Monday 13 June 2016

Where the Burren Kisses the Sea

Today the summer rain falls intermittently, warm showers that caress the tall grasses of our front garden, as a compassionate watering from the caring and senior goddesses of this land Eriu, Banba and Fódla who still stroll the length,breadth and through this ancient island giving of themselves; By inspiring their children to seek a fulsome life mixing the blends of histories and modernity.

Yesterday we went on excursion close to the now familiar landscape of the Burren. This time it was as a backdrop, for on centre stage was its sea shore and in particular Linnane’s Pub at New Quay which is noted for its Sea Food. We had visited before and had our hungry appetites sated, our visit on this occasion was no different for the crab cakes accompanied by a fresh mixed salad was delicious.


At New Quay
THE CRAB BOAT


Aughinish Bay leading to leading eventually to Corranroo Bay at its head which is so
 encumbered by sand banks and shallows that boat skippers are advised not to enter. 

After lunch we took ourselves for a short drive on the narrow road that borders the Flaggy Shore,  one of nine sites of geological interest and importance in Co. Clare. This is where the fringes of the famed Burren limestone kisses the sea and mingles with the erratic rock types of sandstone and granite, deposited about twelve thousand years ago after the last Ice Age.




Typical geology of the Flaggy Shore.


Here also stands Mount Vernon, the former summer home of Lady Augusta Gregory of Coole Park, Co. Galway, patron of the Arts and friend of the Poet W.B Yeats.

The play of gentle waves that create dreams.













26 comments:

  1. That all looks very beautiful, a lovely day out. We have The Mabinogion book, fascinating read.

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    1. Thanks for the comment Thelma and enjoy the read too :-)

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  2. Hi Mel - interesting history and geology ... and a fascinating part of the world - if I ever get over again ... I'll be there to visit. The crab cakes and salad sound very good too! Wonderful photos - cheers Hilary

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    1. Thank you Hilary - the whole area is just too good to miss and periodically I have to return.

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  3. Crab cakes sound delicious right now

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    1. Yes, they are Simon and very filling too.
      Thank you for commenting.

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  4. A part of the world I always meant to visit but so far haven't got around to - but then that's a very long list! The geology and plant life are particularly interesting and I'd probably make time to sample the seafood too. Thanks for the tour.

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    1. You are very welcome John and thanks for the comment.

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  5. The food at your sea food pub sounds just lovely and a great setting too. That last photo is very relaxing.

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    1. Thank you Suzie ! I am so glad that you appreciated the tranquil waters x

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  6. What a beautiful and fascinating place :-) xx

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    1. Visitors are very welcome to come and sample the area Teresa :-)
      Thank you for commenting x

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  7. The farmer and I visited the Burren some years ago. It was a very wet day but we felt that somehow it enhanced such a wild and wonderful place. Didn't find that seafood restaurant though!

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    1. Thank you for your comment Pat, such a pity that you missed Linnane's Bar because it has been there a very long time and their food has always been wonderful ! I suggest that you make a return visit ?

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  8. I always enjoy seeing the sea from other locations. The light there looks wonderful and it is good to see the sea campion too! The pub sounds good too! Sarah x

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    1. Thank you Sarah the pub and the Guinness is very good :-)
      I have always told my friends about the special quality of light that presents its self on that stretch of coast, so am glad that you noticed it as well.
      The Burren is a botanists dream for it is home to a a great variety of plants that hard to find anywhere else.
      see: http://www.firstnature.com/worldsites/irl-burren.php

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  9. The Burren must cover a huge area! The nearest we got was Limerick when touring the south-west.
    The pub sounds like it's worth making the trip for alone; we did find the eating was excellent in that part of the world.
    CLICK HERE for Bazza’s fabulous Blog ‘To Discover Ice’

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    1. You are correct Bazza. The Burren is a fair size being 450 sq km in Co. Clare, with a parcel of 160 sq km in South Galway.
      In the thirty years of living here I have never ever gone hungry. Only once did I ever send a meal back and that was during the 80's in Belfast. We have lots of very proud and talented chefs working out of excellent kitchens.

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  10. Heron wishes to apologise to Dora for not having published her comment.
    So to make amends here it is.

    peppylady (Dora) of http://peppylady.blogspot.ie
    said
    Went crab fishing once and enjoy it.
    Coffee is on

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  11. Hello Dora,
    I have done the rod and line stuff, plus tickling trout and worked for awhile on a relations trawler, but have never ever been on a crabber so that's one type of fishing that I never done.

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  12. You wet my appetite. Not long to go now!

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    1. I hope that the weather keeps fine for you !
      Thanks for the comment or is it a warning of a new viking attack ? :-)

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  13. I've never seen a coastline like it. Beautiful. And that looks nothing like George Washington's Mt. Vernon!

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    1. Thank you for the comments Mitchell and now you know why I have to keep returning to the Flaggy Shore.
      Incidentally George Washington's plantation house Mount Vernon is exactly ten years older than Lady Gregory's Mount Vernon. Makes me wonder if there is a connection somewhere.

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  14. Must visit Ireland again, soon.

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