Our Sense Of Place

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Ireland, The Movie

Belfast Political Murals: Republican and Loyalist

Bobby Sands- Hunger Striker Mural on Falls Road, the Irish district of Belfast. Sands passed away in jail as a result of the hunger strike at age 27.

Mural over grave yard near Falls Road.

Mural of a faded British Flag near the loyalist district of Shankill.

Additional loyalist murals near Shankill.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Pascal, Omey Island Wizard, Ireland

Some call him a wizard. Others just refer to his background as a stunt man (remember the TV show, "The Fall Guy"? He was the stunt man behind the stunt man . . . plus he backed up a couple of 007 agents on the big screen). Pascal is the only year-round resident of Omey Island. We would usually visit him in the trailer home that he has parked on the most beautiful seaside land on Omey. We had him over to the cottage for dinner and drinks (below). He left us with plenty of stories and songs about the island. He did not, however, leave behind a single drop of wine, beer or whisky.

Denise Spots one of the "Little People"

"Surrender" to Omey Island

For 2 wonderful weeks, we lived on a small island on the northwest coast of Ireland. A friend generously loaned us a beautiful but simple cottage on Omey Island, just across the "strand" (pictured below) from Claudaghduff in Connemarra. The strand is an elevated and relatively solid portion of a tidal estuary that is covered by water when the tide is high. We have to time our travels to and from the island at low tide, which comes twice a day. The first word of advice that our friend gave us about living on Omey, was to "surrender". In the case of the tide, this word of wisdom became particularly important.

When we got stuck on the mainland because of high tide, we were "forced" to drown a few Guiness at "Sweeney's Strand Bar", where many of the locals and all of the bartenders know us by name. The walk to Sweeney's from the cottage is about 45 minutes. When it was raining , the bartender would drive us home.

While there, we participated in a number of community events, including the Omey Horse Races and a huge seafood buffet that was scheduled to raise money for the local cultural center.

Home sweet home. We both greatly miss this wonderful cottage.

Just a stone throw away, there is a 3000 year old holy well.

. . . and a buried church from the 8th century.

Plus, the dunes nearby are perfect for dune-jumping.

. . . and the graveyard is full of men and women who perished at sea, during the famine, and under brutal colonial rule.

Old Omey House - destroyed by a terrible storm long ago.

And the milkshake-maker - proof that the ocean is not always your friend.

Flahive Drinking Establishments

Denise has often wondered - sometimes out loud - how those Flahive boys could be so darn "thirsty". Ireland answered her question. Here she is pouring a Guiness at Mary Flahive's Pub. When you can't beat 'em, join 'em.