Galley Head, county Cork

A much delayed lighthouse trip for the old fart who had celebrated one of his many roundy birthdays during lockdown. This time it was three nights in Galley Head lightkeepers' cottages and the weather was incredible (for once)

On a trip to nearby Union Hall

The Mullet peninsula

 June 2022 and the beautiful, long hot summer took a two week vacation with the two old people who decided to head into the wescht for their holliers. Okay, it wasn't cold (I am made of fluff so stayed warm) but the oldies never got out of their jumpers and thick coats.

The very beautiful and shallow Elly Bay, just one of thousands of beaches we walked on that holiday.

 

The harbour at Inishkea with all the abandoned houses lining the foreshore and, yes, the obligatory beach

On the beach at Cleggan. Achill Island is the backdrop to the first photo, Cleggan Island for the second.

Arranmore Island, county Donegal

Easter 2022. A week long trip to an island off the Donegal Coast with Mark, Louise, Summer, Lachlan and the two old people. 

Seems like everywhere on Arranmore you can see the sea. See?

Of course, the old fart had to drag everybody to a lighthouse

Then of course they thought it highly amusing to put me on an island and leave me there while the tide came in. Thank God Lachlan and Granny rescued me. 

Carrickfinn Beach, county Donegal

 

Donegal airport is located on a narrow strip of land jutting out into the Atlanticle Ocean, with a beach on one side and a beach on the other. As such, it has been voted as the Most Scenic Airport in the Solar System by somebody.

The beach to the west of the runway is called Carrickfinn beach, a long expanse of white sand with some rocky bits at the far end. Obviously, we had to head for the rocky bits.

And then, of course, they got trapped in the rocky bits and couldn't find a way out,,,

Annagry, county Donegal

An unexpected September break to Donegal, when Brenda and Dave invited myself and the two old people up to the village of Annagry in county Donegal, halfway between Daniel O'Donnell country and Clannad country. I was hoping for a lazy few days but on the first morning Brenda dragged me up the local hill with "great views of the airport and surrounding beaches."

When we got back to the house (above), Pheasanty, the official house pet, seemed dumbstruck when I told him all about it.

Inis Bó Finne, county Galway

After a few days second guessing the temperamental weather, we eventually bit the bullet, drove to Cleggan and sailed over to Inishbofin, Inis Bó Finne - the island of the white cow. When we got there, we had a choice of doing the westerly loop or the easterly one. We chose the former. The tarmac soon gave way to a track, which soon gave way to rough stones and open clifftop walks.

Although it was July, the number of people gradually dwindled and we were able to get some great social distancing in, making sure not to get too close to the cliff edges. The sun shone and there was a great feeling of serenity on the island.

Our departure point of Cleggan is well inside the Galway harbour though it came as a surprise to learn that the island is actually north of Killary Fjord which marks the Mayo / Galway border. In fact, Inishbofin was once a part of Mayo. The islanders must sometimes wish that was still the case as Mayo County Council are very good at whitewashing their  coastal beacons, whereas Galway Co. Co can't be arsed. Inishbofin has three very striking and ancient beacons marking the entrance to the harbour.

The Sean Bothar, Cornamona to Clonbur

Our place near Clonbur was on the shores of Lough Corrib about 2 kms outside Clonbur. Behind us loomed the impressive shape of Mount Gable, along the bottom of which runs the Sean Bothar, a ten kilometer old road between Corr na Mona and Clonbur. It is closed to vehicular traffic, except at the extremities and is a lovely peaceful walk with the lake glistening below.

The local history guys and gals have added interest to the walk by marking each ruined (or disappeared) homestead with the name of the family that lived there.