GRANTA STORY - 'MAYO OH MAYO'

Photograph © Josh Holmes

My short story 'Mayo Oh Mayo' is online at Granta now as part of their Irish issue. Here.

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...?)