December 4, 2019 I would be in the arms of my lover thinking the same thoughts but he must away and I can choose the fullness of the earth and the next-best bliss to swim in the sea. December 15, 2019-After a Swim I am grateful this morning to feel. There is hope. Life is
When I need time and space to myself, I head to the beach. It’s where I traditionally do my best thinking. I’m calmer there and I seem to be able to put life’s problems and challenges in some sort of perspective. And I like it best when there are very few people around and it’s
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
As I write, it is the 22nd April. The sun is shining, the bees are buzzing, the birds are singing, and the temperature is 19°C. Social isolation is beginning to bite hard. Many of my angling friends are suffering from cabin fever. We must stay within a 2km radius of home. I live in Cahir,
Newpark in the 1960’s was isolated on the periphery of Kilkenny City. A plethora of young families settled on the newly constructed estate. This dynamic helped to change the neighbourhood into bustling community. Freedom of movement allowed youthful enthusiasms to flourish as children made their way in a relaxed, friendly and safe environment. Central to
Several years ago as a Belfast medical student I spent an Erasmus term in Galway. Such a vivacious & welcoming place with many new friends made. Now I’m working as a junior doctor in the middle of the Covid pandemic. Such a difference from my carefree student days, this bewildering and angst laden time, everyone
Growing up I was incredibly lucky with the location of our house. We lived right beside the River Shannon and Lough Derg. From a noticeably young age my brothers and my dad would take me out with them in the boat, or even just go for a swim in the lake. We were members of
Rising slowly that morning, the sun watched as a single boat chugged sleepily inwards towards the safety of the harbour walls. Its hull was filled with several overflowing fish boxes. Although the world was on lockdown, the lobsters went about their business totally oblivious. That included being caught in the pots, having been lured by
I was cycling into the Phoenix Park. Where the M50 meets the Grand Canal the water is usually dark. Sometimes you can see pondweed wafting gently there. On the M50 bridge there was a small group of teenagers in wetsuits. A low fence that I hadn’t noticed before protected them from the steep drop. There
I first heard of Coomloughra when I set out to climb the “Coomloughra Horseshoe.” It’s one of the classic hiking and scrambling ridge routes in Ireland and takes in several mountain tops – Scregmore, Beenkeeragh, Carrantoohill and Caher. These have an average height of about 1,000 metres. Nestled several hundred meters below ,there are three
A scene serene in my memory I store Of gazing down on Annaghearly lake shore The scene below mirrored the sky In a painting of beauty no money could buy The water below so calm and so blue With diamonds glistening and changing hue As snowy white swans with their brood of two Disturbed its
Dear reader, My name is Tom. It’s the Year 2020 – the year of the pandemic and my last year in Primary School. This year, I was looking forward to Confirmation, not isolation! However, Covid 19 and lockdown are words that became part of our everyday language. Parents working from home, some losing their jobs,