In a perverse way this week has worked to our advantage. The wet weather and low visibility would have meant disappointing days' walking not being able to appreciate the mountain and sea views. I would have been terrified of being lost in the fog. So this has meant that Mark has been able to rest his knee, although we have put in a few kilometres around the villages.
This morning I decided to explore some of the historical sites near Castletownbere
I head south down the main road and about 30 minutes later I came to a turn off for two sites.
Some blue sheep grazing
And red sheep....I know, but where is the green sheep...
Some horses. None more beautiful than this one, despite the bad hair day from the rain.
Puxley Manor, built in the 19th century with investments in the nearby copper mines in Allihies. In 1920 it was burnt down by the IRA in reprisal for IRA deaths by Crown Forces and for a comment about routing out all the O'Sullivans from this area. Rather unfortunate as the manor was built on ancient O'Sullivan land.
On the shore nearby is O'Sullivan Beare Castle, built in the 1500s and considered the home of the O'Sullivan clan. O'Sullivan Beare ruled the Irish Coast, taking charge of all the fishing fleets and trading boats. He dared to defy Elizabeth 1's authority and was punished when she sent troops to attack and destroy his stronghold in 1602.
The O'Sullivans populate most of this area - and there is even a 600 km O'Sullivan walking trail to commemorate O'Sullivan Beare's feats. Here two Australians are welcomed on the trail. Our last 3 B&B owners have been O'Sullivans.
Lunch at Breen's as the fog rolled in.
5 star seafood chowder
Then down to the end of the Beara Peninsular to Dursey for our last night. Our hostess, Katie O'Sullivan.
Our comfortable room but no harbour view - zero visibility!
At 4.30 the fog miraculously lifts, so I walk down a blackberried path, past abandoned farm buildings
Buzzing bees in the hedgerows
Our first and last sight of the Dursey coast - fishermen collecting lobster pots.
Then the fog descended ....
M&M
No comments:
Post a Comment