On The Road - Part One

I sometimes feel ashamed that the average tourist who comes to Ireland sees more of the country than I have.
While I know our  own wee corner of the country quite well, I haven't seen many of the famous sights which attract visitors from all over the world to our Emerald Isle.
And the reason for that greenness - rain- is the very reason why summer holidays are usually spent somewhere around the Mediterranean as we like to get some sunshine with our culture.
Last month, as I took our son and his portfolio around a number of art colleges, I also managed to do some sight-seeing.
The Rock of Cashel, pictured above, attracts around half a million visitors a year, according to the helpful guide.
Thankfully, March is definitely not high tourist season in Ireland, so we had The Rock more or less to  ourselves, with just a handful of American and Italian tourists all enthralled by the old ancient stones atop a rocky outcrop.
As the wind whipped our faces, it was easy to see why the site  had been chosen, initially as a fortress, as it offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside - and any enemies that might be approaching!
Once the seat of the kings of Munster, the Rock of Cashel has been a centre of power going back to the 4th or 5th century AD.
In 1101, the King of Cashel gave the Rock to Church,  and shortly afterwards the first of a series of large ecclesiastical buildings were built  on the site,  including the impressive  round tower.
Cormac's Chapel, currently under conservation, was consecrated in 1134 and is one of the earliest and finest Romanesque churches in Ireland.
The Gothic cathedral dates back to the 13th century with alterations  added in the 15th century. It was used up until 1749. The graveyard  has been in use up until recent times.
Cashel itself seems a delightful town with lots of inviting shops, pubs and restaurants but unfortunately we didn't have time for any further exploration.
It is easily accessed, just a short distance off the M8 Dublin to Cork motorway.

Spring Has Sprung

Spring has well and truly sprung and we are enjoying the most beautiful weather. Sitting in  the garden this morning, still in my dressing gown (it IS well secluded), with a cup of tea, I listened to the glad singing of birds in the trees, the buzzing of bees awoken by the sun,  and the baaing of lambs.

I love  lambs. I love watching them take their first faltering steps, staying close to their mothers' sides.  I love watching them grow in confidence, wandering off and then baaing 'til they find their mothers again. I love watching them play, chasing each other in mad games of 'tag' around the field, and most of all, I love watching them jump.

St Patrick's Day Parade in Dundalk

I've been so busy of late that I  haven't had any time for blogging but I did want to share some pictures from the St Patrick's Day parade in Dundalk before it's ancient history.

There were marching pipe bands...

and men in kilts

and girls in glasses

Little folk….

and little fiddlers.

Irish dancers 

And Samba dancers

Dog walkers and

Martial artists

Tiny cyclists looking forward to the Giro D'Italia

and rugby players celebrating our Five Nations win.

There were Irish cailins 

And our new townsfolk who brought their colourful costumes on a dull day

There were fast cars

And slow cars.

Old fire engines 

And no Irish parade would be complete without some vintage tractors.

The Simple Joys of Summer

I am loving this unusual spell of beautiful summer weather. It tempts me and seduces me into thinking how wonderful it would be if it was always like this. Warm summer days followed by long warm summer evenings.

Life is easier, less complicated, and simple pleasures easy to find.  Summer clothes are unearthed from suitcases, holiday dresses, cool linens and sandals donned every day, salads and bar-b-ques, strawberries and fresh home made smoothies. What's not to like?

The long days seem to last forever, with so many extra hours for myself when I come home from work.

There's time for dog walking, picking flowers, taking photographs.  

Time for watching, time for dreaming, for letting hopes soar.

And still time to come back home, full of the joys brought our world transformed by the gentle heat of the sun and the kind rays of light which warm our hearts.

The Seasons Meet

It's beginning to look like spring although it still feels like winter.
The snow lingers  on the mountain tops while the spring flowers finally burst into bloom.

March was  a truly horrible month with most unseasonable weather which caused dreadful problems  for farmers who lost flocks of sheep and new born lambs and claimed the lives of poor abandoned horses on the mountains.  Much as I love the snow, I don't want it when it's supposed to be spring and when it brings such hardship.
However, as April arrived, still cold but bright and sunny, I couldn't resist the beauty of the snow clad peaks and set Saturday afternoon aside for an outing with himself and the dog.
We drove across the Cooley Mountains and into Omeath with stunning views across Carlingford Lough to the majestic Mountains of Mourne.

We stopped in Omeath and walked along the shore, braving the crisp sea breeze to enjoy the view of Warrenpoint and The Mournes across the Lough.

I just love this Georgian  house, right  on the shore. What fantastic views the owners must enjoy as they look out.

We continued to Carlingford, which has become a popular destination with tourists from Dublin and Belfast as well as abroad.

We stopped off at the antique shop.

And the new craft shop.

My companions waited patiently.

Hot chocolate to finish the outing