Goats and monkeys!

goats

Flu hit me Monday. I almost have no memory of the first two days, just some strange dreams and random, chaotic thoughts. Thursday my head cleared up a bit so that I could think about my next blog post making notes on a piece of paper ( I was too weak to open my laptop). The misery of my condition couldn’t produce anything cheerful, and somehow I started thinking about all the innocent creatures of this world who’ve got to suffer for nothing.  Goats came to mind.

My first image was  taken on a bright summer morning during Waterford Hot Air Ballooning Championship . I got a few good shots at the take off in the grounds of Waterford Castle, and was on my road to Passage East where I expected to take a ferry and cross to Co Wexford.  I was almost there when the events took a rather surreal turn and the scene changed to somewhat apocalyptic in a matter of seconds. The goats. They started falling out of the thick bushes,  off the almost vertical cliff – all sizes, shapes, genders and breeds. The sun was blinding me, but true to myself I was pressing the shutter. Two cars in front of me navigated out of the scene when more goats jumped from above, not less than a hundred of them, and I was stuck. I missed the ferry, but took a great set of pictures.

Goat is one of the first domesticated animals. When and where he ruined his reputation, is not clear, but he is associated with the satyr Pan, notoriously mischievous god who had a long beard, goat legs and horns.  Read this article, it is very informative and amusing.

Pan was so ugly that even his mother run away from him horrified and disgusted.  It is where the word ‘panic’ came from. I don’t know what to say,  but look at these pictures and prove to me that this goat is not a saint among his people.

goat

goat

Some goats have a better fate. The picture below was taken ten years ago, in Killorglin, Co Kerry.  Every August people gather to celebrate Puck Fair in Killorglin, and a goat is crowned to become a king of the land for three days ( you can watch a video  on this link). The earliest known reference to Puck Fair is a charter by King  James I, dated 1613, granting a legal status to the existing fair.  The farm hands had a clause in their contract to be free of work for those three days.

The festival is a great event, and I hope to attend it some day. If you travel Ireland around 10 – 12 August, make a note.

king puck

These skinny goats were spotted in Bunratty Castle, Co Limerick.

Bunratty Folk Park

Co Kerry has a weakness for goats – in town of Dingle, Goat Street is an extension of the Main Street.

dingle

In the Shakespearean tragedy, Iago works Othello into such a state of jealousy, that the poor man imagines things that have never happened. He exits the scene with the exclamation ‘Goats and monkeys!’ using the name of innocent creatures to express his disgust.

Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, tonight
I do entreat that we may sup together.
You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys!
 Using Desdemona’s words, I can tell that, concerning goats, “… I have spoken for you all my best “,  and now I should speak for monkeys too, which would be only fair. Look at the picture – this face speaks volumes. Don’t judge monkeys!

monkey

The Hot Air Balloon  Festival ended with amazing take off from Waterford Airport, but I will remember it because of the Passage East goats.

hot air

I do hope I have been a good advocate for the creatures not favored by some. What if we change the tradition and make “Goats and monkeys” a funny exclamation, not a symbol of immorality? It is the 21st century, after all.

Happy Christmas to you all, peace, love, inspiration and joy!

IneseMjPhotographyHave a wonderful weekend!

131 comments

    1. Thank you! 🙂 I was following the balloons and was supposed to take a ferry, but missed it, and missed the landing of the balloons. Wasn’t too upset having tons of goat pictures 🙂

    1. Thank you so much! I am feeling better, but have difficulties falling asleep because of the cough 😦 Flu is very dangerous, I have learned that in a hard way 😦
      Wish you a lovely holiday season!

  7. Goats are adorable but can be pushy! I love goat cheese. Feel better soon, dear Inese. I’ve brought you flowers to brighten your day 🙂 And look! — a goat and monkey tagged along, as well. 🌷 🌼 🌸 🌻 🌹 🐐 🐒

      1. My son has been ill with the flu this past week (his third bout in as many months), so reading your post, I thought of how ill he’s been and I do really feel for you. Take care. I hope the cough goes quickly; that really is the enemy of sleep.

        1. Thank you, and so sorry for your son – it is a true misery 😦 Cough will stay longer. Human weaklings, it is all we are. Viruses are stronger than us.

          1. Thanks Ines. He’s bounced back in the way of the young. You’re right about human weaklings; and I worry that we don’t exactly help ourselves in a society full of fast food, inactivity and environmental toxins. And on that cheery note … Happy Christmas.

  10. Extensive lab studies have been made on rats proving they have empathy and will rescue other rats who are confined. They are also smart. Animals have abilities we don’t want to know about because it would change the way we treat them!
    I hope you feel better my friend and Happy Holidays!

  13. Hoping you are feeling better, Inese. Thanks for your thoughts, I agree that we should appreciate the animals and don’t “dress” them with superstitions. The same happens sometimes in my country with cats. I think I have never seen goats in Peru, to me they are so exotic…

      1. Goats aren’t in the Peruvian ecosystem, we have in the mountains llamas, pumas, condors, and other animals but not goats. It’s strange but seems like Spaniards didn’t bring them.

          1. Yes, we have sheep, they survive better our high altitudes (4000 meters above sea level) and are yummy, there are cows too and we have our native deer that we call Taruka (pronounced Tah-ruh-Kah) ^_^

  16. Nubian goats are my fav. I do like other farm animals but goats capture my attention. I do have a penchant for miniature goats they are so cute and you can take them home in your pocket. I have seen hot air balloon contest and just for plain fun rise to the heavens. So colorful. Thanks for this interesting post.

    1. Thank you so much! I too love goats, and I think they are very wise and modest creatures!
      Seeing a balloon in the sky always makes me smile 🙂

  17. When I saw the title and that you had the flu, I thought you had fever induced hallucinations about goats and monkeys. I recall seeing some goats (and many sheep) when we visited Ireland. Love the images. Cheers!

      1. I had a fever a few years back and was having strange dreams about bells…It was only a few days later that I realized I’d only been hearing the neighbor’s wind chimes. lol

  18. A very entertaining post! I’m amazed you were able to pull it together! Bravo – take care and have a healthy, happy holiday season!

  20. Goats are actually very playful and affectionate. I do farm chores for a neighbor when they go on vacation. The goats are a pleasure. It’s the geese that I could do without! Fun post. I hope you start feeling better soon and are on your feet for the holiday 🙂

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