"Summer" bouldering at Portrane Beach

"Met Éireann confirmed the worst suspicions of umbrella sellers yesterday when it declared last month to be one of the warmest, sunniest and driest Aprils on record."
The Irish Times, Wednesday, May 2, 2007

Summer? What summer? The three following months probably broke some rainfall record. (By the way, I cannot bear that "me-and-my-umbrella" song anymore, can you?) True, summer this year started in mid April and finished in mid May. As a result our usual evening summer sessions in Portrane seriously started only a couple of weeks ago, and will be over in another couple of weeks as the days are getting shorter. It is hard to get motivated in these conditions. My Shot down in Flames project is laughing at me....

I do not know if it is the climate or the economical context but most of the locals are leaving: do you really think that Squamish or Font could beat Portrane? Seriously lads!
So for those about to rock, here's a little video of Portrane:

Shot Down in Flames

After having done most of the easy lines, I was already getting bored this summer in Portrane. So I decided to explore the rest of the place.

I had already spotted a nasty high and scary line in the cave at the back of the Arch. The fact that a few solid looking holds were pointing throughout was quite appealing and one could already imaging himself working his way up. A few shy tries had me gone up a big ledge, deadpointing through a overhanging face to catch a good flake above it. To finish it was a matter of rocking on the foot to gain a high crack on the left leading to the top.
One could quote The Magnificent Seven here:

"Vin: Reminds me of that fellow back home that fell off a ten story building.
Chris: What about him?
Vin: Well, as he was falling people on each floor kept hearing him say, "So far, so good. Tch...So far, so good!"

My right hand poped off. The landing was painful. The line is still standing.

For the time being I have called it Shot down in Flames. But one day...