Scream at Sneem

Found a beautiful spot to camp.... right next to the river.  Good idea ... not ...  river rising fast...packed and headed West to Mannix Point Camping.  One of the highlights of our trip!

Unfortunately we passed some of the most beautiful scenery in Ireland without seeing a thing!

What a drive!  Mannix Point was just fab.  We parked right next to the ocean ... which we didn't see until the next year.... and then...A lovely walk along the beach...

In the evening what a joy... the whole campsite gathered together ... to sing.  French, Swiss, German, English, Irish, Australian.  Great fun.   So glad we are still in touch with some of them.

Go Glengarriff

And so to Glengarriff.. a campsite which advertised an Irish band... oh my goodness what a serious bunch they were... not a smile between them!

This was the liveliest tune of the night the rest were all about the sad times Ireland!

The storm clouds gathered but we were snug in our camper that is until the next day...

Over the hills and...

Came across Molly Gallivan's place by chance.  She was a widow with seven children and had to find a way to survive.  She was ingenious, determined and a hard worker... Ran the farm, raised her children, wove and knitted clothes and had the first tea shop for tourists. She opened a “Sibheen” (illegal pub), where she sold her own home made “Poitín”  locally known as “Molly’s Mountain Dew”.

 Let's hear it for Molly!

Now surely these fine gentlemen weren't here for an illegal tipple were they?Molly's is still a tourist spot.  We picked up the wooden key and let ourselves through the gate and up the hill.  We were greeted enthusiastically by sheep who have obviously got used to being fed by well meaning tourists.  Great little video in the cottage that made the whole place come to life.

In the carpark is the Druid who looks across the valley to the highest peak “Barra-Bui”, where a Cairn on the summit marks the resting- place of an ancient Chieftain.

The druid represents the first settlers in the Sheen Valley more than 6000 years ago. These people had a great devotion to their Gods and their dead. They had an advanced knowledge of astronomy which is evident from the vast legacy of burial and ritual sites that they have left us. At Molly's there is a Neolithic Stone Row (3-2000 BC) - we were to discover lots of stone circles and monuments on our travels in Ireland.

A final pat of the sheep and we were on our way!

Wild camping

Joined about twenty other campers at a free camping spot at Kinsale fab.  Sat by the river for lunch and watched the tide come in before exploring the town... it was just full of fun cafes. bakeries, pubs and of course music.

Now that's what I call a yummy meal!

Famine - Skibereen

Oh my goodness ... the famine such a sad story...I can't believe that the current Conservative government is threatening to starve out the Irish people unless they back down on the border issue...incredible ignorance

Oh this is so Ireland.  Colourful houses, bookshops. poets corner, bakeries, water views, bakeries and silly hats!

Timoleague

One of the most wonderful things of travelling in a campervan is those stolen moments.  We stopped to find the way  - should we go to Courtmacsherry or... so we stopped and found this delightful walk along the river with gorgeous tiles showing the birds ... loved it

Stories of Freedom fighters, cows and sisters

Roger went off on a three hour tour of Irish freedom fighter Michael Collins - complete with renactment of his final ambush while I sat watching cows and writing a Sisters story.   Trying to get an anthology together of twenty stories with a theme of Sisters.... getting there!

And so we are off in the camper... it may be raining.. but hey the grass is green ... the doors my height and hey adventure awaits.

First day exploring with Nick

The first of many visits to Abbeys and gardens on this trip.   This time Nick took us to Jerpoint Abbey.  12 Century but impressive windows added in 15th Century... Loved the many carvings of individuals.   Great to see Nick.

 

Saw Nick's tattoo for the first time... felt so sad that he had lost his boys Charlie and Nathan.

And so to Woodstock Gardens.. gloriously restored.  Incredible to see derelict buildings lett by the Black and Tans.  Terrific to see the restoration work.  Loved the fiesty robins that came to steal our crumbs.

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And so to dinner at McLeary's restaurant where Roger got to taste his first Irish Guiness!

A walk around Waterford and then we watched the eclipse of the moon before going gratefully to our beds.