Wednesday 24 June 2015

SLIGO & MAYO TRIP

The cottage by the sea below Knocknarea
I spent an enjoyable day last Saturday in the company of the Sandy Field Writers in Sligo, talking to them about short fiction. They are a dynamic group of nine and I got a warm welcome from them - and homemade coffee cake to boot. We yapped, discussed and laughed all day.

View from the dune at the cottage
One of the group has a tiny cottage below Knocknarea, right in the dunes, and she let us stay there for the night. It was magical - my mister and the baby were with me and we lit a fire, listened to music and generally enjoyed a night away from it all.



In the morning, after a soaked-through beachcomb, we had a Father's Day brunch in Shells Café in Strandhill (one of my favourite cafés in Ireland) and went to a market in the hangar at the airport.

Morning view from the kitchen
Beachcombing with Junior
Shells, Strandhill - a fab shop and café
Dippy eggs for brunch at Shells
'Quiet people have the loudest minds' plaque bought from Sarah J Jewellery at the airport market
The short story I am currently writing features Knock in Co. Mayo, so we veered there on the way home to soak up the rosary-and-BVM delights.



A festive mini Jesus - I bought him for my dashboard.
Mass underway in the apparition chapel
Knock excels at classy souvenirs
Juno - aged 6 - did not know what rock was. Score! (Or is she deprived...?)

6 comments:

Swaywords said...

Shells Café! Always gets two enthusiastic thumbs up from me. Especially after I've tramped up and down Knocknarae...

Group 8 said...

It's a lovely spot, Alan. Wish we had something like it in the 'Sloe :)

Anonymous said...

Lovely pics. The matching wellies are too cute. :)

Group 8 said...

We loves our ladybirds :)

Linnet In Oriel said...

What a magical cottage! I love your photos of Knock, so funny, so uniquely Irish. My Mister who was sadly brought up without the trappings of Irish Catholism has never forgotten his trip to Knock, Benbulben and Lough Gill alas did not make the same impression! Many congratulations on your beautiful Canadian edition of Miss Emily. x

Group 8 said...

The cottage is bijoux and sweet, Shauna. Isn't Knock a blast? I've always wanted to go to Lourdes. I imagine it's Knock on a grand scale.