We’re travelling later this evening from home in Sligo to Tullamore, Co Offaly for the Phoenix Festival. Lots of hot air balloons will be gliding silently in the skies – the weather forecast looks great for the weekend. 

My last close encounter with a hot air balloon was nearly 10 years ago, north-east of West
Chester, PA on Route 202 while on a few days visit with SMS (now Siemens
Medical Solutions) in Malvern. Something went awry as the pilot had to
ditch the basket just beside a highway exit.

All this hot air ballooning will probably mean missing the Connacht Final
between Mayo and Galway in McHale Park, Castlebar – I thought it was
the following week. After the performance against Leitrim a few weeks back though, I’m not too hopeful of Mayo chances.