It's a very wet morning here and I'm taking a breather from the garden.
I didn't have anything ready to post, however looking through my drafts,
I came across this one from a 2019 trip to Ireland which I never completed
or posted. It feels right for a rainy day such as this.
The county of Sligo can enchant you.
It's steeped in history and mythology, with a creative tradition that lives
in the music, art, poetry and expression of its people.
We took a bus from Derry/Londonderry to Sligo as there was no train
service to transport us from Northern Ireland to the Republic of Ireland.
It was a wet but picturesque journey on the way to Galway.
Quaint small towns and villages were just visible through the streaming bus
windows as we traveled along the Wild Atlantic Way. The countryside
appeared as miles of green and yellow carpeting rolled out across the
hills of Donegal and Sligo counties. Now and then the sun would peep
out from those clouds, and several rainbows brightened up the views.
The town of Sligo, pop. 20,000, straddles the Garavogue River where it meets
Sligo Bay. It’s known for its literary heritage and rugged countryside.
Ruined medieval Sligo Abbey has carved tombs and a 15th-century altar.
Sligo County Museum displays memorabilia of local poet W.B. Yeats, paintings
and Stone Age artifacts. The Model is a contemporary arts centre featuring
works by 20th-century Irish artists.
I do recall acquiring a thirst on the bus while the rain continued to
soak everything in sight. Of course in Ireland one doesn't have to stay
thirsty for long! Perhaps that was why we found warmth, comfort,
interesting talk with locals, and had such a fun time at this
interesting historic pub. We even returned later for live music!
Though we've seen almost all of Ireland we want to return. It truly is
one of the most beautiful islands in the world, and it's history is
amazing. Bob still wants to do more searching into his family history,
his father's side coming from Castleisland, County Kerry.
I definitely want to see the West coast again, listen to music in
Galway City; walk again on the Cliffs of Moher; go back to the
Dingle Peninsula to look out at Great Blasket Island (whose history
fascinates me); eat some of the world's best seafood chowder at
Quinlan's in Killarney; then head south and raise a glass with the
locals on the waterfront down in Kinsale on a sunny day as we
enjoyed last time. Then of course back to Dublin, that great city
one can never tire of wandering through.
Have you visited Ireland - or better still, do you happen to live there?
Perhaps you have some Irish stories to share with us.
.png)
What a lovely post to pluck from the vault, dear Mary! Despite my, ahem, bog Irish ancestry, I've only had a paltry weekend in Dublin in the '90s to my name. When I'd flown in, the Eurovision Song Contest had just finished and the taxi driver from the airport was bemoaning that Ireland had won again, for the third year in a row, and the country could least afford it as they'd have to host yet another expensive spectacle! There were many unhappy locals drowning their sorrows that weekend.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Ireland but am watching the tv coverage of President Biden's current visit, it's a beautiful place, no wonder he wants to revisit his heritage. Your pictures are really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIreland is high on my list of places I want to visit, but it is one of those "one day" things we probably all have on our (mental) lists.
ReplyDeleteMy late husband's family was originally from Ireland. The Rileys were called O'Riley (or, more likely, O'Reilly) back then, but after they arrived in Yorkshire to escape hunger and poverty, they dropped the O' and tried to adapt to their new surroundings. They were still Catholic, though, still had many children, and their sons and daughters often married into other families originally from Ireland, and so all the family has strong Irish roots whichever way you look.
Wonderful journey, greetings from Anna
ReplyDeleteDearest Mary,
ReplyDeleteThose are very good reasons for going back again!
Both of us have been all over Ireland but not as a tourist but just passing through while giving seminars in the different areas. Still we enjoyed it tremendously.
Yesterday it was awful weather. We went for Adoration at 11:45 AM and then followed by Mass where I was the lay reader. We'd warned the priest that we'd have to scoot out early for being in time at the 1:00 PM funeral of a dear friend who lost his battle against liver cancer at age 61. Mass ended timely but we had to drive through torrential rain with the wiper blades running full speed!
April does what it will is a Dutch proverb but it sure is valid here in the South East! But we can't complain compared with the people in South Florida...
Hugs,
Mariette
I was on Irish soil for only a day and a half almost a year ago. The rain poured on the only full day we were in Dublin. The day the flight left Dublin for Atlanta, GA, the rain was still falling. I have Irish ancestry and want to return to explore other parts of the country.
ReplyDeleteWhat lovely photos of the gorgeous Emerald Isle, Mary. We have visited once, for our son's wedding in 2016 to an Irish girl, and enjoyed our limited time in Dublin and to Wicklow for the wedding. I would love to go back, and to see the west coast as you did. Like many Australians, I was taught by Irish nuns and always felt a connection to Ireland. Now of course we have three little half Irish grandchildren and their features are indeed Irish :) xx
ReplyDeleteA lovely post, Mary. The collage of photos really highlights the beautiful and green landscape of Ireland. I have never been there and would love to visit one day. Tim's great-grandfather immigrated to Canada from the Ballymena area, and it would be fun to look up any history we could find.
ReplyDeleteJim has a desire to visit Ireland and I am sure I would love it too. Your pictures are just gorgeous. The rain this week here on the west coast reminds me of your pictures.
ReplyDeleteOh dear, It was me "Anonymous"
ReplyDeleteOh Mary what lovely photos of your Irish trip. That is a place I have always wanted to visit. My husband is Irish and his family heritage comes from one of those counties there. I just cannot remember which one :)! Hope your rain goes away and you can get back out to your garden. Thanks for your visit. From one gardener to another we certainly know how much we love those flowers when they start to bloom. Hugs!
ReplyDelete