The Faerie Tailor of Co. Clare

If I have a fad for a particular piece of clothing it has to be that of a waistcoat. 

This all started at the age of fourteen when I became the owner of an ex-army sleeveless, leather drivers' jacket with a khaki lining; it became my pride and joy when going on long hikes across Dartmoor as it kept me warm and left my arms unrestricted to do those things that are necessary when camping alone.

Over the years I have had several waistcoats and still have quite a few in my possession.

As a consequence of this fad my eyes are always on the lookout for a new one.

We recently visited a treasure trove of books, cards, clothes and jewellery in Kinvara Co. Galway.

Ostensibly we dropped in to get Mrs H a copy of Jack Roberts' new book 'Island of the Sheela-Na-Gigs' (ISBN 978-908378-40-8) but you can imagine how delighted I was when my eyes fell on a rail of waistcoats! One in particular caught my eye and to be honest I did not know why at the time.

In our wild garden

The wonderfully comfortable waistcoat

The rear view showing its sensible length

The embroidered emblem.

After a day of wearing the waistcoat I suddenly recalled that the design

on the back reminded me of my first mantra when I first started in the practice

of transcendental meditation of over forty-five years ago!

Detail of buttons

Regina Tierney  the Faerie Tailor of County Clare who is the designer of my waistcoat.

She also creates clothes and beautiful jewellery. 

Please visit her website here - http://celticfusiondesign.com/

POINTS OF VIEW

Since buying my new camera I have found myself becoming rather attached to it. 

There are times when it is not with me that I scold myself especially when I see a particular scene that, to my mind, would make an interesting photo.

So here are just a few of those photographs, things that have recently caught my eye.

The Ship on a Stick.

This can be found on the outskirts of Portumna, Co. Galway quite close to the River Shannon

upon which I doubt very much it will ever cruise again.

A conglomeration of coastal properties that sit under the Burren uplands and on the banks of 

Galway Bay. The smallest of them always attracts my eye.

The Keep

A very well preserved circular building made of local stone. 

I often wonder whether it was once a lot higher, though I guess that we shall never know.

Kiosk Lady

She must have plenty to natter about for she is always there, 

chatting away at all times of the day and night.

Rainbows on the wall

I captured these lads early one morning floating about and looking rather attractive, 

my one complaint is that the pots of gold are nowhere to be found.

Fresh leaves in Sunlight

The scene caught my eye this morning while visiting Mrs H in her studio, 

so I dashed indoors for my camera.

The Dog in the Doorway

How could I not resist capturing the magnificent Toby

guarding the entrance and enjoying the scent of spring.

It is a rambling garden that we have, with worn down paths that flow easily amongst 

whispering wild flowers where bees and other small creatures live in harmony.

Coffee in the Old School House.

This building was once Ballinahown’s National School and was built by John Ennis of Ballinahown Court in 1863. During 1924 the interior was redesigned by Canon Denis Reynolds making all of the classrooms co-ed as opposed to the segregated classes of the previous years’. This arrangement continued until the closure of the school in 1982 when a new school was built.

The Old School building was leased for a time as a private residence before being sold by the Parish and converted into business premises. 

An tSean Scoil

The Old School House

On the ground floor is Westmeath Craft Design selling a range of handcrafted products from jewellery to bog oak carvings.

The upper floor houses ‘Woodfield at Balllinahown Tea Rooms’. 

This is a new venture opened by our friend who owns the wonderful Woodfield Cafe in Birr which, as you know from my previous posts, has an excellent menu. At Balllinahown the food is great too and as always the staff are friendly, efficient and brew a wonderful cup of coffee!

Quite literally up the wooden hill.

The Café

The rear view of Ciara at work.

 Plates of mouth watering goodies 

I wondered what that old bald fellow was doing and then I realised

that he is checking his phone and so I was...

https://aheronsview.blogspot.ie/2017/01/our-friday-treat.html

https://aheronsview.blogspot.ie/2017/04/woodfield-garden-centre-birr.html

https://aheronsview.blogspot.ie/2017/05/an-almost-village.html

The Wandering Camera

I often wander about with my camera, taking odd photos of anything that catches my eye.

Today though I was required to show off the latest pendent. 

The pendent made from the tine of a Red Deer.

I chose an old 5p coin to sit as a cap on the top.

Afterwards I ambled into the back garden to discover three splendid white ladies and a dog.

The three ladies

I opened my eyes, and in surprise

Looked in wonderment

At all that the She-God has made.

So beautiful! 

Everything

Above

and 

Below the skies!

©MRL 6th April 1985

Our one and only Toby asleep in the sunshine at the door of Mrs H's studio.

He awakes on hearing my chuckle and out pops his tongue !

The noble Toby follows me in to the studio and settles down by the easel for more rest, 

for he is now and old man of 90 in dog years and enjoys his sleep.

So do you have any old pets ?

Hidden Creatures in Natural Forms

Sorry for not having posted up a blog for such a length of time, but I have been busy using my grey matter on the project below - well that's the excuse for my absence !

We were given some antlers a few weeks ago by a good friend and decided to do something with them, other than just hang them on a wall or above a doorway, as we had done previously.

So together we sat and studied their form, turning them this way and that, until our eyes and mind connected and we saw the hidden shapes.

This one Mrs H saw as a deer feeding or perhaps it is the fin of a whale?

This piece will be used as a pendant eventually.

Here is a branch of coral, a seal, a sea bird.

This tine became a necklace strung with moss agate, Connemara marble and aventurine.

Just one question. 

Do you see the shapes of other creatures hidden within natures' natural forms?

Just Swanning Around

A short drive from home across a neighbouring county fetched us up into Co. Westmeath

and in particular to Lough Ennell

Where we were greeted by a whiteness of swans who were busily preening themselves.

The way in which this pair were acting towards each other strongly suggested that 

there would be some hanky-panky between them later !

Much the same with this pair too !

Later that night I just happened to be outside when I saw a red moon rising.

In the short time it took to reach my camera the redness had faded to a rich gold.

Then became banana coloured

and just before it disappeared behind some cloud the red began to return,

by which time I had become quite chilled so I returned to the fire that blazed in the stove.

A Dry Journey To Water

On a short journey when going nowhere in particular we turn a corner and meet with a traffic jam

consisting of a nosey dog, a tractor driver and a postman exchanging news and we after sharing laughter, we receive a letter.

A rural traffic jam

The gable end of the Augustinian Priory in Lorrha, Co. Tipperary

We have a tranquil place to park on the banks of the River Shannon that tourists rarely find

and we never share.

I am always fascinated by the rapidly changing light of how its reflection sparkles 

on the surface of the water and the cloud formations too, all of which keep my camera busy.

So do you always carry a camera ?

A PERFECT PADDY'S DAY

I just had to breakout and celebrate and as you can see Hazel over did it ... !

The best of Irish Ale - BlackDonkeybeer.com

With this Lady backing us how could we lose...

THE  GRAND SLAM TROPHY HELD ALOFT

IRELAND 24 - ENGLAND 15

These lads came on as Champions and left as IRISH GODS !

Members of the disappointed English team.

Escape to The Hares Corner

After four days of being snowbound we finally managed to escape from the weather enforced confinement of our bijou home. Last night, the end of the fourth day, a mammoth tractor whose size very nearly filled the width of the road cleared away the mounds of accumulated snow drifts and our car was freed.

Our first call was to our nearest store, 6km away, to top up on essential supplies like fuel for the Bentley look-a-like, turf briquettes for the stove and an essential packet of MacVitie's digestive biscuits that most cuppa's need. We turned for home when a sudden idea came to me, 

"How's about we go for lunch in The Hare's Corner ?" 

Agreement from Mrs H came very swiftly and without hesitation.

No better place for good wholesome food !

In warm weather you can sit outside on the terrace and enjoy the warmth of the day.

The great man himself, Declan Furlong,

the Owner and Chef of Hare's Corner.

Hares abound at every turn. 

I have an idea that hares might be Declan's totem animal.

I believe that this building was once an Irish grain mill belonging to Odlum's Flour, 

hence the industrial steel columns, heavy beams and stone walls. 

As a restaurant it is a comfortable and an almost homely space to dine  

whether that be for a breakfast or lunch.

We do indeed need the 'Tonic of Wildness', especially after eating one 

of Declan's meals, then a good walk in the nearby Slieve Blooms provides 

the tonic of fresh air and exercise.

Alternatively you might do as I did and have a snooze in the chair alongside

a cosy turf fire and dream of walking in the wilds !