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NEW ARTICLE: Fair Head Meet 2010 - Report

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 UKC Articles 24 Jun 2010
[A climber on the classic E4 of Incarus Gun, 3 kb]Mountaineering Ireland (MI) hosted the first Fair Head climbing meet over the weekend of 4th - 6th June.

The meet was a massive success with over 100 climbers attending the weekend. With Fair Head's remoteness on the north coast of Northern Ireland, it was incredible to witness such a big turnout.

Here Paul Swail gives us the full low down:

Read more at http://www.ukclimbing.com/articles/page.php?id=2831

 pdhu 24 Jun 2010
In reply to UKC Articles:

Glad the meet was a success.
Definitely one of the best crags in Britain, but also, bafflingly, one of the quietest considering the quality of what’s on offer! More rock porn here:
http://www.fairheadclimbers.com/pages/photos/1/page1.htm
 BOOGA 25 Jun 2010
In reply to pdhu:
Meet was a success. Far from the 1st meet at Fairhead though and definitely not the first MI official meet. One of the best crags in Britian? Pretty sure Fairhead was on the north east coast of Antrim in Ireland last time I was there...may have moved it though..
I see 'climb' mag has a piece on the mirror wall in the Burren in this months issue. Except that they have the Burren as being in Northern Ireland and not in Co Clare on the West coast...
Fantastic climbing in in both guys, you'll have to cross the water though...
 alkira 25 Jun 2010
In reply to UKC Articles: The pic of the cow shed looks great fun ....bunch of climbing geeks peering into their beers. Wish I had been there....guess it was all about the climbing ,not the partying!!!!
 pdhu 26 Jun 2010
In reply to BOOGA:
oops...sorry!
Anyway, another point, the article mentions "Fair Head's remoteness", but for N England/Peak District-based climbers it's no more remote than Pembroke. Tuck in! I did An Bealach Runda last year and it was the BEST adventure, totally improbable climbing, and the top pitch of Conchubair was unforgettable stuff too- so many good routes...
 BOOGA 26 Jun 2010
In reply to pdh
Part of the beauty of climbing up there is the sense of remoteness and the fact that the wall swallows your rack whole..make sure to hold something back for the last 20 metres!
 auld al 26 Jun 2010
In reply to BOOGA:
> (In reply to pdhu)
One of the best crags in Britian? Pretty sure Fairhead was on the north east coast of Antrim in Ireland last time I was there...may have moved it though..
northern ireland

 aln 26 Jun 2010
In reply to auld al: Surely N Ireland is part of Britain? In the British Isles and a part of the UK.
 auld al 26 Jun 2010
In reply to aln:
> (In reply to auld al) Surely N Ireland is part of Britain? In the British Isles and a part of the UK.
even clearer
 Banned User 77 26 Jun 2010
In reply to aln: I don't think so, I always thought Great Britain is England, Scotland and Wales.

The UK is Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

As Antrim is Northern Ireland, then it's the UK not Britain, isn't it?
 aln 27 Jun 2010
In reply to auld al:
> (In reply to aln)
> [...]
> even clearer

Thanks. A few years ago we were on a family holiday and were leaving Ayrshire on that excellent drive S down the west coast of Scotland. Stopped in a carpark and looked across at Ireland. Then thought "Is that steep bit on the end Fairhead?"
 ciaran1999 27 Jun 2010
In reply to IainRUK:

i think you want to stop this discussion right there.

otherwise you'll just piss people off, if the irish can't decide what fecking country we live in then i doubt english intervention in the issue is going to help...
 Banned User 77 27 Jun 2010
In reply to ciaran1999: There's do and want to...
 ciaran1999 27 Jun 2010
In reply to IainRUK:

what?
 Banned User 77 27 Jun 2010
In reply to ciaran1999: Well boundaries are black and white. They may change but at the moment the UK boundaries aren't really debatable. People may want NI to be Ireland, but it isn't. Pretty simple. It may be a great and legit claim, but that's all it is.
 Banned User 77 27 Jun 2010
In reply to ciaran1999: Basically you may want to live in Ireland, but you do live in NI. Simples..
 ciaran1999 27 Jun 2010
In reply to IainRUK:

A great and legit claim.. Exactly, and when both sides claim ownership who is right? Those with the most money and the biggest guns.

If you want to get into it the UK boundaries are absolutely debatable, hence the first section of the good friday agreement accepting that the border is not permanent and is subject to change when the Irish people as a whole decide.

When the British illegally invaded both Iraq and Afghanistan (having installed and propped up both the governments they subsequently collapsed)they claimed that they were doing 'the right thing'. That's not true. In both cases it has been shown, and this is beyond doubt, that they entered these countries purely for money making schemes, and not in the slightest for the good of the people in that country.

When the british occupied Ireland, murdered a large proportion of its' people, and raped the country of resources they were doing exactly the same thing. That is, they were taking what they wanted and couldn't care less what happened to the people they were affecting.

So what I am trying to say is that the British have, and still do, claim legitimacy in countries where they are not wanted or tolerated. They hold onto this legitimacy until it becomes impossible to do so, e.g. Ireland, India, Africa to name but a few.

If I come to your house, beat the head off you, raped your wife and murdered your children and then called your house mine, would I be right?

No. And this is exactly what England has done in Ireland. Hence the reason I recommended you stop this conversation. You obviously have no shame for what your country has done in the past, and for what it continues to do, e.g. failing to disclose the names of the murderers responsible for bloody sunday, and failing to make them face the criminal proceedings they deserve
.

Now can we stop this, there's no point in continuing it..
 Banned User 77 27 Jun 2010
In reply to ciaran1999: Look you are arguing with the wrong person here. But for now NI IS part of the UK. Simple and indisputable fact. There may be other claims, I never said otherwise.
 Banned User 77 27 Jun 2010
In reply to ciaran1999: Why are you on UKC!
 ciaran1999 27 Jun 2010
In reply to IainRUK:

Because i love climbing and live in England! Don't get me wrong, I avoid politics as much as I am able! But I do get annoyed when British people with no idea of the history behind it all simply say 'It's ours, we own it'.

It's a complex issue and best not discussed on a climbing forum, instead we should be talking crap about climbing and bouldering and horrible beginner climber belaying!
 Banned User 77 27 Jun 2010
In reply to ciaran1999: It's not complex at the climbing level. UKC report a meet in the UK as the current boundaries prescribe. They make no political statement, no supporting gesture, just simple coverage of current events.

I'm not saying NI should be part of the UK, it just is at the current time.
 kevin stephens 27 Jun 2010
In reply to UKC Articles:

I've just returned from my 5th trip to Fairhead and great to see the reaction of my friends who I introduced to "The Head" for the first time.

Ive been climbing for 30 years and love Gogarth etc, but my favourite E2; Cuchulainn, E3; Salango and E4; Face Value are all at Fairhead

For those who haven't been Fairhead is a (the?)world class trad - adventure climbing crag. The locals have put a lot of work into promoting their showpiece (check out the non-commercial website), including hard days on the ab rope cleaning rediscoverd classics.

For those w*****s who insisit on ruining this thread getting the last word in on Northern Ireland's physical/political geography I have started a seperate thread in the pub for you to play in
 Banned User 77 27 Jun 2010
In reply to kevin stephens: ooh get you soft lad..
 pdhu 27 Jun 2010
In reply to BOOGA:
> In reply to pdh
> Part of the beauty of climbing up there is the sense of remoteness and the fact that the wall swallows your rack whole..make sure to hold something back for the last 20 metres!

Yes, when I topped out on Conchubair, utterly, utterly gubbed, the only gear I had left was two big friends stuffed down the front of my top because I'd used their racking krabs in lieu of quickdraws (had run out!), and it's not like I hadn't set off with a decent rack. I'm pretty sure I also considered using my chalk bag cord too! I'd love to go back for Equinox, Blockbuster and Sandpiper one day soon...it's so beautiful and the climbing's simply brilliant.

 BOOGA 27 Jun 2010
In reply to pdhu:
> (In reply to BOOGA)
> [...]
I'd used their racking krabs in lieu of quickdraws (had run out!), and it's not like I hadn't set off with a decent rack. I'm pretty sure I also considered using my chalk bag cord too!
>

Ha Ha! Yup, that sounds about right! Its so easy to misjudge the length of the climb and keep stuffing in the gear because you're getting a bit nervous of the exposure and the pointy rocks with the sea bashing off them below. Take your rack and your mates' It'll take doubles of everything. On a clear day sitting at the belay is a joy in it's self looking out at Rathlin Island and Scotland a stones throw away. I've yet to find anywhere in the world quite like it..

 nomisb 29 Jun 2010
In reply to ciaran1999:

What about the Scots?????

Don't just lay into the English.

 Andy Moles 29 Jun 2010
In reply to pdhu:
> the article mentions "Fair Head's remoteness", but for N England/Peak District-based climbers it's no more remote than Pembroke.

To be fair it's logistically quite a bit further - you've got to book your crossing and cross your fingers for good weather!

My family lives in NI so I'm back there often enough, seems always to coincide with crap weather though so I haven't managed many days at the Head. Which badly needs rectified...
 John2 29 Jun 2010
In reply to andy moles: 'you've got to book your crossing and cross your fingers for good weather!'

The Uk to Northern Ireland crossing is reputed to be the most expensive ferry crossing per mile in the world. Fly to Belfast International Airport and hire a car (less than 1 hour's drive to Ballycastle).
 Andy Moles 10 Jul 2010
In reply to John2:

Intra-UK flights? Shaaame!

Anyway you still have to book those. Best option is to go as a foot passenger (not so expensive, and no need to book far in advance), then hire a car.

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