♫Once we built visions on the ground we hewed
We dreamt of justice and of men renewed
All people equal in all things
We once were heroes, once were kings
But all great things must come to pass
We know the first will soon be last
And in the ground we may be lain
But a seed is sown to rise again♫
Billy Elliot is a musical based on the 2002 film of the same name and written by Elton John and Lee Hall. The story follows a young boy called Billy, a coal miner's son in a small working-class town in Northern England, who accidentally finds himself into a ballet class where he discovers his unlikely talent for dancing. Set against the backdrop of the tumultous 1984 Miner's Strike, Billy and his family face many trials and tribulations during the lead-up to a bittersweet ending. The musical touches on a variety of themes, such as gender roles/stereotypes, social class, conflict and family, and has won many awards around the world including an impressive ten Tony awards. The show's huge success and popularity is ever-growing and the West End production celebrates its 10 year anniversary this year.
The Cache
The cache is a small container in Carrickgollogan Woods, very close to a tall flue from the old Ballycorus Leadmines. These mines have been closed since 1913, the flue being the most distinctive surviving remnant. The flue is well worth a look (co-ordinates are included in the waypoints) and there are excellent views from it over the city and the nearby mountains. These woods are maintained by Coillte; please follow their ‘Leave no trace policy’ and be respectful of nature and wildlife while walking here. GZ is most easily accessed by parking in the Carrickgollogan carpark marked in the waypoints and walking up. It is about half a kilometre from the car park and is a few metres off the path, but the terrain is not very challenging and should still be accessible in winter.
Congrats to tmsr for being FTF on this cache!