Some more exalted leaps from Blackrock diving board

At certain times of the year in Galway, when the short wet days of winter and spring begin to give way to the long wet days of summer. Rare days of sunshine do occasionally occur that allow us Galwegians to imagine what it might be like to live in a country that actually experiences a significant rise in temperatures during the summertime.

To help enjoy the precious doses of vitamin D that such glimpses of sunlight provide to the inhabitants of Galway, there appears to be three main components that allow the proper enjoyment of any spring sunshine. Firstly, a can of warm beer, or a strong cider, seems essential to any outdoor activity that takes place under direct sunlight for any significant period of time. Secondly, one must always persevere to expose as much luminescent ivory white skin to as dangerous a level of uv exposure as humanly possible, this is in order to lend an alluringly exotic aspect to your appearance, which should endure until your skin stops peeling. Thirdly, there’s little or nothing that makes an Irish man or woman feel more alive than jumping from a significant height into a bracingly cold reservoir of water placed at a much lower height.

Thankfully, all these essential elements to a pleasurable day in the sun in Galway, and a whole lot more besides converge at Blackrock diving board every summer. It’s a great place to see hordes of salmon fleshed locals perform effervescent belly flops to jeers of derision from whooping masses of people, or to perform great acrobatic feats to the hushed cheers of begrudging onlookers.

Here’s my testament to the these brave souls who queue up come rain, hail, or shine,(well probably not the first two, but definitely when it’s sunny) in order to plunge into the icy depths of the Atlantic Ocean just for kicks. I don’t envy you, though I do tip my hat to your adrenaline seeking endeavours, and say cheers for the photos.

April 1, 2012 | Categories: documentary, Galway, ireland, People, photography, Seashore, straight photography, Street, sunshine, tourism, travel, unmanipulated, writing | Tags: blackrock diving board, galyway, ireland, jump, leaps, People, spring, summer, sunshine, tourism, travel, writing | Leave A Comment »