Out about the last few weeks, some people I have come across, thanks to Henry, Pedro and John Farrell, firstly for allowing me to Photograph them, and their kindness in conversation. Beside local shops, to the height of Croagh Patrick. 

Longford Arts Festival Cruthu 2018, what a way to finish off a great festival great night of music, with the effervescent Aoife Mulligan and the pulsating Kila. Longford Arts Festival Cruthu 2018 finished 
A great local talent Aoife wowed on the night, with great voice and music, someone that will go very far. Kila Kila Kila, what can I say, I wanted more, story's fun and music that would stir the dead to dancing.  St John's Church Battery road, was the venue, everybody that was there will never forget a great night of music. I was up since half five that morn, for reek Sunday Croagh Patrick, wasn't home an hour but went to this gig, shattered tired, the pain was a distant memory, til it was all over off course, I cannot wait to see either perform again

Pilgrimage, prayer, penance and peace, Croagh Patrick Reek Sunday 2018. What a journey, second time in doing so, was well worth it. Peace of mind, penance, you get it all, something every Irish person I believe should do. I think Joe Duffy heard my expletive thoughts on way down, was kind enough to pose for a photo. 

Tom MacManus, from Clondra, County Longford, over fifty year toil and sweat, with Hanlons Gala garage, now working on and  renovating an old ambulance, that use to be built in a factory, that was once on the same site of what is now 'Hanlons Gala garage Longford Town, Ireland, the factory was before his time he said. He first started working at Hanlons Garage when it first opened over fifty year ago. The factory that made the ambulances was also in the hands of Hanlons family too. My late Grandfather, same great name Michael Croghan, worked at some point of his life in Hanlons Factory, that made the ambulances. The quiet unassuming Tom, is literally part of the fixtures now at Hanlons garage. Great Loyalty and dedication, many know him fondly, and nobody would ever have a bad word to say about him. Quiet gentle hard working Tom, the ambulance that was once in a very bad state, was a ambulance that came from the old factory, and Tom, is tipping away at it daily, it has reached local media and fame across County of Longford. Now it hasn't moved far he said, it was driven one end of the Garage court to another end, at literally one mile per hour, he said the speed was due to no breaks, he said smiling, runs but you cant fast obviously. A lot of issue with electrics he is unsure if it they can be repaired fully, but coming on well regardless, of that, and it does run he said

 I am Exhibiting a thoughtful straight conceptual objective exhibition at the growing festival that is Cruthu Longford, 2018. Thank you Forwardly for visiting, if your not aware of Longford Town, if your about this weekend feel free to contact me and I will guide you to mine and other exhibitors across the town, and good entertainment. From comedy by Stephen Garland Local and international comedian, Saturday night Backstage theater, and music by Kila St Johns Church Sunday evening. Check link below directly to Cruthu 2018 Longford Click on Pic below to go to Cruthu Official Web page for info of all Artistic Itinerary starting Tomorrow 26th up to the 29th 

Arthur Pilat

From Poland originally a place in between Krakow and Warsaw called Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski,  nine years in Ireland all together. Longford based now, his mother bought a house in Longford Town, moved to Kilcock first with family, was there for seven years, where he schooled in national and secondary school. Repeated leaving cert in St Mel’s Secondary Longford Town, wasn't happy with results he originally received in Kilcock secondary school. Afterwards following a friend he went to Dun Laoghaire, to study computer software, realised fairly soon afterwards, around 3-6 months wasn't for him and left it. Now studying in Blanchestown  College, Sports Management & Coaching, 50/50 Sports & Business. Grateful for the business part of he said. was inspired by a Gary Vee, ‘’me aware of how important it is to build up a personal brand through vlogging and being active on social media,’’ also Arthur inspired by Casey Neistat, whom does daily Vlogging, with millions of followers and views, and also successful with viral adverts.

That's how I came across  Arthur, I recently joined Gym, Exstasy Gym, Little Water Street,  Longford Town, and pumping huge weights as you can imagine, when I seen  ‘Arthur, set up a camera, and video himself lifting some weights. Thought hold up, this is a guy that knows what he is doing, I asked what he was doing, said he has a Youtube Video Page where he Vlogs about various thing relating to gym fitness etc. Being in the gym, you can see that much needed safety is something lacking with some, lifting big weights, I thought only be a good thing if newbies to gym’s can see simply how to lift without doing serious damage, had to do a story on him and share his open free knowledge.

Fitness was always a thing for Arthur, early on in his young life still, he was a free runner and jumper. Several knocks put a hold on that, suffering many minor damage mainly to his ankles, and even still to this day can feel the effect of the free running and jumping, even simply climbing stairs with clicks in his ankles reminding him, dont be free running and jumping. Now he does Calisthenics and bodyweight movements, something similar to gymnastics. Hoping to someday get paid for vlogging, its the new era of digital marketing, that is all the rage, and he wants to put his stamp on it, and hopefully be successful.

He said ‘’I am still learning, but would like to pass on knowledge I have learned’’. He loves the video editing part of it too, something he never knew he would like. He is also all about improvement improving oneself in all aspects. Putting yourself out there, he put himself forward once for an event, mostly 4ths years but open to other years in school at the time, he remembers one lesson he learned via another person, the girl was in 3rd year and wanted to the video to promote oneself, she was scared of what her friends would say, the teacher said they are not your friends if you are scared of what they may say, Arthur started videoing the week after.

Arthur told me, about a waywardness he openly admits, and questioned where or what he was doing in life. Was a rough time, he went through when he was in Kilcock, spent many hours even days just hanging around train station, smoking weed not really doing anything, and the move to Longford, he used to do something about it. He got stuck back into to study, distance himself away from that depression, waywardness. As I said earlier he redone Leaving Cert in St Mel’s and passed and not in College. He is a big believer in self improvement, reads and reads many books all about self improvement.

Left me with the following thought

‘’You attract what you give out, so don't really complain, if you want to achieve something, then do something about it’

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I have had this idea for awhile, wasn't til this morning the 21st of March 2018, on Route to Connolly Station, Dublin, that I decided to start it. I had this idea a while ago but put on the shelf. Beauty aesthetics is not just for career models. I have seen many that I thought I would consider had a model like features. Both male and female, it happened to be a male today, and from the image, maybe you can see that too. Is it coming from me, I think we are mature enough to say what is what is without sounding cliched or armoured, which is not the case, there is no sexual connotations, just an understanding of beauty in people. As a Photographer, I shoot beauty all the time, it is not just in landscapes, or still life, I can appreciate beauty in all aspects and people. We are all not blessed with such beauty, which in itself differentiate beauty in people, wouldn't it be a good thing if we all were, then it would really come down to character and personality, which I regard much higher than beauty aesthetics. This series is an appreciation of what is, simply just beautiful. We seek it out, we want to be it, we spend huge sums of money to be beautiful. I think we should accept ourselves for who we are, and accept beauty, true beauty, only belongs to a few. We shouldn't try so hard to attain, something we cant attain, and certainly not stress ourselves out for it to the point of it being an actual negative on our lives, via money and self-respect. If you get plastic surgery, Botox, and whatever else what you are really saying is I am not happy, I think I am not attractive enough. By these acts and more, you are subconsciously demeaning yourself, give yourself a break accept who you are, help yourself healthy but not to be somebody you are not. I want to celebrate the beauty for what it is, and the lucky people to have it. Let's get back to the original idea, that beauty is not here to push us to attain, just is, the beauty market and fashion twisted that, for you to try and reach attain that by money and pain. Let's celebrate beauty for its own sake, its ok to admire and not strive to attain, what we really cant just appreciate beauty in some people. ​
Keep following this new series on my Art page, or click Link here

Dublin, 28-02-2018 Start of the Beast From The East effects on Irish Dublin City. Made my way as I usually do for College in DIT Grangegorman, not aware of Email sent out. I get 7 am train, and Email was sent out at 8 am, got to class to realise yeah no classes this day. On my way, first thing that hit me was obviously the traffic or lack of it. City itself looked pretty manageable, but in the outskirts of City, it was more treacherous, Giving the Dublin City as eerie feeling, that one is not used too. The worst is yet to come, with Red Alerts for 29th.  I was glad to get back home to Longford, and luckily managed to get a seat on Train. People were refused entry on to train because of it being full, the isles and door ways all full to brim. That  was the 1.05 to Sligo from Connolly, was 20 minutes running late with issues with point systems down the line. Fair play to staff did all they can, was unusually full in respect, with colleges closing earlier, and many many students made there way home like myself. One staff member from Connolly chased down a lucky customer, who lost ticket, they get a lot of grief, nice to know they are human, and decent, and genuinely care for the regular commuter.  

Niall Anthony & wife Gwen Stratton-Reilly, with son Sean, celebrate a family business in Longford Town. Successful 50 years in business, My congratulations, to ye all, knowing, ye many years, practically neighbors, its great to see ye do so well. here's to another 50 years, ye wouldn't think it by looking at ye, looking fierce young, I have to double check the dates ;p. Credit to Longford locals and repeat customers, obviously for good reason. Sean will take on the mantle I'm sure, keep it for another successful 50 years.