He walks the riverside track daily accompanied by his best friend Bailey. The conversation can seem very one sided at times as Bailey is a dog of few words, but he often barks his agreement to suggestions of “walk”, “peanut butter” and “biscuits”! And he’s constantly laughing face expresses his joy in his life. A
The River Nore played a big part in our lives as children in the fifties. The long summer days were spent “up the bank”. There were three swimming areas which were recognised as “safe” at that time. The favourite place for the younger people was known as “Conscience” Island to us all. (This was probably
My tale of the Ahare river in North Co Wexford started as a child when I first connected with the river while on farmhouse holidays in Castletown. The river ran past the farm and as children we loved to explore the dell which ran down to the river and had many fun filled adventures. I
The gurgling rush of water rustles the air, my heart beats quickly; a river, flowing, bubbling, pours below the shade of whispering trees. I looked over my shoulder, seeing the other children clanging sticks, shouting war cries, running around proclaiming what side they were on. I’d had enough of stick battles now and was drained
The monk and Pangur Bán, his cat, slept soundly on a wild, wet, wintry night in 1010. The North Sea was rough, the Scandinavian rivers were still frozen so the Viking longboats could not sail. I would like to fly SAS to Sweden, over the North Sea oilrigs, but Lockdown only allows travel of 5
I go to the bench whenever I need to think, or to plan, to draw, to write. In my memory, I’m sitting here right now. Six in the evening is the best time to come. It’s when the lighting is the best. The sun is just setting as I look across the river, I can
Ours was a house with a view: the Abbey River, deep, brooding, like the Danes that were alleged to have formed it: Inis Oibtain, King’s Island, The Parish, There is an Isle. Like a bold child, it broke away from its mother – the Shannon – at Corbally, before being reigned in below the Curraghower
The little Sally stream rises near Djouce, passes my old house, from where it continues, dead straight, under Sally’s bridge and beyond, to the Vartry reservoir. Stuck in the dregs of the reservoir is a tiny shiny-red boot. Sally’s Bridge, Roundwood, Co Wicklow. I said it was dead straight. It was straightened. Farmer Brady’s two
Fadó, Fadó, sular rugadh an abhainn is faide sa tir seo bhí tobar ann darbh ainm Tobar Connla, áit ina raibh naoi crainn coill ina seasamh timpeall a mbéal. Lig siad titim bhur cnó síos agus bhí na brádain sna tobar ag fanacht leo. Go leor daoine a chuala faoin dtobar, ó chuala siad faoin
Cocooning in my garden, in brilliant sunshine, in thought -why does the Rogerstown Estuary in front of my house not reflect the blue of the sky like in Greece all those years ago?; 1963; memorable for the deaths of J.F. Kennedy and Pope John XXll 1… In my reverie I drift back in time ……
Conor O’Loughlen Lord of Gleninagh Castle and Prince of the Burren had for all of his life spent as much time as possible on the Rynne Peninsula, walking, reading and watching the wildlife and in summer swimming with the seals. Once while walking at the end of the Rynne he saw cattle grazing, some honey
We have cousins all over the country. They’re in towns, villages and on the mountain tops, but we know we’re water babies and just love the life we share here on the Royal. Oh, I better give it it’s full name while I introduce myself to you! It’s the ‘Royal Canal’ and we’re here nearly