It's high time I posted a few photos from our Ireland trip.
We found ourselves driving near the Giant's Causeway as we went round the coast of Northern Ireland. Amazing place - too many people though...
Our destination was on the Inishowen Peninsula, the part of Donegal nearest to Northern Ireland. In the photo below we're looking across Loch Foyle from the Republic to the North. There's a little car ferry crossing the narrowest bit but they're not sure if it'll be able to continue after Brexit.
We were renting a house just the other side of this lighthouse - ideal for the grandchildren, lots of rock pools and a safe sandy beach.
I sneaked this photo over the wall of an award-winning garden near where we were staying. Must photo-shop that cable...
It was unbelievably windy at Malin Head (a familiar name to those who listen to the shipping forecast!)
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
There were distressingly few traditional thatched cottages left in Donegal. There were more on Inishowen than anywhere else we went, though; traditionally they were thatched with flax or marram grass, tied down with rope (or wire, as in the photo) to stones or metal pegs set in the house walls. It's much "softer-looking" than English wheat or reed thatch, with rounded edges and no ridge to the roof.
I loved this old cottage, with its thatch growing a good crop of wild flowers. It was inhabited but didn't look terribly waterproof.
After our week with the family, hubby & I had 3 nights B&B near the National Park, near Letterfrack. Beautiful scenery with some stunning mountains, none of which we climbed as we were a bit under the weather...
...but we did visit the National Park at Glenveagh.
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Looks like you got the weather Liri. You'll have the place full of tourists posting pictures like that.
I believe the reason for the lack of thatch is the same as for concrete lanes and butter mountains. Grants! The world and his wife got tin roofs. Leitrim is covered in little red lids...it's a shame.
There was a Victorian castle next to Loch Veagh (which had been taken over for a time by the IRA), with lovely gardens. Huge late-flowering scented rhododendrons, and a lot of tender plants.
...fallen rhododendron flowers floating in the pond...
Lovely mix of veg and flowers in the walled garden.
Creative use of twisty bits of rhododendron in the gazebo! (It was tipping it down at the time...)
Lovely Atlantic sky...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Thanks folks. It was a lovely holiday, made more so by the company... there's not a lot better than holding the hand of a blissfully happy three-year-old on the beach...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
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Thanks Pat!
It's high time I posted a few photos from our Ireland trip.
We found ourselves driving near the Giant's Causeway as we went round the coast of Northern Ireland. Amazing place - too many people though...
Our destination was on the Inishowen Peninsula, the part of Donegal nearest to Northern Ireland. In the photo below we're looking across Loch Foyle from the Republic to the North. There's a little car ferry crossing the narrowest bit but they're not sure if it'll be able to continue after Brexit.
We were renting a house just the other side of this lighthouse - ideal for the grandchildren, lots of rock pools and a safe sandy beach.
I sneaked this photo over the wall of an award-winning garden near where we were staying. Must photo-shop that cable...
It was unbelievably windy at Malin Head (a familiar name to those who listen to the shipping forecast!)
Malin Head is listened for in "my" weather forecast Liri.
The jointed basalt of the causeway is the same as that of Staffa.
not that far away in anutical miles.
There were distressingly few traditional thatched cottages left in Donegal. There were more on Inishowen than anywhere else we went, though; traditionally they were thatched with flax or marram grass, tied down with rope (or wire, as in the photo) to stones or metal pegs set in the house walls. It's much "softer-looking" than English wheat or reed thatch, with rounded edges and no ridge to the roof.
I loved this old cottage, with its thatch growing a good crop of wild flowers. It was inhabited but didn't look terribly waterproof.
After our week with the family, hubby & I had 3 nights B&B near the National Park, near Letterfrack. Beautiful scenery with some stunning mountains, none of which we climbed as we were a bit under the weather...
...but we did visit the National Park at Glenveagh.
Looks like you got the weather Liri.
You'll have the place full of tourists posting pictures like that. 
I believe the reason for the lack of thatch is the same as for concrete lanes and butter mountains. Grants! The world and his wife got tin roofs. Leitrim is covered in little red lids...it's a shame.
You have a great eye for a picture. Lovely.
There was a Victorian castle next to Loch Veagh (which had been taken over for a time by the IRA), with lovely gardens. Huge late-flowering scented rhododendrons, and a lot of tender plants.
...fallen rhododendron flowers floating in the pond...
Lovely mix of veg and flowers in the walled garden.
Creative use of twisty bits of rhododendron in the gazebo! (It was tipping it down at the time...)
Lovely Atlantic sky...
Thanks folks. It was a lovely holiday, made more so by the company... there's not a lot better than holding the hand of a blissfully happy three-year-old on the beach...
Never been to Staffa, Joyce... it's on the list.
PP, re thatch - it's pretty obvious that sudden wealth and lack of building regs is not a good combination.
Lovely photos Liri. I'm glad your holiday was so good.