemite Valley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
But what goes up, must come down and the pair added another 9,000 feet of hiking down to the base again. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/alex-honnold-2010">'I didn't even know I could do something like that'</a> explains Alex. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/alex-honnold-2010">'I really pushed some limits that time'</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That he did. But this wasn't Alex's first time climbing in Yosemite Valley. Two years prior to this, he scaled Yosemite's Half Dome in an astonishing time of two hours and fifty minutes. Considering this climb usually takes between one or two days Alex proved himself to be a Man of Action at only 23 years old. </div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWxlMX0-9lWwlBFPonG5VXZ_vl_LZhsez7GTEDMnKVZpCxXf_skyv4z9Om4-zu1NQqt1xak7JfIyVG2B5ohkjeLdomXlzdcNuBkwxmV_ZLk2zkmjgFUz2AnA83nzZoNiKoxCKcAG1C44a/s1600/Alex-Honnold-GP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzWxlMX0-9lWwlBFPonG5VXZ_vl_LZhsez7GTEDMnKVZpCxXf_skyv4z9Om4-zu1NQqt1xak7JfIyVG2B5ohkjeLdomXlzdcNuBkwxmV_ZLk2zkmjgFUz2AnA83nzZoNiKoxCKcAG1C44a/s400/Alex-Honnold-GP.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">'Climbing is a process that requires you to constantly make the move, to travel upwards'</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
In 2010, Alex had hoped to complete the 'Solo Linkup' which involves climbing the huge walls of El Captain and the Northwest Face of Half Dome. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://adventure.nationalgeographic.com/adventure/adventurers-of-the-year/alex-honnold-2010">'The solo linkup I came up with spur of the moment, but the triple was monumental. Three times. Twenty-three hours. We were going speed route - actually moving continuously for a full 16 hours, which is kind of tiring, you know? That actually kind of pushed us. And having to hike down El Cap three times is sort of a lot of work'</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But Alex maintains that his <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2028821/US-free-solo-climber-Alex-Honnold-hailed-best-generation.html">'heart lies in Yosemite'</a>. He is every inspired by its simplicity and beauty. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We really liked reading about Alex's story. The Wild Geese were definitely Men of Action, but could not return to where their hearts lay - in Ireland. So it's really great to read about this adventurer who can immerse himself in the environment he loves so much - and achieve the extraordinary. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-5074064781992510302012-04-10T10:56:00.000+01:002012-04-10T10:56:43.749+01:00Men of Action: Racing At The Top Of The WorldThe North Pole Marathon took place this Easter weekend, which combines polar adventure with marathon running - the perfect environment for Men of Action.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFYJCzYRlbmrGbms_HbmHdlosnv1W_meinztjQtfqaVXT4yGNs0mUZ1DGpliHQTMpQoTMZHc5JaATae1O1nwyEwJU_xA1kSKQG42fbCzNCPk67QG-k1ImRZLhKmonAsweukeSiI8cZaBG/s1600/7063433871_c3850e63e3_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFYJCzYRlbmrGbms_HbmHdlosnv1W_meinztjQtfqaVXT4yGNs0mUZ1DGpliHQTMpQoTMZHc5JaATae1O1nwyEwJU_xA1kSKQG42fbCzNCPk67QG-k1ImRZLhKmonAsweukeSiI8cZaBG/s400/7063433871_c3850e63e3_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5C3awbqh6P7gx37r90nukZJ0D1Xq6wz9qV34NufyfOuMXpJ9x1r5-Ua1Kf-RhLC_RKTshjAG_Es5_2KzQcFzFTHtHxZA-KyjnyK55YfDgWzxUnZSGVRTHaec-KqPt04rnC2579HpuTKED/s1600/7063436725_e257d77870_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5C3awbqh6P7gx37r90nukZJ0D1Xq6wz9qV34NufyfOuMXpJ9x1r5-Ua1Kf-RhLC_RKTshjAG_Es5_2KzQcFzFTHtHxZA-KyjnyK55YfDgWzxUnZSGVRTHaec-KqPt04rnC2579HpuTKED/s400/7063436725_e257d77870_z.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Now in its eighth year, the UVU North Pole Marathon is the only run to take place entirely on water (the frozen water of the Arctic Ocean). The circular route is 26.6 miles and competitors must run this ten times.<br />
<br />
Irish novelist Michael Collins, a past competitor describes the course:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.npmarathon.com/">'It's the most amazing extreme marathon I have ever run. It brought runners to the limits of their endurance and lived up to its billing in every respect, affording athletes a chance to run and feel on top of the world'</a><br />
<br />
This year proved to be an exciting challenge for all competitors involved. This year's Men's winner, Andre Murray finished in an extraordinary time of 4 hours, 17 minutes and 8 seconds. The fastest woman in the race was Demelza Farr, who finished with a time of 6 hours, 6 minutes and 36 seconds.<br />
<br />
This year's winner describes the event:<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1963604374">'The North Pole Marathon is an experience of a lifetime. Whilst running, the views and the shapes of the ice are the best painkillers'</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1963604374"><br /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-17640847">'What the race encapsulates is the sheer determination of everyone to succeed'</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg6gQfzGj30LpwG03v5jxO1NMt3ZcdkWVbls6o8fQwXKCJVPpN6gh9vjSsIt1DXeaYXUyGhaNFIAx1v71un4JP8yUZ9ywUACX948RIhKJlEDeHJA1KcXeZ4MdccP0MDVnMyymZgwWQZl6/s1600/UVU_NorthPoleMarathon_05-460x250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOg6gQfzGj30LpwG03v5jxO1NMt3ZcdkWVbls6o8fQwXKCJVPpN6gh9vjSsIt1DXeaYXUyGhaNFIAx1v71un4JP8yUZ9ywUACX948RIhKJlEDeHJA1KcXeZ4MdccP0MDVnMyymZgwWQZl6/s400/UVU_NorthPoleMarathon_05-460x250.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Most of the competitors have already returned home. Average temperatures can reach -35C, but the views that competitors were lucky enough to see counters this to some degree. This is a marathon that combines the harsh environment with natural, undisturbed beauty and completing this is a remarkable achievement.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-89166850732267326932012-04-02T11:22:00.000+01:002012-04-02T11:22:04.316+01:00Remembering Davy Crockett, Irish Hero and Man of Action<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Our latest trip to San Antonio, Texas has been proof that Irish communities thrive all over the world. Like The Wild Geese, these communities dream of one day returning to Ireland. </span><div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Some of the people we met over the St. Patrick's Day weekend in San Antonio are planning to travel to visit Ireland. To this, they need to travel over 4000 miles and make 3 different flight connections. But the draw of 'home' is enough to get them there. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Forty men of Irish descent died at The Battle of The Alamo, who fought for freedom and liberty. With these men was Davy Crockett, the courageous solider and folk hero who dreamed of an independent Texas. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj629h0IaKBHQv7l5rCUeNecP2iMv3LNeD4hcHOtQblu4Z6Kpd2VGRB6P-kTIMgkNt_DvJqeHKlLSrYTNzRRiSOgB9xpK1YceYol3HgiBZqdvp3hj9Nye4rB8RsHMim2jvyEy-Glnt7mcSz/s1600/220px-Davy_Crockett_by_John_Gadsby_Chapman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj629h0IaKBHQv7l5rCUeNecP2iMv3LNeD4hcHOtQblu4Z6Kpd2VGRB6P-kTIMgkNt_DvJqeHKlLSrYTNzRRiSOgB9xpK1YceYol3HgiBZqdvp3hj9Nye4rB8RsHMim2jvyEy-Glnt7mcSz/s400/220px-Davy_Crockett_by_John_Gadsby_Chapman.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He promised to defend the freedom of Texas and was forced into a siege at The Alamo. Bombarded by heavy artillery, Crockett and his followers were forced into a hand to hand fight. They were relentless and chose to give their lives for a free Texas. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Today these men are remembered everyday at The Alamo, where people from all corners of the world visit each day. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #252525; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">San Antonio epitomises a modern day chapter of The Wild Geese story and illustrates the fact that THE WILD GEESE IRISH SOLDIERS & HEROES brand and the experience of Irish </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #252525; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px;">people are one and the same. </span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #252525; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP5GGTSvPakPoqchukFoo4nbMVvqBQh-1e9ZJNBJqWN6qqNg82DTwUtHu6oKqjjmnVIxONWAzNQxvX81H88jFGPq7-DkjvJaO3UQM8Z7fu1v3vscoyeHHeMhn-8yMJ8VNGpmkel8hX10q/s1600/IMG_3492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixP5GGTSvPakPoqchukFoo4nbMVvqBQh-1e9ZJNBJqWN6qqNg82DTwUtHu6oKqjjmnVIxONWAzNQxvX81H88jFGPq7-DkjvJaO3UQM8Z7fu1v3vscoyeHHeMhn-8yMJ8VNGpmkel8hX10q/s400/IMG_3492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #252525; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvCwJv2mvfRinqIJ0_4xe8TD8caQmIAsZU3L3qtD7blZQJWScqM_3xaa5hsAWCYSYYfCQtDrLsO2HM465h0CP7AbS1M3GuDJrnHsrU338uJmo2EfY9haV7_ywtAMhgyFknQYtm0rxsJ8-/s1600/Screen+shot+2012-04-02+at+11.18.47.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvCwJv2mvfRinqIJ0_4xe8TD8caQmIAsZU3L3qtD7blZQJWScqM_3xaa5hsAWCYSYYfCQtDrLsO2HM465h0CP7AbS1M3GuDJrnHsrU338uJmo2EfY9haV7_ywtAMhgyFknQYtm0rxsJ8-/s400/Screen+shot+2012-04-02+at+11.18.47.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #252525; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_G9TzPmk3a2bPMSHah0LBNUlubqBgPpbbew2-5iXmR5KSVOk2F7XRQ5Ly5Ans17RUbWkEVIAAQrXmnoY30I6TGl0mFNW6hs84xqbpypatCvX6lCEq0M23X7DYgL-6pY7US8dXt2ChiuR/s1600/IMG_3476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ_G9TzPmk3a2bPMSHah0LBNUlubqBgPpbbew2-5iXmR5KSVOk2F7XRQ5Ly5Ans17RUbWkEVIAAQrXmnoY30I6TGl0mFNW6hs84xqbpypatCvX6lCEq0M23X7DYgL-6pY7US8dXt2ChiuR/s400/IMG_3476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC3vaIrqCKTYC1XdKaVyQvXtGWRUL_YbqNSzw6fE-OSOQIL7ojGErdVURImRmut4RElO13TW5GRqxFPxxPH4u4g-JLaES_0Beqbl6tBpkUIqEAPLGSrVT43lXJ3u3vuzSX71DeFD329IA/s1600/IMG_3455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGC3vaIrqCKTYC1XdKaVyQvXtGWRUL_YbqNSzw6fE-OSOQIL7ojGErdVURImRmut4RElO13TW5GRqxFPxxPH4u4g-JLaES_0Beqbl6tBpkUIqEAPLGSrVT43lXJ3u3vuzSX71DeFD329IA/s400/IMG_3455.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-83322264074231138902012-03-29T13:10:00.002+01:002012-03-29T13:10:50.995+01:00Men of Action: European Adventurer of the Year on the Search to Continue Conservation Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sSG7FMuLEUjWrtrm3o93rDeZTpea7PhAbh8bZgJEN4TT5_keatuw60Txt6NQphXYYGOjE5DZLP8D9hjc3nkQjdNS0vOEEpxPUygSvzQgWOi8Cl9K6bZxvjjvRRVLX87EkcXgrgRfU0e3/s1600/6a00d83453140969e20133f46edcfd970b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6sSG7FMuLEUjWrtrm3o93rDeZTpea7PhAbh8bZgJEN4TT5_keatuw60Txt6NQphXYYGOjE5DZLP8D9hjc3nkQjdNS0vOEEpxPUygSvzQgWOi8Cl9K6bZxvjjvRRVLX87EkcXgrgRfU0e3/s400/6a00d83453140969e20133f46edcfd970b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
It has been announced this month that Ed Stafford, a modern day adventure and Man of Action has joined the search for the next generation of environmental reporting. <div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Working with Together for Trees, a partnership that works to conserve the world's rain forests, the competition seeks a new rainforest reporter who can highlight issues of conservation. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ed was named the European Adventurer of the Year in 2011 by the National Geographic Society, after spending two and half years in the Amazon region. This expedition, which he started in April 2008, lead him along the Amazon river, from its source to the Brazilian coast, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. During this time, he raised awareness of the threats to rainforest environments and </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He's an ideal candidate to judge this competition:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1635790679">'After having spent two years in the Amazon, saving the world's rainforests is an issue very close to my heart'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1635790679"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1635790679">'I've witnessed first hand the destruction of these beautiful areas, so was really delighted to be asked to be involved in Together For Trees'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1635790679"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lutterworthmail.co.uk/news/local/ed-leads-competition-to-find-rainforest-reporter-1-3575390">'For me, it is important that people, for generations to come, get to experience the wonder, beauty and benefits that only rainforests can provide'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MwekFlDpOt-WxgwZd3bowDyQebJRpHxyfONj3z-PQcGi0cJvk2BFG48Yt6ubOl3qdqO9rUA6dt5EyUXZ71oYcB-3DJ-blsHk_N24BuGAWv6tjQUqKwyzGqRIAsBf6TXBnv8Zw6mVXDEs/s1600/_47638975_img_5708.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7MwekFlDpOt-WxgwZd3bowDyQebJRpHxyfONj3z-PQcGi0cJvk2BFG48Yt6ubOl3qdqO9rUA6dt5EyUXZ71oYcB-3DJ-blsHk_N24BuGAWv6tjQUqKwyzGqRIAsBf6TXBnv8Zw6mVXDEs/s400/_47638975_img_5708.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are few people who know these environments quite like Ed. He walked the 4000 mile length of the Amazon river in 859 days, which is an astonishing feat. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Even before he set off, most people had already written the former army captain off. Many critics said Ed would likely die on the trek or be forced to abandon it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But he marched through dangerous animals, harsh terrain, and local indigenous people, many of which had never seen a westerner before.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10852783">'There were genuine looks of absolute terror when we arrived in communities'</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ed and his guide, a Peruvian forestry worker named Gadiel 'Cho' Rivera, were detained, threatened and chased by some of the local communities.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But one tribe's chief agreed to travel with them across their native lands. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10852783">'The chief ended up walking with us for 47 days... we became good mates'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvsPYJTCFa70KdqY95HfedIAmLLDPsjc3tMktPbpq8yCAFrBiRuflqM3EljoO35QuqdJ9fk_3Xiujhp9UnaVrnQACgHT6sd7HBzFbqjASSwM2mD-rAiTtSGE6Fd_glMjcV9dZpPwWkNhp/s1600/ed-stafford-gadiel-cho-sanchez-rivera-2010-8-9-12-10-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuvsPYJTCFa70KdqY95HfedIAmLLDPsjc3tMktPbpq8yCAFrBiRuflqM3EljoO35QuqdJ9fk_3Xiujhp9UnaVrnQACgHT6sd7HBzFbqjASSwM2mD-rAiTtSGE6Fd_glMjcV9dZpPwWkNhp/s400/ed-stafford-gadiel-cho-sanchez-rivera-2010-8-9-12-10-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ed and Cho on their journey</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The high and low points all culminated in a tremendous adventure. Spurred on by the thought of becoming the first man to achieve this feat and his undying passion for protecting rainforest environments, Ed reached the end in August 2010. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-10852783">'The positivity around us here was incredible. The locals came out, they were playing live music, they were dancing on the beach, and the media attention was incredible'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK30s-iz6NNNEjZa2E6e1fw1bqbFKUf3DZDS0Kb33HyMShpQOYTfsGkSQ0GHP8UigSjHIaCKeWBmvtPART4QbYHpRpIok7IB0axhRiz5rAFZgjFFAQiSO0gBthTQ8tIhLyDNr4DzrpUTAr/s1600/656796-ed-stafford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK30s-iz6NNNEjZa2E6e1fw1bqbFKUf3DZDS0Kb33HyMShpQOYTfsGkSQ0GHP8UigSjHIaCKeWBmvtPART4QbYHpRpIok7IB0axhRiz5rAFZgjFFAQiSO0gBthTQ8tIhLyDNr4DzrpUTAr/s400/656796-ed-stafford.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This positive energy will be a key component in judging Together For Trees' competition. We're really looking forward to his next expedition, which he had planned to start in 2012. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For more information about the Together For Trees competition, visit <a href="http://www.tesco.com/trees">www.tesco.com/trees</a>. </span></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-43583767592808249782012-03-12T13:40:00.000+00:002012-03-12T13:40:39.298+00:00Men of Action: Ireland Secure Win at the Six Nations<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5TnSvxN3Wljbus37HjL1Jumv1X9Q7Wfo6FunxCVFpmjw4wtrm3tr05fwtodA4QSiqkLluAWT5MK-TDdguC1tMX3l8CKZrVbT0ebRTEpabD9ePdkqMYl-KRUOwWn1B9Eri5co8-jomrYy/s1600/stephen-ferris_2164278b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK5TnSvxN3Wljbus37HjL1Jumv1X9Q7Wfo6FunxCVFpmjw4wtrm3tr05fwtodA4QSiqkLluAWT5MK-TDdguC1tMX3l8CKZrVbT0ebRTEpabD9ePdkqMYl-KRUOwWn1B9Eri5co8-jomrYy/s400/stephen-ferris_2164278b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">Ireland 32 - 14 Scotland</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ireland found itself in an intense battle in the Six Nations rugby last Saturday. With each team leaving their previous match without a win, a victory was vital to progression in the 2012 championship.<br />
<br />
Ireland had a significantly strong start to the game. But it wasn't without it's challenges. The Irish team had lost it's first two captains due to injury. With Brian O'Driscoll and Paul O'Connell on the bench, many critics thought the team would fall apart. This is something Ireland's lock, Donnch O'Callaghan recognised going in to last weekend's match:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/ocallaghan-we-stepped-up-to-the-challenge-543197.html">'When you're missing two guys of their calibre it gives opponents a bit of confidence'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/ocallaghan-we-stepped-up-to-the-challenge-543197.html">'It's important that when there's a bit of a void, other people step up and that's what happened throughout the team against Scotland'</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZg7TbmxeiIPETkxec-OeCDqoG_s2g9ivZBDki4E5BADbbmjVUZtGx5KHqOltYiX-35Sn2BCH4iacoyn5DbZPHvDJG_B0-NWW1tmYDBxt7N0sGsY9vmtSr4VhKHSouYAVnwnc5bdKLQLv/s1600/Dave+Denton+Ireland+v+Scotland+RBS+Six+Nations+GTtEa_T9rXxl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrZg7TbmxeiIPETkxec-OeCDqoG_s2g9ivZBDki4E5BADbbmjVUZtGx5KHqOltYiX-35Sn2BCH4iacoyn5DbZPHvDJG_B0-NWW1tmYDBxt7N0sGsY9vmtSr4VhKHSouYAVnwnc5bdKLQLv/s400/Dave+Denton+Ireland+v+Scotland+RBS+Six+Nations+GTtEa_T9rXxl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Ireland was not short of stars during the game. Captain Rory Best, Eoin Reddan and Andrew Trimble all scored tries in the first half, securing a strong lead for Ireland going into the second half. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Stepping up to the captaincy must have been daunting for Rory Best. But he kept calm and issued a thoughtful game plan. His early decision to kick to the corner instead of trying for three points was a risky manoeuvre. But Best followed the thought through, which resulted in the first try of the game and set the pace for the remainder. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/17329429">'We just thought we would keep the pressure on them and it is nice when those things pay off'</a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rory Best</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Most importantly, his team had confidence in him. Ireland's blindside flanker, Stephen Ferris outlines this:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/irish-news/captain-best-roundly-praised-by-green-army-full-of-leaders-3046681.html">'I think his leadership from day one in the camp, all those weeks ago alongside Paul O'Connell [former captain], has been great. He's helped out Paul in the last numbers of the weeks and he was the perfect man to come in there and lead us out there today'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoR96Ci-Cy3nM85BW5Zgk8AosAB1jd5mYs3BBJFhtNs92WgLhtkKyCD7aRZ24c4NVoSZ3X40fa49In0kn8UnWyTPBzkR8niYEWKTh5mo8Wa6VSLV2bp7Uq_tLbqUMX3XRGz44CARuIRN_/s1600/23404.2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjoR96Ci-Cy3nM85BW5Zgk8AosAB1jd5mYs3BBJFhtNs92WgLhtkKyCD7aRZ24c4NVoSZ3X40fa49In0kn8UnWyTPBzkR8niYEWKTh5mo8Wa6VSLV2bp7Uq_tLbqUMX3XRGz44CARuIRN_/s1600/23404.2.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/six-nations/irish-news/captain-best-roundly-praised-by-green-army-full-of-leaders-3046681.html">'He just says what everyone needs to hear. He doesn't say an awful lot but what he does sinks in'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But the moment of the match came from Richie Gray, who ended a 30 metre run to the line with a try. A tight second half was out to rest with a try from Fergus McFadden, which secured the win for Ireland. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Rory Best was very pleased with the final result especially because <a href="http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/03/10/rugby-nations-ireland-idUKL4E8EA0E920120310">'to score 32 points against the Scottish team you take a lot of confidence into next week'</a>, when Ireland meets England at Twickenham. It will certainly be a St. Patrick's Day to remember. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOITdlzm6c-t-z6IA8zmYa5CXH213Z8YpSsagwj4utTx-wjGiPVnqS7vTu_JpJB60DnY24lfWck5m7zru45cx-tfLURQC2-6wJuQDqMoXrkDckf-H9evfbVEYPdmFFkWtLOH7R2nd7lvC/s1600/Ireland+v+Scotland+RBS+Six+Nations+5vPPDC44eBtl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdOITdlzm6c-t-z6IA8zmYa5CXH213Z8YpSsagwj4utTx-wjGiPVnqS7vTu_JpJB60DnY24lfWck5m7zru45cx-tfLURQC2-6wJuQDqMoXrkDckf-H9evfbVEYPdmFFkWtLOH7R2nd7lvC/s400/Ireland+v+Scotland+RBS+Six+Nations+5vPPDC44eBtl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For coach Declan Kidney, Saturday's win is an opportunity to measure Ireland's progress:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nst.com.my/sports/other/rugby-ireland-upbeat-ahead-of-england-clash-1.59217">'I think our decision-making is getting better all the time, when to move it, when to play position, we are asking more questions of the opposition'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The celebrations will be short as preparation for next Saturday's match begins. Like The Wild Geese, the team will be looking toward the nation they represent. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/ireland/9137186/Six-Nations-2012-Ireland-pile-the-misery-on-Andy-Robinson-as-Scotland-fall-to-painful-defeat.html">'This team is super professional. Other people in Ireland are working harder than we are. Why shouldn't we work hard?'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Congratulations to the entire team for a very impressive win!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-11153152674097170512012-03-09T13:01:00.000+00:002012-03-09T13:01:00.906+00:00Men of Action: Argus Cycle Tour 2012, Cape TownThis Sunday is the annual Argus Cycle Race, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a unique opportunity for cycles to come together and challenge themselves to compete in one f the world's largest sporting events. 31,000 cyclists are expected to take part and will each challenge themselves to finish the 109km which will take them through some of the Cape's most mesmerising scenery.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFlJWGWKaPJi0GbQcs9CEOn9yGH0Pjdyt-YSf2_A9dTe3uhzrkOEDxdRHiLg3IXbznD9-1UpAKGwtivnKUn56Nv64OMIZOyB3gdhJXvUDKd61lvsVAlsjEFaMA_MP1cxxIMFtOrZlAMVP/s1600/CapeArgusPickNPayArgusCycleTour2011-690.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguFlJWGWKaPJi0GbQcs9CEOn9yGH0Pjdyt-YSf2_A9dTe3uhzrkOEDxdRHiLg3IXbznD9-1UpAKGwtivnKUn56Nv64OMIZOyB3gdhJXvUDKd61lvsVAlsjEFaMA_MP1cxxIMFtOrZlAMVP/s400/CapeArgusPickNPayArgusCycleTour2011-690.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYzWADk1e2gi-nr5mU8NvhGZVb2hVmXbKCCiNgGREPnC2-SBOQXaFK7d0rm_io7u9qmnTvWqFSelWn1Zf0KFo_9xv4bxDVboMgzEv0P3GEnQA-PC3TxGS1uPrdLvwF_F6Md5YxSIrIHQ3/s1600/argus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBYzWADk1e2gi-nr5mU8NvhGZVb2hVmXbKCCiNgGREPnC2-SBOQXaFK7d0rm_io7u9qmnTvWqFSelWn1Zf0KFo_9xv4bxDVboMgzEv0P3GEnQA-PC3TxGS1uPrdLvwF_F6Md5YxSIrIHQ3/s400/argus.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
People from all walks of life have been training hard for the race. Each face is there for their own reasons, whether its for the exhilaration of the competition, a personal challenge, or to raise awareness for a cause close to their hearts. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Rick Lawrence's team, 'Race for Rhinos' is taking action to raise money for the protection of rhinos from poaching in South Africa:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/CycleTour/Race-for-the-Rhino-20120306">'Our bikes will be decorated and our tops will make us recognisable as the Race for the Rhino team. We have targeted finishing the race inside five hours and hope that people recognise the efforts of the riders and that give generously to this cause</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They have already received a great deal of support from local businesses and have choses the Argus race as a springboard for growing support for the charity. Their project seeks to grow a sustainable habitat, where the critically endangered Black Rhino in KwaZulu-Natal, a province of South Africa. In this habitat, the animals will be able to roam freely and grow their numbers in safety. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
They will make up a significant portion of the race competitors, as Lawrence outlines:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/CycleTour/Race-for-the-Rhino-20120306">'We have a team of 50 cyclists competing in the 2012 Cape Argus Pick n Pay Cycle Tour, who are all riding to raise funds and try and make a difference'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Another competitor is Helen Harder, who is battling cancer. She was diagnosed in February 2011 and at last year's Argus Cycle Tour her boyfriend, Alwyn Badenhorst completed the race in honour of her. This year, she is planning to complete it with him. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/helen-takes-on-cancer-and-the-cycle-tour-1.1249928">'I want to raise awareness, but also show the people what one can do while getting chemo... accept the challenges you get in your life and face them. That's what I'm doing'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Really inspiring. The Argus Cycle Tour is not just an environment to raise awareness, but also to test oneself. Although she's nervous, Helen is going into the race with a positive attitude:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL-OkpD3KjRsci5vqgaQ0goezbCSHmwvsrbKyG5nzJII0B7Y4BUWaTsErt2815-ZmnkkZYvh7F3p4QhE9qDLl6ObX-PtOhUG-9TDr9Oy8p0cXXGXE5g7k1dmd9cPIwGUdOhsSvHahe4HU/s1600/1310143766.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRL-OkpD3KjRsci5vqgaQ0goezbCSHmwvsrbKyG5nzJII0B7Y4BUWaTsErt2815-ZmnkkZYvh7F3p4QhE9qDLl6ObX-PtOhUG-9TDr9Oy8p0cXXGXE5g7k1dmd9cPIwGUdOhsSvHahe4HU/s400/1310143766.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.iol.co.za/capeargus/helen-takes-on-cancer-and-the-cycle-tour-1.1249928">'You have to react and adapt'</a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
If you want to see the race route, a collaborative project has produced a video that take you along the route in just under ten minutes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/NmL3e9kXHJA?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Made by Game On and Rockets Compression Sportswear, both based in South Africa, <a href="http://www.timeslive.co.za/local/2012/02/28/ride-the-argus-cycle-tour-route---from-home-video">the video was made by driving the entire Argus Route and then editing the clip to speed up the footage</a>. The route looks tough, but we're sure the atmosphere will be buzzing on March 11th when the competitors cycle the 109km route and wish them all the best of luck!</div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-19475271943209775472012-02-27T16:12:00.000+00:002012-02-27T16:12:31.029+00:00Modern Day Herald: Remembering RΓ©mi Ochlik<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPuLUX0V_WdR56pqc78r96BGeaVzzDCphckna1cZ5zbzOzdpwFZr_RyLixA_kLeQNzHNyrgZzrRpkY2xrmpn1yRUjzR6dBnfGeupEDcCPa7AchiM1U3yUZb5yBy2WY7g6uE3euLsUv2Uu/s1600/Remi+Ochlik+by+Lucas+Dolega.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIPuLUX0V_WdR56pqc78r96BGeaVzzDCphckna1cZ5zbzOzdpwFZr_RyLixA_kLeQNzHNyrgZzrRpkY2xrmpn1yRUjzR6dBnfGeupEDcCPa7AchiM1U3yUZb5yBy2WY7g6uE3euLsUv2Uu/s400/Remi+Ochlik+by+Lucas+Dolega.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
R<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi Ochlik</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">16 October 1983 - 22 February 2012</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Over the past week, many words have been attributed to </span><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1870571247">R</a><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.ochlik.com/">Γ©mi Ochlik</a>, the French photographer who died in a Syrian bombing. <a href="http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/award-winning-photojournalist-remi-ochlik-28-killed-on-assignment-in-syria-139966973.html">Perfectionist. Cool-headed guy</a>. Hero. But Bruno Stevens, one of </span>R<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi's colleagues prefers the word 'Herald':</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.cpj.org/blog/2012/02/recalling-remi-ochlik-a-man-of-great-value.php">'I use the word in the etymological and historical sense of "herald": a man of great value in charge of conveying the most important messages of his time'</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">And that he did. Ochlik was truly a Man of Action, and sought out modern front lines to capture the attrocities and injustices that take place beyond our television screens. If his associate Marie Colvin gave the innocent a voice, Ochlik fought to give them a face. This face changed many times over his career, from rioting in Haiti to protesting in Libya, but the message remained constant: the struggle of the oppressed. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVoaJGjSDsLZu-six9_-xVZBAtOJFIl7_C0y8pjYHer8Zwym1R8L_AJSn9fdCpwMb1qAqWl7iXtzUxNJkMe_SSqW7OVgPWFg3mAr_CGgLts9gbdgD1S4NO6ypOV5ruasvKZaH-wJNxgkH/s1600/PAR106-222_2012_141051_high.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVoaJGjSDsLZu-six9_-xVZBAtOJFIl7_C0y8pjYHer8Zwym1R8L_AJSn9fdCpwMb1qAqWl7iXtzUxNJkMe_SSqW7OVgPWFg3mAr_CGgLts9gbdgD1S4NO6ypOV5ruasvKZaH-wJNxgkH/s400/PAR106-222_2012_141051_high.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">R<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi's commitment won him critical acclaim at this year's World Press Photo contest. His 'Battle for Libya' collection of photographs won the first prize in the General News category. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
But there was no time for celebration and congratulations. This only spurred R<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi on to work harder and be better. </span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">His friend at Paris Match remembers:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/world/award-winning-photojournalist-remi-ochlik-28-killed-on-assignment-in-syria-139966973.html">'He never celebrated. He left a few hours afterwards [for Syria]... he wasn't the kind of guy who would gloat for winning a prize. it was the kind of this that made him work harder'</a></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Tragically, R<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi won't see the World Press awards ceremony in April, but we're sure he will be remembered and celebrated.</span> R<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi was truly one of the most talented photojournalists around. Jean-</span>Fran<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ§</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ois Leroy, the head of the major international photojournalism festival Visa Pour L'lmage remembers the exciting potential</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi showed from the outset. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/feb/22/remi-ochlik-killed-homs-syria"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">'Someone showed me this work on the events in Haiti. I was very beautiful, very strong. I didn't know the guy who'd done it. I asked him to come in. He's called</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"> R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©mi Ochlik, he's 20. He worked alone, like a big guy. There you go. Photojournalism is not dead'</span></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4FA28GWK6PwUmf3-MldKy5B60SE2EZV6fSKkC0hiYu1i4_Py3LaA9Mzz29het61rozapZvrKZAJJcVJ7xAuR-Sg5ZS2vn2UNAGs3WUm04jfk-1jVuOe7IiaDZeuA-SzYJYnKz-8JjEuf/s1600/OB-RX693_0222oc_J_20120222125717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV4FA28GWK6PwUmf3-MldKy5B60SE2EZV6fSKkC0hiYu1i4_Py3LaA9Mzz29het61rozapZvrKZAJJcVJ7xAuR-Sg5ZS2vn2UNAGs3WUm04jfk-1jVuOe7IiaDZeuA-SzYJYnKz-8JjEuf/s400/OB-RX693_0222oc_J_20120222125717.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An example of Remi's early work in Haiti</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">He invigorated the industry, breaking new frontiers and exposing brutally real images. But this fire will not burn out, as Bruno Stevens concludes his tribute:</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.cpj.org/blog/2012/02/recalling-remi-ochlik-a-man-of-great-value.php"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">'Marie [Colvin] and </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">R</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©mi are not dead: under each of her words, behind each of his photographs, their pure hearts are beating strongly for a better future'</span></span></a></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-41757701411400866332012-02-27T13:47:00.000+00:002012-02-27T13:55:52.237+00:00Giving a Voice to the Voiceless: Remembering Marie Colvin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21jzMAgxn80_ZOJvEY_2U3_zuJagBl99QnHeqKLtP_1Hmi4dR95Nz-VMoZtCJgOot8W1RXlzgsP7SUKUQpJgwr1QnO2dqvtZDKwly1hJ-Hw6yRnl-FKef3y-I4mf2KZalgnWu9nQempK0/s1600/120222021611-marie-colvin-cairo-story-top.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj21jzMAgxn80_ZOJvEY_2U3_zuJagBl99QnHeqKLtP_1Hmi4dR95Nz-VMoZtCJgOot8W1RXlzgsP7SUKUQpJgwr1QnO2dqvtZDKwly1hJ-Hw6yRnl-FKef3y-I4mf2KZalgnWu9nQempK0/s400/120222021611-marie-colvin-cairo-story-top.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marie Colvin </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
12 January 1956 - 22 February 2012</div>
<br />
Today we honour the courageous Marie Colvin, a front line journalist who was impassioned to bring truth to readers around the world. She was recently killed while reporting on the crisis in Syria when her building was bombed. She died alongside French photographer R<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">mi Ochlik, who was on hand to document images of the conflict. </span><br />
<br />
No stranger to the intense demands of the front line, Marie placed herself in incredible to danger in order to fulfil a personal goal of hers. In 2001, while reporting on the conflict between government forces and rebel Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, Marie lost the sight in her left eye following an attack.<br />
<br />
This was a time for her to reflect on the choices she was making. Undeterred, she continued to commit herself to her life's work.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb/22/marie-colvin">'My job is to bear witness. I have never been interested in knowing what make of plane had just bombed a village or whether the artillery that fired at it was 120mm or 155mm'</a></div>
<br />
For Marie, conflict was a human story, rather than a political or religious one. And it had human consequences.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb/22/marie-colvin">'These are people who have no voice. I feel I have a moral responsibility towards them, that it would be cowardly to ignore them. If journalists have a chance to save their lives, they should do so'</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xxLhMUGx1zOKvrIZaqUI8HgKDCpaA38mwlPUSlhOR0rYnDIGDgd9C_cA3vYHZ3-I-9WoghGSLZ6iQBhLJLO5RFok88wtXt3z3vXAxR60Gi7PUIRRYdHNZ-RKKEksyk3a15n2Rx2V9Ce2/s1600/marie-colvin-cassidy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_xxLhMUGx1zOKvrIZaqUI8HgKDCpaA38mwlPUSlhOR0rYnDIGDgd9C_cA3vYHZ3-I-9WoghGSLZ6iQBhLJLO5RFok88wtXt3z3vXAxR60Gi7PUIRRYdHNZ-RKKEksyk3a15n2Rx2V9Ce2/s400/marie-colvin-cassidy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Although her words resonated across the world, and her style became synonymous with the truth, Marie was someone who took action. Fearless and heroic, she judged the impact of conflict on innocents to be unfair. In 1999, while reporting in East Timor, she refused to leave a besieged compound which was being attacked by Indonesian-backed forces. The compound had 1,500 women and children inside - innocents who could not be ignored. Marie stayed with an unarmed UN force, and reported her experiences to the world. With the global community watching the events unfold, she was able to help secure evacuation of all 1,500 people after a tumultuous four days.<br />
<br />
We jon the international community in remembering and celebrating her life.<br />
<br />
Lord Justice Leveson said:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_757030837">'There is no better example of the very best in journalism than that provided by Marie Colvin'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_757030837"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17173438">'To say that she was a fine reporter does not do justice to the tribute that she is owed and which I am very pleased to acknowledge' </a></div>
<br />
Her friend and fellow journalist Jim Muir wrote:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_757030841">'She had an absolute compulsion to go to where bad things were happening, and tell the world about it'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_757030841"><br /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17136427">'If there is a scale of courage, Marie was at the top of it. Because she knew the reality of war, and there are no guardian angels... her coverage was the bravado of the foolhardy who imagine themselves invulnerable'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-17136427">'It was the quiet determination of someone who had to do what she believed she was for; knowing the risks and possible consequences. To tell the story and give a voice to the voiceless'</a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8FxiIhSdt9ulqdEuZjRbbAhMfcwAjYHC9vGX-gdSn4xCtTt0H0YbVlmL5H47e0_86xgYB7ww8xaSm8YbIoe3Ag9bg7CXQrcico5gWJFfdfbmf0Wao6rMpnaIKJIACxnL33YhrWy6WIy9/s1600/MARIE-COLVIN--007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt8FxiIhSdt9ulqdEuZjRbbAhMfcwAjYHC9vGX-gdSn4xCtTt0H0YbVlmL5H47e0_86xgYB7ww8xaSm8YbIoe3Ag9bg7CXQrcico5gWJFfdfbmf0Wao6rMpnaIKJIACxnL33YhrWy6WIy9/s400/MARIE-COLVIN--007.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
We thank her for humanising the news. We remember for her courage. We celebrate her for her action.<br />
<br />The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-73235571498203882292012-02-24T11:53:00.000+00:002012-02-24T11:53:05.889+00:00Oscars 2012 Round-UpThis weekend will see the close of the awards season, with the prestigious Oscars ceremony taking place on Sunday 26th February.<br />
<br />
Here's a reminder of some of the nominees.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Actor In A Leading Role</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWn8_b45703cUhXdU5WrYbP93lXmhKTEMCsvxZjcSBQ8z5S0-orZy2hlJ4PYO-zFNAHYfw3Ayp_H3P0QmII561o5DWRBb9DUEBXmFwRlrIjPN_Jxs3jQMf-AeKlWCQmgTcl4XcbtKoLXen/s1600/george-clooney-descendants-rotten-tomatoes-i16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWn8_b45703cUhXdU5WrYbP93lXmhKTEMCsvxZjcSBQ8z5S0-orZy2hlJ4PYO-zFNAHYfw3Ayp_H3P0QmII561o5DWRBb9DUEBXmFwRlrIjPN_Jxs3jQMf-AeKlWCQmgTcl4XcbtKoLXen/s400/george-clooney-descendants-rotten-tomatoes-i16.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>George Clooney</b></span><br />The Descendants<br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF67JNnT47wPh8Ok6iphGahrz8mCOaA4FM9bBOQkF3DFhUcti2-ZQxqz7zcaFmiY6slUEakNCTvv_upFn5osuP1e9NK9WtF6Iw-HgDus7TX2_ns6AZYPHIia1jv1UaLf06ajxl2TcMEiO/s1600/628x471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVF67JNnT47wPh8Ok6iphGahrz8mCOaA4FM9bBOQkF3DFhUcti2-ZQxqz7zcaFmiY6slUEakNCTvv_upFn5osuP1e9NK9WtF6Iw-HgDus7TX2_ns6AZYPHIia1jv1UaLf06ajxl2TcMEiO/s400/628x471.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Jean Dujardin</b></span><br />The Artist</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFexo7sswPaH4i7-gOylMrBBcWC3rQ3vR1YQYbs1FYpCInF8Sdwlx72jWA3Db1rABfGBCK1ioI_Zyj4h0RaQfOa5kdWa9WJI0ZtiST5KSG3U8hQi9kTC144MUuwJu69GEWTfJ0YMUzbOJ-/s1600/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy-movie-image-gary-oldman-03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFexo7sswPaH4i7-gOylMrBBcWC3rQ3vR1YQYbs1FYpCInF8Sdwlx72jWA3Db1rABfGBCK1ioI_Zyj4h0RaQfOa5kdWa9WJI0ZtiST5KSG3U8hQi9kTC144MUuwJu69GEWTfJ0YMUzbOJ-/s400/tinker-tailor-soldier-spy-movie-image-gary-oldman-03.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Gary Oldman</b></span><br />Tinker Tailor Solider Spy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSz6uQfV04qWmUPupe2Ik3HInsfUugTt6gj3poLTZwf5qCFpRLSox-oUS5607buDfboBssP2KkJuT5d8Q26vYuycm_4RxQx1u3aqOYm1Vl2KqKcQPTxV3AF7MIdMf1GVLJwtMjOvQQsWON/s1600/Moneyball_Brad_Pitt-thumb-560xauto-40795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSz6uQfV04qWmUPupe2Ik3HInsfUugTt6gj3poLTZwf5qCFpRLSox-oUS5607buDfboBssP2KkJuT5d8Q26vYuycm_4RxQx1u3aqOYm1Vl2KqKcQPTxV3AF7MIdMf1GVLJwtMjOvQQsWON/s400/Moneyball_Brad_Pitt-thumb-560xauto-40795.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Brad Pitt</b></span><br />Moneyball</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg30R8sbFRUVTI8PDHq0cHQ7BqW7tpPoralK6GqmE8pZGzykW97wRul2q4BEnUt3wwwjostHPlvWgTgt1S1OovWRLV9XTSUhDRUCPgQkK9BjOnyzj4eMpgCsGTOAOU8OMOg1CA9Ukc46uA/s1600/6a00d8341c630a53ef015437048dd6970c-600wi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg30R8sbFRUVTI8PDHq0cHQ7BqW7tpPoralK6GqmE8pZGzykW97wRul2q4BEnUt3wwwjostHPlvWgTgt1S1OovWRLV9XTSUhDRUCPgQkK9BjOnyzj4eMpgCsGTOAOU8OMOg1CA9Ukc46uA/s400/6a00d8341c630a53ef015437048dd6970c-600wi.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<b>Dami<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ‘</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">n Bichir</span></b></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">A Better Life</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><u>Actress In A Leading Role </u></b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWrUBySHJaeYBBPdCQZ2HH4tf-FRR5D6WbA7z0x6w_sSSLtoKf1OmMuoLGlPrTos1Sl1v3mbv357G4-IZHMDJi3ihRittFcn77heGbpxW1iGDsWDDOrveFNXx9EC5N2N48TrodXi6hfZT/s1600/Iron_Lady_26_2100991b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwWrUBySHJaeYBBPdCQZ2HH4tf-FRR5D6WbA7z0x6w_sSSLtoKf1OmMuoLGlPrTos1Sl1v3mbv357G4-IZHMDJi3ihRittFcn77heGbpxW1iGDsWDDOrveFNXx9EC5N2N48TrodXi6hfZT/s400/Iron_Lady_26_2100991b.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Meryl Streep</b></span><br />The Iron Lady</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Us9YFbPlV7jYn87w6GbykLZwh4QHRs0eg8iEV9KVbbtY0IQR_iBsUXjCm7WhmOMvc-x97hxthRBUO2bDdNF8Io2goQ3olHfbDqjYzD7rhlYksEj7PfQGkOnDlipCJDNYWp1HNlmNLVK9/s1600/rooney-mara-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Us9YFbPlV7jYn87w6GbykLZwh4QHRs0eg8iEV9KVbbtY0IQR_iBsUXjCm7WhmOMvc-x97hxthRBUO2bDdNF8Io2goQ3olHfbDqjYzD7rhlYksEj7PfQGkOnDlipCJDNYWp1HNlmNLVK9/s400/rooney-mara-the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-07.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Rooney Mara</b></span><br />The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTI6JUwn_KUefl4nX587nIOwFaZ_dHNMjtWiZ_dOL-kjlfhHYhCeLadXtb23SMbB65jMotfNf6RPZGk7BB6q67ZxVegevxVehaWHeMPXkmMsF2DoU-qOV3unCA4ISroVzhisQaMPt8PTxz/s1600/0004fb69-628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTI6JUwn_KUefl4nX587nIOwFaZ_dHNMjtWiZ_dOL-kjlfhHYhCeLadXtb23SMbB65jMotfNf6RPZGk7BB6q67ZxVegevxVehaWHeMPXkmMsF2DoU-qOV3unCA4ISroVzhisQaMPt8PTxz/s400/0004fb69-628.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Glenn Close</b></span><br />Albert Nobbs</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MBmuzrshmRr4dkG8ooURrdkGew_Hsno_U7J2l5gkq5c7WMGSPP5hcL0zZHzV1_FIYND1YbYHlBQTYhFd9kVhJkILND_PVcZkqxk27FWZ_us72BUDcq2jwkh89pofAJoapXA-6Ctf01zD/s1600/1-Michelle-Williams-posing-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5MBmuzrshmRr4dkG8ooURrdkGew_Hsno_U7J2l5gkq5c7WMGSPP5hcL0zZHzV1_FIYND1YbYHlBQTYhFd9kVhJkILND_PVcZkqxk27FWZ_us72BUDcq2jwkh89pofAJoapXA-6Ctf01zD/s400/1-Michelle-Williams-posing-.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Michelle Williams</b></span><br />My Week With Marilyn </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ls3IM_helJE8vE5r1kwVfuVU8c1DL8zA1vhOU8ipEX2XLluDHoHlKSTM-5eCyZJCSQ70VPaB3RU0P4UUWTBN9kxosuYZVdza4opi-AzHuFVhCXhvhiNGWztosPtuHRLZ8V4qD2VHUmVK/s1600/help_davis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ls3IM_helJE8vE5r1kwVfuVU8c1DL8zA1vhOU8ipEX2XLluDHoHlKSTM-5eCyZJCSQ70VPaB3RU0P4UUWTBN9kxosuYZVdza4opi-AzHuFVhCXhvhiNGWztosPtuHRLZ8V4qD2VHUmVK/s400/help_davis.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: medium;">Viola Davis</b><br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">The Help</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">We've secretly got our fingers crossed that this will be George Clooney's year to take home the prestigious statuette. This is Clooney's third oscar nomination fro Best Actor, but although he's still at the top of his game both behind and in front of the camera, he's never taken the award home. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">You can see the full list of awards nominations <a href="http://oscar.go.com/nominees">over at the Oscars website</a>. It's certainly shaped up to be an excellent 12 months for cinema, which will be celebrated this weekend. However this one goes, congratulations to all the nominees. </span></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-52073619742602327332012-02-23T15:14:00.000+00:002012-02-23T15:14:04.875+00:00Team of Heroines Cross the Atlantic in 45 DaysJulia Immonen decided it was time to take action. Shocked by the fact that human trafficking is still a global issue, she brought a team of five women together to raise money to help the modern day fight for Freedom For Everyone. At first, the all-female team elicited mixed responses:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://rowforfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/Hellomagazine.pdf" target="_blank">'A lot of people thought, "these girls can talk the talk, but they have gone into this with rose-tinted glasses"'</a> said Julia, who put together the team.</div>
<br />
The director's assistant at Sky Sports News searched far and wide for a team to complete a 2,613 mile journey from the Canary Islands to Barbados. Her recruits came from all corners of the world, from Ireland to Dubai and barely knew each other when they took to the water. The team evolved into Row For Freedom, and raised money for two anti-trafficking charities - A21 Campaign and ECPAT UK.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rowforfreedom.com/blog/why-i-row-for-freedom-julia-immonen" target="_blank">'I felt such an urgency to do something. For a couple of months I was so frustrated as to what I could do to make a difference'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mbKKYnDlZM1KH58PT3HCGYowUOTBE6fyZXpKknKGRXJaCIj7-ZIqB9Agp5TbvtdvwFMPXO0hv4LRXiM85QGYhIp8tK3_3boTc2h3X3eSkdKpTh2atVFglR2QAGNZmUl371QdCN9w80Ob/s1600/Arms-in.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2mbKKYnDlZM1KH58PT3HCGYowUOTBE6fyZXpKknKGRXJaCIj7-ZIqB9Agp5TbvtdvwFMPXO0hv4LRXiM85QGYhIp8tK3_3boTc2h3X3eSkdKpTh2atVFglR2QAGNZmUl371QdCN9w80Ob/s400/Arms-in.jpg" width="387" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Row For Freedom team: Kate Richardson, Debbie Beadle, <br />Julia Immonen, Kate Pattison-Hart and Helen Leigh</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The team left the Canary Islands in December 2011 and were determined to prove they could walk the walk. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Their journey across the Atlantic was intense. Fittingly, the ladies chose a route that was used in the early slave trade and faced 50ft waves and were rowing 24 hours a day. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rowforfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/Hellomagazine.pdf" target="_blank">'We were up every two hours, so the sleep deprivation was hard and 3000 miles felt like an overwhelming distance, especially on a day when the water was like treacle and we might only to three miles'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rowforfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/Hellomagazine.pdf" target="_blank">'We were knocked off our feet by the waves all the time, but no one fell overboard. I can see them now, three swells of massive waves coming towards us. We never knew if they'd break over us or not'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- Julia</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Unpredictable weather conditions was not their only challenge. The auto helm, which helps steer the boat broke, and within days of setting off, their hydration equipment also broke which meant they had to <a href="http://www.rowforfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/Hellomagazine.pdf" target="_blank">spend up to 20 hours a day producing drinkable water with a hand pump</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But the ladies persevered, and relentlessly continued their trek to Barbados, never capsizing and appreciating both the peaks and troths of their adventure. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rowforfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/Hellomagazine.pdf" target="_blank">'We'd see the most breathtaking sunsets and sunrises or a shooting star at night and that would keep you going'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t0cfb3pyJ0cZFV19t4M-rmOzRlAzlzdYQBNUqNAUfY1DSakl4-qvH9-2y7HqWI2P7gSoWfXlZ3HiFE8S4fJYb3IFoPGXKm82LYd24wGRmSohd6_6crjKHJdb8Rk7klJii-KF__Z-ZLAa/s1600/The-Guardian-sponsored-by-Manpower-Group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t0cfb3pyJ0cZFV19t4M-rmOzRlAzlzdYQBNUqNAUfY1DSakl4-qvH9-2y7HqWI2P7gSoWfXlZ3HiFE8S4fJYb3IFoPGXKm82LYd24wGRmSohd6_6crjKHJdb8Rk7klJii-KF__Z-ZLAa/s400/The-Guardian-sponsored-by-Manpower-Group.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CWaht-KXdVMgRqRi6pWMAifB1TGF0kLfeu0mNle8CG1TxpRQHWwlR0yVmo1b3ZZvMiqF2incBXyfH9kO43n7V61kkwjsBCzGOKqXh7UmujmBqMu_6w3OVuagBng2ts-BCU0EyA3f1xiQ/s1600/Row-For-Freedom-Twilight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1CWaht-KXdVMgRqRi6pWMAifB1TGF0kLfeu0mNle8CG1TxpRQHWwlR0yVmo1b3ZZvMiqF2incBXyfH9kO43n7V61kkwjsBCzGOKqXh7UmujmBqMu_6w3OVuagBng2ts-BCU0EyA3f1xiQ/s400/Row-For-Freedom-Twilight.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSwdJDGfiypHYZOmCVQyTLFSVELIgENu7LWlM_43zourAd2k-hoNMW0m5S30CNheSfKHDk-8c-zaivBtmOsU4Pdm1KEfocg0HTBPmr7fsB74rPQe43GdxeWFAzfwaR6r0NldeBGu5yKAD/s1600/RFF-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHSwdJDGfiypHYZOmCVQyTLFSVELIgENu7LWlM_43zourAd2k-hoNMW0m5S30CNheSfKHDk-8c-zaivBtmOsU4Pdm1KEfocg0HTBPmr7fsB74rPQe43GdxeWFAzfwaR6r0NldeBGu5yKAD/s400/RFF-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The ladies completed their challenge in 45 days, 15 hours, 26 minutes. Astonishing. But that wasn't all. Not only were they the first five woman team to cross the Atlantic, but also the fastest female team to do so. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-16/news/31069160_1_rowing-slave-trade-human-trafficking" target="_blank">'Getting the record was really amazing'</a> explained the team captain Debbie Beadle. <a href="http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-02-16/news/31069160_1_rowing-slave-trade-human-trafficking" target="_blank">'It was something we worked hard for and were really determined to achieve when we set out'</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Their story reminds us of The Wild Geese, who also faced testing seas to pursue their own sense of freedom. Like The Wild Geese, the Row For Freedom team also bonded on their adventure, and not only had to pull together to complete their challenge, but were also each others' support and safety nets. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Debbie Beadle admitted: <a href="http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2012/02/17/naked-women-break-record-for-rowing-across-atlantic" target="_blank">'We got to know each other very well'</a>. Especially when the chaffing made their skin sore. At times, the women abandoned all modesty and rowed naked! </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://offthebench.nbcsports.com/2012/02/17/naked-women-break-record-for-rowing-across-atlantic" target="_blank">'We spent a lot of time rowing naked because when the sea water gets inside your clothes, it increases friction against your skin which can cause sores'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This camaraderie and the support network the women built up is incredibly inspiring. Two challenges faced the Row For Freedom team: the physical journey and the mental one. As they worked together as a team to defeat the physical challenge, they turned to one another like family to combat the mental one. We think of 1691, when The Wild Geese had to support each other as they journeyed to new lands. The support of a friend and comrade is priceless. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
On reflection of the journey, Julia says:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.rowforfreedom.com/wp-content/uploads/Hellomagazine.pdf" target="_blank">'I'm just so thankful we got there and I wouldn't change the challenges we had. We learnt to embrace them - and there were so many'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
They have so far raised between Β£60,000 and Β£70,000 and are planning a similar challenge in North Africa. To donate to this inspiring cause, you can visit <a href="http://www.rowforfreedom.com/donate">www.rowforfreedom.com/donate</a>.</div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-53376071526034575842012-02-21T16:00:00.000+00:002012-02-21T16:00:00.987+00:00Men of Action: Irish Man Steve Redmond One Stroke Closer to Completing Ocean's 7 ChallengeIrish man Steve Redmond is getting closer to becoming the first person to complete the tasking Ocean's 7 Challenge, which is the water equivalent of the Seven Summit challenge.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As one of the toughest swimming marathons, the Ocean's 7 has never been completed. It demands endurance and dedication, as well as a rare mental conditioning. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Competitors must swim:</div>
<div>
- the North Channel (also known as the Irish Channel)</div>
<div>
- Cook Strait, the stretch of water between the north and south islands of New Zealand</div>
<div>
- Molokai Channel, Hawaii</div>
<div>
- English Channel </div>
<div>
- Catalina Channel, off the coast of California</div>
<div>
- Tsugaru Strait, Japan</div>
<div>
- Strait of Gibraltar<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpII3vvgt_u54hNdpZYA3VGZnQcx4-kDehUNeQhtGGFxaX6rmB94Vd6NhnOrS51nAKXf9j1h9ZrCxha7H_-alughoC7NuWQ9UhJeuDZy_fySZvmtPt98YkUymiDyu_727xbJtLgsMXsF8P/s1600/387189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpII3vvgt_u54hNdpZYA3VGZnQcx4-kDehUNeQhtGGFxaX6rmB94Vd6NhnOrS51nAKXf9j1h9ZrCxha7H_-alughoC7NuWQ9UhJeuDZy_fySZvmtPt98YkUymiDyu_727xbJtLgsMXsF8P/s400/387189.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This means the Ocean's 7 provides various swimming conditions, from very cold to warm seas and strong currents to stiff winds. Theses conditions may also change depending on the time of year. </div>
<div>
<br />
ENDURANCE<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://thewildgeese1691.blogspot.com/2011/04/at-age-of-23-well-known-adventurer-bear.html" target="_blank">Like the Seven Summits challenge</a>, the Ocean's 7 can take place over a number of years. Steve Redmond began his attempt in 2009, when he swam the English Channel. Next he tackled the North Channel, starting in Scotland and ending in Belfast harbour in 2010, and became only the second person to complete the 35km swim. Amazingly, he completed this on his first attempt! </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Last Friday, Redmond got a little bit further to completing the Ocean's 7 challenge, by swimming the Cook Strait between New Zealand's north and south islands. Although he claims he had 'an awful lot of luck', theres clearly more to it than that.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzo_BQNJQqfjBKZyGPBuQrhUOH2TxAILh5gMMvGCyQCnKvAdwp5UZY3Hs9GldRH-9BnH7OExhYZIwFYXonGVq52J2QsBminkoSyxE0Xb8ZMyjlDAuLzIB9pbk7fqBq9pOux2y0IcqAvcnl/s1600/imgsize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzo_BQNJQqfjBKZyGPBuQrhUOH2TxAILh5gMMvGCyQCnKvAdwp5UZY3Hs9GldRH-9BnH7OExhYZIwFYXonGVq52J2QsBminkoSyxE0Xb8ZMyjlDAuLzIB9pbk7fqBq9pOux2y0IcqAvcnl/s400/imgsize.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A member if his support crew, Eoin Darby said:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10786574" target="_blank">'The last 900 metres he said he was nearly going backwards, the current was so strong'</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10786574" target="_blank">'He could see dry land, but the rip current was so strong it pushed him back, he was basically going nowhere'</a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We can only imagine what this feels like. But, like The Wild Geese, endurance and dedication are parts of Redmond's character. All he needed was something to strive for - to keep his mental state as vigorous as his physical one. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For Patrick Sarsfield and The Wild Geese, this was the vision of Ireland. Their mutual love stayed with them and encouraged them through difficult times. For Redmond, he kept the thought of his two children with him with every stroke he took and focused on <a href="http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/other_sports/85821/" target="_blank">the autism centre in West cork, Ireland he is supporting. </a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But that didn't mean this swim was easy. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/other_sports/85821" target="_blank">'Every time you stopped you could lose 10 metres' he explained. 'It took two hours to swim a kilometre and a half.. It beats you mentally and physically'.</a> </div>
<br />
COMMUNITY<br />
<br />
Redmond's support team are essential parts of completion the Ocean's 7 Challenge.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/other_sports/85821" target="_blank">'I really thought it was trying to kill me and did not like me... there's days when the water just doesn't like you and it can be a widowmaker'</a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6435725/Cook-Strait-swim-crossing-today" target="_blank">'The people in the boat keep me alive, they're my life support and my emotional support'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe-FZA-x6WgBx1aPUgzOYgAQpBI_IIr13ebW4F_YzOzkf3OkHjqCH19sfN7R0SaW3EVqlf0uKGidMma38lgWmvrt0Xg31QpNwH9IV2HbtEGbOSTmEutt_AsudBZAp_bwhyCkGCPB2SJlP/s1600/steve-redmond-cook-strait.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAe-FZA-x6WgBx1aPUgzOYgAQpBI_IIr13ebW4F_YzOzkf3OkHjqCH19sfN7R0SaW3EVqlf0uKGidMma38lgWmvrt0Xg31QpNwH9IV2HbtEGbOSTmEutt_AsudBZAp_bwhyCkGCPB2SJlP/s400/steve-redmond-cook-strait.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
He even had celebrated New Zealand ocean swimmer Phillip Rush travel alongside him in a boat, offering his support and expertise.<br />
<br />
Steve's story is not just one of endurance, but also one of community. This was essential to The Wild Geese, who integrated with different communities across the world, while also letting their Irish culture flourish. In New Zealand, the local Irish community gathered on the beach to wish him well and helped Steve with his accommodation.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/other_sports/85821/" target="_blank">'It was quite humbling to have people like that help me. You come to Wellington and you feel like you've been here before. We're very lucky to have a group of Irish like that here'</a></div>
<br />
Steve took just over twelve hours to complete the exhausting 26km swim, and averaged at 52 strokes a minute. Next on his agenda is the Molokai Channel in Hawaii and the Tsugaru Strait in Japan. Redmond certainly embodies the inspiring nature of The Wild Geese.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vci_O1M3f-BW1-SW7kxv3tB-ls57WoZgLtTRb-H2xdxFh8vYtovdTei_m0VBV9mHWjFHaEbZ5pXtz6M_viXGHtZO2ueiDVUre7iHEOCol5-DzVl5YB39o4qYwqrybPfzMvTDWWYGp7VK/s1600/redmond-map.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vci_O1M3f-BW1-SW7kxv3tB-ls57WoZgLtTRb-H2xdxFh8vYtovdTei_m0VBV9mHWjFHaEbZ5pXtz6M_viXGHtZO2ueiDVUre7iHEOCol5-DzVl5YB39o4qYwqrybPfzMvTDWWYGp7VK/s400/redmond-map.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://westcorktimes.com/home/?p=5716" target="_blank">Steve Redmond's route</a> between the north and south islands of New Zealand</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br /></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-23939758004019074572012-02-17T13:31:00.001+00:002012-02-17T13:39:20.312+00:00Irish Talent: The IFTA Awards, Showcasing IrelandThe Wild Geese story came alive last week at the Irish Film & Television Academy (IFTA) Awards ceremony. The awards are in their 9th year and Irish talent came out in Dublin to celebrate the growing Irish contribution to the film and television industry.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.toonaripost.com/2012/01/entertainment/the-9th-annual-ifta-nominees-announced" target="_blank">'The Irish Film & Television Awards is Ireland's showcase to the world of what our small but outstanding film and television community has to offer'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Aine Moriarty, CEO of the IFTA</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Wild Geese were faced with a simple choice when they left Ireland: survive and prosper or submit to defeat. With the latter not being an option, they worked hard to achieve success. This is true of the IFTA awards, as many of the talent honoured have already made an incredible impact on Hollywood and British cinema, as well as in their native Ireland. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VbkLPqFsDKOex-2UTUtFpnfnqNFF9QQtJeVtKChDzqLZOTCWRordZLZYuNfWnynFBc_gN3Z91ispm78AVn9MHfmKbUu-Ms-xLRrpR-AHpAZe_pV9Az2BVRrzMP_XhlFBDAbsjgCze0cM/s1600/1224311684735_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8VbkLPqFsDKOex-2UTUtFpnfnqNFF9QQtJeVtKChDzqLZOTCWRordZLZYuNfWnynFBc_gN3Z91ispm78AVn9MHfmKbUu-Ms-xLRrpR-AHpAZe_pV9Az2BVRrzMP_XhlFBDAbsjgCze0cM/s400/1224311684735_2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's not surprise that everyone was talking about Michael Fassbender, who won the IFTW award for Best Actor in a Lead Role for <i>Shame</i>. This is the second time he has been honoured by this award. In 2008 he received it for his role in <i>Hunger</i>. On both of these films, Fassbender teamed up with Design come Director Steve McQueen. Clearly a winning duo. On their relationship, Steve McQueen says:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/steve-mcqueen-and-michael-fassbender,65806/" target="_blank">'It's beautiful. It's one of the most important relationships I've had in my life'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.avclub.com/articles/steve-mcqueen-and-michael-fassbender,65806/" target="_blank">'We don't take our relationship for granted, at all, whatsoever... I think we both know, as well as a good friendship, this is a professional relationship where we have to bring our game'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UVMpRcezYaCIBMyG28mJHWWOG_4m2JOc2AyA-a1wayIyA5Y1NlItKVJDPEXdkSwrAFDAMzoj_U6VSMr-ZZYdm7EpRNpk1-JqmoiUhNIM4dY799XpHjQ8rV-UGlCJ3EoTm6z0YKmAuSh4/s1600/Fassy-Mcqueen-SHAME-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5UVMpRcezYaCIBMyG28mJHWWOG_4m2JOc2AyA-a1wayIyA5Y1NlItKVJDPEXdkSwrAFDAMzoj_U6VSMr-ZZYdm7EpRNpk1-JqmoiUhNIM4dY799XpHjQ8rV-UGlCJ3EoTm6z0YKmAuSh4/s400/Fassy-Mcqueen-SHAME-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For some, Fassbender's win will not be unexpected. This is his time. But, being honoured by your native country (Fassbender is half Irish, half German and lived in Ireland growing up) is both an exhilarating and humbling experience, one we have known very well recently. <b style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">The Wild Geese Single Malt<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">*</span> was selected as one of </span></b>Ireland's Reserve Cuv<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">Γ©</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">es </span>last month. This is defined as a signature product of outstanding quality. This is extremely high praise coming from Ireland. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Glen Close won the award for Best International Actress for her role in <i>Albert Nobbs. </i><a href="http://thewildgeese1691.blogspot.com/2012/01/courage-belief-and-dreams-realised-in.html" target="_blank">She fell in love with the story early in her career</a> and worked hard to get it into production, financing a great deal of it herself. She worked with Irish Booker Prize winner John Banville on adapting the script. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dBbidXNCRW_CF-DD9U7AEOhPfcUOSzXMK4u0ciHQD6KlQbx_n35ffEer3Z4olQghGeePEmjqtVMUBUdPx58nxfIcAplvCFib5StMRUFsXxpIRwPJ3w4knIM2iz4dZCYxhRFPoxkmMakY/s1600/0004fb69-628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8dBbidXNCRW_CF-DD9U7AEOhPfcUOSzXMK4u0ciHQD6KlQbx_n35ffEer3Z4olQghGeePEmjqtVMUBUdPx58nxfIcAplvCFib5StMRUFsXxpIRwPJ3w4knIM2iz4dZCYxhRFPoxkmMakY/s400/0004fb69-628.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2012/0217/1224311908384.html" target="_blank">'I loved my collaboration with John Banville. Whatever Irish tweaks we could make we did. It had to have wonderful Irish twists to things'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Other award winners on the night were:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Best Film: <i>The Guard</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Director Film: John Michael McDonagh, <i>The Guard</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Actor - Film: Michael Fassbender, <i>Shame</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Actress - Film: Saoirse Ronan, <i>Hanna</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Supporting Actor - Film: Chris O'Dowd, <i>Bridesmaids</i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Supporting Actress - Film: Glenn Close</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
For the full list, vist the <a href="http://www.ifta.ie/awards/ifta2012.html" target="_blank">ITFA website</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6ywnETHXlyALZVYvbQl0rJk2xycOl4m9xLVQV6goO_0H0RBv59eVkDU1-ybiYAZm8APlAdYARS3CeshUDkrwD3L_QYElAfNGos0fGrht1sBpLe_NHEpdGX_WfqS4Ws_0q_-kMD36nF-e/s1600/IFTA-2012-63-390x285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr6ywnETHXlyALZVYvbQl0rJk2xycOl4m9xLVQV6goO_0H0RBv59eVkDU1-ybiYAZm8APlAdYARS3CeshUDkrwD3L_QYElAfNGos0fGrht1sBpLe_NHEpdGX_WfqS4Ws_0q_-kMD36nF-e/s400/IFTA-2012-63-390x285.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.toonaripost.com/2012/01/entertainment/the-9th-annual-ifta-nominees-announced" target="_blank">'The Irish [film & television] industry consistently delivers world-class standards of work that is watched by a global audience'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Aine Moriarty</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">*In North America The Wild Geese Irish Whiskey is sold under the brand name 'The Wild Geese Irish Soldiers & Heroes' </span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-38547464397947304612012-02-15T14:09:00.000+00:002012-02-15T14:09:25.718+00:00Men of Action: 'All In' At The Super BowlThe confetti has settled, but after their 21-17 victory against the New England Patriots, the New York Giants have been reflecting on their turbulent season which ending in their second Super Bowl win.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i6FedNCHSMb7SE0jZn7oYZnw2soH3uc4E9-oG_EIH1X0N0S73P3DfUI5PjZg1mBbPiaQER14IpDWNNNXpIB4vSt9hF7Q9dzND4ArytEITSbdd2eAmo9joTboX2oaRU4sYNIiKyXEUYkP/s1600/138505718_crop_650x440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5i6FedNCHSMb7SE0jZn7oYZnw2soH3uc4E9-oG_EIH1X0N0S73P3DfUI5PjZg1mBbPiaQER14IpDWNNNXpIB4vSt9hF7Q9dzND4ArytEITSbdd2eAmo9joTboX2oaRU4sYNIiKyXEUYkP/s400/138505718_crop_650x440.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">MVP Eli Manning with the Lombardi Trophy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Tuesday 7th February the team celebrated their win with parade through New York City, ending at City Hall where Mayor Michael Bloomberg gave them the keys to the city.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/2/7/2782614/giants-parade-2012-new-york-giants-tom-coughlin-super-bowl-mayor-bloomberg" target="_blank">'Two months ago the experts doubted the Giants would even make the play offs, but we're here today because the Giants believed in each other, and you believed in them'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- Michael Bloomberg</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrPNlRLBeAL6iVcsRDbb1Mdxrh0X4mWv8d1JXgnu1xGUBY09y26xKgJyor4LLdEsIk9_8D8VrpxtqTDADuDSrkdX4cNhyphenhyphenO4X23y7PP-haiMxQtQTSOBHlx-xHM5MPqE5ErSDR8NNfKu6V/s1600/2012-02-07T163848Z_01_NYK04_RTRIDSP_3_NFL-SUPERBOWL-PARADE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrPNlRLBeAL6iVcsRDbb1Mdxrh0X4mWv8d1JXgnu1xGUBY09y26xKgJyor4LLdEsIk9_8D8VrpxtqTDADuDSrkdX4cNhyphenhyphenO4X23y7PP-haiMxQtQTSOBHlx-xHM5MPqE5ErSDR8NNfKu6V/s400/2012-02-07T163848Z_01_NYK04_RTRIDSP_3_NFL-SUPERBOWL-PARADE.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The parade began at Battery Park and passed along the <br />Canyon of Heroes, ending at City Hall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The key to the Giants' progression this season has been two of the traits The Wild Geese used to survive and succeed - Team work and Commitment.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">TEAM WORK</span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
As they left Ireland, The Wild Geese were forced to depend on each other and this St Patrick's Day we will be celebrating the extraordinary successes that can be achieved when, like The Wild Geese and the Giants, people work together. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The Giants exemplify commitment and team work, and their coach Tom Coughlin is an important part of this. Coughlin has previously been viewed with mixed feelings. For some he was a 1950s style drill sergeant who had lost touch with the modern day NFC and NFL leagues. But this season he has disproved this, and on the contrary, has brought these key features to the forefront of his team. Jeff Freier writes, <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/2/8/2784517/tom-coughlin-proves-doing-things-the-right-way-still-works-giants-super-bowl-xlvi" target="_blank">'He's filled with class, dignity, ethics and morals. He's a gracious loser and is just as gracious when winning'</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Coughlin abandons all self satisfaction when it comes to the football field: <a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/new-york-giants/2012/2/8/2785405/giants-coach-tom-coughlin-super-bowl-xlvi-wfan-mike-francesa-transcript" target="_blank">'I try to never put it in perspective for me. It's not about me. It's about our team'</a>. But is quick to praise his team, who pulled together to get the ultimate result.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://sportsradiointerviews.com/2012/02/08/tom-coughlin-on-giants-super-bowl-comeback-win-to-me-its-the-stuff-of-legends" target="_blank">'They battled back, the way that they came together, the phrase they used was "All In" and they were all in'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF883hl79x8FNarpiuCeyKD7cphja1YJC17UKSHR6Kf7mHFhsFk9YkzdnK1HTW542oull0wMqwAEmG7RIVta51Ikv56upJcNqKniYRXuTKNjlb22pZkG-uCsbxbE418bCZa-cWeofafRZ-/s1600/180533440-07093446.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF883hl79x8FNarpiuCeyKD7cphja1YJC17UKSHR6Kf7mHFhsFk9YkzdnK1HTW542oull0wMqwAEmG7RIVta51Ikv56upJcNqKniYRXuTKNjlb22pZkG-uCsbxbE418bCZa-cWeofafRZ-/s400/180533440-07093446.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coach Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning on the<br /> parade bus, celebrating with Giants fans</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: orange;">COMMITMENT</span></b> </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
With the sense of team work sown into them, the Giants just needed something to reach for and dared to dream about winning their second Super Bowl title. It was their commitment that propelled them to victory. MVP Eli Manning outlines the Giants' mindset:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-02-07/giants-celebrate-super-bowl-win-in-new-york-and-new-jersey.html" target="_blank">'The message that's been talked about today is "Finish". Finish games, finish the fourth quarter and finish the season strong. That's exactly what we did - a team that had eight fourth-quarter wins, including one in the Super Bowl'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Coughlin shares this sentiment. It's important to stay committed to what you want to achieve. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://newyork.sbnation.com/2012/2/7/2782614/giants-parade-2012-new-york-giants-tom-coughlin-super-bowl-mayor-bloomberg" target="_blank">'All things are possible for those who believe. We always believed, we always knew we could get here'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NtTfpwcFe3bQVl1uotik8rGkivCS4XqiaJ8lV4xw3Udi0gWQM9Kpr9lV8nqIjFxvmwJCWlTVMLycNWuWQAdSu5cMZJice4vrztouTRSiUAfb4if-4s72KAHFSEPmco4VialIywLF0kE5/s1600/103593_Super_Bowl_NYC_Parade_Football.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NtTfpwcFe3bQVl1uotik8rGkivCS4XqiaJ8lV4xw3Udi0gWQM9Kpr9lV8nqIjFxvmwJCWlTVMLycNWuWQAdSu5cMZJice4vrztouTRSiUAfb4if-4s72KAHFSEPmco4VialIywLF0kE5/s400/103593_Super_Bowl_NYC_Parade_Football.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2YmrBg82tTlQN82XjfEbXXkg1Fq6P3g3X-15A8gwApF-qUXDiX2OVyGFixIFSGWOTO1UwqiOmLqcjIvpCykpo0rBwaYXz16gzjwqmGDoWQHIbB5FCTAlzTpLoeRfZWRk3lxshPsYSKHY/s1600/79528334_crop_650x440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2YmrBg82tTlQN82XjfEbXXkg1Fq6P3g3X-15A8gwApF-qUXDiX2OVyGFixIFSGWOTO1UwqiOmLqcjIvpCykpo0rBwaYXz16gzjwqmGDoWQHIbB5FCTAlzTpLoeRfZWRk3lxshPsYSKHY/s400/79528334_crop_650x440.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipqXftsYhh19wVBadx-VIRggNPh3l_3CPonmABIEPTPUPE3baUj5ZDUi2J7sNmn6bKp-Gx_ihqFVCrcd5BPtntraacuhzYNvl-gv8xVwXilSZ85e2r__pacM0o5mXmpgEhjhPe_hzZr7m/s1600/138489979_crop_450x500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiipqXftsYhh19wVBadx-VIRggNPh3l_3CPonmABIEPTPUPE3baUj5ZDUi2J7sNmn6bKp-Gx_ihqFVCrcd5BPtntraacuhzYNvl-gv8xVwXilSZ85e2r__pacM0o5mXmpgEhjhPe_hzZr7m/s400/138489979_crop_450x500.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-74650622843818336432012-02-13T14:11:00.000+00:002012-02-13T14:11:38.827+00:00Men of Action: Coast to Coast Endurance Race 2012, Pt. 2When we checked in on the Coast to Coast race on Friday, the competitors had just finished their first day. First time competitor Nathan Bell was leading the way and in close competition with Mark Beasley and Nathan Jones. As the first day drew to an end Nathan Bell only had a 50 second lead over Mark Beasley.<br />
<br />
Although he suffered an injury during the first day, Nathan Bell stayed optimistic and focused on completing the challenge that still lay ahead: a 15km cycle, 67km kayak and a further 70km cycle.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6401380/Surprise-Coast-to-Coast-leader-hurt-on-run" target="_blank">'Today was my day. I'm just going to go out to enjoy myself tomorrow'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Nathan finished second overall with a time of 12:46:22 which is an incredible time for his first entry into the Coast to Coast race. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZpWfv19HEwC79Of3MZB32Wom27ILWry9CfxFEsnoCbMX2WbVhqgMhemtedJ3hfhCtwKVtfrSROvcgUOIlpOU_oaw3cLPlk0MX7b0WMSslhpzjWchrkdMAx7hVVdmkkreAP2P2Pvw77KK/s1600/_42552783_multisport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ZpWfv19HEwC79Of3MZB32Wom27ILWry9CfxFEsnoCbMX2WbVhqgMhemtedJ3hfhCtwKVtfrSROvcgUOIlpOU_oaw3cLPlk0MX7b0WMSslhpzjWchrkdMAx7hVVdmkkreAP2P2Pvw77KK/s400/_42552783_multisport.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was Nathan Jones who emerged as this weekend's Man of Action. Friday definitely belonged to Nathan Bell, but Saturday was Nathan Jones' day. As the day began he was nearly 7 minutes behind Bell, but overtook him to complete the endurance in 12:20:00. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Jones is familiar with the race and last year came 7th in last years notorious one-day challenge. But Jones wasn't going to enter this year's race, let alone win it. The tragedy of the recent earthquakes that have devastated Christchurch (which is where the race ends) has been difficult to get over. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKJDuWmGZFhDfqmzWITdjH6Hqm5sxU3LzihJ9aHyQ-8Wpo4LSf6uPpKi8mieSo2xd2uR1ISLisEvu-E8UWFALdGtO7WnNxTl8PXeyOBOIM3HLg0NLo2BWSXJmXnab1XLy9y99IXcAnpai/s1600/6403787.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRKJDuWmGZFhDfqmzWITdjH6Hqm5sxU3LzihJ9aHyQ-8Wpo4LSf6uPpKi8mieSo2xd2uR1ISLisEvu-E8UWFALdGtO7WnNxTl8PXeyOBOIM3HLg0NLo2BWSXJmXnab1XLy9y99IXcAnpai/s400/6403787.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10785079" target="_blank">'There was no way I could do the one-day and I wasn't going to race at all, but in early December I got the fever again I didn't want to miss out.'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This fever spread veraciously. Two months is not a lot of time to prepare for this level of endurance race and he tore a hamstring three weeks before the big event. But with everyone in Christchuch working hard to rebuild after the earthquake, Jones thinks this year's race has come at an important time. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10785079" target="_blank">'I do think you need some distractions and the people of Canterbury need to get back to a normal life if they're committed to staying here. It's been good to take my mind off of things, to get back in the hills and back to some normality'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Out of tragedy has come action and Jones' success in the Coast to Coast is a reflection of the motivation he has to rebuild his home county Canterbury. This was an important weekend on New Zealand's calendar. Regarded as one of the 'iconic' multi-sport endurance race, this year marked it's 30th anniversary. Although organisers were worried about a fall in competitors, as the country is working overtime to rebuild, it has proved to be one of the most exciting events in recent years. New faces have emerged and for New Zealand this has been a weekend to come together in commitment, determination and positive attitude. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10785079" target="_blank">'You wake up in the morning more tired than when you went to sleep,s o no one wants to go out for a run or a cycle. But it's a bit like this race - sometimes you just have to hang in there'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Congratulations to all the competitors and well done on making it a great 30th anniversary. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-44649422898829218402012-02-10T13:28:00.000+00:002012-02-10T13:28:13.240+00:00Men of Action: Coast To Coast Endurance Race 2012, Pt. 1This years <a href="http://www.coasttocoast.co.nz/program.htm" target="_blank">Coast to Coast endurance race</a> has already gotten under way in New Zealand. Competitors have already completed the first day of the event, and left the New Zealand's west coast at 6am to face the first two segments of the challenge:<br />
<br />
A 3km run and 55km cycle<br />
The Mingha Deception Route Mountain Run, 33km<br />
<br />
This is an internationally acclaimed adventure race and this year marks its 30th anniversary.<br />
<br />
Leading the way in the men's group is 21 year old Nathan Bell. Amazingly this is his first attempt at the endurance race. His father has competed in the race before, however, Nathan only ventured in to adventure racing in summer 2011. For someone so new to the endurance sport, his excellent run over the Goat Pass where he overtook a dozen of his competitors is something to be admired.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt61aLaJwmeShEIRrtjo6yP72OwBA9YNPBJZwDwOhhrCELIuCTYr2-IcyRJV1ZRsc2yu1zrppml0ksEnzYhnlB647sJgG6Hl-sMuLn9__z6VdyzhbdVuxY61tKSFkL3_DV034Imsv5iiJ/s1600/6399832_600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpt61aLaJwmeShEIRrtjo6yP72OwBA9YNPBJZwDwOhhrCELIuCTYr2-IcyRJV1ZRsc2yu1zrppml0ksEnzYhnlB647sJgG6Hl-sMuLn9__z6VdyzhbdVuxY61tKSFkL3_DV034Imsv5iiJ/s400/6399832_600x400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Shockingly, Nathan stumbled on the mountain run, injuring himself, but in an example of a true Man of Action, he picked himself up and carried on. <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/sport/6399695/Bell-leading-two-day-individual-race" target="_blank">He's determined to finish his first race</a>. <br />
<br />
But the a race win is not guaranteed for Bell. The Coast to Coast challenge is notoriously unpredictable and Bell has lead very close lead of 50 seconds. His nearest competitor, Mark Beasley is hot on his trail and Nathan Jones is 6 minutes behind him.<br />
<br />
As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the endurance race, the organiser, Robin Judkins, has invited veteran competitors of the race to join him at the finish line at Summer Beach. They are all convinced that the race is still just as challenging as the first one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDCE_YIknsWzzU1mEKwpnX_iOEoAlXlC65EkXLisdiS2VlsGeaivMaaUnBeW8dx7QLP216NQtKQ4gTZyaptcm5xIt9beEcCXYV1HEPGUH8bIKhU3xvJVWTUgRRH4-iTlewpSmxc9HXeLj/s1600/6399498_600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrDCE_YIknsWzzU1mEKwpnX_iOEoAlXlC65EkXLisdiS2VlsGeaivMaaUnBeW8dx7QLP216NQtKQ4gTZyaptcm5xIt9beEcCXYV1HEPGUH8bIKhU3xvJVWTUgRRH4-iTlewpSmxc9HXeLj/s400/6399498_600x400.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
One of the pioneer women racers, Vivienne Prince has acknowledged <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6387007/Ex-Coast-to-Coast-champs-extol-race" target="_blank">'it is still a challenge'</a> and although the equipment has improved, <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-sports/6387007/Ex-Coast-to-Coast-champs-extol-race" target="_blank">'rivers and mountains don't change'</a>.<br />
<br />
Legendary runner <a href="http://thewildgeese1691.blogspot.com/2012/01/men-of-action-reflecting-on-coast-to.html" target="_blank">Steve Gurney, who has won the event a record 9 times</a>, is at the event to celebrate. A familiar face in the endurance race, last year he partnered with the race organiser for the team competition.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
This 30th anniversary is a perfect time for the next generation of adventure runners to make their names known.<br />
<br />The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-55741837434739442802012-02-09T12:06:00.000+00:002012-02-09T12:06:08.714+00:00Men of Action: 7 Marathons in 7 Countries in 4 DaysWhen an immigration officer at Sydney International Airport asked Richard Donovan if he had visited any other countries in the last six days, the response he got was extremely unexpected.<br />
<br />
Richard had turned up in Australia to complete the final stretch of his World Marathon, which he had started only four days ago.<br />
<br />
Beginning in -20C temperatures in the Antarctic, at the Russian Novo base. There he ran a 42km marathon, which was only the start of his epic journey. One he finished the first stretch, flew to Cape Town, South Africa to continue his World Marathon. Then on to Sao Paulo, Orlando in the USA, London in the UK, Hong Kong and finally arriving in Sydney.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisreQMMyOpFydic3Gtul6akt3Z-IjbvnrM82zgBxfzQ_mrRXboetpjczY2lStfTzRdzQzU8wqZTbGiXFI_6xCBmz8BJUAs0igTdzRJaXhbINe77nRnLk544iBx2IZURlLxUKiyyh5vm1FN/s1600/200902101917_RichardDonovan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisreQMMyOpFydic3Gtul6akt3Z-IjbvnrM82zgBxfzQ_mrRXboetpjczY2lStfTzRdzQzU8wqZTbGiXFI_6xCBmz8BJUAs0igTdzRJaXhbINe77nRnLk544iBx2IZURlLxUKiyyh5vm1FN/s400/200902101917_RichardDonovan.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi-10CFKe0cZhMNalnXFH40HxGLRzub4fQ_QmjkDCkRfvoo8TnHilNzs3SFnfY0HkOW7B2Zt6nVgYjtRnsOJrCmLJKvEtY3hfjiP2nYwpSi7u7W7ZcuRwBqYbMW264OF4eszme-jmnqgo/s1600/p_Lead-RDonovanpic_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisi-10CFKe0cZhMNalnXFH40HxGLRzub4fQ_QmjkDCkRfvoo8TnHilNzs3SFnfY0HkOW7B2Zt6nVgYjtRnsOJrCmLJKvEtY3hfjiP2nYwpSi7u7W7ZcuRwBqYbMW264OF4eszme-jmnqgo/s400/p_Lead-RDonovanpic_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Richard had run the World Marathon before, completing 7 marathons in 7 countries in 5 days, 10 hours and 8 minutes. Impressive as this is, he beat his own record when he completed his latest effort in Sydney.<br />
<br />
Not only competing with the endurance needed to run a marathon, Richard also had to adapt to changing time zones and fluctuating temperatures. Fatigue was his major opponent, but Richard finished the challenge in 4 days, 22 hours and 3 minutes and had run a total of 183 miles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVctktFeyI35Eu6jSvE03Oz68MFMV7x79MPpbj6GsYqpri1M8u5qCnQQJithcIbadg1Crj5_ieurmYBoJvXsQ-r__-ek4uHJQm5gVCQPCWq22ugikFmyYSuC-Zo8SUAfmgp10bfIw6OSS/s1600/sydney.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVctktFeyI35Eu6jSvE03Oz68MFMV7x79MPpbj6GsYqpri1M8u5qCnQQJithcIbadg1Crj5_ieurmYBoJvXsQ-r__-ek4uHJQm5gVCQPCWq22ugikFmyYSuC-Zo8SUAfmgp10bfIw6OSS/s400/sydney.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
An excellent story of endurance and commitment. Richard ran the marathon to highlight the humanitarian crisis in the Horn of Africa and raise money for Irish-based charity organisation GOAL.<br />
<br />
To donate to Richard's cause, visit <a href="http://www.worldmarathonchallenge.com/">www.worldmarathonchallenge.com</a>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-55131900087075617802012-02-08T14:10:00.002+00:002012-02-08T14:10:45.732+00:00Men of Action: Tom Crean and The Discovery ExpeditionOn this day over 100 years ago, one of The Wild Geese had arrived in the Antarctic and began an adventure that would define his career and place his name among the great veteran explorers of the polar regions.<br />
<br />
A few weeks ago we explored <a href="http://thewildgeese1691.blogspot.com/2012/01/men-of-action-tom-crean-unsung-hero.html" target="_blank">Tom Crean's contribution to the Terra Nova Expedition (1910 - 1912)</a>, when he walked 35 miles in near white-out, freezing conditions to bring back help for his sick team mate Lt. Evans. It was during the Discovery Expedition, when this heroism started to show.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RUnMoUpg5gaGvpZjKwEPkS4fMp5rXsENLtUng5c-Y31eBuTFyAazAlB45BUpfOLbLrjejcl-x-UQX_WYa-7YX1M3tpyAYb8iaBRCY_RTYxgMUzc_ywNFNTSzJzxnWGbTNTqKspvi4rTm/s1600/Crean+on+Scott's+expedition.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5RUnMoUpg5gaGvpZjKwEPkS4fMp5rXsENLtUng5c-Y31eBuTFyAazAlB45BUpfOLbLrjejcl-x-UQX_WYa-7YX1M3tpyAYb8iaBRCY_RTYxgMUzc_ywNFNTSzJzxnWGbTNTqKspvi4rTm/s400/Crean+on+Scott's+expedition.jpg" width="310" /></a></div>
<br />
Tom Crean joined the Discovery Expedition in New Zealand, where the expedition's leader, Captain Robert Scott had docked his ship to fit his ship and replenish her crew. From the moment Crean joined the expedition, Scott was impressed, and as they set sail for the Antarctic the world was at Tom's feet.<br />
<br />
Captain Scott remarked about Crean and his ship mate from the HMS Ringarooma: <a href="http://annascaul.net/tom-crean" target="_blank">'I like the look of these two... and think they will do well'</a><br />
<br />
The Discovery arrived in the Antarctic on the 8th February 1902 and established a base at 'Hut Point'. From here the expedition collected scientific information. Tom Crean was mostly assigned to sledging journeys and set up depots for exploration of the polar region.<br />
<br />
As the expedition continued, Crean grew to be a prominent member of the team. This was his first experience of the Antarctic, but the inhospitable conditions didn't phase him. Instead he got stuck in, spurred on by the hard work that was needed to survive in the region.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpP8cWJNdomLPii0bKFBfRrLsC1-jsYzKtkoaEN0MfEqC5AjSR5ks-4YY5m4MtvMhyphenhyphenGqYSp2cXWWztQymlxwieZryiM75LYo9jNxcgGZRvFFCVtCZFytMATACa4PNdqbAuQr_lGwYRtrP/s1600/800px-Discovery_alongside_Barrier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpP8cWJNdomLPii0bKFBfRrLsC1-jsYzKtkoaEN0MfEqC5AjSR5ks-4YY5m4MtvMhyphenhyphenGqYSp2cXWWztQymlxwieZryiM75LYo9jNxcgGZRvFFCVtCZFytMATACa4PNdqbAuQr_lGwYRtrP/s400/800px-Discovery_alongside_Barrier.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Sledging was the only method of transport across the land, and was extremely hard work. It demanded man-hauling equipment and supplies across the snow and ice in order to set up supply depots. During the entire exhibition, Crean sledged for a total of 149 days.<br />
<br />
Although the Discovery expedition was relatively free from the tragedies of Terra Nova, Crean was faced with significant risk, especially since he was a novice.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://annascaul.net/tom-crean" target="_blank">'Crean fell [through the ice] twice yesterday and as he cannot swim had a fairly narrow shave on the last occasion. Luckily he kept still until a line could get to him'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- Captain Scott's memoirs </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was Crean's healthy attitude which ensured he adapted to the harsh environment and was valued by the team. Albert Armitage wrote:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://annascaul.net/tom-crean" target="_blank">'Crean was an Irishman with a fund of wit and an even temper which nothing disturbed'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
In the winter of 1902, the Discovery had become locked in the ice. Trapped, some of the expedition members left on board a relief ship, but Crean opted to stay and help free the ship. In February 1904, the ship was freed. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTfJRMNWGuYZFZ_9RHUA5LOwoGYKyRm03jYAYwhXlJTGb6-USU3dfy_ip9-MEEO0I7fd41hhCIe0Y_Zb6yRxmA5iGr1zq62RQLMSXg3_qRxm_QuEx5fwyZuqNqztaSI06oXGMfrLQczM6/s1600/220px-Discoveryboat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjTfJRMNWGuYZFZ_9RHUA5LOwoGYKyRm03jYAYwhXlJTGb6-USU3dfy_ip9-MEEO0I7fd41hhCIe0Y_Zb6yRxmA5iGr1zq62RQLMSXg3_qRxm_QuEx5fwyZuqNqztaSI06oXGMfrLQczM6/s320/220px-Discoveryboat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Like the original Wild Geese, Crean had an intrepid spirit. He journeyed to the Antarctic, and despite the dangerous environment he found himself in, became an incredibly important member of the team. He found his feet during the Discovery expedition and adapted to the hard work very well. So much so, that Captain Scott chose him for his next expedition - the Terra Nova - when he would prove himself in a dramatic life or death situation. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Upon his return to Europe, he received a Silver Medal from the Royal Geographical Society for his contribution to the Discovery expedition. Clemants Markham noted Crean as:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://annascaul.net/tom-crean" target="_blank">'An excellent man, tall with a profile like the Duke of Wellington, universally liked'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Crean's story reflects that of the original Wild Geese, who braved new environments to be successful. Like The Wild Geese in 1691, Tom Crean's adventure was only just beginning. He was soon to become a veteran of the Antarctic and a hero. </div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-29827152698014034782012-02-06T11:13:00.000+00:002012-02-15T11:34:20.910+00:00Men of Action: New York Giants Victory at Super Bowl XLVIThe New York Giants proved that history does indeed repeat itself this past Sunday, when they ended this year's Super Bowl with a victory over the New England Patriots.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>Giants 21 - 17 Patriots </b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hHBuvmROYvSbebcC88_TbMyToLjIq9C3rLMJW_j88UUOA4qxTEf4rB-u6ntKcNLRhDVeFEcyjpf51X3h0r2W2sb7S62t2SCxcDLCSFN2x19EmzpfUY5t2F7LajDeJGeZv5p03CCFbA01/s1600/super-bowl-xlvi-20120205-165456-609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hHBuvmROYvSbebcC88_TbMyToLjIq9C3rLMJW_j88UUOA4qxTEf4rB-u6ntKcNLRhDVeFEcyjpf51X3h0r2W2sb7S62t2SCxcDLCSFN2x19EmzpfUY5t2F7LajDeJGeZv5p03CCFbA01/s400/super-bowl-xlvi-20120205-165456-609.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
The game's MVP - Eli Manning - gave a flawless performance, which <a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/05/2627202/manning-rallies-giants-to-super.html" target="_blank">'approached perfection'</a> and saw a <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-400_162-57371721/giants-beat-patriots-21-17-win-super-bowl/" target="_blank">final quarter</a> that secured the Giants' second Super Bowl win against the Patriots. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
But this was a team game, as the MVP points out:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/02/05/2627202/manning-rallies-giants-to-super.html" target="_blank">'This isn't about one person. This is about a team coming together, getting this win. I'm just proud of our guys, proud of the team and how we fought all year. Never discouraged, kept their fair and kept their confidence and just fought to the very end'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu4G6AJ_FbobwFso71ntiR27WcA7YmzDcR4s0dYi-iYFMhf4Hp5d5eQnrcaie7fQh5zJuTviWza5QHmCheYAcXz4ZAtJBuIP-Tcnf3qnduHp8tRgwmK8ShTaBabHYPQuRNMel8Y20YNQc/s1600/SUPER-BOWL-XLVI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgu4G6AJ_FbobwFso71ntiR27WcA7YmzDcR4s0dYi-iYFMhf4Hp5d5eQnrcaie7fQh5zJuTviWza5QHmCheYAcXz4ZAtJBuIP-Tcnf3qnduHp8tRgwmK8ShTaBabHYPQuRNMel8Y20YNQc/s400/SUPER-BOWL-XLVI.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Another reminder of how important team work is. But a team also needs a strong leader. Irish American Giants' coach, Tom Coughlin brought the team together Saturday night. He showed them a highlight reel of their season so far, and inspired them with a rousing speech, which got the team all fired up for their showdown on Sunday. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/tom-coughlin-inspires-ny-giants-believes-ll-back-blue-gunning-super-bowl-repeat-article-1.1017792?localLinksEnabled=false" target="_blank">'It was very passionate. It was hard to go to sleep after a speech like that... You could tell it was from the heart'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
- Justin Tuck, No. 91, Defensive End, Giants</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
His speech was one that could have come straight from 1691, and could be directed at The Wild Geese. Coughlin says:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/giants/tom-coughlin-inspires-ny-giants-believes-ll-back-blue-gunning-super-bowl-repeat-article-1.1017792?localLinksEnabled=false" target="_blank">'We just kept pounding away on those themes - persevere until victory is ours, you got to believe, all things are possible for those who believe. We never changed our approach, never changed our style'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePjQSKOMO_-92lox7MxsQjicfegtUIMoR4EUQWKR_B3_cmlbQJo7mazWAC5AndxjuUSizTRIEYYqs1fEPksUalYgplARbBRffBkq3z_cZN5nTVgZ6nqvOR545-xn5q7-_dyBHOTKZPTIn/s1600/Super_Bowl_Football(5)_t607.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjePjQSKOMO_-92lox7MxsQjicfegtUIMoR4EUQWKR_B3_cmlbQJo7mazWAC5AndxjuUSizTRIEYYqs1fEPksUalYgplARbBRffBkq3z_cZN5nTVgZ6nqvOR545-xn5q7-_dyBHOTKZPTIn/s400/Super_Bowl_Football(5)_t607.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuB419VkJsEzZ_GqGJdzac5c3Pht2-30hH_faEcqrdlRQoPZGjLuls8m_XbYrI4-OOy8k319VDw-9h2xAXg0u-ASB_D8LfG4pdxiJbOBG2_k7BO_K_7Lu00wIVk7nvpUBjxpYQKFug-J9p/s1600/nfl_e_coughlin_cr_576.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuB419VkJsEzZ_GqGJdzac5c3Pht2-30hH_faEcqrdlRQoPZGjLuls8m_XbYrI4-OOy8k319VDw-9h2xAXg0u-ASB_D8LfG4pdxiJbOBG2_k7BO_K_7Lu00wIVk7nvpUBjxpYQKFug-J9p/s400/nfl_e_coughlin_cr_576.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
This message is timeless, and this past weekend, propelled the Giants to victory once again. </div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5761975657575737717.post-68793216623408823742012-02-03T11:21:00.001+00:002012-02-03T11:21:27.766+00:00Super Bowl XLVI: Team SpiritWe're only a few days away from the Super Bowl, when the New York Giants will meet the New England Patriots. Each team has a huge Irish American following and this will be a game that we're sure Wild Geese will be tuning in to.<br />
<br />
Over the past week, the Super Bowl adverts have been airing on TV and the excitement is already starting to build.<br />
<br />
The Giants and Patriots have faced off at the 2008 Superbowl, when the Giants 17-14. So all eyes will be locked to the screen to see how this year's Superbowl turns out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzcHEAVEvQAqNio_C2P5fLsHJWcTqoBQz32p1IEOWuO-cvP5aTMIzs1qMGgxdMCKZb1KClrkfB8Gz_jVe9kkFMTNTld1qMDZ8u79f_BUucY1sTtmzSM5eTTHGhyphenhyphen8csta6Jv3k-HymMZGF/s1600/new-england-patriots_002865_1_mainpicture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="331" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzcHEAVEvQAqNio_C2P5fLsHJWcTqoBQz32p1IEOWuO-cvP5aTMIzs1qMGgxdMCKZb1KClrkfB8Gz_jVe9kkFMTNTld1qMDZ8u79f_BUucY1sTtmzSM5eTTHGhyphenhyphen8csta6Jv3k-HymMZGF/s400/new-england-patriots_002865_1_mainpicture.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2ZJe7v8jZ5164q3vzdQbe2S2OqDD4Jjvaf3ZYQ0RA_9fgU7DijtkG4KCC9ZSOb74Gc7ztxhpjGTuKWc9VBaaKCM-E574XKXp4L_-4biLfyNR0Z5Ed3tvhyTSZB1Pht7nQeThmCVWosS3/s1600/2012-01-22T225520Z_01_FOX35_RTRIDSP_3_NFL-PLAYOFFS-AFC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih2ZJe7v8jZ5164q3vzdQbe2S2OqDD4Jjvaf3ZYQ0RA_9fgU7DijtkG4KCC9ZSOb74Gc7ztxhpjGTuKWc9VBaaKCM-E574XKXp4L_-4biLfyNR0Z5Ed3tvhyTSZB1Pht7nQeThmCVWosS3/s400/2012-01-22T225520Z_01_FOX35_RTRIDSP_3_NFL-PLAYOFFS-AFC.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
Although the excitement is searing through the US, Tom Brady must feel like the world is on his shoulders, as he was on the field at Superbowl XLII as well. This will be Brady's fifth start as quarterback and has worked with New England Coach Bill Belichick for twelve years!<br />
<br />
Speaking about their relationship that has lasted over a decade, Brady describes Belichick:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/story/2012-02-02/super-duo-bill-tom-brady/52941000/1" target="_blank">'He coaches me the same way that he coached me the day I got here. On our team, it's interesting, there really is no separate treatment for different players. The rookies are expected to perform and act the same as the veteran guys. He's very tough'</a> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
It's a clear bet that the team will be heading in to Sunday's game prepared. With the team training as equals, keeps them moving in the same direction. Although Brady attracts countless media attention, on the field, he's part of the team - one of eleven. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Like The Wild Geese, the Patriots will need to depend on each other in order to achieve success. Patriots offensive lineman, Brian Waters puts this into perspective:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/patriots/story/2012/02/02/super-duo-bill-belichick-tom-brady/52941000/1" target="_blank">'To have a coach set the tone and a player as good as Tom follow that, it's hard for any other player to even think about having a different thought process. If the best player on your team is all-in 100% then who are you to be different?'</a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Although they're not quite fighting to survive and succeed, this is what the mind set of The Wild Geese was - working together and giving 100%.<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLb0VguoBWc0oAXY7u1kaqN6Rus-YhIcO7sBp4PaFd_RSuxywWoDot4NdhFkpmU9ppCGFjqUpAgzDXcmqt8g_f2fnEp46eTP460QqYEo7lZ5OPfwmcAHjc8_lRd3JbFepSHB0Piwc42s7/s1600/Tom-Brady-Gisele-Bundchen-brentwood-mansion-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLb0VguoBWc0oAXY7u1kaqN6Rus-YhIcO7sBp4PaFd_RSuxywWoDot4NdhFkpmU9ppCGFjqUpAgzDXcmqt8g_f2fnEp46eTP460QqYEo7lZ5OPfwmcAHjc8_lRd3JbFepSHB0Piwc42s7/s400/Tom-Brady-Gisele-Bundchen-brentwood-mansion-1.jpg" width="271" /></a></div>
<br />
In the last few days, Tom Brady's wife, the glamourous Gisele B<span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">ΓΌ</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">ndchen has been rallying support for her husband and his team:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/news/gisele-bundchen-asks-friends-to-pray-for-tom-brady-during-super-bowl-201222" target="_blank">'Sunday will be a really important day in my husband's life... and now they need us more than ever to send them positive energy so they can fulfil their dream of winning this Super Bowl'</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyJbNK2Z1oQdjQOlDFMpCFoo4WQfLFUUuS6PTUtyb7pQQF8AdxsMOKYu8JZQ3l971fOi_VLAoMq8TLzJT4dzWdZh12_3x5qXXSZS3PrmPXpZfm-QnLt887oCe7e2Kvow-Kl4pSXsM4-w1/s1600/new-england-patriots-super-bowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxyJbNK2Z1oQdjQOlDFMpCFoo4WQfLFUUuS6PTUtyb7pQQF8AdxsMOKYu8JZQ3l971fOi_VLAoMq8TLzJT4dzWdZh12_3x5qXXSZS3PrmPXpZfm-QnLt887oCe7e2Kvow-Kl4pSXsM4-w1/s400/new-england-patriots-super-bowl.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
And that's exactly what Wild Geese are doing according to Connell Gallagher, publisher of the Irish Emigrant newspaper in Boston:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.irishcentral.com/sport/Superbowl-Giants-Vs-Patriots-sets-Irish-hearts-racing-138032073.html" target="_blank">'It's fair to say that there's true pride and loyal support for the Patriots here in Boston'</a></div>
</div>The Wild Geese Irish Whiskeyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18207001344310128586noreply@blogger.com0