Tag: beach
The High Cross of Saint Colmcille under Ben Bulben.
A day away from my permaculture smallholding, to visit the beach of Streedagh, in Sligo.
On the journey to the ocean, I stopped off at Drumcliffe to visit the grave of William Butler Yeats.
Yeats lies in the little churchyard beside the church where his grandfather was once a clergyman.
This was once an early Christian site of
major significance.
It founded by St. Colmcille in A.D. 575 – the round tower and high cross, as you can see above, still remain.
Saint Colmcille is remembered for his part in the ‘ Battle of the Books’.
Colmcille copied a book while a guest
of St. Finian’s.
Finian claimed the copy as well as the book, but Colmcille refused.
Here you can see the beach of Streedagh and the mountain of Ben Bulben in the background.
Yeats lies in the churchyard at the foot of this great mountain.
Anyway, on with the story…The dispute was brought
to the High King of Ireland whose edict was: ‘To every cow its calf and to every book its copy’.
In consequence, in 561 AD, the High King and Colmcille engaged in battle on the slopes of Benbulben.
Aided by an angel, Colmcille won.
Thousands of men were slain and the King forced to concede the copy of the
psalter to Colmcille.
Stricken by remorse after the Battle of the Books, Colmcille confessed and
was banished to Iona, Scotland, in 563 AD.
His penance was to convert more people to Christ than had
fallen at Culdreimhne.
Here is the poem by Yeats, “Under Ben Bulben.”
Sunday Funday and Sarah Jessica Parker…
Yesterday was a hot, summery day and there was nothing else for it but to head to the beach…we made for the strand at Mullaghmore…Flo in tow! She is on her lead here due to the fact that she spent half the day running off, trying to attach herself to other people, as only the “littlest Hobo,” knows how!
Mullaghmore Harbour sits on the south side of Donegal Bay…a stunningly beautiful stretch of wild Atlantic coastline!
For those of you familiar with, “Sex in the City,” it may come as no surprise for you to know that Sarah Jessica Parker owns a holiday cottage in Donegal and is familiar with this beautiful bay.
Looking up towards the Hills of Donegal…
Today, Monday, is yet another fabulous day!
A few facts about Donegal Bay…Donegal Bay (Bá Dhún na nGall in Irish) is an inlet (or bay) in the northwest of Ireland.
Three counties – Donegal to the north and west, Leitrim and Sligo to the south – have shorelines on the bay, which is bounded on the west by the Atlantic Ocean.
The town of Donegal and the River Eske lie at the head of the bay.
Donegal Bay is Ireland’s largest bay, and also contains Ulster’s highest (and Europe’s sixth-highest) sea cliffs at Slieve League, which tower 1972 ft (601 m) above sea level.