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.
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