The West of Ireland is bipolar. At times it is very dark and broody, as it had been since we arrived last Tuesday. Then suddenly the sun is dazzling and bright and there is no place more cheerful in the world! But bring your rain gear wherever you go, because a dark mood is always lurking and threatening a sudden return.
Today Ireland, Kilkee at least, had a manic episode. The sun was sparkling through a bright, blue sky and though the air was still a bit crisp, it was truly a gorgeous day. This morning, while Eóin attended his first of 3 days of horseback riding kids camp, I enjoyed my first walk this trip along the cliffs and it was as breathtaking, and arduous in spots, as I remembered! I somehow managed to get into two conversations with locals both up and down the cliff walk, something I don’t remember doing even once while walking the cliffs last year. Then, after having tea and a bagel at Diamond Rocks Cafe, I drove back home. When I turned on to the bumpy road that leads to our cottage I was greeted by the curious faces of a herd of cows as they watched me pass. Next along the way, about halfway up the road, I had to stop for a pheasant as it took its time crossing the road. And finally, a gorgeous, grey heron took flight from the tall grasses at the side of the road and followed the road ahead of my car displaying his huge wing span for the remaining part of the journey to the cottage!
A short time later, driving along the main road into Kilkee on my way to collect Eóin from camp, I raced to keep up with the sunny spot along the road, which means I was traveling faster than the huge, billowing cloud overhead, and reminded me to cut back a bit on my speed. I arrived at the stables to a very happy son who had learned all sorts of things about horses today. Eóin groomed, walked and rode the brown pony whose wrong end is facing the camera in this photo. Here Eóin sits with his instructor, Aislinn, as he was taking off his chaps at the finish of class.
Near the end of this lovely day we had a short downpour of rain that just lasted long enough to give us this rainbow! Perhaps I am judging the West of Ireland too harshly and it is not bipolar, but is simply a Libra like me – scales moving up and down, just trying to find a bit of balance!
10 comments
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June 28, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Declan
Get a photo of Eoin on the Horse
June 29, 2011 at 3:24 pm
bloggingfromthebog
I will do my best!
June 29, 2011 at 1:12 am
eddie stack
‘The West of Ireland is bipolar.’ — brilliant opening line, and so true
June 29, 2011 at 3:27 pm
bloggingfromthebog
Thanks, it IS true isn’t it? And there is nothing to do but wait out its dark moods!
June 30, 2011 at 9:22 pm
lifeonthecutoff
What an atmospheric post, Janet. All the moods of the coast, you son, and rainbow at the end. This was beautiful.
July 3, 2011 at 5:48 pm
bloggingfromthebog
Thank you Penny, this place is all atmosphere!
July 5, 2011 at 8:42 pm
Juliet batten
I’ve been to Ireland’s west coast and found it very like New Zealand, with plenty of rain and weather changes – but with its own special magic too, as the rainbow shows so well.
July 6, 2011 at 6:11 am
bloggingfromthebog
If New Zealand has plenty of rain, it may be very much like Ireland! Today it is raining incessantly, though usually if it rains it will abruptly stop and the sky will be suddenly clear and bright and the sun can be very hot. At least this is what I’ve come to expect in the summer!
July 6, 2011 at 12:35 am
Kate
Well Im sure the bright sun seems even brighter there after the gloom, which I guess makes you even appreciate those brooding Irish clouds! I miss you Mom and I wish I could be there with you! For some reason a part of Kilkee feels likes it belongs just to you and I after the amazing week I shared with you there. Eoin looks so big in these pictures I felt the need to pull out the big box of his baby pictures I have and whine about how fast my favorite little guy is growing up. I think he will call back on his summers in Kilkee as some of the best memories of his childhood, Im so glad he has had the chance to exprience the place that we all think of as our “soul home”!
July 6, 2011 at 6:18 am
bloggingfromthebog
I miss you too and you’re right, part of the whole West of Ireland feels like it belongs just to us – like the Burren around the perfumery, Scattery Island, the dolphins in the Atlantic, Ballyvaughan and its great Italian restaurant and the coast road along the Atlantic side of the Loop Head Peninsula! Oh yes, and always the holy well, I’ll never go there without thinking of you!
You haven’t seen Eoin since Easter – right? I’m sure he has changed since then and he seems to grow and change even faster during the summer in Kilkee!