A quick trip back to the Emerald Isle October 2010

Not long after our Antrim trip,I was back over to the Emerald Isle.Not such a happy occasion this time,I was attending the burial of a close relative.
Back up the foothills of the Cuilcagh mountain in Glangevlin to the old homestead at Dunmakeever.

The rolling hills of West Cavan look as lush as ever.

The requiem mass was well attended,with family coming from far and wide.Even this frog was trying to get into the church.


But as well as being a sombre occasion,it was also a celebration of his life,and it was good to meet up again with some of the nicest people I know.The immediate family made sure that the extended family were enfolded in the occasion.


Up from Kildare came a rebel of a musician by the name of Mick Molloy (Not to be confused with Matt Molloy of the Chieftains,though Mick has sung with Kila),accompanied by his missus Rosie.


I hadn't my video camera with me,so the film quality is found wanting,but an enjoyable time was had by all at the bar.


All too soon I had to vacate the hen house my tent was in and make my way back to Belfast and the boat.

I was back early enough to take a run up to Carrickfergus....

...and view some of the sights.

Back in Scotland on a clear day the chimney of the Kilroot power station in Belfast Lough can often be seen.I'm much closer today.

The Harland and Wolff and other dock cranes show me the way back to the ferry.

I'm soon back at the quayside.

As I wait to board the Stena Navigator,I take some more pictures and reflect on my short and poignant trip.

A few days in Ireland - August 2014 - Part 1 of 2

Monday the 11th of August.

Up early for the half seven boat from Cairnryan to Belfast.

Quite a rough sea, but the crossing was ok.

The M1 motorway soon had me down as far as Augher. The twin villages of Augher and Clogher soon slowed me down. I took as long getting the last third of my journey as the first two thirds had taken me.

After arriving in Glangevlin and sorting out my sleeping arrangements, I drove south through Mohill and Drumod to get to Rooskey/Roosky. 

I was hoping to meet up with the good folk, Phil and Anne from Florida that I'd visited in December.(as it happened they went up to Glangevlin, but no worries, they were on their way back and I was warmly welcomed (and fed) in the house above ). 

I headed out for a look at Rooskey.

The sign on the left intrigued me so after a Google search the only place to find 'Maanpano' in English is in Rooskey. 

As the mighty Shannon flows through the town there would be boats.

This hotel was once called the Shalimar (or Shalamar) and was run by Phil and and Anne.

 It's changed quite a bit by the look of it. 

Not really a panorama but it gives the right impression of the layout.

(You can actually get a better picture on Google Street view)

Views across the Shannon as I'm walking down to the lock gates.

These guys are heading to Dublin.

The lock-keepers told me that the gates were 170 years old.

Heading back to the village I met Phil and we called into a local hostelry for refreshments.

(I was meant to meet up with Phil and Anne later in the week in Tubbercurry, but I somehow missed them. I also missed Phil on Thursday in Glangevlin, I'll just have to head back to Florida sometime soon)
That's not Phil above though, he looks much meaner !

So it's back to the 'Peaceful Hills O' Doon' (Dunmakeever) to catch up with my other brother in law.

Tuesday morning and the weather forecast wasn't a particularly bad one.

I decided to take the chance and climb Cuilcagh.

Remember this Climb in 2012

I decided to take the easiest way up and down.

There were a few of these creatures about.

Over to the west I see Benbulben

After crossing the stile that denotes the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland I crossed to the path that comes up from Marble Arch.

In the last few years this has become a very popular climb from the northern side and the erosion is now beginning to show.

I see too that it's recently been closed on the WalkNI website.

Brackley Lake (note, not lough) view.

I got better pictures in 2012 but the clouds were more interesting on this climb.

Recently there has been a lot of development and promotion of the Geopark and the Brefni Burren

Marble Arch Caves and Cuilcagh Mountain Park.

Belcoo and Lough Mcnean.

 Bottom right above and not so clear is Benbulben again.

Another 'Selfie'

I might have mentioned this before, but the theodolite mounting plate in the middle has been inscribed 'P.McGovern 1948'. The last picture in this post will be the self same P.McGovern. As a young man he assisted in the construction of this 'Triangulation Station'.

Beginning my descent I saw a group heading my way. I got to the junction before they did, so I waited to say hello. They were the seniors from an outdoor group from where I can't remember. They all looked to be between seventeen and twenty one anyway. 

Onwards and upwards they go.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the litter I'd spotted on a previous climb had been cleared away.

So on my descent I begin taking pictures down towards Glangevlin.

My great nephew Barry is muck spreading.

The more I zoom in the more distant houses are foreshortened, the houses at the top of the picture are much further away than they appear here. The previous picture tells the story a little.

Now even lower, many of the houses in the valley are no longer in view.

These are probably the highest maintained meadows on Cuilcagh Mountain.

Back down to the house and after a bite to eat and a cuppa I'm up 'Brian's Hill' to take a couple more pictures.

To identify the road turning into Dunmakeever go to the last visible telegraph pole (on the left), two thirds down and a little to the right.

Zoomed in from the same spot, here's a closer look at my nephew's house.

Mr P. Mcgovern of the Trig Point atop Cuilcagh.

Part two will follow soon.

The Old Fair at Tubbercurry and Florence Court will feature.

I'm having a great time. 

Ireland August 2012 - Day 7 & 8 - Dunmakeever and Cuilcagh Mountain

Day 7 Afternoon

Tuesday afternoon .

This is another view of Lough MacNean.

I went to visit friends Philip and Mary, and spent the day with them.

Philip has been diagnosed with a serious disease and is having chemotherapy.

Mary cooked sumptuous T bone steaks, Philip has a great appetite and a great attitude to his illness.

It was a lovely evening as we walked off our dinner with a circuit of the FlorenceCourt Estate.

Anyone seeing Philip striding out would think there was nothing wrong with him.

I'm sorry I didn't get another visit before coming home. All the best to you both.

Day 8 Cuilcagh

My twin daughters Sarah and Marie, and Sarah's fiance Phil are joining me to climb
Cuilcagh Mountain 

The twins have climbed it previously, it'll be Phil's first time.

We start to walk from what is locally known as 'Brian's Hill'.
We head over by the old peat bogs, and follow the river upstream.

Cuilcagh is important in mosses and lichens.

Looks like it got some interesting fungi too.

I took much more macro shots of Cuilcagh's flora and fauna on last years climb.

Scroll down this link for a colourful collection.

2011 Climb

The first time I climbed up here, I learned  from my father in law about the 'Green Stripe'.

I've been coming up this way ever since even though there are easier ways up.

We're soon looking down again on the wider Glangevlin Community.

A mountain native.

It gets easier on the plateau (not that I'm inferring that Phil is resting, he's enjoying the view)

Sarah and Marie and the wee lough below...............

........................and over thirty years ago their older sisters Michele and Lynn

(Have you two been up since ? Oh yes Lynn climbed it last in 1993)

At 665 metres, Cuilcagh Mountain is the highest point in Cavan and Fermanagh. Its distinctive table-top profile is the dominant landscape feature in a region rich in geology, archaeology, folklore, history and wildlife. The mountain is topped by gritstone, which is exposed in places as dramatic cliffs looming over the upper sandstone and shale slopes. The middle slopes of Cuilcagh Mountain are covered with a thick layer of peat forming one of the best examples of a blanket bog ecosystem in the north of Ireland. Cuilcagh's lower slopes contain Ireland's finest karst or limestone landscapes, which hide many complex cave systems.

A full zoom brings up Lough MacNean and Belcoo.

Spot the raven,I never noticed it while I was taking the picture.

Lots of pictures taken at the summit.

The Triangulation Station was put up in the 1950s.

The sand, cement and aggregate was brought up on donkeys.

The name of one of the builders can still be seen in the spider.

We'll see him back at Dunmakeever.(He's my brother-in-law)

The ten second delay picture.

Now I thought I'd take a panorama.

I'm disappointed that the light wasn't better.

                      Panorama of Cuilcagh Mountain View on CleVR.com

It's also here on Panogio

Here are some stretches of water.
Top is Upper Lough Erne.
Below left is Upper Lough MacNean
Below right is Brackley Lake (What looks like an oversized tree is a Crannog in the lough)

We have lunch and just enjoy being up here.

Marie goes walkabout.

In the distance is Ben Bulben, while Keiran O'Conner flies over in his F172N Cessna.

We get another shot of the four of us, and Sarah and Marie add white stones to the ancient track.

Cuilcagh is part of the Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark

Thanks for this picture Marie

In 2008, the UNSECO endorsed Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark of which the Marble Arch Caves are a key site, was expanded to include some of the most scenic landscapes in Counties Fermanagh and Cavan, making it the first cross-border Geopark anywhere in the world.Marble Arch Caves is the flagship attraction of the Geopark and is one of Europe's finest showcaves. Visitors explore a fascinating natural underworld of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages, lofty chambers and a bewildering array of cave formations.Behind the visitor centre is the Marble Arch National Nature Reserve. For a peaceful and relaxing walk, follow the path alongside the Claddagh River. The unique ancient plant life that grows on the river banks changes with every season as does the amazing wildlife with dippers and pine martens being just some of the animals that reside there. 

There's a stile along the fence on Bursan, and we'll descend by the old track.

I think we're all a little light headed with the altitude.

I was asked

"Why didn't we come up this way ?"

It was about here we strayed from the track a little.

I always seem to lose it at the same point, yet at the gate looking back it's obvious !

N.B (At this point we had to almost run for our lives.
Billions and trillions of flying ants began emerging from the earth and getting into our clothes, hair and even into body orifii. They were also vicious biters. I still don't know how we survived them.) 

Back at Doonmakeever we're treated to our second slap up meal......

...........and below, a farm tour.

We're in unison about one thing.

We've had a great day.