A place I’ve often longed to visit but, between one thing and another, never had and indeed I never thought I would. Some time ago, there was a disgraceful act of vandalism done to this sacred site, and the area was closed to the public. I was surprised and delighted to find it had been reopened, and this was the perfect way to end my birthday journey of ancient places.
Another day exploring! Our camper mightn't be working but still nothing like a fry-up on a camping stove in the back of the car and the obligatory cuppa Barry's Tea, especially down by the shore of Carlingford Lough in the town of Omeath. The views across to the Mourne Mountains and Warrenpoint are just beautiful.
A very un-Spring like day saw us heading down Kilkenny direction in search of ancient and Medieval historical sites. With a biting wind and some torrential showers, we took the more scenic route rather than the motorway, and there were enough bright sunny spells in between, to allow us to enjoy the landscape.
Sunday the 23rd of October 22, we decided to set off on another road trip, a bit longer this time, in our trusty camper Éalú. Looking at the forecast, it appeared the best weather would be in County Clare and sure enough as we began to head south, the torrential rain abated, and we were driving in bright sunshine.
On Sunday the 16th of October we decided to take our camper Éalú on another day trip. As usual, I was hoping to visit some ancient site and decided to head north, purely because the weather forecast was dire and it appeared we’d have at lease till late afternoon before the impending heavy rain caught up with us.
Sunday the 2nd of October 2022 took myself and my partner on our first trip in our newly converted camper (more about that another time!). We decided on a short, day outing to a place I’ve long wanted to see, Fourknocks cairn, on the Dublin/Meath border. I first heard of this fascinating place maybe six or seven years ago so it was about time I visited!
Not exactly a road trip but more a trip up the road and yet I had actually never visited this fine example of a "standing stone". Up a lane, which is borderline comfortable in a car, the gate to the field is around the bend and facing you. The stone itself can't be missed as it's very obvious once you make your way to the gate.
Lá iontach ar shiúlóid ar thíós Binne Ghulbain. Bhí an tírdhreach galánta agus is Sliabh draíochtúíl agus maorga é Binn Ghulbain, le dlúthbhaint aige lenár mitaseolaíochta.
A wonderful day on a walk at the bottom of Ben Bulben.The scenery was gorgeous and Ben Bulben is a magical, majestic mountain with strong connections to our mythology.
Ó luí na gréine san iarthar go n-éirí na gealaí san oirthear ….. from sunset in the west to moonrise.in the east. In the middle of August we had a brief really hot spell, not something we get so often and what was an unbelievably balmy evening, myself and my daughter Shauna took a short trip up Sliabh na Caillí.
In early August I got to visit the wonderful Queen Maedbh's cairn, on Cnoc na Ríabh (Knocknarea or the "hill of the ridges") in County Sligo. It's so called as it is said that the warrior queen of the Ulster Cycle is buried there, upright and in armour, facing her enemies in the north. This cairn has never been excavated and so there is a mystery about what lies within.
Contae álainn, lán le scéalta agus ár dteanga dúchais. A beautiful county, full of stories and our native language, Donegal was more than I ever realized. It was years since I'd been there but this visit in July was different as I took a week off by myself to do a course in Irish in the Gaeltacht, the Irish speaking area. Only since returning to our native tongue, do I understand the depth of history and mythology that are reflected throughout our land.