Shorelines

This is my five-hundredth blog post and the last photos of our recent holiday

on the West coast of Co Clare.

It would be fair to title this photo 'Ancient and Modern'.

In the foreground is the traditional curach which has been in use for centuries 

by the inshore fishermen of Ireland.

Modern lobster and crab pots made of steel.

My eye was caught by the high trees, so close to the shore, an unusual sight

in this part of Clare for you can travel for miles without seeing any at all.

The glorious limestone of the Burren dominates all 

and provides an eye stopping backdrop.

The small harbour of Ballyvaghan and a large old anchor

The houses of Ballyvaghan seem to cling to the shore for survival, 

squashed as they are between the Burren hills and the sea.

Further along the coast is Fanore beach with its sand dunes. 

I imagine that it may be a good place to fish with a rod and line 

given the right conditions.

In the foreground are the feeding grounds of sea birds as well as herons and egrets.

The rocky isles are almost totally covered by the high tides each day.

Night falls slowly and the sea has a particular look about it 

that says winter is not far away.

The ever-present elements of wind powered waves crash upon coastal rocks

to shape the land that we call home.

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My great appreciation and thanks to everyone who visits and reads this blog

and please leave me a comment for it is nice know who has visited.

SUNNY SUNDAY

We had ourselves a day out to Kinvara once again on Sunday. Because of the impending snowy weather, which I am not looking forward too and if it were in my power it would not be happening anywhere near me, we escaped to make the most of the good weather while it lasted.

The day was absolutely gorgeous with wall to wall sunshine

and not too cold either, just a little over 8 deg C.

A day of hardly any sea breezes, lots of parked cars and hardly any people.

This mosaic was adhered to one of the harbour buildings and she caught my eye,

this red haired woman playing a fiddle.

A motherly swan feeding on pinkeens (small fish) in the company of seagulls.

This was just a lucky shot - catching her with her head down in range of the camera!

There was something about this sloop, it kept catching my eye,

perhaps it was the reflection on the water or its snug berth?

I found out later that the occupants of most of the cars were tucked away in a local

restaurant listening to a jazz band, I was not tempted... for such sunny 

weather in February is a rarity not to be missed.

Take care all of you and keep warm !

Guinness goes West

On leaving Shannonbridge we retraced our route for home and made a detour to the attractive Shannon Harbour. A place that holds fond memories for me of my early time in Ireland, for here I would visit and take a relaxing stroll along it’s banks to look at what floats in its waters. I loved and still love the sense of an ambiguous freedom that glides above the surface to permeate the very air that we breathe.

Looking West

Shannon Harbour built in 1803 is the terminus for Grand Canal which starts in Dublin and connects to the River Shannon via a lock at the western end. The GC whose waters were once used for making Guinness, also provided a means of transporting the great beverage to all hostelries en route to and including the City of Limerick. On their return journey they would bring back various cargoes such as turf (peat), potatoes and other goods. 

All types of craft moor here including a few

English narrow boats.

I have to admit to being intrigued by the name of this boat

SLY FOX which I think might have been named by a woman.

This beautiful yacht bears the name of famous Irish woman Granuaile also known as known as The Pirate Queen Gráinne Ní Mháille  or Grace O’Malley in English (c 1530- 1603)

http://www.discoveringireland.com/grace-o-malley-granuaile/

The narrow boat SNOWBALL in the dry dock being prepared for bottom blacking.

I could not quite work out as to what the thumb-stick was for because he

seemed to be quite able to walk.

The Irish canal barges were 80 feet long by 17 feet-1 inch wide and made of iron and later of steel. Today the remaining barges have been converted into houseboats.

LOOKING EAST.

The first or the last road bridge over the Grand Canal, depending on which end you count from !