Wet,Wet,…wet !

An early morning cup of tea from David, was swiftly followed with the exhortation to put the wetsuits on…and go for a swim in the Lake ! What a way to start the day …

Sean supervised (claiming to be on lifeguard duty) whilst me,Anthony and David swam out into the peaty lake…surprisingly (and thankfully ) warm ‘ish ! Me and David swam across the lake and back, whilst Anthony fetched a canoe he had beached nearby and then I went across again before swopping with Anthony and having a canoe trip back across…then time for a shower and breakfast !!…Sean,Lawrence and Lawrence jnr went to find a golf course, whilst the rest of us walked out for a survey of the parish..the light rain turned heavier and persistent, eventually forcing us to curtail our walk, not before me and David had visited the church…and timed ourselves walking back…slightly erroneously as we walked passed the lane leading to the house !

A relaxing afternoon passed , before we all went into Ballina for an evening meal, taking some photo opportunities as we went.. and a quick walk around Ballina …in the rain followed, before making our way back to ‘Gathering HQ’ …then an early night for us all, although for some it was even earlier….Goodnight !

The Calm before the Storm !

A lazy start to Monday after our Sunday exertions, but I was soon ‘putting up’ the Party Gazebo, hopefully to cover us all in the occasional bit of rain that may occur…I did initially put the side and end walls on, however the strong wind threatened to destroy it all, and so I removed them, saving them for when needed.., still the roof proved valuable in the rain that soon occurred !… although it did stop raining in the late afternoon, so we could have a BBQ, and last peaceful night before…the others arrived…

Tuesday started quite wet, as we waited for everyone to arrive…my brothers Sean (from Canada)and Lawrence (Manchester),my son David and nephew Lawrence, had made contact and were on the mid morning boat from Holyhead, whilst we went into a wet Ballina for more provisions..ready for them to arrive…

They arrived late evening, having stopped off on the way, and a hasty BBQ in the evening sunshine, before some went into town…and I went to bed, after the red sunset …Goodnight !

Reek Sunday on Croagh Patrick

Yes, it was back to 4-15 a.m. awakenings, as me and Anthony were to take part in the Annual Pilgrimage to the top of Croagh Patrick..’Reek Sunday’ http://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/sunshine-on-summit-for-reek-sunday-1.1477831

So, shortly before 5 a.m. we set off from Ballycong to head to the coast, through Castlebar and Westport, before arriving at the foot of the mountain in Murrisk http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Croagh_Patrick …and ready to start for 6-10 a.m. we joined the throngs of other pilgrims taking part in the climb… it was estimated that 25,000 people would be climbing it today, there were certainly plenty setting off with us, some even doing it barefoot ! Almost immediately we passed the statue of St Patrick (with his own cloudy halo) and continued along the rocky trail…aiming to get to the top before 8 a.m., so we could attend the first mass of the day at 8 ! – as I looked down into Clew Bay, the islands were appearing out of the sea, all 360 of them !

Some people had obviously climbed up in the dark, as they were coming down as we climbed – although nothing like the numbers crossing each other as there would be later in the day… shortly after 7-30 a.m. we had arrived at the summit, to join the throng waiting for the first mass at 8 ! We passed the time watching a helicopter evacuating a casualty (women,gashed head…) having appeared from the clouds above ,and of course getting the obligatory summit photo, in our red/green shirts..

then it was time to join the other 100+ people on the summit for mass – the priest doing the service, whilst ensconced in his little glass cube, keeping him out of the wind and fog driving across the summit…and , it being Ireland mass was fast, but even I was surprised at 21 minutes taken to complete the mass, although we still had to queue up for Holy Communion… and time for a short break, and food before we set off to return down the mountain, easier said than done, as thousands were trying to get up – good humouredly getting in each others way… it being Ireland no system operated !

We just kept plodding down, eventually arriving back on the car park shortly after 1015 a.m. – a 4 hour round trip – including mass ! Not bad for a 600 mts climb/descent…into and out of the fog and mist, watching people of every description leaping or struggling up and down Irelands Holy Mountain, on a special day…

We then drove back to Ballycong, washed,changed…and went out for a pleasant bike ride in the afternoon sunshine… up to my cousin Padraic’s at Carradoogan http://www.carradoogan.com/ on the other side of Attymass parish, after which I called up to see my Mum’s old house,  and birthplace…at the foot of the Ox Mountains…now not lived in, with all the settlement gradually being reclaimed by nature.. I remembered the tales I had heard about their original farmhouse, and then the new one being built –  which I recall staying in as a young child ( a bit different to Manchester ) including the tales about the boys of the family having to wash in the stream –no doubt a bit chilly in winter ! with views up onto the Ox Mountains..and silence !

The end of a great and memorable day, Oidhche mhath !

We’re Getting Ready…

A nice gentle start to the day, with the hot sun still shining down in Ireland

Towards midday we all went into Ballina to do some shopping, meting my cousin Kathleen in town, before we got back to Ballycong for some lunch, and then another mowing of the field…it really looks ship shape now !

Later in the afternoon we all went for a walk ‘round the block’, passing firstly the ‘homestead’, then up through the woods, around the Lake looking back over at the homestead ..whilst the locals were just having their afternoon drink of milk ..!

It was nice to see that the locals were also waiting in eager anticipation of ‘The Gathering’ with a big sign of ‘Welcome’ outside the nearby pub… back home for a nice dinner made by Maggie, and sandwiches made ready for the early start tomorrow …for ?

I’ll tell you then, Goodnight !

Home for ‘The Gathering’…

I’d woken up to a spooky misty morning up on the Cliffs of Moher,and having packed up, when for another walk above the cliffs, to see the Puffin colony – they’d been ‘out fishing’ yesterday, and returned in the night…

as I strode above their colony on a spur of rock jutting out into the Ocean, I could just see them as dots, in and amongst the clumps of grass, as the mist swirled all around, sometimes clearing and giving me a view along to the distant tower I’d walked to in the dark last night…

then it was back to Wally, and on my way along the coast of Galway bay and along ‘The Burren’, a famous area where the limestone pavement sits on top of the ground, as the water swirls beneath forming great underground caverns

I continued heading North, then started inland,rather than on the coast towards Attymass passing Knock shrine as I drove along the ‘N17’ and as I neared Attymass I started to recognise the roads, particularly as I turned off the main road, onto the quiet side roads, each one telling me their own story – just as I turned into the side roads, what came on the radio ? - ‘Home for The Gathering’ by Derek Ryan, a record I’ve enjoyed listening to this year…perfect timing ! The satnav got me to Attymass church…and I had to sit there for a minute, gathering my thoughts and heading for Ballycong…which I found unerringly –perfect, my Angel navigator got me there easily and I pulled into my new home for the next couple of weeks – a freshly mown field next to my brother Anthony and Maggie’s place, just up the lane from where my Dad was born.. a refreshing cup of tea, then a walk  round the lake opposite… before ‘haymaking’, or more correctly gathering up all the mown grass, with the help of a neighbour Meighal, into 2 small ‘haycocks’…just like they used to do ! I even got a blister raking the grass …what a start !

We all went into Enishcrone for a great fish evening meal at ‘The Waterfront’ Hotel overlooking the bay, with the hot sun reflecting off the sea.. and after dinner a walk along the pier watching the sun go down in a fiery blaze , then back to Ballycong for a nightcap, and retiring to Wally for a peaceful nights sleep in the silence of Ireland…Goodnight from the homeland !

Up the West Coast…

I’d woken reasonably early, for another day of travelling,and had breakfast sat on a bench overlooking the inlet, and views across to Valentia Island..but couldn’t sit there all day, and was soon off along the coast again, through Caherciveen and along to overlook Kells, and Kells bay, where a big marker stone was placed at the roadside, and continuing along the coast with MacGillicuddys Reeks (mountains) to my right hand side, and soon I was into the ‘tourist traffic’ with coach loads of people coming from the opposite direction, all stopped looked at the distant hills.. even the lay-bys had buskers in, playing music, and hoping for some tips ! (guess how much I gave ?) continuing around Dingle Bay,Killorglin and through the famous Tralee, and around Tralee Bay…

I decided to travel to Tarbert, to get the ferry across the mouth of the  River Shannon and so I was soon in the queue, waiting to say farewell to Co Kerry.. and Hello to Co Clare… a smooth crossing soon had me driving up and onto the slipway, and along the coast of the Mouth of the Shannon to a lovely sunny Kilkee, where I had lunch looking out to The Atlantic Ocean…next stop Newfoundland and America !

As I drove further along in the afternoon passing Spanish Point in Milltown Malbay I saw signs for ‘the cliffs of Moher’..sounds interesting thinks I, so I followed the signs, coming across a huge car parking area at the top of the hills, where I had to pay $6 (but thought it may be worth it!), WWW.cliffsofmoher.ie and having been given a leaflet telling me it was Irelands ‘most visited natural attraction’ thought I’d better go and have a look !

Joining the throng I walked up, through the visitor centre, with some explanation of the forming of the cliffs, then out and up to the cliffs themselves, rearing up to 200 mts high, plunging down to the Atlantic Ocean.. I then headed North along the cliffs, passing all the crowds, and dropped to some lower cliffs for a better view of the rocky cliffs above , and a gentle amble back to the visitor centre, it was almost 6-30 p.m. so I decided I’d stay for the sunset, and returning to Wally cooked dinner, and rested for a while, before heading out again at 8-30 p.m. for a walk, and hopefully nice sunset – although cloudy in patches, the sun was still shining, showing a full rainbow behind me over the village below

I walked along the southern cliffs this time, eventually finding a nice flat rock to sit on, and watch the sun go down.. waiting for the real ‘fiery moment’, which didn’t come into it’s full awe, but no too bad…

I decided to walk to the southern tip, where an old watchtower could be seen…it was further than I thought, and as I walked further into the gloom it seemed to keep going backwards – by the time I reached it, it was almost 10-30 p.m….and pitch dark… perfect for walking back along the top of dangerous cliffs !

I traversed along, thankfully being able to pick out the rough pathway, because of the lighter coloured stone, even the sea birds had gone quiet …and just before midnight I returned to Wally…a good evenings adventure, and bed for the night !

Goodnight from the Cliffs of Moher !

Around the Ring of Kerry – How’s That for the Craic ?

I awoke for my first full day in Ireland, accompanied by the beat of thunderous rain !

Still it wasn’t too bad, as I’d discovered that the campsite had Wifi, and so spent the early part of the morning posting all my blogs, and checking other things..as the rain started easing off…

By mid morning it was relatively dry, so I set off, back through Clonakilty, and along the southern Irish coast, taking in the sights as I went along..I firstly stopped between showers in a lively village called Schull, where they had pinned to a wall, one of the ‘French’ fleets anchors, from the late 1700’s when they intended helping the ‘rebellious Irish’, there was a reasonable selections of craft shops, and art galleries, which I had a brief look around, before dashing back to Wally in a heavy downpour for some lunch, and then onwards along the coast to Bantry, end of the famous Bantry bay ,where it seemed the entire town was attending a funeral at the graveyard up on the cliffs…with cars littering the road all the way into town…

I then turned for Skibbereen, and onto the famous ‘Ring of Kerry’ a scenic circular route, which I was doing the wrong way round, and not all of it, however the sights were still the same, with a lot more traffic,going up over a mountain pass, stopping at ‘Mollys farmhouse’ with her ‘Potain still’ (much as my Dad had described to me!) and through small towns, full of cars,tourists,traffic and onto Sneem, which was packed with coaches,cars and people…so I stopped, wondering what the attraction was ..I think it was ‘half way round’ so they all stopped, with a dramatic river and consequently it was full of ‘trinket shops’ (trash !), at least I had a walk,and an ice cream.. then carried on, by now the roads much quieter, and the scenery becoming a lot more dramatic, as I followed the road along the coast, look down over the sea and cliffs, with lots of little rock islands jutting up in the bays…and the late afternoon becoming quite nice, with hot sunshine..

As I reached a place called Mannix Point, I saw signs for a camp site, and decided to stop for the night (at the right price), and was soon happily pitched looking out to sea, and Valentia island.. I decided to eat out, and had a great meal of local mussels and lamb at the Ring of Kerry Hotel, washed down with a couple of pints of Guinness (well,I had to !), then back to the campsite to watch the sun go down…spectacular, before to round the day off…a music saisun, of around a dozen musicians sat around on the lawn outside the camp office, joining together in impromptu music, with peat fires burning (to keep the midgies away!)…Great, what an end to the day, I can still hear the music now, almost midnight…Goodnight !