People have asked why there aren’t any pictures of me – well, because I took the other pictures. So . . . Here’s a picture Bob took of me, sketching, one of my favorite times on our trip! Downpatrick Head is the name of this place. I’m sitting at the end the long piece of land seen in the distance in the image below. We could see it from our window.
Up early, packed and said good by to our cottage.
On the road to Sligo to see more early history. This time Megalith tombs dating from 3500-3000 BC at the Megalithic Cemetery of Carrowmore.
We had seen very similar tombs in Portugal several years ago. I don’t often think of stone age peoples having such long distance connections.
What amazes me is that these were not buried under bog blanket but rather have been standing around in someone’s farm land all this time.
After a sunny/rainy morning there we drove to the airport. I had hoped to be able to visit the Hills of Tara and Newgrange but they will have to wait for another visit.
So, here we are in the Carlton Hotel in the Dublin Airport with a 6:00 wake up call!
Didn’t have email before so this is a day late.
Yesterday, Saturday we headed west across the top of Co. Mayo. The whole area is one huge blanket bog. We visited Ceide Fields which was first discovered in the 1930’s but not really begun to be understood until decades later in the 70’s. It is a large (10 sq kilometers) area of farmland and living areas dating from 3-4000 BC which has been buried and preserved under the bog all that time. Blows the mind!
Then on to Achill Island on the west coast. Pretty much a touristy, holiday resort in a very dramatic place full of cliffs and mountains and ocean beaches! We drove along very high mountain roads where the side dropped down to the ocean and sheep wandered all over the place. On the hills, on the road, eating, watching us, and sometimes running along. Usually they just look at cars and move to the side of the road, pretending we don’t exist.
On the way back we stopped at the Deserted village in Slievemore, a village of 80 – 100 stone houses which was abandoned during the Great famine. it is a very sobering experience. And full of sheep.
Then back to Ballycastle for our last evening of peat fire and red wine!
Today, being Friday is our last day to work with people at The Ballinglen Arts Foundation. Bob took videos of two of the artists in Residence, Mary Lohan and Eddie Kennedy as well as taking shots of the two invaluable women who keep the place going, Una Forde and Christine (Chrissie) Tighe.
Normally we would rent heavy equipment on location such as lights and large tripods but since time was short and we didn’t want to give up a second in Dublin going to pick up and drop off such which meant we would be taking (and carrying) what we needed. So, we took the minimum equipment needed to get the job done, cameras and a mic with small tripods. Since the light is so incredible and always changing we used this as part of the background information as to the feeling of Ballycastle.
The rest of the day Bob shot around the village while I got caught up on other work and after driving to Killala for fresh fish for supper we headed to the beach.
So much of the land ends with cliffs high above the ocean, we wanted to get closer to the water. (This isn’t swimming weather as the temperature here in August is around 60 to 65 degrees F in the day as opposed to Philadelphia being 85 – 90!) Ballycastle does, however, have a sand beach with dramatic rocks to one side and rolling hills to the other—lots of little shells and long strands of kelp were washed up.
I’ve posted that the people are warm and welcoming always ready to stop and chat and get to know you but even the beach sends a welcome!
Happy Birthday Curt!
Today was mainly a working day. Shot cottages where the Fellowship artists live, the exhibition room and print studio—dealt with email. Did go to Killala for some delish fish and chips fresh from the pier and then photographed at Lackan Strand.
The ride back was through more beautiful countryside covered with heather.
Met a woman with her dog, Lucky, who sports a pink collar with rhinestone bones as everyone calls her him. People are so friendly, talk and wave all the time. Ever ready to tell you their favorite place where you just have to go and to introduce you to their dog, Lucky who just wants to play that international doggy game, “throw the rock”!
Tonight we had a peat fire. We’ve seen places where peat is harvested and homes with blocks of peat piled up like cord wood outside, but our cottage is supplied with peat briquettes. Our cast iron stove is made at Coalbrookdale in Shropshire, England, home of one of Bob’s favorite bridges. We bought lamb chops from George O’Grady the butcher (his sign says Victualler) to eat in front of the fire.
This has been a busy day – started with the rainbow mentioned in the last post.
At 10:00 we met with Una at the Ballinglen Arts Foundation to discuss how to proceed. While I finally got on line, updated my post, checked email and did the few things that required, Bob discussed locations to video and photograph. He also began shooting the library. Peter and Margo, the founders of the BAF have donated their private collection of art books etc to the Foundation. Filling a whole room, it is an amazing resource for the artists who visit and anyone in the Ballycastle community.
After more discussion we had lunch with Una, Christine who also works for the foundation and visiting artist Eddie Kennedy and his wife, Eithne, at Mary’s Cottage Kitchen, a wonderful lunch café plus “she’ll make most anything you want kind of place”—then we headed to Downpatrick Head, the signature rock formation in the area—pretty wild!
There was a memorial to:
The weather is nutsy/crazy. . . while we were shooting the sun would be shining brightly and suddenly clouds would come racing out of the ocean somewhere and dump a bucket of water on you and then the sun would shine as if nothing had occurred. . . Some times the sun would never bother to stop shining. This happened over and over. Each time bring more and more incredible cloud formations and light situations leaving one breathless—and wet! People who live here just smile as we think this is strange.