So, what's the craic today?
"Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. Rather, the best finish is to slide in, broadside, thoroughly used-up, totally worn-out and joyously proclaiming, 'Wow! What a Ride!' "
Wish I knew who originated that! They knew that happiness is the journey, not the destination. Don't abuse life, but don't save it up for a special occasion, either, because every day is a special occasion. A Formula 1 driver doesn't cross the finish line with half a tank of fuel weighing him down.
Here's the link to the Inishowen Picture Gallery, if that's all you're after.
For those of you who are twisted enough to read on....
Hi!
I'm Ash McFadden. I started this website just for my friends and family. Word, however, seems to have leaked out.
I can live with that if you can deal with me.
For those of you who don't know me, I'm an irreverent, good-natured cynic. I got my Green Card and my Explosives Licence in Ireland on the same day and my recommended work ethic is, "Find a way to get paid for what you like doing".
I like science and I found a way to do something I liked for a living - and I did it for 25 years. Then, just when I was settling into semi-retirement in Ireland and letting my sons have all the fun in America, I got sidetracked, hijacked and gobsmacked! I moved from playing accordion and drinking beer in Tullamore to being very busy on Inishowen. Now, my kids are doing it in America and I'm doing it in a gorgeous location, a stone's throw from my family's ancestral home in Donegal.
Doing what? In America, I designed laser light show and cutting laser systems and performed laser shows, mostly in planetariums, for 25 years. I liked the work. In fact, I liked it so much that, if I won the lottery, I'd build a planetarium and spend most of my time doing what I consider "cool stuff" in a domed multi-media theatre. I'd spend my time studying everything that's always interested me, from astronomy and space science to music, lasers, video and electronics. And, for kicks, I'd pass on what I learned to others by teaching or entertaining them. (Often, they're the same thing.)
OK, so I'm a techno-geek-nerd; wanna make something of it? That really is what I'd do!
Come to think of it, that's what I am doing. And, to my recollection, I didn't win the lottery.
I've managed to fall, through a series of serendipitous coincidences (or Machiavellian forces, if that explanation pleases you more) into the role of Director of the only full-time public planetarium in the Republic of Ireland. It's located in a fantastic maritime museum, way up north of Derry (no, it's NOT "Londonderry" - ask a local) in Donegal. The museum is run by a bunch of barking mad creative geniuses who are the greatest crew I've ever worked with. I run educational astronomy and space shows, perform laser light shows, shoot dreadfully big rockets and moonlight doing laser-cutting on the side.
Here's a picture of where I spend a lot of my time. I can have a grand view of the night sky whether it's day or night, cloudy or clear.
If the museum ever fires me, I'm going to have to buy tickets every day so I can keep hanging out there - they are NOT getting rid of me. And, please, let's have no comments about boys' toys or phallic symbolism with regards to the largest scientific rocket ever launched from Ireland, my "RLM" (Riduculously Large Missile) below.
For a video of this rocket in flight, click here
OK, here are the links.
For info about my laser business, both light shows and laser cutting, see www.WorldWideLasers.com. We have a laser job shop in Colorado, too, if that happens to be closer to you.
For information about the Museum and Planetarium, see www.InishowenMaritime.com.
You can expect new pictures, features and a lot more plain old "dumb shite" on www.TheCraic.net at very irregular intervals - like whenever I can slow down to a gallop and update the site.
Life's not about waiting for the storm to end. It's about learning to dance in the rain.