The road from Dungloe to Culdaff going up north to where I stayed this evening has some interesting attractions and it’s worth taking this path rather than the faster road.
Dungloe to Culdaff
Scintillating Sligo
how do I remember scintillating Sligo? There is a song sung by the Clancy Brothers back in the 60s called “the Irish Rover”. They mentioned “the best Sligo rags. So when I saw the village on the map of course I had to stay here a night or two. It’s a cute little town where you will definitely want to visit especially if you come north of Galway.
there is a tale of the “black Irish” having black hair and therefore descended from the Spanish Armada sailors who landed or worship wrecked off of Ireland. Of course the Spanish did try a mass attack of Ireland in an effort to defeat the British. But it seems the term “black Irish“ was really a derogative term against the Irish. There were probably very very few survivors of the shipwreck who were able to stay hidden in Ireland. The English and the Irish rounded them up and the English executed most of them. So the term “black Irish“ does not refer to descendants of the Spanish Armada and in fact there are probably no descendants of the Spanish in Ireland.
around the county Mayo
Traveling around Tullamore
Tullamore, Ireland is an interesting place to visit for a couple days and especially to go out to the Belvedere estate where you can visit even with the kids. There are a number of activities there for the whole family so it looks like an enjoyable place to spend an afternoon if the weather is good. A lot of it is outside and the beautiful gardens and views are very nice. And of course you can visit the Tullamore Dew whiskey brewery in town which is very famous. It’s a very good whiskey.
st. Patrick’s Cathedral Dublin
Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is the cathedral to visit in Dublin. You need several days anyway to explore the city but here you will see why you need to visit this cathedral.
THE PHRASE TO
‘chance your arm’ is often used when describing someone taking a risk.
Yet many people do not know the role this medieval door played in its origin.
In 1492 two feuding families, the Butlers of Ormonde and the Fitzgeralds of Kildare, were engaged in battle. Sensing an impending defeat, the Butlers fled the battlefield and took sanctuary in the Cathedral’s Chapter House.
The Fitzgeralds followed in pursuit, but instead of fighting proposed a truce. Calling to the Burlers through the Chapter House door, Gerald Fitzgerald, head of the family; guaranteed them safe passage from Dublin. However, the Burlers refused this offer, believing it to be a trap.
To prove his sincerity, Gerald Fitzgerald ordered a hole be cut in the door. He thrust his arm through it, offering it in peace. Convinced, the Butlers shook his hand. Today, the story lives on in the famous expression, “to chance your arm”.
Off to Kells
if you are going off to Kells you will pass through a number of small towns which are very interesting and very beautiful with local shops which are very old and a lot of old signage. Many of the churches are not open unless they have services which is understandable nowadays. You can find the Irish sense of humor outside in many places so keep your eyes peeled. The town of Kells itself is where the book of Kells (the old Bible from the ninth century) was transferred when they Vikings pillaged the islands off Scotland. And then this very old Bible was moved to the library in Trinity College to protect it from the invading saxons and Normans which are now considered the English.
In an Inn in Inniskeen
Around and in Inniskeen you see some typical and historical building and things, giving you a cross-section view of rural Ireland. Be prepared to eat before you arrive since there isn’t really anything open to provide food that I could find. But you can always sit by the river, listen to the sound of the rushing water and just enjoy a beautiful walk around town.
