16 Thursday May 2013
Isn’t it amazing what you see in Sligo? Today I was walking along by the river and saw this wonderful garment!! I’m bemused as to who would wear these but whatever floats your boat. I posted this on Facebook and got a lot of comments including one friend telling me I could make a top out of them!
http://bitsandpieces1.blogspot.ie/2006/10/halter-made-from-pair-of-mens-briefs.html
15 Wednesday May 2013
Tags
architecture, collooney, ireland, Irish, markree, markree castle, photography, photos, sligo
I had a visit to Markree Castle for their tour today. They run these tours on a regular basis and it was very interesting to find out more about the history of the castle and it’s owners.
The weather, as usual was lousy, although I did get the photos above in the few minutes that it stopped raining!
As you go in the door you are greeted by this magnificent staircase.
The ceiling is also something special. In fact the whole building is. Francis Johnston was the architect who designed Markree Castle. He also designed the General Post Office in O’Connell Street in Dublin and Charleville Castle, Offaly amongst others.
There is this wonderful window in the Castle, it has the names of all the Coopers included in it.
A lot of the research I was doing today was for the Hidden Histories project I am volunteering in. I can tell you though that the hymn ‘All things bright and beautiful’ was written by Cecil Alexander when she stayed at Markree.
I can also tell you that Johnny Cash stayed in the castle and had a Halloween party there.
There’s also a least one ghost, who you might bump into in the lady’s toilet (which used to be the butler’s pantry). She’s thought to be a servant and several people have seen her.
If you want to know anymore you’ll have to buy the Hidden Histories book when it comes out 
12 Sunday May 2013
Tags
boyle, Boyle farmers market, CelticMoon Craft, dog, forest, ireland, Irish, lough key, Lough Key Forest Park, photography, photos, rocket dog, Roscommon
Firstly Happy Mother’s Day to anyone celebrating it today. We had ours in March although I may bake a cake later….just because The photo above is fitting for the day that’s in it. I was up bright and early to take Jono to the railway station yesterday as he was going to Dublin so Rocket-dog and myself headed to Boyle for an explore.
On the way we stopped off at the Lough Arrow viewing area. The photos aren’t great because the weather was lousy but it’s a chance to go back another day.
Lough Key Forest Park was lovely to walk around (even with the showers). We saw a rabbit but it moved to quick to get a photo.
After the forest park we headed to the Farmer’s Market in Boyle.
I felt very sorry for the stall holders as it was such a cold, miserable day. I was delighted to meet June though who is a regular visitor to my blog and makes these wonderful plaques.
My photos don’t do them justice. June has much better pics on her site. She also does commissions so if you are looking for a special gift for someone this would be just the job.
Rocket-dog was very impressed with the market, especially as two people recognised him! He also liked the look of King House. The rest of the photos from our morning in Boyle are here.
11 Saturday May 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
Tags
boyle, Boyle Model Railway, exhibition, ireland, Irish, model railway, railway, Roscommon, trains
The town of Boyle is launching a model railway. I think this is a brilliant idea, we are big fans of trains in this house. They need help though, especially in the areas of making the scenery, assembling buildings, bridges, general art & craft work.
This is a great opportunity to get involved with a fantastic new venture in Boyle. If you can get on board with this project and help them make tracks you can get in touch with them on Facebook or twitter.
The Launch of Boyle Model Railway will take place on Saturday May 25th at 2.30pm at TrojanIT on Elphin Street. With Joe Duffy (RTE) as part of the Local Heroes programme to be aired on June 12th. All welcome!
09 Thursday May 2013
Tags
flowers, forest, Half moon bay, hazelwood, ireland, Irish, lake, lough gill, photography, photos, sligo, woods
I had about twenty minutes to kill today and even though it was pouring with rain I headed to Hazelwood. I’m delighted I did because the bluebells are finally out.
The lake was very misty but had a magical feeling about it.
I know the feathers above are from the swans but I always think white feathers are a sign of angels 
08 Wednesday May 2013
Tags
ireland, Irish, Leitrim, photo competition, rte, sligo, television, tv, weather
I got an email today from RTE to say the photo above was a finalist in the Spring RTE weather photo competition. It will be shown on RTE 1 and 2 on Sunday May 12th at the weather bulletins. The photo was taken on March 20th, 2013 on the Sligo/Leitrim border.
07 Tuesday May 2013
Tags
abbey, building, Creevylea Abbey, Dromahair, flowers, iphone 4s, ireland, Irish, Leitrim, photography, photos, ruins, tulips
On my way dropping off and picking up people yesterday (mums taxi). I had a brief stop at Creevylea Abbey, Dromahair, Co. Leitrim.
The weather wasn’t the best so the sky was a bit dull. These photos are all just taken on the phone….lazy photography again.
It was lovely to see the tulips blooming on the graves. It brightened up the place.
26 Friday Apr 2013
Tags
blogging from a to z, boat, dublin, ireland, Irish, photographs, photography, photos, river, sea, sligo, surfing, water, waves
My W is for water. Here are a selection of my water photos. I hope you like them.
24 Wednesday Apr 2013
Tags
animals, Benbulben centre, blogging from a to z, flowers, ireland, Irish, lambs, mountain, nature, nature trail, rabbit, Rathcormac, scenic, sligo, wildlife
U is for Undiscovered. I found Diarmuid and Grainne’s Nature Trail today. It’s out at the Benbulben Centre, Rathcormac, Sligo. It’s a gravel path through fields with numbered rocks which leads to a lovely little waterfall in a rock formation. I don’t have any information on it, so if anyone can tell me more I’d be delighted to know. It was a lovely walk with just sheep and a couple of rabbits for company. Here are some more photos from my walk.
23 Tuesday Apr 2013
Tags
T is for Tuesday. Only one photo today, I’m lacking in inspiration at the moment in photos and the blog. Hence why it’s just Tuesday
It was a busy enough day today. I had a meeting about a project I’m going to be helping out in…more about that in the weeks to come. I take Jono swimming on a Tuesday as well so we did that. It’s part of his physio to help with his back. He finds it hard to swim not he has the metal rods either side of his spine but he runs up and down the pool…and the best bit of all he gets to relax in the jacuzzi afterwards.
