Well hello again my lovelies! How are you all doing? I hope you enjoyed reading about my trip to County Mayo. I'm still several months behind in my adventures, but these next few posts should be shorter, as I didn't get up to AS much. I still took lots of photos though, don't worry!
Spring colours walking into Clonmany from my wee house.
Pollan Bay in blues and greys.
Catching up with family and friends!
During week Twenty Three I got to spend some quality time with family and friends, which was lovely. Monday night I was at my favourite pub McFeeley's, with the locals. I hadn't been for a couple of weeks and it was good to catch up with people. Wednesday I walked down to Pollan Bay and spent the entire evening with cousins and friends, some of whom I hadn't seen in decades. It was so wonderful to have a proper catch up in person after so long, and I got to meet their children too. Some of us stayed up late chatting, and then I walked home in the moonlight. It was a gorgeous full moon that night, and I got some beautiful shots of the light shining through the clouds.
Moonlight and Streetlights, Ballyliffin.
Moonlight and Streetlights, Clonmany.
Moonlight over Bulbin/Bulaba, Clonmany.
That Saturday was the Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge Run, and several of my cousins were participating, so I walked over to see them off at the start of the race, and welcome them back at the end. In between, I got to catch up with other family members and it was more of a reunion than I was expecting, which was a lovely surprise for me. The race gets bigger every year, so I look forward to cheering people on again from now on.
Blue skies and clouds over Raghtin Mor.
Stream next to St Mary's Church, Clonmany.
Start of the Ballyliffin Coastal Challenge Run, outside the Ballyliffin Hotel.
Low tide at Pollan Bay, waiting for the runners to return.
After the race, I got to go out for a few drinks with several of my
cousins, which was a great craic. Once again, I have to say how happy I
am to be living here and able to see my family more often. Half my life
was spent on a different continent, and I feel like I missed out on so
much, but now I'm making up for lost time and having quality time with
loved ones.
Hello again everyone, I hope that this week is treating you well so far? I've been busy so far with my VO work, but today my health issues are flaring up and I am in considerable pain, so I'm trying to take it easy. In the meantime, I decided to try to catch up with this Blog a little more. I'd like to get Week Twenty-Two over with!
The Snug, part of the Talbot Hotel and Restaurant, Belmullet.
We were sad to leave our beautiful accommodation on the last day of our County Mayo trip, so decided to cheer ourselves up with another visit to the Talbot restaurant in Belmullet. On our first visit I had noticed The Snug, a small bar attached to the restaurant, and was happy to have another chance to see it. We enjoyed a pint of Guinness and a delicious late breakfast to fortify us for the road trip back to Inishowen. You can find out more about the Talbot Hotel and Seafood Restaurant HERE.
Last two pints of Guinness in County Mayo. For now!
Vegetarian and traditional Irish cooked breakfasts at the Talbot.
This was another wet day, so the views weren't quite as expansive as our trip south, but still beautiful, and we stopped in County Leitrim to see the Glencar Waterfall, made famous by William Butler Yeats in his poem ‘The Stolen Child’.
It was very cold and wet at this point, but that meant that there weren't many people there, so we spent some time exploring the forest walk and enjoying the views of this impressive 50ft waterfall without any crowds to contend with.
Glencar Waterfall, County Leitrim.
Glencar Waterfall, County Leitrim.
Glencar Waterfall, County Leitrim.
I adored seeing the verdant growth and the way everything shines through the raindrops. It truly felt like a magical place, and I can see why Yeats was so drawn to it. Some of my favourite lines of poetry come from his poem The Stolen Child:
"Come away, O human child! To the waters and the wild With a faery, hand in hand, For the world's more full of weeping than you can understand."
Hoping to be stolen by the faeries! Glencar Waterfall.
Forest Walk, Glencar Waterfall.
Forest Walk, Glencar Waterfall.
After our walk we warmed up a little at the TeaSHED Cafe, which also sells gifts, art, and some local specialty foods. Very much my kind of place! We had parked in the car park overlooking Glencar Lough, so we took our drinks to go, and sat enjoying the view of the mist and the hills framing the water. You can discover more about the waterfall and other things in the area HERE.
View across Glencar Lough.
After our full and fun-filled week, we had a quiet evening in, and a day of rest all Saturday. We loved what we saw of County Mayo, but it also felt good to be back in Inishowen and enjoying the familiar views from my own windows again. Gareth had to leave on the Sunday, and it is always sad to say goodbye, so I cheered myself up with some online retail therapy and booked my flights back to England at the end of April! It's good to have something to look forward to. ;-)
Hello again my lovelies, I hope you all had a good weekend? I have been enjoying going through all these photos this past week and reminiscing about our County Mayo trip. I hope you're enjoying the photos too, as I still have lots to share, and once I've caught up with this week, I think I have about five more months to catch up on, so please bear with me!
We were very lucky with the weather on Day Four of our trip, as it was an absolutely beautiful day. Our plan was to explore more of the Wild Atlantic Way in the northern part of County Mayo, and being able to see for miles up and down the coast was just incredible.
Ancient Stone Walls at Céide Fields. Downpatrick Head in the Distance.
Our first stop was the Céide Fields in Ballycastle. Located right on the coast of Mayo, with spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean, there are the ruins of megalithic tombs, dwellings, and stone walled fields. Dating back approximately 6000 years, these are the oldest known walled fields in the world! The visitor centre was stunning in it's own right, and the views from the top of the pyramid along the coast were breathtaking. The juxtaposition of the modern, award-winning visitor centre, with the ancient ruins was an impressive sight. We explored the centre, then walked the boardwalks situated near the stone walls, and enjoyed the beautiful weather while learning about some of Ireland's ancient history. You can learn more about the Céide Fields HERE.
Gareth and I at Céide Fields.
Old and New. 6000 Year Old Stone Walls and a Modern Visitor Centre.
Next we drove further up the coast to Downpatrick Head, and explored some of the spectacularly rugged coastline there. Here you can find the iconic Dun Briste ("Broken Fort") sea stack, which used to be connected to the mainland by natural arches. A settlement of people lived on the remote promontory, until 1393, when the arches fell into the sea during rough weather, stranding them until they were rescued by ships ropes. The remains of houses and walled fields can still be found on the summit, though now only sea birds live there.
Dun Briste ("Broken Fort") sea stack, Downpatrick Head.
At Downpatrick Head, with the Dun Briste sea stack behind.
We also explored an old WWII look out post, the EIRE 64 sign of the same time, and the Pul Na Sean Tinne (Hole of the Old Fire) Blowhole. Also located in this area is a statue dedicated to Saint Patrick, as well as the ruins of a church and a holy well, reputed to have been built on the older foundations of a church founded by the Saint. You can find out more about this area and all it's history HERE.
WWII Look Out Post at Downpatrick Head, County Mayo.
Cliffs at Downpatrick Head, County Mayo.
Sunshine, Seabirds and Salt Water. Downpatrick Head, County Mayo.
After a wonderful afternoon of exploring, we went in search of food and Guinness and stopped at the Merry Monk in Ballina, before driving back to Mullet. It was our last night in the area and we enjoyed a cosy evening in front of a real fire as the wind howled outside.
Pint of the Black Stuff, the Merry Monk, Ballina.
View of Achill Island and Blacksod Bay, Mullet Peninsula.
Hello again my lovelies, I hope you're all doing well, and you're not sick of my updates yet! Here are some more photos from our adventures in County Mayo back in March. It was a mixed day, weather-wise, but as I've mentioned before, if you waited for the rain to stop in Ireland, you might never get out, so we bundled up and went on a road trip down to Achill Island, a place I've always wanted to visit. We drove through the stunning Wild Nephin National Park on the way there and back, and stopped at several gift shops throughout the day too. I have a penchant for jewelry, and love to find something unique to remember my travels by. I was also on the lookout for Achill Island Sea Salt, a brand I discovered some years back and absolutely adore. There is even a visitor centre where they produce the salt on the island, at Bunacurry, but it's only open during summer months. I was disappointed not to be able to take a look around, but it just means I will have to go back another time! You can shop online for Achill Island Sea Salt HERE.
Waiting for the pub to open. Amethyst Bar, Achill Island.
We stopped at Gielty's Bar and Restaurant, "The Most Westerly Pub In Europe" for some lunch. I had the seafood chowder, which was delicious, and a pint of Guinness, of course. Gielty's is known for it's traditional music sessions, which is another reason to go back and visit, as we didn't get to see any this time. You can find out more about Gielty's HERE.
Pint of Guinness at Gielty's.
From Gielty's we drove to the famous Keem Beach, almost at the very westernmost point of the island. Keem is known as one of the most picturesque beaches in Ireland, with clean white sands, blue sea, and protected on either side by green hills and cliffs. In fact, it was used as one of the filming locations for The Banshees of Inisherin! It is also a haven for divers, and basking sharks are often seen swimming in the clear waters. The coastal road to get there provided some stunning views also, despite the overcast weather. I can only imagine how glorious it would all look on a sunny day! As it was, we enjoyed a brisk windswept walk along the beach and back, and got to witness a baby waterspout in the rough sea.
Overlooking Keem Beach, Achill Island.
Grey Day at Keem Beach, Achill Island.
A brisk, windswept walk along Keem Beach with my love.
From Keem we drove to the north side of the island, and stopped at the tiny Red Fox Press and Art Gallery in Dugort, which is well worth a visit if you're interested in photography and quirky art. I never did find any jewelry I wanted on this trip, but I bought a print from there to make up for it, haha. After that we stopped at Masterson's Bar, also known as the Golden Strand, which did indeed have a fabulous view over Dugort East Beach.
Another Pub, Another Pint. Golden Strand Bar, Achill Island.
I had seen signs for a place called Lynott's, known as the smallest pub on Achill, so of course we had to give them a visit on the way back. Located in Bunacurry, it is indeed tiny, consisting on one small, very old stone room. Since it is also the oldest licensed pub on Achill, it is rumoured to be one of the oldest and the smallest pubs in all of Ireland. Whether those stats are true or not, it is well worth a visit, and we dried off next to a peat fire and soaked up the atmosphere. You can discover more about Lynott's HERE.
Lynott's Pub, Achill Island.
Pint. Peat. Perfection.
The drive back to the Mullet Peninsula through Wild Nephin National Park provided more beautiful views. When the sun is shining, the colours are all so bright and vibrant, even before spring brings forth new growth, but I love the grey skies and brooding colours as well. I never get tired of the changing light and the effect it has on the landscape around me, and find I am endlessly inspired by this beautiful country!
Mist and Gorse, somewhere in Wild Nephin National Park, County Mayo.
The Road Goes Ever On And On. Wild Nephin National Park, County Mayo.
Hello again my lovelies, I'm on a roll, posting three days in a row! Let's see if I can keep up the momentum, haha. Day Two of our County Mayo trip was a very wet and stormy day. We had planned on going to Achill Island, but due to the weather we decided to stay closer to our temporary home, and explore the peninsula instead. The Mullet Peninsula is only about 21 miles/33 km long, and ranges from
about 7.5 miles/12 km wide, to just 660 feet/200 metres at it's
narrowest point. It is at the far west of County Mayo, jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean, and every bit as rugged and windswept as you might imagine. As you probably already know, I love those kinds of landscapes, so I absolutely loved it!
St Deirbhile's Old Church and Graveyard.
In the morning, we drove to the southernmost tip of the Peninsula, and visited St Deirbhile's Old Church and Graveyard, and the newer Faulmore Cemetery. I don't plan on being buried in a traditional graveyard, but if I did, I think something like that would be ideal, with vast open views of the ocean and sky. The sun attempted to peek through the clouds a few times throughout the day, but we definitely couldn't see across to Achill Island!
Deirbhile's Twist.
From the graveyard we went to see Deirbhile's Twist, which is a modern stone circle sculpture in nearby Faulmore. Not be be confused with an ancient stone circle, it is still an impressive sight. I loved this quote I read from the artist, Michael Bulfin; ‘The Stone is the landscape. It was always here. I have just, in a sense, rearranged it.’ You can find out more about the sculpture and the artist HERE.
Deirbhile's Twist.
We had been rained on a few times already by this point, so drove up to Belmullet town and went to Talbot's Bar and Restaurant to dry off and have some lunch. I was craving seafood, and had their incredible chowder, followed by a seafood platter, all washed down with a pint of Stout, of course. Yum!
Gareth and I at Talbot's, Belmullet.
Seafood Chowder and Guinness at Talbot's, Belmullet.
That afternoon the weather was very wet, so while we drove around the Peninsula, we unfortunately didn't have the best views of the numerous beaches and the rugged beauty of the place. Instead, we took in some great views of delicious pints in the various pubs we stopped at, haha! First, we stopped at Lavelle's also known as The Eagle Bar, and played some darts while waiting for the rain to stop. There was a clear-ish stretch of weather for a while then, and we drove to see the Dún na mBó Blowhole and got to some very stormy seas near Gladree.
Beers and Darts at The Eagle Bar.
Dún na mBó Blowhole
Stormy Seas near the Dún na mBó Blowhole.
After that the rain started again, so we found shelter in Cormac's Pub in Drum. I imagine that in season, the whole place is bustling and full, but on a quiet Tuesday in March they only had the small bar room open, with a handful of locals and a turf fire going. And it was there that I had the best pint of Guinness of my life! Guinness connoisseurs will usually tell you that it tastes better in Ireland than anywhere else, and I agree. But during this trip I found that County Mayo in general, and the Mullet Peninsula in particular had the most incredible, smooth, creamy pints of stout that I've ever had. The fact that we were so obviously out of place, in such a sparsely populated area, and still made to feel so welcome by everyone we met, only added to the ambience.
Best Pint of Guinness I've ever had! Cormac's Pub, Drum.
From Drum we drove south to Blacksod and had a short (and wet) walk to see the pier and lighthouse. We found shelter at Una's Bar, where we played some pool and had another delicious pint of Guinness, before heading back to our accommodation.
Two more pints of Stout, Una's Bar, Blacksod.
All in all, it was a wonderful day. I have known some people who complain very loudly if it rains, and say that the weather ruined their holiday, but I believe in making the best of things. You can never guarantee the weather, especially in Ireland! As Billy Connolly said, "I hate all those weathermen, too, who tell you that rain is bad weather. There's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothing. So get yourself a sexy raincoat and live a little." So maybe we didn't get to see as much as we wanted to this day, but that didn't stop us from enjoying ourselves! We had some delicious food and drink, met some of the locals, enjoyed the craic, and most of all, enjoyed each other's company.
