without a wee bit o’rain:     

This was the view for a brief time! 

I ventured out after Una checked on me and dropped off a hairdryer, in order to keep my hair perfectly coiffed whilst in Ireland.  I drove to Rosses Point beach for that lovely picture :). I tugged on the raincoat and walked to the beach. I came across this guy: 

  
 His shell caught my eye. Not sure why the lovely snail wanted to cross the road?

Maybe to see these guys playing soccer: 

  Or:

 Either way, it was a nice walk and as you can see, there is sun and blue sky off in the distance.

So I got in the car and drove in search of sun.

  Instead, I met up with this handsome man. Just what I’m looking for, tall (we’ll sort of) dark hair, sweet and perfect manners!

  Here is my wee little car outside my home away from home.

  This is my view, of course there are sheep! 

  The last day of work yesterday and I went with shamrock socks! It’s ok, they know me there!

Made it to Newark no problem, and they even let me through security 😉. 

Getting ready to board. Next stop Dublin. Pick up car, drive on the wrong side of the road, the wrong side of the car and left handed shift. 3 hour drive to Sligo, meet Una and her husband and have a cuppa tea!

Here I come ewes🐏🐏🐏🐏🐏!!!

One of the first stops on my journey, actually the first one.

WB Yeats grave.  I was never a poem ‘fan’ and did not know much about Yeats.  First, listening about him from Joe was fascinating.  His recitation in the Irish accent was priceless.  No one is sure if the bones in the grave are actually his, they were moved here, as per his wish to be buried beneath the shadow of Benbulben.  I doubt anyone who makes the pilgrimage here really cares about the bones, his spirit is definitely here.  It’s addicting and once you start reading some of the poetry, it captivates you….

Under bare Ben Bulben’s head
In Drumcliff churchyard Yeats is laid.
An ancestor was rector there
Long years ago, a church stands near,
By the road an ancient cross.
No marble, no conventional phrase;
On limestone quarried near the spot
By his command these words are cut:

Cast a cold eye

On life, on death.

Horseman, pass by!

W.B Yeats

Faery trees, rambling through the fields in the distance, keeping watch….

Looking up at the mountain from below…as Joe said, ‘I bet if this was in America, someone would carve some famous face in that!’

Joe McGowen, looking pencively at the mountain…just after telling me that when the Whin’s are blooming, kissing is allowed’. Fortunately, in Ireland, the Whin is ALWAYS blooming somewhere!

An amazing view, even on a rainy day taken through the windshield. Note to self, would like to see it on a sunny day!!

Graffiti on ruins of a convent/school house, I doubt the children of years past did that….

Even the view from the lunch table was lovely….

‘Please, please let me in for a wee bowl of chow’

At the land Joe leases to a sheep farmer, what is that off in the distant water, but dolfins…in Ireland, in April….good luck!

Sheep dotting the hillside, rain in the distance…

Just like the sheep dotting the fields, there are old tubs used to collect rainwater for the sheep! That’s Joe again.

This was Jimmy’s house (at least that is what I think Joe said). Striking contrast of the simple home in the foreground and the grandeur of Lissidell Castle in the distance.

A monument dedicated to the stillborns and infants, that were never baptized and buried in shame by distraught parents. A Faery tree keeping watch…. “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.” ― W.B. Yeats

Following Joe to ‘Mass Rock’

A very serene place, so quiet and covered with a canopy of trees. Hidden from prying eyes. A place to reflect and pray.

Constance Markievicz as told by Joe McGowan. An amazing story about an amazing woman that stepped way out of her comfort zone to help those in need. The monument in Sligo was championed by Joe. Every part of it from the shape, and imagery makes a statement. She, always ready for battle, with her side arm and her flowered hat….. A childhood friend of Yeats, he penned a poem about her and her sister Eva…… The light of evening, Lissadell, Great windows open to the south, Two girls in silk kimonos, both Beautiful, one a gazelle. But a raving autumn shears Blossom from the summer’s wreath; The older is condemned to death, Pardoned, drags out lonely years Conspiring amoung the ignorant I know not what the younger dreams – Some vague Utopia – and she seems, When withered old and skeleton-gaunt, An image of such politics. Many a time I think to seek One or the other out and speak Of that old Georgian mansion, mix pictures of the mind, recall That table and the talk of youth, Two girls in silk kimonos, both Beautiful, one a gazelle. WB Yeats

Carromore Megalithic Cemetery annd passage tombs.

I made it, after quite a few stops to the top of Knocknerea. Another passage tomb (cairn) where supposedly Queen Maeve (Irish mythology says) was entombed. It is bad luck to remove a stone from a cairn and good luck to carry one to it and leave it.

The view at the top of the cairn, 360 degrees of magic……………….

Well worth the trip to the top, even though the sign said ‘do not climb’!

Michael Quirke, wood carver and word weaver. Here he is actually saying ‘blah blah blah, lets just look like I’m saying something amazing’!

Questionable sign…….the car should be vertical, you’ll see…..

This is at the end of the road!!

Leo took me to the Belleek Pottery tour. All is hand made and must be perfect prior to being put out for sale. Here is an interesting job. He hand makes the flowers on the pottery, but he licks each piece to stick the petals together……

Faery tree, outside a cemetery, always watching…..

The old cemetery has very old stones and relatively new ones. This one, most likely pagan has multiple faces. Photographed from different angles. There are coins left on it to honor it.

This view actually looks like it is sticking it’s tongue out!

Sheep with a view………………….

PLEASE can I have him!!

‘no’.

Ireland’s version of the ‘pacific coast highway’…the Wild Atlantic Way. Just lovely, with very scarey roads..thanks Leo for the excellent driving!

A view from the ‘LondonDerry’ wall.

So, there was a day that it was raining in Sligo. Leo looked at the weather map and found the sun in Belfast….off we go to the Giants Causway!

It was a lovely day with gorgeous views of the incredible Causway and ocean.

Leo and me.

‘lost at sea, lost at sea or in the evening tide. We loved you, we miss you with God may you abide’

Some of Leo’s 70 cows.

One of Leo’s new calves. The cow jumped over the moon—supposedly, the cow that jumped over the moon was looking for her calf and as she was jumping her milk was spraying and created the ‘Milky Way’ as told by Leo!

This to me is an incredible picture of the large dolman on Leo’s land. Two portal stones taking the shape of the mountain in the distance.

Fossil Beach, as it is called, perfect impressions in the stones of creatures 50,000 years old.

“Let us go forth, the tellers of tales, and seize whatever prey the heart long for, and have no fear. Everything exists, everything is true, and the earth is only a little dust under our feet.” ― W.B. Yeats

The gate to enter the Famind Graveyard.

You are entering a long abandoned Famine Graveyard. Pathway of Death, so named because unnumbered thousands perished following the grim passage from rotting fields to odious workhouse to ignominous burial.

The field where so many are buried, unmarked for so long. Now a Faery tree monument marks the field.

Children’s Graveyard

‘The dead are not far from us….they cling in some strange way to what is most still and deep within us’ WB Yeats

Leo forced into hard labor at the plouging event. By forced I mean ‘no bother’!!

To the naked eye this looks like a tree with litter all over it. Rag Trees is what they are called….why? Usually the rags are placed there by people who believe that if a piece of clothing from someone who is ill, or has a problem of any kind, is hung from the tree the problem or illness will disappear as the rag rots away. Sometimes the rag represents a wish or aspiration which will come to pass as the rag rots.

The four children (old now) that were cursed by their evil stepmother after the spell was broken.

Kegs of Holy Water!!

Only friends you have not met yet. Kate reminded me of this today, and it is so true.

The day started with breakfast by Geraldine,  our lovely hostess at the B & B.  Wonderful food, lively conversation and helpful suggestions. I’m going to miss ‘so what’s going on today’ and ‘so what did you see/do today’.

I’m going to miss Leo picking me up, my question ‘so what time tomorrow? ‘ and him being 20-30 minutes later! No bother! !

We started with meeting Leo to go to the farm. Since I think he gets it that I can be directionally challenged, he meets us at a store, you cannot miss….oh yes you can!  We do see him, we were close enough! Off to the farm where all the cows are RIGHT THERE! Mooing so loud and incessantly, wanting to go get some fresh grass. 70 cows and about 40 calves! Just amazing how he knows what they want and need. He let’s them out and we take a ride in the fields, with Rory….

A selfie with Rory! So sweet and laid back!  Just like his master!

After visiting, he has us follow him to the main road, for tea and coffee.  Oh, by the way I left my money at home, he says! Shoot no crows Leo! ! You owe me a cuppa tea!

So we say goodbye, a wee bit tearful leaving this friend who so generously gave his time, knowledge and shared his love of this land. He gave us directions and off we go.

An easy, rainy, misty drive to Omagh and a genealogy research center. We gained lots of insight on the history of emigration. We have learned that the Irish love to share information,  so ask. We talk to complete strangers. Even if they don’t have information to share,  we find things in common, and  wish each other a lovely day.

Now we head to Buncrana.

A beach town with amazing views.

Kate outside O’ Doherty castle, that was part of the McDevitt history in Buncrana!  It was amazing to be walking down an old path, that our ancestors may have walked.  Looking out at the ocean to the same views. I feel so fortunate to have set foot on this peninsula. There are a few McDevitt’s still living here and we are going to see what we can find out about them and their history tomorrow.

Kate treated me to a birthday dinner and drinks, no better way to spend the day.  Off to bed to get ready for our last full day here in paradise.

Has to do his own barking!

Oh tonight was such fun, traditional irish music in a traditional irish pub! Downtown Sligo until almost 12:30 AM!  After dinner with Leo. This was Wednesday night, posting has been extremely difficult with the wifi down almost everywhere!  We made a date for tomorrow morning to meet Leo so Kate can meet Rory and see his farm.

Then we will leave to go to Buncrana, and see where the McDevitt’s are from. Til tomorrow. …

With great guidance from Leo in the former of directions and a phone call for reassurance,  we made the trek to Kathleen ‘ s for another cuppa tea.  Just as lovely as the first one! We enjoyed some treats and a nice conversation with Kathleen. One of her sheepdogs stayed under the table by me, and she also enjoyed some treats, I guess dogs have a sixth sense for the humans that cannot say ‘no’.

Here is Kathleen outside her home. New friends planning when we will see each other again….not too long, maybe next year! The sheep are still lambing and driving her crazy with work.  By the way, Leo called her to tell her to look for us!

After saying so long,  not good bye, we drove about 50 yards to the beach, just outside her home.

The beach, just down the road.

Kate searching for shells and rocks.

Our wee little car (sorry Brian, it’s a Ford). It may have a little less clutch when it’s returned!

Out on a stroll with a beautiful lass (my Kate), oh and the waterfall in the background!

Off to dinner tonight with Leo, and then a pub, Leo offering another drive, to be the designated driver…..

Tomorrow, one more trip to his farm and then off to Buncrana.  Just being there will be amazing.

Kate and I made the trip from Dublin to Sligo….In a rented car, driving on the ‘wrong side’ of the road (ha ha)!! She handled it fairly well, me driving that is! She did quite often remind me I did not need to ‘hug’ the passenger side of the road. Also, she was good at reminding me to look RIGHT!!!!  I took her to some of the sites nearby, got lost in Ireland trying to find Leo’s farm! But such a lovely place to get lost.

We checked back into our home away from home, Geraldine ‘s B & B.  She is a wonderful person, wanting to hear what we did all day, and making suggestions, but mostly for making us feel at home. Oh, and there are lambs and sheep in the backyard!

Tomorrow we are off to meet up with some old friends hopefully, Leo and Joe. Maybe even have a cuppa tea.

Thursday morning off to Buncrana,  to see where we came from. Here’s hoping there’s a bar called ‘McDevitt’s’!!

A day in the big city. I cannot wait to go back tomorrow, to the lovely views and the sheep!

Kate will be here soon, then off to dinner at the Hairy Lemon. Interesting name, nice place we frequented on the last trip here. The best bread pudding in all of Ireland,  good beer too!

I had time today to remember some of the sites I did not share before. One of the days last week Leo took me to his farm. It has been in his family for generations. First we meet his dog Rory. I find his name difficult to pronounce,  but it rolls off his tongue easily. Then the swans that talk as soon as they hear him! Then the few chickens, that lay eggs somewhere, but he has no idea where they are roosting!

Offspring have been arriving on a daily basis it seems. The cows have been calfing, most going well, but loss is apparently not unusual.  In the barn are two cows who’s calves did not survive. Leo put two baby’s with them, but they did nit take to them. The truly look forlorn. Then we get in his truck with Rory, he is so happy to ride with his master. Out to the pasture we go.

Theses cows have an ocean view, I doubt they appreciate it the way people do. He drives around checking the herd and the new babies, all looks good.

Here is one of the many, just being curious. We stayed in the truck,  because they know leo, but not me, and there could be chaos. (I think that’s what he said!)

Here is one of the brand new babies…..so cute!

Here is the most fascinating scene of all. It all makes sense why Leo loves this land. It makes sense also, why the history of this land draws him to it.
Here is a side view of the tomb left by people thousands of years ago. They had such a respect for the surrounding mountains, somehow they arranged these huge stones to resemble the mountain in the background.  It was breathtaking.  Not that the cows are being disrespectful, but, they use this as a scratching/rubbing post!  This is on his land and archeologists will be excavating, without disturbing this site this summer.

There ya go, a day in Dublin, and I’m reminiscing about last week.