Motley Crew! |
I can write that some the nicest people I know are from Ireland. I smile when I recall my first visit which was a culture shock, straight from the city to the countryside (where's the street lights)? In a short time I learned to appreciate the differences, spending time talking to people and learning more of the way of life that the people lived. One memory that I remember is trying to walk about the farm in my black suede shoes, closer to brown by the end of the holiday! So began my love affair with ‘all things Irish’ |
| Again I was fortunate to see a bit of Ireland,
top to bottom on the western side, survived the phenomenon's known as the
Irish wedding, Western Rose and Rose of Tralee festivals one memorable
summer, even fell in love. On the east coast, I had great times near Trinity
College and the Templeogue area of Dublin, laughing and eating being the
local custom!
Ireland has a great pub culture, in England ‘give us a song’ means putting money into a jukebox, but in areas of Ireland all manner of folk will let forth with songs and stories to entertain and delight each other, a life force all of its own. |
Choir Practice at Keatings. |
The Bog. |
I was introduced to some aspects of farming life on my early visits, even now the mention of words such as silage, (hay) baling, calving, - (attempted but none mastered in truth), can induce in me a mild form of panic and compulsion to find the nearest door. Another, was the old ways of ‘turning’ and collecting turf from the (peat) bog. If you feel that you work hard in your job, think again, as I was forced to. If you look carefully can you guess when this photo was taken – before or after? Are these the smiles of relief - you bet! I’ll tell you Guinness never tasted so good as that night! |
| When in Ireland, I head straight for Clare
(I'm fortunate in that my sister and girlfriends family both live here);
there is great walking to be enjoyed. Some will know of the Burren Way,
I took a slight detour away from this route and began from Hags Head to
the tower at the Cliffs of Moher and back to Liscannor, with friends last
year, careful where you step! Another walk I enjoyed was on the Clare peninsula
around the villages of Kilbaha, Fodre and Moneen; just as welcome as the
invigorating sea air was the toasted sandwich (no pepper!) and creamy stout
served at Keating’s bar at journeys end. Ah, the good life.
For anyone interested there is a wonderful scenic drive from Kilkee to the Loop Head lighthouse and down to Kilbaha harbour. Here a plaque was erected to Fr. Meehan - a man dedicated to his faith and the people of his parish. There is additional information at Moneen Church nearby. |
The Cliffs of Moher. |
