Lough Derg Lockdown

He walked to Lough Derg every day during lockdown. By himself. It wasn’t lost on him how blessed he was, to have such beauty within two kilometres of his home. He didn’t have to worry about social distancing, he met no one except the birds. He would start most days at the inlet of Castle

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Laoise Banphrionsa na Farraige

Ní dhéanfaidh mé dearmad go deo ar an lá sin. Bhí mé i mo shui lasmuigh mo teachín ag smaoineamh ar mo lá ag iascaireacht agus ar ghabháil bheag na ronnach. Ní mhairfeadh sé níos mó na cúpla lá agus deir said go mbeidh sé an-stoimúil go luath. Bhí imni orm. D’fheach mé amach chun

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Killiney Bay

The day dawns fair. I walk out my front door and in five minutes I’m by the sea. The sky is blue and dotted with white clouds, mirrored by the blue of the sea and its ‘white horses’ whipped up by the fresh south-westerly wind. In an instant I have forgotten my cares and concerns.

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John Paul Jones and the Lanterns

Everybody knows about John Paul Jones, the great naval hero of the American War of Independence (1775– ‘83). Not everybody knows about the most daring escape of his career in the Tarbert estuary of the River Shannon, which I heard from a local historian many years ago. The future ‘Founder of the American Navy’ was

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From my Mountain

From my mountain, I can see the world below – but I can’t stay here – I’ve things to be… …I am a droplet of dew on the springtime grass, a crystal in the sun-warmth, next a tear joining the gambolling stream, bouncing leaping off the stones like a child at playtime, sometimes trickling, sometimes

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Fráoch and the Water Serpent

Fráoch Mac Idath, of the Connachta was the handsomest warrior in Ériu 1 (Ireland) and Albu (Scotland), ach níba shuthain – but he did not live long. The whole land was full of his story and renown, so much so that Findabair, the daughter of Queen Medb (Maeve) fell in love with him simply from

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Finn mac Cumhaill and the wetlands

From a young age, Finn mac Cumhaill knew that he was different to the other youths. And the other youths had always sensed a peculiar outlandishness in the young Finn. Because of this, they shunned him, mocked him, and excluded him from their activities. You see, Finn was different. He preferred nature to people. It’s

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Don’t go in the Water

It would be difficult to imagine any body of water as unique as the Calliagh Berra’s Lough. Its uniqueness stems from the fact that it’s a lake on the summit of a mountain – Slieve Gullion – the highest point in Co Armagh at almost six hundred metres. This fascinating mountain is at the centre

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Destiny on the Dark Silvery Shores of Lough Erne

Born under a blood red moon, hares fighting fist to fist on fallow field. A wheat coloured sable. I am different to my sisters, gifted with their coats of ebony and dark shades of night blue, but perhaps that is why I was chosen. My first memories were cast in the shadow of flames licking

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Cycling Through Time

On the first day of our school holidays, we made sure our bikes were ready for the long Summer days ahead of them. Washed, tyres pumped, chain oiled, the dynamo working – in case you were out late, the carrier on the back tested in case someone needed a lift. Day two would begin the

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County Clare

I lived in County Clare for many years. One of my favourite places was walking through the Caher Valley. I would park my car in the car park of St. Patricks Church Fanore. Then walk the seven miles through the valley. I would pass through the Khyber Pass which is a more spectacular sight when

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Corrib Holy days

Inchaguille Island is a wooded place of three hundred and sixty acres. Once a place of holy ancient people, more recently owned by the Guinness Family, Lord and Lady Ardilaun. They owned a large boat and the island had a small quay, at that time. The Guinness family and their guests travelled to the island

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