We’re not off to sunny Spain this morning, we are going to County Cork, specifically Crosshaven, home of The Merries, otherwise known as Piper’s Funfair and Amusements.
Founded in 1837, so the Pipers say, this is a vintage funfair. It’s where you’d love to take the grandchildren for toffee apples and sticks of rock – later you’ll have to take them to the dentist. If you are in County Cork you’re in luck, otherwise you can get a flavour from June Fairhead’s photographic essay about this quirky, charming treat for children of all ages. June is a photographer living in an old schoolhouse on an idyllic bay near Kinsale. She is trying crowd funding to pay for publishing the book. You seldom get any return on crowd funding but the splendid thing about her project is that you know you will not get your money back. However, she will send you a copy of her book for a modest donation. Here she is describing the project and fluffing her lines, just like the professional cast of The Avengers.
If you’d like to contribute, I have, here is the link. If you live outside Ireland you should add a bit to cover the postage. I’ve not seen the photographs yet but from the film I’d say that Bill Piper isn’t a Pioneer*.
http://fundit.ie/project/showman-1
So it’s showtime and what could be more appropriate than this number from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel; June is Bustin’ Out All Over.
*The Pioneer Total Abstinence Association of the Sacred Heart (PTAA) is an Irish organisation for Roman Catholic teetotallers. Its members are commonly called Pioneers. (Wikipedia)