Returning from
Portugal we had one more night in Kinsale where all the staff at the Old Bank
guest house are one big happy family so Paul thought. Paul had noticed that all
the staff were wearing name badges with the same surname…… Mary – Failte,
Maureen – Failte, Magna- Failte…..he asked me if I thought they were all
sisters. I soon realised what he was on about…….Failte in Ireland means welcome
and it is on doors to most shops, pubs etc. Snow globe points for that one Paul or a touch of the sun from Portugal.
After saying goodbye
to Kinsale and all the Failte sisters, we proceeded to Schull which is a small village where I was hoping
to meet up with Sheila Whyte who had been my boss at the Geraldton Grammar
School. After leaving Geraldton Sheila took up a position at Curtin University in Perth before returning to her Ireland home. Sheila has always been a very positive person to have in your community
and from what we heard in Schull seems to be the case there as well. Sheila’s
bookshop ‘Whyte Books’ is an amazing place so have a look on Facebook under Whyte Books and you will see what I mean. We arrived in Schull late afternoon just in time to have a drink with Sheila at one of the locals. Sheila had been very busy all through the summer months and was taking some days off to walk in the Wicklow Mountains.
Moving on from Schull we headed towards the Mizen Head
Peninsula, Ireland's most south westerly point. Lots of high cliffs and rugged landscapes overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The Mizen Signal Station had the first Radio Beacon in Ireland in 1931 and is open for viewing. Marconi had been in this area and where we had lunch at Crookhaven Harbour was where he came to get his first radio message across the Atlantic. He fitted the first telegraphic equipment on the Fastnet Rock Lighthouse allowing communication between passing ships. All along this part of the coastline it is treacherous to passing ships and it must have been a relief when the fog came in to have a signal warning you of the fog.
Paul and I were very impressed with this area and were looking forward to the Sheep's Head Peninsula, the lesser visited area by us tourists but a well known spot for walkers.
Paul and I were very impressed with this area and were looking forward to the Sheep's Head Peninsula, the lesser visited area by us tourists but a well known spot for walkers.
Which dinghy?
Arched Bridge at Mizen Head
Railway Bridge
Drumbeg Stone Alter with a pondering Paul
The Mizen Signal Station
What a view from Mizen Head
The view of the paths to the bridge
The two of us
PC on the arched bridge
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