A Heron's View

I don't believe that I have ever shared with you that my first love was painting and that at various times in my life I have been quite prolific. During the in-between times my mind was wholly taken up with poetry which filled and satisfied my being.

Creative poetry now seems to have left me high and dry once again ! So I have now returned to my first love once more and have set myself up in our spare room.

This blog has returned to normal, well whatever normal is... This blog is a continuation of our holiday in Co. Clare and the photos are those that were taken in the early morning immediately after my first nights sleep in a strange bed. A single bed at that, which in itself felt strange, not having the comfortable companionship of a sleeping partner immediately next to me. 

The dawn light breaks lovingly through in the eastern sky.

On the horizon the low fog and the sea reflects the dawn lights.

And all is tranquil.

Looking to the northeast-ish.

Our holiday home and the replaced Bentley catches the early light.

Long shadows are cast upon the ground, typical for the time of the year.

The small harbour of Ballyvaghan with its fishing boats sit silently shrouded under 

Cappanwalla and Gleninagh Moutains of The Burren.

Later that day we visited an Arts and Crafts Exhibition where Jane met a local artist Helen Lowe.

 It turned out, unknown to me, that they are Facebook friends ! 

There are more photo's to share with you because I really do want to show case

this part of Ireland with you all.

Lar Dooley a with Mrs H

Lar is a Primitive Artist who has developed his own unique style of painting

which is very textured and almost tempts the onlooker to touch the surfaces.

He is inspired by Ireland's ancient monuments and carvings.

I am very attracted by his depiction of the Poulnabrone Dolmen, Co Clare

The artist himself - Lar Dooley September 2018

Our grandson's artwork and an explanation.

Mrs H's new shoes and Toby's hairy paws. 

I wonder if she should now be called Twinkly Toes ?

I have often noticed that this particular roof is always covered in pigeons,

surely they don't nest there other wise their eggs would roll off ?

The roadside welcome to Kinvarra when arriving from Galway - City of the Tribes.

The Tribes were the fourteen merchant families who prospered from trade with continental Europe. They dominated Galway's municipal government during the medieval and early modern eras.

Some of the Esteemed Visitors to Jane Brideson's Exhibition

'Tales from The Cailleach' at Loughcrew Megalithic Centre in Co Meath.

a school teacher in Co. Westmeath who regardless of her Sat-nav eventually found her way to us by using the old way of asking questions. It was great to meet a fellow blogger.

From a far and distant corner of county Cork came our friend of longstanding the beautiful

Wendi Griffin.

Anthony Murphy with Jane.

Anthony is the author of several books about the sacred landscape of Ireland

and creator of Mythical Ireland.

Some visitors from Greece admiring Jane's cards and prints.

Blogger and fellow artist Danielle of A Sparkle of Dani's World

The vivacious and caring Rosaleen of Rosaleen Allen.ie

Sean Gilmartin aka Giller to his friends, 

an historian and photographer who hates to be photographed.

Just a few of the wonderful visitors who have made their way to the Megalithic Centre to view 

Jane's art, there were many others who I should have taken photo's of but for one reason or other 

I failed to do so, perhaps it was shyness on my part.

Phew! It has been hot with a capital H with temperatures of up to 35. 5 deg C and no rain for 15 days,

a rare old novelty for Ireland. In consequence I dug into the back of my wardrobe and brought out my light weight linen clothes.

Mrs H's exhibition of her wonderful paintings are now on display in The Loughcrew Megalithic Centre. I have been forbidden to display them until they have been released on social media however, I can show you what is going on the outside and tell you that we have met some lovely kind and very interesting people from all over the world as well as meeting up again with old friends.

We set up the exhibition on Saturday 30th June and were very fortunate in having two very exceptional friends who took on the work of hanging and arranging the eighteen pictures on show.

They were Maj the ladder and Patsy who directed the order of hanging with a few suggestions put in by myself. We started at 10.15 and were totally ready by 12.45 for the 1pm opening.

The courtyard of the Loughcrew Megalithic Centre.

Visit the Centre - LOUGHCREW MEGALITHIC CENTRE

Two old lads: Lar and Seán  from Dublin having a chat.

The Artist entertains two lovely ladies from Drogheda.

A Monkey Puzzle Tree that caught my eye.

A twenty-nine year old Toyota Starlet that next year

will be a Road Tax free vehicle when it becomes thirty years of age.

Looking forward to seeing you all there at the

Tales from the Cailleach Exhibition

Where I will allow you to buy me

a coffee and a cake.

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 !

The artists Lar Dooley beneath his work with Mrs H.

The Café

The hosts Niall and Sarah who created the best BLT Panini 

that I have ever eaten.

Mary Heaney's Cottage.

Mary's hearth in her kitchen.

Mary's bedroom with a cradle alongside the bed

A visitor from the USA finds her way

On leaving the café, I trotted around to take more photos and to talk with some of the people from the USA who were on a day tour of the area. It was a day of pleasant exchanges and a certain president did not come out well - ah such is life.