Thread drift:

A few years ago, there was what birdwatchers call a "mega-twitch" in Ireland when a very unusual species (Little Blue Heron, since you ask) turned up near Letterfrack in Co. Galway, on the west coast. The nearest the damn thing had ever come to Europe before that was The Azores, if I remember correctly. This provoked an instant flood of UK birders trying desperately to get there for the "tick" before it disappeared again. I met three guys who booked a flight into Dublin next morning and back out again that evening - and hired a car to drive to the west coast. "It's only about hundred miles each way - no sweat!". Unfortunately, this was just before the Athlone - Galway section of the motorway opened... This meant passing through the town of Ballinasloe itself - during the eponymous Horse Fair mentioned in the song! Instead of ten minutes, it took them nearly TWO HOURS! They were then torn between enjoying the bird and managing to get back to Dublin in time for their flight. I was able to give them directions to avoid the town...

Regards

p.s. Then there was the story about Robbie Henshaw's father and the double bass...